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.

By David Stephen The chance that AI may induce unemployment is enough to start exploring likely labor options, aside from the widely suggested Universal Basic Income [UBI], as a living wage to displaced workers. What should the future of work look like if AI thoroughly permeates productivity? It is safe to assume that no matter the outcome, the United States would do all right, along with other industrialized nations. The ricochet, however, from elsewhere may devolve into serious migration or worse. There are a few options: a. Tier almost every role. This means that most job openings should not be seeking…

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… yesterday morning I was up on the tram checking out the red tail chicks and they are maturing rapidly … they are spending aa lot of time exercising their wings while standing on the very front edge of the nest and sometimes halfway down the face of it. I love the shot above where two of the chicks are peering over the edge and looking into the abyss … the one on the right seems to be thinking “here I go,” but he didn’t. In the photo below I was looking “over the edge” from the perch in my…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Sedona encore and theatrical premiere of “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara” showing June 7-13 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara” was one of the highest-rated audience films at the recent Sedona International Film Festival and a top contender for the Best Feature and Best International Film Awards. The film is returning to Sedona by popular demand as it is making its theatrical debut worldwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCwiOmN28H0 The latest by legendary Italian director Marco Bellocchio is a grand, historical…

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Arizona News – A new fuels reduction project, slated to begin next week, will work to protect communities northeast of Flagstaff from future catastrophic wildfire while restoring forest land to a healthier condition. The Coconino National Forest’s Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) will begin work on the Timberline Wupatki Trails Hazardous Fuels Reduction project Monday. “We’re looking forward to adding another layer of risk reduction to the Timberline and Wupatki Trails communities by proactively taking this initiative,” said District Ranger Matt McGrath. “This project is just one small part of our overall commitment to Wildfire Crisis Strategy work.” As part of…

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Verde Valley News – Sedona’s new resident, celebrity comedian Melinda Hill, is donating her engagement ring to charity with her S.L.A.Y. comedy tour kicking off in Sedona this weekend June 1st and June 2! Celebrity comedian Melinda Hill, who has an Amazon comedy special and has starred in TV and movies is calling her new tour S.L.A.Y. for Self Love and Yes. She became member of the Sedona community when she moved here to heal herself from a toxic relationship and betrayal trauma, and fell in love with the area. She is now auctioning her engagement ring (worth thousands of…

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Camp Verde News – UPDATE – On 05-11-2024 at approximately 2022 hours, Camp Verde Marshals Office Deputies responded to a report of a head on collision involving two passenger vehicles in the vicinity of State Route 260 at Mile post 220. The initial investigation revealed that 47-year-old Jose Guzmen Valderrama was traveling east bound in a Red Honda on SR 260. For unknown reasons, Guzmen Valderrama crossed over the median into the Westbound lanes of SR 260 striking a Silver Nissan driven by 49-year-old Camp Verde Resident, Alicia Chagolla who was pronounced deceased on scene. Guzmen Valderrama was transported to…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Sedona premiere of “Back to Black” showing June 7-13 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYzIOBwyhIU A celebration of the most iconic — and much missed — homegrown star of the 21st century, “Back to Black” tells the extraordinary tale of Amy Winehouse. The film captures her rise to fame from her early days in Camden through the making of her groundbreaking album — “Back to Black” — that catapulted Winehouse to global fame. Told through Amy’s eyes and inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the film explores and…

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Sedona News – Drivers who normally would use State Route 89A at the switchbacks in Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona will need to detour during daytime hours the week of June 3. An Arizona Department of Transportation rockfall mitigation safety project will require closures and lane restrictions in the area over the next several months. SR 89A will be closed in both directions between Pine Flat Campground and the Oak Creek Vista scenic overlook (mileposts 387-390) from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (June 3-7). The highway will be open to one lane at other times, with temporary traffic signals…

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Sedona News – SAVCO (Sedona Area Veteran Community Outreach) would like to announce a public invitation to their Annual Open House. This event is on June 13, 2024 at 6:00 pm. It will be held at the Sedona Elks Lodge, 110 Airport Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. The SAVCO Mission: Whether you have an hour to spare every now and then, or are looking for an outlet for your time and talents — we welcome you to join SAVCO. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit group. Our mission is to be a vital, inclusive, and growing organization that embraces everyone. SAVCO focuses…

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Verde Valley News – On the cusp of breaking ground on a dream business venture, Lauren Mitchell – who made history this spring as the first person to earn a bachelor’s degree from Yavapai College — is counting her blessings while acknowledging the relentless drive and determination she harnessed to arrive at this pivotal moment in life. Lauren’s dream is coming to fruition after four whirlwind years at YC coinciding with the close of a fulfilling decade-plus of “being there” for her two children and supporting her husband’s college and career pursuits. “I loved being the support system my husband…

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Arizona News – A busy stretch of southbound Interstate 17 in north Phoenix is scheduled to be closed this weekend (May 31-June 3) for pavement improvement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Drivers should allow extra travel time and stay on the designated detour route while southbound I-17 is closed between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. The detour will follow Loop 303 west, Lake Pleasant Parkway south and Happy Valley Road east back to I-17. ADOT is advising southbound I-17 drivers to not use other local streets as alternate…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with Unify Sedona to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Mutt” showing June 7-13 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. Feña, a young trans guy bustling through life in New York City, is afflicted with an incessantly challenging day that resurrects ghosts from his past. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCwTxQVjqbo Laundromats, subway turnstiles, and airport transfers are the hectic background to this emotional drama that overlaps past, present, and future. Settling the disharmony of transitional upheaval in relationships familial, romantic, and platonic is Feña’s task at hand, and his resulting juggling act is…

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… I simply could not make myself set my alarm to 2:45A, so set it to 3A this morning and out of the house, picked up my friend at 4A and it was down to the lake. On the way down we wonder what if any birds we will see and, on the way, home we’re thinking about the shots of the day and as with the two shots below, sometimes you just don’t know. The shot above is one of the Bald Eagles that fledged last week … she is beautiful, and I like this perched pose more than…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Taking Venice” showing June 7-13 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. “Taking Venice” uncovers the true story behind rumors that the U.S. government and a team of high-placed insiders rigged the 1964 Venice Biennale – the Olympics of art – so their chosen artist, Robert Rauschenberg, could win the Grand Prize. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-K3K8bz_RY At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government is determined to fight Communism with culture. The Venice Biennale, the world’s most influential art exhibition, becomes a proving ground in 1964.…

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Verde Valley News – For the second time in two years, Yavapai College Nursing Professor Dr. Jennifer Ritter is the winner of the college’s top teaching award — the Teaching and Learning Committee (TLC) Fellowship. Dr. Ritter shared the award with two colleagues in 2022. This year she was honored solo after multiple students and colleagues submitted written tributes to the TLC touting her “rare gift” of connecting with students while imparting the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. “She’s the first person I felt believed in me – enough to open doors and create opportunities for me to…

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