What happened at NAU in 2023? From exciting grants and university announcements to Homecoming photos and inspirational student stories, relive some of the highlights you may have missed last year in The NAU Review with this list of most read stories (and a few of our other favorites)!
Observing the Winter Night Sky
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 23, 30, and Feb. 6
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Locate and identify the sparkling gems of the winter night sky & learn how different telescopes work and how to use them.
Winter Sky – Learn more and register!
SEE MORE HERE
As we begin 2024, I’m looking forward to working with our state’s early childhood stakeholders – including parents and caregivers, child care and health providers, state and non-profit agencies, educators, businesses, philanthropists, faith organizations, policymakers and elected leaders – as partners in addressing children’s school readiness.
To help with those efforts, I am pleased to announce that First Things First has published the latest edition of Building Bright Futures – our biennial assessment on the status of Arizona’s youngest children. You can read more about the report on our latest blog.
The new report provides insight into the challenges facing young children in Arizona and details the need for continued work to ensure the future stability of child care in our state’s post-pandemic landscape.
Our 2024 Spring Catalog has been printed and is getting ready to ship – so check your mailbox next week! Until then – you can preview it online at SedonaArtsCenter.org
FLAGSTAFF — The Point in Time is right around the corner and we need volunteers!
The Point in Time or PIT count is a HUD requirement for COC’s nationally. The count provides a snapshot of those experiencing homelessness at a single point in time. It is an opportunity to collect some basic data used to measure homelessness on a national, state and local level. Data is used for system and program planning and to measure progress in ending homelessness.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Sustainability Commission are pleased to announce this year’s Neighborhood Sustainability Grant recipients. The Neighborhood Sustainability Grant program is an annual grant opportunity for Flagstaff individuals, organizations, and businesses to continue or implement new community sustainability projects. This year, 13 of an impressive 31 applicants received grant funding in amounts ranging from $2,150 to $7,500.
FLAGSTAFF — Fire managers on the Coconino National Forest plan to take advantage of winter weather conditions by conducting pile burns on both the Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) and Mogollon Rim Ranger District (MRRD) this week.
The FRD has multiple pile burn projects planned between Monday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 12.
Cocoon Monthly Dance Party w/Bear Cole, The McMillan
Cocoon – Come Out Of It – Every First Saturday at The McMillan in Historic Downtown. 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6.
Learn More
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Calendar of Events for Youth at the Downtown and East Flagstaff Community Libraries, Arizona Author Series Watch Party on Jan 18.
Yesterday, lawmakers from the Senate and House’s Health and Human Services Committees debated whether and for how long the Department of Child Safety should be allowed to continue, as part of the agency’s sunset review. While authorized to recommend continuation for up to 10 years, the Committee voted yesterday to endorse continuation for just 4 years, with two members voting against the continuing of DCS at all.
Children’s Action Alliance provided public comment in support of continuation, noting the progress the agency has made since its inception 10 years ago in clearing a significant backlog of investigations, increasing supports for kinship foster parents, and strengthening services for young people as they transition from foster care to independence. CAA also acknowledged that there is much work to be done.
Coconino County is ready for the inaugural snowstorms of 2024, the first of which hit northern Arizona late Wednesday and is forecast to continue through Thursday.
Public Works crews have been working through the night to keep County roads open and passable during the storm and the Facilities Management team is preparing County buildings for cold and icy conditions.
According to the National Weather Service a second, stronger snowstorm with higher snowfall accumulations is forecast for the region starting early Sunday.
This storm has already created hazardous travel conditions due to slick, snow covered roads and periods of reduced visibility. Mountain travel delays are expected, and motorists are advised to plan trips accordingly or delay travel if necessary. Very cold and potentially dangerous temperatures are forecast following this storm.
For up-to-date regional weather information please visit www.weather.gov/fgz/WinterWeather. For updates on highway conditions please visit www.az511.gov.
FLAGSTAFF — As winter embraces Flagstaff, the City is introducing its new Snow Hero Program to increase safety and accessibility to our neighborhoods. The program assists Flagstaff community members in need of help clearing their sidewalks of snow and ice by matching them with a Snow Hero Participant. The City is looking for community members to serve as Snow Heroes this winter.
The Snow Hero Program is a community-driven effort to support sidewalk snow and ice clearing throughout Flagstaff. As a Snow Hero, you will be matched with a nearby neighbor who has registered for assistance. Your role will be to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk(s) adjacent to their property within 48 hours following a snow event.
WILLIAMS — Fire managers will be conducting prescribed pile burns throughout the winter season as conditions safely allow. Winter is often the ideal time for crews to burn piles of slash and woody debris left over from forest thinning projects because colder temperatures and snow help moderate fire behavior and keep it from spreading beyond the piles. Approximately 5,000 acres of piles on the Tusayan and Williams ranger districts and 2,500 acres of piles on the North Kaibab Ranger District are slated for burning this season.
Are you a parent with an intellectual disability?
Join our Advisory Board
We are looking for parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) to make this project even better by joining the Advisory Board. We will meet twice before July 2024 for about an hour. You will be given $150 for each meeting you attend.
We are working to improve access to high-quality parenting support for parents with Intellectual Disabilities (ID).
View this email in your browser With the end of the year in sight, it’s so fun to reflect on the amazing journey we’ve had. We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who supported FLYRS in…
Building Bright Futures: One Student at a Time
Every student who walks across the stage, diploma in hand, is a testament to our important work and inspires us to keep moving forward. These students are the future of Arizona – and with each degree, we are closer to reaching our state’s Achieve60AZ attainment goal.
Here are just a few of the ways our work has made an impact on students’ lives this year:
To me, the excitement around STEM is the potential for discovery, new fields of study and applications that make people’s lives better – both in the day-to-day and in the grander scheme of human exploration and endeavor.
Inspired by my fascination with STEM, I earned my degree in agriculture and plant science from the University of Arizona. I later went on to start my education career and taught 7th grade biology in Yuma and I’ve been working in education for the past 20 years.
We are looking for home visitors to share their knowledge and experiences by interviewing with us for an hour.
We are working to improve access to high-quality parenting support for parents with intellectual disabilities (ID).
2023 is almost over, and it’s time to reflect on what an exciting year it has been. We are so happy to have you all a part of FLYRS as we reached greater heights than ever before. With nearly 1000 youth served this year, we have worked further toward our mission of developing resilient, caring, and growth oriented youth through cycling. Thanks to your support, we have been able to strengthen our community by providing an ecosystem of bike-centric programs, events, and opportunities.
Check out this short reel of some fun moments from 2023.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
We want to wish you all a very Happy 2024.
We are so thankful for the support you have shown CCC&Y over the years. We are looking forward to continuation of our Trauma-Informed systems work with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County under the “Reimagine Community” program and we are excited to expand our webinar offerings in the coming year. We will be having guest presenters, new outreach, more prevention and more healing!
We are hoping to count on you for support!
If you need to renew a membership, would like to make a donation, would like to give the gift of membership during the holiday season etc….please visit https://coconinokids.org/contribute/
P.S.,
Change is coming in 2024 for our popular News website and our weekly e-newsletter. Our News website is currently under construction and will eventually merge with our main website this year.
As part of that move, our regular weekly e-newsletter is also transitioning to a fresh look for 2024.
And we want your help!
Please CLICK HERE to submit your suggestions to help us better design a weekly e-newsletter that better meets your needs in 2024.
Thank you to everyone who has already provided some great suggestions for our newsletter. Very much appreciated.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Solid Waste Section has published the 2024 schedule for bulky waste collection, which is provided to all single-family households within Flagstaff city limits. Bulky waste collection will continue to be performed in five geographic sections throughout the City once every five weeks per the map and schedule that can be downloaded at flagstaff.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/77841.
Sedona Arts Center Artists of all levels, working in all mediums are invited to enter into our Annual Juried Exhibition & Sale. The exhibition will run from March 6-31, 2024
Monetary awards will be given for First Place/Best of Show Award ($500), Second ($250) and Third ($150) place.
Honorable mention awards will be awarded at the discretion of the jurors and no monetary amount attached.
People’s Choice Award is announced at the end of the show. No monetary attached.
DEADLINE for submission: January 26, 2024
How to Apply:
43rd JURIED ART EXHIBITION – Apply Online at Cafe – Click Here.
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Ranger District plans to conduct pile burns throughout this week in three locations near the City of Flagstaff.
The Horse Park pile burn consists of approximately 2,000 acres of slash piles just north of Munds Park, located 13 miles south of Flagstaff near Forest Road 700. Crews plan to burn Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Friday, Jan. 5.
Crews will burn a small pile located at the Mormon Lake Work Center, 2 miles south of Flagstaff, on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Crews will also burn about 10 acres of hand piles at the Flagstaff Hotshot Ranch site, located roughly 7 miles northwest of the City of Flagstaff, on Friday, Jan. 5.
— Kindergarten readiness tips: developing independence
— Find free early childhood programs across Arizona
— Physical activity helps babies get more sleep
Grand Canyon Residents, Partners, and Community Members,
As a reminder, rodenticides (rodent poisons) are prohibited in Grand Canyon National Park and in all park residences. Recently, a bobcat in the South Rim Village was found deceased as a result of high levels of rodenticide poisoning.
These poisons cause harm to wildlife, pets, and humans and can contaminate the environment. Keeping residences and buildings sanitary, uncluttered, and consistently setting snap traps is the most effective way to control rodents.
Free rodent clean-up kits are available for check-out that will help you safely address rodents in your home or workplace.
Message from Mary –
As we all enter a new year and recover from the holidays, remember that a visit to the museum is a warm and welcome escape from winter. Come on a blustery day to enjoy the lush beauty of Tony Foster: Watercolour Diaries from the Green River. Visit alone when you need some calm and quiet or come with a friend for a social outing that prompts thoughtful discussion. No matter when you come or whom you visit with, museums are proven to be good for you, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, and connecting you to the wonders of the world. A visit to MNA is a great way to start the new year!
