Grand Canyon National Park seeks public comment on the Grand Canyon Railway wooden ballast bridge

GRAND CANYON — The National Park Service (NPS) is beginning a public review of a programmatic agreement to remove and replace the Grand Canyon Railway wooden ballast bridge at the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park. Public comments will be accepted from Feb. 7 until midnight, March 7, 2024. 

The wooden ballast bridge, constructed in 1925-26, is in poor condition resulting in safety concerns. The bridge crosses over Bright Angel Wash, north of the historic Powerhouse building and Village Loop Bypass Road, in Grand Canyon Village. Trains cross daily over this bridge as they travel between Williams, Arizona, and Grand Canyon Village, providing the only train access into a United States national park. 

CCC&Y provides variety of free online training including ‘Thriving Families’

he Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth provides a variety of free online training programs for parents, caregivers and all community members.

Our free Thriving Families webinar is a great starting place for parents, caregivers and community members brand new to the topics such as brain development, adverse childhood experiences, resilience and mindfulness.  It is a great jumping off place to go deeper in knowledge and support through the rest of our library of webinars.

With thousands of views across our various topics, we are sure there is something for all community members and professionals.  Whether you are seeking the best info for your family, your community or a program you work for, get a taste for our research supported prevention and community work.

Sedona Arts Center — Sign up for these creative art classes today!

Color Clinic
with Gretchen Lopez
February 17-18 : Saturday–Sunday, 10am to 4:30pm

Learn how to achieve harmony and continuity in your paintings by mixing color from a limited palette.  Have fun as we explore and discover how to use simple methods of mixing paint to gain confidence and a better understanding of how color works.  Get ready to apply what we learn to a still life, abstract, and landscape! Instructor demonstrations and individual attention provided.

The NAU Review — Delivering medical care to extreme athletes, free hearing healthcare for all and creating an equitable food system in Flagstaff

When Ian McLeod isn’t mountain biking or teaching at NAU’s Phoenix Bioscience Core, he’s working with some of the biggest names in extreme sports. Since 2011, the athletic trainer and physician assistant has served as an on-course medical responder at the Winter X Games, where famed athletes converge from across the globe to compete in extreme skiing, snowboarding and more. Working at the X Games has enriched McLeod’s teaching: He often uses those real-world experiences as case studies in the classroom.

Lockett-Fourth Street Roundabout project delayed

FLAGSTAFF — The Lockett-Fourth Street Roundabout project construction schedule has been delayed and construction is now expected to be completed in 2025. The full intersection closure of Lockett Road, Cedar Avenue and Fourth Street required to construct the project will now take place during the summer of 2025. The delay was caused by complexities related to utility relocations, right-of-way acquisitions, finalizing the project design, and amendments to the Intergovernmental Agreement.

Sedona Arts Center — Celebrate Sedona Rescheduled due to impending weather to: Sunday, Feb. 25

FOOD, WINE, BEER, ARTIST DEMOS, SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Celebrate Sedona engages the local community while celebrating and
featuring local and regional arts, food and drink! Held at Sedona Arts Center,
Celebrate Sedona is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of our
community’s music, food, drink, and artistry.

Flagstaff STEM City — 2023-24 STEMMY Award Nominations Due by Feb. 16

These annual awards are given to students, teachers, and organizations who are STEM Leaders in our community. Winners will be announced at the STEMMY Awards Ceremony March 7th at the Coconino Center for the Arts.

Nomination Forms:

Student of the Year

Teacher of the Year

Community Partner of the Year

Business of the Year

Deadline for nominations is February 16th.

District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez — November 2023 — January 2024 Newsletter

Message from Jeronimo
TOP 10 Accomplishments and Events for 2023
Welcome to New District 3 Supervisor Adam Hess
Holiday Celebrations
Tackling the Affordable Housing Crisis
Flood Mitigation Activities
Fire Management
Transportation News
Coconino County Legislative News
County Supervisors Association (CSA) Board Meetings
Board of Supervisors Proclamations
Coconino County Diversity Council Activities
Re-entry Program in Coconino County
New Coconino County Youth Mental Health Hub
Supervisor Vasquez Conferences
Coconino County and Community Events
District 2 Neighborhood Meetings
Welcome to Mary Knight – Coconino County’s New Rural Broadband Manager
Supervisor Vasquez Remembers Benally Klee
Coconino County Job Opportunities
Coconino County Services and Programs

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: January 29-February 2, 2024

What’s going on with the Transcanyon Waterline Project?

Since initial construction activities began on the South Rim nearly a year ago, the focus was on developing the construction sites and various South Rim facilities. Currently, the two new raw water tanks, laydown and staging areas, Staging Road, and contractor support facilities are nearly completed. Construction for the South Rim water treatment plant and Helibase infrastructure are well underway. New helicopter landing pads are completed and much of the concrete foundations and conduit lines are installed for the facilities at both of those construction areas.

Coconino County Opens New Elections Center in Flagstaff

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Elections Department announced (this week) the opening of the new Elections Center in Flagstaff. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, and was attended by local dignitaries, including Arizona SOS Adrian Fontes.

The new Elections Center, spanning 9,000-square-feet, provides space for the entire Elections Department staff to work on-site, consolidating operations under one roof.

The NAU Review — NAU celebrates Black History Month, a father and daughter qualify for World Triathlon and the life of an educator—PLUS a soup recipe you have to try!

Celebrate Black heritage and excellence

Black History Month signifies a time for celebration and remembrance of the contributions that the Black and African American communities have made to American history and the world. Remembering these contributions all year long is crucial for everyone to understand that this vibrant community is deeply rooted in the history of the country, Arizona and NAU. 

Sedona Arts Center — Vision and Sound : An African American Experience

An immersive arts experience, Vision & Sound broadens the understanding and appreciation of African American art and music for multigenerational and multicultural audiences. The educational event, which features an exhibition, lectures, artist demonstrations, musical performances and a symposium, builds supportive relationships to encourage cultural equity throughout Arizona and beyond, recognizing that professional American artists of African descent are too often overlooked.  
 

Grand Canyon National Park Announces 2025 Noncommercial River Trip Lottery Period

GRAND CANYON — On Feb. 1, 2024, the National Park Service will begin accepting applications for noncommercial river trip permits to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park for specific launch dates within calendar year 2025.

A total of 482 permits will be available for 12- to 25-day river trips. Eligible individuals may apply online at the weighted lottery website: https://grcariverpermits.nps.gov. Applications will be accepted online through noon Mountain Standard Time on Monday, February 26, 2024.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Coalition votes to support proposed Child Tax Credit bill

The Board of Directors of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth has voted to support a proposed House of Representatives bill that would expand Child Tax Credit refunds for parents.

The bill, which has received broad bipartisan support, passed the House Ways and Means Committee last week by a 40 to 3 vote. is sponsored by U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.).

“Sixteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead,” Wyden stated on Jan. 16 in a U.S. Senate Committee of Finance media release. …

January Contreras, chief executive office and president of the Children’s Action Alliance, made a presentation on the bill to the board during its monthly meeting on Jan. 22.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Introducing Tempy Wessel, UWNA’s Northeast Arizona Representative

United Way of Northern Arizona is pleased to announce that Tempy Wessel, a native of Joseph City and former member of W.L. Gore & Associates, has accepted the position of Northeast Arizona Representative for UWNA.

Wessel’s family’s history in Northeast Arizona has gone back for generations, with her family originally coming to Joseph City as ranchers. They soon became involved in local, county, and state government, and Tempy’s great grandfather was a federal magistrate in Holbrook for many years.

After retiring from W.L. Gore, she and her husband, David, moved back to Joseph City, where they manage a community center that serves as a meeting place for local clubs and the Chamber of Commerce.

“This region is the place that most feels like home to me,” she said. “Being the Northeast Representative isn’t just a job; it’s my heart.”

Pile burns planned (for Jan. 31) on Coconino National Forest

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest will conduct pile burns in two different locations (for Jan. 31).

The Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) will burn 1,320 acres of piles located at Willard Springs, 5 miles north of Munds Park.

Smoke impact is anticipated to be minimal but may briefly affect Interstate 17.

The Mogollon Rim Ranger District (MRRD) will burn 2 acres of piles located at Bly Pit, 14 miles northeast of Clints Well.

There are no anticipated road or trail closures due to any of the pile burn projects. Please refrain from calling dispatch lines if you see smoke from these pile burns so lines can remain open for any emergencies.

Theatrikos Theatre Co. — February Newsletter – Charming comedy Harvey playing now through Feb. 11

“Harvey is the first show of our 2024 season,” said Theatrikos executive director Chris Verrill. 2024 season tickets are now available. “Theatrikos has an amazing season of shows lined up for 2024. A season that includes two major musicals, Annie and Elf, plus Men on Boats, a show about JW Powell’s first trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.”
Harvey—February
Gods of Comedy—April
Men on Boats—June
Annie—August
Book of Will—October
Elf—December

Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) Newsletter January Edition

In this edition

• Happy 2024 New Year
• Important Information about AHCCCS
• Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Summit for Parents and Professionals. • • • Scholarships available
• Spotlight : Alissa Jones – Community Connector
• Learning Through Play – Educational Experts Video
• Upcoming Training Opportunities for Parents
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Resources

Sedona Arts Center — LAST CALL TO ARTISTS – Apply Now!

On behalf of Sedona Arts Center, we would like to invite you to participate in this historical exhibit: Celebrating 65 Years in Ceramics.  The exhibit will be held in the Special Exhibitions Gallery at Sedona Arts Center from April 3-26, 2024.

The People’s Choice Award will be awarded at the end of the exhibit with a cash prize of $1,000.

DEADLINE for submission: February 2, 2024

Sedona Arts Center — Sign up for these creative art classes today!

Painting the Southwest Desert
with Gretchen Lopez
February 3 : Saturday, 10am to 4:30pm

Not only is life abundant in our great Southwest Desert, but as an artist, I can see wonderful textures, nuances in color and the way light influences the way we see it in the morning and in the late afternoon!

Working from photo references, learn to capture the drama and beauty of our great Southwest. Find out how your brush strokes can create marvelous areas of interesting texture, along with experimenting with color and composition!

Previous drawing skills are a must!

The NAU Review — Class in the Grand Canyon, fighting for women in tech and getting to know Lumberjack mainstay Christy Farley

Find out in the Grand Canyon Semester, one of the longest-running honors semesters in the country. Available to all undergraduate students, the unique course touches on the Grand Canyon’s geology, the environmental concerns that threaten it and the Indigenous people who have called it home for centuries. Uniquely, class discussions often take place on the trail, on the Colorado River or over the campfire. Professor Ted Martinez wants students to learn how to think critically and solve problems in less-than-ideal circumstances. But mostly, he wants them to leave having learned to trust themselves.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Home Rental Landscape in Flagstaff

According to statistics from the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors, the surge in home prices in Flagstaff slowed down dramatically in 2023. After increases of 11.8% in 2020, 25.2% in 2021, and 13.6% in 2022, the median sales price for a residential home grew 1.3% in the past year – from $618,697 in 2022 to $626,500 last year.

Although the latest figures may indicate that the price to buy a home has reached a plateau, rental property prices are still climbing.

District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman — December 2023 / January 2024 District 1 Newsletter

Hello District 1 Residents,
It’s a new year, filled with hope and promise. It’s a good time to
reflect on where we’ve been and look forward to where the new
year will take us. I hope you enjoy this look back at some of the
highlights for District 1. Hopefully, you have had an opportunity
to reflect on your own highlights for 2023.
As we move into 2024, I look forward to working together to
create a Coconino County that serves our large and diverse
District. Wishing you a year of renewal, resilience, optimism,
strength, grace, and peace in 2024.
Onward together.
Patrice

City of Flagstaff Program Year 2024 CDBG Notice of Funding Availability

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is proud to announce the availability of Community Development Block Grant Funds for the 2024 Program Year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). Please see below for more information about the development of the City’s Annual Action Plan and Public Participation Process

Organizations interested in applying for CDBG funding can find the Notice of Funding Availability attached or at the City of Flagstaff webpage at: https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/626/Community-Development-Block-Grants

Indigenous language interpreters needed for Coconino County courts

COCONINO COUNTY — Are you a fluent speaker of an Indigenous language spoken in Coconino County?

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council is recruiting Indigenous language interpreters for Coconino County courts!

If you are interested in developing skills for freelance court interpreting for these or other Indigenous Languages of Arizona, please contact the office of the court interpreter for more information.