Author: Tommy

Verde Valley News – The 18th annual Native American Indian Disability Summit, under the theme “Gathering Native Voices to Build Strength Through Unity,” is Friday, April 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Desert Willow Conference Center, 4340 E. Cotton Center Blvd. in Phoenix. A virtual online component is available. The event is fragrance free to accommodate those with allergies, breathing conditions or multiple chemical sensitivities. There is no cost to attend the Summit, but registration is required.  To register, visit www.ability360.org/american-indian-disability-summit. The Summit officially begins with opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. featuring the presentation of colors by the honor…

Sedona News – Coconino National Forest officials have implemented restrictions on climbing and other activities on a portion of the cliff face of an area known as the Peaks Crag in order to protect nesting peregrine falcons.   Similar restrictions have been in effect over the last several years allowing the nesting peregrine falcon pair to successfully fledge one to three young each season, while still affording recreational climbing opportunities in the vicinity. The current Forest Order allows access from Forest Road 522 (Freidlein Prairie Road) to the climbing area north of the peregrines’ nest site.   The Forest Service, with the help of…

… the northern migration is in full swing at Lake Pleasant is filled with birds and in a back water bay of the lake we jumped these mergansers and they had no option but to fly directly at us to get out of the narrow bay … and I got this shot as they flew at us. It reminds me a lot of the hunting we used to do as kids down in the Minnesota River bottoms. Saturday we headed down to Watson Lake near Prescott and was amazed at the amount of water in the lake … it is…

Camp Verde News – On Saturday, March 19 – Sunday, March 20, 2022, the Verde Valley Wine Consortium and the Town of Camp Verde will be co-hosting the 21st Annual Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival in Camp Verde, Arizona, sponsored by Yavapai College and their Southwest Wine Center, SRP and Larry Green Chevrolet. Celebrating two of the areas prime tourism draws – wine and pecans – the festival, which is FREE to all, will feature 13 Arizona wineries along with a variety of pecans for pairing, a very competitive Pecan Pie contest, a Budweiser Beer Garden, food trucks, 70+…

Cottonwood News – On March 12, 2022 the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Cottonwood Police Department, Arizona State Land Department, U.S. Forest Service and Partners Against Narcotics Trafficking participated in a joint operation to address ongoing problems with squatters littering and using State Trust and Forest Service land as a residence.  A valid recreational permit allows up to two weeks of recreational camping in a 12-month period. Using the land as a residence is not permitted.  Numerous subjects were contacted and warned that they were not allowed to abuse State Trust or Forest Service land. The participating law enforcement officers were…

Sedona News – The upper portion of Cathedral Rock Trail will temporarily close to the public for construction starting March 16. The closure will remain in place through April 30, but could lift earlier if construction work ends sooner. The Forest Service Red Rock Trail Crew will be reconstructing rock walls and check steps during the closure. A Forest Closure Order has been put in place due to the inability to safely reroute hikers around the work area, which includes the trail itself and the 200 feet of land on either side. During construction, there is a possibility of large rocks rolling downhill…

Sedona News – Professional photographer Mike Olbinski will present at the meeting of the Sedona Camera Club starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 28, 2022, at the Sedona Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Road, Sedona.  Doors open at 5:30. With Covid testing now indicating safe levels locally, the Club has modified their position regarding safety measures.  The Sedona Camera Club will now hold our monthly member meetings using the standards recommended by CDC’s latest updates. The Club asks attendees to be fully vaccinated.  Wearing masks are at the attendees’ discretion. Mike Olbinski is an Emmy-winning photographer and filmmaker…

Yavapai County News – March 11, 2022 at approximately 2:30 pm, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested Ronald Amerson in Castle Canyon Mesa for 30 counts of unlawful imprisonment as well as possession of a firearm during a felony offense and false reporting.  Amerson made a call to 911 around 1:30 pm stating that a Humboldt Unified School District bus with approximately 30 children on board had run a stop sign and struck his vehicle at Knights Way and N. Treasure Dr. in Castle Canyon Mesa. He parked his truck across lanes of traffic to block the intersection and prevent…

Sedona News – The Arizona Department of Transportation will host a virtual public meeting from 6 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, to provide information on upcoming improvements that will be made to State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon between Sedona and Flagstaff. The improvements include rockfall mitigation, drainage and sediment control, and a bridge rehabilitation.   How to participate in the meeting:  Join online: azdot.gov/SR89A  Password: ADOT2022  Join by phone: 1.408.418.9388  Meeting Number (access code: 24844956572)  Password: ADOT2022    During the public meeting, ADOT representatives will provide an overview of the project, followed by an opportunity for the public…

Sedona News – The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau presented a check for $102,000 to the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund today, marking the first phase of the five-year Trail Keepers 2.0 program, a business and chamber funding program that supports US Forest Service maintenance of Red Rock Country trails. The donation ceremony took place at the Uptown Visitor Information Center located at 331 Forest Road.   Trail Keepers 2.0 is the follow-on to the highly successful Trail Keepers program, which concluded in February 2021 after raising $370,000 in five years. Trail Keepers 2.0 will also run for five years.…

Sedona News – For the third year the city of Sedona is joining forces with Washington D.C.’s National Museum of Women in the Arts to celebrate women artists during Women’s History Month. Since most people have a difficult time calling to mind at least five female artists, NMWA has issued the #5womenartists challenge via social media throughout the month of March. The campaign’s goal is to highlight gender imbalances in the art world nationally and internationally. By highlighting five women artists in each community, awareness of women in the arts will be increased.   “We are thrilled to once again be…

By Amaya Gayle Gregory A dear friend, speaking to a beloved with little time left to live, asked about her illness. She didn’t want to share the disease’s name, to give it any more power in the universe, so my friend, being a good friend, wanting to give her the opportunity to share as she could, asked about her symptoms.  I don’t think I will ever forget her response. It touched me deeply.  ‘Dying is the only symptom.’ Yesterday I was talking with a friend. She asked about my health in a natural segue from talking about hers. She’s been…

Cottonwood News – Join us for a unique evening on Saturday, March 19th when Max Ribner and 1st Language take the stage at the Old Town Center for the Arts in Cottonwood.  A ‘concert style’ format will begin at 7:00 PM. After a short intermission, the floor will be cleared for dance, beginning at 8:30 PM.  Patrons purchasing a ‘concert’ ticket have the option of staying for the dance.  At a reduced ticket price, attendees can attend just the dance portion of the evening. This concert and dance evening is sponsored by ChocolaTree Organic Oasis of Sedona. What are the…

Sedona News – Join Northern Arizona University Professor and Chair of Anthropology Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin on Sunday, March 20 at 1 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in Sedona. Come enjoy a special presentation entitled “A Colorful Century of Women in Southwestern Archaeology” — in celebration of Women’s History Month and Archaeology Month. This program is presented by the Verde Valley Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society. Tickets are $15 to benefit the VVCAAS Scholarship Program. “A Colorful Century of Women in Southwestern Archaeology” will focus on Ann Axtell Morris. One hundred years ago, Ann Axtell graduated from Smith…

Sedona News – The Sedona Historical Society will host a tasting event of the first bottling of Red Rock Zinfandel since 1917 on Friday, March 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Sedona Heritage Museum. This tasting is in partnership with Page Springs Cellars and winemaker Eric Glomski. The evening will include the tasting, appetizers, other PSC wines, an auction, and special guests. An introduction to the wine and the story behind the preservation of 100+ year-old legacy vines and the rebuilding of a legacy vineyard will be presented by the winemaker, Eric Glomski. After more than a…