By Alana Lovelace– December 8, 1980 — A Loss That Changed the World For those of us who came of age during the rise of rock ’n’ roll, the death of John Lennon was more than a headline — it was a fracture in the world’s rhythm, a sudden dimming of a light we believed would burn forever. On December 8, 1980, when Lennon was taken from us outside the Dakota in New York City, something fundamental shifted. A voice that had shaped a generation fell silent, and an entire world felt the shockwave. For Baby Boomers especially, Lennon wasn’t…
Author: Tommy
By Rabbi Alicia Magal Sedona, AZ — The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences. The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. All are invited to Friday evening Erev Shabbat services led by…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory — Sedona, AZ — It’s a dream. You’ve heard it said before, whether you believe it or not, is another story. You’ve read about lucid dreaming, perhaps even experienced it. To be lucid within a dream means you are aware you are dreaming while you are dreaming. While lucid you can push the threads that knit the dream together, push and pull, tweak and reorder, creating a slightly different dream. The dream changes when you’re a powerful dream walker, but you still wake up and are immediately thrust into another dream regardless of how powerful you…
VVS Board President: Event ‘exceeded expectations’ COTTONWOOD, Ariz. — More than 120 community members supported survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in November by attending the inaugural Casino Night Fundraiser event held by Verde Valley Sanctuary, raising an impressive $122,064 for the cause. “Thank you to so many of the members of the community who joined us at our very successful Casino Night,” VVS Board President Pat Jansen said in a statement, adding that attendance for the Nov. 1 event at Sedona Golf Resort’s Juniper Bar and Grille “exceeded expectations” for the evening as live blackjack, poker, roulette and…
Sedona, Arizona — After nearly 24 years as a trusted voice, advocate, and creative force in Northern Arizona, Allen Elfman is stepping forward with a powerful message for the community: Artificial Intelligence is not something to fear—it’s something to embrace. Elfman, widely recognized for his work in media, consulting, and community engagement, has spent years immersed in every facet of AI development. From hands-on experimentation to attending national AI conferences, he has positioned himself at the forefront of a technological revolution that is already reshaping business, communication, and creativity. “There are a lot of misconceptions about how bad AI is. It’s not,” Elfman states. “AI…
By Steve Segner Sedona, AZ — On Wednesday, December 10, at 2:00 PM, the Sedona City Council will hold a work session at City Hall focused on the Western Gateway, the property once known as the Cultural Park. The City purchased this land with bond funds and has long intended it to serve core community needs such as housing, neighborhood-scale recreation, and community-serving uses. https://vimeo.com/1144650771/cfbe7cc7e0?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci At the same meeting, City staff will present findings from engineers and scientists on the condition of the soil at the Dells. Their analysis addresses whether any special remediation would be required to develop or…
By Tommy Acosta People have been asking why I haven’t written any articles or opinions for Sedona.biz lately.Honestly? I’m bored. Nothing inspires me. I sit down to write and it’s like watching an old movie I’ve already seen a dozen times — I know the plot, the twists, the ending, and the credits before the first scene even opens. I can’t find a single topic, political or otherwise, that lights a spark. Take Trump’s now-predestined invasion of Venezuela. Ho hum. He’s using the “narco-terrorism” excuse as a pretense to go in and seize Venezuela’s massive oil supply. Who doesn’t already…
Follow Lee Strobel and director Mani Sandoval on a journey into the miraculous Sedona, AZ — The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “The Case for Miracles” showing Dec. 15-18 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Lee Strobel was an atheist. A thriving legal editor at The Chicago Tribune, he set out to investigate the resurrection of Jesus. His confident disbelief was turned on its head. His findings? Faith. Decades later, Strobel continues his investigations as he builds “The Case for Miracles” and asks: Do miracles still happen today? From awe-inspiring wonders to…
By David Stephen It is possible to make the case that no major AI company is on the side of humanity. The simple test — seeing the capabilities of AI — is this: what is your company doing to improve human intelligence without the necessity of using AI? Simply, they are all racing towards more AI and better AI, ensuring, in part, to weaken what is left of human intelligence. Mission accomplished for them means fatality for human intelligence. For all they are doing for AI, there are no equivalents for human intelligence. There’s no human intelligence safety, human intelligence welfare, human…
Prescott, Arizona (Dec. 5, 2025) – Yavapai College’s Director of Radiology Tracy Rogers—herself a graduate of that program in 2016—was living in New Jersey and was informed by a family member in Arizona of the academic opportunities available in nursing and radiology at Yavapai College. “Had she not insisted on helping me meet my goals, I would not have moved to Arizona and attended Yavapai College as a student, which ultimately led to my employment here,” Rogers said. Starting classes as a student in 2013, Rogers found her time to be an overall positive experience. “Being a student at Yavapai College…
The Rotary Club of Sedona Village brought holiday cheer to local families through its second annual holiday gift-wrapping event, supporting families in the Village of Oak Creek and Sedona’s Hope House. Village Rotarians purchased and wrapped approximately 50 age-appropriate gifts, based on suggestions provided directly by program recipients. The effort ensured that children and families most in need would receive thoughtful holiday presents. The event was led by Rotarian Holly Johnson and combined service with fellowship. Members gathered for a cheerful evening of gift wrapping followed by a potluck dinner hosted by Gary and Tracey Thie. “This event reflects what…
The film’s writer/director and producer/actor will host the film and Q&A discussions Sedona, Az — The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Sedona premiere of “Granite Rapids Moon” on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. There will be two shows that day at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTR2A3ogJ8U The film’s writer/director Kenneth Cran and producer/actor John Charles Meyer will be here in person to host the film and conduct a Q&A session after both screenings. A happily married father of two, shaken by a message written in a birthday card for his daughter, abruptly…
Prescott, Arizona (Dec. 3, 2025) – Only three years into her job at Yavapai College, Executive Director of Learning and Educational Innovation Robyn Bryce is in love with her role and her involvement with the school. After working as a K-12 teacher in Pennsylvania and Bullhead City, Arizona, Bryce moved to Prescott in 2007, where she taught English and coached track and cross-country in the Prescott Unified School District for 15 years. She started taking personal interest classes at Yavapai College around 2014 and started working there as an instructional designer in 2022. Constantly learning and exploring is a recurring theme…
Sedona, AZ — The Democrats of the Red Rocks (DORR) host a virtual forum “Meet Candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission” on Monday, December 15, 5:00 to 6:30 pm on zoom. The five-member Corporation Commission (ACC) regulates the rates and services of public utilities, including power and water companies, to ensure they are safe, reliable, and affordable for Arizona citizens. DORR’s virtual forum is an opportunity to meet candidates running for the two empty seats on the ACC. Interested community members can join the virtual forum at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82068089368?pwd=utEaz9BkVnCtHtjztdK3QawMUTQ8yb.1. Zoom Meeting ID is 820 6808 9368, passcode:134832. DORR is an all-volunteer Democratic Club for Sedona, the…
Prescott, Arizona (Dec. 4, 2025) – Former City of Prescott Police Chief and current Yavapai College Program Director for Administration of Justice Studies (AJS) Jerald Monahan dedicated most of his professional life to public safety. Monahan’s father, after retiring from the military, took a job with the Arizona State Prison system, which inspired his son to follow a similar path, where Monahan started as a correctional service officer in Florence, AZ in 1978. A year later, he was hired as a police officer in Casa Grande. “I was with Casa Grande for 23 years and had a number of assignments during…