Coconino County Invites Residents to Test Broadband Speeds to Determine Needs

COCONINO COUNTY — In today’s world, a strong, high speed internet connection is essential; in Coconino County, there are unserved and underserved areas that could use a boost.

The State of Arizona recently received $993.1 million in federal funding for the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program to do just that.   

The program requires the Arizona Commerce Authority to allow customers to challenge the accuracy of their internet speed. Residents have until May 14 to participate in a series of speed tests to determine if their area is unserved or underserved by broadband internet. The BEAD funds must be spent in these unserved or underserved areas.  

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: April 15-19, 2024

Community invited to “We Are Grand Canyon” Film Premiere April 24

The Grand Canyon community is invited to a special premiere of the new film, “We Are Grand Canyon.” Please join us for the first screenings of this moving and heartfelt film, welcoming visitors to Grand Canyon National Park from those who have called it home since time immemorial – the 11 Associated Tribes of the Grand Canyon.

A project several years in the making, this film is a joint creation by the Intertribal Working Group (ItWG), Grand Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon Conservancy, and was filmed and edited by Ryan Christensen of Bristlecone Media. A special thank you to all the tribal members who participated in making this film.

Event Details:
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center
8 South Entrance Road

Grand Canyon South Rim Village Community Reception, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
6:00 pm: Filming Premiere (1st showing)
7:00 pm: Filming Premiere (2nd showing)

We hope you can join us for this special event!

Traffic impacts anticipated on University Heights Drive North, Beulah Blvd and Lake Mary Road

FLAGSTAFF — Road closures and associated traffic control measures are scheduled in late April, May and June to accommodate utility work near University Heights Dr North, Beulah Blvd, and Lake Mary Rd. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will also implement traffic control measures for restrictions at the I-17 and Lake Mary Rd offramp. This work is related to the Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton hotel development.

Discover Flagstaff — Discover Spring Events with Flagstaff 365

Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. “Flag Happs” is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights of the week.

The NAU Review — NAU wins awards for innovative study abroad, using space-based tools to fight fires and how childhood motivated one MPH student

Preparing students to be part of the global economy is an important part of NAU’s mission, but it can be an expensive endeavor. A multidisciplinary program at NAU was designed to make sure finances didn’t stand in students’ way. The Global Citizens Project Scholars program, a collaboration between CIE, the Honors College and the Economic Policy Institute, offers a unique, affordable international experience to Honors, Indigenous and first-generation students. It was recognized this week by the Institute for International Education for widening access to this life-changing educational opportunity.

Mayoral and City Councilmember candidates certified for Flagstaff ballot

FLAGSTAFF —The City of Flagstaff has received all candidate packets for the 2024 General Election and the statutory period for candidate challenges has expired. The Flagstaff City Clerk’s Office did not receive notice of any challenges to candidates running for City office in Flagstaff. Consequently, the following individuals turned in the requisite number of signatures as well as all required documents and have been certified for the ballot.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Coalition provides update on Systems Change Grant Project and October symposium

Thank you so much for being in partnership with the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth! I wanted to send you some quick updates and also encourage some action!

We continue to partner with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County on a Systems Change Grant project we have titled Reimagine Community. I wanted to share this 60 sec promo with you (notice that there are 2 trainings available for City and County employees that will be rolling out in the coming months).

I am sharing this to both keep you updated about our work, but the video also sums up much of the work we do here at CCC&Y through the prevention council, the newsletter, training, advocacy and more.

Save the date!! Oct 22 or Oct 23 (we have two identical days so you have a choice!) As part of the Reimagine Community project we will be hosting a live Zoom Systems Change Symposium. *speakers and event agenda currently under design thanks to our planning committee.

City of Flagstaff announces Call to Artists to create designs for traffic signal cabinets

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff’s Beautification, Arts & Sciences program seeks artists, graphic designers and illustrators to create original designs for traffic signal cabinets. The deadline to apply is May 7, 2024.

The call is open to artists 18 years or older who currently live and work within the United States. Submitted designs must be original artwork and can be created in any medium, so long as the design can be represented in a high-resolution digital image without loss of integrity or quality. Designs will be printed on vinyl and installed on cabinets in high-traffic areas. Three artists will be selected to create artwork for three cabinets at the following signalized locations: N Fourth St and E Sparrow Ave, N Beaver St and Flagstaff Medical Center Pedestrian Crosswalk and S Lake Mary Rd and W High Country Trail.

Farmers and agriculturally focused organizations invited to apply to license the McAllister Ranch Urban Farm Incubator

FLAGSTAFF — Members of the public are invited to submit applications to license the McAllister Ranch Urban Farm Incubator for urban agriculture. Licensed land is to be used for regenerative urban agriculture, educational programming, community gardening space or associated activities. Applications are due by 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2024.  

The NAU Review — Celebrate award-winning Lumberjacks, hear from an emergency dispatcher, meet Cassie Bonah + don’t forget to tag your bike!

Proud family members, mentors and NAU leaders looked on as dozens of soon-to-be-graduates accepted President’s Prizes, Gold Axe awards and Distinguished Senior awards in recognition of their exceptional accomplishments, service and scholarship. At the award ceremony on April 11, Provost Karen Pugliesi made special note of five seniors who received the President’s Prize, the highest honor awarded to undergraduate students. 

Day-use trail closures scheduled for a section of the North Kaibab Trail

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — The National Park Service is announcing temporary day-use trail closures for the North Kaibab Trail north of the Manzanita Day Use Area to the Supai Tunnel. The Manzanita Day Use Area will be available for use during the closures. 

The trail closures are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for the following dates: 

Monday, April 22, 2024, through Thursday, April 25, 2024. 
Monday, April 29, 2024, through Thursday, May 2, 2024. 
Survey crews will be conducting work during the scheduled hours above the North Kaibab Trail and in the vicinity of the areas. This work requires highly technical canyon wall scaling that creates a rockfall hazard along sections of the public trail corridor. The survey work is being conducted to provide necessary data to support future infrastructure projects at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.  

Sedona Arts Center — Embark on Artistic Field Expeditions!

Field Expeditions are created around the idea of a perfect match between an artist, a special place and the best season to explore that location. We work with local resources and providers to create an exclusive one-of-a-kind experience for participating artists/students. Field Expeditions are designed with expert instruction and support staff. There is no replacement for experiencing life directly with great instruction in a unique location!

Firewood permit sales begin April 15 as seasonal road closures begin to lift

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest will begin selling 2024 season firewood permits at its ranger stations and headquarters Monday, April 15 as seasonal road closures begin to lift for roads suitable for motorized travel.

The minimum cost for a permit is $20, with a maximum purchase of 12 cords per household. Permits allow for the cutting of down and dead wood or standing wood that meets certain criteria in specified areas. The cost for oak, aspen, juniper and maple will be $5 per cord, and the cost for pine and mixed conifer will be $2.50 per cord.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: April 8-12, 2024

The Arizona Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the town of Tusayan, advises area drivers to plan for lane restrictions on State Route 64 in Tusayan from Monday, April 15, through Wednesday, April 17.

Drivers should allow extra travel time while the following daytime restrictions are in place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

SR 64 will be intermittently narrowed to one lane in each direction roughly between Coyote Lane and Moqui Drive (mileposts 236 – 237).
Flaggers and/or a pilot car will guide drivers through the work zone.
There will be a 12-foot width restriction.
Restrictions will be lifted at the end of each work day.
The speed limit will be reduced in the work zone. The restrictions are needed so crews can safely restripe pavement markings on the roadway to add one additional northbound travel lane along this section of SR 64.

The NAU Review — NAU Giving Day: the impact YOU made, how to garden in Flagstaff and talking politics with former Congress members on NAU campus

Former House lawmakers talk politics at NAU

NAU students, employees and community members turned out to “grill the Hill” on Wednesday, April 10 at Campus to Congress—a town hall-style event featuring former Reps. Karan English and Tom Petri. Made possible by the non-profit organization Former Members of Congress and the Honors College political science fraternity Pi Sigma Alpha, the event gave NAU community members the chance to interact with the former lawmakers, get their takes on current political issues and hear them reminisce about their time in politics.

Sedona Arts Center — Uncover Treasures at our Gallery Shop Today

NOW FEATURING:
Nancy Foo,
Lili Anne Laurin,
and Amy Light

Our Gallery showcases the largest selection in Sedona of artwork by local artists. If you are seeking a rare piece of fine art, a gift of exquisite jewelry, appreciate stunning photography, or looking for a lovely keepsake from your visit to Sedona, the Arts Center has it all and more. Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Coalition continues Spring outreach season with events in Page, Flagstaff

COCONINO COUNTY — Representatives from various community health and welfare organizations braved cool and windy weather to take part in the 3rd Annual “Spring into Health Page Health & Wellness Fair” held on April 5-6 at the Page Public Library.

Traditionally held outside the library, participants were relocated inside throughout the library providing a variety of services to visitors including free dental screenings (including sealants, x-rays and cleanings), early childhood resources, prizes and giveaways.

The event, presented by the Page Early Childhood Group and BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona, featured a number of information tables for parents staffed by representatives from the Arizona Dept. of Economic Security — Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP), BlueCross BlueShield — Health Choice, BMO Bank — Page, Chicanos Por La Causa — Parenting Arizona, Child Care Resources & Referral, Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, Coconino Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA), Coconino County Health & Human Services — (AZ Health Zone, Health and Wellness Team), Encompass Health Services, First Things First, Flagstaff Dentistry 4 Kids, Page Head Start, Navajo Nation Division of Behavioral & Mental Health Services, Northland-Rural Therapy Associates, Page Unified Preschool, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Coconino County and VEN Centers (Hep C treatment).

Sedona Arts Center — Join us for Ceramics Art Talks Tonight!

This Wednesday…
Free Artists Talks with Jeff Perkins, Donna Reitz, and Dennis Ott April 10, 5-7pm

Join us for artists talks featuring Jeff Perkins, Donna Reitz and Dennis Ott this Wednesday, April 10, from 5-7 p.m. and delve into the history and impact of Sedona Arts Center’s ceramics studio. Each of the artists will share personal and meaningful stories.

Perkins will discuss learning how to throw on the potter’s wheel from SAC founder Nassan Gobran, Reitz will talk about her father the late Don Reitz, known throughout the world as a ceramic’s innovator, while Ott will highlight his 33-year career in ceramics and how SAC and its Ceramic Department changed his life. The event is free and open to the public.

ARTx: Art + Ideas Experience Arizona announces keynote for Ideas Night on May 17

FLAGSTAFF — Creative Flagstaff is pleased to announce the keynote speaker for Ideas Night. ARTx launches its inaugural, 10 day festival on Friday May 17th with a community party called Ideas Night at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff. This free open house invites the public to convene for entertainment, a sampling of grantee projects and a keynote by Donna Walker Kuhne.

Ms. Kuhne is widely acknowledged as the nation’s foremost expert in audience development and has devoted her professional career to increasing access to the arts. She has raised over $23 million in earned income promoting the arts to multicultural communities. Award-winning arts marketing consultant, Ms. Kuhne calls the process of engaging audiences “a journey of life.”

The NAU Review — NAU’s record-breaking year of research, how to start a farm and a Q&A with a multitalented local musician

NAU saw the largest annual increase in research expenditures in fiscal year 2023, leading to a record-breaking amount of research in a year that also saw NAU’s projected achievement in R1 research status. Leaders say it’s a testament to NAU’s teacher-scholar model and the university’s mission of recruiting professors who can help students excel in the classroom while thriving in the research field as well. Learn more about the significance of these numbers for NAU’s research program and meet three of NAU’s researchers who are on the front lines of planetary science, health equity and inclusion.

Sedona Arts Center — Check out these new Art Workshops and Classes!

Paper Paintings: Fabulous Florals
with Elizabeth St. Hilaire
April 19–21 : Fri, 10am – 5pm, Sat & Sun, 9am – 4pm

We will be drawing florals from a still life setup and modifying it to create a compelling, FUN composition. We’ll cover how to paint your life drawing with a full range of fun, bright colors and shading. You will then learn how to hand-paint your own collage papers through a series of gel plate mono printing techniques in the color palette from your under-painting. Once you have created your paper palette you’ll follow along and learn how to rip and glue and apply your papers in a painterly manner over the top of your underpainting. Elizabeth will cover how to tear with and without white edges, how to keep your pieces perfectly flat without cockling, and how to vary your paper brush marks in size and shape.

Downtown Flagstaff Library to close April 22-30, pop-up services available at City Hall

During this time period, the library will be providing services with a Pop-Up Library at City Hall in the Council Conference Room on the first floor. Limited services provided will include on-hold material pick-ups, 30-minute express computer access with printing, limited browsing of new books for checkout, and standard reference and circulation services. Hours of service for the Pop-Up Library will be Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Grand Canyon National Park announces reopening of trails and campground April 15

Plateau Point Trail, from Havasupai Gardens to Plateau Point remains closed until June 20, 2024. During this time, Tonto Trail hikers will be able to use a trail detour to connect to and from the Bright Angel Trail.  

The water filling station will be available for use at Havasupai Gardens. The water filling stations at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses are projected to be available by mid-May. 

Sedona Arts Center — Art Apprenticeship for Teens now accepting applications

View this email in your browser

ART APPRENTICESHIP FOR TEENS
AGES 15-18 – ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

GALLERY 928
Sedona Arts Center June 3 – July 3, 2024
Apply by April 19, 2024
Teens ages 15-18 are invited to apply to Sedona Arts Center’s Gallery 928 program, a unique summer art apprenticeship that partners students with a master artist to create a work of public art. Applications are due April 19, 2024. The program begins June 3 and runs through July 3 and will be held Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sedona Arts Center, located at 15 Art Barn Road.

Moonset Pit green waste disposal to begin May 4

WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest, in cooperation with the communities of Parks and Sherwood Forest Estates will be re-opening Moonset Pit on May 4, 2024 for residents to dispose of green waste materials from private property.

The pit will be open every other Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. until September 7, 2024. Moonset Pit is located just west of the Parks community, east of Spitz Springs on the north side of old Route 66.

NAU to present Global Film Series — La Sociedad de la Nieve (Society of the Snow) on April 10

FLAGSTAFF — Join us Wednesday, April 10 at 7pm in Liberal Arts Room 120 for a screening of La Sociedad de la Nieve (Society of the Snow), the 2023 survivor thriller film based on the experience of survivors of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes and the harrowing decisions they must make to survive while trapped in one of the most inaccessible and hostile environments on the planet. 

United Way of Northern Arizona — Exciting Partnerships Unveiled at UWNA Annual Event

The NARBHA Institute and Coconino Community College unveiled major new investments in our youth at our recent United Way of Northern Arizona Annual Campaign and Community Impact luncheon.

The NARBHA Institute announced a $100,000 grant being awarded to UWNA to further our efforts to foster youth leadership, promote youth mental well-being and resilience, and increase their sense of belonging and inclusion. (That’s The NARBHA Institute COO Jon Perez receiving the Community Builder Award from UWNA President & CEO Liz Archuleta and Board Chair Armando Ruiz during the luncheon).

The majority of the funds from The NARBHA Institute will be dedicated to expanding the KinderCamp™ program to rural areas in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — April 1-5, 2024

During excavation work at the Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse, as part of the Transcanyon Waterline project, a member of the NPS monitoring team unearthed a rare and entirely new fossil for Grand Canyon and the Hermit Formation. One of the park’s research partners at UC-Berkeley has identified it as an Equisetalean strobilus.

This fossil is approximately 290 million years old and represents the spore-producing reproductive organ of an extinct species of horsetail known as Sphenophyllum. While Sphenophyllum fossils are not uncommon in the Hermit Formation, discovering the fruiting bodies is unprecedented.

The public affairs office is in the process of coordinating public communication efforts including a news release to announce this and other recent paleontological discoveries. Stay tuned for more updates!

April at the Museum of Northern Arizona

There is something very special about seeing a new exhibition come together in a gallery after months of planning. Our latest exhibition is no exception, and over the past few weeks, I have enjoyed seeing Horse and Rider: A Southwest Story transform from ideas on paper to a new exhibition in the gallery, drawn entirely from works in the MNA collection. The show delves deep into the timeless bond between Indigenous people and horses, weaving together artwork, cultural artifacts, and stories. What makes this exhibit even more remarkable is the invaluable contribution of wisdom shared by our Dine, Hopi, and Zuni consultants.

The NAU Review — Building a community book festival, former Congress members visit campus and redistributing unused food

From April 5-14, volunteers from NAU will be busy working behind the scenes at the Northern Arizona Book Festival, which hosts more than 40 events in downtown Flagstaff featuring bestselling authors, Pulitzer Prize winners and local writers, publishers, editors and event organizers. These events—and those that the organization supports throughout the year—foster a vibrant literary community in the Southwest and ensure that the Colorado Plateau is recognized as a bona fide place of literature. 

Popular Flagstaff trailhead to close for construction

FLAGSTAFF — A popular trailhead leading to two of the most popular trails in Flagstaff will be closed for the next two months for public safety and to make room for workers and equipment while construction occurs.

The trailhead for Elden Lookout trail and Fatmans Loop trail will be closed beginning Monday, April 8 through May as contractors reconstruct the trailhead and repave and expand the parking area to accommodate up to 50 vehicles as well as other visitor facilities.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Coalition planning for busy Spring outreach season

COCONINO COUNTY — As the snow melts and the weather warms up, a variety of organizations are busy planning and presenting a number of health, welfare and education fairs throughout Northern Arizona.

The Coalition opened its outreach season on March 28 by staffing the Family Health Fair at Star School in Leupp. The event, presented by Star School and the Winslow Indian Health Care Center, featured a number of information tables for parents staffed by representatives from the Coconino County Health & Human Services, Coconino County Parks & Recreation, Native Americans for Community Action (NACA), North Country HealthCare, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Coconino County and the Winslow Indian Health Care Center and Youth Wellness.

The NAU Review — How to kick (Axe) on Giving Day, alumni in healthcare speak out + the latest on the Colorado River water supply

This Giving Day, how will you spread Axe of Kindness? NAU’s sixth annual fundraising event takes place Wednesday, April 3, and we’ve rounded up just a few of the day’s many exciting happenings. Win “bus bucks” on the shuttle, stay warm with limited-edition socks, drink beer for a good cause at Mother Road Brewing Company or join student organizations for an afternoon of music, food and games in the Union Fieldhouse. When it comes to supporting the Lumberjacks you love on Giving Day, the choices are endless! 

Arizona Gives Day — United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA)

This is the day Arizonans come together and unite for positive, lasting changes in our communities by supporting the nonprofits that are making a difference in our state every day.

We invite you to step up for our youth and our communities on Arizona Gives Day with a donation to United Way of Northern Arizona.

Together we can advance early childhood development, positive youth development, and safety and security for our neighbors in northern Arizona. You can make your donation HERE.

Arizona Gives Day — Sedona Arts Center

Arizona Gives Day is an annual giving movement uniting nonprofits, big and small, new and established, to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Arizona through online giving. The event helps raise awareness about the critical role Arizona nonprofits play in our communities and inspires people to give generously creating a thriving and stronger Arizona for all.
 
Thanks to a generous donor, we have a donor match of $5000!

Flagstaff Youth Riders (FLYRS) — Spring 2024 Season Delayed

It looks like winter will not let up in Flagstaff. With another storm set for this weekend, we are going to push back our season start date to the week of April 15th. We want to make sure our trails are ready and avoid causing any damage to them. This extension will change the last week of the season to May 27-31 and will not allow for any makeup practices. We will do our best to get creative with practices if necessary so we don’t cancel any practices throughout the season.

There are still the following junior groups with open spots:

Northern Arizona University presents variety of Cesar Chavez Week events on April 1, 3, 5

FLAGSTAFF — The Northern Arizona University’s Student Activities Council is presenting a series of events to honor labor leader Cesar Chavez.

Monday April 1, 2024

Location: IMQ Center (Fieldhouse)

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Speaker: Dra. Vanessa Bustamante

Presentation: Standing Together: Xican Activism As A Model for Social Change

Sean Connolly selected as new Flagstaff Police Chief

“As someone who was born in Flagstaff and who absolutely loves everything about what the city has to offer, it is with an abundance of gratitude, humility, and excitement that I look forward to serving as Police Chief,” said Sean. “The diversity of our community, combined with the skillsets and work ethics of all members of the Flagstaff Police Department and Team Flagstaff, will be the cornerstones of our success.”

Kaibab National Forest firewood permits start April 15 and May 1

WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest will soon be offering fuelwood permits for the 2024 season. On the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts, the Forest Service will begin issuing permits April 15, 2024 and permit holders will be able to collect firewood April 13, 2025. On the North Kaibab Ranger District only, permit sales and firewood collection will run from May 1 through December 31, 2024.

Theatrikos Theatre Co. April Newsletter — ‘The Gods of Comedy’ continues through April 21

Theatrikos is proud to bring Ken Ludwig’s divine farce, The Gods of Comedy, to the Flagstaff stage. The play is a comedic whirlwind of divine intervention and scholarly chaos, centered around a young woman who invokes the gods of Ancient Greece to save her love life. As the gods step in, hilarity ensues in the form of screwball deities, a lost manuscript of a Greek tragedy, and uproarious predicaments.

Willard Springs Green Waste Site Reopens Friday April 5 for Free Green Waste Disposal

Coconino County Public Works will reopen the Willard Springs Green Waste Site on Friday, April 5, 2024 for free green waste-only disposal all season long to support residents’ efforts to clean up their properties for wildfire season.

Residents will be allowed to dump acceptable green waste such as pine needles, branches, leaves, and brush free of charge with no load limits on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through the end of the season on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Ballet Folklórico de Colores de Flagstaff wins the ‘Excellence in the Performing Arts Award’ at the 2024 Viola Awards

Also see: Arizona Daily Sun — Gallery: 16th annual Viola Awards

FLAGSTAFF — Ballet Folklórico de Colores won the “Excellence in the Performing Arts Award” at the 2024 Viola Awards held on March 23, 2024 at the Orpheum Theater. The event was presented by by Creative Flagstaff.

More than a 100 guests celebrated the 42 finalists across 10 categories at the event.

Ballet Folklórico de Colores of Flagstaff was recognized for its “Paseo Navideno: A Christmas Journey Through Mexico” performance held at the Orpheum Theater on Dec. 9, 2023.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Bioscience Roadmap Update

We are all aware of the crucial role the bioscience sector plays in driving innovation, economic growth, and improving healthcare outcomes in Arizona. We hope you will join us next month for a virtual update on Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.

The Flinn Foundation, which originally commissioned this long-term strategic plan more than two decades ago, will host the free Zoom session from 12 – 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22. You can register to attend HERE.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: March 25-29, 2024

Spring Break is here!

As Spring Break continues for the next several weeks, we can expect long lines and full parking lots throughout the South Rim. As a result, traffic regularly backs up at all entrance stations, with wait times of up to one to two hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots begin reaching capacity by 12 p.m. and shuttle bus wait times will be prolonged.    

Thankfully, our fees program is fully staffed and have been working diligently towards expediting wait times by moving traffic into specific lanes. Visitors with pre-paid passes are still encouraged to go to Lane 1 to reduce wait times in line.  

City of Flagstaff approves $3.33M in bond funding to assist in creating 139 affordable rental apartments

FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council recently approved $3.33M in Rental Incentive Bond Program awards, which will be leveraged by other funding sources and result in 139 affordable rental units being constructed in downtown Flagstaff by the Foundation for Senior Living. The San Francisco Square Apartments will serve seniors earning up to 80% of the area median income and the Aspen Lofts Apartments will serve individuals and families earning up to 60% of the area median income. This funding was created by the passage of Proposition 442 by Flagstaff voters in 2022, which authorized the use of general obligation bonds for the creation of rental and ownership opportunities for residents of Flagstaff.

Sedona Arts Center — Arizona Gives Day is April 2 (but you can donate today!)

“The arts are a $13.5 million industry here in Sedona providing jobs and attracting cultural tourists who spend more and stay longer than the average tourist. According to the recently completed Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study which was led by Sedona Arts Center, our tourists rank 2nd in spending among all 373 study regions in the US.

The arts add so much to our quality of life, and yet, we still struggle to support our programs, exhibits, events and school.  Please consider supporting Sedona Arts Center this AZ Gives Day with a generous investment in our work.  Thank you.”

Planning and Community Outreach Effort Launched to Gain Citizen Input on Flagstaff’s Future Transit Needs

FLAGSTAFF — Mountain Line is launching a comprehensive community outreach initiative aimed at planning the future of transit in Flagstaff.

As the community’s 10-year transit tax approved in 2016 that funds the city’s bus system approaches expiration, Mountain Line wants to engage the community in dialogue and decision-making about a potential extension and increase of this funding source in the November 2024 election.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Join us for our next Prevention Council meeting on April 4 to share your story

Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 4. 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 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.

Some examples include:

Planning for previous Child Abuse Prevention Conferences
Engaging in multiple projects with International Child Welfare expert, Kevin Campbell
Developing a library of recorded webinars
Initiating the PAWS community arts and education project

Coconino County Board of Supervisors Approves Updates to Wildfire Defense Ordinance

“After receiving valuable community feedback regarding the 2022 ordinance, we brought together our public safety partners and the Coconino County Attorney’s Office to take a critical look at ways to improve the ordinance. Together, we proposed changes that place emphasis on preparedness, such as creating defensible space, while maintaining the requirements needed to help reduce the likelihood of wildfires,” said Tim Carter, Deputy Director of Coconino County Emergency Management. 

Construction across Milton Road to begin for the Beulah/University Realignment Project

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and their contractor, Eagle Mountain Construction, along with the Arizona Department of Transportation, are working to finish Phase 1 of the Beulah/University Realignment Project. The final portion of Phase 1 includes crossing Milton Road with new water and sewer utility infrastructure, which is scheduled to begin in early April 2024. In order to safely install new utilities across Milton Road, lane closures will be required.

The NAU Review — Using mobile apps for global conservation, how volunteer scientists are helping us learn about the universe and what one degree of warming could mean for Earth’s ecosystems

Countries throughout the world have committed to conserving 30% of the Earth’s land and sea by 2030, but questions remain about how such conservation efforts will be implemented and monitored without causing harm to Indigenous peoples and local communities. In a recent publication, researchers at NAU proposed a win-win solution: offer direct payments to those in target areas in the Global South in exchange for their help monitoring and validating conservation data via mobile apps. This mechanism could improve both the quality of the data collected and the economic conditions of local communities. 

Construction to begin on Schultz Creek Drainage Improvements at US Hwy 180

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and their contractor, Banicki Construction, will start construction on the Schultz Creek Drainage Improvements at US Hwy 180 in April. The project will include the installation of a new concrete box culvert under US Hwy 180 and is scheduled to be substantially complete by July 1 to help mitigate flooding before the 2024 monsoon season. Final project activities such as repaving of the highway and re-establishing nearby landscaping will be completed by Aug. 1.

Sedona Arts Center — Boost Your Art Skills with Our Workshops

Introduction to Encaustic Painting
with Helene Farrar
April 4 – 5 : Thursday: 10am – 4pm, Friday: 9am – 4pm

Drip, pour, drag, layer, heat, and incise! Investigate the ancient medium of encaustic painting in this very hands-on workshop using pigmented wax, and a heated palette! Explore a rich variety of marks and surfaces while doing image transfer, etching, and collaging in this seductive medium.

Flagstaff College March 2024 Newsletter — Community Film Series on Food

Flagstaff College/Communiversity has partnered with seven local organizations to begin a community-wide conversation on food security in Flagstaff.
TerraBirds
Flagstaff Foodlink
Just Cultivation Coalition
Northern Arizona Rural Foods Pathways Project
Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future
The City of Flagstaff’s Office of Sustainability

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — Tell Coucil Not to Amend Our Carbon Neutrality Plan

A local group, Flagstaff First (FF), has petitioned Council to amend the Flagstaff’s Carbon Neutrality Plan (CNP) to prioritize fire, flood and drought. Many community members told the Council in December and January to not amend the Plan. We need to speak again this Tuesday because FF’s petition is scheduled to be formally considered by City Council this Tuesday, March 26. Council will be deciding whether to or not to amend the CNP.

The community needs to respond to this threat by sending emails to City Council and/or speaking at the Council meeting this Tuesday and asking council members to reject the action requested in the FF petition.

Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC)’s César E. Chávez Community Breakfast returns on March 22 with guest speaker Cesar L. Chavez

Event also served as launch of CHAC’s Covid-19 History Project 

FLAGSTAFF — After a several-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council’s (CHAC) finally celebrated it’s sixth annual César E. Chávez Community Breakfast on Friday, March 22, 2024 at American Legion Post 3 in Flagstaff.

The event, which drew nearly 100 guests and local dignitaries, was highlighted by guest speaker Cesar L. Chavez, grandson of the civil rights and farm labor leader, and son of Anthony Chavez, Cesar’s youngest son.

Cesar, who was born and grew up in the farm worker movement, spoke about legacy of the late farm leader and shared personal memories including joining his grandfather to picket lines and demonstrations in the Central Valley plus cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego. They went on hikes together in the mountains surrounding UFW headquarters at La Paz.

Coconino County Board of Supervisors Approves Resolution Recognizing Portion of Lake Mary Road as a recreational corridor

“The safety of everyone who uses Lake Mary Road remains a top priority for County leadership and for our community,” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We would like to thank all of the stakeholders who participated in the process that helped make this resolution a reality.” 

United Way of Northern Arizona — Last Day to Register for Annual Campaign Celebration

We’ll be making not one, but two major announcements at next week’s Annual Campaign & Community Impact luncheon, and we hope you will be with us when we share the exciting news about how we will expand efforts to Step Up for Our Youth.

But time is running out to register for this event and be among the first to find out about these ground-breaking developments.

Our Annual Campaign & Community Impact Luncheon will start at 11:30 am on Wednesday, March 27 at Little America Hotel. Tickets are $50 / $375 for a table of 8.

The deadline to register is end of business today, March 21.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: March 18-22, 2024

The Bright Angel Trail is anticipated to reopen Monday, April 15 following a 4 ½ month closure. 

Contract work is currently on schedule and no delays are anticipated at this time. As a reminder, the trail closure remains in effect for the Plateau Point Trail through March 14, 2025.

More information on the Transcanyon Waterline project can be found on the park website here.

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

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.

Congratulations to This Year’s STEMMY Award Winners

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s STEMMY Awards Ceremony. The evening was full of celebration, innovation, and dedication to advancing STEM education and awareness within our beloved community. A special thanks to our esteemed keynote speaker, Dr. David Engelthaler for joining us. 

Highlighting excellence across various sectors, the STEMMY Awards showcased individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to STEM education and awareness.

Sedona Arts Center — Don’t miss these art classes and workshops!

Watercolor and Ink for the Traveler
with Casey Cheuvront
March 27 : 11am – 4pm

Watercolor is a popular, flexible medium, and suitable for anyone that travels and would like to capture the beauty of their surroundings. In this workshop we will explore watercolor basics, using a journaling/sketchbook approach. We’ll cover the basics of composition, value, brushwork and color relationships, experiment with color mixing and ink drawing, and finish by working with the living landscape to create sketchbook paintings that can stand on their own or serve as inspirational notes for later studio works. At the end of the workshop, you should have begun a sketchbook of your own that you can carry virtually anywhere, which will allow you to record your travels, and your progress in this medium. Suitable for beginners a

Coconino County testifies on wildfire, post-wildfire flooding

COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Deputy Manager and Flood Control District Administrator Lucinda Andreani testified to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on the federal response to the threat of wildfire and post-wildfire flooding. …

“I can tell you firsthand: The scale of these crises rapidly overwhelms the capacity of local governments,” Andreani said during her opening remarks. “While there are opportunities for federal support, much must be done to improve the accessibility, immediacy, and effectiveness of the federal response to the wildfire crisis.”

The NAU Review — Fighting fire with research, helping Native children develop healthy smiles and Nico Young breaks another record

State leaders recently called upon health sciences researcher Dierdra Bycura to analyze firefighter recruitment and retention across Arizona. Working with experts from the Franke College of Business, Bycura published a report showing that most firefighters in the state are satisfied with the profession, but some say they struggle with mental health and large call volumes. The report’s findings could influence future state policies.

Arizona Senators Kelly, Sinema, secure $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Coconino

“Since 2022, post-wildfire flooding impacts from the Pipeline Fire have severely impacted the interstate travel corridor of Highway 89, the Navajo Nation road system, and surrounding communities. It is imperative that we continue to construct flood mitigation infrastructure in this area to reduce the threats to our community and regional economy” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Coconino County Board and Supervisor for District 2. “Thanks to the Congressionally Directed Spending funds recently secured by Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, we now have more resources to make this much needed infrastructure a reality.”

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3)’s Position on Proposed Zoning Code Amendment

On Tuesday, March 19th, the Flagstaff City Council will consider a proposed zoning code amendment to allow residential dwellings on lands zoned as “Public Facility.”

We would like to share with you the letter that F3 sent last week to city council members and staff regarding our concerns with the proposed amendment and our support for the addition of a Conditional Use Permit requirement.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Nurturing Talent Through Apprenticeships

It is hard to overstate the importance of apprenticeship programs in today’s economy, where numerous industries have identified a persistent “skills gap” in the workforce.

The State of Arizona’s Office of Economic Opportunity recently announced it is working to expand registered construction and trade apprenticeship programs with grants from its BuildItAZ initiative, but time is running out to apply for these funds.

District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman — February/March Newsletter 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

• HELLO FROM SUPERVISOR HORSTMAN
• WILDFIRE CRISIS REPORT: PRIORITIZING THE
UPPER RIO
• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RESOLUTION
REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO URANIUM MINING
NEAR THE GRAND CANYON
• PARKWAY SEDIMENT BASIN/MUSEUM FIRE
• FLOOD MITIGATION COMPLETED!
• PRIMARY DATE MOVES TO JULY 30th
• ELECTIONS WAREHOUSE RIBBON-CUTTING
• URGING VOTER APPROVAL OF THE
EXPENDITURE LIMIT INCREASE FOR
COCONINO COUNTY
• SUPERVISORS ATTEND NACo LEGISLATIVE
CONFERENCE IN D.C. AND ADVOCATE FOR
COCONINO COUNTY FEDERAL PRIORITIES
• SUPERVISOR HORSTMAN ATTENDS FIRST
MEETING OF 2024 BLM/RAC
• GRAND CANYON FOOD PANTRY: HELPING
COMMUNITY, WITH ONE BAG OF GROCERIES
AT A TIME
• COCONINO COUNTY BEGINS CONSTRUCTION
ON YOUTH BEHAVIORAL RESOURCE CENTER
• PUBLIC MEMORIALS IN COUNTY PARKS
• TUSAYAN AWARDED SMART GRANT FROM
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Upcoming Linda Vista Road Closure and Grandview Roadway Construction

FLAGSTAFF — As part of the Spruce Wash Improvements Projects, a full road closure will be required on E Linda Vista Drive between N Paradise Road and N Adrianne Way for the Linda Vista Crossing Project. Access will be maintained through the closure for emergency vehicles, bikes, pedestrians. This closure will be in effect from March 2024 into spring 2025 and will allow for crews to remove and replace the existing culverts that cross E Linda Vista Drive. The City will also be removing and replacing sections of water and sewer mains and installing new storm drains within the roadway.

NAU Dept. of Comparative Cultural Studies to present ‘Disrupting mining in Honduras’ at 6 p.m. March 21

FLAGSTAFF — NAU Dept. of Comparative Cultural Studies will present “Disrupting mining in Honduras: Hegemony, territorial struggles, and contradictions of the neoliberal mafia-state” with Nate Edenhofe at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21 at Liberal Arts 136.

Anti-mining movements have put extractivism on the defensive in Honduras.

Why did mining production fail to expand in Honduras despite some of—if not the— most aggressive pro-extractive reforms on the continent?

Both existing theories of extractivism and social movements have difficulty explaining this outcome.