Flagstaff Pedestrian underpass construction moves forward; traffic pattern changing

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and their contractor, Eagle Mountain Construction, along with the Arizona Department of Transportation, have finished installing a portion of the large concrete structure for the new pedestrian underpass on the west side of Milton Road. With this work complete, crews will begin installing the remaining portion of the concrete structure and appurtenances on the east side of Milton Road.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Families celebrate variety of educational programs in Coconino County

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — From a student art exhibit to an after school carnival and a host of science workshops and activities, families have the opportunity to take part in a variety of educational programs in September.

As the month opened, families were able to view the 2024 Student Art Exhibit at the 2024 Coconino County Fair

Students from dozens of local public elementary, middle and high schools; charter schools and home-school students submitted a variety of entries, which were displayed at the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds’ Schools exhibit building. Please see photos below.

Upcoming events include the annual FACTS Lights On! Carnival at Bushmaster Park (Sept. 14) and the annual Flagstaff Festival of Science (Sept. 20-29), which includes Science in the Park (Sept. 21) at Wheeler Park in downtown Flagstaff.

Bilingual report — City of Flagstaff announces Neighborhood Sustainability Grants applications now open through Sept. 30

The Neighborhood Sustainability Grant (NSG) Program provides funding for creative projects that enhance community sustainability and promote healthy lifestyles through community partnerships.

The NSG Program for the year 2024 will award a total of $75,000, with maximum grants up to $7,500. The NSG is funded through the Environmental Management Fee. Local organizations, individuals, schools, and businesses whose projects are within Flagstaff city limits are eligible to apply. Applicants are eligible for one grant every other year.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — F3’s City Council Candidate Questionnaire Now Available

All six candidates named on the November general election ballot have answered the questions posed by F3 in our City Council Candidate Questionnaire. Flagstaff voter’s will decide who among the candidates will fill three open seats on City Council.

Eight questions addressing local issues and concernswere crafted by F3’s Board and Director. The candidates were asked to keep their replies to 150 words or less. We thank those who provided us with potential questions for the candidates.

There are many more questions to be asked of the council candidates and we encourage you to attend F3’s upcoming City Council Candidate Forum on September 23 (see below for details) and ask your questions.

View the candidate’s answers here:

Grand Canyon National Park to Reopen South Rim Hotels Sept. 5

GRAND CANYON, AZ. — Grand Canyon National Park will reopen hotels on the park’s South Rim beginning Thursday, September 5 and transition down to Stage 3 water restrictions.  

Park water utility crews successfully completed complex repairs to the Transcanyon Waterline late last week and resumed pumping water without identifying any new breaks. The park will operate under Stage 3 water restrictions until the water storage tanks have adequate capacity to return to routine water conservation practices.  

The NAU Review — Big news for the marching band + new ways researchers are tackling issues like homelessness and quantum computing

What are you doing on Thanksgiving Day 2025? The Lumberjack Marching Band just found out their plans: performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade! The band got the good news during halftime at Saturday’s football game against Lincoln University. There aren’t enough words to express how excited they are, so we got it on video.
Watch the video

United Way of Northern Arizona — Deadline to Register Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast is 3 pm TODAY

Welcome back from the holiday weekend!

Today (September 3rd) is the last day to register for our Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast at High Country Conference Center. We need to hear from you by 3 pm to make sure we save your seat!

Two of our honored guests at the kickoff will be this year’s Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, Northern Arizona University President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera and his wife, Dr. Rima Brusi, and we hope you enjoy learning more about them in the profile below.

But before you read it, if you haven’t already registered to join us for the Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast on September 13, please do it now!

Flagstaff’s Ballet Folklorico de Colores, The Outlaw Mariachi, Emotion Tropical and La Brazza Norteña to perform during the 75th annual Coconino County Fair

Also stop by the Coconino County booth near the fair’s north entrance to learn more about the county’s Diversity Councils (African Diaspora Advisory Council, the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council).

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff’s Ballet Folklorico de Colores, The Outlaw Mariachi, Emotion Tropical and La Brazza Norteña will perform during the the 75th annual Coconino County Fair at Fort Tuthill, Flagstaff.

The Coconino County Fair will be held Labor Day weekend starting 10 a.m. Friday Aug. 30 through 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, 2024.

Entertainment on the Main Stage on Friday, Aug. 30 includes:

8:00 PM – The Outlaw Mariachi (Website | Facebook | Instagram)

Performances on the Main Stage on Sunday, Sept. 1 include:

10:45 AM – Flagstaff’s Ballet Folklorico de Colores (Website | Facebook)

6:00 PM – Emocion Tropical (Facebook)

8:00 PM – La Brazza Norteña (Instagram | Facebook)

Discover Flagstaff — Coconino County Fair (Aug. 30-Sept. 2), Flagstaff Art in the Park (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) highlight weekend events

Coconino County Fair, Fort Tuthill County Park — Celebrate 75 years of the Coconino County Fair. 10 a.m.
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Flagstaff Art in the Park, Wheeler Park — Flagstaff Art in the Park features fabulous art shown by artists, live music, awesome food, kids activities, beer garden and more! 9:30 a.m. Free.

City of Flagstaff announces Labor Day closures

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff’s City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 in observance of Labor Day. City Hall offices will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024.

City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Labor Day include:

East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N. Fourth St.)
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library (300 W. Aspen Ave.)
Hal Jensen Recreation Center (2403 N. Izabel St.)
Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Time is Running Out to RSVP for Sept. 13 Kickoff Breakfast!

Time is running out to save your seat for our Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast at High Country Conference Center. We are bringing northern Arizonans together so that we can continue Leading the Way in making our communities stronger, more resilient, and a place where our youth can thrive.

The deadline to register for our event is Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Deadline approaching (Sept. 16) for exhibitors to participate in our new Arts & Crafts Vendors Plaza at the 2024 Celebraciones de la Gente

By Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces

The Museum of Northern Arizona and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces invite you to participate in the 21st annual Celebraciones de la Gente, a lively Day of the Dead Festival on Oct. 26, 27, 2024

Exhibitor booths will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Please click here to download and fill out a vendor application before we are sold out. The deadline is Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Send the completed application to ctaillac@musnaz.org or call (928) 440-6480

Theatrikos Theatre Co. September Newsletter — The Book of Will Opens October 4!

The Book of Will is a play by Lauren Gunderson that tells the story of William Shakespeare’s friends, Henry Condell, John Heminges and others, who are determined to preserve his work after his death. The play, set in Elizabethan London, takes place three years after Shakespeare’s death, when his plays are being pirated and performed incorrectly.

Grand Canyon Seeks Public Review and Comment on Park Section 106 Programmatic Agreement

GRAND CANYON, AZ. — The National Park Service (NPS) is beginning public review of a programmatic agreement to establish a more efficient process to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) in Grand Canyon National Park. Public comments will be accepted from August 29 – September 28, 2024.

Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider the effects of projects that are carried out, assisted, funded, permitted, or licensed by the federal government on historic properties. If a federal or federally assisted project has the potential to affect historic properties, a Section 106 review takes place.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The ECoNA Q&A: Dave Cheney

Dave Cheney is CEO & President at Northern Arizona Healthcare, leading Flagstaff Medical Center, Verde Valley Medical Center, primary care and specialty clinics throughout Northern Arizona. Prior to joining NAH, Dave served as President and CEO of Sutter Hospitals. He led six area CEOs and oversaw the 24 hospitals within the Sutter Health System, following his tenure as CEO of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. 

Cheney is a member of the ECoNA Board. Below is an excerpt from our recent interview with him. You can see the full interview here.

Coconino County Parks & Recreation September 2024 Update

Join us to celebrate 75 years of the Coconino County Fair! Get excited for fun rides, delicious fair food, awesome exhibits, animals, entertainment, fun, and memories!

Join us Friday, August 30 to Monday, September 2, at the Fort Tuthill County Fairgrounds!

Entertainment Headliners Friday, 8:00: The Outlaw Mariachi Saturday, 8:00: RaeLynn
Sunday, 8:00: La Brazza Norteña Monday, 2:00: Sonoran Dogs

Havasupai Canyon Flood Recovery Effort

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By the Havasupai Tribe

GRAND CANYON — Many of you have asked how you can assist the Havasupai Tribe following the effects of last week’s flash flood. The Tribe is so appreciative of the generosity of so many people.

Grand Canyon Caverns Inn can accept donations at any time.

Our focus is on rebuilding and repairing our community and providing supplies for our tribal members.

We thank you in advance for your donation.

Here is a link to the Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3B3UA7JCYD75G…

Flagstaff Festival of Science — Reserve your keynote tickets!

Reserve your FREE keynote tickets today. The W. L. Gore & Associates Keynote Presentation with Jana Eggers takes place Friday, September 20 at NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium.

Doors open at 6 p.m. followed by an exciting AI-inspired ballet performance at 6:30 p.m. with NAU Community Music and Dance Academy. The performance explores how artificial intelligence can enhance the creative process, and highlights the fusion of human artistry and technological innovation.

Grand Canyon National Park to Temporarily Close Overnight Hotel Accommodations Beginning Aug. 29 

GRAND CANYON, AZ.—Grand Canyon National Park will implement Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim starting the afternoon of Thursday, August 29, due to a series of four significant breaks in the 12½ mile-long Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the canyon for use in the park. Since July 8, the park has faced challenges with water supply, and currently, no water is being pumped to either the South or North Rim. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Get details on upcoming youth and family events including the 2024 Coconino County Fair Student Art Exhibit

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — While Summer vacation is over for many families in Coconino County, there are still plenty educational and fun activities available for youth in the region, including the 2024 Coconino County Fair Student Art Exhibit (Aug. 30 through Sept. 2).

Students from dozens of local public elementary, middle and high schools; charter schools and home-school students have submitted a variety of entries, which will be displayed in the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds’ Schools exhibit building.

See more upcoming community and back-to-school events below. Please check with individual school districts, health care providers and other organizations to confirm times, dates of back-to-school information listed below.

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. Thank you.

(Updated Aug. 27, 2024)

Supervisor Patrice Horstman — District 1 Summer Newsletter 2024!

IN THIS ISSUE

Hello from Supervisor Horstman
New Coconino County Leadership
BOS Approves 2025 Budget
BOS Canvassed 2024 Primary Election Results
Pipeline / Copeland / Peaceful Way / Government Tank – Flood Control District Update
Pinyon Mine Is Hauling Uranium Ore
Proposition 482 Sustains County Services
Lake Mary Recreation Corridor Just Gets Better
Flagstaff Family Food Center Hosts 2024 Northern Arizona Anti-Hunger Summit
BOS Continues its Leadership at National Association of Counties Conference
Summer Events / Festivities
Upcoming Events

The NAU Review — Welcome back, Lumberjacks! Highlights from move-in, meet the new ASNAU president and don’t miss the welcome back BBQ

LumberSNAPS: Return of the Jacks

The new academic year is already off to an axe-citing start! Last week, the Flagstaff mountain campus buzzed with fresh energy as new students moved into residence halls, gathered at welcome events like Lumberjack Launch and donned matching T-shirts for the annual NAU letters portrait. More beginning-of-the-year fun is ahead this week, including the start of classes, the first football game of the season and the Running of the Freshmen, a beloved Lumberjack tradition.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — Alert: Coconino County Recorder Candidate Debate Tuesday, Aug. 27

F3 has just learned that Arizona Clean Elections Commissionhas organized a debate between Coconino County’s two candidates for the position of Recorder: Aubrey Sondereggerand Bob Thorpe. The candidates will be on the November 2024 General Election ballot.

The County Recorder is responsible for voter registration, early voting, as well as processing and maintaining voter registration records, among other tasks. The Recorder serves a four-year term.

The debate will be broadcast virtually on Tuesday, August 27 starting at 6:00 pm on YouTube. This debate can be accessed live here. Write-in questions to the candidates can be emailed to debates@azcleanelections.gov, sent by text to 408-302-1810, or by calling 480-937-1253 in real time during the debate.

New rates for water, sewer, and reclaimed water take effect Sept. 1, 2024

FLAGSTAFF —New rates and fees for potable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services will take effect Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024 for Flagstaff City customers. The rates will increase over a five-year period to adequately fund water infrastructure projects, operations, maintenance, and debt repayment contained in the five-year capital improvement program for Flagstaff Water Services.