Author: Tommy

By Bear Howard — American politics has a habit of producing insurgent movements that burn hot, dominate a cycle or two, and then collapse under the weight of their own contradictions. The Tea Party was one such force. MAGA may be another—larger, louder, and more consequential—but not immune to the same dynamics that brought its predecessor to heel. The Tea Party emerged around 2010 as a reactionary surge against Barack Obama, channeling economic anxiety, racial resentment, and a distrust of government into a simple story: elites had stolen the country, and only radical resistance could restore it. It reshaped the…

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, 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, February 13 at 5:30…

Sedona, AZ — Empowering women with the knowledge to make informed healthcare decisions benefits not only those individuals, but is vital for healthy families, healthy communities, and a healthy society. Women are the gatekeepers of their family’s health; when women are healthier, everyone benefits. The Sedona Women are excited to present Women’s Health on Thursday, February 12th, 2026, at the Community Library Sedona, where TSW programs are scheduled monthly every second Thursday from September through May from 9:30 a.m. to noon. We will be focusing on three specific health concerns: Alzheimer’s Disease, Breast Cancer, and Cardiology. Dr Anna Burke, M.D.,…

Sedona, AZ — Keep Sedona Beautiful will hold its next Preserving the Wonder™ Speaker Series event on Wednesday, February 18 at 5:00 pm. This month’s speaker is Dr. Tom Ginn, retired water quality scientist and environmental pollution specialist.  Dr. Ginn will present a review of the ecological relationships among important aquatic species in the Verde River.  For example, he will discuss the importance of variable flow relationships to native fish species.  He will also discuss the limiting factors for native fishes, including the negative effects of introduced species. An overview of fishing opportunities in the Verde River and tributaries will…

Prescott, Arizona (Feb. 5, 2026) – Professor and Faculty Program Director for Performing Arts at Yavapai College Christopher Tenney has a long track record with musical training and the performing arts. He performed and toured nationally and internationally with The Tucson Boy’s Chorus starting at the early age of eight. He later pursued and received Highest Honors in his graduate studies, graduating with a master’s degree, also in Music Education, from Boston University, where he is currently in his final semester of earning his Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education. Tenney started teaching at Yavapai College in 2016, but he’d…

SEDONA, Ariz. – The city of Sedona Parks and Recreation Department welcomes applications for the annual inscriptions at the Sedona Military Service Park to highlight local veterans who have honorably served their country. Veterans or families of veterans who wish to honor their service, and have resided in Sedona or Village of Oak Creek, that wish to have their name inscribed on the granite walls must apply by April 30, 2026.   Inscriptions will be engraved onto the granite walls of the Jack Jamesen Memorial Park prior to Memorial Day. Proof of military service and Sedona residency will be required with…

Sedona theatres join cinemas around the world for global theatrical event   Sedona, AZ — The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to join theaters around the world for a global theatrical premiere event: “Paul McCartney: Man on the Run” on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. What happens when you wake up the morning after leaving the most important rock band of all time? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBcllNrY0u8 In April 1970, Paul released his first solo album, McCartney, alongside a shocking press release that announced the beloved band had split. When asked what…

By Bear Howard — A country reaches the moment where disbelief turns into refusal—and silence is no longer an option. There are moments when a country feels like it’s moving on rails—when the headlines are loud, but the public spirit is quiet; when people shrug and say, That’s just how it is now. And then something happens that doesn’t fit the numbness. Something breaks the spell. That’s what this feels like. We’ve been here before. When George Floyd was killed, the nation didn’t just witness a tragedy—it recognized a pattern. Millions of Americans who had never been forced to consider…

By Tommy Acosta — Sedona, AZ — Talk about painting yourself into a corner. If anything, the recent special election victory of a Democrat in a deeply red state like Texas should open the eyes of those who can’t see the writing on the wall. The brutality of the ICE agents and other immigration enforcement agencies is souring the country against Donald Trump’s scorched earth, break-the-doors-down, put-them-all-in-jail mass deportation policy. The images are undeniable, and even hardened conservative voters are uncomfortable with the inhumanity of the agents when making arrests, the undocumented and American citizens as well. For those who…

Sedona, AZ — Following the momentum of its successful winter residency, award-winning composer Shondra Jepperson continues the “In the Living Room Music Series” at the Sedona International Film Festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre. On Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7:00 PM, the series will feature the versatile talents of local favorite Jerry McFarland. McFarland is a seasoned professional whose career highlights include touring with the legendary Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers. A gifted singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist, Jerry is known for a repertoire that spans decades—from soulful Rhythm & Blues classics to the American Songbook. Now a staple of the…

At CWAG’s February 14 presentation, Guest Speaker Kathryn Sorensen, Ph.D. will provide a broader perspective on the water issues introduced at our Annual Member Meeting in January. Dr. Sorensen will discuss regional water management planning concepts, water conservation issues, aquifer level monitoring, Verde River flow, the Big Chino pipeline, and how “paper water” facilitates population growth, among other topics. This will be a hybrid meeting: in person and on Zoom. To attend in-person, join us on February 14 at Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 882 Sunset Ave in Prescott. The presentation will start at 10 a.m. There will be…

Prescott, Arizona (Jan. 28, 2026) – Yavapai College’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) will host a free public speaker series titled “Munch and Learn” on Thursdays from Jan. 29 through Mar. 5. Talks will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. on a wide array of topics. The discussions are free and open to the public and will be held on campuses throughout the county and on Zoom. “Our ‘Munch and Learn’ series is a great way to get introduced to the wide variety of offerings through OLLI,” said Prescott OLLI Director Tricia Berlowe. “The series is free and open…

Sedona, AZ — The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is offering summer camp  scholarships for summer youth programs. Four scholarships, valued up to $750 each, will be awarded to students grades 6-11 who reside in Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek,  and/or are currently attending a Sedona school. The scholarships will enrich a student’s abilities and interests whether it be in science, music, drama, leadership, art, academics, sports. To apply, students can obtain a scholarships online application at www.sedonavillagerotary.org. Select the Summer Camp Scholarship tab, complete and submit the application that includes an essay where the student tell about their…

Yavapai County, AZ – MATFORCE is a primary prevention organization in Yavapai County, AZ, dedicated to preventing youth drug use before it begins. MATFORCE is pleased to announce that their virtual learning series, “MATFORCE Messages,” will continue in February. This series features presentations from subject matter experts on various topics, with the goal of fostering healthier communities. Finding Hope for the Loved Ones of the Addict that Suffers – Turning Confusion into Focus, presented by Shawna Bowen, M.A., NBC-HWC, ACE, CCWS, ZeroRelapse.com is scheduled for Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 11:00 am. With nearly 30 years of experience, Shawna will guide loved…

By Amaya Gayle Gregory Sedona, AZ — I am captivated by the term ‘childhood’ traumas. It’s as if we think they are locked into a place in time and don’t infect impact encamp and inbreed with this moment, affecting the beliefs we hold, acting on the ways we respond, impeding our ability to love, increasing our willingness to hate. They are always right here, right now upsetting our proverbial apple carts, that is until we see them for what they are, but while in the grips of traumatic events, it is nearly impossible to see clearly. Most of us will…