By Mike Schroeder Sedona, AZ — The July 21 vote is simply about who controls Sedona’s city budget. FALSE. The council always controls the budget, and under AZ statute there are three funding choices: Base – Based on an early 1980 number, some small cities still use that; Permanent Base Adjustment – around 54% or AZ cities use that, and growing; Home Rule – which by law must be voted on every 4 years, and IF FAILS, one of three things happen: 1. The city must use BASE, which in our case is not a good deal. 2. The city…
Author: Tommy
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The belief that Donald Trump was sent by God reveals more about human psychology than about divine plans Listen to this story here: 5 min & 20 sec. By the Ghost of George Carlin for Bear Howard — Sedona, AZ — Lights up. Fog drifts across the stage. A transparent figure grabs the microphone. It looks like George Carlin, could it be? “Good evening, folks. Relax… you’re not hallucinating. I’m a ghost. Yeah, I died… but I had to come back. Apparently, the planet hit a new level of stupid, and nobody told me. I didn’t want to miss it.…
By Tommy Acosta Sedona, AZ — Sometimes I feel like I am in a room full of blind people, walking aimlessly around, oblivious to the chaos our future now faces. They talk and talk and spew the words fed to them by their media devices, never seeing the Platonic shadow caster at work behind them. Can’t they see? It’s not about Iran. Iran is only the worm, the bait. The true culprits are China and Russia, gleefully watching our country bleed out our weapons, bombs, and missiles, stretching us so thin around the globe that it’s only a matter of…
A joyous communal experience featuring compilation of the latest and best cat shorts Sedona, AZ — The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “New York Cat Film Festival 2026” showing March 29-April 2 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggQKPoCWu94 Join us for a family-friendly escape to the movies and celebrate everything CATS! “New York Cat Film Festival 2026” is a collection of short films exploring the mystique of the fascinating felines who share our lives. All the films are family-friendly and can be enjoyed by humans of all ages. Films featured in the…
Sedona,AZ –University Women of Sedona will host their next informational meeting on Monday, April 6, at 9:30 am when they will get an update on the Verde Valley Fair and fairgrounds. The Verde Valley Fair Association is dedicated to promoting youth development by providing an educational and entertaining annual event that will allow for FFA, 4-H and Organized Youth Groups to showcase their products and skills to the general public. That mission continues to expand. Director of the Verde Valley Fair Association, Coleen Gilboy, will share about the mission of the fairgrounds, the breadth and variety of their year-round programming,…
Sedona, AZ — Storyteller Michael Peach returns to the Sedona Heritage Museum with a new show: “Rowdy Outlaws.” Peach will perform at the Museum on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 1:30 pm. “Rowdy Outlaws” features stories about historic law-benders and breakers of various stripes. The show will contain some long time favorites and some new tales, including the story of Pearl Hart, “Arizona’s Lady Bandit.” Peach is an award winning actor, playwright, and storyteller. His shows have long been a favorite of audiences across Arizona. Peach’s unique storytelling and delivery will have audience members on the edge of their seats,…
The free, self-guided event invites the public into the private studios of 55 Verde Valley artists. SEDONA, Ariz. – The Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition (SVAC) is pleased to invite art lovers and curious explorers alike to experience the 23rd Annual Spring Open Studios Tour, taking place over the weekend of April 24–26, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This free and popular self-guided event offers a rare opportunity to meet 55 working artists across 35 private studios throughout Sedona and the greater Verde Valley. Celebrated as one of the region’s premier art events, the Spring Open Studios Tour allows visitors to…
Cottonwood, AZ — Unity of Verde Valley is launching Come‑Unity Workshops, a new Saturdays’ series designed to bring people together for connection, creativity, and conscious living. These gatherings offer low‑cost, accessible workshops for anyone interested in personal growth, wellbeing, and meaningful community engagement. Each month will feature a rotating selection of workshops exploring topics such as modern spirituality, emotional resilience, health and holistic practices, abundance and purpose, peacebuilding, writing circles, and creative expression. Sessions are designed to be grounded, inclusive, and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, including those who are spiritually curious but not drawn to traditional religious settings.…
By Rabbi Alicia Magal 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, concerts, 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 Erev Shabbat service on Friday, April 3 at 7:00…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory Sedona, AZ — There’s an infinitesimal tipping point, a razor’s edge of sorts, where the individuated mind assumes control, or seems to, but of course, it doesn’t really. It’s that breath where the pause between thoughts, the spaciousness of beingness, is stealthily overwritten by identity. It’s a spellbinding miracle, that nothing creates something out of nothing, or the lived felt sensual appearance of something. How is that possible? Mind blowing doesn’t even come close. This sleight of hand is the reason that we think we are in control, that we are loathe to relinquish the idea…
By David Stephen Sedona, AZ –There is a new [March 21, 2026] report on NBC News, Iran fires missiles at remote U.K.-U.S. base, claiming long-range capabilities it previously denied, stating that, “Iran has fired missiles at the joint U.K.-U.S. Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, claiming the strike shows it is capable of longer-distance attacks than previously known.” “The distance of the attempted strike could indicate that Iran has capabilities for long-distance attacks that it has previously denied, with the base the same distance from Iran as much of central Europe. It is unclear, however, if the missiles carried a payload or…
VERDE VALLEY, Ariz. – On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new, centralized cancer center on the Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC) campus in Cottonwood. The event, made possible by the NAH Office of Philanthropy, welcomed over 200 people from around northern Arizona, and featured a variety of speakers, including Bo Cofield, NAH Chief Operating Officer; Ann Shaw, Mayor of Cottonwood; Doug Von Gausig, former patient of the Cancer Centers of NAH; Deborah Lindquist, MD, NAH medical oncologist and hematologist; and Tarra Young, NAH advanced oncology nurse practitioner. The audience heard impactful stories from…
By David Stephen Sedona, AZ — Problematic technology use is the label for social media, since the term addiction — appropriate for drugs or alcohol — does not apply. But what is the difference in the brain anyway? The brain does not know that some label is different from the other. In the brain, there are electrical and chemical signals responsible, conceptually, for every function. So, drug, alcohol or social media overuse may relay similarly. Then, what does it mean in the brain to doomscroll, like excessive drinking or substance use? How should this be displayed and scored, to taper…
Sedona AZ — If you recently moved to Sedona, you may notice that every four years, residents vote on something called Home Rule. The July 21 vote is simply about who controls Sedona’s city budget. What Is Home Rule? Home Rule allows the City of Sedona to decide how to spend the revenue it already collects to provide city services. Without Home Rule, Sedona would be forced to follow a state spending formula created in 1979. Arizona law requires voters to renew Home Rule every four years. Is Home Rule a Tax Increase? No. Home Rule does not raise or…
By Steve Segner Sedona, AZ — This week, Sedona registered voters received something new: a city-issued questionnaire seeking direct input on the future of the Western Gateway. Each mailing included a QR code linking to a personalized survey. It’s a first for Sedona—and a bold step by the City Council. Rather than relying solely on lengthy public hearings dominated by a few voices, the Council is reaching out to the broader community to ask a simple question: What do you want for this land? The Western Gateway has become the focus of competing visions. • One group supports housing, consistent with Sedona’s Community…