are being dropped by their insurance companies due to wildfire risk despite no history of major fires in the area Some residents say their rates have skyrocketed while others report receiving non-renewal notices after what they describe as brief and inadequate inspections "The guy who came out to inspect the property had his mind made up in advance They are dropping everyone in Kayenta." Insurance Commissioner John Pike said insurers use their own risk models to determine coverage decisions “All insurance companies have their own models It might be called their ‘secret sauce,’” Pike said when or where insurance companies conduct inspections before dropping coverage “There’s not a lot that insurance companies have to do,” Pike said They are not highly regulated and we don’t overlook every step of their process While Utah is not yet seeing large-scale insurance withdrawals like California experts say the rising cost of coverage could force many homeowners to seek alternative providers Pike recommends if your policy is cancelled to “ask questions.” From there you may able to get recommendations or requirements from the insurance company for your policy to be renewed said homeowners in Kayenta have been using their services to create more fire-safe landscaping that could be closer aligned to what insurance providers are looking for “We come in and clear out any dead foliage Anything that is close to the house that would be considered a fire hazard,” Eastman said “We then replace it with stuff that is not flammable Pike also said wildfires in other parts of the country including the devastating fires in Southern California earlier this year and now the fires in South Carolina have and will reshape the insurance industry “When we have events such as we’ve seen recently in California those experiences are going to affect what insurers are willing to write,” Pike said “They are going to be looking at maps more carefully and reassessing how much risk they will take on.” that there is no place in Utah that is entirely uninsurable yet It’s more a matter of how affordable and how many companies are writing policies in higher fire-prone areas KUTV reached out Allstate and Farmers Insurance two companies some residents in Kayenta had policies with that were not renewed Allstate provided the following statement: inspections are done several months before the renewal to allow homeowners plenty of time to address any potential hazards and avoid nonrenewal we encourage customers to contact their Allstate agent or Allstate customer service to discuss their specific situation and any factors affecting their renewal We did not hear back from Farmers ahead of publication Get ready to (literally) paint the town the weekend of April 4-6 It will be a colorful one in the Ivins community as the annual Kayenta Street Painting Festival gears up for an outdoor chalk art extravaganza featuring the talent of local artists with participants becoming human works of art as they get doused with color at powdered paint stations along the race course it will be a vibrant weekend that is anything but dull the Kayenta Street Painting Festival will kick off on Friday located at 851 Coyote Gulch Court in Ivins Focused on the theme “Red Rock Reflections,” the event will showcase the work of students and professional artists as they create colorful murals on canvases of asphalt depicting Southern Utah’s red rock landscapes Attendees can watch the participants create their live and browse the Kayenta Art Village’s galleries The festival will take place on April 4 from 5-8 PM The second annual Kayenta 5K Color Fun Run will occur on April 5 at 8 AM at Kayenta Art Village The event is open to participants of all ages and abilities and will cover 3.1 miles across the Kayenta community and each color stop during the race will include a powdered paint station where participants can get painted up to finish the race as colorful human masterpieces breakfast snacks and beverages will be available for participants and they can then stroll through the Street Painting Festival and enjoy the festivities Registration for the Color Run is $45 if completed before April 3 and $55 if completed between April 3-5. Registration can be completed online and includes a Color Run event T-shirt Packet pickup for registrants will take place April 4 from 5-8 PM or April 5 before the Color Run starting at 6 AM For more information about these events, call (435) 674-2787 or visit KayentaArts.org and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Support local journalism and event coverage that matters to you with a small DONATION We appreciate your support so we can live to fight another day Send us a news tip, story idea, guest editorial, or letter to the editor! Polling sites at the Kayenta Business Center (formerly the old primary school) were briefly disrupted today because of a bomb threat that affected state polling locations across multiple states the public relations manager for the Kayenta Township confirmed that the polling site remained open following a swift response from local law enforcement and emergency services According to the Kayenta Police Department which alerted the Arizona Department of Safety about the threat aimed at polling sites in four states officers entered the Kayenta Business Center by 2:15 p.m. evacuating all individuals from the building including students from the ABC preschool located on the premises “The safety of our community and voters is our top priority,” stated Benally “We are grateful for the quick response from our law enforcement and emergency teams which allowed us to assess and clear the building efficiently.” after a thorough inspection by the Kayenta Police Department Voters and poll workers were allowed to return and continue casting their ballots without further incident Local authorities identified the threat as a potential case of “swatting,” a tactic that involves falsely reporting emergencies to elicit a police response The Kayenta Police Department reassured the public that all threats are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated Benally highlighted that the Emergency Response Plan was effective during the incident allowing for rapid access to the polling center and a timely assessment of the situation “We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our electoral process and the safety of our citizens,” he concluded More weather » Tuba City: US 160 at SR-264 Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress I had the opportunity to serve on the Township Commission in an unexpired term for about six months I found that it’s up to you as a commissioner to be a part of positive change I brought my experience as an educator to the commission My short tenure as a commissioner and working with fellow commissioners went quite well which were in progress when I became a commissioner We dedicated the community skating rink and picnic area Set parameters and plans for the playground We worked on the need for a new police department and youth center with the Kayenta Police Department and Kayenta Chapter in this planning and process It was up to me to be involved and participate in bringing positive change to the community It was my observation and experience that the commission worked quite well with the Kayenta Chapter officials Albert Bailey was the chapter president then He was elected as the new president in the November ‘24 elections and he’s the type of leader I know is for community progress and achievement when he was a Navajo Nation Council delegate he asked me to write a proposal for new community rodeo arena equipment I assisted the vendors in laying out and setting up the equipment on a snowy day As a result of long-range planning and working together the new Kayenta police department and other township projects became a reality for the community Working together is key in making things a reality Delores Greyeyes was very supportive of the Kayenta Police Department Project Greyeyes is the director of the NN Department of Corrections in Window Rock She is a new Kayenta Township Commissioner elected in November ‘24 I am certain she will work diligently for community progress was appointed by the Township Commission last November He was an excellent employee who worked with people and business entities quite well His work and planning with the commission will undoubtedly bring progress He is a local school district and a college graduate ready to help the community advance He brings a wealth of experience to the Township My opinion is that the Kayenta Township is unique like no other in Indian Country It takes a whole community and people working together and there is a section on the agenda for community input “DESERT BLOOMS: Art & Resilience,” will take place March 8 6 PM at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta located at 881 Coyote Gulch Court in Ivins Attendees will be treated to an immersive night of inspiring art and vibrant experiences as the event honors the transformative power of the desert and our resilient spirit as well as an opportunity to support the Kayenta Arts Foundation’s programming through a fun Tickets for the gala can be purchased online, with single tickets available as well as six-person table reservations. For more information, call (435) 674-2787 or email boxoffice@kayentaarts.com The Kayenta Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization operating with a mission to develop and create an environment that fosters diverse artistic endeavors for educational and cultural enrichment purposes The foundation’s vision is to become Southern Utah’s premier venue for professional-quality multidisciplinary performing arts in an intimate space education and enjoyment of diverse artistic forms and ideas The Center for the Arts at Kayenta (CFAK) was constructed with the love under the management of Kayenta Arts Foundation CFAK produces and presents over 50 events annually with a total of approximately 120 individual performances across the artistic disciplines of theater The center serves audiences throughout Washington County and across the American Southwest Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroArrangement cast and crew members including director Shonie De La Rosa (fourth from right) and stars of the film Stevevost Jim (next to De La Rosa) and Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw (third from left) pose for the camera on Saturday evening inside the Jonathan Nez Auditorium at Monument Valley High A Navajo romantic comedy by Shonie De La Rosa perhaps a groundbreaking film in Navajo cinema “Arrangement” blossomed into a captivating 70-minute feature that showcases the Navajo language and culture in a fresh and endearing way Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroJocelyn Billy-Upshaw The film stars Stevevost Boshi Jim as Harold Begay a man who initially resists speaking Navajo and questions its relevance in modern life setting the stage for the film’s central themes of cultural preservation and self-discovery shared the creative journey that brought Arrangement to life The film premiered Saturday night in Kayenta marking a major milestone for Navajo cinema De La Rosa planned to create an animated film based on a 2010 interview with the late Navajo Code Talker Samuel Holiday This is an amazing story,” De La Rosa reflected The interview detailed Holiday’s life from his childhood to his time as a code talker during World War II the project hit a standstill when the project began experiencing delays “I told Cassidy Morgan (with the Navajo Nation Film Office) my situation,” De La Rosa explained “She encouraged me to continue and was given an extension to propose a new concept.” De La Rosa turned to his own community and culture ‘What the hell am I going to make?’ Then it hit me—this story about arranged marriages in Navajo culture,” he shared Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroArrangement director Shonie De La Rosa rolls up a poster during a premier in Kayenta on Saturday Recalling conversations with a friend in an arranged marriage De La Rosa crafted a narrative exploring the experiences of a man and a woman in their 30s navigating family expectations and the unique dynamics of an arranged marriage “I just jotted it all down … and stayed up all night typing out my proposal I was so excited—it’s something I’ve never done before,” he said As the film evolved from concept to reality and cultural preservation took center stage “I wanted to create something that resonates with the Navajo audience but also touches on universal themes like love particularly his ability to draw out the perfect chemistry between Harold and Rita “Shonie picked the perfect Rita,” Jim said “The way he wrote Harold’s story just clicked—it was so relatable.” shared her experience navigating the film’s cultural and linguistic challenges in a recent interview Billy-Upshaw reflected on the intimidation she initially felt in taking on the project particularly regarding the use of the Navajo language Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroArrangement cast and crew members are seated to respond to the audience’s feedback on Saturday in Kayenta Director Shonie De La Rosa and Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw who plays “Rita,” are seated in the center “Navajo is already complex,” she explained noting how meaning can shift depending on circumstances such as the landscape—whether one is “in front of the mountain or behind the mountain.” The film also addresses the tradition of arranged marriages within Navajo communities a subject Billy-Upshaw described as both “universal” and rarely discussed “It’s something Navajo families experienced whether they were Christian or traditionalist,” she said While the story doesn’t center on a Navajo wedding ceremony it explores themes of relationships and the cultural significance of such arrangements offering a glimpse into a practice that bridges generations was the collaborative spirit of the cast and crew She described a sense of emotional unity during production we all got hurt together; when someone was happy the film became more than just a storytelling project—it was an opportunity to engage with and preserve Navajo traditions She shared how the film sparked meaningful conversations about cultural teachings and ceremonial practices with her daughters “We talked about the importance of the Navajo basket in kinaaldá ceremonies and how it connects to what we also believe in the church,” she said Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroArrangement Director Shonie De La Rosa speaks about his new film during its debut in Kayenta on Saturday Billy-Upshaw hopes that the film will resonate with audiences encouraging pride in Diné identity and traditions “We can still be Diné in this modern day where people say we live in two worlds,” she reflected The use of the Navajo language throughout the film is a testament to De La Rosa’s commitment to cultural authenticity “The Navajo language is such an important part of our identity,” he said “Incorporating it into the film wasn’t just about preserving the language but showing how it’s still relevant and powerful today.” Dela Rosa’s determination to complete Arrangement speaks to his passion for storytelling and his love for his culture What began as a project rooted in historical storytelling transformed into a poignant exploration of contemporary Navajo life “This film is a celebration of who we are,” De La Rosa concluded “It’s about finding humor in our traditions and preserving the things that make us unique If it inspires even one person to reconnect with their roots or speak Navajo De La Rosa revealed that Diné College has shown interest in hosting the film’s debut creating an opportunity for collaboration with local educational institutions “It’s important for me to engage with our communities and Diné College is a perfect place to start,” he stated He also mentioned reaching out to other cities where various groups have contacted him about potential screenings A key aspect of De La Rosa’s plan is his innovative fundraising model which he hopes to replicate from his previous project we split ticket sales 50-50 with local organizations the communities that support us also benefit financially.” De La Rosa emphasized his belief in giving back “It wouldn’t feel right to profit solely from the film without supporting the community that helped make it possible,” he said His focus on reciprocity illustrates his dedication to fostering a sense of connection between his work and the people it represents De La Rosa has taken steps to showcase “Arrangement” at a wider level including the prestigious Imaginative Indigenous Festival in Toronto “I want to share these Indigenous narratives beyond our borders,” he noted Expressing his openness to further engagement De La Rosa also mentioned plans for additional screenings at schools and community clubs “Making films accessible to everyone while ensuring that our communities can benefit from their success is my priority,” he affirmed and experience a profound sense of cultural pride in this one-of-a-kind romantic comedy With its heartfelt story and relatable humor Arrangement serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of storytelling in preserving and celebrating Navajo culture View a slide show of scenes from the Kayenta Fourth of July field day on Saturday (Mark Eddington | The Salt Lake Tribune) The staff of Xetava Tapas+Bar in Ivins The workers have been invited to stay on under the new owners Ivins • Of all southwestern Utah’s restaurants, one would be hard-pressed to find one rated higher or loved more than Xetava the eatery Greg and Rachel Federman opened 18 years ago the restaurant and adjoining Rustic Cactus Bar draw rave reviews from locals and visitors who throng the culinary hot spot and watering hole to sip Royden Lemonade and adult beverages drink in the views of the red cliffs and sample fare that is often locally sourced and made from scratch “It’s the heart of our community,” said Ivins resident Kristin Hunt there is no other place we would rather go than Xetava because it’s like family Alas, starting Oct. 1, Xetava will be home to new owners. Matt and Nikki MacKay and Jason and Wendy Lewis, owners of Cliff Dining Pub and Cultivate Craft Kitchen restaurants in Draper have bought the business from the Federmans six or seven days a week for nearly two decades Greg said he and Rachel realized they would have to maintain that schedule to realize their vision for the restaurant rather than focus on family and I am simply not willing to work seven days a week for the next five years,” Greg said “Those are crucial years for me to be available for my kids (Greg Federman) Greg and Rachel Federman have sold Xetava Taking on a partner initially seemed like a possible solution But after Greg met with Matt MacKay last May both men discovered they not only shared a love for Xetava but also a vision for how a restaurant should look and be run Greg said he learned from their discussion that the MacKays had the passion and resources to make Xetava even better So he and Rachel decided to sell the restaurant “We are super proud of what we have accomplished,” Greg said “but we also know our limits and when our time is up.” letting go of a business that has been built from scratch isn’t easy When the Federmans bought the then-New Age gift shop that doubled as a coffee shop in 2006 and converted it into a restaurant, they started with a couple of toaster ovens, a waffle iron and one part-time employee. What they lacked in expertise they more than made up for in enthusiasm. One early memorable event was an African-themed dinner party the Federmans threw in January that sold out in a day. “We cooked everything at someone’s house and transported the food to the restaurant in the back of my pickup truck, and we had a percussion group play out on the patio, where we had heat lamps set up,” Greg recalled. “We were trying to figure things out, but the support from the community was unbelievable.” Another memorable event was celebrating Greg and Rachel’s wedding at Xetava, teaching their “daughter how to make espresso, power-washing the floor with our kids, and teaching them how to run a business as they opened their own stand to sell snacks, lemonade and sunglasses during art festivals [at Kayenta].” (Matt MacKay) A rainbow is seen over Red Mountain from the Xetava patio. In 2011, the Federmans and Kayenta residents teamed up for a “Kitchen Uprising” fundraiser that netted $30,000 from area artists and diners. Proceeds from sales of donated art and other items enabled the Federmans to build a kitchen and add a dining room with a wooden floor to the eatery. Years later, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced Xetava to shut down for seven weeks during the spring of 2020, it was the Federmans’ turn to give back to the community. Despite their own COVID-related financial woes, the couple launched a fundraiser that took in more than $28,000 they dished out to struggling restaurant workers all over the St. George area. Since then, Xetava has rebounded and is thriving. The menu has expanded, and the wait staff now numbers 30. An adjoining tapas bar the couple opened in July 2023 has added to Xetava’s allure and growing fan base. Despite Xetava’s success and status in southern Utah, Greg said he and Rachel expect the new owners to further burnish Xetava’s lustrous legacy. “In the 18 years that we have run this place, Rachel and I have never felt like we have owned it,” Greg said. “It feels more like we have been stewards and are taking care of it. Now it’s time for another steward to take over.” (Victoria Aspen) A collection of food at Xetava. For his part, Matt MacKay is reassuring customers that as he and his partners put their own stamp on the business they have been fans of for years, they won’t stamp out what has made Xetava special. “We’re not going to change things that don’t need fixing,” he said. “The Royden Lemonade, Caesar wraps, hummus dishes and [other menu favorites] will still be there.” Xetava currently opens five days a week. Beginning Nov. 1, the new owners plan to keep the eatery open seven days a week and the Rusted Cactus every day but Sunday. They will also expand weekend brunches, which now start at 9 a.m. and end at noon, until 3 p.m. Xetava will also start accepting reservations. Moreover, the Rusted Cactus will begin offering more entree-size meals in addition to tapas-size bites to make the bar more of a dinner destination and add more adult beverages to the menu. “We are bringing in 30 wines and some spirits that people down there probably haven’t seen,” Matt said, “some rare bourbons, gins and other neat stuff.” One staple Matt said should see little change is Xetava’s current “all-star” staff, all of whom have been invited to stay. The new owners are, however, importing a French-trained chef from Cultivate Craft Kitchen in Draper to head Xetava’s cooking chores. A general manager, who is currently at Cliff Dining Pub, will also join the team. Hunt is sorry to see the Federmans go but is eager to see what the new owners bring to the table. “Members of the community are anxious to meet the new owners,” she said, “and hopefully carry on with the Xetava spirit that is at the heart of our community.” For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune How to watch Arizona high school girls basketball: Monument Valley vs Chinle High School plays on the road against Monument Valley High School How to watch Chinle vs. Monument Valley high school girls basketballChinle and Monument Valley will take the court on Friday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. MT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Watch Monument Valley vs. Chinle on NFHS! Watch Monument Valley High School all season long on NFHS! Team schedules reflect available data from NFHS and may not include every upcoming game All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at www.NFHSnetwork.com and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU This week’s Southern Utah Events Guide features the Washington County Fair If you would like to add an upcoming event, you can add one here, or if you need to cancel or edit a previously submitted event, you can do so here We would like to ask those who have had an ongoing event or one that had had to be postponed or has had changes that you update those changes on the calendar It produces the events calendar for southern Utah as the definitive calendar for the surrounding area No need to wonder what is happening in southern Utah anymore; just check out our events calendar for St Nearly 20 years after Peabody Mining closed its Black Mesa Mine and five years after the Kayenta Mine and Navajo Generating Station closed on the Navajo Nation residents are working toward recovery of what's left of the land after more than 50 years of coal extraction The work includes a land use plan that has been 20 years in the making and a proposal for a community center that will also be instrumental as a climate resilience center While the coal company initiated reclamation efforts the post-mining landscape has always appeared different depending on whether it's seen by someone who resides within the community or someone from the outside Black Mesa United is a nonprofit organization made up of members of the Navajo community in Black Mesa who have experienced the effects and aftermath of coal mining firsthand Black Mesa United organized into six sectors to advocate for the residents of the area The organization believes that the five surrounding chapters despite benefiting from the Navajo Nation's coal mining royalties have not adequately represented or addressed the needs of Black Mesa residents The structure was created to fill that gap with the ultimate goal of guiding Black Mesa toward what residents and advocates call a "just transition." “Other chapter priorities or their needs supersedes what Black Mesa people need,” said Rose Yazzie “BMU exists to support 'just transition' post-coal mining and promote economic and social advancement of the residents.” Just transition is a place-based approach grounded in principles practices and processes aimed at shifting to clean energy resources legislative and policy project manager at the Grand Canyon Trust The transition supports the development of environmentally sustainable economies and societies Other terms often used to describe the concept include regenerative economy just and equitable transition and energy transformation Legacy of water loss: As coal mines depleted a Navajo Nation aquifer, feds failed to flag losses, report says “It's an approach to decarbonization in a way that respects human rights while promoting sustainable development in a way that provides decent jobs and improves the quality of life of communities,” said Anagal The four pillars of just transition that Black Mesa United focuses on are the need for robust governmental support dedicated funding to sustain programs and initiatives and expanding economic opportunities through diversification The Black Mesa and Kayenta mines supplied coal for the Mohave Generating Station near Bullhead City and the Navajo Generating Station in Page Both the Mohave power plant and the Black Mesa mine shut down in 2005; the Kayenta Mine and Page power plant closed in 2019 the Black Mesa-Kayenta Mines Leasehold Area Land Use and Community Development Plan was created to guide community and economic development in the post-mining era and a new 2024 report is being developed with the hope of securing the support and funding needed to advance key projects “The closure of the Kayenta and Black Mesa coal mines has left Navajo and Hopi communities facing environmental degradation and economic hardship,” said the land use plan report making it difficult for families to sustain themselves.” but a federal agency didn't consider the losses environmentally damaging The plan also says that community members are seeking to retain certain facilities “The Dziłíjiin community emphasizes that keeping these facilities intact will allow for the development of a self-sustaining economy that aligns with their cultural and environmental values,” said the report Navajo Generating Station: Navajo residents seek 'just and equitable' help after closure of power plant, coal mine Community members want to retain and upgrade facilities once used by Peabody seeing them as an opportunity to benefit their community and one project they are especially determined to pursue is the creation of a community center “There's a need for a community center,” said Anagal “We are calling it Community Resilience Hub on Black Mesa and it's to enhance climate resilience in coal-impacted communities by utilizing Peabody infrastructure The urgency is for a place for community members to convene and the demand for access to internet and electricity and the desire that the community has for access to businesses and educational services.” The proposed community center would be designed to serve as a focal point for the community educational workshops and collaborative meetings Another smaller building within the same site could be repurposed into a health and wellness center Unused exercise equipment previously used by Peabody employees remains and could be requested and integrated into the wellness center The need and work toward getting a community center such as this has been 30 years in the making But it was during the onslaught of the COVID pandemic that it was most evident that a community center was needed there was no place for the community to store food,” said Anagal they needed the space to distribute food during that time emphasized the visible impacts of climate change She said the planned hub will serve as a climate resilience center providing the community with emergency response capabilities for extreme weather events driven by climate change The group applied for a $20 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency The EPA target for this area was to increase community resilience Chief said the collaborating entities are University of Arizona Grand Canyon Trust and Western Clean Energy “Since the Trump administration is coming in they're not going to support climate resilience,” said Chief "So we're hoping that EPA will move fast and award the grants Community needs: For years, they were trapped by a land dispute. Some Navajo families still wait for help While President Buu Nygren supports the group members of the Navajo Nation Council's Resource and Development Committee expressed reservations about Black Mesa United's land use plan Their concerns stem from the possibility that other chapters may also be developing their own plans for the area land will transfer back to those chapter boundaries,” said Council Delegate Otto Tso “The land up there is in a state of reclamation I think those lands won't be officially turned over to the Nation until the Bureau of Indian Affairs deems that Peabody has met the needs of what reclamation are.” He also noted agreements are already in place and they would have to revisit those before deciding who will acquire leftover facilities which have yet to be turned over to the Navajo Nation “I understand that the Black Mesa Review Board is wanting certain things too There needs to be a dialogue that needs to happen.” Tso suggested the assets could be used to establish a Navajo Department of Transportation yard in Black Mesa to provide machinery and grading services “We have assets there that I think the Nation can benefit from to provide that direct services,” said Tso members of the council visited the Black Mesa and Kayenta mines to inspect reclamation efforts accompanied by representatives from the Division of Natural Resources Peabody Western Coal Company and the Bureau of Indian Affairs The visit to Black Mesa and Kayenta mines is an ongoing effort for the council to oversee the reclamation process including reviewing compliance standards and exploring opportunities for economic development Inspections will help determine if any existing infrastructure can be repurposed for community benefit either through economic initiatives or collaboration with local nonprofits “We’re focused on ensuring that Navajo lands are undergoing quality reclamation,” said Delegate Shawna Ann Claw “Listening to community concerns was vital and roads committees and coordinate with the BIA to ensure that land reversion after phase three aligns with compliance standards This visit also allowed us to explore potential economic uses for these facilities including partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.” Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com Southern Utah Events Guide – February 26 This week’s Southern Utah Events Guide features the Bonkerz Comedy Night Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroAmigo Café barista Tomiko Tohdacheeny measures coffee by weight—an accurate way to create a consistent brew ratio—inside the restaurant in Kayenta on June 1 and celebrating the magic of coffee is a daily enjoyment for you June 14-15 are dates you’ll want to remember and save as Larry Price gears up to host the town’s first-ever coffee fest at Amigo Café Highway 163 across from the Bashas’ grocery store Price said coffee enthusiasts and coffee drinkers should anticipate a celebration of all things coffee The festival will bring together residents of Kayenta and beyond to partake in a day filled with coffee-centric activities From sampling a variety of blends to learning about different brewing techniques attendees can look forward to immersing themselves in the rich and diverse world of coffee the driving force behind the upcoming event expressed his enthusiasm for sharing his passion for coffee with the community “I’ve always believed that coffee has the power to bring people together,” Price shared “I’m thrilled to create a space where coffee lovers can unite and celebrate their shared love for this beloved beverage.” who’s been perfecting her craft as a latte artist since 2021 and Heather Price will help Larry Price bring his festival to fruition Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroLarry Price of Amigo Café showcases Idle Hands Roasting Company coffee and café cups inside the restaurant in Kayenta on June 1 “Most people enjoy our house cups,” Tohdacheeny said on Monday Tohdacheeny added that coffee making is about experimenting and testing different ways to enjoy coffee and share it with others “I enjoy being able to make a drink based on a person’s coffee-tasting preference,” she said Larry Price plans to share some coffees that he’s personally tried and tasted throughout the years Price said he first indulged in the delightful world of coffee known for its rich flavors and aromatic essence when he traveled to Europe in the 1980s He learned that a well-crafted cup of java and acidic notes that tantalize the taste buds It was in Paris and Italy that we saw these individuals drinking a cappuccino I hadn’t seen anything like that here back then,” Price said “That’s where the interest started on the lattes and expresso.” he only knew the taste of the more common sheepherder coffee blend: unfiltered coffee grind thrown into a steel coffee pot with water and placed on a stove or top of a fire and boiled into a hot steaming bitter “wake-me-up” juice that is drunk only by the hardiest of souls Price noted that the coffee he grew up with was made with something other than an espresso machine Price explained the efficiency of an espresso machine in brewing and making coffee in a mere 30 seconds the drip coffee maker demands up to 10 minutes for brewing The espresso machine uses its high-pressure mechanism extracting coffee precisely in just a few seconds When you’re a little kid in the hogan “I think every Navajo pretty much has that memory Special to the Times | Donovan QuinteroA latte/cappuccino art sits on a table alongside coffee beans and Amigo Café cups inside the restaurant in Kayenta on June 1 which led him to find the best-tasting coffee the world has to offer Price said his love affair with coffee has not waned he hopes to share his passion during the coffee fest “It’ll give folks a different offering for someone who wants maybe a more sophisticated cup of coffee,” he said on Saturday in Kayenta for those who want to try other types of the Navajo sheepherder blend he said he’s invited makers to share their versions for someone who just wants the basic black coffee,” Price said The Coffee Fest is poised to be an occasion for Navajos to try a new coffee – complete with interactive workshops and a showcase of local coffee roasters and coffees from Peru baristas will showcase their skills and creativity in crafting visually stunning and delicious coffee drinks Price said the event is expected to offer a unique and memorable experience for all who attend highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People) Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post Share LinkYou’ll Never Guess What’s Hiding In This Small Town Arizona Burger KingThe Kayenta Burger King in Arizona houses a unique museum display dedicated to Navajo Code Talkers Maybe you'll find an itty bitty chapel on the side of the road like something that can only be seen by people willing to put in the effort to explore the world around them we’re going to take a look at the Kayenta Burger King in Arizona Kayenta is a town of about 5,500 residents on the Navajo Nation just a few miles shy of the Utah border and the last Arizona town you’ll encounter before reaching Monument Valley kristin2xyz/FlickrOur little secret is located inside this building which looks pretty normal so far BABAS76000/TripAdvisorWalk inside and you’ll find a typical Burger King set up with seating Leslie Delehoy/GoogleYou'll spot this It's not every day you find a small museum display inside a fast food restaurant which makes this one of the most unique Burger Kinds around DrunkPhotography.com/TripAdvisorIf you are not familiar with Navajo Code Talkers Wikimedia CommonsIt took some time to get his father to be open to talking about his experiences but this eventually led Mike to display some of the items in the Burger King This also became a touching tribute when his father passed away in 1996 While the display seems to be a decent size it only represents a fraction of the items King Mike brought back home with him after the war and is a larger collection than what you'll find in actual museums Melanie Wynne/FlickrYou’ll find a collection of photos The best part is that the display is open to the public and is free to see and is the first Navajo Code Talker display in Arizona Melanie Wynne/FlickrOf course it helps if you purchase something while at the restaurant but it’s pretty cool that a museum exhibit exists in such an ordinary place You can find the Navajo Code Talker Display in Arizona inside the Kayenta Burger King, located near the junction of Highways 160 and 163. See this map for the location If you want to see another unconventional museum display, then you’ll want to our article, Here Are 6 Museums In Arizona That Are Just Too Weird For Words, for ideas of some places around the state to visit! Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! Members of the Zia Gallery & Studio pose together for a photo Functional pottery and decorative clay artwork are for sale inside the Zia Pottery Studio in Ivins Members of the Zia Pottery Gallery & Studio pose for a photo GEORGE — In the heart of Kayenta Art Village where creativity takes shape amid the stunning red rock backdrop lies a haven where art and community intertwine like the coils of a clay pot where every spin of the wheel and stroke of the brush tells a story as […] where every spin of the wheel and stroke of the brush tells a story as unique as the artist behind it From soap holders to large vessels and beyond “We’re a popular tourist destination,” Zia Pottery & Gallery owner Kathy Barth said “We also have a lot of repeat local customers who bring all their out-of-town guests here and decorate their houses with our pottery.” shared that developer Terry Martin originally established the studio as a school in 2000 Zia Pottery was among the first three businesses to open in the Kayenta Art Village the name “Zia” was inspired by both the pueblo called Zia and the Zia sun symbol While she always harbored a desire to take pottery classes the opportunity finally presented itself as the pottery studio opened its doors and I walked around and counted and there were 85 pieces.” the studio has hosted a diverse array of instructors Martin faced a pivotal decision: either increase dues and fees or close the studio altogether Barth and a fellow student proposed to take over management of the studio They introduced a membership plan with annual dues for regular students ensuring they could cover rent and utilities supply materials and continue offering classes they discontinued classes and transitioned to a membership-only studio for experienced potters with past membership reaching as high as 18 They are open to accepting more experienced potters Every member of Zia Pottery Studio has the opportunity to showcase and sell their pottery pieces in the studio’s shop The studio operates without employees; instead each member takes on responsibilities such as chores and sales shifts Andy Bolic has cherished his membership at Zia Pottery Studio for the past five years boast over 50 years of experience in throwing pottery He said he’s loved the opportunity to forge connections with fellow artists marveling at the kaleidoscope of unique styles that each individual brings to the studio As the sun sets over the red rock landscape the studio’s painted portraits on the outside wall serve as a tribute to the talented individuals who call it home Support local by shopping the studio at 833 Coyote Gulch Court in Ivins. For more information, visit Zia Pottery & Gallery on Facebook Clay artwork is for sale inside the Zia Pottery Studio in Ivins A pottery piece outside Zia Pottery features work from each gallery member Carts of pottery for sale sit outside Zia Pottery Studio in Ivins Portrait paintings of Zia gallery members adorn the wall of the gallery in Ivins A sign for Zia Pottery Studio welcomes guests to shop Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Receive Sunday Local Offers Coupons from St Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account An official website of the United States government The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) in partnership with Indian Health Service (IHS) will soon be providing face-to-face primary care services at its Kayenta clinic NAVAHCS will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at the clinic on Wednesday Leadership representatives from the Veterans Health Administration Indian Health Service and Navajo Nation will speak during the ceremony Following the ribbon cutting will be a small VA resource event to assist Veterans with enrollment and benefits The Kayenta VA Clinic is the second of four NAVAHCS rural health clinics to see this expansion of healthcare services. The first expansion took place at its Chinle clinic on January 22 and further expansions are planned for its clinics in Polacca and Tuba City later this year.  “We have already received great feedback from Chinle-area Veterans about the in-person care we are now providing there,” said Steve Sample “We are very excited to take this next step in ensuring our Native Veterans receive the highest level of care they truly deserve.”  This is all part of an enhanced effort by NAVAHCS to improve access to care and care coordination throughout its more than 65,000-square-mile service area NAVAHCS has also partnered with the Office of Rural Health to hire healthcare navigators who work in VA clinics to assist Native American Veterans with coordinating their care across VA WHO:              Open to public/media WHAT:           Expansion of Services Celebration for the Kayenta VA Clinic WHERE:         Kayenta Health Center, Us Hwy 160 MP 394 (Google Maps) WHEN:           Wednesday Media Contact: Max Efrein, Public Affairs Officer, Northern Arizona VA; (928) 910-0332; max.efrein@va.gov.  along with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Cottonwood and Anthem – with additional clinics in Tuba City Holbrook and Polacca – the Northern Arizona VA provides services to approximately 34,000 Veterans over a catchment area of more than 65,000 square miles Utah has quickly become one of the most popular destinations for seniors in the United States There are a variety of reasons why seniors have taken to the state relocating to the area from other parts of the country These include the fact that the state has a plethora of small towns to choose from many of which offer various things that seniors prioritize and population sizes that feel both warm and manageable without getting to be congested Below are several towns in Utah that are ideal for senior living Alpine is a town that offers seniors a compelling blend of factors that make it ideal for senior couples or individuals who are considering moving to the state Alpine is one of the safest cities in Utah It averages less than 50 crimes per year in total and the overwhelming majority of those are property-related and do not involve harm to people there are a number of compelling activities available for seniors to partake in These include hiking at American Fork Canyon or Horsetail Falls or visiting the Crandall Printing Museum American Fork Hospital is the largest healthcare facility in the area Bluffdale offers residents a nice mixture of small-town ambiance and activities that are ideal for both seniors and their visiting families as well Bluffdale only had 25 violent crimes occur in the span of two years which actually makes it one of the safest cities in Utah This is especially true when considering this ratio compared to its overall population These include things like skydiving for more active seniors For those looking for something at a slower pace that the whole family can enjoy visiting Wardle Regional Park and KidsTopia Playground are also popular options Riverton Hospital provides healthcare services to the town's residents Highland is arguably the safest city to live in in the entire state of Utah This is largely due to the affluent nature of the area Neighbors within the area are known to be vigilant in reporting suspicious activity to the local authorities It had 25 crimes happen over the span of two years which is much lower than the national average there are a number of interesting activities for seniors to choose from based on their preferences and lifestyle These include the Highland Horseman Equestrian Trails and the Zen Zone Massage Parlor American Fork Hospital is also the primary healthcare services provider for those who live in the area It has a low crime rate and is within the top 25% of safest cities in the United States It also offers an excellent combination of safety and affordability as the median income for residents is around $50,000 Ivins is particularly ideal for seniors who want to live a more active lifestyle It offers a number of enthralling activities There is also a veterans hospital in the area for those who have served the country The town of Mapleton was given that name due to the large amount of picturesque maple trees that early settlers found when first arriving in the area the town is known as one of the best places to live in Utah It boasts a low crime rate and a wide berth of activities to choose from a sum total of six violent crimes occurred you and your family could visit Jaker’s Pumpkin Patch and Segway tours of the town are available Spanish Fork Hospital helps keep those who live in the area safe and healthy Providence was given that name by the town’s founder who felt inspired as such upon discovering the location where he and his family would soon settle Many of the town’s residents feel the same way as its small population and relatively middle-class economic status make it something of a hidden gem in the state’s vast landscape the town only averages around 50 crimes a year The area is primarily known for its public parks in terms of recreational activities with Zollinger Park and Vons Park being the most popular among the locals There is also a movie theater that is easily accessible as well for those seniors who are film lovers Residents of the area who need medical assistance often rely on Logan Medical Hospital When most people think of the name “Santa Clara,” they think of the famous area in California there is also a beautiful town by the same name in the neighboring state of Utah It is an affluent area that combines a quiet relaxing atmosphere with the splendor and natural beauty of the American West The town only had 16 crimes in total happen over a span of two years there is an interesting mixture of activities for them to partake in These include visiting popular local parks There is also a quilt shop and a local cooking class at Harmons both of which are popular among long-time residents Spanish Fork is an ideal blend of both the storied history and the natural beauty of Utah Its name comes from two Spanish missionaries who were attempting to find a route to California the city combines a charming historical ambiance with modern amenities and a bountiful array of activities to take part in It is one of the safest towns in the state with only 33 crimes happening over a two-year span Among the most popular activities in the area are river rafting a guided three-mile hike through the mountains sightseers often encounter animals such as buffalo Spanish Fork Hospital is easily accessible to most town residents Utah has steadily expanded its popularity and its population over the last several years often giving them a nostalgic feeling that reminds them of decades-long past The result is a state that offers many small towns where seniors are likely to feel at home The combination of neighborhood engagement and relatively small populations ensures that Utah has many small towns that are safe and ideal for seniors to live in or relocate to photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com cowboy Alvaro Begay posted a first-place ride of 72.5 points during the Kayenta Independence Day Celebration Open Show Rodeo on Friday night in the bareback event KAYENTA – The final performance of the Kayenta Independence Day Celebration Open Show Rodeo produced some new leaderboards tie-down roper Noah Haven and saddle bronc rider Lorenzo Benally forged ahead in their respective events on Friday night as the three young cowboys were first-time winners at the annual Kayenta rodeo conquering the equine owned by local stock contractor Eugene Barlow of Rock Point “I was excited that I drew him,” Benally said “It made me more hyper because he’s a big-time horse I just gassed it after I made my mark-out and I wanted to make my ride really flashy.” Afterward the 18 year-old cowboy was stunned that he was able to complete the eight-second ride “I’ve seen that horse a couple of times and he’s pretty strong so he’s a horse that I’ve been waiting to ride.” Benally’s efforts surpassed the 74-point ride turned in by veteran cowboy Robert Burbank with Benally winning $466 while Burbank took home $310 “I’m still in shock that I won this,” Benally said Begay was also surprised by his win as the 18 year-old Názlini cowboy won the bareback event with a 72.5-point ride aboard James Bond The two athletes have a history as Friday’s encounter was the pair’s second meeting I missed my mark-out on the left side,” Begay said “It was kind of weird that I drew him again today I got a good mark out and I rode him out.” Despite being one of the newbies in said event Begay is becoming more confident with his riding prowess He is set to join the Navajo Technical University rodeo team later this year as an incoming freshman “I probably have about 20 open shows already,” Begay said “Before that I was riding in the junior events but there’s a lot more horse power in the open events this was just another horse down,” he added “I think all horses are going to be ridden no matter what.” Begay’s score was enough to beat out Cauy Betony’s 71-point ride for first-place as the two cowboys were paid out $291 and $194 Haven smoked the competition with the 10.15 run he turned in on Friday night PRCA team ropers James Arviso and Denton Dunning recorded runs of 10.28 and 10.78 “I knew I had to get out pretty clean and be smooth on the ground to have a shot.” The Fort Defiance cowboy credited his horse for his big win as Haven pocketed the first-place prize of $931 but he’s coming along,” Haven said of his horse “I’m starting to trust him a lot more and we’re starting to click I’m just thankful that my horse did his job.” The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System is officially providing face-to-face primary care services at its rural health clinic located in Kayenta To celebrate the significant expansion of services the Northern Arizona VA hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the clinic located inside the Kayenta Health Center on Wednesday Indian Health Service and Navajo Nation all spoke during the event to acknowledge the accomplishment.  “This is another huge step in making good on our obligation to serve our Native Veterans as well as they’ve served us and our country,” said Steve Sample Northern Arizona VA Medical Center Director The Kayenta VA Clinic is the second of four Northern Arizona VA rural health clinics to see this expansion of healthcare services. The first expansion took place at its Chinle clinic on January 22 Navajo Nation Veterans Administration Director Bobbie Ann Baldwin spoke to how significant this expansion of health care services is for the Veterans living in highly rural areas such as Kayenta.  “This is what many of our Veterans are in need of,” Baldwin said “I remember hearing my dad speak about the services that he wished were nearby instead of having to drive 6 Now we have this opportunity where these services are at our front door.”  Workshop aims to educate Navajo residents on abandoned mines risks Office of Legacy Management Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management (LM) and its Navajo Nation Public Affairs team led a fourth Uranium 101 workshop with Kayenta Township The Community Outreach Network includes federal agencies and Navajo Nation departments and programs who share a goal to educate and inform Navajo communities about the risks that uranium mines pose and how to protect people from exposure a toxicologist with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Theo Shorty with the Navajo Uranium Workers Program explained the presentation in the Navajo language to an audience of about 30 Navajo people Rayman described the history of uranium mining and risks that abandoned uranium mine sites pose to people living near them Environmental Protection Agency and the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency there are 524 abandoned uranium mines in all five regions on the Navajo Nation Congress conducted a hearing to better understand abandoned uranium mines at which Navajo leaders and communities testified Congress directed federal agencies and the Navajo Nation government to address immediate risks The preliminary work resulted in the first Five-Year Plan (2008-2012) through which the government learned about the significant lack of resources to effectively educate and conduct outreach on the Navajo Nation the federal agencies created a second Five-Year Plan (2014-2018) in which the agencies and Navajo Nation departments and programs focused outreach on communities with the most mines The first took place at Mariano Lake community the third workshop took place at Cameron Chapter Kayenta Township leadership requested a workshop Community Outreach Network members set up tables under a tent at the Kayenta event to welcome community members answer questions about mining and health programs As Community Outreach Network work continues more and more programs are joining the network The Kayenta Township Uranium 101 workshop was well attended Department of Labor representatives joined to explain health care benefits to Navajo miners Navajo people expressed their concerns about health effects that are impacting second and third generation families The Community Outreach Network will continue to work collaboratively to educate and build partnerships that support abandoned uranium mine remediation KAYENTA – The Kayenta Township Commission selected Jarvis Williams as the new town manager on Jan The commissioners conducted interviews over the last few months and decided to select Williams who served as a community outreach consultant He has over 15 years of working with tribal communities Williams was selected based on his experience and knowledge of tribal government and his work with communities,” said Kayenta Township Commission Chairman Ed Seaton we are confident that he is the person we need to move the organization forward.” Williams earned a bachelor’s in southwest studies from Fort Lewis College and a Master of Legal Studies in oil and energy law from the University of Oklahoma He has worked in the coal industry for 10 years and with tribal communities in Arizona Williams has worked with the 21st and 22nd Navajo Nation Council’s speaker’s office Former Acting Town Manager Geraldine Laughter had town manager responsibilities while the commission searched for a new town manager Laughter is the township’s economic development specialist Laughter for her service as the acting town manager and providing her leadership while we searched for a new town manager.” The Kayenta Township Commission is a 3,606-acre home rural political subdivision of the Navajo Nation in Kayenta The commission was first established in 1985 by the Navajo Nation Council as a “pilot project” for local governance the commission has the broad authority and responsibility to govern for the welfare of the township and its residents including the inherent authority to enact ordinances and regulations as it deems in the best interests of the township A 5-member commission oversees the Kayenta Township Commission Vendors display handmade goods at the Festival of the Americas May 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta Promotional image courtesy of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — The Festival of the Americas is back returning to the picturesque Kayenta Arts Village from Friday This engaging three-day celebration of indigenous and Native American art and culture promises a lively experience for all attendees returning to the picturesque Kayenta ArtsVillage from Friday This engaging three-daycelebration of indigenous and Native American art and culture promises a lively experience for all attendees visitors are invited to immerse themselves in avibrant marketplace showcasing native arts and crafts Regional vendors willpresent exquisite handcrafted and indigenous products and art offering a unique opportunity to explore and purchase pieces inspired by native traditions The festival will be alive with the mesmerizing beats of performances by talentedartists sharing traditional dance and music from the Southwestern region Attendeescan expect a diverse range of entertainment that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Native American communities Food enthusiasts are in for a treat as they embark on a culinary adventure throughthe festival Authentic food vendors will offer a diverse array of delectable offerings allowing attendees to indulge their taste buds in flavors inspired by native cuisines the Festival of the Americas is an experience that invitesyou to connect with the heart and soul of native traditions the spirit of the continent will come alive in every moment “We are thrilled to welcome everyone back to the Festival of the Americas,” saidMiranda Wright executive director of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta “It is so important and valuable to engage withand learn from native culture and we are honored to host this wonderful tradition that brings people together.” Admission to the Festival of the Americas is free and open to the public, making itaccessible to all who wish to experience the cultural festivities! For more information, visit kayentaarts.org The 2024 Festival of the Americas is made possible by the Rocky Mountain PowerFoundation grant The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorpFoundation one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States an energy company serving over 2 million customers across a diverse six-state region such as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah,Wyoming and Idaho) and Pacific Power (Oregon A free screening of the movie “Downwind” will be offered at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta on Saturday This photo shows an aerial view of “Easy Cloud,” Operation Buster/Jangle The latter was the site for the testing of 928 nuclear weapons on American soil from 1951 to 1992 The fallout is still lethally impacting Americans today Exposing the dark reality of these detonations is the award-winning film “Downwind,” which will be offered free on Saturday at The Lorraine Boccardo Theater at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta A free screening will be followed by a panel discussion with questions and answers featuring St who will serve as moderator for the following panelists: Dave Crete chairman for the nonprofit The Invisible Enemy; Carmen Valdez policy associate for Heal Utah; “Downwind” co-director Mark Shapiro; and Claudia Peterson all who offer unique perspectives on the concept of downwinders One of this year’s original Oscar-qualifiers “Downwind” has won several awards on the festival circuit In the wake of “Oppenheimer,” “Downwind” exposes the U.S government’s 928 nuclear detonations from 1951-92 at the Nevada Test Site and the ongoing impact of radioactive fallout on countless communities — and the environment Narrated by iconic anti-nuclear activist Martin Sheen “Downwind” features two-time Oscar-winner Michael Douglas and political satirist Lewis Black Actor Matthew Modine is the executive producer “Downwind” also includes the inspirational real stories of prominent “downwinders” who live in the path of radioactive fallout including Claudia Peterson (from St Principle Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians Roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island the Nevada Test Site sits on Shoshone land Of “Downwind,” critic Leonard Maltin wrote: “I urge you to check out ‘Downwind.’ It’s a compelling and sobering documentary.”Click here to reserve a spot.Watch the trailer below Synopsis: Three groups in particular continue to be impacted by 928 large-scale nuclear weapons detonations from 1951-1992 at the Nevada Test Site: Native Americans harrowing chapter of US history and the ongoing health consequences for downwinder communities including the marginalized Western Shoshone whose sacred land -- by treaty -- is still restricted with the resumption of nuclear testing “under debate.” Narrated by Martin Sheen Downwind features Oscar®-winner Michael Douglas comedian Lewis Black and prominent Downwinders whose heartbreaking stories have inspired remarkable perseverance Downwind captures the astonishing rise of American patriot-activists whose hope is to expose government breach of trust to stop future nuclear weapons testing and to mobilize Congress to expand the underfunded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act which will sunset in June 2024 About Us: Gravitas Ventures is a worldwide film distributor & collaborator with thousands of independent artists The Agathla Peak area in Kayenta is home to a number of families various plants and animals such as nímasiichilí and gah – and a solar thermal energy plant that is 100 percent owned by Diné better known as Navajo Tribal Utility Authority’s Kayenta Solar Project now has two large fields of photovoltaic panels called Kayenta I and Kayenta II Combined they generate 55 megawatts – enough to power 36,000 Diné homes and businesses across the Navajo Nation Kayenta I was developed by NTUA and constructed by Spanish renewable energy firm Isolux Corsán Group It was completed in May 2017 and came online the following month marking the official opening of Kayenta Solar Project that consisted of 119,301 sun-tracking panels and had a budget of more than $50 million told the Navajo Times early last year that the utility had to secure 65 acres for Kayenta II before installation began Kayenta I is on 300 acres of land where the late Ella Todacheenie once grazed her livestock “We didn’t need to build a new interconnect (the access point for a solar project to deliver energy to the electrical grid) because we were able to just upgrade the existing one very affordably,” Haase said at the time built by NTUA and Swinerton Renewable Energy A grand opening celebration was held at the site four and half miles north of Tódinéeshzhee’ on Sept but we also wanted to create something greater than that,” Haase said in his opening comments at the celebration “This is 100 percent owned by the Navajo people through NTUA “There are larger solar plants built on tribal lands,” he said “but there is no larger solar plant built on any tribal American land that are owned by their own people.” Haase said what he means by “changing the paradigm” is creating projects that the rest of world wants to buy which is the first of its kind in the Navajo Nation and in the U.S “And that’s right in line with what the president and the vice president say “And that’s an important change and that’s the philosophical change that we need to have has been criticized for the Kayenta Solar Project Perhaps because it’s smaller than other solar plants in the U.S such as Nevada Solar One in the Mojave Desert and Solar Energy Generating Systems near Daggett “But the reality is you’ve got to think about a project that a customer wants to buy and you have to make sure that when you do this you’re in a competitive environment,” Haase said “You bring the wealth not only into Navajo but also help and benefit the Navajo people.” NTUA has a business relationship with Salt River Project What SRP and Phoenix households buy from NTUA is the same electricity the Diné people buy but only in a specialized product and they’re also buying renewable energy credits from Kayenta Solar Project Special to the Times | Krista AllenNTUA leadership along with Diné dignitaries and Miss Navajo Shandiin Parrish cut a ribbon during the NTUA’s Kayenta II grand opening on Sept Haase said plans are underway for the Red Mesa project “We’ve already gotten through the grazing rights and support of the community,” Haase said “We’re already in the process of going through the environmental review and working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.” Haase hopes to move some of the Kayenta workforce to Red Mesa to start construction by May 2020 The Red Mesa project is expected to be completed by May 2021 Selling renewable energy credits from NTUA solar projects allows the utility to provide a cost-effective product “And that’s really important,” Haase explained “It also allows us to leverage those dollars to do other great things on behalf of the (Diné) people we’re eternally grateful for that relationship (with SRP) and that opportunity.” which is a 49-percent partner on NTUA’s Choice Wireless stepped up and did something that no other participant was willing to do before SRP wouldn’t have bought power from NTUA because it would have been too expensive “What’s more important is that the Navajo people created a cost-effective product that people in the rest of the U.S wanted to buy — not because they pitied us but because it was a cost-effective product that met their goals for their own communities and created a higher-level social justice environment for our (Diné) people.” But this would not have been possible if it weren’t for the late Ella Todacheenie and her family Todacheenie died at the age of 87 in August 2015 just a year after she gave up her grazing land for the Kayenta project “(Ella) passed away before she was able to see the electricity for the first time and see the buildings be built,” Haase said “Without their vision and without their support none of this would have happened and none of the benefits that are being put forth would have helped the (Diné) people.” 284 people worked on Kayenta I and 84 percent were Diné from the Tódinéeshzhee’ area Not only did they have a job for eight months but they also learned skills and abilities that they can use to market themselves we needed less land because the technology advanced which meant less people to be employed the second time around,” Haase said “We had over 150 employees at Kayenta II and over 90 percent of the employees were Navajo,” he said “And Over 101 of those folks built Kayenta I and then got a job at Kayenta II.” On the broader sense $9.5 million was paid to the employees who worked on both Kayenta I and II That’s a tremendous economic boost into the local economy “It really helps everybody,” Haase continued “It helps not only the folks here who worked on the job but it also helps the folks who work at Bashas’ and at the Blue Coffee Pot (in Tódinéeshzhee’) “The spin factor is only three times here on the Navajo Nation,” he said “So that $9.5 million represented $27 million over a three-and-a-half-year period of time that was spent in the local economy.” Haase said if there were economic activity and entertainment on the Nation that spin factor would have been seven or eight times instead of three That’s the difference and that’s what NTUA is striving for: To grow the local and the environmental economic activity Kayenta I and II are both situated on 365 acres of land The Nation received over $5.2 million in construction taxes over the two-year build cycle from the Kayenta project itself they’re going to receive over $7.5 million of ongoing user fees because all the electricity from this project (Kayenta I) is sold to the Diné people,” Haase explained they’re going to receive over $5.1 million in benefits over 30 years You have to build things that are affordable and that your customers want to buy.” Both Kayenta I and II are going to generate $17.8 million over their entire life and then give it back to the Nation especially in the midst of the Kayenta Mine and the Navajo Generating Station closures NTUA didn’t just create a plan at the request of the utility board but was already in the process of making plans “(The board) wanted to see that we could create utility-grade solar projects and create four or five of them and allow people to work over a four- or five-year period of time so that they could create economic sovereignty for those families who are involved in this,” Haase explained “We’ve already done two years out of the five years,” he said “That’s much more than anyone else around us has done.” NTUA in July signed a power purchase agreement with the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems The agreement between NTUA and UAMPS suggest NTUA will provide solar energy to 16 Utah cities for 25 years once Red Mesa comes online by June 2022 Haase explained that selling outside of the Nation keeps NTUA rates low “Sixteen cities are now going to buy power from the (Diné) people to benefit the (Diné) people.” NTUA will have completed three years of a five-year work plan after the Red Mesa project “We’re very hopeful we’ll have success,” Haase added “NTUA is honored to play a small role in helping those things move forward And we’re excited about those opportunities “This is what sovereignty is really all about where our people can work and provide wealth and sustain themselves,” he said which coordinates with the Nation’s embrace of renewables “We’re taking it to the next level in terms of renewable energy,” Nez said “This project is right in line with the Nation’s move toward renewables – the Hayoo?káá?.” The closure of NGS and the Kayenta Mine will hurt the Nation “So how do we supplement that loss?” Nez asked “We also have to diversify our economy if we’re going to into renewable energy Kayenta Chapter President Stanley Clitso said the Nation never had these types of advancements and projects 20 years ago “What we’re doing today will lead us further into the future with much less that we take from our natural resources There are alternative ways of producing energy A monthly overview of things you need to know as an architect or aspiring architect View an example Chris Price discusses the critical shift from catching bugs at runtime to identifying them during the build process He explains how leveraging modern programming language features such as static typing in dynamic languages and exhaustive pattern matching can significantly enhance code maintainability and prevent expensive production issues Cooper Bethea explains the need for a cellular architecture at Slack He details the "before" & "after" of their production environment emphasizing the strategic choices made for services with varying consistency requirements including incremental implementation and embracing "good enough," that enabled this complex migration Thoughtworks’ subject matter expert on Generative AI coding assistants discusses how to enhance generated code by incorporating additional information into its context and how your team’s dynamics will evolve with the adoption of these tools Shane Hastie spoke to John Gesimondo about how to leverage generative AI tools to support sustainable mental peace and productivity in the complex interruption-prone world of software engineering by developing a practical framework that addresses emotional recovery discusses how the EU Cyber Resilience Act can help with improving your software project’s security and in the same time to slow down the alarming acceleration of software supply chain attacks Learn how senior software developers are solving the challenges you face Learn practical solutions to today's most pressing software challenges real-world best practices and solutions in software development & leadership Learn how leading engineering teams run AI in production-reliably Kayenta is an open source automated canary analysis tool used to evaluate the readiness for production of a new version of a software. Kayenta is based on a tool developed internally by Netflix, and it was integrated with Google’s help into Spinnaker to perform automated canary release across multiple clouds The new software version that is analyzed for readiness can contain code changes and/or configuration tweaks A canary release is a technique to reduce the risk from deploying a new version of software into production is deployed to a small subset of users alongside the stable running version Traffic is split between these two versions such that a portion of incoming requests are diverted to the canary.  Kayenta needs to probe it and compare the results with those coming from a production baseline Kayenta could compare the canary with actual production systems but that would provide a statistically skewed result because the production system has been running for some time. Creating a brand new baseline cluster ensures that the metrics produced are free of any effects caused by long-running processes Spinnaker runs a canary and a new baseline cluster in parallel in addition to the production system that is accessed by customers These clusters typically include three instances each the requests coming from a small number (~1%) of actual customers are directed towards these clusters and a series of performance and functionality metrics are collected and logged in a time-series database being later automatically compared to see how the canary stands against the baseline This step of the process is called judgement and concludes with an overall score in the range 0-100. This step can be executed multiple times The judgement score falls into one of three categories: success – and the canary is promoted to deployment; marginal – possibly calling for human intervention to decide what to do about the release; and failure – when the whole pipeline is stopped and rolled back and the incoming traffic is directed to the production system Kayenta is integrated with various monitoring tools: Stackdriver Others could be used because the entire system is designed to be pluggable Kayenta can be used to analyze and deploy canaries on supported platforms such as AWS Netflix is in the process of moving their entire canary deployment system to Kayenta, a process that will be done over the next few months, according to Netflix Kayenta is currently running some 200 judgements a day representing about 30% of their complete load Netflix added that "Kayenta has increased developer productivity by providing engineers with a high degree of trust in their deployments." Presented by: Roger Simms - Principal Software Engineer at Harness Save your seat Learn from active senior software developers at Google Peabody Energy during the first quarter of the year quietly reduced the size of the workforce at Kayenta Mine in northeastern Arizona by 46 percent By October of this year but Peabody will remain responsible for land reclamation that could sustain employment on and around the mine site for years to come part of a trend nationally toward less coal-fired generation The table below shows recent numbers reported by Peabody of workers employed directly in the strip mine Mine Safety and Health Administration Mine Data Retrieval System have been on the job for more than 20 years While Peabody has played up the regional economic importance of Kayenta over the years it has offered little in the way of detail on its post-mining plans in the area and how—or whether—it is committed to retaining long-time workers Concerns locally are that the company will jettison employees in favor of lower-paying contract workers for reclamation In a May 2019 opinion piece in the Navajo Times promised that Peabody would stand by workers after mine closure: “The story about Kayenta is far from over,” Lehn wrote “We have reclamation work ahead that is expected to continue for several years … we expect a good number of employees who do not elect to retire to continue their employment at Kayenta which offers an extended transition enabling families to remain together on native lands.” Much of the reclamation work at Kayenta will require surface-use heavy-equipment skills similar to those now used at the mine Post-mining operations will include road reconstruction PEABODY IS OBLIGATED UNDER TERMS OF ITS MINING PERMITS TO PAY FOR REMEDIATION AND RECLAMATION, which will not be an overnight job. An IEEFA report published in December—“Long-Term Opportunity for Navajo Nation in Post-Coal Reclamation Economy”—concluded that “most of this work could be finished within five years but full remediation and reclamation will take years to complete and will require an array of skilled work.” “Mine reclamation activity will encompass thousands of acres in and around Kayenta Mine itself and the nearby former Black Mesa Mine,” the report said “The project will include at least 7,000 acres within the Kayenta Mine footprint that are required by law to be ‘reclaimed in accordance with permit requirements to meet post mining land uses of livestock grazing and cultural plant use.’ Thousands of other acres in the area are subject to similar reclamation obligations Collectively—at NGS and Kayenta Mine—these are epic requirements that will take time to meet.” The economic fallout from closures of the plant and the mine will be significant to tribal budgets and to thousands of households supported by mine and plant income but one way to soften the blow—in the medium term—is to hold Peabody accountable for its cleanup obligations and to its local-workforce promises The assets associated with the NGS-Kayenta complex hold promise as well including the railroad connecting the mine and the generation station Pam Eaton is a Denver-based public-policy consultant Karl Cates is an IEEFA research editor based in Santa Fe IEEFA update: Out-to-pasture coal plants are being repurposed into new economic endeavors IEEFA report: Fast-emerging opportunity in Navajo-Hopi Transition Impact Investment Fund IEEFA U.S.: Solar tax credit extension through 2024 critical for coalfield communities Former IEEFA Transition Policy Analyst Karl Cates has been an editor for Bloomberg LP and a consultant to the Treasury Department-sanctioned community development financial institution (CDFI) industry Exterior of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta Scenes from the inaugural Kayenta New Play Lab program August 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta Exterior of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta at sundown CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Get ready to kick off your weekends in style as the Center for the Arts at Kayenta announces its inaugural First Fridays event series in partnership with galleries and businesses in the Kayenta Art Village Kayenta will burst into life with a delightful […] CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Get ready to kick off your weekends in style as theCenter for the Arts at Kayenta announces its inaugural First Fridays event series Kayenta will burst into life with a delightful array of activities including artexhibitions Adding an extra touch of cinematic flair to the evening each First Friday will also feature amonthly film presentation by the Docutah International Documentary Film Festival Mark your calendars for the March 1 event,featuring the regional premiere of “Art for Everybody.” Thomas Kinkade’s landscapes made himthe most collected and despised painter ever his family discovers avault of unseen paintings that reveal a complex artist whose life and work embody our divided America Tickets for the film screening are priced at $10 March’s First Friday lineup in Kayenta is packed with activities to ignite your creativity andsoothe your soul Art enthusiasts can delve into the world of pyrography with an introductoryclass and studio open house at MakeSpace Studio the enchanting melodies of jazzmusic by Tom Herb Shawn Owens and Christian Bohnenstengel will fill the courtyard creating a lively ambiance for all to enjoy The Single Mingle and Social Hour kicks off at 5:30 p.m andoffers the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow community members while indulging inmocktails Good Medicine Intuitive Skincare and BeautyLab will be spreading joy by offering a free deluxe mini product to all visitors who stop by their shop First Fridays at Kayenta are open to all and promise an unforgettable experience for locals andvisitors alike Join us at 881 Coyote Gulch Court in Ivins as we celebrate the vibrant tapestryof art We’re excited to grow this event and offer a fun community experience each month Save the date for Kayenta’s free Street Painting Festival:Colors of the Desert on Saturday and Sunday Immerse yourself in the vibrant worldof chalk art at the annual Street Painting Festival presented by the Center for the Arts at Kayenta.The 2024 theme “Colors of the Desert,” will showcase the incredible talents of professional street painting artists from the region and students throughout Washington County and surrounding counties Witness the magic unfold as these artists bring the desert hues to life right before your eyes Join us over the weekend to take in the views (on the sidewalk and beyond) and enjoy food trucks, live music and family fun. Applications for school teams, professional artists, entertainment and food vendors are now open at kayentaarts.org The Center for the Arts at Kayenta will also be taking “Colors of the Desert” to the next level bykicking off the Street Painting Festival with the first-ever Kayenta Color Run 5K Participants of all ages and abilities can run walk or stroll through 3.1 miles of our beautifulKayenta landscape Each color stop during the race will feature powdered paint stations to alloweach participant to end the race as a colorful masterpiece The fun doesn’t stop at the finish line;make sure to join us for a fabulous dance party after the race at the festival Join us for a full dayof family fun! Registration is now open at kayentaarts.org