Flag Live - February 2023

The work of friendship

Stacy Murison

Ido what I always do when I haven’t heard from Hank – whose name has been changed for the sake of privacy

– for over six months: I scan the obituaries. He’s still alive, as far as I can tell, which means something else It means his emails must be in my spam folder.

Alas, there’s no proof of life there, either. Which means only one other thing is possible: the correspondence, thus friendship, has ended. Perhaps for good this time.

I know I could reach out, send an ol’ “how’s it going?” email and marvel at how much time has passed as an introduction. Or pretend no time has passed

STACY MURISON

at all and get right into the life update

Either way, I’m not certain how he would react. In the meantime, I can tell myself several stories of why I haven’t heard from him without knowing if any of them would be true.

It can be so hard navigating the waters of friendships. Each has its own set of rules including, but not limited to, frequency of contact. The longest we’ve gone without speaking to one another was three years. It started with a broken engagement and ended with my decision to add him and his family to our holiday card mailing list. We were both married after all. Bygones!

During the time we weren’t communicating, I realized how important it was to have people who knew me and my family and could help me put my life in context. We built a solid friendship over the next 20-plus years, sharing stories about our spouses and his children and our careers. It was fun talking about who we were when we had known each other and who we had become over time And it was helpful to be able to talk with someone who knew those life changes had been hard-won.

The last time we wrote to each other in 2020, we had both lost our jobs during the pandemic. The final exchange was a note from me enthusiastically encouraging him to look at positions via my new employer’s website and an offer to connect him with a friend of mine working in his field.

Crickets

As I scan through all of the non-diet related self-help news articles this January, many have centered on friendships. All have some iteration on the importance of work friendships, of long-term friendships, of being open to new friendships. Considering my friendship with Hank and my more recent friendships has helped me understand that that the deepness of the relationship isn’t necessarily related to the length of time we’ve known each other, but rather through shared experiences and interests. My closest friends are people I’ve worked with there’s something about the trauma-inducing supervisor that brings people together! Also, with fellow writers including James, as well as a group of 20-somethings with whom I write weekly.

The more I reflect on my friendships, the more I realize that time and distance don’t seem to matter, which is why I should cut Hank some slack. I haven’t seen my friend, Megan, for 15 years, but I would still call her to bail me (or, my husband) out of jail and, in fact, she had been standing by ready to do just such a thing many years ago

There are also several friends who have given me second or third or fifth chances to repair our friendship. Like Eva, who was the first person to call me when she found out I’d been laid off even though we hadn’t spoken in four years. And Nicole, who was willing to risk my inability to properly express myself and give our friendship another chance. And Diane, who has put up with my weirdness and prickliness off and on (mostly on, thank goodness) since we were eleven years old. These friendships are precious to me because each of these people has been willing to work with me on our communication and my, sometimes, lack thereof.

After reflecting on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s idea that the “only way to have a friend is to be one,” I realized that it was easier for me to walk away from relationships than to try to fix them It’s uncomfortable telling others how I feel and much easier to pretend that everything is fine or to simply drop contact. So, I spent some time last year reconnecting with people I was missing in my life to tell them what had happened on my end. Two of these friends met me with grace and understanding and we’re building back our relationships.

People say that marriage is hard work, but I think the work of friendship can be more difficult. There’s something about choosing to be connected with others without any other commitment. No legally binding contract or religious ceremony; just a common understanding that we’re going to hang out together and share our stories and help each other as best we can.

I’m learning that telling these stories takes a certain level of trust and vulnerability and that it’s worth a little bit of shame or anxiety if someone else can share similar experiences with me It goes a long way toward feeling less lonely in a world that I don’t always understand.

I’m not sure what happens with my friendship with Hank I can wait for him to write back, or I can reach out to see how he is. Maybe there’s something else, which is simply being grateful for the time we had together and to use the lessons of that friendship to solidify my current ones.

I’m learning that not all friendships have a solid beginning or end but exist on a continuum that is often indefinable

Stacy Murison is a Flagstaff-based writer Her work has appeared in Assay, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, Flash Fiction Magazine, Hobart, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and The Rumpus among others You can find her work at stacymurison com or follow her on Twitter, @StacyMurison

Hot Picks

FROM INDIE-CULT TO INDIE-FOLK

Come to the Coconino Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 10 to check out David Huckfelt & Howe Gelb, with special guest Dirt Rhodes! Huckfelt is a singer, songwriter, activist and frontman of The Pines – an indie-folk band with a cult following. Huckfelt is a native of Iowa, so he shares midwestern musical roots with iconic folk artists like John Prine and Greg Brown. Additionally, Huckfelt has performed with acts like Emmylou Harris and Bon Iver. Performing alongside Huckfelt is Dirt Rhodes, a Diné musician hailing from Fort Defiance, Arizona. Taking influences from The Navajo Nation, Texas and Nashville, Dirt Rhodes combines an emphasis on Indigenous culture with country western sound. Howe Gelb is an Arizona native from Tucson, who hasn’t played in Flagstaff since Monsoons, so come check out this incredible trio of musicians on Friday, February 10 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20- $25, and are available for purchase at coconinoarts.org under the Upcoming Concerts tab.

CHOCOLATE-COATED COMMUNITY

Got a sweet tooth that cannot be satisfied? We have the solution for you! The 7th Annual Flagstaff Chocolate Walk is coming back to downtown Flagstaff on February 11. Passports are available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center They will serve as our key to sampling a delicious array of chocolates from a plethora of downtown merchants and restaurants. Return your full passport to the Flagstaff Visitor Center in order to vote for your favorite chocolate and to be entered to win amazing prizes. This year, proceeds will go to The Flagstaff Family Food Center, which has been serving Flagstaff and surrounding communities for 30 years Presale tickets are available beginning on February 4 at $8 for adults and $5 for kids, or on the day of the event for $9 for adults and $6 for kids The event will be held from 11 a m to 3 p.m. on Saturday February 11.

MONTH OF FEbRUARY 2023

» SATURDAY | 2.18 THE MOVIE MAESTRO

From “The Imperial March” to “Hedwig’s Theme,” John Williams’ film scores have resonated with millions of film goers for more than 50 years. These musical masterpieces have the power to evoke any emotion under the sun and will truly live on forever. The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is honoring John Williams and bringing these pieces to you, live! Dress up as your favorite movie character and prepare to be taken on a journey back to your favorite film moments The Orchestra will be performing at Ardrey Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are priced by section, and available for purchase at NAU’s ticket office at nautickets.universitytickets.com.

» ONGOING | 2.16 2.20 DWARF IN SPACE, GIANT IN OUR HEARTS

As many of us know, Pluto, our favorite dwarf planet, was discovered right here in Flagstaff, AZ at the Lowell Observatory. Pluto was first spotted here on February 18, 1930 – 93 years ago Come attend the I Heart Pluto Festival and learn more about the history of Pluto during this three-day, astronomically awesome festival The festival will include live music, food trucks, Pluto tours, science demos and talks! On Feb. 16, the festival will begin at Mother Road Brewing Company, where the brewery will reveal its special, limited-edition beer, brewed specifically for the festival. On Feb. 17, explore Flagstaff’s pubs, bars and brew houses during the Pluto Pub Crawl. Then, on Feb. 18, come see the unveiling of the Tombaugh Telescope exhibit at the Rotunda Museum. Later that day, Lowell Observatory and the Orpheum Theater will present the keynote event, A Night of Discovery, a celebration to honor the anniversary of Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto on Feb. 18, 1930.

Nicole Stott, an astronaut, aquanaut and space artist will be headlining this year’s event.

Kevin Schindler, Lowell Observatory Historian, will tell the story of Pluto’s incredible discovery that happened 93 years ago. For the remainder of the festival, Lowell will be hosting a variety of space-themed activities from scavenger hunts to special science shows presented by the talented staff. If you’d like to buy tickets, look at the schedule or learn more about Pluto, head over to the I Heart Pluto Festival website at iheartpluto org

Composer John Williams created the themes for the first Harry Potter film and such iconic scores as the ones for “Jaws,”“E.T.”and“Star Wars.”

ASH LOHMANN

Dylan Harris, Phil Gibbs, Eric Berellen and Tim Erbach of Flagstaff rock band Dusty Rug all made their ways out to Flagstaff from different places and for different reasons.

Dusty Rug singer and rhythm guitarist Harris initially moved to Flagstaff to attend NAU. Working at Diablo Burger, he met fellow musician Berellen. The two met up outside of work for a jam session and knew, almost instantly, they’d continue to play together.

“It was like, ‘Wow,’” Berellen said. “‘We’ve got something here.”

After college, Harris moved back home to Tucson, then returned to Flagstaff to brew beer at Mother Road Brewing Co. Working there, he met Gibbs, who had just moved to Flagstaff from Richmond, Virginia.

“We were filling kegs and talking about music, and I found out that he played the drums,” Harris said. “So, he came and hung out with me and Eric one day, and he’s still here.”

Together, Harris, Gibbs and Berellen made up soon-to-be local favorite, Dusty Rug.

“[We] started playing with no bass player,” Berellen said. “It was really weird, but we made it work.”

A little bit of punk, a little bit of psychedelia and a lot of rock, the three frequented stages of some of Flag’s favorite live music venues.

“I think we’ve played locally more than just about anybody,” Berellen said. “There’s a few other bands that are really getting out there, playing a lot too, but I think we’re pretty well known here.”

While Berellen said the band’s next steps locally include playing some of the larger venues like the Orpheum and Yucca North, the turnout when Dusty Rug plays any local venue is impressive and the vibe is often electric

“Any show at the Monte Vista is always a really good time for us,” Gibbs said. “We have the best crowds turn out for us, the best energy, and it just always is a memorable experience when we play there.”

After establishing their footing in the Flagstaff music scene, Harris said Dusty Rug was ready to record their first album, “Itch.” Available on major music streaming platforms, Dusty Rug recorded “Itch” in Los Angeles under less-than glamourous circumstances

Harris said a good friend set up a home studio in their garage and the band got to working with Berellen filling in on bass. Over four or five days, the album was re-

Itching for more

Flag-forged rock band Dusty Rug makes a name for themselves on their first Southwest tour

and the band kicked off their tour with a hometown show at the Monte Vista.

After “Itch” was recorded, bass guitarist Tim Erbach joined Dusty Rug.

From Jersey City, New Jersey, Erbach was working for the emergency medical services (EMS) in New York but said he wanted a break to do more wilderness EMS work. So, Erbach came out to Flagstaff to get his wilderness EMT certification and “on a whim,” decided to stay in town following completion of his program.

Erbach said he had only rehearsed with Dusty Rug once before they went to Los Angeles to record “Itch.” While he enjoyed playing with the band, he explained that he wanted to hone his focus on completing his studies before focusing his time on the band.

“We were looking for a bass player, but we also didn’t want to like, jump the gun and just get anybody,” Harris said. “We were kind of holding out hope that eventually, we’d get Tim to join us.”

Once Erbach finished up school, he was ready to be the band’s full-time bass player – just in time for the “Itch” tour.

“We were like, ‘Yes, finally,’” Harris said.

Because Dusty Rug felt like they were already relatively established in the Flagstaff music scene, they wanted to branch out and try to reach new listeners across the southwest for their “Itch” tour.

Playing venues all around California and Arizona, Berellen said the band succeeded in introducing themselves to wider audiences.

“Flagstaff is its own little bubble, so there’s a lot of work to be done in places like Phoenix and Tucson, which aren’t that far away, but definitely are bigger music hubs and have a lot more venues,” Berellen said.

Berellen explained that Dusty Rug’s “Itch” tour served as the band’s introductory tour to the new places they played. He said that next time the band plays in these cities, they hope to see people coming back to hear their music.

On the “Itch” tour, Harris said Dusty Rug’s turnout at most shows was great, which boosted the band’s morale. However, he explained that the tour also gave them opportunities to bond.

corded and Dusty Rug’s goal of getting music out was becoming a reality.

“It was a learning process through and through,” Harris said. “Obviously, looking back, it doesn’t sound like we would

want it to ideally, but, you know, it was our first go around, first album, and we’re very happy with how it came out, all things considered.”

The album was released on Nov 4, 2022

For example, Harris said, one Los Angeles show at an outdoor venue was canceled because of rain. Instead of moping about the missed opportunity to play for a new audience, he said the band made the most of their day in California

“We had some fun,” Harris said. “Went to the beach, ate some food, just did more things as a band than we typically get to do,

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ERIC VERELLEN (LEAD GUITAR),DYLAN HARRIS (RHYTHM GUITAR AND VOCALS),PHIL GIBBS (DRUMS),AND TIM ERBACH (BASS) COURTESY PHOTOS

so was cool.”

After the tour, Dusty Rug returned to Flagstaff having accomplished several milestones, together and individually. While “Itch” marked Dusty Rug’s first album and tour, it also was Harris, Berellen and Gibbs’ first album and tour to ever complete.

“It’s exciting,” Berellen said. “It’s kind of hard for me to believe it, but we did it all in the span of about nine months that we recorded it, released it and went on tour. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but that’s a huge personal accomplishment for all of us.”

Harris said that even though creating “Itch” and going on tour were huge moves for the band, their trajectory is set to continue as the Dusty Rug tries to take their music careers to a “full swing thing.”

The band is planning on recording their second album in 2023 with all four members on the tracks. Along with the second album, Dusty Rug also anticipates their second tour

Now, Berellen said they’re in

the songwriting process.

“We have a little bit of downtime over the next few months to really write some new material and get some new songs in the works,” Berellen said. “We’ll have a couple more live session videos that’ll be coming out over the next couple months as well.”

Continuing Dusty Rug’s momentum also involves continuing the fun and, albeit, wild energy at shows – part of why the band’s

Flagstaff fans keep coming back for more.

With lots of energy on stage, Harris said Dusty Rug has fun whenever they’re performing. He explained that his favorite moments are ones when he can see his bandmates getting into the

music and getting goofy with the performance.

Berellen said when the band truly gets into the music while on stage, it’s a magical feeling.

“We had this – I just got chills thinking about it happening – we had a show [recently], playing a song we’ve been playing for a while, but for whatever reason, it was just particularly special on that one night,” Berellen said. “Even in the midst of it, you’re

playing it and you realize, ‘Oh man, this is really good.’”

Entering into this out-of-bodytype of flow state while playing a show with a crowd is an unmatchable feeling, Berellen said.

However, regardless of the audience, members of Dusty Rug can enjoy themselves whenever they’re playing music together, Erbach explained.

“We’ve had some shows like our first time playing a venue in Phoenix on a weeknight, and there’s almost no one there. And we just have a really goofy time playing for a couple of hours,” Erbach said. “We’re still able to enjoy it and take risks with the music, just kind of play among ourselves. There were just like four people there, and we were still able to put on a good show and play well and find a way to enjoy those kinds of nights, which are pretty rare in this band.”

He said that nights without an audience can be miserable for bands without the right mindset, but with one another’s company, Dusty Rug is always a good time.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL ALANIS

CELEBRATE PLUTO WITH A THREE-DAY FESTIVAL AT LOWELL OBSERVATORY FEB 18-20, 2023

Science Talks

Science Demos

Food Trucks

Live Music

Beer

Pluto Pub Crawl

Art Show

Night of Discovery at the Orpheum Theater with Keynote

Speaker Astronaut Nicole Stott

There’s something about being able to pack your entire life away into boxes, compact enough to fit in a single vehicle, that’s both satisfying and frightening. It’s scary to start fresh and leave behind what you’ve known for so long, but it’s also exhilarating. Ever since I was young, I’d get the random urge to completely rearrange my bedroom. Now, there were only so many combinations I could try with just a bedroom at my disposal, but believe me, I tried them all. When I went off to college, these manic states of needing a change in my monotonous, daily life were a bit more difficult I quickly learned that the size of dorm rooms severely limit how much you can rearrange any of the furniture within them. So I resorted to piercing my ears, dying my hair, getting a small tattoo here and there. Though these changes were a bit more permanent than simply moving a bed from one wall to the other, they did the trick. When I look back on those body modifications today, I smile and sometimes get a chuckle out of the times they remind me of I guess, at the heart of it, they make me happily reminiscent, which is why I honestly don’t regret any of those permanent changes.

Over my college years, my need for change has slowed and the concept of college, going to NAU and living in Flagstaff has become my comfort zone.

While I always sought as much change as possible when in one of these rare states of mental flux, they were just that: rare. More often than not, I am a creature of routine and habit I enjoy traditions, comfort zones, nostalgic atmospheres and re-watching Gilmore Girls for the eighth time. Therefore, when I am not the one instigating the changes in my life, those changes are terrifying and stressful. However, I also know that one of the biggest changes in my life is just around the corner: College graduation With so many potential paths and countless factors that have the possibility to shape how I begin the rest of my life, it’s virtually impossible to iron out what my routines will look like six months from now, much less a year from now; that is truly scary to me. However, recently, I’ve been attempting to look at it less like the end of my train tracks and more-so like the end of my pre-built tracks as well as the beginning of being able to lay the tracks myself. This way of thinking has helped me feel like I have a bit more control over this massive upcoming change. So, if you’re like me and not being in control of the changes in your life scares the living hell out of you, perhaps a change of perspective is all you really need.

Now, I can honestly say that I am looking forward to whatever my future may be after graduation. Packing up my life and everything I’ve known won’t be easy, but I am also beginning to see how exciting these new beginnings will be, no matter where they take me and what changes may be hidden within.

Camille Sipple

A TASTE OF THE WORLD

Flagstaff local Kim Robinson champions fair trade products from around the world

ADRIAN SKABELUND

Be it earrings from Mali or wooden bowls and stone chess sets from Kenya, Flagstaff local Kim Robinson has been bringing free trade arts and crafts from across the globe to Flagstaff for over a decade through her business Gallyvant Market.

In that time, it’s been quiet the ourney, taking her from the east coast and, after a stint in the air-force, to Flagstaff She’s even starting to make and sell her own crafts in addition to the ones she’s purchased from around the globe. Majoring in anthropology in collage, Robinson said she has always been passionate about learning about other cultures and finding ways to share that passion with others but as she started working on what would become Gallyvant, she discovered something that would define the business: fair trade ethics

Whi e in these days, fair trade is well known, often associated with products like coffee and choco ate

Please see TRADE Page 14

ADRIAN SKABELUND

Owner of Gallyvant Market Kim Robinson poses with earr ngs from a Kenyan triba artist,acquired fa r trade an eth c Robinson and Gal yvant Market has championed.

bringing cultural representation from historically disadvantaged places in a way that actually ensures the money is going to support the artists and crafts people whose work it is

“It’s meaningful for me simply for representation because there aren’t a lot of black owned businesses here in Flagstaff, so for representation, it means a lot to me It also means a lot for me to pull from these overly exploited countries,” Robinson said.

“I think Flagstaff is very supportive of locally owned business It’s because of because of the type of city we are.”

Especially early on, Robinson said she would be informing customers about what fair trade even was as much as she was selling products.

The organization Fairtrade International, which helps govern what is and isn’t considered fair trade, was only established in 1997, so when she began, the concept was fairly unknown to the majority of consumers.

But, there can be aspects of operating within fair trade that makes it more chal-

Arts,crafts and products from far flung areas of the world including Nepal,Kenya and South Africa are sold fair trade by Kim Robinson,owner of Gallyvant Market.

directly with the artists; someone who actually sat down, made those bracelets in their homes, one by one by one for hours and hours”

“If we’re not used to seeing that price point, it is difficult to buy into,” Robinson said.

Obviously that can make it challenging for potential customers, especially as so many have seen their pocketbooks shrink and expenses rise.

Those conversations happen less these days, Robinson said.

As more people are exposed to fair trade, Robinson said she has seen more customers that put aside a certain amount of their budget just for fair trade items, be they gifts or simply consumable products like coffee.

On top of that, Robinson said it has helped that overall, the prices of fair trade products have come down in comparison to mass market products, and that matters a lot because people may be finding themselves buying fair trade items who don’t even necessarily care about the issue.

A lot of that simply has to do with improvements in international shipping and how the countries she sources from have themselves continued to develop.

“I would go to a trade show and speak to someone from Senegal, and if they didn’t haul it with them, if they did not bring everything with them from Senegal, I would have to wait for months for it to get there. And it’s expensive, which increased the price of the object,” Robinson said “I have memories of sitting down and writing out these pages of orders, like quantity, the name of the item and then mailing it in, and then, all you do is sit on your hands for three months and wait for it to come in.”

lenging than selling traditional mass market items For example, explaining to potential customers why her prices might be higher than what they might see elsewhere and why that was important, Robinson said.

Robinson said those conversations were countering something she started labeling as the “mass market effect.”

“You can’t lowball an artist and be fair trade You can’t purchase from an artist and not also invest in that artist’s community and entrepreneurial development and call yourself fair trade,” Robinson said. “If we don’t understand why the cost is higher – like we’re actually dealing more

All that has improved over the years, but Robinson said that for her, the most fun way of getting the items she sells is still probably trade shows.

“The last trade show I went to, I was able to purchase directly from an artist who made jewelry from South Africa So I’m sitting there talking to this lady, and she was like, ‘Oh, I made all these earrings.’ So I definitely had to clear off her table,” Robinson said

Those who are interested in Gallyvant Market’s fair trade, handmade and sustainable products can visit its website at gallyvantmarket.com.

ADRIAN SKABELUND

Asfairtradepractices havebecomemore common,consumable itemslikesoaps,and foodhavejoinedthe traditionalarts,crafts andtchotchkesforsale atGallyvantMarket.

ADRIAN SKABELUND

Owner of Gallyvant Market Kim Robinson sources products,arts and crafts from

as seen here.

ADRIAN SKABELUND

Boot Straps

Newly elected governor Katie Hobbs, in her inauguration speech, vowed to repeal the universal vouchers, officially known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) – double-speak for if you’re wealthy, we will continue to support your wealth and the future of your children’s wealth, while doing our best to insure those who struggle financially will continue to do so.

Bridget Dowd, reporting for KJZZ, said “According to the governor’s staff, if not repealed, the 2022 expansion of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program will cost $1 5 billion over the next ten years. They say about 75% of the families newly enrolled under expanded vouchers would have attended a private or homeschool anyway A significant portion of the remaining 25%, students who have attended public schools in the past, are from wealthy areas that don’t receive state aid because of high property tax revenues.”

Our Republican majority vows that Hobbs will never succeed in repealing this law Continued from the KJZZ report,“Republican Sen. T.J. Shope called the proposal “hysterical.”“What about the 30% that weren’t [already attending private schools]? We’re gonna take it away from them? I don’t think that’s going to be a winning argument there,” Shope said.“I don’t believe that those folks will just go ahead and drift quietly into the night.” I admit, I’m feeling a bit hysterical. As I canvassed with Save Our Schools this fall, I know most Arizonans don’t support ESAs. But the people who are getting kickbacks from public school taxes? They support whatever money they can keep from the kids who cannot afford to go to private schools.

School choice is big in Arizona Arizona thinks it’s primarily a Libertarian state – you do you, and I’ll do me and never the twain shall meet. It’s impossible, though, to be a Libertarian unless you’ve arrived at such a station in life that you cannot perceive your dependence on others. You look out from your office window into an expanse of roads, trees, water treatment plants, disease-free children, playgrounds, parks and think, “How nice. I built this all for myself.” When you flush the toilet, you remember how great it will be to head out to the leech field

to separate solid from liquid. Thank goodness you took that class in treating sewage! You did go to private schools which, thanks to the government refunding your taxes, you only had to pay a third of what you’d paid last year. You know if it wasn’t for the government that you wouldn’t have to pay taxes at all, and why should you? You pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps Who gave you those bootstraps? Who gave you those boots? You must have sewn them in utero from the lining of your mother’s womb. What’s a placenta for if not to give the child a leg up in their economic future?

You weren’t born in the sterile, suffocating atmosphere of the hospital. You were born in the living room of your own property; a property that the government did not murder indigenous people for; a property that they allowed you to claim it as your own You were born there, and thus, it’s your birthright, just like the bootstraps.

AsanAmericanchild,youarebornintoa worldofindividualchoice.Yourrightsmatter. Ifsomeonecomesuptoyouandasks,“What aboutmyrights?”squintattheminconfusion. “Noonesaidanythingaboutyourrights.”

“Right, but if you have rights, I have rights, too”

“Yes, you can go to private school, too.”

“I don’t have $14,000 for tuition.”

“That’s why they still have public schools”

“Yes. That’s where I go. To a public school. Although without the extra $14,000 for private school tuition, I don’t really have that choice”

“You can go to a charter school.”

“I suppose I could, but I’d have to walk. I live three miles away. There are no buses. My mom works the morning shift at the hospital.”

“You could take the public bus.”

“I am only seven years old.”

“That’s why you were born with bootstraps. Pull them up. Get yourself together.”

“What the hell are bootstraps?” (The image accompanying this conversation is taken from the Internet when one Googles, “boot straps.”)

“I’m not sure, but you should definitely get some.”

There are no bad schools,there are just poorly funded schools,or,rather,a terrible system of school funding that is bad for the entire community – and by community,I

mean the entire country.By providing more funding to school districts where property taxes are higher,you are enriching the rich What if states divided student funding equally per student – or better yet,what if the federal government funded each student equally. New York state spends $20,000 per student where different districts provide different funding – Scarsdale Union Free School District,where the medium income is $250,000 spends $29,678 per student but then Rondout Valley Central School District spend $30,899 per student and the median income of families there was only $69,991.So,it’s not 100% inequitable funding in New York,but Rondout seems to be the exception,not the rule.

The state of Arizona provides $3,680 per student with district schools getting some additional funding through things like local bonds and override elections or federal desegregation funds. Districts and charters get additional funds from other federal programs, local property taxes and tax credit donations. In what way are the students of Arizona able to compete with students of New York? Scrappily, is what it sounds like. “They aren’t” is what it looks like

If all students attended similar schools all kids would get a similar education, and I don’t mean that all kids would be treated

equally. Teachers have developed brilliant ways to individuate their lessons for every kind of kid, but if every kind of kid went to schools where every kind of kid was supported, something like equity might begin to emerge from our schools.

I’ve noticed that environmental scientists have begun using the word “community” to describe ecosystems as much as community organizers use the word ‘ecosystem’ to describe the necessary components for healthy neighborhoods, cities, counties and states. A pairing of ecosystem with community might make the picture clearer. Every kid needs to be there for every other kids to share what they know, who they are, what people can be like, but if the wealthiest kids go to school with other wealthy kids, they learn how to be wealthy and how to maintain that wealth If the wealthy kids share resources, like one tree on the far end of the forest sharing its resources with another, the ecosystem is stronger – the web of interrelationships becomes strong enough to withstand fire, drought, even pests.

Individualism leads us to believe our kids are ours, but they are not ours – they are the collective hope for our species’ better future. We should probably treat them, each of them, like the salvation that they are.

Nicole Walker

NICOLE’S IMPOSSIBLY POSSIBLE IDEAS

Masters of Brewtality gets stoned to the bone on some of Noble Herb’s Jack Herer

Welcome back to the crypt, boils and ghouls, this month, the diabolical creeps and geeks of Masters of Brewtality are bringing you something special. While our usual content is craft beer centric, over the years we’ve spewed out features on kava kava, kratum, berserker mead infused with psychedelic mushrooms and pretty much any other inebriant we can legally discuss, but we’ve glossed over this edition’s focus and, frankly, it’s a crying shame. This foul February, we getting stoned to the bone.

First, a little history… Down here in the sewers of the MOB crypt, we spent decades toking up daily, but, when they legalized, it took all the edginess out of it. We lost interest. If your mom in Sun City is talking about how her friends are taking edibles to ease their arthritis, it’s just not epic anymore, and that’s the way it is. Flashback to 2006. The fledgling staff of Masters of Brewtality took their first trip to Amsterdam in search of getting as far out as humanly possible. Medicinal marijuana in America was just starting out, and the “green card” was basically a myth for anyone interested in getting one. Recreational weed was literally a pipe dream, and those of us that enjoyed the devil’s lettuce risked expulsion, imprisonment and, worst of all, drug tests at minimum wage jobs. So, we packed our bags and hopped across the pond to the Promised Land in the Neth-

erlands. Over the course of the 16-hour flight, we obsessed over a used edition of Heads magazine we’d acquired from Bookman’s and studied the most popular strains in the world and their effects. We were going to hit it hard on all fronts. At the time, the most potent strain on the planet was Super Silver Haze, coming in at a punishing 18% THC, which today, hilariously, barely passes as mids. But, being the psychonaughts we were, we were most interested in the trippy strains, and, for that, we found Jack Herer.

Named for the sometimes called “Emperor of Hemp,” Jack Herer was a marijuana activist for the majority of his life until his rock ‘n’ roll, dope-smoking lifestyle cut his life short at the youthful age of 70, and the strain that took his name was equally radical. Color contrast between the lush green trees lining the canals of Amsterdam and the vibrant blue sky were never more defined, and the Van Gogh and Rembrandt art galleries lit up like flickering campfires. We were hooked, and last month, we decided to revisit this most beloved of strains.

We hit the relatively new Noble Herb shop off Route 66 on a Monday afternoon and picked up a couple cartridges and a half ounce of flower that ran around a meager $40 “Dear Lord,” we thought, remembering when a quarter in high school would run $20 for the seediest crap ever to be smuggled in a muffler, and now we’re holding our favorite strain for roughly the same price twenty years later. What a time to be alive!

We’ll be honest here… We’re not fans of the contemporary weed purchasing environment. It has always felt like buying a cell phone, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t miss the thrill of the hunt. Of course, legalization has kept millions out of the prison industrial complex, and that’s pretty groovy. But the cashiers at these places don’t even try to make you stick around for fifteen minutes watching weird videos on YouTube, and, boils and ghouls, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The amount of objectively crap music that’s been forced on the MOB staff over the years buying illegal weed is criminal in a way that

supersedes the laws of the land and we’re grateful to be able to just jump in and out. All in all, the experience was painless and the staff was very nice.

Onto torching the jazz cabbage! Jack Herer is still great. The staff huddled into the only corner of the crypt that wasn’t leaking fluid, and we all watched stupid movies and ate homemade pizookies Coffee ice cream over not-quite-cooked chocolate chip dough is pretty much the best thing you can do for yourself after getting ripped to the gills We’d recommend pairing this strain with a visually stimulating movie like “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” or “Mad Max: Fury Road” or jumping head first into a fresh artistic pursuit like calligraphy. Anxiety on this strain was pretty low, which is a huge plus for anyone trying to exist in this existential nightmare we call daily life, and while not a single member of the MOB staff could pull it together enough to venture outside, we all kind of assumed we could possibly hold a semi-sane conversation if need be. And plants still looked awesome.

Overall, the freaks and geeks of Masters of Brewtality are yet again on Team Giggle Grass We’ll never give up our beloved beer, but, hot damn, it’s nice to have options. Until next month, friends, stay crispy!

Mike Williams (your titular Master of Brewtality) is a humble tattoo artist, egotistical writer, relentless beer drinker, unrepentant Hellraiser and connoisseur of all things Doom Metal. You can find him slinging ink at Flagstaff Tattoo Company or at some bar downtown.

Mike Williams

JAKE BACON, ARIZONA DAILY SUN

A selection of marijuana is on display at Noble Herb.

What’s the Point?

NAU graduate and Flagstaff local invents

cactus-themed game now sold nationwide

SABRINA GRIMALDI

Ryan Wallace had played every board game he owned when an unexpected life event sent him on a search for something fresh. After a month of hospitalization interrupted his undergraduate degree in computer science at NAU, Wallace went back to school with an itch to create his own game, something that took all of the best pieces of his favorite games and combined them into a new one, unlike anything anyone had played before.

While the card game market is endless, with new games popping up yearly, Wallace knew there was a similar but different market that needed to be filled. Living in northern Arizona, gift shops and tourist stops lined the corners of Flagstaff streets, and he realized there weren’t usually any card games on the shelves there. He could create a game that could be an interesting gift – an activity and a souvenir rolled into one

“I wanted to create a game that would go in gift shops,”Wallace said.“There wasn’t really a market for that. I saw the opportunity, and I took it Most games sit next to other games on the shelf, but my game is unique because they have puzzles and things at gift stores. But they don’t have card games that are also souvenirs, so I ran with that”

With this idea in mind, Wallace began designing the game and creating its gameplay. He wanted the game to be family-friendly, something players of all ages

could enjoy. This meant that he had to test the game, using different test subjects to observe how different people understood the instructions and reacted to the flow of the game.

“I can’t stress how much play testing it takes to make a game,” Wallace said “I would go to clubs on campus, and I would ask them to play the game. I did a lot of playtesting on campus, and it was really built around the student’s ideas. They’d come to me and say ‘this card sucks’ or ‘this card is awesome’ or ‘this rule is good’ or ‘this rule is bad’ I would take all that feedback and continue expanding on it.”

Wallace tested the game on whoever was willing to give it a try. He asked NAU students to try it out, offering to buy them a pizza for their service. He had his younger sister and her friends try it out, so he could see how a younger generation liked it He had family members such as his grandparents and his young cousins try it, taking notes and forming the game based on their understandings and reactions. He even would venture to downtown Flagstaff into bars and local restaurants, asking buzzed and tipsy people to try out the game, making sure the rules and instructions were drunk-proof

“There were a lot of times where I would give them the instructions, and they would

Ryan Wallace and his family exhibiting What’s the Point? The Cactus Card Game which can now be found in 150 stores around the country.Courtesy photo.

interpret it completely opposite of how I wanted them to,” Wallace said. “I’d have to rewrite it and rewrite it and test again. Honestly, it took two years of play testing to get the instructions just correct enough to where anyone can pick it up and play it right. Even then, I’m still working on it. Sometimes I add to the instructions to answer questions people have. It’s never-ending, but it’s in a place now that I’m confident that 99% of people can pick it up and play it in the way I intended it to be played.”

Beyond the instructions of the game and the gameplay itself, Wallace was also busy designing the cards, components and packaging.

“I spent two or three years perfecting the game while I was juggling school work,” Wallace said. “When I wasn’t studying or partying, I was working on the card game. I did everything from the box design to the artwork to the game components. Everything. I’m a one-man band.”

When the creation of the game and all its elements were nearly complete, Wallace used the website Kickstarter to launch his game.

There, he raised over $9,000 which helped him fund the first 500 copies of the game

“To be honest, that’s as far as I thought I would ever go,” Wallace said. “I thought ‘500? That will be good,’ and I sold through them so quick They loved it, they loved the artwork, they loved the game design and they loved that it was Arizona made. So, I ordered more and more. Now, as of today, the game is in 150 stores and I have sold over 6,000 copies… I love that I have created 6,000 game nights.”

Since its initial launch in 2020, Wallace has produced over 6,000 copies of the game, with 5,000 more copies currently in production for the 2023 year. With the help of his parents and a few friends, he has nailed down distribution, shipping costs and the business side of things.

What’s The Point? The Cactus Card Game can now be found in 150 stores nationwide, including Flagstaff General Store in town and online. It is offered in numerous noteworthy gift shops like the Grand Canyon and the Space Needle gift shops. The game was created, designed and made in and by Flagstaff through the help of playtesting. Wallace currently is distributing the game from his Flagstaff home. To learn more, head over to https://www thecactuscardgame.com/

THE PULSE

ONGOING MONDAY

Dark Sky Brewing: Locals Monday Every Monday from 6 8 p m enjoy $2 off non-barrel aged pours 10 oz and higher for Flagstaff locals

Museum Club: Open Mic Night Every Monday night from 6 9 p m Bands welcome Many musicians have been asked back for paying gigs.

Oeno Wine Lounge: Hospitality Night Every Monday, hospitality workers get 20% off their order Proof of employment required

Tappy Hour Monday-Friday 12-4 p m All w ne and beer taps are half off

TUESDAY

EastFlagstaffCommunityLibrary: Crafty Corner Express your creativity and get crafty every Tuesday from 3:30 4:30 p m

Jazzercise: African Dance Class Lessons focus on the traditional dances from Guinea, West Africa 6:45 8:15 p m

Museum Club: Line Dance Lessons Every Tuesday from 5 p m 8 p m

Karaoke Every Tuesday from 9 p m to close

OenoWineLounge: Teacher Tuesday Every Tuesday educators get 15% off wines

Tappy Hour Monday-Friday 12-4 p m All w ne and beer taps are half off

WEDNESDAY

East Flagstaff Community Library: Family Storytime Every Wednesday from 10:30 11:15 a m

Firecreek Coffee: Singer-Songwriter Open Mic Share your original songs between 7 10 p m

Gopher Hole: Karaoke & Service Industry Night Happy Hour prices for service industry personnel from 6 p m until close with the singing starting at 9:30 p m

MeadHall: Trivia Night Themed categories, including visual and sound, and prizes for the winners 6 8 p m

Oeno Wine Lounge: Warrior Wednesday All active military and first responders get 15% off

Tappy Hour Monday-Friday 12-4 p m All w ne and beer taps are half off

WeatherfordHotel: Blues Night at Charly’s

Every Wednesday night from 7 9 p m

Uptown Pubhouse: Team Trivia Join them every Wednesday for what Flagstaffians are calling “the best trivia night in town!” 7:30 9:30 p m

THURSDAY

DarkSkyBrewing:TriviaNight TAPP’DTrivia!

Thursdays 7-9 p m at the DSB Beer Garden

Gopher Hole: Trivia Night Doors open at 6 p m with trivia starting at 6:30 p m

Mead Hall: GREENLAW Live Celtic music at the Mead Hall every Thursday at 7 p m

Museum Club: Free Line Dance Lessons from 5–8 p m

Free Country Swing Lessons from 7–8 p m

Dimes with DJ FRSH Amazing drink specials from 8 p m to close

Oeno Wine Lounge: Wine Tastings Stop by between 5 and 7 PM to enjoy $20 wine tastings and $5 tastings for club members

Tappy Hour Monday-Friday 12–4 p m All wine and beer taps are half off

FRIDAY

Flag Tag AZ: Family Friday Laser Tag Get two games of laser tag for only $10 per person from 12 -11 p m

Jazzercise: Casino Rueda in Flagstaff Cuban-style Salsa Dancing followed by social dancing 7:30 10 p m

Lumberyard Brewery: Two Stepping Lessons and Free Dance from 9 p m 2 a m

Museum Club: Acoustic Happy Hour Live country music from 5:30 p m 10 p m Check the schedule for shows and times

Oeno Wine Lounge: Tappy Hour Monday-Friday 12–4 p m All wine and beer taps are half off

SATURDAY

Museum Club: Live country dance bands every week from 8:30 p m 1 a m

SUNDAY

Flagstaff City Hall: Flagstaff Community Farmers Market Celebrate your community and the hard work of its regional small growers and small businesses at the farmer’s market every Sunday 8 a m 12 p m

Dark Sky Brewery: Pints and Poses: Yoga at the taproom every Sunday morning from 10:15 a m to 11:30 a m $15 fee per class

Sunday Funday Live music every Sunday at the DSB Beer Garden 4 6 p m

Jazzercise: Ballroom social dancing Dance lesson, open dancing from ballroom and swing to latin dance genres 5:15 7 p m

Museum Club: Latino Night Celebrating Latino and Spanish music every Sunday from 9 p m -2 a m

OenoWineLounge: Wine Education Night

A 30 minute lesson on wine topics starting at 4:30 p m $20 per person

Thu/2.2

MUSIC EVENTS

Yucca North: Reverend Horton Heat The

godfather of modern rockabilly and psychobilly performs with the Surfrajettes

7 11:30 p m

Fri/2.3

MUSIC EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Slushii American DJ, singer, songwriter and record producer best known for his work with artists like Marshmello, Ookay and Jauz Doors: 7 p m | Show: 8 p m

VARIOUS EVENTS

DowntownFlagstaff: First Friday Art Walk

Join us between 5–9 p m for a series of special art exhibitions from local vendors, live music and more

Theatrikos Theatre: A Doll’s House, Part 2

The most frequently licensed and produced play of 2019 comes back for a second part

7:30 p m

Sat/2.4

MUSIC EVENTS

OrpheumTheater: Super Future Electronic musician who blends bright and ethereal downtempo beats with deep and heavy freeforms Doors: 8 p m | Show: 9 p m

VARIOUS EVENTS

Theatrikos Theatre: A Doll’s House, Part 2

The most frequently licensed and produced play of 2019 comes back for a second part

7:30 p m

Shift: Bake Sale Stop by to purchase some baked goods from one of the best restau-

Wed/2.8

VARIOUS EVENTS

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library: Senior Coffee Hour Coffee, pastries and conversations every second Wednesday of the month Ages 55 and up 10 11 a m

Nuestra Cultura Spanish Language Cultural Club held every second Wednesday of the month 5:30 7:30 p m

Thu/2.9

VARIOUS EVENTS

East Flagstaff Community Library: Lego Club Use your imaginations and build creativity with LEGOs Ages 5-11 2:30 3:45 p m

Fri/2.10

MUSIC EVENTS

Coconino Center for the Arts: David Huckfelt & Howe Gelb with special guest Dirt Rhodes A night of indie-folk favorites from some of the most talented upand-coming artists in the industry 7:30 9:30 p m

VARIOUS EVENTS

rants in town

Sun/2.5

MUSIC EVENTS

Coconino High School: Go for Baroque Master Chorale of Flagstaff joins with NAU Community Dance Academy to present a Valentine’s opera by English Baroque composer, John Blow 4 6 p m

VARIOUS EVENTS

Theatrikos Theatre: A Doll’s House, Part 2 The most frequently licensed and produced play of 2019 comes back for a second part.

7:30 p m

Mon/2.6

VARIOUS EVENTS

East Flagstaff Community Library: Anime Tales and Play Watch anime, play games, get crafty and discuss anime and manga

Food is provided 3:15 4:30 p m

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library: Let’s Talk about Sex Hour-long, healthy sexual education sessions for adults Learn more to become a reliable and askable adult for the teens in your life

5:30 6:30 p m

Tue/2.7

VARIOUS EVENTS

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library: The Art of Andrew Wyeth and his Family Explore the work of great artists with us on the first Tuesday of every month 6 7 p m

Christ’s Church of Flagstaff: Night to Shine Free prom for people with developmental disabilities and their families and providers 6 8 p m

Museum of Northern Arizona: Easton Collection Center Tour Behind-the-scenes tour of the Platinum LEED-certified Easton Collection Center 3 4 p m

Theatrikos Theatre: A Doll’s House, Part 2

The most frequently licensed and produced play of 2019 comes back for a second part 7:30 p m

Sat/2.11

VARIOUS EVENTS

DowntownFlagstaff: 7th Annual Flagstaff Chocolate Walk One-day chocolate tasting event 11 a m 3 p m

Arizona Snowbowl: 16th Annual Gore-Tex Kahtoola Uphill Event Take this chance to tackle the mountainous slopes of the San Francisco Peaks while raising money for Arizona-based non-profit, Friends of Camp Colton 5 9 p m

Theatrikos Theatre: A Doll’s House, Part 2

The most frequently licensed and produced play of 2019 comes back for a second part 7:30 p m

Sun/2.12

VARIOUS EVENTS

Theatrikos Theatre: A Doll’s House, Part 2

The most frequently licensed and produced play of 2019 comes back for a second part 7:30 p m

COURTESY NASA IMAGES

The 2023 I Heart Pluto Festival will celebrate the 93rd anniversary of Pluto’s discovery from February 18-20.

Mon/2.13

VARIOUS EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: LUNAFEST 2023. Traveling film festival that features award-winning short films for and about women Doors: 6 p m | Show: 7 p m

East Flagstaff Community Library: Anime Tales and Play Watch anime, play games, get crafty and discuss anime and manga Food is provided 3:15 4:30 p m

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library: Let’s Talk about Sex. Hour-long, healthy sexual education sessions for adults. Learn more to become a reliable and askable adult for the teens in your life 5:30 6:30 p m

Tue/2.14

MUSIC EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Pepper Three-piece reggae rock band with a refined blend of island rhythms and punky spirit Doors: 7 p m | Show: 8 p m

Wed/2.15

MUSIC EVENTS

Yucca North: Steely Dead A Grateful Dead

THE PULSE

and Steely Dan tribute band 7 p m –12 a m

VARIOUS EVENTS

EastFlagstaffCommunityLibrary: Game Day Play video and tabletop games with your friends and peers Ages 8-17 1 2:30 p m

Buffalo Park: “Step Into Health” Walking Club Every third Wednesday of the month, join North Country HealthCare for a walk between 3:30 and 4:30 p m

Thu/2.16

MUSIC EVENTS

OrpheumTheater: Twiddle American rock band that is known for their jam-band vibe and frequent instrumental improvisation

Doors: 6:30 p m | Show: 7:30 p m

Fri/2.17

MUSIC EVENTS

Yucca North: The James Brown Band Band with Le Trebuchet Best of Flag’s Best Band and up-and-coming local stars perform songs both old and new 7 p m

VARIOUS EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: I Heart Pluto Night of Discovery A keynote event to commemorate

the anniversary of Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto Doors: 6 p m | Show: 7 p m

Sat/2.18

MUSIC EVENTS

Ardrey Auditorium: The Best of John Williams Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra transports and enchants you with the nostalgic trip through the iconic film composer John Williams’ catalogue 7:30 9:30 p m

Tue/2.21

MUSIC EVENTS

Yucca North: Iya Terra American roots reggae and dub band performing with Artikal Sound System and Kyle Smith 7 p m 12 a m

VARIOUS EVENTS

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library: Movie Tuesday Join the library every third Tuesday of the month for a free movie and popcorn This month,“The Public” 5:30 7:30 p m

Thu/2.23

VARIOUS EVENTS

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public

Library: Climate Resilience Work Session In this monthly workshop, they are discussing the process of growing resilient neighborhoods 5:30 7 p m

East Flagstaff Community Library: Lego Club Use your imaginations and build creativity with LEGOs Ages 5-11 2:30 3:45 p m

Sat/2.25

MUSIC EVENTS

Coconino Center for the Arts: Traveler: A Journey of Adventurous Global Music

High-energy performance of world music with hula hoop extraordinaire Serene Isabelo 7:30 9:30 p m

VARIOUS EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Anger Management

Comedy featuring Ron Morey Energetic show with characters, music and impressions Doors: 7 p m | Show: 7:30 p m

Sun/2.26

MUSIC EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Big Gigantic American instrumental electronic hip hop and jazz musical duo based in Boulder, Colorado Doors:

6 p m | 7 p m

Tue/2.28

MUSIC EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Eric Johnson One of the world’s most respected guitarists, vocalists and composers famed for his Grammy Award-winning single“Cliffs of Dover”Doors: 6:30 p m | Show: 7:30 p m

Wed/3.1

MUSIC EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Spafford American jam band that blends multiple genres of music including rock, funk, jazz, reggae, ska, and electro-pop Doors: 6:30 p m | Show: 7:30 p m

VARIOUS EVENTS

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library: Game Night Bring friends, co-workers or family for a night of fun presented by Vault 5 7:30 p m

East Flagstaff Community Library: Game Day Play video and tabletop games with your friends and peers Ages 8-17 1 2:30 p m

GOLF THE GALLERY

9-hole playable exhibition of artist-created miniature golf greens

Miniature Golf to Benefit

Coconino Center for the Arts

FEBRUARY 4-23, 2023

Register to Play: coconinoarts.org/fore

DAVID HUCKFELT & HOWE GELB with special guest Dirt Rhodes

Friday, February 10 Coconino Center for the Arts

Once a month,Kirsten Mathisen creates an original piece of word art using a past Flag Live! article. This one was made from words found in contributor Margarita Cruz‘s article “Yes,Chef: It’s All Local with Square Root Foods” Find more on Instagram at @kingdom.of.words.