Author: Tommy

Sedona, AZ — October 17-On November 5, Sedona MUFON will honor the 50th anniversary of Travis Walton’s extraordinary and world-famous UFO encounter with a special screening of the award-winning documentary TRAVIS: The True Story of Travis Walton at The Sedona International Film Festival, the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Travis Walton and film director Jennifer Stein will be in Sedona to present the film and host a Q&A discussion following the 3:00 and 7:00 pm shows. They will engage with attendees, sharing insights and experiences that have captivated audiences worldwide for 50 years. On November 5, 1975, Walton, then a 22-year-old forestry worker, was…

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 services led by Rabbi Magal on October 24 at…

By Steve Segner — Sedona, Az — Several days ago, I received a call from several city council members, asking about the status of my business. The June sales tax numbers from the state have raised concerns — the data make it difficult for the City and Council to make timely, informed decisions. And that was before July and August numbers were readily available. I told them both that while the first two quarters of 2025 looked strong, those gains are likely to be offset by weaker visitation during the second half of the year. We talked about marketing, and…

By Bear Howard “Every nation negotiates its own social contract. America, uniquely, accepts mass death as the tithe for its freedom myth.” Sedona, AZ — Somewhere between the second and third decade of the 21st century, America quietly made a bargain with itself — that gun death would be the price of freedom. 491 million civilian firearms now circulate in the United States — more guns than people. Only 32 % of adults personally own one; a small “super-owner” group holds nearly half. This is 7.7 million people, or about 3% of the adult population, who own over half the…

Sedona, AZ: Friday, October 24, and Saturday, October 25, The Arts Academy of Sedona presents The American Labyrinth, a three-part film series and retreat that looks at race and implicit bias in this country. This profound series asks the question, “How do we heal from trauma that is generations deep?” The series takes the audience on a journey to not only heal but also transcend the anger, racism, and hatred of the day. “The sacred labyrinth symbolizes the journey that we internally take to find life, liberty, and the pursuit of joy.” Says the film’s creator, Dr. Karmen Smith.  She…

By David Stephen Sedona, AZ — OpenAI, it appears, considers ChatGPT’s mental health problems solved. This means that with the efforts the company has made, all the problems [and prospects of] that the chatbot had caused some users, including AI-induced psychosis and worse are now considered resolved. The company is already moving on with new [October 14, 2025] personal application announcements, available to age verified users, for their non-mental health segment. While the organization’s internal assessment may give this conclusion, there is no independent evaluation of this, and OpenAI too has not supported any independent efforts to resolve AI psychosis…

Sedona, Az — A collaboration of local organizations committed to peaceful protest is sponsoring a No Kings community march and rally in Sedona on Saturday, October 18th. The local march is one of an estimated 2500 happening around the nation speaking out against actions by theTrump administration and the Republican led Congress. This will be a gathering of people peacefully exercising their 1st Amendment rights. Sedona marchers will come together at 10 am at the corner of Rt. 89A and Sunset Road. They will then proceed to Soldier Pass Road and back to Jack Jameson Memorial Park on Northview Avenue for a brief rally. Protesters…

Sedona, AZ — Jennifer Stein, conference chair, is inviting the public to come by and experience the world of UFO secrets and revelations–any time this weekend. Sedona’s Ron James will screen his film, Accidental Truth, at 7 pm on Friday, October 17. On Saturday, noted author, Don Schmitt gives us the lowdown on the beginning of UFO secrecy. Ancient Aliens personality, David Childress, speaks on Saturday afternoon.

Yavapai County, AZ – MATFORCE, a primary prevention organization, has dedicated two decades to preventing youth drug use. During this time, MATFORCE has been a catalyst for positive change in our community. We’ve achieved this by fostering collaboration, supporting volunteers, and utilizing innovative solutions to critical issues. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, it’s a good time to look back at our progress. We are very thankful for the important moments that have made MATFORCE the effective organization it is today. From programs that have helped countless people to the careful work of our committees, MATFORCE has clearly made a…

From being named Best Hotel in the Verde Valley to earning a MICHELIN Key for the second consecutive year, El Portal continues to define authentic Sedona hospitality. SEDONA, Ariz. (Oct. 15, 2025) – The intimate and architecturally stunning Hotel El Portal Sedona is proud to announce that it has recently received three major distinctions for excellence in hospitality: Best Hotel in the Verde Valley by Sedona Kudos, Best Boutique Hotel in Arizona and — for the second consecutive year — a coveted MICHELIN Key from the world-renowned MICHELIN Guide. Nestled in the heart of Sedona’s historic district just steps from the iconic Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, El Portal was built by…

COTTONWOOD, Ariz. – Queen B Vinyl Café is celebrating its first anniversary in Cottonwood with an all-day celebration on Saturday, Oct. 25. Over the past year, the immersive one-of-its-kind space – co-owned by Jennifer and her husband, musician Maynard James Keenan (Tool, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle) – has established itself as Northern Arizona’s cultural hub with its mixed-use space including a record store, café, wine bar, ramen house, coffee roastery, and barbershop. Free to attend and open to the public, the anniversary event will kick off at 10 a.m. on the café’s patio. Guests can partake in a “Casket Crate Dig” featuring used…

Sedona, AZ – According to a press release sent today by Lauren Browne, communications director for the city of Sedona,  the city concluded an independent investigation into harassment complaints filed by both Chief of Police Stephanie Foley and former Mayor Scott Jablow against each other. The investigation, conducted by an external investigator, aimed to address allegations of a hostile work environment and other related concerns. Key findings include: From Foley’s complaint: The investigation substantiated that Jablow created a hostile work environment for Foley by interfering with and undermining her management of the Sedona Police Department with the goal of forcing…

By Joseph Rittenhouse Hamas must be held accountable  — not only for the atrocities it committed two years ago on October 7, but for the destruction of their country and its people as well. True, their leadership has been decimated, but whatever remnants remain must be neutralized and held accountable. Over-and-over again, it boggles the mind how stupid and cowardly that attack was. For six hours, unopposed, they killed, raped, tortured and kidnapped innocent people — and then managed to vanish, leaving behind a trail of unspeakable brutality. What the hell could they have been thinking? They didn’t realize that…

Yavapai College Prescott OLLI presents 3rd Annual Reti Speaker Series Nov. 1 Prescott, Arizona (October 7, 2025) – Avid traveler and area resident Chris Maxwell will guide viewers on a whirlwind tour of the world’s many unique and fascinating places, to demonstrate how travel can amaze, educate and fortify us – outside and in. Yavapai College’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute presents Journeys That Unite Us, the third annual Jane Reti Speaker Series, Saturday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m., at the Prescott Campus Community Room. “Travel renews your sense of gratitude and helps you get out of your comfort zone,” Maxwell said. “Your perspectives…

SEDONA, Ariz. – The city of Sedona invites residents, service providers and community partners to provide input at a community engagement event on concepts of the draft Sedona Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, located at 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd. The event will present concepts of the draft Sedona Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness and gather community feedback. The program includes a short presentation on the planning process and key elements of the draft plan, along with a presentation on lived experiences of…