Author: Tommy

Tim McClellan competes for $100k on Ellen DeGeneres’s new show “Ellen’s Design Challenge” Jerome AZ (January 13, 2015) – Ellen’s Design Challenge, HGTV’s new furniture competition series —conceptualized by television icon and entertainment pioneer Ellen DeGeneres—is set to premiere January 26, 2015. The six-episode series features six competitors as they tackle ingenious challenges to sketch, design and build extraordinary furniture to avoid elimination. One of the six competitors is Jerome, Arizona’s own Tim McClellan from Western Heritage Furniture.

Sedona AZ (January 13, 2015) – As of January 1, 2015, the Sedona Community Foundation is known as the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona. The name change is part of a statewide re-branding of Arizona Community Foundation Affiliates under a single name, with a local identifier to convey its place-based nature.

By Barbara Mayer Sedona AZ (January 12, 2015) – Bringing awareness of a national problem home to the streets of Sedona and the Verde Valley, a group of local sportsmen and sportswomen have become real champions for mental health awareness. After creating The Carol Baker Mixed Doubles Tournament last year, members of the Sedona Community Tennis Association (SCTA) have now donated tournament proceeds to the Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley. Tournament founders Alex Nebelsky and Mel Levine recently delivered the $1200 check to Coalition Facilitator Barbara Litrell and Christ Lutheran Church Mental Health Liaison Phil Billiam and other members of…

By Warren Woodward, Sedona Resident(January 10, 2015) [Sedona City] Council members, I see that the City is still issuing one-sided press releases that have nothing to do with City business. I guess you’ll never learn what is appropriate. If the Red Rock News increased its rates would that be worthy of a city press release?

Sedona AZ (January 10, 2015) – The Sedona Questers will host “stars” from Sedona’s movie past at their annual luncheon fundraiser on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at the Poco Diablo  Resort. Guests will hear re-enactors tell the stories of these movie stars’ lives and their film-making or home-making memories in Sedona.  It is anticipated the “stars” will inform, entertain and share some personal tidbits about themselves and the movie they made in Sedona during the heyday of film-making here.

By Ted Grussing … cannot be found … today was just a blast and seldom have I had a friend along more enthusiastic than my friend Wayne Ranney … and like my other geologist friends he gave me some lessons on the geology and I gave him views he has never seem. In short we had a blast as we traversed about a thousand square miles of the Colorado Plateau … The first shot is one I took of the north side of Roden Crater with the patterns of the snow not quite covering the surface. The diagonal line id…

Sedona AZ (January 9, 2015) – “Hi! I am Jax and I am a 2 year old Domestic Short Hair neutered cat. I am sweet, affectionate, and LOVE to play. Not only that, I am GREAT with other cats! Please come visit me at the shelter and I am sure you will want to take me home and make me your new best friend in 2015. You can see more pictures of me here.” Come by and take a tour of the shelter and see all the wonderful cats and dogs that are eager and ready to go home with you and be…

By Ted Grussing … my friend Jim Peterson,  invited me over to shoot the Lovejoy 2014 Q2 comet which is reaching its maximum brightness and visibility and tonight was a good night to get it. The comet was discovered by an amateur astronomer by the name of Lovejoy last summer and it is the fifth one he has discovered … you do not shoot stars and comets handheld … I had to dig out one of my tripods and then fumble with it in the dark and try to find the comet which is not visible to the naked eye…

By Carla Trujillo, PWG President Cottonwood AZ (January 8, 2015) – The local Chapter of Professional Women’s Group has their first quarterly luncheon of 2015 on January 20, 2015. Luncheon will be at the Cottonwood Recreation Center from 11:30am – 1:30pm and include a speaker presentation, networking opportunities, catered lunch, and raffle/door prizes. This month’s luncheon will be catered by Café Jerona based out of Cottonwood.  Pre-registration for this event is required and you can sign up at www.pwgaz.org.

Cottonwood AZ (January 8, 2015) – The Cottonwood contra dance will return on Saturday, January 17th with dancing to the live music of Traditional Blend and calling by Seth Levine.  The pre-dance lesson is at 6:30 PM and the regular dance is 7:00-10:00 PM.  Wear comfortable shoes and clothing you can move in. Snacks to share are appreciated!  All dances are taught and called and you can come alone or with friends—no experience necessary.  Location is the Cottonwood Civic Center, 805 N. Main St. in Old Town, Cottonwood AZ 86326. Donations are $9 per dancer and $7 for students. Contact Mark Alexander…

Sedona AZ (January 8, 2015) – Sedona-­Oak Creek Unified School District (SOCUSD) is pleased to announce Mr. David Lykins has been named All Arizona Superintendent of the Year for Medium Size Districts in the State of Arizona. Lykins has served as the Superintendent at SOCUSD since July 2011. Lykins has worked collaboratively with staff, parents, and community members to develop a strategic and systematic focus for the skills and knowledge of the District’s students both now and in the future.

Little Red Riding Hood Lied:  The Real Tale of Wolves in Arizona Sedona AZ (January 8, 2015) – Keep Sedona Beautiful, Inc., at its Preserving the Wonder™ Speaker Series on Wednesday, January 14 at 5:30 pm, will feature Emily Renn, Executive Director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project. Would you like to know about the current status of wolves in Arizona?  Join KSB to discover their history, biology (including diet, family life and behaviors) and the key role they play in Southwest ecosystems.  Learn about the captive breeding program, reintroduction into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area, current efforts…

An exciting opportunity to help others and hang out with horses! Cornville AZ (January 8, 2015) – Connections Equine Therapy is a non-profit organization located in Cornville, AZ offering Therapeutic Riding and other services designed to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals with disabilities.   This is your opportunity to get involved with a great group of people, get to know some wonderful horses and help a worth-while cause! We need volunteers for Horse Care and to assist clients in our Therapeutic Riding Program. 

Cottonwood AZ (January 7, 2015) – Last month, a 66-year-old Cottonwood resident reported fraud by mail but avoided any financial loss by being suspicious and confirming the fraud with law enforcement. The victim had just received an envelope containing a letter indicating she had been selected as a “mystery shopper.” The envelope included a $2200 cashier’s check which the victim was instructed to deposit, purchase (4) $500 Green Dot credit cards, and keep the remaining money as “salary.”

By Ted Grussing One of the really fun things I find in photography is the beautiful abstract patterns present nearly everywhere you are, whether it be in the fractal type designs in leaves, drops of water coming off icicles, patterns in clouds or a view from on high looking at the earth itself. I got this photograph yesterday and the colors, patterns and shadows all combine to give truly neat abstract … I like the volcanic cone in the upper left too … looks like it has not aged very well, but it is trying. Not sure if this cinder…