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.

FlagstaffAZ (December 12, 2011) – Pending favorable conditions, the Coconino National Forest and Arizona State Forestry (agencies in the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council) are planning to conduct prescribed pile burns tomorrow, Tuesday December 13. Arizona State Forestry Contact: Bruce Banke, 928-774-1425 Arizona State Forestry will be burning approximately 80 acres of slash piles located north of Hwy 89A and MCS Stables, west of Ft. Tuthill. The forecast snowstorm and winds will minimize smoke impacts on Flagstaff. For additional information, contact Arizona State Forestry at 928-774-1425. Coconino National Forest Contact: Brienne Magee, 928-527-8290 Mogollon Rim Miscellaneous Piles: 10 acres located just east…

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Sedona AZ (December 12, 2011) – On Monday December 12th from, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, award-winning photographer Susie Reed will be teaching a class at the Sedona Arts Center entitled “Inside the Jurying Process for Artists”. Afterwards, she’ll celebrate the publication of the fourth edition of her popular Southwest Rock Art Calendar with a calendar signing. Reed’s class is the first in a series of five Business of Art Workshops the Sedona Arts Center is offering. It’s free to Sedona Arts Center members and $5 for non-members. In her class Reed will provide tips to artists of all disciplines for…

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Cottonwood AZ (December 12, 2011) – The soaring tones of R. Carlos Nakai’s flute join with William Eaton’s shimmering harp guitars and Will Clipman’s pan-global percussion, for a special holiday concert entitled ‘Winter Dreams’ at Old Town Center for the Arts, presented on Friday, December 16th and Saturday, December 17th.  Show time, for both nights, is 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm. Please note that as of Monday there were just a few tickets left for the Saturday night show, as of this writing tickets are still available for the Friday night show. The concert will feature some of the world’s…

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Flagstaff AZ (December 12, 2011) – The Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is seeking public input on the proposed Kelly Motorized Trails Project (formerly known as the Airport Motorized Trail Project) generally located east of I-17 between Mountainaire and Munds Park. The proposed motorized trail system includes approximately 73 miles of trails for both single track and larger motorized trail users. The project will involve using current system roads, converting roads that are identified to be closed through the TMR decision into trails, adopting segments of user-created routes, and constructing new trail. Two new trailheads will be…

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Sedona AZ (December 9, 2011) – On December 7, 2011, Sedona City Council held a budget retreat in preparation for the upcoming fiscal year 2012-13 budget.  First on the agenda was a review of the Council priorities and accomplishments to date for fiscal year 2011-2012.  In addition, staff provided an update on the current budget as well as an economic update, including anticipated fund balances. Mayor Rod Adams stated, “The City is cautiously optimistic of the future of the economy.  Our approach is to ‘stay the course’.  The Council is supportive of additional funding for drainage issues and focusing on…

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Flagstaff AZ (December 9, 2011) – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Coconino National Forest are tentatively planning to continue pile burning efforts the week of December 12. The following projects are planned for Monday, December 12. Oak Creek Canyon Project: Crews will burn in one of two locations in Oak Creek Canyon, depending on conditions: 37 acres across from Bootlegger Day Use Area west of Oak Creek, or 16 acres south of Slide Rock State Park, west of Manzanita Campground. The forecast winds will move smoke north and northwest, where it will follow drainages out of the canyon,…

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Sedona AZ (December 9, 2011) – The City of Sedona is working with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in offering an environment-friendly way of recycling your Christmas tree. From Monday, December 26, 2011 through Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the City of Sedona will be accepting Christmas trees for recycling into chips.  Trees can be dropped off in the lot at the corner of Saddlerock Circle and State Route 89A.  No yard debris please. 

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Flagstaff AZ (December 9, 2011) –  Fire managers on the Coconino National Forest plan to continue prescribed pile burns today, Friday December 9. In addition to the Mint Project south of Mormon Lake, crews will burn on either the Eastside project off Herold Ranch Road or the Woody Ridge Project west of Flagstaff, depending on conditions. Mint Project: 150 acres located south of Mormon Lake Village, west of Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road). will move to the southwest, however, some residual smoke will likely settle around the Village of Mormon Lake and FH3 overnight. Eastside Project: Approximately 50 acres…

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Sedona AZ (December 9, 2011) – On Thursday, December 22nd at 6:30 pm everyone is invited to a special Chanukah candle lighting ceremony with Rabbi Alicia Magal at Goldenstein Gallery in uptown Sedona. The Chanukah holiday celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and is representative of the rededication of the temple at Jerusalem. The chanukiot (Chanukah menorahs) to be used in the ceremony is part of Goldenstein Gallery artist Dorit Herlinger’s desert collection.

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Sedona AZ (December 9, 2011) – The City of Sedona is currently seeking to fill four vacancies on the Sustainability Commission.  Three vacancies are for three-year terms, from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014 and one is an unexpired term ending on December 31, 2012.   The deadline to submit applications to be considered to serve on the Sustainability Commission is Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.   

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Sedona AZ (December 9, 2011) – The City of Sedona will be holding a series of public meetings to provide citizens the opportunity to comment on the proposed Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).  The CIP is a process by which the City designs a multi-year plan for major capital expenditure.  It represents the City’s plan for physical development, and identifies the planned funding sources for design and construction. The plan is reviewed each year to reflect changing priorities and provides an ongoing framework for identifying capital requirements, scheduling projects over a period of years, coordinating related projects, and identifying future…

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Flagstaff AZ (December 8, 2011) – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Coconino National Forest are tentatively planning to conduct prescribed pile burns today. Blue Ridge project: Approximately 5 acres located near Moqui Tank, just south of Highway 87. During the day, the majority of smoke will rise and disperse to the southwest. Expect smoke to be noticeable on Highway 87. Eastside Project: Approximately 50 acres located about 3 miles southeast of Flagstaff. During the day, smoke will be noticeable from Flagstaff and will disperse to southwest with the forecast winds. Oak Creek Canyon Project: 15 acres located north…

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Sedona, AZ (December 8, 2011) – A Sedona resident asks sedona.biz for help in obtaining copies of videos from the Channel 17 Geronimo cable station commentary “Backfire” tv program in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Anyone with information please contact <Comments@Sedona.biz>. Serious responses only. $$$

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Sedona AZ (December 6, 2011) – Have you wondered what your neighbors and friends have been saying about the future of Sedona?  Do you think they sound like you and express your points of view and perspective? The City of Sedona has now posted all the comments that have been made to date on our website.  This exhaustive public input has been gathered through a number of ways: the website portal, Idea Form, e-mail, letters, community events and programs, topic workshops, and from neighbors and organizations hosting a Community Plan Party in a Box. To view comments, go to www.SedonaAZ.gov,…

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Sedona AZ (December 6, 2011) – Reba Wells Grandrud of Phoenix will share her program entitled “In Their Own Words: Overland Diaries of 19th Century Westering Women” on Wednesday, December 14, at the Sedona Public Library on White Bear Road at 10:30 a.m. and at the Sedona Winds Retirement Center, 405 Jacks Canyon Road at 1:30 p.m. This free program is sponsored by the Arizona Humanities Council, the Friends of the Sedona Library and the Sedona Public Library Board of Trustees.

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