Author: Tommy Acosta

Sedona AZ (May 7, 2020) – The Sedona Historical Society is asking residents to share their COVID-19 experiences for posterity. The Society would like to capture some of the stories about how you are coping with the COVID-19 virus restrictions and risks. They plan to preserve these stories for the future as part of their permanent collection and possibly a future exhibit.What has your experience been like? Do you have a funny, sad, poignant, uplifting story? What’s different, or the same? Share your stories about how you’re staying in touch, coping with kids at home, learning a new skill, etc.…

Sedona AZ (May 7, 2020) – Sedona Fire District (SFD) is hosting the 18th Annual Firewise Clean-up event, May 15th through the 17th.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some changes for this year’s event.  “This year, firefighters will not be available to help unload the vegetation and move it into the dumpsters,” said Sedona Fire Marshal Jon Davis.  “But we hope to be back to normal operations for next year”, he explained. The Firewise Clean-up provides an opportunity for Sedona residents to clear unwanted vegetation from around their homes in preparation for the fire season.

Nearly 2,000 Arizona Nonprofit Employees Have Been Laid Off or Furloughed; PPP Loan Requests Totaled $37.7 Million in Relief FundingPhoenix AZ (May 7, 2020) – Nonprofits across Arizona are reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in real numbers, according to a survey by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits.  This week, the Alliance received 306 responses to its updated Covid-19 Nonprofit Impact Pulse Survey and is reporting 98% of responding organizations have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.  Of those impacted, 86% reported decreased revenue totaling and 76% indicate a disruption of services to clients and communities. 

Phoenix AZ (May 7, 2020) – Thanks to the generosity of foundation and corporate partners, families, and individual donors, the Arizona COVID-19 Community Response Fund and affiliate relief funds at the Arizona Community Foundation have grown to over $7.9 million in just over a month.

By Ted Grussing… I’m not sure if it is the stay at home thing or that he seemed to be overseeing three hens and 30 some young wood ducks, but this guy seemingly lost it … mom and four of her ten kids were heading out. Maybe she told him that it was one of the other drake wood ducks that was responsible for the large family. Smiles!

By Tommy AcostaSedona AZ (May 6, 2020) – Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. That’s basically it, in bringing tourism back to Sedona.With a shortfall of $10 million dollars in revenue that the city is forecast to suffer, Sedona will find itself in desperate need of tax dollars if the management and infrastructure of the city is to be maintained.Tourists can solve that problem.  And we all know this is the truth.Businesses, hotels and restaurants produce the tax dollars the city needs.  Only tourism can get the businesses going again. This is an undisputable fact, like it…

By Craig SwansonTrustee, Benefactors of Red Rock State ParkSedona AZ (May 6, 2020) – Benefactors of Red Rock State Park is continuing to hold their outdoor classroom raffle online. Through May 25, Benefactors is offering raffle tickets at their website www.benefactorsrrsp.org.This raffle is raising funds to build a new outdoor classroom to replace the one that washed away in a flood a year ago. To be built on safe higher ground, the new classroom will be used by all ages, but particularly elementary students. Red Rock State Park’s School Connection Program hosts over 1,500 area students each year, introducing them to…

Phoenix AZ (May 6, 2020) – Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and ten other state Attorneys General are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue an investigation in collaboration with the States into suspected national price fixing by meat packers in the cattle industry.In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday, the Attorneys General expressed concern over the likelihood of manipulation in the market for processed beef. The four largest meat packing companies control more than 80% of the beef processing in the United States. Recent pricing margins have shown that cattle prices are low and continue…

By Eric Jorgensen, DirectorADOT Motor Vehicle Division Phoenix AZ (May 6, 2020) – Recent weeks have seen a lot of changes for the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division. The biggest change was a welcome upgrade of the computer operating system. The obsolete platform that had served for more than three decades has been replaced by one that is state-of-the-art.The new system is far more flexible, adds many more service options online and makes sure those services that have to be done in an office are done more efficiently.

Kahtoola is now a Certified Sustainable Business at the Innovator/Silver level from the Sustainability Alliance.Sedona AZ (May 6, 2020) – Based in Flagstaff,  Kahtoola designs and manufactures traction footwear to get people outside in demanding conditions. As a northern Arizona company that recognizes the importance of connecting with place, Kahtoola has been environmentally conscious from the beginning. And, more than many other local businesses, they have a structure for measuring their impacts and reducing their carbon footprint.

By Dr. Marta Adelsman Life Coach in Communication and Consciousness(May 6, 2020)Kahlil Gibran, in his book The Prophet, instructs readers to “Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.” Hunkering down with my significant other during the pandemic makes that nearly impossible! Many couples long for ways to decrease the amount of tension and stress that rises during times of… well, tension and stress!  Reactions can happen so fast we find ourselves shouting before we  know it.  How can we avoid this tension with our spouse/partner? We decrease communication drama by asking clarifying…

By Ted Grussing… seems like I have been doing a lot of wandering from subject matter to subject matter and it is time to return to one of my favorite subjects … Great Blue Herons. So here is a shot I took of one as he was leaving the ponds to go roost in a tree … a strong banking climb out as he gained altitude and headed to the grove where many of the herons roost.

Camp Verde AZ (May 5, 2020) – UPDATE – Since the original media release, 5 additional COVID-19 cases involving detention employees have been confirmed. A majority of the employees who tested positive noted that symptoms were relatively minor with at least one appearing asymptomatic. Contact tracing for those quarantined employees is underway and includes detention staff, inmates, and family members  if necessary. Currently, no inmates have tested positive. Detention command staff is continuing to coordinate COVID-19 testing with cooperation of the Yavapai County Health Department, Wexford Health Sources, and Spectrum Healthcare.  The Sheriff would like to thank these agencies for their assistance…

Sedona AZ (May 5, 2020) – Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced barbers and cosmetologists may reopen May 8, 2020 and restaurants and coffee shops may reopen to dine-in service May 11, 2020 under the following guidelines in this announcement:Following continued positive data trends, Governor Doug Ducey today announced the next steps Arizona will take to gradually reenergize the economy. The Governor issued an Executive Order allowing cosmetologists and barber shops to resume appointment-based services this Friday, May 8 and restaurants and coffee shops to resume dine-in services with physical distancing measures on Monday, May 11. The Governor’s Office also released…

Jon Trautwein, Fire ChiefSedona Fire DistrictSedona AZ (May 5, 2020) – The Sedona Fire District wants to thank the entire community for its diligence and patience as we meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continuing to focus on protocols and adjustments that provide the maximum safety to the community. We are ready and available to respond to all incidents related or not to COVID-19.We encourage everyone to continue to practice social distancing and sanitation measures as recommended by the Governor to ensure that as we reopen our community, we all stay as safe as possible. The Sedona…