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.

Cornville AZ (March 4, 2014) – On March 1, 2014, at approximately 11:45 PM, YCSO deputies were dispatched to the 11000 block of E. Meier Circle, Cornville, regarding a suspicious fire. Verde Valley Fire personnel were on scene and told deputies they had been called to the involved home and upon arrival, found the front door open and a small fire in the living room. Deputies discovered someone pried the apparently locked front door open to gain access and found the carpet just inside the front door had been intentionally burned. Additionally, cabinets and dresser drawers were found open throughout…

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Sedona AZ (March 4, 2014) – Jennifer Epperson, Sedona visual artist and self-proclaimed art agitator, has completed a portrait of Beth Kingsley Hawkins, owner of Sedona Hummingbird Gallery. Beth is an artist, Reiki Master and a music psychotherapist. The portrait is a gift from her husband Ross Hawkins, founder of the annual Sedona Hummingbird Festival. Ross was the winner of a door prize at the 2013 “Good Morning Sedona “ Chamber of Commerce breakfast mixer. Ms Epperson, whose practice is in uptown Sedona, offered the opportunity to have a portrait done as a door prize.

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Sedona AZ (March 4, 2014) – Don’t miss this evening, March 4 at Marketplace Cafe – great entertainment, starting at 6 pm until 7 pm. Dorothy O’Brien of the Sedona Celtic Harvest Festival will be the featured presenter and will be describing activities scheduled for the St. Patrick’s Day Weekend. Her special guests include Championship Irish Dancers, Jaclyn Given and Colleen Kelahan-Pierson plus Ken and Lyn Mikell, who play a broad range of traditional music, with particular attention to the Celtic roots of cowboy music. Using a wide range of musical instruments, Ken and Lyn animate and illuminate the music…

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Sedona AZ (March 4, 2014) – Community kids, aged six-to-twelve, are invited to attend Sedona YMCA’s Spring Camp, March 10–14, 2014, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Full-week rates are: $60 for New Adventure members and $100 for non-members.  Single-day rate is $25.  Non-members, in order to participate, need to join the YMCA, usually a $35 annual fee; however, non-members can enjoy a Spring Special half-off discount for this event ($17.50), if registered for the full week.  Reservations and pre-payment are required no later than Friday, March 7, 2014.  These camps include morning and afternoon snacks.  The Spring Camp includes morning…

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First Teaching Winery in Southwest U.S. Moves Closer to Completion Clarkdale AZ (March 4, 2014) – After two months of construction, the exterior structure of the Southwest Wine Center on the Yavapai College Verde Valley campus has been completed. According to Tom Beveridge, FCI Constructors project superintendent, the building’s interior concrete slab will be placed this week with framing and electrical/plumbing work to follow.  “The roof and exterior finishing will begin later this month with a targeted final completion date of June 13.  The site’s “Gabion” rock wall systems which use steel cages filled with native stones are also nearing completion.”

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Sedona AZ (March 4, 2014) – The next DORR Breakfast will be on Thursday, March 20, 8am at Olde Sedona Family Restaurant Bar and Grill, 1405 West Highway 89A, Sedona Arizona. The featured speaker will be Taylor McKinnon, Director of Energy, Grand Canyon Trust, who will speak on Destructive Development: Safeguarding the Colorado Plateau.

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Sedona AZ (March 3, 2014) – Sedona, Arizona has been ranked as one of the Travelers’ Choice 2014 “Top 25 Destinations in the United States”. Coming in at #13, Sedona is pleased with the abundance of positive feedback and awe-inspiring reaction of both long time visitors and newcomers to the area.

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Sedona AZ (March 3, 2014) – Mark Thursday, March 20, 2014 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on your calendar for a fascinating discussion on holistic and metaphysical healing.  Find out how holistic healing techniques can complement and support allopathic medical techniques and practices and help you achieve and sustain wellness, prepare for surgery, or heal from illness or trauma.  Holistic and metaphysical healing methods can engender stress relief and improve physical, mental, and emotional health.  The class is taught by Susan M. Obijiski, whose goal is to help clients and students achieve a balanced, healthy, and fulfilled life. This workshop…

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Sedona AZ (March 3, 2014) – Come join Karen Russell for an awesome movie about how to live a vital life full of energy and fantastic health. It is a must see to make sense about how easy it can be to live a healthy lifestyle in every way. There will be organic popcorn and other snacks. Russell always has an informative and fun discussion afterwards. Call 928.282.8918 to register by March 17.

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Sedona AZ (March 3, 2014) – Join Concerned Citizens for America for a one time showing of “Truth about ObamaCare”, featuring C. Steven Tucker, President of “Small Business Insurance Services” in Chicago, subject matter expert on the law, quoted by Fox Business, Wall Street Journal, Fortune Small Business and key note speaker on ObamaCare statutes.

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The Letters Takes Best Of Fest Audience Award; The Broken Circle Breakdown, Waiting For Mamu Earn Directors’, Audience Choice Honors Sedona AZ (March 2, 2014) – The Letters, the story of how Mother Teresa changed hearts and lives and inspired millions, earned the Audience Choice Award for Best of Fest and The Broken Circle Breakdown and Waiting for Mamu collected Audience and Directors’ Choice Awards for Best Foreign Film and Best Documentary, both short and humanitarian, respectively, at the 20th annual Sedona International Film Festival. The weeklong Festival screened 168 films that played to more than 10,000 filmgoers and included…

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Sedona AZ (March 2, 2014) – The Sedona Heritage Museum will once again present their popular historic sites tours of Oak Creek Canyon’s historic places on April 24, 25, and 26. The tours will be narrated by Paul Thompson.  Thompson is the grandson of pioneer homesteader Jim Thompson, the Sedona area’s first permanent white settler who came here in 1876, and son of Albert Thompson who wrote many of the stories in the book, “Those Early Days”. 

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Sedona AZ (March 2, 2014) – Linda Goldenstein, of Goldenstein Gallery, will introduce Lynette Jennings, who will speak about trends at the March 12 meeting of The Sedona Women, Dames Who Make A Difference, starting at 10 a.m. at the Sedona Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Road. The public is welcome to attend this free program.

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Sedona AZ (March 2, 2014) – The City of Sedona is accepting nominations for the Sixth Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards, which each year honor individuals, organizations, and businesses that have made outstanding contributions to the success of the arts in the City of Sedona.  Nominations must be received or postmarked by Friday, March 21, 2014.

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Oscar winning Actress, Susan Sarandon and Award-winning Filmmakers Thomas Morgan and Jonathan Bricklin Launch Reframed Pictures to Create Films with Measurable Impact  The Sedona Film Festival announcement includes Reframed Pictures first film and a star-studded Advisory Board  Sedona AZ (March 1, 2014) – Actress Susan Sarandon and Filmmakers Thomas Morgan and Jonathan Bricklin announced the launch of their film company, Reframed Pictures, at the Sedona International Film festival today. Reframed Pictures mission is to create and support films that are not only entertaining, but also raise awareness about human rights and social justice issues. But Reframed Pictures plans to take…

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