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.

Join your local favorites and other renowned authors , artists, and workshop leaders.  Sedona AZ (February 19, 2012) – Heart/Wisdom Journeys will present the “Heart Wisdom: Empowerment” Conference on March 2 -5th at the Sedona Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Road. This is the 7th in a series of the annual Sedona conference. In addition to a lineup of renowned authors and experts, the conference will feature a post conference with Dr. Joe Dispenza. According to producers who produced this conference in Sedona for the past 6 years, the theme of the conference this year is “Live your life with the Passion,…

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Friday, March 23rd 7PM, at the Sedona Creative Life Center, Sedona, AZ Sedona AZ (February 19, 2012) – This gathering is in honor of the spring equinox and events to come in 2012, with a multimedia performance by ThunderBeat & the Sexy Skulls. Multi award winning ThunderBeat is an inspirational speaker, author and composer, Baluhecjah, on didgeridoo and Daniel Dreaming Eagle on flute.

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Sedona, AZ (February 18, 2012) – The Sedona City election is around the corner. With the candidates not placing yard signs around town, one would not know about the upcoming election. Many voters will have their first realization when they receive their ballot next week. This is a mail in ballot election. Polls close at 7 p.m. on March 13, 2012. Election results will be made that evening. Sedona.biz will post the results as soon as they are available.

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Sedona AZ (February 17, 2012) – Would you like to know how Sedona City Hall works?  Do you want to have a voice in the future of your City?  These questions and others will be answered at the Citizens Academy, a priority of City Council to educate and reach out to the community.  Residents will have the opportunity to meet with the Council and various department staff to better understand City operations and issues.

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Verde Valley AZ (February 17, 2012) – MATFORCE is offering a low-cost training, called “Homecoming” that will focus on understanding the stress and complications for returning war veterans and how their families and communities can support their reintegration. The training will be held on April 2nd, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, at the Prescott Resort, 1500 Highway 69 in Prescott.

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Sedona AZ (February 17, 2012) – Billy McLaughlin has been changing people’s idea of what an acoustic guitar can sound like since the 1980’s. This phenomenal artist will be performing at Studio Live on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $22.00 the day of the show. He is recognized as an innovative performer and composer who embraces the advantages of acoustic guitar amplification, unorthodox techniques and altered tunings while celebrating a gift for melody. His enormous yet fluid acoustic guitar tone has carried him around the world, to Billboard’s Top-Ten Chart and most…

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Cuba to Bali, Blues to Dylan, Guitars & Beyond at OTCA this Spring Cottonwood AZ (February 16, 2012) – They say that music has the power of taking us places.   Old Town Center for the Arts has lined up a stellar cast of performers and concerts for the Spring 2012 season, to take us on a musical ‘journey.’  Read on, and mark your calendar for these upcoming events.

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Sedona AZ (February 16, 2012) – The 42nd Annual St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival – An AZ Centennial Celebration will start at 10:30 am on Saturday March 3rd. The Parade Title Sponsor is Pink Jeep Tours and the Festival Title Sponsor is the Cowboy Club and Barking Frog Restaurants. These title and other business sponsors, donors and volunteers all contribute to make this community tradition possible and help as we also celebrate Arizona’s Centennial year. This year’s Parade Grand Marshal will be a large gathering of the extended Jim Thompson family in recognition of the past, present and future of…

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Cottonwood AZ (February 15, 2012) – PRELIMINARY INFORMATION – At approx. 10 am today, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 1500 block of Sierra Drive in Cottonwood. The call came from the homeowner who was currently out of state. He told dispatchers that his 23-year-old daughter, who was staying at the Sierra Drive home, was in danger due to the behavior of her boyfriend, 29-year-old Joshua Vancza. Vancza had arrived at the home earlier this morning, obtained one of the homeowner’s handguns, and then demanded to speak with his daughter. At some point, Vancza brandished the handgun…

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“The Great Peacemakers” Featured Artist Steve Simon Sedona AZ (February 15, 2012) – As part of the ongoing Sedona Public Library in the Village Rotating Artist Series, Steve Simon will be displaying his artwork at the Village location in Tequa Plaza beginning Tuesday, February 21. Steve Simon recently published his Sedona collection of landscape paintings and poetry in his seventh coffee-table book entitled “The Spirit of Sedona.” In his current collection, the artist is focusing on history’s great peacemakers.

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Sedona AZ (February 15, 2012) – Yavapai College’s Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI) of Sedona and the Verde Valley will present a Matinee Performance of “Sing Me a Morning Song, Sedona”, an original one-act play with music, written and performed by Cynthia Strom and narrated by Curt Ireland.  This show will be presented on Friday, March 9, at 2:00 PM, at Yavapai College—Clarkdale Campus, Building M, Room 137—located in the Library Building.  Refreshments will be available following the show.  Tickets are $10.00, and net proceeds from this performance will be donated to the OLLI Scholarship Fund.  Donations will help…

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Sedona AZ (February 15, 2012) – Hungarian-born carver and fine art photographer, Csaba Martonyi, is the featured artist for the SAGA (Sedona Area Guild of Artists) Winter Show, February 17 and 18 from 9 to 5 daily, at the Amara Resort and Spa in Uptown Sedona. Several other SAGA Professional Artists will also be presenting many unique pieces.

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The 3/4-acre Tranquil Community Garden is in the center of West Sedona Sedona AZ (February 15, 2012) – The Sedona City Council just gave permission for public use of land on Tranquil Lane, which had been zoned for private use. Now, the Verde Food Council, Gardens for Humanity and other community partners can proceed with creating a 3/4-acre community garden on the property, which is owned by the Christ Center Wesleyan Church. The Tranquil Community Garden may be part of a multi-faceted project, which will contribute greatly to Sedona becoming a more sustainable community. Want to know the “inside story” on…

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Verde Valley AZ (February 15, 2012) – MATFORCE and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office invite area youth to help raise awareness about substance abuse risks by participating in the annual MATFORCE Youth Poster Contest. Yavapai County youth ages 5 to 18 are invited to participate in the contest by creating a poster that depicts an anti-drug message.

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