Author: Tommy

Verde Valley News – The Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) at Yavapai College is offering a wide range of certificates and support programs through its QUEST grant, tuition-free. The REDC has secured funding to support qualified learners for needs related to travel, technology, childcare, tuition assistance, stipends for internships, and removing other barriers for dislocated workers. Arizona received a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The grant is part of the DOL’s QUEST Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) program, and it was awarded to the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) in partnership with six Arizona community…

Sedona News – Award-winning, world-renowned international countertenor Terry Barber brings his acclaimed live performance “Around the World in 80 Minutes” to Sedona when he performs at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. There will be one show on Saturday, April 6 at 4:00 p.m. presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. Take a musical journey around the world when Terry Barber shares international beloved melodies uniquely arranged for his extreme vocal range. This extraordinary concert will include songs like Danny Boy, La Vie En Rose, Shenandoah, Besame Mucho, Waltzing Matilda, Arirang, O Waly Waly. Loch Lomond, Volare, Brahms Lullaby, Korobeiniki, Hallelujah,…

By Tommy Acosta — Sedona, AZ — If I was a kid now living in Florida I would be pissed. And if my parents let DeSantis get away with what he is trying to do to those of us under 14, I would make my mom and dad’s life a living hell. I mean, WTF is that old fart trying to do to us? Putting myself in a typical teen’s shoes, that is. Who the heck does he think he is? The internet is life to us teenagers. It is our universe. It is how we connect to the world.…

By Amaya Gayle Gregory I just read a headline: “We May Have Found the Part of the Brain Where Conscious Experience Lives.” This has been a focus of science for years, and as fun as the investigation is, it is misguided. Don’t get me wrong. I love science. I trust scientists, mostly. I enjoy reading about where their discoveries are leading. I am curious about what direction mankind is heading. I am definitely not anti-science. Science has its place in the 3D world. Now, back to the bit about this particular focus being misguided. Contrary to almost everyone’s opinion, consciousness…

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival presents “The Sci-Fi Boys” on Tuesday, April 9 at 4 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. In the last 12 months, the Sedona International Film Festival has screened eight feature films by Sedona residents Paul and Hollace Davids, former LA residents who both had decades-long Hollywood careers, with Paul producing, writing and directing films and Hollace as Senior Vice-President of Special Projects at Universal Pictures. Now, we show film number nine — “The Sci-Fi Boys” from the Davids, which won the most awards and which features legendary all-stars of cinema who…

Sedona News – Piano on the Rocks International Festival returns to Sedona on April 26-28, 2024 with three unique successive concerts in homage to French composer Gabriel Fauré as 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death.  Piano on the Rocks continues its vibrant performances with three outstanding and eclectic concerts.  It will feature four pianists: American pianist Cynthia Raim, known to Sedona audiences from previous festivals, first prize winner of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland, and praised by the New York Time as “a musician of intelligence and judgment.”; French/American pianist Sandrine Erdely-Sayo, known to many…

… it was great to be down at the lake and on the water today … the spring migration is in full swing, and we got great shots of a couple of White Pelicans among many others we have not seen since last fall when the fall migration was underway. Above is a shot of a pair of double crested cormorants as they entered flight from the branch of a tree rising from the lake. The male has beautiful bushy black eyebrows which are just beginning to go white. Below is a photo of an Avocet in breeding plumage coming…

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “American Dreamer” showing April 5-11 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. “American Dreamer” features an all-star ensemble cast, including Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, Danny Glover and Matt Dillon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip1M_fjL2Bo “American Dreamer” — based on a true story from Chicago Public Radio’s This American Life — is the story of Phil Loder (Peter Dinklage), a twice-divorced, frustrated, underpaid professor of economics, whose grand dream of home ownership is tragically out of reach. When an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way, Phil…

Arizona News – With Tax Day just a few weeks away, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is doing its part to take some of the hassle and stress out of filling out those forms. MVD’s online portal, azmvdnow.gov, conveniently provides a free summary of vehicle license tax and fees paid during 2023 for every vehicle registered in your name. “This is the simplest way for customers to get this information for filing their taxes,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “Getting this report just takes a few seconds and it’s much easier than going into each vehicle to collect…

Sedona News – To address growing concerns and changing conditions regarding motorized recreation in the Sedona area, the Greater Sedona Recreation Collaborative (GSRC) has issued a report to local, state, and federal land managers and jurisdictions. The report (Proposed Strategies for Motorized Visitor Use Management in the Greater Sedona Area) addresses three main motorized recreation challenges: 1) high volume of use and recreational demand; 2) limited physical infrastructure and sensitive environments; and 3) inappropriate or illegal user behavior. The report also includes consensus-driven proposed strategies to address these challenges including setting speed limits, issuing permits, route engineering, improving signage/barriers, increasing…

Verde Valley News – Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) announced that Adam Schneider MD, has joined the Orthopedic & Spine Institute (OSI) in Cottonwood at Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC). Dr. Schneider is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in general orthopedic fracture care and also on hand and upper-extremity conditions. He previously worked at VVMC from 2018-2021. “The Verde Valley is where my family and I call home and where we belong. I missed the good people at VVMC, who are like family.  When I saw the job opening matching my particular skillset, the decision to return to the place we dearly missed…

By Rabbi Alicia Magal The JCSVV offers services and classes which are life-affirming and soul enriching. All are listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Visitors are welcome to attend services after security check. People who cannot attend or who live far away can access the service through zoom. Several classes, holidays, and special events are coming up in March and April.  Check the website and plan to join us! The Shabbaton, expanded weekend of services and programs) begins with Erev Shabbat services on Friday evening, April 5 beginning at 5:30 pm in person and on Zoom led by Rabbi David Zaslow…

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Ruby’s Choice” showing April 5-11 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. “Ruby’s Choice” intricately weaves a poignant narrative around a teenage girl whose life takes a profound turn when she shares her space with her grandmother battling dementia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omYDwdk5jdA What begins as initial resentment transforms into a journey of love, self-discovery, and the revelation of long-held family secrets. Jane Seymour — celebrated for her iconic portrayals from the 1973 Bond girl Solitaire to Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman — delivers a…

Sedona News – Clean up and reduce your wildfire risk by disposing of yard waste during the annual Curbside Yard Waste Collection this April and part of May. Find your neighborhood’s pick-up day here: www.sedonaaz.gov/curbside and place material curbside by 4 p.m. the day prior to pick-up. Accepted for collection: Brush Tree limbs and trunks: Limbs eight inches or less and eight feet long or less Shrub trimmings Bagged leaves and pine needles. No more than 10 paper bags. No plastic bags. The total amount of debris accepted cannot exceed five yards or a pile no larger than 10 feet…

Arizona News – A Guttmacher Institute report based on surveys of reproductive-aged women in Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey and Wisconsin before and after the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade showed ripple effects on all aspects of reproductive care, including abortion, contraception and pregnancy care on people living in Arizona. The report found statistically significant evidence that barriers to accessing contraception have increased, sexual activity has declined, reports of receiving high-quality contraceptive care have decreased, and condom use has increased. “The long-term impact on reproductive-aged women includes potentially shaping attitudes towards becoming pregnant, changing their sexual activity and contraceptive strategies, and impacting their ability…