By Amaya Gayle Gregory What is unconditional love? There are so many definitions out there, none of which — including mine — that even come close to having a monopoly on truth. Isn’t that grand! I adore that the unconditioned cannot be conditioned by words. If it could, it wouldn’t be unconditional would it? People attempt — and I am one of those through whom the trying tries 😉 — to put the ineffable into words, to point to the wide-open space where words cannot go, to at best, reveal the rudimentary understanding of ‘This That Is’ that is always…
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Sedona News – The wait is over! The 31st season of the Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF) officially begins today, promising nine incredible days of world-class cinema, inspiring storytelling, and unforgettable experiences. Running from February 22 through March 2, SIFF 2025 will bring film lovers and filmmakers together in one of the most breathtaking settings in the world—Sedona, Arizona. This year’s festival features an exceptional lineup of films, including powerful dramas, thought-provoking documentaries, laugh-out-loud comedies, and more. “We are thrilled to welcome audiences to another unforgettable season of storytelling on the big screen,” said Patrick Schweiss, Executive Director of SIFF.…
Sedona News – For the next concert of its 42nd season, Chamber Music Sedona is thrilled to welcome the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) to the stage on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 3 p.m. Recognized as the foremost chamber music organization in North America, CMS has influenced and shaped the chamber music world for over 50 years. Headlined by pianist and Co-Artistic Director Wu Han, the group will perform a rich program centered around Schubert’s Trout Quintet, one of the most beloved masterpieces in the repertoire. The concert will take place at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995…
… yesterday it was down to Lake Pleasant with a friend and we got a few nice shots, but the opportunities were not very frequent … today it was home and work on several projects that have been nagging me and now they are done! The shot of the Road Runner above I took this afternoon … it is a Road Runner and I took the shot from my dining room, ten feet back from a double pane window and he is on the move on top of my barbecue grill … luckily I had the windows cleaned last month. I’ve been…
Sedona News – Doe Mountain Trail will be closed each week Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning February 26 until April 15 for public safety as trail maintenance activities are performed. Crews will be reconstructing sections of the trail by installing check steps and retaining walls to improve user experience and reduce impacts to the resource. In addition to reconstruction, crews will be constructing new trail on top of Doe Mountain. This closure is necessary due to the steep terrain the work is being done in and an inability to temporarily reroute users around the work. When completed,…
Sedona News – Shattered Ice, a New-England hockey drama from director Alex Ranarivelo will be having its World Premiere at The Sedona International Film Festival. Screening will be held at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on Feb 24th at 4pm. Shattered Ice stars Charlie Gillespie (Suze, Julie and the Phantoms), Kyla Kenedy (Mr. Mayor) and Sterling Beaumon (Your Lucky Day) with Jack Falahee (How to Get Away with Murder) and Matt Letscher (Narcos: Mexico, The Flash, 13 Hours). Synopsis Nehoiden High School hockey stars Will Mankus (Charlie Gillespie) and Danny Campbell (Sterling Beaumon) dream of college scholarships as they approach their critical senior…
By Rabbi Alicia Magal The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. Erev Shabbat services begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, February 28. The Torah portion is Terumah (Exodus 25:1 – 27:19), concerning the construction of the “Mishkan,” Ancient Israel’s portable sanctuary in the desert. All the materials were contributed as gifts by the people. Such heartfelt contributions sustain synagogues and all houses of worship throughout the world. The service includes…
Sedona, AZ — Do you like the rural lifestyle but also love the perks of living in an urban area? Would you like to live on a property in Sedona with enough room for horses and chickens and a fully stocked fish pond? A place that is secluded yet minutes from Sedona’s best dining, hiking, and activities? Add an income-producing guest house, a shared well, RV hookups for your RV, lush gardens, fruit trees, and totally fenced-in 1.16 acres for the ultimate Sedona retreat. Yes, 301 Dream Maker Way is waiting for you! For a bargain price of only $799,000,…
Verde Valley News – Every event at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center endeavors through music, song or dance to uplift and transport audience members, if only temporarily, to a joyous, care-free place. A special engagement this spring aims to uplift and inspire the JLLPC audience, with wisdom and the spoken word, to build a more caring community. The wisdom – the sum of a life lived in strikingly different environments and in the shadow of one of the world’s most beloved spiritual leaders – will be delivered by the renowned speaker, educator and Episcopal priest the Rev.…
Yavapai County News – Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane announced that on February 13, 2025, a Yavapai County Jury found Terry Welfenberg, 77, of Ash Fork, Arizona, guilty of Manslaughter, Abandonment or Concealment of a Dead Body, and Tampering with Physical evidence. County Attorney McGrane commended the Ash Fork Postmaster for alerting authorities to Mr. McCabe’s disappearance, and also commended the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office for an excellent investigation. County Attorney McGrane thanked the jury for their careful attention to the facts, and commended prosecutors Matthew Polk and Casey Martin for their hard work in preparing the case for trial.…
By Charlene Roth Sedona, AZ — Starting a small farm is more than just planting seeds and hoping for a good harvest—it requires strategic planning, hard work, and a deep understanding of the land. Whether you’re looking to grow organic vegetables, raise livestock, or create a specialty farm, turning a small farm into a profitable business takes a mix of passion and practicality. While farming can be a rewarding lifestyle, it also presents challenges that require careful financial management, efficient operations, and strong market strategies. By taking a step-by-step approach, aspiring farmers can lay the foundation for a thriving and…
By David Stephen What is the consciousness of an organism, in instances without pain? If pain is a function that can be conscious or not, what other functions can be conscious, aside from pain—or pleasure? What does it mean that a function is conscious in a moment and not, in another moment? What attributes make functions conscious in an organism? Could those attributes be sought—for functions available in—artificial intelligence or say artificial general intelligence [AGI]—for the possibility of consciousness? Assuming the most common definition for consciousness is subjective experience, what is the function and what is the attribute in a subjective experience?…
… time going through older folders again tonight and I’m continually blown away by the quality of the images I shot years ago and generations of cameras ago. The shots tonight were taken with a Canon EOS 1DX and the photos are among thousands of absolutely beautiful shots I took with those camera bodies. Not as many pixels or features as the newer generations of cameras, but no camera body I have used has taken cleaner or sharper images than the 1D-X … I had three of them and miss them, so here are a couple of the fine shots I took…
Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present a FREE concert to celebrate its 31-year anniversary as its way of saying “thank you” to supporters, audience members and sponsors — and the entire Sedona community — for its support for three decades! The Southern California bluegrass band — The Storytellers — will be returning to Sedona to perform this FREE closing night concert as the finale to the 31st Anniversary Festival at 7 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 2. The Storytellers has established itself as a creative force in the Southwest…
Arizona News – Northbound Interstate 17 is scheduled to be closed near Happy Valley Road in north Phoenix this weekend, Feb. 21-24, for pavement and bridge improvements, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Drivers should allow extra travel time and consider adjusting travel schedules while the following closure is in place: Northbound I-17 closed between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24. Northbound I-17 on-ramps at Deer Valley, Pinnacle Peak, Happy Valley and Jomax roads will be closed. Primary Detour: Northbound I-17 traffic will detour on westbound Happy…