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 Zack Garcia, Town of Camp Verde Community Library Verde Valley News – On Saturday, November 25, the Verde Valley GameCon returns! Join us for our fourth annual event from 9am-3pm. GameCon will transform the Camp Verde Community Library into a free, family-friendly convention hall hosting games of all sorts. An all-ages event presented by Camp Verde Community Library, GameCon aims to have something for everyone. Want to try a new board game like Catan, Dominion, or Betrayal at House on the Hill? How about classic games like chess, checkers, Uno or Monopoly? Head upstairs to the Game Library to check-out one of many board games…

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Sedona News – Award-winning, world-renowned tribute artist Corrie Sachs brings her acclaimed live production “A Tribute to Reba McEntire” to Sedona when she performs on the Goldenstein Stage at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. There will be two performances Nov. 17 and 18, presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. Corrie has traveled extensively throughout the country and Europe for 15 years as Reba McEntire in the production of “Legends in Concert” at over 18 locations in the US and abroad. She was voted singer of the year for 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2013 by the Las Vegas Review Journal…

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By Tommy Acosta Sedona AZ — No matter how you cut the cake, toss the dice, deal the cards or slice that pizza, yesterday’s trouncing of Republicans in the elections, proves once again that men have no right telling women what they may or not do with their bodies. Abortion rights will be the key issue both parties will have to deal with as we head into the 2024 election, and Republicans need to take heed and prepare for the worst because their hard line stance on abortion is their Waterloo. Party affinations mean nothing to a woman that has…

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… time gets away from me when working on projects, especially new ones like the image above. It started out as a straight photo of the eastern part of the San Francisco Volcanic Field, added some dimension to it with a photograph from the Hubble telescope and then just started playing, adjusting colors, brush strokes and filters. I kinda like it and am thinking of a large metal print of it for my home … the photo art below is already in my home and thinking of a very large metal print of it for my bedroom … or maybe…

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Sedona News – The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is honored to continue to be the home for the Met Live Opera programs for the 2023-2024 season, presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. The season continues with Anthony Davis’s “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” live via simulcast on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. and the encore presentation on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. Plan to come early as Russ Fox will lead a pre-opera talk one hour before the LIVE production on Saturday. Anthony Davis’s groundbreaking opera, which premiered in 1986, arrives at the Met…

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Arizona News – Coconino National Forest fire managers have modified prescribed fire plans for this week in order to clear the airshed and also take advantage of a specific wind forecast to keep smoke away from large powerlines during an important prescribed fire project. Originally, the 3,000-acre Upper Beaver Creek Project 13 miles northwest of Clints Well was planned for today through Thursday, as well as the 1,742-acre Bar-M project south of Mormon Lake planned for Tuesday through Thursday. Those two projects have been planned for a later time when conditions are more appropriate. A modified and smaller area of…

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Verde Valley News – Camp Verde Community Library’s next free Special Concert Series is Thursday, November 16th from 5:00- 6:30 pm, featuring George & Georgia- Harmony in Music. George and Georgia are a duo from the Phoenix area who play a wide variety of music- rock, pop, and Americana, with a take all their own. You will love their harmonies! Camp Verde Community Library is located at 130 N Black Bridge Road just off Montezuma Castle Highway in Camp Verde. The library is open Monday-Thursday 8:00a-7:00p and Friday-Saturday 9:00a-5:00p. For more information about this or any other library program visit the library’s…

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Sedona News – Back by popular demand: The Sedona International Film Festival announces award-winning recording duo Sirsy will be performing live in concert Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in Sedona. The evening will kick off with a performance from Sedona’s own Sugar Moon who will take the stage at 6 p.m. Sugar Moon is a dynamic female led band, playing pop/country/blues hits to get you singing & dancing! Then, Sirsy will take the stage! It’s hard to imagine a sound this big coming from just two people. The Boston Globe calls Sirsy the “little band with…

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Sedona, AZ — It’s a Jazz Greats series grand finale’ this weekend at Sound Bites Grill featuring jazz luminaries Dee Lucas and Adam Hawley on the Sound Bites Grill Celebrity Showroom stage bringing the popular series to a finger-snapping end. On Friday, November 10, starting at 7 p.m., get ready for a musical journey like no other as the sensational jazz artist Dee Lucas takes the stage. Lucas is set to deliver a mesmerizing performance that will leave you tapping your toes and swaying to the smooth rhythms of his saxophone. With a career spanning over two decades, Dee Lucas…

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By Tommy Acosta Sedona, AZ — Sometimes dreams really do come true and for “Fly To The Sun” composer Ray Roehner, a Greater Sedona recording artist and founder of Universe Records, his dream to bring his music to the global stage has come to fruition. His CD, featuring a hit-song titled Taj Mahal, has exploded in popularity in India and is now playing across Europe and in radio stations across the U.S. The album is filled with songs that encapsulate love and hope, draw listeners in, feed the soul and titillate the imagination. Featuring superb world famous, professional musicians the…

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… as is wont with Harris’s Hawks, they fly low over the terrain and when they spot prey they immediately engage and having the element of surprise and lethal talons to sink into the critter that is about to provide sustenance for the day. Leroy has spotted something and about fifteen frames after this (.75 seconds) he was on the ground engaging what he spotted. The shot below is of an Osprey that I shot last week down at the lake … he had a half-eaten fish, did not appreciate our presence and left for a quieter place to dine.…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to join theaters around the world for a global theatrical event: “Dolly Parton ROCKSTAR: The Global First Listen Event” on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 15 and 16 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. Global superstar Dolly Parton celebrates the release of her star-studded rock album, “ROCKSTAR”, with a global first-listen fan event featuring selections from the album and an exclusive interview with Dolly. The behind-the-album event will feature a sneak peek of select tracks and music videos from the upcoming album set to release on Nov. 17…

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By Michelle M. Burchill Yavapai County Recorder Sedona News – Yavapai County Recorder, Michelle Burchill would like to announce the following information: November 7, 2023, Election is tomorrow for the following jurisdictions: Ash Fork School District Town of Chino Valley City of Prescott Sedona School District All ballots must be returned to the Yavapai County Recorder’s Office no later than 7:00pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Early In-Person Voting Sites: Prescott (6:00am – 7:00pm) — Yavapai County Administration Building, 1015 Fair St. Cottonwood (8:00am – 7:00pm) – Yavapai County Administration Building, 10 South 6th St. It’s TOO LATE…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with SedonaKind to present the encore of the multiple award-winning film “Liyana” on Monday, Nov. 13 as part of the Sedona Kindness Day celebration. There will be two shows at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. Proceeds will benefit the charity work and projects of SedonaKind. “Liyana” has won numerous top awards at prestigious film festivals around the world, including the Directors’ Choice Best Documentary at the Sedona International Film Festival in 2018. The film — and its powerful message…

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Keep Sedona Beautiful will hold its next Preserving the Wonder Speaker Series event on Wednesday, November 15 at 5:00 pm. This month’s speaker is Dr. Tom Ginn, Environmental Toxicologist. His topic will be “Sedona Water – Sources, Discharges and Quality.”  Please visit the KSB website, www.keepsedonabeautiful.org for details. In Arizona, it’s surprisingly difficult to understand where our water comes from, how much may be available, and what happens to it after it leaves our homes and apartments. Dr. Tom Ginn will present an overview of Sedona’s water supply and the current methods for returning treated wastewater to the environment.  He will describe…

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