2021 Flagstaff Progress Report

SPECIAL SECTION 1

CITY OF FLAGSTAFF

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 |

PROGRESS REPORT SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 |

azdailysun.com

ECONOMY

Flagstaff continues

moving forward

T

CITY OF FLAGSTAFF ECONOMIC VITALITY STAFF

here is not enough sugar on the planet to coat the hard realities of 12 months of closures, shutdowns and fear. Shelter-in-place. Work from home. Parents as teachers. Athletes with dreams of recruitment, scholarships and pro-seasons put on hold indefinitely. The story does not end there, not even remotely.

Through these storms there were many stories of those who rose above the distractions of the day(s), to focus on the opportunities that were within their sights and therefore within their grasp. These human beings with spirit elevated, their eyes to possibilities and to a future of not only good, but better, made up the stories that fortify us and our future.

Flagstaff is a community anchored in physical beauty and focused on making a quality of life for all.

This story shares a number of positive highlights of the local economy that are true stories of Flagstaff weathering the turbulent times in solid Flagstaff fashion. Many businesses decided to ChooseFlagstaff.com for their new home. Money was invested to improve distressed properties. Businesses opened their doors and have grown and expanded in Flagstaff. These are the stories that shape and make Flagstaff what it is—a place to visit, discover and grow.

Recent business attraction

UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries is a leading supplier of precision extruded aluminum automotive components and assemblies, and Flagstaff has been selected as the new home for its fourth production plant.

UACJ Whitehall will take over a portion of the former Walgreens distribution center and will manufacture

parts for electric vehicles and other automotive companies. UACJ Whitehall plans to invest as much as $60 million with this new expansion and is anticipated to bring 120 high-paying jobs to the region over the next year and 350 within five years. The average wage at the company will be 60% higher than Coconino County’s per capita income. Whitehall Indus-

tries began manufacturing precision components for the copying and printing industry in 1974. It began aluminum extrusion operations for the auto industry in 2001. In 2016, it was acquired by UACJ Corporation, a Japanese-based aluminum manufacturer. The company currently has plants in Ludington, Michigan, Paducah, Kentucky, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Whitehall hopes to begin operations in Flagstaff in the next month.

Katalyst Space Technologies is a fledgling airspace company that is currently in contract discussions with NASA and the U.S. military to provide the organizations with their groundbreaking technology. Katalyst will be moving into its new home on Innovation Mesa at the Business Accelerator (NACET) at the beginning of May. Katalyst was the first business awarded the City’s Job Creation Incentive and is currently working on getting its team to Flagstaff.

Katalyst plans to create 30+ jobs for Flagstaff over the next three years as it continues to grow its business.

Brownfields – from the Route 66 Coalition A brownfield is defined as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”

These properties are often, though

not always, underutilized, vacant or abandoned and in need of renovation or some tender loving care to facilitate their reuse. Sometimes there may be a question about their history or previous use. The free environmental assessments help provide answers so owners can proceed with plans to revitalize properties, start new or expand existing businesses, create jobs, sell or lease property and provide benefits to the community.

Since July 2020, nine northern Arizona properties have been nominated by owners to receive a free environmental assessment using a $600,000 Brownfield Assessment Grant awarded to the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant is being used to help owners reuse and redevelop properties and buildings, secure funding for new businesses, and sometimes sell properties that would otherwise sit idle or be underutilized. These include three properties in downtown Flagstaff near the Rio de Flag and the downtown connection center run by the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA). Although this program is available for a limited time and on a first come, first served basis, the good news is there is still significant funding available for other properties.

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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

ARIZONA DAILY SUN

TOURISM RACHEL GIBBONS, ARIZONA DAILY SUN‌

Sarah Burcher disinfects a lens cover on a telescope on the Giovale Open Deck Observatory (GODO) at Lowell Observatory. The observatory was recognized by Discover Flagstaff with a sustainability award for its efforts toward responsible visitation during the pandemic.

RESPONSE, RECOVERY &

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM MEG ROEDERER

Discover Flagstaff‌

‌More than a year ago, the world changed with the onset of a global pandemic resulting in stay-athome orders which necessitated many businesses to shut down or pivot with nuances as safe operations suggested. Flagstaff’s pandemic response and recovery continues with adjustments, proclamations, resolutions and working alongside county and state government.

“Tourism is a pillar of Flagstaff’s economy and we take the impact of COVID on this industry very seriously,” said City Manager Greg Clifton. “Our city has and will continue to support our local business community while upholding public health best practices.”

Flagstaff’s number one economic driver, tourism, is among those businesses hit hardest as the industry continues to function in a somewhat “paused” mode.

Traditional accommodations (hotels/motels/Bed and Breakfast) in Flagstaff report on a handful of industry metrics, one of which is occupancy. 2020’s numbers were in the red with a year-end loss of 19.3% when compared to 2019 occupancy numbers. However, the new year is showing optimism with some signs of recovery.

Throughout the pandemic, and the consistent unfolding of new information from trusted sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Coconino County Health Department, Discover Flagstaff’s marketing, social media, website and media relations efforts have been nimble, perpetually changing, and leading with responsible and safety messaging at the forefront embracing local sentiment and destination stewardship. Marketing communication has included an “educational” component for those with travel plans to ‘Stay, Play, Distance & Mask Responsibly;’ guidance on where to find masks in-market; up-to-date information on open businesses; and offering social distancing opportunities by visiting open spaces and wild places.

Additionally, marketing messages were delivered to locals encouraging the support of local businesses and restaurants through campaigns including ‘Carry-Out and Settle-In,’ ‘Staycation’ and ‘Small Act, Big Deal.’

Our mountain town is resilient and ready to turn the corner as the global pandemic approaches a phase with fewer case numbers while vaccines have a proven efficacy to slow the spread of COVID-19 and dramatically reduce severe disease caused by the virus in people.

“Pent-up demand to travel is on the rise and we are looking forward to tourism returning to pre-pandemic levels and beyond,” said Trace Ward, Discover Flagstaff Director. “Striking a balance between responsible visitation and keeping the Flagstaff brand alive in the potential traveler’s mind is important as restrictions continue to be lifted and the economy normalizes.”

As an accredited organization from the globally recognized authority on destination manage-

Travel and Eco-Tourism Week National Travel and Tourism Week is an annual tradition for the US Travel Industry that recognizes the value travel holds for the economy, businesses and personal well-being.

Join Discover Flagstaff May 2-8, 2021, to acknowledge the Power of Travel to restore, rebuild and reconnect America with a localized version—Travel and Eco-Tourism Week—whereby locals may enjoy a random act of kindness. To participate with Discover Flagstaff for an enjoyable Tourism Service Day of caring for Mother Nature and giving back to our community on Wednesday, May 5, RSVP to Carrie Nelson at cnelson@flagstaffaz.gov.

ment and marketing, DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL, Washington D.C., Discover Flagstaff has earned the DMAP (Destination Marketing Accreditation Program) accreditation with distinction. This accreditation program sets expectations for quality and performance standards that can give stakeholders confidence in the acumen of the Discover Flagstaff team. But even more important, the community at large can have confidence that Discover Flagstaff understands the need for a wholistic approach to our tourism economy—and the community’s concerns are always top-of-mind.

Destination Analysts tracks and publishes key consumer perceptions, attitudes and behaviors

through unbiased, expert designed research providing the tourism industry trusted information to formulate strategies. Every week since March 15, 2020, Destination Analysts has surveyed 1,200+ American travelers about their thoughts, feelings, perceptions and behaviors surrounding travel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and explored a variety of topics. The findings presented below represent data collected in early April 2021 at the time of this writing: On average, American travelers believe the United States is 52.6% back to normalcy right now.

Nearly half believe their life will be back to “normal” by September.

About two-thirds of Americans are highly open to travel inspi-

ration right now and the number of Americans actively dreaming about and planning travel reached a 2021 peak at 77.7%. A 2021 record 33.6% researched travel ideas online in the last week, while another record 17.8% made travel reservations or bookings.

In terms of when Americans will go traveling, July continues to strengthen as a peak month, as now one-third of American travelers report at least tentative trip plans for that month. Travel also looks to continue this fall—nearly a quarter of American travelers say they have trips planned for September and about 22% have at least tentative plans in October.

Moving forward, Discover Flagstaff will largely focus on the

drive-market and direct flight origin cities including Denver, Dallas and Phoenix. Content will primarily support outdoor adventure as research indicates that natural assets are resonating well with families wanting to get away with destinations including national parks, monuments, trails and dark skies. Further, communication will call awareness to trails less traveled and to responsibly play, pledge and protect with PLEDGE FOR THE WILD, www.discoverflagstaff. com/pledge-wild. This eco-conscious program consists of mountain towns supporting responsible tourism in wild places proactively sharing outdoor tips and principles with a local online donation or text-to-donate (WILD4FLAG or 44321) benefitting the Flagstaff Trails Initiative.

In further encouragement of eco-tourism, Discover Flagstaff awards tourism-related businesses accomplishing great things for the environment. Stakeholders from the restaurant, accommodation and attraction sectors are recognized annually with a sustainability award. Last year, Mother Road Brewing Company, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Flagstaff and Lowell Observatory were recognized with a sustainability award for their efforts toward responsible visitation.

“Tourism is Flagstaff’s number one economic driver, and it’s important to not only value what our visitors bring to our community, but to educate them on sustainable practices while in market,” said Heidi Hansen, Economic Vitality Director. “I’m pleased to share that Discover Flagstaff’s eco-tourism efforts are invaluable rules to live by and visit by. We take our leave no trace principles seriously and market them year-round, so others will, too. Congratulations to our tourism business partners that are making a difference every day to help with these efforts.”

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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Sunday, April 25, 2021 | M3

HEALTHCARE

Telehealth options here to stay GAIL G. COLLINS

Special to the Daily Sun

‌Until recently, a virtual visit with a physician via computer screen to discuss or assess a medical condition had the whiff of sci-fi, but the future arrived quickly.

“If there has been a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been the positive impact and growth of Virtual Care (Telehealth) … which allowed NAH (Northern Arizona Healthcare) and other health systems across the nation to fully embrace virtual care delivery,” director Travis Boren said.

Prior to the pandemic, telehealth had limited, but growing, application and acceptance. A host of barriers blocked broader usage of telehealth, such as insurance coverage, patient comfort, technology access, privacy and so on. As businesses shut down or migrated to home-based work, the overall need for health access increased. Policymakers, insurers and health systems searched

for methods to deliver care to patients in their homes to limit transmission of the virus.

NAH had been working to expand telehealth for a decade, beginning with remote patient monitoring. After rapid expansion of virtual care programs, the focus is stabilizing the ecosystem.

“Key investments will continue to be made in the coming six-to-12 months to support our virtual visit, remote patient monitoring and acute telehealth capabilities,” Boren added.

When regulations were lifted after the first quarter in 2020, North Country Healthcare grew its site-to-site telehealth program to in-home visits using Zoom by leveraging the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth grants. This summer, the Patient Portal will transition to an integrated platform for smooth access without an app to enhance the workflow.

North Country offered refills, medication changes, lab follow-ups and review, general questions as well as chronic pa-

tient care.

“Should there be any need for a physical exam or in-person tests, labs or imaging, we can then schedule curbside, in-office or referrals,” said chief medical officer April Alvarez-Corona, MD. The pandemic created more than a physical health crisis. According to Pew Research Center,

by May, one-third of Americans had already experienced high levels of psychological distress related to the outbreak.

Cultivate Counseling made a big pivot in March, moving its services solely to telehealth to provide a smooth transition of care. The rate of cancellations fell as access to therapy sessions rose.

Patients can open a laptop, log in and receive therapy.

“People can pop in during lunch, from work or at home with the kids,” said clinical director and owner Melissa Dohse.

“There are more benefits than drawbacks, and most (clients) prefer telehealth.”

Though developing a sense of

connectedness may be harder for some, for others, the comfort of a familiar setting promotes connection. Therapist backgrounds are kept neutral and environments quiet. Dohse serves a lot of parents, who no longer have to plan for childcare, and sometimes, life introduces real-time learning and application during a session.

To assure privacy in telehealth, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing and text messaging are used to communicate.

Junto Skin and Laser did not use virtual appointments previously, but quickly adopted them for consultations and follow-ups.

“In our industry, people tend to feel like they need to be seen in person to be understood or properly evaluated—and in some cases, this is true,” said Amy Aranda, LE LMT CLT. She recognizes telehealth is a useful tool for determining whether the business can fit the client’s needs.

“It also can help us set up a plan and is an effective communica-

tion tool prior to appointments, so clients know how to prep for actual treatment.”

Sufficient broadband to carry video conferences initially across the industry, and other challenges, such as Zoom fatigue, have added a new dimension to administering care. There are still hurdles to overcome related to technical access across lower income demographics and isolated geographic areas, but infrastructure grants and investments at the state and federal level aim to bridge this gap.

Today and looking forward, telehealth will continue to be a critical strategy for consultations, follow-ups, chronic circumstances, remote locales, mental therapy and more. The proper hybrid balance of in-person care and telehealth offers opportunities and efficiency for the best fit for provider and patient as far as preference and convenience. Delivering quality care anytime or anywhere enhances the patient experience overall.

Thank you

for your Resilience.

We want to express our gratitude for the businesses, employees, healthcare workers, residents, and visitors for their resilience this past year, and for their continued dedication to making Flagstaff, AZ the best place to visit, discover and grow.

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Conveniently located inside the Historic Train Station, 1 E. Route 66

CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

M4 | Sunday, April 25, 2021

ARIZONA DAILY SUN

EDUCATION

BACK TO SCHOOL BRADY WHEELER

Sun Staff Reporter‌

‌After close to a year of remote instruction caused by pandemic concern, students attending the Flagstaff Unified School district were welcomed back into the classroom at the end of March.

That return will span the remainder of the semester, lasting 10 weeks, and offering five days a week of in-person instruction with extra precautions and safety protocols. While the return is optional, many students and teachers alike appeared eager to return to the classroom.

Families were given the option to continue engaging in remote learning based on family preference or student health needs. As such, teachers have been prepped on how to simultaneously offer lessons to students both online and in-person.

According to a poll that went out before the return, 67% of families indicated that their students would return to the classroom following Spring Break when FUSD reopened classrooms.

During the first day of in-person classes, March 22, students and teachers at Mount Elden Middle School appeared full of excitement as they were reminded of the feeling of walking the halls and interacting in the classroom.

At Mount Elden, groups of sixthgrade students who were just entering middle school for the first time could be seen touring the campus and learning how to find their classes. Faculty members leading the tours carried laptops connected to the virtual classroom so that students at home could participate as well.

Those in-person learning experiences, a first for many incoming middle-schoolers that day, are still limited

by COVID-19 safety rules, however.

Students returning to campus are required to follow a series of mitigation protocols, including wearing a face

mask, maintaining physical distance and quarantining after exposure to the virus.

Teachers have also been trained to check for student symptoms and report potential exposures.

FUSD schools have already faced such exposures, one occurring less than a week after the reopening of Marshall Elementary School. That exposure resulted in an entire classroom being sent back to remote learning for two weeks, consistent with the district’s COVID-19 exposure protocols.

Exposures at other FUSD schools have been reported as well, including one confirmed exposure that involved individuals at Sechrist Elementary School. In both instances of confirmed school exposures, FUSD spokesperson Zachery Fountain said local families were notified after being identified in the district’s contact tracing process.

The district is reporting all confirmed cases of the virus within the FUSD community on the COVID-19 dashboard on the FUSD website.

Data from the most recent week of classes—last updated on the week beginning April 3—reports a total of eight new cases district-wide. That brings the cumulative case to 293 since August 17, 2020.

Reported cases do not necessarily indicate subsequent on-campus exposures, Fountain said though the district has confirmed exposures in some instances.

According to the FUSD website, “Individuals who test positive are excluded from participation in any in-person or on-campus activities until FUSD determines that the individual meets the return criteria set by state and local health agencies.”

That criteria includes a period of social isolation and self-quarantining along with providing FUSD information related to symptoms and COVID-19 test results.

JAKE BACON, ARIZONA DAILY SUN‌

Mount Elden Middle School principal Tammy Nelson gives a big welcome to Rhett Skinner as he gets off the school bus for his first day of sixth grade in person.

JAKE BACON, ARIZONA DAILY SUN‌

Tim McKay, left, helps Santiago Rodriguez find his way through the halls of Mount Elden Middle School on the first day of in-person classes in March.

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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

Special Section 1

Sunday, April 25, 2021 | M5

CCC gears up to help county

RESKILL AND RECOVER LARRY HENDRICKS

Special to the Daily Sun‌

‌Sometimes, they are working more than one job. Sometimes, the job they have doesn’t support their families. Sometimes, they need training for a new job. And, sometimes, students come to Coconino Community College to test the waters of higher education and to figure out a path in life.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit northern Arizona, it wasn’t long before the career landscape began to change. In order to help as many students as possible adapt to that changing landscape, CCC has brought on board a number of new programs designed to get people into the workforce fast, said CCC President Dr. Colleen A. Smith. Additionally, with the help of COVID relief funds, the college is also offering free tuition for this year’s high school graduates in Coconino County and reduced tuition for all other students.

“In keeping with our philosophy of ‘Students First,’ we are using as much of the federal funding as possible to help students get started in college right away,” Smith said.

“There will also be funding to help students who have needed to take some time away from their college studies due to the many different impacts of the pandemic.”

CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland said that this year’s graduating class in the county has been significantly impacted by the pandemic and needs help in successfully launching a college career.

“Whether they need to take some remedial classes to catch up on their math and English skills or get a head start on the classes required for their major, we want our graduating seniors to know that we are here for them,” Southerland said. “Even graduating seniors who plan to go to a university in the fall can benefit from CCC’s free summer tuition—and they can stay at CCC if they find that our small class sizes, excellent instructors and low cost meet their

The Automotive Technician program at Coconino Community College, made possible through a partnership with Findlay Honda of Flagstaff, is one of several new programs brought online to help county residents reskill and recover from the pandemic. needs.”

Southerland added that stimulus money will also be available to all students who continue to take classes into the fall 2021 semester. Many of the classes will be provided in person, as long as COVID-19 numbers continue to trend downward.

Changing job landscape

Smith said that the college is aligning with other colleges in Arizona to serve as the drivers to provide fast, job-focused training for unemployed and underemployed workers in an economy reshaped by the pandemic.

According to information from the Arizona Community College Coordinating Council, a recent report, “Arizona Reskilling & Recovery Network: A Workforce Development and Education/

Training Framework,” states that community colleges have the unique position to “quickly work across government and industry sectors to develop programs that upskill and reskill workers for the new economy.”

“New career paths are emerging while others are shifting away from what we knew before,” Smith said, adding that CCC has been gearing up a host of new programs to include: Cybersecurity; Amazon Web Services cloud computing; Google IT Support Professional; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; Commercial Driver’s License (coming in May); and Caregiver. There are also a variety of career paths in the construction, first responder and healthcare trades as well as paths to a university four-year degree.

Plus, if students are still working

on the requirements for a high school diploma, they can do so at CCC through the Adult Education program, which also offers English language acquisition classes.

Smith added that CCC’s quick response to the changing job landscape is only made possible with the help of dedicated faculty and staff as well as through vital partnerships with the business community throughout northern Arizona. A recent example is the new Automotive Tech program, with Findlay Honda of Flagstaff generously donating staff time, classroom and lab space for students.

CCC has even partnered with Google to offer the Google IT Support Professional certification, which gives students with little or no knowledge of Information Technology support, in a short amount of time, the skills

they need for an entry-level IT support position. The training also prepares students to test for other industry-accepted certifications in IT support, like CompTIA and A+.

Lisa Blank, CCC Dean of Career and Technical Education, said, “CCC is really excited to offer this workforce opportunity. It rapidly moves CCC students into jobs that provide a living wage and positions them for numerous career-advancement opportunities. It’s a win for the community, families, students and CCC.” For more information about CCC, visit https://www.coconino. edu/apply-now.

Larry Hendricks is the senior manager of public relations and marketing at Coconino Community College.

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To make your flying experience better: • Be dropped off at the airport vs. parking

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THANK YOU FOR FLYING FLAGSTAFF FIRST! B O OK TODAY! 6200 0S S. Pulliam Dr., Flagstaff, AZ | 928.213.2930 | discoverflagstaff.com M 1

Please adhere to required CDC healthcare travel guidelines, business recommendations and varied hours.

M6

| SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021

CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

SPECIAL SECTION 1

Regents’ Professor Paul Keim is the executive director of NAU’s Pathogen and Microbiome Institute.

SCIENCE

Aspiring to reach ever higher KERRY BENNETT

NAU Office of the Vice President for Research

Samantha Sabo is among a group of researchers working with teams from ASU, UA and Mayo Clinic as part of the Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities.

F

or Northern Arizona University’s researchers, progress means exploring further, developing solutions to bigger challenges and inventing more cutting-edge technologies than ever—all while sharing the excitement of discovery with our students.

Our core research strengths continue to flourish, led by world-class faculty who are uniquely qualified to carry out this important work.

The environmental research we specialize in—ecosystem science, climate science, forestry and sustainability—evolved from scientific curiosity about our home here on the Colorado Plateau.

With roots in a Dark Sky City, NAU’s mastery of astronomy and planetary science has also thrived. And NAU researchers remain dedicated to the health and well-being of the diverse communities of the Southwest through pathogen science and health equity research.

Recently, we have invested in several new areas of research that enhance our core and help us grow as national leaders—bio-informatics, eco-informatics, data science, bioengineering and materials science.

Our research supports our missions in educational success, workforce development, economic development and societal benefit through experiential learning, high-impact degrees and solutions, and by providing leading-edge research experiences that prepare the next generation of Arizona’s citizens to join the workforce of the future.

Doubling down on COVID-19 “The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the wellbeing of our state, and just as the vaccines to end it have arrived, we face a new challenge: SARS CoV-2 variants that transmit at higher rates, have higher mortality rate and evade immunity,” said Regents’ Professor Paul Keim, executive director of NAU’s Pathogen and Microbiome Institute (PMI).

“These Variants of Concern (VoCs), such as the UK variant, South Africa variant and Brazil variant, have emerged and may not be detected by currently available diagnostic tests.”

Keim’s team, Bridget Barker, Greg Caporaso, Todd French, Crystal Hepp, Jason Ladner and Jason Sahl, are working with collaborators at ASU, UA and TGen, as well as with public health professionals, to investigate the immunology of these variants among Arizonans. With $3 million in funding from the state’s Technology and Research Innovation Fund, the universities will form the Arizona Collaborative COVID Consortium (AC3) to study the role of VoCs in evading the immune system, vaccinations and spread of

NAU Associate Professor Chad Trujillo has discovered or codiscovered 54 minor planets. the disease. The AC3 members will share their expertise, resources and data to understand the biology of VoCs and provide mitigating strategies to officials.

The team will monitor SARS-CoV-2 variants in public databases to understand the global and national context for Arizona variants; continue to partner with TGen North to increase capacity to sequence SARSCoV-2 genomes from clinical specimens; sample wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 virus and generate genomic sequences to identify and monitor VoCs; and establish a SARS-CoV-2 BioBank for VoCs to facilitate subsequent experiments with anti-COVID drugs, diagnostics and animal models.

“It is critically important to track VoCs in Arizona to assess the pandemic risk,” Keim said. “This work will help us better understand these variants in order to inform public health strategies, diagnostics and vaccine development.”

Addressing health disparities through research Led by Regents’ Professor Julie Baldwin, researchers in NAU’s Center for Health Equity Research—Samantha Sabo, Nicolette TeufelShone, Naomi Lee, Linnea Evans, Amanda Pollitt, Heather Williamson and Joseph Mihaljevic—are collaborating with teams from ASU, UA and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale as part of the Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities. The goal of this initiative, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is to increase awareness and education among communities in Arizona disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and to reduce misinformation and mistrust.

Harnessing data science to secure supply chains The pandemic has shown how crucial effective management of supply chains is to modern society. The disruption of national food, energy and water supplies jeopardizes the lives and livelihoods of our citizens.

Led by professor Ben Ruddell of NAU’s School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems (SICCS), and in collaboration with environmental scientists, a team is developing algorithms to map, analyze and

extract information from publicly available datasets describing the production, consumption and flow of food, energy and water. The FEWSION project will provide invaluable information to city planners, economic planners and emergency managers.

2018, and we expect NASA will extend the mission for another two years,” Goetz said. “Ultimately, GEDI will collect more than 20 billion samples of forest structure and underlying ground surface topography.”

Commercializing robotic device NAU assistant professor Zach Lerner recently launched BiOMOTUM with industry expert Ray Browning. Based on Le-

rner’s bioengineering research and patent-pending technologies he invented to improve mobility in children with cerebral palsy, the company is quickly becoming the university’s most successful commercial spin-off.

“Commercializing this technology is a great way to have an impact,” Lerner said. BiOMOTUM‘s first prototype product is a robotic ankle assist device that provides on-demand gait training and is designed to grow with the child into adulthood, an innovation that meets a specific market need for pediatric mobility aids.

To stay up to date with our latest research news, visit us at https://nau.edu / nau-research /news/.

Driving new discoveries in space Building on Lowell Observatory’s impressive legacy of discovery, NAU astronomers continue to explore planetary bodies. Associate professor Chad Trujillo is on a team that discovered a planetoid, nicknamed “Farfarout,” almost four times farther from the Sun than Pluto—the most distant object ever observed in our solar system. Trujillo, awarded the prestigious international Farinella Prize in 2019, has discovered or co-discovered 54 minor planets. The team continues its ongoing search for the elusive giant Planet X, believed to be on the edge of the solar system.

Revolutionizing eco-informatics research Led by SICCS professor Scott Goetz, NAU is revolutionizing research in the field of eco-informatics through NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI). GEDI uses lidar (light detection and ranging) to capture high-resolution profiles of forest stems, branches and foliage across the Earth from its vantage point on the International Space Station (ISS). Along with research in forestry and ecology, this data will inform sustainable development goals and forest management practices worldwide.

Goetz’ team—Pat Burns, Patrick Jantz, Camillo Fagua, Zaneta Kaszta and Chris Hakkenberg—are analyzing GEDI data to assess the three-dimensional structure of the earth’s temperate and tropical forests. Goetz, Burns and Jantz were selected by NASA to be part of another GEDI project to use the canopy structure data in animal species distribution models. Goetz is also part of a project led by assistant professor Chris Doughty and professor George Koch to use GEDI data to improve estimates of the tallest biomass forests in the world.

“GEDI has operated flawlessly since its launch in

G r a d ua t i n g C l a s s o f 2 0 2 1 High Schools in Coconino Count y

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www.coconino.edu 1-800-350-7122 M 1

CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Forward From Page 1

NACET

Even while the nation was in a lockdown during a pandemic, several entrepreneurs found the drive and courage to start a company. There have been 10 new companies that have taken advantage of the business models set forth in the Incubator and Accelerator on the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies (NACET) campus run by Moonshot. One is a hybrid of other companies that responded to the need for personal safety while keeping the environment preserved. There are several dedicated to safeguarding meditation wellness with the mind, body and soul by integrating modern technology. There are more that are committed to confirming sustainable products are put to use that harness renewable energy. The risk involved in taking on such a responsibility in unknown times is remarkable and we applaud those individuals for their courage and passion.

While it has been a tough year for businesses to just endure this situation, there have been success stories of expansion for a handful of companies as well. Some businesses closed their doors or reduced their office space and staffing levels, as was to be expected given the issues related to COVID, but we are now seeing growth as the nation is waking up from its yearlong nap. In this small economic gardening center, six companies have either added staff, added office space or increased manufacturing lines. This helps retain jobs in Flagstaff and ensures the employees of those companies are taken care of.

Expansions

Outside of the community of businesses under the care of Moonshot@NACET, there are a number of businesses that have expanded operations, increased market share and changed their practices to come out ahead.

Translational Genomics Research Institute (T-Gen) North is the home of TGen’s Pathogen and Microbiome Division. On the forefront of teams working to understand COVID-19, T-Gen North has doubled in size and is growing still.

Joy Cone Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of ice cream cones, has increased its production and market share, even hiring an additional 30 people locally. People love ice cream, and cones are some of the best ice cream delivery systems known to humanity.

Machine Solutions is a successful start-up out of Flagstaff that has been growing here for 20 years. Machine Solutions is the premier provider of advanced equipment and services for the medical device, biopharmaceutical and blood- and plasma-collection industries. In the past 12 months, Machine Solutions has acquired

three other businesses in its growing portfolio to complement efforts to improve the lives of people around the world.

Bed, Board, and Beverage Revenues The City of Flagstaff Bed, Board and Beverage (BBB) tax collects an additional 2% for motel rooms/campgrounds, restaurants and bars. As such, it is a number that people reference to gauge the health of our tourism heavy economy. This revenue is restricted in use to certain economic development, arts, beautification, recreation or tourism activities. While the average increase over the past four years is 1.5%, the BBB tax revenue was one of the hardest hit in 2020, experiencing a 10.1% decrease. It is a testament to the Discover Flagstaff team and their efforts to market the COVID-compliant businesses that are open that this decrease was not worse. It is for the efforts of Discover Flagstaff that we expect to see a strong return to these revenues.

Rolling Retail

For economic developers, the maxim

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 |

regarding retail is that retail follows rooftops which speaks to retail seeking higher concentrations of people. Finding the rooftops is just part of the puzzle for retail, especially as brick and mortar retailers are competing with the newest version of mail-order retail: online merchants.

Another critical piece is knowing and delivering what the consumer wants, and the consumer is fickle. As such, it is important to have realistic expectations regarding the comings and goings of retailers. There will always be some churn in the marketplace as ideas and individuals change with the times. Rolling retail conveys the understanding that your favorite shop needs your support and that if they don’t get the support necessary to acquire goods, rent a space and make their payroll among other tasks, they will close, and then it will just be a matter of time before another new business with new offerings takes its place. The public response to COVID-19 exacerbated this rolling retail reality, especially the restaurants and all other businesses that cater to visitors to Flagstaff. While many businesses closed their doors, a number of others have opened and we are seeing empty storefronts activate again. When one door closes, another door opens. Below is a short list of some of the businesses that are new and are, or will soon be, operating in Flagstaff.

With eyes looking forward and efforts focused on improving the world around us, our Flagstaff businesses continue to demonstrate the benefits of a solid foundation of critical thinking and always a can-do attitude. Throughout fear and uncertainty, innovation coupled with leaps of faith and focus have guided the resilience and strength of our community. Moving forward, we invite people to continue to Visit. Discover. Grow. at chooseflagstaff. com.

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To help identify your competitive advantage and grow operations, visit SizeUpArizona.com.

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| SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021

CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

SPECIAL SECTION 1

TRANSPORTATION

Flagstaff airport recovering JAKE BACON, ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Pulliam Airport Director Barney Helmick stands on the apron at the airport in this Arizona Daily Sun file photo.

ADRIAN SKABELUND

L

Sun Staff Reporter

ast year as cases of COVID-19 soared to heights across the country, air travel plummeted.

But now, with continued vaccination efforts offering the possibility of a return to a more normal summer, it is unclear how the industry might be able to recover—and that goes double for small regional airports such as Flagstaff ’s Pulliam Airport.

But Flagstaff Airport Director Barney Helmick said the number of passengers flying in and out of the airport may be returning to normal.

Indeed, this past month, the airport saw its best March ever with about 8,300 passengers flying into the airport and even more than that departing. By comparison, in March of 2019, Helmick

said the airport saw 7,040 passengers arriving throughout the month. But even with record numbers, Helmick said he can’t help but think about where the airport would be if COVID-19 hadn’t decimated the travel industry last year.

Helmick said with the introduction of new routes to Dallas/ Fort Worth and Denver, the airport saw huge gains in 2019 in the number of passengers arriving and departing. And that trend was only likely to continue.

Before the pandemic, Helmick said he was expecting to see as much as 18% growth through 2020. Once COVID hit, all that changed, and in April 2020, only 513 people flew out of the Flagstaff airport.

“That’s how impactful it was— we went from a possible 18% growth over our best year ever, to we just barely had 50% of the year before,” Helmick said. “So when

I put this March in alongside the last 20 years, it looks phenomenal. When I look at where we could have been last year if COVID hadn’t hit, this would be a weak March. But it is recovering.”

Still, Helmick said as of about three weeks ago, the airport has seen its eight standard flights a week to Dallas, Denver and Phoenix return, most with very good occupancy levels. Last month, the flights to Denver were on average 88% full.

“That’s phenomenal in this day and age, in this current situation,” Helmick said.

In fact, Helmick said the Flagstaff airport is on average doing better than most airports across the country.

“Now nationwide, the numbers are running at about 55% of what they were in 2019. We are running at almost 58% of 2019,” Helmick said. “We are doing better than much of the nation.”

And that could highlight the Flagstaff airport in the eyes of airlines who themselves may be looking for safer bets as they slowly build back business.

Flagstaff was getting close to attracting a third and potentially a fourth route to west coast cities before the pandemic dashed those hopes, Helmick said, but the above average performance of the airport now may help that become a reality once again.

Helmick added if they are able to add routes, top priorities are both Los Angeles and San Francisco. LA is obviously a top market and there appears to be a lot of demand in both Flagstaff and San Francisco for a direct connection between the two cities.

“We hear people in San Francisco say, if you just had a flight there, we’d fly down for the weekend. And most of the people here in town say, ‘I’d love to go to San Francisco for the weekend.’ The

two markets have a lot more appeal to each other,” Helmick said.

Still, with the whole aviation market in flux, he said it could easily be another two years before they can get those routes.

“We don’t know 100% that we’re going to come out of this COVID pandemic as quickly as a lot of people are predicting. And we don’t know how much the tourism market is going to recoup in terms of long distance travel,” Helmick said.

In the meantime, city officials are still promoting the airport as much as possible as a good way for locals to travel.

In an email, City of Flagstaff Economic Vitality Director Heidi Hansen said they are encouraging residents who may be flying out of Phoenix Sky Harbor to instead start their journey at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport rather than driving down the hill as the short flight supports the airport.

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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

Special Section 1

NONPROFITS LARRY HENDRICKS

Special to the Daily Sun‌

‌‘ W

here’s your mask?” asks the youth development professional.

“It’s in my backpack,” says the little girl. She’s maybe 6 or 7.

“Well, go get it.”

The little girl scurries off to her backpack in a shelf of cubbies at the Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff on Paseo Del Flag in the Brannen Homes neighborhood. She puts on her mask and quickly joins the other children playing at the center.

It is a sign that circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are improving, but they are still far from the way they used to be. Agencies that focus on youth in Flagstaff and Coconino County are making a cautious transition to in-person delivery of services.

“We’re in a better space now,” said Mark Cox, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff. “We’ve transitioned back to our after-school program.”

Safety measures are in place: Masks are to be worn, waivers need to be signed, temperatures are taken at the door, regular cleaning and sanitizing is to be observed—and there’s a lot of “outdoor” time.

“We couldn’t have done this without community support,” he said, echoing the words of other leaders of youth-services nonprofits in the city.

Youth services make

cautious return

sponded positively to telehealth,” Seward said. “That was an interesting discovery.”

Funding help‌

Throughout the pandemic, Cox, Seward and Elliott said that fundraising events to help support their organizations had to go on hiatus, generally. Elliott said that BBBS offered some virtual events that were successful, and Cox agreed. Even though in-person events were put on hold, the organizations were able to survive with a combination of federal, state and donor funds.

“When the stimulus checks hit, we got a lot of donations, which I was surprised about,” Elliott said.

“Which is why I love this community, because they always rise to the occasion.”

Cox said that the state Boys & Girls Club was instrumental in helping the Flagstaff center identify helpful donors in the community.

Lessons learned‌

Services impacted‌

“Just like most organizations, we took a big hit,” Cox said, referring to last Spring Break, when Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey instituted a number of restrictions to help contain the spread of the virus.

Unlike other organizations, the Boys & Girls Club was asked to be an “essential” service, Cox added, which meant continuing a variety of well-spaced, safe-distance learning services at sites throughout the county to serve the children of essential workers.

More space, or “COVID capacity,” meant fewer children to serve, but it also meant hiring more staff, Cox said. His staff went from 15 people on the payroll to triple that number to offer coverage at safe learning sites.

“When you have that many folks, budgets start looking tough,” Cox said.

Sunday, April 25, 2021 | M9

LARRY HENDRICKS‌

Boys & Girls Club CEO Mark Cox stands outside the Flagstaff center.

Prior to the pandemic, the organization served up to 250 children a day, but COVID capacity did not allow for those kinds of numbers, Cox added.

Kelly Elliott, CEO and executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff, said that, overall, programs declined about 30% from the average amount of children served during the pandemic.

“It’s been weird, but we have been able to keep our kids connected to their mentors at a time when it’s important more than ever that they have a support system,” Elliott said.

Shaleen Seward, executive director of Northland Family Help Center, said that prior to the pandemic, referrals from agencies

in the area usually led to a daily census of seven to nine youth in the 15-bed youth shelter. During the pandemic, that number would dwindle to sometimes as few as one or two a day.

“The problems didn’t go away, but the children’s access to people to refer them to help became a barrier,” Seward said. For instance, the local school district had suspended in-person teaching. Now that school has returned to in-person instruction, the referrals have increased, and the daily census at the shelter has grown. Additionally, beds assigned for runaway youth are also filling.

one of the largest BBBS fundraisers of the year last March, everything shut down.

“My entire staff started working from home, which was a difficult transition,” Elliott said, adding that she and the staff quickly realized families needed support for basic needs, not mentoring as much as food and internet in order to access virtual services.

Seward also said that many of the staff at NFHC also underwent a learning curve of adding telehealth services, such as counseling, and outdoor activities to the youth. There was also the issue of getting staff at the shelter fully trained on safety protocols to keep the staff and youth in the shelter safe.

Responding to need‌ Elliott said that on the heels of “Many of the teens have re-

As each organization transitions back to in-person services, the primary lesson learned from responding to the pandemic centers on reach. Cox, Seward and Elliott said virtual services through the pandemic have displayed their potential to deliver services to a much broader population in the city and in the county.

“We’re planning to continue virtual mentoring for the foreseeable future,” Elliott said.

“That’s going to stay an option.”

Additionally, the youth offered their own lessons to the staff of the organizations.

“We found they were quite resilient through it,” Seward said.

Cox added that another lesson learned was that communities don’t hesitate to help in times of need.

“Nonprofits lean on supporters, this year even more than others, and they stepped up,” Cox said.

There is a sense of cautious optimism among organizations now.

“There’s a sense of relief and positivity that we’re moving forward now,” Seward said. “With precautions.”

Elliott said, “We are very much an essential service. We want to make sure that we can continue to be here for the kids and keep them connected. Right now, we’re just waiting to see what will happen. I think that things are looking up.”

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Learn more about FUSD Programs at www.fusd1.org M 1

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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

| SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021

ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Resilience in the arts MACKENZIE CHASE

Niche Publications Editor

Real estate remains

COMPETITIVE Since May of 2020, Flagstaff continues to experience significantly low inventory, dramatically high demand and even higher sales prices. Regardless, this hasn’t slowed the market and with spring here an even greater increase in the market frenzy is expected. The first quarter of 2021 had a total of 306 residential units to sell, only three less units sold compared to the first quarter of 2021. The median sales price was $480,000 (up 20% from 1Q 2020), and sellers received a median sales price of $3,500 more than asking price.

For single family homes (67% of residential sales), 206 sold with a median sales price of $540,000, a slight decrease from November 2020’s record median sales price of $558,000. There was a 3% increase in single family home sales for March 2021 compared to March 2020, with the median sales price up by 27%, or by over $118,000 at $553,000.

Despite ending March 2021 with single family homes’ months supply of inventory down by 89% and a 47% reduction in available homes on the market compared to the March 2020, there’s a 85% increase in properties currently under contract, proving that what is available is

moving and quite quickly with the median cumulative days on market at just 39 days. The second quarter tends to bring more homes to the market are beginning to trickle in slowly, but as of April 9, 2021, Flagstaff has only 88 total residential units with a median list price of $709,000. Of the 88 units, the 65 single-family homes have a median list price of $900,000. The continuation of multiple offers, buyers waiving contingencies, sellers selecting their mode of success and lender’s offering great loan options has this new territory of Flagstaff ’s real estate market treading along a path that is likely going to be the new norm until more inventory becomes available.

Housing communities currently planning and/or building new units include Timber Sky— with floor plans starting in the low $200,000s—Flagstaff Meadows in Bellemont, Presidio in the Pines, Trail’s End, Woodshire on Butler, Crestview, Pinnacle Pines, Forest Springs, Switzer Canyon, Aspen Ridge and Juniper Point.

Looking ahead, Scottsdale-based Symmetry Companies purchased just over 400 acres of state trust land in Flagstaff at auction at the end of 2020, with development ex-

pected to begin in 2023. The land is located south of Interstate 40 and spans an area just northwest of Pine Canyon, another development owned and managed by Symmetry, which specializes in luxury, resort residential communities. Symmetry purchased the land in partnership with local developer Capstone Homes for $10.5 million. The state sold the property to support K-12 and higher education within Arizona.

Other projects include a Marble Canyon village resort proposed by California-based Hansji Corporation and the Foster family, which has owned property in the area including the Marble Canyon Lodge and Trading Post since the 1950s. The project, which covers 162 acres, received unanimous support from the Coconino County Board of Supervisors this past March. It plans to include 62 motor lodge units, 92 guestroom units, 31 village units and six workforce apartments.

Residential housing price analysis written by Melinda Morfin of Northern Arizona Association of REALTORS® and Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert. Other information previously reported on by Sun Staff Reporter Adrian Skabelund.

Like many organizations, the Museum of Northern Arizona expanded its virtual offerings during the pandemic by necessity as closures swept through the city. Director of Marketing Kristan Hutchison said programs like Science Saturday and artist demonstrations saw more than 340,000 participants in 2020—with people tuning in from all over the world— compared to an estimated 20,000 in 2019.

“It’s been a big learning curve for us, and when I look back at what we did a year ago and then what we’re able to do now, I’m quite pleased with how far we’ve come,” she said.

The inverse has been low in-person visitation since the museum partially reopened. Safety measures include timed admission by reservation only to maintain limited capacity, and arrows on the floor to direct people through the exhibits one way. Beyond the exhibits, the museum’s outdoor spaces are being emphasized as the weather warms with Poetry on the Plateau, an installation of Indigenous poetry throughout the grounds curated by Abalone Mountain Press. The museum’s annual heritage festivals—Navajo, Hopi and Zuni—will also be combined to celebrate all 10 tribes of the Colorado Plateau across the four weekends of July, Friday through Sunday.

Still other organizers have completely called off 2021 events in the face of continued uncertainty.

Jennifer Grogan, owner of Peak Events, said she made the difficult decision to postpone the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Music Festival for another year after watching COVID cases continue to rise.

While the large majority of the tight-knit community understood that decision, others wanted her to push ahead with the event, likely unaware that she doesn’t always have the final say.

“Where I hold the event, I have to get a permit from the city, so the city has to say yes,” Grogan explained. “I have to get a liquor license from the state, which means the police department here and then the state has to sign off. All of that is out of my control. So if any of those say no, I can’t hold the event. The other thing would be how long it takes to plan an event.”

A large-scale event like Blues

SAM MCMANIS, ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Jeanne Brako of Santa Fe., New Mexico, visited the Museum of Northern Arizona when it partially reopened last fall to see, “The Force Is With Our People.” and Brews takes at least eight months to plan between booking bands, scheduling food vendors, promoting and more—plus, hosting the event with limited capacity would not be financially viable.

Flagstaff City Council agreed earlier this month to increase maximum occupancy of events on public property from 50 individuals to a capacity based on the amount of open space.

Peak Events’ Flagstaff Oktoberfest will tentatively continue as planned the first Saturday of October though, along with other fall festivals like Pickin’ in the Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival, Overland Expo West and Coconino County Fair.

For Theatrikos Theatre Company, attempts to return to in-person programming have been touch and go. While Executive Director Chris Verrill has an idea of how they’d like to reintroduce performances this year, he admits his confidence in its follow-through is “mediocre at best.”

Performances of one-act play “Native Gardens” are tentatively planned for July at the Arboretum at Flagstaff to allow for social distancing and unbeatable air circulation under the open sky.

“The arts are a huge part of the quality of life in a community, Theatrikos and the symphony and the NAU theater department and the dance troupes—all of this cultural enrichment is what makes Flagstaff a beautiful place to live,” Verrill said. “And the arts is a substantial driver in the Flagstaff economy. We want to get back to doing our part to drive the economy.”

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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF PROGRESS REPORT

ARIZONA DAILY SUN

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 |

M11

OUTDOORS

NO WRONG WAY TO USE THE FUTS SAM MCMANIS

I

Sun Staff Reporter

t’s easy, too easy, to take the FUTS for granted. People tend to walk all over it—or run, or ride, or skate—without fully appreciating the effort, planning and implementation it took to build some 56 miles of trail (and counting) snaking all around Flagstaff.

FUTS, of course, is the acronym for the Flagstaff Urban Trails System. As its name implies, the FUTS mostly runs through the urban and residential areas of the city, and is a mix of hard-packed dirt and asphalt or concrete. But it also connects to trails that can take users high up on the mountain or deep into the valley.

Users love the FUTS for its utility and ubiquity, but also for its smooth ride. Most FUTS trails are at least eight feet wide (important in these social distancing times) and slightly more than half are made of joint-forgiving rolled dirt—“hard-packed aggregate” is the term city officials use.

The best thing, perhaps, about the FUTS is that it is not done

P

growing. City officials routinely make additions, often with such rapidity that the official maps cannot keep up. The latest new segment, dubbed the Sheep Crossing Trail, which starts at Fort Tuthill County Park and goes under Interstate 17 via a tunnel before hooking up with the Ponderosa Trail, opened a scant two months ago.

City planners have their sights set on adding at least another 70 miles in coming years, putting the grand total of FUTS mileage in the low triple digits.

With such an array of paths from which to choose, it is nigh impossible to rank which segment of the FUTS is the “best.” Such an exercise would lead to heated debates among hikers, runners and mountain bikers, and no one wants to see that. Plus, picking a favorite part of the FUTS is a matter of personal taste; there is no wrong answer.

But, for a big picture view of the FUTS, a good source is Neil Weintraub, the founder of the Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association and race director for several run-

ning events that make use of the FUTS on the courses.

What’s Weintraub’s favorite FUTS segment?

“Now that I live on the south side of town, my favorite section of the FUTS is the Sinclair Wash Trail,” Weintraub said. “It is a gentle downhill that sucks me further into its depths following the course of the Rio De Flag.

“Thanks to the wastewater treatment ponds, the area teems with wildlife. The ponds often have ducks, geese, blue herons and myriads of other bird species. Over the winter, I ran during a snowstorm and encountered a herd of over 200 elk. After a heavy wet spring snowstorm there is nothing more enjoyable to me than running to the sound of the Rio De Flag gushing with water.”

Indeed, that portion of the FUTS called Sinclair Wash, which runs from Lone Tree Road and connects with singletrack that can go all the way to Lake Mary Road to the west or Fisher Point to the east, is a gem.

Notice that Weintraub picked as his favorite a segment close to

his home. That, really, is the major factor for people’s FUTS preferences: proximity. Walking out your front door and having a nice dirt path that connects to more of the same cannot be beaten.

However, for variety’s sake, it might behoove trail users to break free from their well-worn groove and try the FUTS in a different part of town.

To that end, the newly-opened Sheep Crossing Trail, though only 0.8 of a mile, makes a nice 6-mile loop when combined with the paved Ponderosa Trail and the western part of the dirt Sinclair Wash Trail that’s a straight shot to Fort Tuthill. (Caveat: Construction workers currently are tearing up this section of Sinclair Wash, but the detour is a nice singletrack trek amid the pines.)

There is, truly, a segment of the FUTS for every type of workout you can imagine.

Want a hill challenge? There’s the Mars Hill climb up from Thorpe Park to the top of Observatory Mesa or, on the other side of Observatory Mesa, the Tunnel Springs climb. Both feature about

300 feet of elevation gain in a mile.

Have a need for speed? Buffalo Park’s 2-mile loop on nicely groomed dirt is a favorite with Flagstaff ’s passel of professional runners, as well as the go-to practice course for Northern Arizona University’s four-time NCAA cross-country championship team.

Feel like a leisurely stroll that combines riparian sights but also offers an urban milieu? The Karen Cooper Trail segment provides both. You can watch wildlife at Frances Short Pond, watch Little League games at Thorpe Park, watch residents tending to their backyards—it’s a cornucopia of people-watching.

About the only thing that nearly all FUTS users can agree on is that self-policing of the rules need to be heeded, such as stay on the right side of the trail except to pass, let people know you’re passing and yield to pedestrians who have the right-of-way. And then there’s the biggie: Flagstaff law dictates that all dogs must be on leashes and that owners clean up after their pets.

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