Author: Tommy

Sedona News (July 13, 2021) Sound Bites Grill in Sedona prides itself in providing one of the best live-music venues in Northern Arizona.Offering a professional stage, lighting and sound system, it is a perfect venue to see Sedona’s best musicians perform; as well as the national acts that pass through regularly.This week Sound Bites features a number of local musical luminaries starting Wednesday, July 14 with Patrick Ki & Friends hosting their weekly “Wineaux Wednesday” wine tasting event from 5 to 7 p.m.,With Ki as the center piece of the group, on guitar and Ukulele, he brings some of the…

By Ted Grussing… on one of our early morning shoots of blue birds at a cattle pond off Beaver Head Flats Road, the rancher who was grazing cattle on the land, drove up, and off loaded his horse. He saddled up and set out with his dog in search of the cattle he had on the land. In a way it was more fun watching him set off into the forest in search of his cattle than shooting the beautiful mountain and western bluebirds we were getting.

Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer star in festival flashback film at Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (July 13, 2021) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present a “Festival Flashback” of “Elsa & Fred” on Monday, July 19 at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.“Elsa & Fred” features an all-star, award-winning ensemble cast, including Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, Marcia Gay Harden, George Segal and James Brolin.“Elsa & Fred” is the story of two people who, at the end of the road, discover that it’s never too late to love.

Clarkdale AZ (July 13, 2021) – Members of the public are invited to attend the Yavapai College Verde Valley Open House on Saturday, August 7, from 10 a.m. to noon. The campus is located at 601 West Black Hills Drive in Clarkdale.Tour YC’s new Skilled Trades Center and learn more about the certificates that will be offered starting in the fall semester (classes begin August 16). Learn how Yavapai College will pay for your tuition for the whole fall semester when you enroll in classes at the Verde Valley Skilled Trades Center.

Prescott AZ (July 13, 2021) – Yavapai Reentry Project, a project of MATFORCE, is excited to offer community members 3 events this summer focused on volunteer opportunities and a chance to understand the barriers that a person returning from incarceration might encounter.John Morris, Chief Adult Probation Officer for Yavapai County Adult Probation and longtime MATFORCE Board Member, said, “It’s important to understand the barriers formerly incarcerated individuals face when returning to our communities. If we can identify, understand, and address these barriers early before they are released, those individuals are more likely to have a smoother transition back home. This…

By Ted Grussing… I’m almost a little embarrassed with a title like this, but with image selections like I have tonight, it struck me as a little funny and so the loopy loony caption.

Modern and passionate staging of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy on screen at Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (July 12, 2021) – The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s modern and passionate staging of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet”, returns to the big screen this summer.The Sedona International Film Festival hosts the high-definition presentation on Sunday, July 18 at 3 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre.

Saturday August 14th (10am-9pm) & Sunday August 15th (11am-6pm)Flagstaff AZ (July 12, 2021) – On Saturday and Sunday August 14th and 15th the twelfth annual Flagstaff Hullabaloo returns to Wheeler Park in downtown Flagstaff, AZ. Hullabaloo is a community festival and a celebration of summertime. Hullabaloo has been voted “Best Annual Event or Festival” six times by Arizona Daily Sun and Flagstaff Live readers. Flagstaff Hullabaloo has raised over $120,000 for local non-profits since 2010. This year Hullabaloo will raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff, Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff and Flagstaff Family Food Center.

Yavapai County AZ (July 12, 2021) – From July 1st though the Fourth of July, YCSO participated in a traffic enforcement detail with the Verde Valley Task Force and Tri-City Task Force. Our efforts to get impaired drivers off the roads and enforce other traffic laws this holiday weekend was conducted in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Cottonwood AZ (July 12, 2021) – Lorraine Tencza has led a busy life and accomplished “lots” moving throughout her careers.  A long time New Yorker, “from the Bronx”, she worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, went into jewelry manufacturing, served in the Financial world, moved into construction and then retirement locating in the Verde Valley. All along the way she developed many skills and talents that form the basis of her volunteer services to the Verde Historical Society and Clemenceau Heritage museum.

By Tommy AcostaSedona News (July 11, 2021) She went out with a bang. On July 4th, 2021 Sedona lost yet another luminary. Community activist, leader, inspiration and guiding light Barbara Litrell stepped off this mortal plane and assumed her rightful place above.I met Barbara through my friend, the late Rita Livingston, publisher of the “Sedona Times.” Barbara was a supporter and writer for the publication. I remember her as always focused in bringing truth and justice to the community.

By Amaya Gayle GregorySedona News (July 10, 2021) What if thought isn’t the problem? What if thought doesn’t create good or bad? We’ve been conditioned to believe that thought creates our experience of the world and to carefully watch what we think. What a heavy load to carry — a cross of immense proportions.What if it doesn’t? What if the thoughts aren’t even your thoughts, but simply thoughts, one of the variables of the dream, no different than the backdrop scenery?What would that mean? If you don’t need to control your thoughts — who has ever succeeded at that –…

By Peter CutlerMost people feel it is important to acknowledge, sympathize, and grieve another’s suffering. “I am so sorry. I hope you feel better soon.”They think this is compassion, but it is only a lack of understanding. They don’t understand their own suffering so they don’t understand anyone else’s.They see and experience suffering as a problem we must escape, bad luck, unfortunate circumstances, or the fate of a cruel and unfair world. Naturally, they just want it to end as soon as possible.No one is ever helped from their wishes, although they may feel less alone. There are others to…

By Tommy AcostaSedona AZ (July 9, 2021) – So? Just how scared should we be?They are telling us about this dangerous new Delta strain and how it’s so contagious. They are telling us that even if we are vaccinated, we must wear masks indoors; that we must revert back to pandemic cautions because we are all in danger again.Well, I think no one is buying it, this time around. At least from my perspective, that is. I am out and about every day. Indoors or outdoors it’s very rare I see anyone wearing a mask. Oh yes. There was this lady riding a bike…

All-star cast of who’s who in the music industry featured in historic doc at Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (July 9, 2021) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Sedona premiere of the award-winning new music documentary “Summer of Soul” showing July 16-22 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary — part music film, part historical record — created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. He seeks to recover the meaningful spirit of the past – when the biggest…