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.

Up to a $350 Reward OfferedCottonwood AZ (October 3, 2020) – The Cottonwood Police Department is asking for your help in locating a hit and run suspect.Monday morning September 28, 2020, a dark- colored pickup truck collided with a bicyclist in the 700 block of N. Main street in Cottonwood.  The driver of the vehicle fled the scene.  The 65-year-old male victim was transported to the hospital for his injuries which were significant, but non-life threatening.Cottonwood Police were able to identify the driver of the run vehicle as 24-year-old Cottonwood resident Brandon Michael Mackinnon.

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Camp Verde AZ (October 3, 2020) – The next Music in the Stacks, a free monthly concert series, will take place on Thursday, October 8th at 5:00 pm in 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 4-6 different performers during the show, with a rotating variety each month.October’s concert features the following talented local musicians: Mark Larson, Michael Peters, Jim French and a special guest to be named later. These free concerts will continue the second Thursday of every month at the same time and location.

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Sedona AZ (October 3, 2020) – From any mobile device with texting capability, anyone in the Sedona and greater Verde Valley area may now text 911 to report an emergency if they cannot call. With the launch of this new service, called Text-to-911, the Verde Valley 911 dispatch centers are now equipped to receive and respond to mobile phone messages from citizens.Scenarios in which this service will be particularly useful include when individuals are deaf and hard of hearing, a situation where it is too dangerous to dial 911, a crime is in progress, the caller is facing domestic abuse, and…

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By Ted Grussing… all creatures need to get a little nap and rest up for what is to come for the rest of the day … the search for food, avoidance of predators, just enjoying the warmth of the sun on our body … day dreams of what has yet to come and planning on how to make it so or vacant minds whilst the imagination soars high.

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Prescott AZ (October 2, 2020) – Yavapai County Recorder, Leslie Hoffman would like to remind voters about important information regarding the upcoming 2020 General Election being held Tuesday, November 3, 2020.All registered voters are eligible to vote in the 2020 General Election.To be eligible to vote, you must register/update your voter information by Monday, October 5, 2020. Please visit the Yavapai County Recorder’s Office at 1015 Fair St. Rm 228, Prescott or 10 S. 6th St., Cottonwood to register in-person Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or visit www.servicearizona.com to register online until 11:59 p.m.

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Sedona AZ (October 2, 2020) – Professional photographer Shane McDermott will present to the Sedona Camera Club starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 26th.  Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, Shane’s online presentation will be via a Sedona Camera Club webinar.Do you grapple with the greatness within you wanting to emerge through your photography? Shane will guide participants deep into the creative process of nature photography.   He will share simple yet powerful practices that help photographers recognize and access their unique creative brilliance.  His presentation will highlight the importance and power of both the technical and creative aspects of…

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Multiple Cases in Camp Verde/Village of Oak Creek Reported     Sedona AZ (October 2, 2020) – Recently, there have been several reports of counterfeit US Currency being passed in Cottonwood, Clarkdale and the Village of Oak Creek in Yavapai Sheriff Jurisdiction. Both the Cottonwood and Clarkdale Police Department have issued press releases on cases within their jurisdictions. In the Cottonwood Police incidents, 2 brothers were arrested on September 24, 2020, and were released the following day. Suspect photos were issued in the Clarkdale incident. Regarding the Village of Oak Creek incident – On September 25, 2020, around 12:30 PM, deputies were…

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Sedona AZ (October 2, 2020) – Each year the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona honors outstanding individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations who have demonstrated exceptional philanthropic spirit, leadership, and volunteerism throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley.It is in times of emergency that we see what a community is capable of doing. Our community exploded with altruistic activity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals stood up to support their neighbors in incredible ways.

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Washington D.C. (October 2, 2020) – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decided it will review a case challenging Arizona’s election integrity laws concerning ballot harvesting and out-of-precinct voting. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is asking the High Court to bring clarity to these matters after a misguided ruling by the Ninth Circuit struck the measures down.“We are pleased the Supreme Court will hear our case regarding Arizona’s restrictions on ballot harvesting and out-of-precinct voting. There is no higher priority for public officials than to maintain the integrity of elections,” said General Brnovich. “As we contend with…

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Sedona AZ (October 2, 2020) – On Saturday, October 10th at 6pm PDT, Verde Valley School will host the virtual Dream Concert, live-streamed by FANS.com. The Dream Concert, will highlight notable musicians advocating for the inclusion of Native American voices and bodies in high school education. The Dream Concert revives a concept originally started 30 years ago by musician Jackson Browne. In 1990, Browne and a handful of famous friends held an outdoor music festival on the Verde Valley School campus near the Village of Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona. The festival became an anticipated annual affair. For 12 years, Browne’s…

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Gyms, bars serving food, and other paused businesses can operate under health protocols statewidePhoenix AZ (October 2, 2020) – Reflecting the continuing decline of COVID-19’s community spread across Arizona, all counties now meet benchmarks for safely reopening businesses such as indoor gyms and fitness centers, bars serving food, and movie theaters. In Thursday’s update of the Arizona Department of Health Services Business Dashboard, Graham County advanced to the moderate transmission stage, joining all other Arizona counties except for Greenlee County, which remains in the minimal transmission stage. 

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Sedona AZ (October 2, 2020) – 2020 has been the year of canceled events in Sedona, but there is one event you won’t need to miss being offered by the Sedona Historical Society, a fall-appropriate and Covid-safe outdoor cemetery walk called “Voices from the Grave”.On Friday and Saturday, October 23rd and 24th, a limited number of fortunate ticket holders will be going back in time to meet pioneers who lived and worked in Red Rock country, and who experienced triumph and tragedy while carving out a life and some adventure in this place we call Sedona.

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“Distracted Drivers Terrify Me” arrives during National Distracted Driving Awareness MonthPhoenix AZ (October 2, 2020) – Fearless people are all around us. Handlers of venomous snakes. Rodeo bullfighters. Electrical workers who do repairs from the sky. But there’s one thing that terrifies these brave souls: distracted drivers.”Distracted driving is terrifying,” Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski said. “Seeing a driver in the car next to you, looking down at their phone while driving and behaving like a drunk driver – swerving and driving too slow or too fast – no one wants to encounter that driver and it has…

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Prescott AZ (October 1, 2020) – The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners throughout Yavapai County are excited to announce that Text-to-9-1-1 service is now available countywide.  Partnering agencies include police departments in Clarkdale, Jerome, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, Sedona, Yavapai Tribal-Prescott, Yavapai Tribal-Apache, Yavapai College along with the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office and Prescott National Forest Law Enforcement. This new technology means all 9-1-1 Public Safety Dispatch Centers in Yavapai County are equipped to receive and respond to mobile phone Text-to-9-1-1 messages from our community. These texts will be routed to the appropriate 9-1-1 center,…

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By Darcy Hitchcock Co-Founder, Sustainability AllianceSedona AZ (October 2, 2020) – If the people in your organization don’t look like the community, you’re missing out. But increasing diversity can be tricky. You don’t want your efforts to devolve into tokenism. Here’s how you can invite in other voices and appeal to new markets. More.

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