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.

Cottonwood AZ (May 7, 2014) – Thanks to grant funding made possible by the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, selected Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies participated in both a DUI checkpoint and special patrol operation this past weekend.

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Sedona AZ (May 7, 2014) – The Sedona Community Pool, located at 570 Posse Ground Road in Posse Grounds Park, begins its summer schedule from May 24 through August 9, 2014.  The summer schedule will offer Open Swim, Lap Swim, Water Aerobics, and Special Events. 

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Sedona AZ (May 9, 2014) – A former Sedona resident and past performer with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Eric Miller, Chris Spheeris, Cory and winner of the Great Arizona Talent Search, she has recently returned with her new music-playing husband Dave Ojeda. Uma met Dave while singing at church in Waikoloa Hawaii. She quickly convinced him to return to the guitar as he was a working bass player in a rock band at the time. The UmaZuma Duo was born and together they played many gigs in Hawaii. 

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Sedona AZ (May 6, 2014) – On Wednesday, May 7, Dr. Laura Tohe will make two presentations of “Armed with Our Language, We Went to War: the Navajo Code Talkers” in the Village of Oak Creek. The first presentation is at 1:30 p.m. at Sedona Winds Retirement Community, 405 Jacks Canyon Road.  Dr. Tohe also will be speaking at 6:00 p.m. at the Village of Oak Creek Country Club, 690 Bell Rock Blvd.

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Sedona Film Festival presents one-day-only special kick-off event at Mary D. Fisher Theatre Sedona AZ (May 6, 2014) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to kick off its Alive Mind Cinema Series with the one-night-only debut of the award-winning film “When the Iron Bird Flies” on Thursday, May 15. There will be two shows at 4 and 7 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre.

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Sedona AZ (May 5, 2014) – Arizona author, Lori Hines, continues her popular series of presentations on the ancient inhabitants of the Four Corners are on Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 pm, at The Well Red Coyote bookstore in West Sedona. Hines, paranormal mystery author of The Ancient Ones, Caves of the Watchers and Whispers Among the Ruins, Lori travels throughout Arizona doing presentations on Native American history of the Southwest, discussing prehistoric cultures from the late BC period through 1400 AD.

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Cottonwood AZ (May 6, 2014) – MATFORCE is sponsoring a two-day seminar called ‘Zero Relapse.’  The no-cost seminar will be presented by Shawna Bowen M.A. and will be held on May 17 and 18 in Cottonwood. This seminar is designed for people wanting support with their own long-term sobriety, for the families or loved ones of people suffering from addictions, for service providers and law enforcement. 

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Cottonwood AZ (May 6, 2014) – Noted performance artist and mask maker Pash Galbavy and gifted facilitator Marty Landa will offer a mask making workshop dedicated to greater personal understanding and perspective at The Manheim Gallery, 747 N Main Street, Cottonwood. Participants will create their own face masks on Friday, May 23rd from 6-9PM, then return to decorate and explore their masks and personal stories in more depth on Saturday, May 24th from 11AM-5PM. With self-discovery as the main objective, the workshop will feature values and attitudes of the Person-Centered Approach, which emphasizes positive regard, empathy, and authenticity. 

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Stolen Handgun and Thousands of Dollars’ worth of Property Recovered Rimrock AZ (May 6, 2014) – Following diligent work by a YCSO detective and reporting deputies, 32-year-old James Allen Poelstra (aka “Jimmy Gold”) was charged on April 30, 2014, with multiple counts of Burglary and Theft related crimes occurring in the Rimrock/Beaver Creek community. At the time he was charged, Poelstra was already in-custody in the Camp Verde Detention Center where he currently remains on a total bond of $56,500.

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Sedona AZ (May 6, 2014) – Get a great start to the Memorial Day holiday by attending the changing of the flags and a short ceremony provided by the Sedona Marine Corps League at the SedonaMilitary Service Park on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2014 at 10 a.m.  Veterans and family members can see what a beautiful location this park provides to sit and reflect on those Sedona residents who have served our country in the military.  The park is located at 25 Northview Road.

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Sedona AZ (May 6, 2014) – Sedona Smart Meter Awareness, a local residents’ group who have been informing the Sedona community about effects of recently installed smart meters on health, privacy and safety, have joined two legal cases on the issue of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) in two amicus briefs being prepared by New York attorney and activist against wireless radiation, Dafna Tachover.

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Sedona AZ (May 5, 2014) – Sedona musician, Alexander, to The Well Red Coyote on Friday, May 9 at 6:30 pm, to perform some of his newest songs as well as selections form his recent album, Global Blending. And, in anticipation of our upcoming annual Bob Dylan Birthday Bash (May 23 and 24 at the Old Town Center for the Arts), he’ll throw in a few Dylan songs (possibly with a guest…hint hint…not Bob, but same birthday).

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Verde Valley AZ (May 5, 2014) – MATFORCE invites all community members to a Mixer event on May 8th in Prescott.  The event will recognize and thank the many hundreds of community partners and volunteers who help MATFORCE in its successful reduction of substance abuse in Yavapai County. 

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Sedona AZ (May 5, 2014) – Fodor’s Travel recently named Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona as one of the most loved and cherished state parks in America on the “America’s 10 Best State Parks” list. See what Fordor’s Travel has to sayabout the legendary Slide Rock State Park. “There’s pretty much one reason and one reason only to visit Slide Rock State Park, seven miles north of Sedona: to slip down the smooth, red-sandstone water slide and be carried over the surface by a cooling creek into the swimming hole below.”– Fodor’s Travell

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