Author: Tommy Acosta

By Ted Grussing … so, we rescued this little lady Wednesday evening; Wednesday evening she was hydrated and checked out … Thursday, more hydration and six baby mice … Thursday evening, about 22 hours after we first got her, Rachelle and Evan placed her on a branch about 20′ above the ground near the nesting tree and mom saw us put her back up there. I stayed on the back deck for a couple of hours to make sure all was well. About an hour after she was placed up in the tree, I saw her glide down to the…

The City of Sedona Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 102 Roadrunner Drive, Sedona, Arizona regarding the proposals listed below. At the public hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will review, take public testimony, discuss and possibly take action regarding the following proposals:Request for approval of a Major Community Plan Amendment to the Future Land Use Map from Single- family Low Density to Multi-family Medium and High Density and Conceptual Zone Change from RS-18 (Single-family Residential) to RM-2 (Multi-family Residential High Density)…

Sedona News (June 18, 2021) Soundbites Grill in Uptown Sedona is not only known for its mouth-watering fare and breathtaking views of the famed Sedona Red Rocks but also for the fabulous live music it offers almost every night of the week.Not only does the restaurant feature some of the best musicians in Northern Arizona but also hosts national touring acts that love to play on the Sound Bites stage.A state-of-the-arts sound system and lighting add to the luster of their featured bands, creating an almost New York City rock club/supper club ambiance for their shows.Sedona locals and visitors alike…

By Amaya Gayle Gregory I felt fractured, split apart and sought to be whole but with every aspect of myself I attempted to rehabilitate, I created more division, splitting myself into smaller and smaller pieces, some okay, others less so. In the process I fractured the world into tiny bits, spiritual and material, organic and poisonous, healthy and dangerous, acceptable and not. I felt unworthy and ached for inclusion but was unwilling to include those parts of myself I saw as undeserving. Inwardly, I could not honor my own path, my own way of being in the world, the turns and twists…

By Tommy Acosta(June 17, 2021)Yesterday, I saw a sight in the Safeway parking lot that just about broke my heart.Parked next to me was this car, and when a woman opened the door and got out of it, I noticed that the car was totally packed with suitcases and belongings, blocking all the car windows save for the windshield. There was not an excess inch one could pack anything into. The realization struck me that this woman was living out of her car.She was haggard, shabby and unkempt. Her face was worn with worry and her eyes were dulled. I…

By Ted Grussing… just imagine surviving the brutal heat we have been experiencing and whoops, you tumble out of the nest before you have fledged. Down through the branches, picking up some pine needles in your wings as you head down … wings extended and while not able to fly, you glide to a perch below the nest just a few feet above the ground … and it is late in the day, the temperature is still 102F and there is no way back to the safety of the nest. Predators are all around you … odds of survival are…

Cottonwood AZ (June 17, 2021) – Friends of the Verde River has landed one of the first ever grants from the brand new 4Rivers Fundin May 2021. Friends of the Verde River works collaboratively for a healthy, flowing Verde River system. The Verde River flows through the center of Arizona, from the Chino Valley to the Phoenix metropolitan area. The 4Rivers Fund is administered by the Grand Junction-based Forever Our Rivers Foundation and was generously seeded with $1 million by The Walton Family Foundation earlier this year. It will supply annual grants to protect four southwestern waterways, forever.Forever Our Rivers plans to grow the fund…

Sedona AZ (June 17, 2021) – Members of the Verde Valley Weavers and Spinners Guild will have their spinning wheels humming for “Monday at the Museum” at the Sedona Heritage Museum on June 28th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The spinners’ guild was formed over 35 years ago by Mary Pendleton of the Pendleton Weaving studio in Sedona along with a few weavers in the Verde Valley. The guild continues today with some 40 to 50 members actively pursuing Fiber Arts such as weaving, spinning, basket-making, dyeing and knitting. They would be happy to share their art with you,…

Sedona AZ (June 17, 2021) – In commemoration of the founding of our country, Rowe Fine Art Gallery applauds the independent nature of its artists who continue to blaze new trails in their mediums. Free Spirits opens Friday, July 2, at 4 p.m., and continues throughout the month. Stop into the gallery and see how freedom translates to canvas, bronze, stone or wearable art.

By Peter Cutler Sedona News (June 17, 2021) I know it is seemingly a different topic, but I would also like to write something about the homeless situation in Sedona, especially about those who are working here full time and still living in their cars after more than a year because they cannot find affordable housing. I have some solutions I would like to suggest that people seem to resonate with. Much of it is a solution to the serious problem of corporations and wealthy investors buying up houses in Sedona and turning them into Air B&Bs. It is decimating…

Cornville AZ (July 16, 2021) – The Cornville Fire, currently 92 percent contained, has not experienced any new growth over the last two days and continues to smolder at 1,240 acres.Other than some internal pockets of the fire slowly burning and producing very light smoke, there has been no activity or movement of the wildfire.The Central West Type 3 Incident Management Team has demobilized, while firefighters with the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest continue with patrols and mop-up operations until full containment.

By Mary MorrisMy name is Mary Morris, and the Village of Oak Creek has been my home for 17 years.Those of us in red rock country know our rugged landscapes, rural way of life and Western heritage are at the heart of what makes this place special. We celebrate our frontier spirit, respect the land, value our history, support our neighbors and – of course – love our horses.Last August, sadly, our community suffered a great loss with the passing of Elizabeth “Bee” Gordon.Bee moved here in the late 1970s, and owned and operated Horse Mesa Ranch. It became her…

Sedona News (June 16, 2021: Prior to Mercury’s stunning performance of their legendary tribute to Freddy Mercury of Queen performed Friday, June 11 at the Sedona performing Arts Center, Sedona.biz was granted an exclusive backstage interview with the band.The Sedona International Film Festival partnered with Unify Sedona: A Rainbow Alliance to present “Mercury: The Story of Queen’s Front Man” Mercury celebrates the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen — a band that rocked the world and the fame, decadence, tragedy and triumph that swirled around its leader. 

By Tommy Acosta A brush fire threatening the homes of local residents sparked neighbors to come out with shovels and do what they could to slow the burn until firefighters arrived. Last Tuesday around 6:45 p.m., residents of the Cathedral Vista subdivision off Chavez Ranch Road down the Upper Loop saw flames in the forest land to the south.

Cornville Fire – June 15, 2021 – PM UpdateThe wildfire had little activity today while firefighters worked to secure the last lines of the fire on the north/northeast section.  The fire is currently 74% contained and will produce small amounts of smoke from time to time due to internal smoldering.Fire investigators have found that the origin of the fire began on the side of Cornville Road on national forest land and rapidly grew throughout Sunday, encroaching upon private land.Firefighters will continue to patrol established hand lines and areas of containment, while working to contain the remain portion of the wildfire…