Sedona AZ (May 24, 2019) – The #1 topic of conversation and frustration in Sedona is traffic and how the City Council is going to make it better. Two of the questions I get the most on this topic are: Why does it take so long to start construction, and are you going to address the pedestrians in front of Tlaquepaque? I’m happy to answer both questions.Let’s start with why construction planning takes so long, and why that’s a good thing. One major reason for the length of the process is that we take time to involve you, our residents,…
Author: Tommy Acosta
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Camp Verde AZ (May 24, 2019) – Last week, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office School District, by and through its Detention Center High School, graduated its first ever student. Graduate Zachary McQuillen, 21, completed his High School course studies while in custody and was presented with his certified High School Diploma.Oversite of this detention based school is the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) acting under the authority of the State Superintendent of Education. There is also oversite under the Yavapai County Education Service Agency (YCESA) acting under the authority of the Yavapai County School Superintendent. The school is managed by…
Jerome AZ (May 24, 2019) – Warm, easy nights of June in Jerome will set the perfect mood to welcome art lovers as they stroll the lovely galleries and studios that circle the town from the Old Jerome High School to Made in Jerome Pottery. This first Saturday Art Walk on June 1st will continue to delight the growing group of regulars as well as lucky newcomers to this wonderful evening. The festivities start at 5:00PM throughout the town with a free shuttle running until 8:00PM. Great food and charming accommodations make Jerome a perfect weekend getaway. Four wine tasting rooms, live…
Dozens of tortoises up for adoption by the Arizona Game and FishPhoenix AZ (May 24, 2019) – In a battle against a moving vehicle, a Sonoran desert tortoise is most certain to lose every time. While “Charlie,” a 20-plus-year-old tortoise, escaped with its life in this instance — albeit with a damaged shell that has now healed — it’s now well enough to be adopted into a forever home.As is “Hook,” another tortoise that needed surgery to amputate its right foot after being attacked by a dog. Today both are among the multiple tortoises seeking to provide slow doses of…
Sedona AZ (May 24, 2019) – To protect Oak Creek from pollutants, and as part of administering the Stormwater Quality Management Program, the city of Sedona Public Works Department is requesting public comment on their Stormwater Management Program. This public outreach also helps maintain program compliance with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
By Karen Mack, Youth Services LibrarianSedona AZ (May 24, 2019) – Sedona Public Library is getting ready to launch its annual summer reading program! On Saturday, June 1, a free family event, featuring Magical Michael Steele, will kick off eight weeks of reading and activities for youth and will introduce families to this year’s summer reading theme: A Universe of Stories.In June and July, summer reading program participants will have many opportunities to be rewarded for daily reading. In addition, we’ve filled the summer calendar with literacy-based programs and many other fun and educational library activities, as well as weekly…
By Ted Grussing… among humans a way of toasting or celebrating by throwing a drink down your throat, but in and amongst other species it is putting your meal down your throat. In this instance a great blue heron is putting a ten inch trout down his throat … down the hatch my feathered friend! Perhaps another before the day is over and the evening in the rookery for sleep and rest. Then a new day and the sun returns in the eastern sky and the search for daily food resumes. Once out of the nest they fend for themselves…
Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney and Finn Little star in new film at Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (May 23, 2019) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of the award-winning, critically-acclaimed “Storm Boy” June 1-5 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.“Storm Boy” features an award-winning ensemble cast, including Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney, Finn Little, Trevor Jamison, Morgana Davies and Erik Thomson.“Storm Boy” is a beautiful and contemporary retelling of Colin Thiele’s classic Australian tale. Thiele’s novella, which tells the story of a young boy and his extraordinary friendship with an orphaned pelican on South Australia’s…
By John Roberts, Sedona Resident (May 23, 2019) The very impressive and extensive report from the Union of Concerned Scientists referenced in Lisa Greene’s 5/21 10:20pm submission contains key words that always have alerted me to question scientific reports for their veracity and applicability to a given subject in discussion. Only if the reader has the background into the world of reporting from scientists can these key words ring the alarm button. Those in this referenced article sure did for me. A few typical key word examples from Lisa’s referenced scientific report were: very likely, can have, can increase the…
Drivers should focus on safe driving, being well-restedPhoenix AZ (May 23, 2019) – If you’re planning a road trip in the state over the Memorial Day weekend, the Arizona Department of Transportation has good news about construction-related closures.ADOT and its contractors will not schedule weekend closures along state-maintained highways, including Phoenix-area freeways, from Friday afternoon through late Monday night, May 27.
Phoenix AZ (May 23, 2019) – As many people are gearing up to spend time outdoors over the Memorial Day weekend, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds everyone planning to ride an off-highway vehicle (OHV) to do so safely and responsibly.Numerous fatal accidents last year involved utility task vehicles (UTVs) that rolled over and pinned the operator underneath. Wearing a seatbelt is critical because it will help keep the operator and any passengers inside the UTV in the event of an accident.
Sedona AZ (May 23, 2019) – The city is beginning the eighth year of its Pre-Monsoon program, in which Public Works Department staff members inspect public and private drainage ways in residential and commercial areas. The inspections, conducted from May through June, identify debris, dirt, trash and vegetation in drainage ways that could block the flow of storm water or be carried downstream during a monsoon storm. Debris that is moved downstream can clog culverts and bridge underpasses resulting in additional flooding beyond what might have otherwise occurred in clear drainage ways. Because waterways in Sedona flow to Oak Creek, debris in channels…
Arizona Occupant Protection Enforcement Program – Monday, May 20, through Sunday, June 2, 2019.Prescott AZ (May 23, 2019) – In an effort to save more lives on Arizona’s roadways this month the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is partnering with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and our local law enforcement agencies to enforce Arizona’s seat belt and child safety seat laws.“Even though Arizona is a secondary law state for seatbelt usage, law enforcement officers will be taking a zero tolerance approach on drivers who are in violation of state law,” said Alberto Gutier, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway…
Sedona AZ (May 23, 2019) – One of Sedona’s own popular singer songwriter actors, Shondra, was recently nominated for an LA Music Video Award for her song, “Greed Incorporated.” Earlier this year, her song had already won an American Tracks Music Award for Best Metal Song 2019 in which has surprised many of her fans around Sedona and the Verde Valley. The shocker comes from most folks in the area being familiar with Shondra performing concerts as the entertainment duo, Tom & Shondra, her involvement in community events and other shows around town. None of these shows have ever included…
Sedona AZ (May 23, 2019) – Iris Yang, a local author, will speak on June 29 at Sedona Public Library about her two historical novels on the Flying Tigers (American Volunteer Group) and their contributions to China in WWII. The talk is scheduled for 2:00 pm in Si Birch Community Room. Her novels, Wings of a Flying Tiger and Will of a Tiger, have received excellent reviews nationwide. Ms. Yang has been interviewed on National Public Radio (WUNC’s “The State of Things”) and has spoken to dozens of veteran’s groups, civic organizations, and libraries.