July 4th, 2026 Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of our country and the freedom we enjoy. This year, I’ve noted a link between Memorial Day and the 4th of July. Therein is a story. On April 20, 2005, five US Marines climbed into a troop carrier to conduct a raid on an al-Queda…
The flames are roaring once again as fire consumes the forest of the Mogollon Rim south of Flagstaff. The Pocket Fire is located just below East Pocket Knob and the primitive campground called End of the World. Located on the Knob is East Pocket Lookout Fire. The lookout would most likely have been the first…
Reports of a devastating wildfire seem so distant to us. We are sad to see the forests burn but the wildfire doesn’t touch us until it touches a place we love – such is the destruction of the Lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Yet, more damage could be on the horizon….
The blue paint caught our eyes and we wandered closer, wondering at the story behind the bike. Lonely, maybe forgotten, the bike stood next to a tree in a patch of forest, far from the nearest house. Someone had wrapped a chain around the frame and tree, securing the bike. The knobby tires were sound,…
Phoenix police will begin clearing out the residents of the Zone in downtown Phoenix this week. Have you been there? Last week I visited the Arizona State Parks office. Stretching along the sidewalk on the west side of 7th Street, the homeless encampment completely occupied the stretch of asphalt. Some encampments are enclosed by a…
The smoke is mostly gone and firefighting crews are mopping up the Pipeline fire. Twice now, families have fled before the flames, carrying a few possessions as they wait to hear whether their homes have survived. I have an acquaintance who one of those who lost her home – there is nothing left but charred…
Garden season is here and the funny thing about gardens is that they are usually not the picture- perfect rows of glistening plants and bounteous vegetables found in gardening magazines. They are a working space, leaning into the angle of the sun with insects buzzing and crawling among the plants. Funny thing. You can’t legislate…
In the 2016 Olympic Marathon, Feyisa Lilesa approached the starting line with athletes from countries around the world. The commentators would not have noticed Lilesa as their attention turned to athletes from Kenya, Eritrea and Uganda. Just under two hours later the world’s attention had re-focused on Lilesa as he overcame Glen Rudd from…
Two years ago, a fire in the hills of north of Flagstaff drew residents to every high point, their focus on the aerial ballet of spotter planes and bombers dropping slurry on the flames. Yesterday, we were reminded that this is fire season once again, not that we had forgotten. The smoke settling over Flagstaff…