Author: Tommy Acosta

Tommy Acosta is the publisher, editor, and lead opinion writer of Sedona.biz, the hyperlocal cyber magazine known as "The Voice of Sedona and the Verde Valley." He writes on local issues, politics, national affairs, culture, and personal reflection, often with a provocative or satirical tone.In addition to his work as a writer, Acosta is a working musician and reflexologist. He has written extensively about the challenges Sedona's musicians face, noting their low pay despite the town's vibrant music scene.Acosta describes himself as a "political actualist," rejecting strict party affiliations and instead focusing on how people are manipulated by political processes. His coverage spans local Sedona issues, tourism, short-term rentals, cultural events, community building, as well as national commentary and critiques of political figures, sometimes through imaginative pieces like "What Would Tommy Do?"Acosta is deeply engaged in Sedona's cultural and spiritual community, advocating for local musicians, artisans, and businesses, and writing about Sedona's unique identity as a spiritual and artistic hub.

Sedona, AZ –The popular In the Living Room Music Series continues its sensational run at the Mary Fisher Theatre on Monday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m., welcoming the extraordinary talents of master classical guitarist Lee Zimmer for an intimate evening of music and conversation. https://vimeo.com/1216584058?fl=tl&fe=ec Conceived and moderated by award-winning songwriter Shondra Jepperson, this unique performance format strips away the traditional barrier between stage and seating, offering patrons an inviting atmosphere reminiscent of a gathering right in your own living room. Audiences are encouraged to actively engage by asking questions throughout the evening, fostering a relaxed dialogue that often reveals…

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SEDONA, AZ. – The city of Sedona is having an open house to give updates on projects for city-owned buildings. The event includes electric car chargers and solar panels that support the city in its efforts to meet its goals to become carbon neutral – meaning it will save as much carbon as it uses. The open house includes updates from Alternative Energy Systems Consulting, the contractor for the design and engineering phases of projects identified in a municipal decarbonization roadmap established in the Municipal Sustainability Plan. Attendees will be given project summaries and opportunities to give feedback to the…

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Sedona, AZ –  September 2026 – The Humane Society of Sedona (HSS) will host a low-cost Community Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic on Saturday, September 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the shelter, located at 2115 Shelby Drive in Sedona. The clinic is designed to make essential preventative care more accessible for limited-income families in the community. Services will be offered on a walk-in basis only, with space limited. There is a limit of four pets per family. Keeping pets vaccinated and microchipped is an important part of protecting both individual animals and the larger community. Vaccines can prevent serious and…

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CAMP VERDE, Ariz. — The Cottonwood Community Band will welcome new conductor Philip Blackwell at “Exploring Europe: A Musical Journey,” a free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Phillip England Center for the Performing Arts, 210 Camp Lincoln Road in Camp Verde. The concert marks a new chapter for the band following the departure of conductor Jeff Bowell. Under Blackwell’s direction, the ensemble will take audiences across the continent through classical favorites, folk traditions, ballet music, pop hits and iconic film themes. Program highlights include selections from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Johann Strauss II’s The Blue Danube,…

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Eight October Opportunities to Help Get Trails Ready for Sedona Mountain Bike Festival SEDONA, Ariz: The city of Sedona invites the community to join several trail maintenance events at Posse Grounds Bike Park.  The city will be working on all bike trails and features at the park to help get them ready for the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival happening Nov. 6-8, 2026. Volunteers will help by removing rocks and debris, adding topsoil to existing features, trimming vegetation and removing weeds, shaping features, clearing drainages, removing ruts, and general beautification of the Bike Park. No prior trail building experience is needed.…

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Series Kicked Off  Sept. 16 with Fireside Open Mic Sedona, AZ — The City of Sedona in collaboration with Community Library Sedona, has been expanding its inaugural Poet Laureate program and is excited to announce it’s fall series. The series kicked off, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6-7:30 p.m., where Sedona’s Poet Laureate, Gary Every and Junior Poet Laureate, Anya Blue Lior, hosted an open mic at the Community Library Sedona firepit. The community listened, shared poems, or read something they have written themselves. These experiences have been truly successful with the public sharing their love for literature. Neighbors and new friends…

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Public Invited to the Annual Community Outreach Event Oct. 3 SEDONA, Ariz. – The city of Sedona invites the public to join the Sedona Police Department for the annual Community Outreach Event on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, from 3 – 5 p.m. at The Hub, located at 525 Posse Ground Rd. This family-friendly event strengthens partnerships between community and the police and focuses on crime prevention and public safety in a fun, positive way Formally known as National Night Out, this event brings organizations that work together to keep Sedona a safe place to live, work and visit. Participating in the…

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COTTONWOOD, AZ — Today is the day Cottonwood gets another great place to have lunch at and this great new place happens to be BV’s Italian Kitchen. ‘Breakfast may start the day and dinner may get all the romance, but somewhere between the two sits the meal that too often gets treated like an afterthought. Not anymore. At BV’s Italian Kitchen, lunch is about to become the jewel of the day. Beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing until 2 p.m., Executive Chef David Moraga is turning midday dining into something worth slowing down for. Forget grabbing something forgettable because the…

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By Sanford Bach– Sedona, AZ — Yeah. Let’s face it. We are at war. Do you hear me? War! Get that through your head, America, because apparently some of you are more concerned about the price of gasoline and groceries than you are about NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION! So cut our government a break. Our leaders are protecting us from Iran getting the bomb and casting the entire world into a nuclear holocaust. And what are Americans doing? Complaining that eggs cost too much. Eggs! What good are cheap eggs when the planet has been reduced to a smoking radioactive cinder? You…

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Two-Person Abstract Painting Exhibition at Sedona Arts Center November 25–December 1, 2026 Special Exhibitions Gallery, Sedona Arts Center 15 Art Barn Road, Sedona, Arizona Opening Reception: November 27, 4–6 PM Abstract Artmaking Workshop: November 29, 2–4 PM Sedona artists Luminous Antonio and Julie Bernstein Engelmann explore the visible and invisible worlds through abstract painting in Portals of Transcendence, a two-person exhibition at the Sedona Arts Center. Artist Randy Crewse will add another dimension to the exhibition, creating an immersive ambiance through music and video installation. Luminous Antonio — Portals into the Ancient and Unknown Luminous Antonio’s paintings emerge from…

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Sedona, AZ – If you have a piece of wood and a wood carving knife, come to “Monday at the Museum” at Sedona Heritage Museum on Monday, September 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and join the Verde Valley Woodcarvers. Hundreds of people have tried their hand at carving with this group since its founding in 1997 by Norm Knight. The group consists of carvers ranging from beginners to master carvers. Come by with your own equipment or just come to watch these artisans do relief carving, chip carving, and bark carving. There is no fee for this demonstration.…

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Sedona AZ — Audiences are invited back to the vibrant and engaging world of “Dead Quilters The Musical” as the show returns for a special engagement at Mary D. Fisher Theatre on October 9, 10, and 11.  All performances will begin at 4 pm. “Dead Quilters” features a newly revised two act structure, expanded storylines, and new music.  People who have seen previous iterations of the show won’t want to miss this new version! “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Shondra, Dev, and the ‘Dead Quilters’ team back to Sedona and especially at the Mary Fisher Theatre following their wonderful…

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Sedona, AZ — Amazon Prime has just released the Sedona-based film High School Detention: The Musical. Originally debuting at the 2026 Sedona International Film Festival to the cheers of kids and adults alike, this special “edu-tainment” film was created, written, and produced by former Sedona local and Disney writer, Emmy-winning Dev Ross. Award-winning composer Shondra Jepperson wrote the film’s all-original songs and also produced and composed the score. Directed by Sedona local Amy Waddell and starring local young actors Lazor Lanson, Sarah Orbe, and Ajna Masters, this is a must-see film! The movie centers around three bickering teens who get…

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By Rabbi Alicia Magal Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return, is the special Shabbat in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, during the Ten Days of Awe. The service will begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, September 18, led by Rabbi Alicia Magal. Kol Nidre, the service that ushers in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement begins on Sunday evening September 20, at 6:30 pm, including the haunting melody of Kol Nidre, performed on cello by Tom Hoisch.  Rabbi Magal and Cantorial Soloist Marden Paul will lead the services during the High holy Days. The Shalom Singers choir under the direction…

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By Amaya Gayle Gregory — What a wonder each day of life is! Today turned the key of pure delight. It started with a walk in the woods, a visit to the gnome trail, and Sophia joyfully splashing in the little creek both coming and going and segued into planting a field of flowers where lawn once grew. The gnome trail is a local delight. Friends of the trail have placed tiny gnomes, intricate fairies, little houses so real I’m sure the spirit folk are inside watching my every move, along a stretch of trail situated well up the bank…

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