Coconino County Board of Supervisors Recognizes Winners of Elections Sticker Design Contest

“With the generous support of the EAC Help America Vote College Program grant, the Coconino County Elections Department successfully organized a sticker design contest,” said Eslir Musta, Coconino County Elections Director. “This initiative not only deepened our partnership with Northern Arizona University but also motivated NAU students to join us at the polls, spreading these stickers far and wide. Furthermore, by integrating English, Navajo, Hopi, and Spanish languages into a single design, we celebrated and embraced the linguistic diversity of our community.” 

Andreani Recognized for Post-Wildfire Recovery Accomplishments with 2024 Phoenix Award

Andreani was nominated for the award on the merits of her leadership in post-wildfire flood response in Coconino County, where she has dedicated many years of service in the pursuit of solution-oriented approaches to both wildfire recovery and forest restoration. Andreani has also served on the federal Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, testified to Congress about wildfire response, and developed a network of partnerships and education to support wildfire response in communities throughout the Western United States.  

Installation of traffic calming infrastructure to begin in Boulder Pointe neighborhood

FLAGSTAFF — Work to install traffic calming infrastructure in the Boulder Pointe neighborhood and on Woodland Dr will begin on Monday, May 20 and will be complete in August 2024. The purpose of the project is to address speeding concerns in thearea by installing traffic calming measures that include traffic circles, pedestrian crossings and curb bump outs. The project will occur at five locations:

Art Workshops at Sedona Arts Center

Creating the Abstract Landscape
with Amanda Hawkins
May 22 – 24 : Wednesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm Daily

There is a sweet spot of overlap between the traditions of abstraction and contemporary landscape painting where mark-making and the implications of planar structure combine with color and light to create a magical realm of newly discovered space.

Bilingual report — NAU conducting survey on stress on Latina mothers. Also seeking Community Advisory Board members

FLAGSTAFF — Northern Arizona University is conducting a survey on stress on Latina mothers. 

Complete a 30–40-minute survey and receive a $25 gift card

After completing the survey, you may be selected to join our Community Advisory Board!

Total Compensation up to $350

The community advisory board members will inform the development of a stress and coping program for Latina mothers*

Community celebrates Cinco de Mayo with annual dance at the American Legion in Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF — Community members spent a lively evening dancing, enjoying bowlfulls of posole, participating and having a good time during the annual Cinco de Mayo Dance, featuring Los Alambrados, held at the American Legion Mark A. Moore Post 3 on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

The event was presented by the American Legion Auxiliary and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces.

Vendor Applications now available for the 2024 Celebraciones de la Gente at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff

The Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces invite you to participate in the annual Celebraciones de la Gente, a lively Day of the Dead festival on October 26 & 27, 2024.

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

Please click here to download and fill out a vendor application.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Register now for 2024 Summer Camps. See our listing

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

The following is a listing compiled by CCC&Y of upcoming summer camps in Coconino County. Contact individual programs for more information on their 2024 summer camps. (Updated May 6, 2024).

Please check with individual organizations to confirm times, dates, other information.

If your organization would like to be added to this listing, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org

May at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Dear Museum Friends,

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy a vibrant array of activities we have lined up over the coming weeks. I’ll share some highlights but be sure to scroll down to see all the happenings at MNA.

International Museum Day is May 18 and we’re offering free admission all day long. It’s an ideal chance to enjoy the Museum exhibits and some special events alongside your friends and family – absolutely free of charge.

Get ready for the unveiling of a captivating new exhibit, The Grand Canyon Dragon Map. I had the opportunity to see this extraordinary geology map during a rafting trip on the Colorado River in 2022. It immediately drew me in with its intricate details, colors, and design. This exhibit delves into the creation of the map in the 1970s, its applications today, and the stunning geology it depicts. Whether you’re a geology buff, an admirer of the Grand Canyon, or someone who appreciates exquisite maps, this exhibit promises to be an engaging experience.

Upper Rio de Flag Forest Restoration Project Moves Forward to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Flagstaff

COCONINO COUNTY — Since its launch in early March, the Upper Rio de Flag Forest Restoration Project has reached important initial milestones toward the goal of reducing the significant wildfire and post-wildfire flood risks that face the greater Flagstaff area.

Spearheaded by the Coconino National Forest and the Coconino County Flood Control District, the Upper Rio de Flag Forest Restoration Project targets roughly 12,000 acres across six priority areas in the first phase of its forest restoration treatments.

The NAU Review — Water in space? Rocket science? It’s not science fiction—it’s what NAU students have been up to lately

The where, why and how of water in space

Laura Lee, a Ph.D. student in astronomy and planetary science, is one of three graduate students to be selected for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program, a prestigious funding opportunity that supports students in STEM fields. Using a variety of techniques with instruments on Earth and in space, Lee is mapping water in the Solar System to better understand how and where this critical element is located on other celestial bodies. In addition to her groundbreaking research, Lee’s career goals include community education and promoting opportunities for women, people of color and first-generation students in planetary science.

Speed Limit Lowered on Lake Mary Road to Aid Wolf Fire Backburning Operations

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Public Works Department has lowered the top speed limit to 35 mph along the southernmost 10 miles of Lake Mary Road in support of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) backburning operations for the Wolf Fire.

The 35-mph speed limit is in effect on Lake Mary Road between Milepost 300.5, which is located about five miles south of Happy Jack, to the junction with State Route 87. Electronic message boards are also in place to notify motorists of the speed limit reduction.

The reduced speed limit is being implemented for the safety of firefighters who are working alongside Lake Mary Road, and for the traveling public due to potentially heavy smoke from backburning operations that could obscure visibility and create hazardous driving conditions. 

Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) May-June 2024 E-Newsletter

NACA accepts & provides services to all ethnic groups and all ages while focusing on whole-family health care. We pride ourselves in focusing on Native American health care, with the whole person in mind. Specialty care referrals are available for all patients. Referrals are also available to Native American patients through the Indian Health Services facilities in Flagstaff and in surrounding areas.

Vol 3 Issue 3
May – June 2024

Coconino National Forest to resume prescribed fire plans next week following rain-induced delay

FLAGSTAFF  — Coconino National Forest fire managers will resume spring prescribed fire plans following an unexpected delay due to precipitation across northern Arizona.

“Last weekend’s snow and rain is an example of why we always frame our prescribed fire plans as ‘tentative’ until we can conduct our pre-project test fire,” said Jason Clawson, Coconino National Forest Fire Staff Officer.

Successful prescribed fire requires ideal conditions. “Hazardous fuels” – including pine needle accumulation, dead and down trees and decaying plant matter on forest floors – need to be dry enough to burn at a low rate of intensity, but not too dry as to burn hot and fast.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Discover the FREE Dolly Parton Imagination Library

United Way of Northern Arizona has launched a campaign to add 200 more children in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library by the end of this summer.

The free book program is available to all children from birth to five years old and does not have any income eligibility requirements. The country music icon started the program in 1995 to honor her father, a sharecropper in Tennessee.

“He was the smartest man I have ever known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams,” she said.

The Imagination Library started in Parton’s home county with the goal of providing every preschool child there with a library of books to encourage a love of reading and learning.

The initiative was so successful that she began offering the program to any community that would support it financially. It now sends out more than 2 million free books each month to children around the world, mailing them directly to families.

Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045 Update — online survey, in-person open house on May 9 and 11

Option 2: In-Person Open House

Thursday, May 9th from 6 PM – 8 PM
Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff – 301 S. Paseo Del Flag, Flagstaff AZ

Saturday, May 11th from 9 AM – 11 AM
Hal Jensen Recreation Center – 2403 N. Izabel St., Flagstaff AZ

Childcare will be provided at the Open Houses. Please visit bit.ly/RPOpenHouseChildcare to reserve childcare. Parents or guardians will be asked to sign a waiver upon arrival, which can be downloaded here.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — April 29-May 3, 2024

Town of Tusayan Weekend of Festivities—May 3-5

The Town of Tusayan is sponsoring several astronomy events and a Cinco de Mayo festival May 3-5.

On Friday, May 3, there will be a free showing of ‘Deep Sky’ an IMAX film on the images from the Webb telescope, and the ‘Grand Canyon Rivers of Time’ at the IMAX theater at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, May 4, there will be a drone and light show after dusk at the Tusayan Sports Complex with telescope viewing available.

Tusayan’s second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration will take place on Sunday, May 5 at the Squire Resort. The fiesta takes place from 4 to 9:30 p.m., is family-friendly, free, and open to the community. There will also be lawn games, Mexican music and dancing, and a variety of authentic Mexican foods for guests to enjoy.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — 2024 Coconino County Teacher of the Year Winners Announced

By the Coconino County

FLAGSTAFF — Under the bright lights of recognition and applause, the 2024 Coconino County Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony was a resounding success, honoring educators whose dedication and innovation illuminate the path to excellence in education.

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget proudly announces the recipients of the 2024 awards:

• Teacher of the Year: Jeremiah Smith of Coconino High School
• Rookie Teacher of the Year: Emily Cartwright of Eva Marshall Magnet Elementary School
• Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Jeanne Crookston of Fredonia Elementary School District and Dr. Rick McEnaney of Flagstaff High School

The ceremony, held at the High Country Conference Center on Thursday, April 25, 2024, gathered educators, administrators, and community members to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these outstanding educators.

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE

North Rim of Grand Canyon to reopen May 15 for 2024 season  

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. –The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Sunday, May 15 at 6 a.m. to mark the official start of the 2024 season. Grand Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will also commence their 2024 seasonal operations on this date.

Visitor services, including the campground, Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore and the Backcountry Information Office will open at 8 a.m. Information on daily Park Ranger programs will be available at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk through October 15. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, groceries, retail, food and beverage services, shower and laundry and the gas station, will also open May 15. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner service. The last day of the 2024 season for most commercial services will be October 15, 2024.

Tickets still available at the door on May 4 for annual Cinco de Mayo Dance in Flagstaff featuring Los Alambrados

FLAGSTAFF — The American Legion Auxiliary and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will present their annual Cinco de Mayo Dance, featuring Los Alambrados, from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the American Legion Mark A. Moore Post 3, 204 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff.

Tickets are $20 per person / $35 per couple.