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.

Arizona News – Yavapai County Recorder, Michelle Burchill would like to remind voters about important information regarding the upcoming Elections that will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in the following jurisdictions: Ash Fork Unified School District Town of Chino Valley City of Prescott Sedona Unified School District To be eligible to vote, you must register by Tuesday, October 10, 2023. You may register in person at the Yavapai County Recorder’s Office 1015 Fair St., first floor lobby kiosk, Prescott, Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm, or in our Cottonwood office, 10 S. 6th St., or online at www.servicearizona.com.…

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Sedona News – The city opened new October and November appointments for Straight Talk with Karen, a program in which once a month, residents can come to City Hall and sit down with City Manager Karen Osburn to discuss any topic of their choice. The goal of this popular program is to facilitate an opportunity for residents to meet with Osburn on any question, concern, issue or general topic they would like to talk about. The format will feature an open forum, so that up to four residents can sit down together with Osburn, hear each other’s questions and have…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present “Vertigo” on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. “Vertigo” is the third film in a month-long tribute to Alfred Hitchcock with a special “Hitchcock-tober” series in October. “Vertigo” features an all-star ensemble cast including James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes and Tom Helmore. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Sound and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. Hitchcock’s haunting, compelling masterpiece is uniquely revelatory about the director’s own predilections and hang-ups and is widely considered to be one of…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Joan Baez: I Am A Noise” showing Oct. 13-19 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Facing the end of a 60-year musical career, legendary singer and activist Joan Baez takes an honest look back and a deep look inward as she tries to make sense of her large, history-making life and reveals, for the first time, personal struggles she’s kept private. “Joan Baez: I Am A Noise” is an unusually intimate psychological portrait of legendary folk singer and activist Joan Baez. Neither a…

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Sedona News – “Monday at the Museum” is a workshop/ demonstration held every Monday. The Museum is always looking for participants who are willing to share their knowledge of “old time” crafts and skills. For details, call at 282-7038. October 9: If you have a piece of wood and a wood carving knife, come to Monday at the Museum at Sedona Heritage Museum on Monday, October 09, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and join the Verde Valley Woodcarvers. Hundreds of people have tried their hand at carving with this group since its founding in 1997 by Norm Knight. The group…

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Sedona News – The city of Sedona invites all those interested to fill out nominations for the seventh Mayor’s Arts Awards, which honors individuals, organizations and businesses that have made outstanding contributions to the success of the arts in the city of Sedona. Started in 2008, the Mayor’s Arts Awards recognize those who have contributed to the development, expansion and success of the arts in Sedona. It does not address the quality or quantity of any particular individual or group’s artwork. The term “arts” refers to all aspects of the arts, including but not limited to culinary, dance, film, literary,…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Flora and Son” showing Oct. 13-19 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon and Mary D. Fisher Theatres. Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to occupy him with a beat-up acoustic guitar. With the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. From the musical mind of John Carney, “Flora and…

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Sedona, AZ — A new dining experience unveils itself in Cottonwood, Az with the opening of Eden restaurant and the Cellar, offering earthly culinary delights guaranteed to satisfy the palate of all those who love fresh and flavorful cooking. Owner/Executive Chef Eden Archer brings more than 30 years of food service experience to the table and has created a health-conscious dining experience in a beautiful, sparkling restaurant environment that not only serves an all-day menu but can accommodate 40 people in her Cellar room right next door for parties and events. Add a thriving catering component called The Sedona Catering…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the encore of “The Road Dance” showing Oct. 13-19 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon and Mary D. Fisher Theatres. “The Road Dance” premiered to rave reviews at the recent Sedona International Film Festival where it took home the coveted Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film – Drama. In a small, remote village in the Outer Scottish Hebrides, Kirsty (Hermione Corfield) yearns for adventure and another life across the ocean. Though she finds comfort in time spent with her mother and younger sister, she sees hope and a future…

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Verde Valley News – Music in the Stacks returns on Thursday, October 12th at 5:00 pm to Camp Verde Community Library’s Fireside Room. Music in the Stacks is a showcase of local and national musicians who entertain regularly in Northern Arizona. There are 3-5 different performers during the show, with a rotating variety each month. October’s concert features Joe Clyne, Sue Schnitzer, and Spencer Vandevier. Guitarist Joe Clyne was a big part of the Kansas City music scene for years. He plays pop, Motown, Blues, Country, and originals. He has a tremendous amount of recording experience and was the opening act for the Righteous Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Kansas, and Eric Burden and War. He recently moved…

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Sedona News – The annual Sedona Heritage Arts & Crafts Fair returns to the Sedona Heritage Museum on Saturday, October 21, 2023, from 9 am to 3 pm.  Dozens of local vendors, artists, and crafters will be present at the Museum offering some of the finest hand crafted jewelry, home décor, gifts, and more that can be found in the Verde Valley.  The Fair is free for all to attend. “This is one of my favorite events we do every year at the Sedona Heritage Museum,” said Nate Meyers, Executive Director of the Sedona Historical Society and Sedona Heritage Museum. …

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Sedona News – Sedona International Film Festival is proud to welcome The Beatles historian and composer Scott Freiman to Sedona and Cottonwood to present three new “Deconstructing The Beatles” lectures LIVE, in-person Oct. 8-13. Freiman’s new presentations include: “Deconstructing A Hard Day’s Night”, “Deconstructing Help! (Plus Beatles For Sale)” and “Another Clue For You All: Deconstructing the ‘Paul Is Dead’ Myth”. The Sedona lectures will take place on stage at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, and the Cottonwood programs will be presented at Old Town Center for the Arts. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Scott Freiman combines his love…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Bad Press” on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. This special one-time-only screening of “Bad Press” is presented in honor and observation of Indigenous People’s Day. When the Muscogee Nation suddenly begins censoring their free press, a rogue reporter fights to expose her government’s corruption in a historic battle that will have ramifications for all of Indian Country. In 2015, the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma became one of only five federally-recognized tribes to legislate free press protections…

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Sedona News – Robert Albrecht has been a resident of Sedona, AZ since 2001. He is also a Professional Photographer/ Digital Artist; specifically, a Digital Painter. At the September 26, 2023, City Council Meeting, a special proclamation was given to Albrecht for his creation and donation of another painting of K-9 Officer “Dalan” to the Sedona Police Department and the City of Sedona. When he painted a portrait of K-9 Officer “Max” several years ago, he was honored to be able to donate that painting to the Sedona Police Department and the City of Sedona. He felt it was not…

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Sedona News – Friday, October 6, at 7 p.m. the curtain rises on Emerson Theater Collaborative’s deeply moving production of the Tony Award-winning play Indecent.  Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, this deeply moving play was inspired by the true events surrounding the controversial 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance—a play seen by some as a seminal work of Jewish culture, and by others as an act of traitorous libel. Time Out New York hailed the show as “captivating and gorgeous,” and the NY Daily News called it a “heart-stirring reminder of the power of art.”…

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