Sedona, AZ — On Monday, November 4 the the fall Giving Circle of 100 + Women Who Care Sedona-Verde Valley Chapter met at the Sedona Elks Club. Members voted the nonprofit Steps to Recovery as their Chosen Recipient. Executive Director, Damien Browning, accepted the honor on behalf of the organization. The mission of Steps to Recovery, located in Cottonwood, is to assist those struggling with addiction. They offer safe, structured environments for men and women, quality treatment programs, and life and work skills needed for mental, physical, and spiritual healing to overcome addiction. Snouts of Sedona and Toys for Tots…
Author: Tommy
Read More
… riding the rails and a snowy winter morning as the California Zephyr passed through Winter Park after we climbed out of Denver and into the journey across the Rockies as we headed to California. Amtrak does make a stop there and it is undoubtedly in one of their vacation packages. We soon hooked up with the Colorado River and I got great shots as we ran parallel to it. Below is a shot of some Woodies at Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery in Page Springs. I have gone years without seeing one there and then years like this when we get an abundance of them ……
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Lost on a Mountain in Maine”, showing Nov. 29-Dec. 5 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon and Mary D. Fisher Theatres. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKD4cVv2l0Q Produced by Sylvester Stallone and based on the best-selling book of the same name, “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” tells the inspiring true story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who becomes separated from his family by a fast-moving storm atop a treacherous mountain. For nine days Donn fights to stay alive as he attempts to survive the unforgiving wilderness of northern Maine without…
By Tommy Acosta Sedona, Az– I didn’t think it could happen—that the U.S. would actually go to war with Russia. But I could be wrong. With Biden approving the use of American-made long-range missiles on Russia—targeting perhaps military and civilian locations—this is absolutely a completely stupid thing to do. The Russians will have to respond, and there will be Russian citizens—innocent people—blown up by these U.S.-made missiles. My God, once this begins, there’s no turning back. This could lead to Americans being shipped overseas, physically involved in the conflict. American soldiers may die on battlefields in Ukraine, nearby countries, or…
By Bear Howard You all know Bear Howard loves meeting tourists, but let’s be honest—getting to my favorite drinking spots early in the evening during tourist season is essential! If you arrive before five and snag a parking spot, congratulations—you’ve hit the jackpot! Score two adjacent seats at the bar, and I call it “Sedona Musical Chairs!” When we visit our local restaurants and bars, I can’t help but notice two distinct types of drinkers: the bar stool folks—the talkers and storytellers—and the table munchers, who are much more focused on their food and occasional small talk. I proudly belong…
By Tommy Acosta Gratitude. That’s what I felt after the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight. Grateful I was that the old pugilist was not KO’d or hurt badly in the ring. It was with great apprehension that I awaited that fight, convinced Tyson would be carried out of the ring with a lethal concussion, but in the end, I was surprised at how well he performed. He came out strong in the first and second two-minute rounds, throwing hard punches and slipping most of what Paul threw. But by the third round, it was obvious age had claimed another…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory Is it a jazz sort of day or rhythm and blues? Country done-me-wrong or classical notes strung together with marvelous awe? There’s a song for it all, if not already composed, composing itself in this moment, in sync with my breath. I could call an event traumatic, or I could hear the music of the dance, the dance that spun me out that door and into a new dance with a tune of its own. What we call trauma is a direction change, life putting a fork in our road and insisting that we take the…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is once again proud to present “Red Rocks Magic” for an encore performance — an extraordinary audience-driven magical experience — on Sunday November 24 at 4 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. This is Sedona’s #1 magic experience! Mentalist Brett Barry presents his mind-boggling Sedona themed magic show, exploring the incredible power of the mind and the unseen connections we have to one another. Red Rocks Magic is a “sleights of mind” tour-de-force, with extensive audience interaction and this will not be your typical magic show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RePOumrXTs The 75-minute journey promises…
Sedona News – The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded the city of Sedona and its Financial Services Department the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget. This is the twelfth year the city has received this award. The award represents a significant achievement by the city. It reflects the commitment of the city council and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the city had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the city’s budget serves…
… spent much of this evening going through photos that I have taken on train trips, focusing mainly on a trip I took back in the 2000’s which started with a friend giving me a ride back to the east coast in his Learjet. From there the biggest part of the trip was by Amtrak from Penn Station in NYC to Emeryville, California. Travel via the Lake Shore Express from Penn Station to Chicago, thence The California Zephyr to Emeryville. I spent a few days with my friend and his family on the farm in Pennsylvania before visiting my younger…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present “Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender” on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23 and 24 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. All tickets for this live production are FREE OF CHARGE, thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley. Internationally renowned actor and Shakespeare scholar Lisa Wolpe has arguably played more of the Bard’s male roles than any woman in history. From gender explorations to intergenerational trauma to the unforgettable story of her life, Lisa triumphantly illustrates that Shakespeare’s insight into the…
Yavapai County News – Henry Edward Whitmer of Prescott Valley has been elected by the citizens of Yavapai County to serve as the Judicial Officer in Division 5 of the Yavapai County Superior Court. Judge Whitmer received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy, magna cum laude from Arizona State University Barrett’s Honors College in May 2008. He later attended the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 2011. Judge Whitmer has participated in various legal internships and has been practicing law since 2011. He joined the Yavapai County Attorney’s…
Sedona News – The city and their contractor, Cactus Asphalt, will begin a Pavement Rehabilitation Project for designated streets the week of Nov. 25, 2024 to help extend pavement life and improve road quality for Sedona motorists. The project consists of crack seal operations along various roadways throughout the city, including: The Kachina neighborhood Part of the Shadow Estates Homeowners Association Bennet Way The beginning of Cultural Park Place and Arts Village Drive Parts of the Andante neighborhood above and below Thunder Mountain Road Airport Road Mountain Shadows Drive San Miguel Drive, Siesta Way and Caballo Drive Elysian Drive, Skyline…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF) beams with joy as it announces its distinction as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” for 2024, bestowed by the esteemed Moviemaker Magazine (https://www.moviemaker.com/coolest-film-festivals-2024/). This prestigious honor elevates the Sedona International Film Festival among the globe’s most revered celebrations of cinema, celebrated for crafting an unparalleled experience for filmmakers, industry mavens, and film fans alike. “Beyond its breathtaking landscapes, the festival places filmmakers at the heart of its mission. It nurtures their journey with thoughtful accommodations, delightful meals, and seamless shuttle services. Patrick Schweiss and his devoted…
Sedona News – One of America’s most celebrated string quartets, The Miró Quartet has performed throughout the world on the most prestigious concert stages. Eminent clarinetist David Shifrin (“luminous”, NY Times) joins in a program of works for clarinet and quartet, including Mozart’s sublime Clarinet Quintet and arrangements of big band swing. “In the Miró’s performance, all of the notes are delivered with remarkable precision and intra-ensemble timing that resemble the workings of a finely calibrated timepiece.” With music ranging from Mozart to Peter Schickele to Goodman (including big band arrangements), this irresistible program will be sure to knock your…