The Ceramics Department at Sedona Arts Center

Greetings Potters, Artists, and Friends,

Neil Kennedy is moving!

His last day will be on September 6 at our Celebrate Sedona event from 4 to 6pm at Sedona Arts Center in Uptown Sedona. As many of you know, Neil joined our Sedona Arts Center ceramic department almost 7 years ago. During Neil’s tenure with us, he developed the Tuesday afternoon’s Hand Building and Saturday morning’s Pottery Wheel for Beginners classes. With Neil’s years of ceramic experience and his natural talent as an artist, he has helped build the ceramic department’s programming to what it is today—one of the most active and popular clay schools in northern Arizona.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Northern Arizona Represented at SEMICON West

ECoNA with its municipality partners got a chance to promote northern Arizona to hundreds of semiconductor manufacturers and related businesses during the recent SEMICON West expo in San Francisco.

According to SEMI, the international trade organization that organizes the expo, global sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment are poised to reach $109 billion this year, a new industry record. ECoNA’s 5-year Strategic Plan identifies advanced manufacturing as one of the five sectors the region should pursue for economic development.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Join us for our next Prevention Council Zoom meeting on Aug. 1 to share your story

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.

The Council meets the first Thursday of the month.

Want to be a guest speaker at our next meeting? Send an email to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at coalition@coconinokids.org to be placed on the agenda.

The CCC&Y Prevention Council has its roots in our long history of child abuse prevention, our most recent work with substance misuse prevention and our overall commitment to understanding the protective factors, resiliency research and assets our community needs to thrive.

Theatrikos Theatre Co. August Newsletter — Big summer family musical Annie now playing!

Flagstaff’s big summer family musical Annie, which opened last Friday to a standing ovation, is already selling out some performances. The heartwarming classic, winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, is lighting up the Flagstaff stage.

“Annie is a wonderful musical for families. It’s such a feel-good story, gives a little taste of Christmas mid-summer, and lets everyone escape into history and song for a couple hours,”said chorus member Kim Hensley Owens.

Pinyon Plain Mine has begun Hauling Uranium Ore Through Coconino County

Coconino County has been notified by the United States Forest Service that the hauling of uranium ore from Pinyon Plain Mine near Grand Canyon National Park to White Mesa Mill in Utah began this morning.

The haul route begins south on SR 64 to Williams, heads east on Interstate 40 through Flagstaff, then north on US 89 to Tuba City, and then northeast on US 160. A map with the route indicated by the red and purple lines is attached. 

Kaibab National Forest considers new fiber optic line to support rural northern Arizona

FREDONIA — The Kaibab National Forest (KNF) is considering authorization of a new fiber optic line between Fredonia and Jacob Lake, Arizona. The need for high-speed internet connections grows as new technologies require faster and higher-grade services. As such, the USDA Rural Utility Services Reconnect program helps rural utilities expand and keep their technology up to date by increasing bandwidth and communications capabilities. South Central Utah Telephone Association Inc. (a.k.a. SCUTA) is making high-speed internet affordable by participating in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program and is proposing to install buried fiber optic line in rural northern Coconino County.

The NAU Review — Humans of NAU with Kimberly Higuera and more news

Humans of NAU
with Kimberly Higuera

Growing up in Mexico, Higuera dreamed of attending college in the U.S. She earned a degree at NAU, and now she’s fulfilling another dream—teaching English in Argentina as part of the Fulbright program. Learn more about why she fell in love with Flagstaff, what’s pulling her toward Argentina and what’s on her bucket list. 

Coconino County — Election Day is Next Tuesday, July 30

COCONINO COUNTY — Let’s prepare for Election Day! The Coconino County Elections Department encourages all voters to make a Plan to Vote in the Primary Election next Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

38 polling locations across the County, with 15 vote centers, will allow voters access to participate in this important democratic process and exercise their right to vote.

Full closure of Aspen Ave between Humphreys St and Beaver St scheduled for July 31

FLAGSTAFF — A full closure of Aspen Ave between Humphreys St and Beaver St is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31 so that crews can replace asphalt in the area. Work hours will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and local traffic will be allowed to enter and exit the Residence Inn parking lot. Beaver St will remain open with a single lane closure through the work zone. Through traffic on Aspen Ave will need to detour around the work zone utilizing Humphreys St, Cherry Ave and Leroux St. This work is part of the City’s annual Road Repair and Street Safety (RRSS) program.

Heritage Days Return to the North Rim Friday through Sunday

GRAND CANYON, Ariz — Heritage Days will return to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park Friday, August 2 through Sunday August 4th. Each day, Heritage Days programs and demonstrations will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. throughout the North Rim developed area. A special celebratory kick-off event will occur at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 1 at the North Rim Lodge. Heritage Days provide visitors and staff with the opportunity to experience and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the Colorado Plateau, Arizona Strip, and the Grand Canyon area.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Coalition compiles listing of Health and Welfare Resource Meetings in region

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY —  A variety of virtual health and welfare resource networking meetings are held each month in Coconino County. The meetings offer health professionals and representatives from a variety of governmental and non-profit organizations the opportunity to share information on upcoming programs and events that benefit the educational, health and welfare needs of children, youth and families throughout the region.

The following is a listing of some of those meetings. Please send any updates to frank@coconinokids.org

Coconino National Forest to lift fire restrictions Friday

FLAGSTAFF — Due to increased precipitation received across the Coconino National Forest, fire restrictions will be lifted at 8 a.m. tomorrow, July 26, 2024.

While forest-wide restrictions have been lifted, several areas of the Coconino National Forest are subject to permanent year-round fire restrictions, which will remain in effect.

Additionally, forest visitors are asked to adhere to best practices while building a campfire. Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires, and keep fires small. Never leave a campfire unattended. Use at least 6 gallons of water and a shovel to completely extinguish a campfire. Before leaving a campsite, make sure all campfires are dead out, wet and cold to the touch.

City of Flagstaff to lift fire restrictions Friday at 8 a.m.

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff will lift current fire restrictions and return to Stage 0 fire restrictions on Friday, July 26 at 8 a.m.

Under Stage 0 fire restrictions,

Smoking and use of electronic cigarettes are prohibited in all public places within the City of Flagstaff, including City Parks, Open Spaces, and the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) at all times.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Still Time to Register for Elevate PreK

Registration is still open for the upcoming year of Elevate PreK, the highly successful initiative that provides free, year-round, high-quality preschool education to 4-year-olds.

The program, developed as part of the LAUNCH Flagstaff initiative at United Way of Northern Arizona, is in its fourth year and will be housed at Evergreen Academy Preschool in Flagstaff.

Designed to provide equitable access to high-quality early education, Elevate PreK is open to 4-year-old children in households that have incomes between 101% and 250% of the federal poverty level.

The Grand 75th Annual Coconino County Fair is Fast Approaching

The Fair supports exhibits in agriculture and horticulture, fine arts, home economics, hobbies and collectibles, floriculture, schools, open youth categories, club work, gems and minerals, livestock and small stock. Exhibits are free or low cost to enter, supporting the talents and work of community members and providing opportunities to win prizes. The livestock auction also provides important funding for local farmers, especially young people, including education funding. 

The NAU Review — Could music improve health outcomes? Plus, try this delicious coffee milkshake and send us your best (or worst) jokes!

Everyone knows music has the power to heal the soul. But could it also measurably improve health and wellness outcomes? One research team at NAU is eager to find out. Researchers at the Center for Health Equity Research are working with a symphony of experts, including clinical professionals and Indigenous musicians, on a pilot project that will evaluate the benefits of music-based interventions on mental and physical health. 

United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) — KinderCamp™ 2024: Space, Safaris, and Success

Last month, more than 150 four- and five-year-olds in Flagstaff, Williams, and Pinetop-Lakeside received a preview of what school life will be like by attending KinderCamp™.

The targeted intervention program, provided free to families, is a signature early education initiative coordinated by United Way of Northern Arizona with local school districts. It provides students who have limited preschool experience with the academic and social skills they’ll need to successfully transition into kindergarten.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Camp Verde Embraces a New Era

Camp Verde is a town in transition.

The municipality of about 13,000 residents has changed leadership recently, with Town Manager Miranda Fisher coming on board in late May. Within a few weeks, Fisher promoted Economic Development Director Molly Davies to Deputy Town Manager. Davies, who is a member of the ECoNA Executive Board, will continue her role as ED director until a replacement can be found.

Fisher says that promoting Davies was in line with keeping economic development front and center for the Verde Valley community.

“All departments are vital, but I think in Camp Verde, economic development is one of the most essential, given the town’s desire to grow and increase business retention and recruitment,” Fisher said.

Coconino County Honored Again as 2024 NACo Digital Counties Survey Winner

This is the fifth consecutive year the Coconino County Information Technology Department has placed in the Top 10 counties within the up to 150,000 population category. The County is being recognized for Aligned Leadership, Cybersecurity, Constituent Centric, Data Driven Government, IT Investments, Resilience, Continuous Innovation, Connected Infrastructure, and Business Process Alignment. Some of the accomplishment areas to highlight are the citizen assistance application known as SeeClickFix, Digital Transformation, IT Security, and evacuation map enhancements.

Arguments Sought ‘For’ and ‘Against’ Coconino County Ballot Question

COCONINO COUNTY — On Nov. 5, 2024, Coconino County will hold an election asking voters to allow Coconino County to permanently adjust its 1979-80 base expenditure by the amount of $7.7 Million.

The additional expenditure authority would be used for County services and programs, including but not limited to law enforcement, road improvements and maintenance, emergency response, and other County services. The ballot question relates only to an adjustment in the base expenditure; it does not involve or result in a tax increase or decrease. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — See new updates to our Back to School events resource listing

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — Area school district officials and health care providers have been busy planning for a variety of Back to School events, including fall enrollment, freshman orientations for parents and students, meet the teacher events, school supply distributions and youth sports physicals.

Please check with individual school districts, health care providers and other organizations to confirm times, dates, other information.

The Coalition will continue to update this resource list. If you have a program you want us to include, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org (Updated July 16, 2024)