Rec Center to provide rides Flagstaff talks

The Grand Canyon Rec Center is now offering transportation to Canyon Country lectures in Flagstaff. Cost is $5 per person to travel to Northern Arizona University's Cline Library to hear speakers share their expertise about the Colorado Plateau and Grand Canyon Country.

Contact the Rec Center at 638-3389 for information.

The next Flagstaff lecture is on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Jeff Kida presents "Ancient Discoveries in Petrified Forest."

The early and mid-1980's was a boom time at the Petrified Forest National Park. Archeologists and paleontologists roamed the hills, prospected, and made amazing discoveries. A diverse mix of scientists from the western United States probed the earth's history, turning back the geological clock to the Triassic Period 225 million years ago. The headline-grabbing discovery announced the unearthing of the world's earliest datable dinosaur.

Jeff Kida, photography editor for Arizona Highways, shares his personal story of his introduction to this research community and the excitement of that time. The program will also be held on Sunday, Jan. 18, in Prescott.

Other upcoming Flagstaff lectures:

• Wednesday, Feb. 18 - "Volcanoes of Northern Arizona," by Wendell Duffield;

• Wednesday, March 11 - "Revealing the Secrets of the Grand Canyon's Historic Colorado River Boats," Jan Balson and Brynn Bender;

• Wednesday, April 29 - "California Condors in Arizona!" by Kathy Sullivan;

• Wednesday, May 20 - "The Resurrection of Glen Canyon: A New Model for Living in the American West," by Annette McGiveny and James Kay.

The Canyon Country lecture series features a diversity of experts who speak on the rich natural and cultural history of Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau. This series can be taken for one hour of college credit through Coconino Community College. Contact Alan Petersen at 928-226-4322.