Author: Tommy Acosta

By Ted Grussing… you know the look that you get when you know that your presence is tolerated? Well, One and I were out on the deck late afternoon and after her usual exploration of her territory she came up and sat on the bench, content to just soak in the pleasant temperature and light winds. It was then that she noticed me taking pictures of her, and this is the look that she gave me … it lasted and lasted … finally she decided the best course of action was simply to ignore me and that she did.

Renowned photographer and artist Jay Maisel featured in acclaimed documentarySedona AZ (September 16, 2019) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Jay Myself” on Tuesday, Sept. 24. There will be two shows at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.“Jay Myself” documents the monumental move of renowned photographer and artist, Jay Maisel, who, in February 2015 after forty-eight years, begrudgingly sold his home — the 36,000 square-foot, 100-year-old landmark building in Manhattan known simply as “The Bank.”

The much anticipated Jerome Indie Music and Film Festival returns September 26 through the 29th.Jerome AZ (September 16, 2019) – Spook Hall in Jerome will be the venue to see the premiere of Brandon Hamilton’s Episode 2 of his series Endangered History. The Documentary shorts portion of the festival starts at 12pm.All around the world, the windows to our past are being torn down. Historic buildings and homes are being demolished to make way for parking lots and modern innovation. A historic building is a time capsule, holding stories from yesteryear.

Encore of lecture series featuring Beatles historian Scott Freiman at Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (September 14, 2019) – Sedona International Film Festival is proud to be the official host of the “Deconstructing the Beatles” series, joining hundreds of theatres around the country for this special event. “Deconstructing The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” will show in Sedona on Monday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre.The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” is one of the most influential albums of our time. Rolling Stone described it as “the most important rock…

Preparations begin for the2020 Verde Valley Birding and Nature FestivalVolunteer Opportunities for AllCottonwood AZ (September 14, 2019) – Friends of the Verde River (Friends) is excited to begin preparations for the 2020 Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival being held at Dead Horse Ranch State Park April 23  – 26, 2020. This annual festival provides a unique recreational experience to anyone interested in the natural world and fosters awareness of the importance of habitat for the enrichment of all life in the Verde Valley.

Cottonwood AZ (September 14, 2019) – The Center of Universal Light and Naam Yoga Arizona are pleased to present a Global Gathering for Peace and Healing, October 13, 2019, at 4pm in Cottonwood, at the Old Town Activity Park, 187 E. Pima Street. The Free Event includes a one hour Naam Yoga meditation followed by Kirtan singing to bring our communities together in the spirit of Love, Peace, and Light.

Glenn Close narrates powerful, timely film; reception and community discussion part of eventSedona AZ (September 13, 2019) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with Unify Sedona: A Rainbow Alliance and PFLAG Sedona/Verde Valley to present the premiere of “The Lavender Scare” on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.Come early for a pre-film reception hosted by Unify Sedona, and stay after the film for a Q&A and community conversation.“The Lavender Scare” is narrated by Glenn Close and features the voices of an all-star ensemble cast, including David Hyde Pierce, Cynthia Nixon,…

Clarkdale AZ (September 13, 2019) – The Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum, in partnership with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Yavapai College, is pleased to present an Arizona Humanities  Foundation – AZ Speaks community education event on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, titled “Ancient Southwestern Native American Pottery”.  Award winning Archaeologist, Allen Dart will discuss and show examples of Native American ceramic styles that characterized specific peoples and eras of the U.S. Southwest.  Dart will also discuss how archaeologists use pottery for dating archaeological sites and interpreting ancient life-ways.  Illustrations include samples of pottery types made from about 2,000-500 years…

Sedona AZ (September 13, 2019) – It used to be that traffic was the number one issue that I heard about from constituents; now it is short-term rentals. As most of you know, until several years ago Sedona was able to restrict short-term rentals to 30 days. However, the state legislature decided to take away our ability to regulate short-term rentals and, after the signing of SB1350 in May 2016 by Gov. Ducey, Sedona experienced an explosion of short-term rentals.The city has calculated the number of short-term rental properties within Sedona city limits, as of Aug. 1, 2019, at 1,093.…

By Ted Grussing… compliments of the peach tree out back … I was out with One late afternoon and saw this squirrel going up the tree to get some food for himself. Turned out to be one of those events when I decided to do a lot of shooting and over the course of a few minutes got several hundred shots of him … plucking the peach from the upper branches, bringing it partially down the tree and then gripping it and eating it whilst pointed downward on the trunk of the tree. He had a good grip, forced it…

All-star ensemble cast featured in Sundance sensation debuting at Fisher Theatre Sedona AZ (September 12, 2019) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of the Sundance hit and critically-acclaimed new film “Before You Know It” Sept. 20-25 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.“Before You Know It” featured an award-winning, all-star ensemble cast, including Judith Light, Mandy Patinkin, Alec Baldwin, Hahhah Pearl Utt, Jen Tullock and Mike Colter.A long-kept family secret thrusts codependent, thirty-something sisters into a literal soap opera.

Sedona AZ (September 12, 2019) – Professional photographer Matt Rich will present at the meeting of the Sedona Camera Club starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 30th, at the Christ Lutheran Church, 25 Chapel Rd, Sedona. Doors open at 5:30.Matt will begin the presentation teaching 10 basic skills necessary to successfully photograph the Southwest – or anywhere else for that matter.  He will then focus on his philosophy that will take your photographs from snapshots to gallery level images. He will end with a video about “Passion,” a source of incredible energy and motivation.

Clarkdale AZ (September 12, 2019) – Geology Rocks at the Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum on Friday, September, 28 and Saturday, September 29 between the hours of 11:00-2:00 each day when the museum features its “Geology of the Verde Valley” exhibit created by the late Paul Handverger. Come by to see the kinds of rocks right here under your feet where you live! Learn about the geology of the Verde Valley.Children visiting the exhibit can register at the museum to win a complimentary book about rocks and rock collecting.

Camp Verde AZ (September 12, 2019) – Camp Verde Community Library and Friends of Beaver Creek Library will co-host an Art event Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. in the Terra Cotta Room of the Camp Verde Community Library.  Artists who were juried into the Visions of the Verde exhibit, which is currently on display at Yavapai College (Verde Campus) art gallery will be featured.

Sedona AZ (September 12, 2019) – On Saturday, September 21, 2019, beginning at 10:00 AM, the Oak Creek Apples Macintosh Users Group will offer a general question-and-answer session on Apple computers, iPads, and iPhones in the Si Burch Room at the Sedona Public Library. Alan Gore will facilitate the meeting. Bill Timberman, a Mac enthusiast, has discovered many neat new features and capabilities in the latest iOS version. He will demo some of these new features at the meeting. Admission is free. Pre-registration is desirable but not required. Register by emailing to oakcreekapples@gmail.com.