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.

… it would have been such a nice landing … sorry Geoffrey, really sorry. The Ospreys have been getting such good food at the Rainbow Trout Farm up canyon that they have grown beyond all reasonable expectations and are now leaving their home in the canyon seeking larger prey … This super Osprey came down canyon and about the same time this V tail Bonanza piloted by a friend was on final and preparing to settle on the runway … with a laser focus our genetically superior Osprey saw him and swept in for the kill … not sure what…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival presents Ballet in Cinema on Sunday, July 3 when it hosts the big screen premiere of “Swan Lake” – a new production from The Royal Ballet in London. There will be one show at 3:00 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre.  The Royal Ballet’s version of this classic love story mixes spectacle, mystery and passion. This beloved fairytale represents the battle between good and evil, and the attempt of love to conquer all. The magic of the lakes, forests and palaces is brought to life with glittering designs by John…

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Sedona News – The city opened new July and August 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 July and August format will feature an open forum, so that up to four residents can sit down together with Osburn, hear each other’s…

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Sedona News – Due to significant precipitation received across the Coconino National Forest, fire restrictions and certain area closures will be lifted starting at noon on June 28. The Walnut Canyon and Pumphouse Wash area closures will be lifted, and most of the forest will have no fire restrictions other than those which are in place permanently every year. Fire-related area closures will remain in effect around the perimeters of the Pipeline and Haywire fires but have been reduced in size. Another fire-related closure still in effect is that of the Fossil Creek area due to last year’s Backbone Fire. The decision to lift…

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Sedona News – The Rotary Club of Sedona Village hosted their end of year breakfast and included a service project for those in need on Tuesday, June 28. This annual event is held in June and marks the completion of the president’s term and the handing over of duties to the next in line. Heather Hermen served as club president from July 2021-June 2022 and was recognized for the term she served and handed over the duties to incoming president, Carolyn Martin. Others were recognized for their dedication and commitment to Rotary, the community, and service above self. The highlight…

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… at the meeting of a small group of photographers I was at last night, one of the members showed a photogrraph of the Little Colorado River taken from in the river that I had never seen before … it was beautiful and I bought it. With permission from the photographer I will share a small size image and his contact information with you in case you are looking for a terrific shot too. Going to have the print displayed with one of my aerial shots of the Confluence and the Little Colorado river. So I went through a lot…

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Sedona News – On Saturday, July 2, Anthony Mazzella’s “Legends of Guitar” concert will be rocking the Mary Fisher Theatre in Sedona. Anthony has added new songs to his repertoire so be sure to come hear his latest interpretations of guitar classics. “Legends of Guitar” is a tribute show to famous guitar players and their music. The show features world renowned guitar virtuoso Anthony Mazzella who plays it all live. Legendary guitarists whose music is featured in the show are Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Jimi Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2), Pete Townsend (The Who), David Gilmour (Pink…

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Sedona News – UPDATE – On Sunday, June 24, 2022, Miller’s vehicle was discovered near the Honanki Heritage Site on Forest Service Road 525.  The vehicle was parked at this location sometime around June 19, 2022.  Miller has not yet been located.  If you have any information, please call the Sedona Police Department at 928-282-3100.     ### Sedona News – On Sunday, June 19, 2022, Yolan Miller was last seen at about 4 pm after telling a friend that she was going to Jerome.  Miller’s roommate saw her leaving in a hurry from their Sedona residence, wearing a bright teal…

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By Amaya Gayle Gregory We’ve been nice. We’ve kept our mouths shut and denied our intuition. After all, it’s doesn’t feel spiritual to call out hurt people even when they are hurting other people. We’ve waited for our friends and family to change, for their hearts to expand. We’ve stood by and watched as harm piles upon harm. We’ve said things like, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion.” and “I can only change myself.” We’ve bypassed the harm and overlooked the damage and continued to work on ourselves, on our shadows, on opening our hearts even further, thinking that more…

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Verde Valley News – The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team, ordered to assess damage caused by recent wildfires on the Coconino National Forest, is concluding assessments of Pipeline Fire damage and moving on to the Haywire Fire. The BAER team, led by Forest Service Soil Scientist Eric Schroder, will spend today and Tuesday analyzing the need for any post-fire emergency stabilization actions that could reduce post-fire risks to critical BAER values. Critical BAER values located within the perimeter of the Pipeline Fire include Forest Service-owned property, such as campgrounds, roads and trails; natural resources such as soil productivity and hydrologic function; threatened…

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Sedona News – Join the city for the 4th of July celebration Wet Fest, on Monday, July 4, 2022, from noon – 4 p.m. at the Sedona Community Pool. Come celebrate at Sedona’s best pool party, with music by DJ Douglas, food by Old Crow and plenty of water fun to help you beat the heat! The pool will open at noon for free recreation swim and just outside the pool gate attendees will be able to enjoy giant water slides, food trucks, free face painting and a photo booth. Although this event is free of charge, some vendors may…

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… I was talking with a friend this afternoon and asked for a suggestion for a photo for tonight … the response was for something warm and fuzzy … what better image than a Golden puppy chewing on my feet? Perfect! This is a shot of one of Fran’s puppies years ago and I had gotten into the baby pen with them to get nice close up shots of the little fur balls. Several of them were chewing on my toes much of the time I was in the pen with them … all of were happy and a little…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Attack on Finland” showing July 1-6 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. “Attack on Finland” is based on the International Best-Selling novel. Finland’s Independence Day celebration on December 6 is crudely interrupted by an attack on the Presidential Palace. A set of distinguished guests are taken as hostages. Security service officer Max Tanner (Jasper Pääkkönen) is set as the negotiator of the hostage crisis and soon it is clear that the main target behind the terrorist attack is a plan to destabilize the…

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By Amaya Gayle Gregory The way your world looks on the outside does not, cannot define how spiritual you are, cannot demonstrate your level of understanding or the degree to which enlightenment has seeped into your very being,  It doesn’t matter what the outside looks like. It is only a false factor, a concocted check box for those still residing in judgment, who believe that enlightenment looks a certain way, who have yet to see the truth of who they are and project their missing links onto the world. It doesn’t matter if you work a 9 to 5 job,…

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Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Dakota” showing July 1-6 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. Single Mom and recently widowed Kate Sanders (Abbie Cornish) lives on her family’s farm in Georgia with her daughter Alex (Lola Sultan). Life on the farm is a challenge and things have only gotten more complicated when retired combat dog, Dakota, arrives on their doorstep delivered by Sergeant CJ Malcolm (Tim Rozon). CJ is fulling a promise made to his friend and fellow Afghanistan veteran Marine Clay Sanders (Kate’s late husband and Alex’s father)…

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