… being the most intelligent of the raptors it is only natural for the Turkey Vulture to conduct classes from a lectern over the shores of Lake Pleasant … I rather rudely interrupted to take a few pictures of him before moving on. Later that morning I was drifting down a very narrow bay and a rush of motion caught my eye and there climbing up on a rock near shore was this Chuckwalla lizard who did not appreciate my presence interrupting his nap in the sun. The Chuckwalla lizard is about a foot and a half long and is…
Author: Tommy
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Sedona News – Celebrate the spirit, songs and stories of Neil Diamond when world-renowned singer, songwriter and entertainer William Florian brings his live show and concert “The Neil Diamond Story” to Sedona. Florian is a former member of the famous 1960’s group The New Christy Minstrels. There will be one performance on Sunday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. William weaves stories, songs, and humor from Neil Diamond’s early acoustic years honoring the life and achievements of this legendary minstrel. You will find yourself singing along as William…
Verde Valley News – Yavapai County Elections Director, Lynn Constabile would like to announce the locations that have been approved by the Board of Supervisors to be Vote Centers in the August 2, 2022 Primary Election and November 8, 2022 General Election. Registered voters in Yavapai County may go to any of these locations to vote in-person on Election Day, from 6 AM to 7 PM. Voters may also drop-off early ballots at these locations on Election Day. Camp Verde Area • Camp Verde Community Gym, 51 E Hollamon St, Camp Verde Chino Valley Area • Grace Baptist Church, 2010…
Sedona News – Hollace Davids and Judith Fogarty were just beginning their lives in 1969 when they attended the Woodstock Music Festival. These two fascinating women will share their Woodstock memories of peace, love and music at The Sedona Women (“TSW”) program meeting on May 11, 2022. The famous Woodstock Music Festival was held August 15-18, 1969 on a dairy farm in Bethel, N.Y. The country was embroiled in the Vietnam war as well as the civil rights movement culminating in great national unrest. Woodstock became a symbol of that movement. Despite the traffic, rain, mud and logistical challenges, young people…
… early this morning I headed down to Lake Pleasant to spend a quiet day on the lake and as always to search for life and photograph what I found. It was a busy morning and lots of life. In these three photographs all of the subjects are reaching for the sky … leaping and stretching their wings to begin the first of many powerful beats; first to attain flight and then to maintain it and go somewhere.The feet of the Great Blue Heron above are just about to leave the water and both eagle shots show the talons just…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of the awe-inspiring documentary “The Sanctity of Space” showing May 13-18 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Climbers/filmmakers Renan Ozturk and Freddie Wilkinson retrace the steps of pioneering mountaineer and aerial photographer Bradford Washburn. Inspired by Washburn’s iconic images of Alaska, Ozturk and Wilkinson attempt the unprecedented traverse of the Mooses Tooth massif. Brad Washburn was the greatest aerial mountain photographer of all time. Hanging out the open door of an airplane, he flew above unmapped mountain ranges — capturing iconic images with which…
Sedona News – The Verde Valley Sanctuary Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Jessye Johnson has taken the helm as the organization’s Executive Director. Jessye has a rich history of serving children, families, and survivors of domestic and sexual violence as a seasoned nonprofit leader with deep roots in Arizona. Jessye has over two decades of experience within the violence against women movement, with the last ten (10) years as an executive leader for local and statewide nonprofit organizations. Throughout her career she has assisted in the passage of critical legislation to help survivors of domestic and sexual…
Verde Valley News – Approximately 5 miles of Mt Elden Road will be closed May 4 till July 1 for construction associated with reducing sediment flooding from the Museum Fire and in order to keep the public safe during heavy construction activities. This temporary closure prohibits motorized vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from using the Elden Lookout Road (Forest Road 557) and Trail #153 (Rocky Ridge Trail) in the closed portions identified in the order and map. Those exempt from this temporary closure include participants with the Cocodona 250 Race, which was coordinated and planned well before this closure order was developed.…
Sedona News – The 2022 fire season has begun early in Northern Arizona, as the Crooks Fire near Prescott and the Tunnel Fire near Flagstaff have unfortunately shown. On Thursday May 26 from 10:00 – 11:30 the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) will host a community conversation to discuss how the Verde Valley can best prepare for fire season. The session will take place in Room 34 at Yavapai College, 4215 Arts Village Drive in West Sedona. The session is free and open to the public. During this panel discussion, attendees will learn about the current threat of wildland fire…
… slipping into the wild and experiencing the wildlife in their natural habitat is life changing and will always keep you coming back … and when you are away from it for a while, gazing at photos of it will satisfy, until once again you can return to the real life. The Bald Eagle is crossing a quiet bay as he searches for food and a Great Blue Heron is on his way to another location on the lake where the fish will be more plentiful than it was here. Another beautiful day and a great deal learned, but still…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the charming new drama “Haute Couture” showing May 13-18 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. “Haute Couture” is a charming drama that takes viewers inside the House of Dior for a fascinating look at the world of high fashion, told through the stories of two women: Esther (legendary French icon Nathalie Baye) and Jade (rising star Lyna Khoudri). Esther is at the end of her career as Head Seamstress at Dior Avenue Montaigne workshop. One day, she gets her handbag stolen in the metro by a 20 years…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory It’s a story you tell yourself, you know the one that you are broken. It isn’t true. It couldn’t be true for you are the whole enchilada. Love that — the idea of the cosmos (within without around and through) as infinite layers of tortillas, dripping with melting cheeses, polka dotted with ripe olives and smothered in yummy red sauce and dollops of guacamole. It as good a story as any, at least as good as the idea that we could be broken, that we are works in progress, that something needs to change and then…
Verde Valley News – Health First Foundation Northern Arizona is among the first organizations nationwide to be recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health First Foundation is part of a growing network of public and private organizations partnering with ODPHP to improve health and well-being at local, state and tribal levels. As a Healthy People 2030 Champion, Health First has demonstrated a commitment to helping achieve the Healthy People 2030 vision of a society where all people can reach their full…
Sedona News – The Rotary Club of Sedona Village held the 3rd annual Grocery Grab shopping spree on Saturday, April 23 at Clark’s Market. The Rotary Club of Sedona Village members sold tickets to friends, neighbors, and supporters for one month leading up to the shopping spree. The winner was chosen at the annual plant & seed sale held in the community garden on Saturday, April 16. The winner of the shopping spree this year was the Verde Valley Sanctuary. Shoppers representing the Verde Valley Sanctuary were able to choose items to treat the many children they are serving through…
Verde Valley News – Effective Thursday, May 5 the following agencies will implement campfire and smoking restrictions: Coconino, Kaibab [Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts], Prescott, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests; Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Phoenix and Colorado River Districts; Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management as it relates to state trust lands in Coconino County south of the Grand Canyon, Mohave, La Paz, Yavapai, Yuma, Maricopa, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Apache and Navajo counties. Beginning May 5, 2022, and until rescinded, the following are prohibited: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove fire,…