Grab your hiking boots and head up the mountain to be one of the first to hike a new trail in the Coconino Forest trail system. The ranger-led hike begins today at 9 a.m. and should finish at about 11 a.m. Meet at lot 9 (the Humphreys trailhead). The trail is about 2.5 miles.

Situated on sloping meadows and open glades high on the western slope of the San Francisco Peaks, the Aspen Interpretive Loop Trail affords unhindered views of the volcanic field to the west and the Grand Canyon to the north. The Peaks themselves rise high above, and the Arizona Snowbowl is clearly visible.

The way takes you through fascinating micro-habitats where sun-loving wildflowers and grasses alternate with shade plants and ferns along the trail's winding, 300-foot elevation change. Birds of the open glades abound: Flickers, jays, juncos and warblers. Aspen, spruce and pine stand along the trail, including several large bristlecone pines. Bristlecones higher up the Peaks have been dated to be about 1,400 years old.

The hike is free and open to the public.

Caregiver workshop

The Northern Arizona Gerontology Association is hosting a free Family Caregiver Workshop Friday. The workshop will focus on legal and financial resource planning for seniors. Jill Preston, elder care services administrator for Jackson White Elder Law Services, will give the presentation.

Friday's workshop will be 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Thorpe Park Community and Senior Center, 245 N. Thorpe Road. To make a reservation, call Barb Wagner at NAGA, at 774-2880. Workshop materials, water and a light snack will be provided. The workshop is free, but donations will be accepted. Lunch is available for a minimal donation from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Nutrition Center.

Labor Day 'Birth'

The reality of childbirth is the subject of the critically acclaimed play "Birth" by Karen Brody. See "Birth" Sept. 8 at the Doris Harper-White (Theatrikos) Theatre in Flagstaff.

This event is happening as a part of BOLD, Birth on Labor Day, a global movement to raise awareness and improve maternal care — making it more mother-friendly. The sad truth is that one woman dies every minute somewhere in the world because of a pregnancy- or birth-related event. In a similar way "The Vagina Monologues" and "V-Day" use the arts to make a difference for violence against women, BOLD and "Birth" seek to make a difference for childbearing women around the globe.

The staged reading of the play will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a talk-back with local labor professionals. Included on that panel are representatives from Womancare Midwifery, Northland Community Health Center, The Birthing Year, Flagstaff Medical Center Labor & Delivery nursing staff, La Leche League of Flagstaff and others.

Tickets for the event are $10, and proceeds are to benefit the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Board that is working in Coconino County to improve maternal care and birth outcomes.

For tickets, call the Theatrikos box office at 774-1662. For more information on BOLD, visit www.birthonlaborday.com, or contact Mary Denmead at marymaryma@aol.com.

Send Around the Town news to Abbie Gripman at agripman@azdailysun.com, or call her at 556-2241.