Author: Tommy Acosta

Sedona AZ (August 9, 2018) – Looking for something creative and active for the kids? The Sedona Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Lena to offer Magical Movement with Lena, an outdoor dance experience for ages 5 to 8 years. This movement class will include dancing, acting, and working on strength, balance and cooperation in creative ways. Children will explore their connection to the natural world while stretching their imaginations and bodies.  Each week will feature a theme, such as balance or rhythm, that will be explored by use of body, voice and minds.  Participants will be developing age-appropriate skills throughout…

By Ted Grussing… I took this shot of an egret at Bubbling Ponds near the end of June and totally love the flare of his wings that he presented on take off as he wheeled away from me … the egrets are one of the most easily spooked of shore birds I have found and even have trouble getting close when on the water at Watson Lake … when they are around. Anyhow, hope you like it as much as I do … shot with the Nikon D850.

By Nazih Hazime, Fire ChiefVerde Valley Fire DistrictCottonwood AZ (August 8, 2018) – Verde Valley Fire District crews from Station 36 spotted a wildland fire from in the area of 89A between Jerome and Clarkdale on August 7, 2018 at approximately 10:45 am.  The crews arrived to find approximately 6 acres of active fire burning through low to medium wildland fuel.Crews were able to control and quickly establish division around the fire before spreading further. There were 2 homes threatened but were protected by fire crews. The cause of the fire is unknown.

By Carson RalstonLibrary Specialist-Adult ProgramsCamp Verde AZ (August 8, 2018) – Join us in the Copper Room at Camp Verde Community Library from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, Tuesday, August 28th for a free 3 week workshop on Positive Self-Talk.  The workshop meets the next 2 Tuesdays at the same time and location, ending on September 11th.

Cornville AZ (August 8, 2018) – Eric and Gayle Glomski of Page Springs Cellars presented a $20,000 check to three regional nonprofits in a ceremony held August 7th at Page Springs Cellars in Cornville. Prescott Creeks Preservation Association, Friends of the Verde River, and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters were beneficiaries of the 2018 Tilted Earth Festival Silent Auction. Representatives from the three organizations, Michael Byrd, Executive Director for Prescott Creeks, Laura Jones, Community Engagement Coordinator for Friends of the Verde River, and Erin Mabery, Big Brothers Big Sisters Verde Valley Executive Director were on-hand at a check presentation ceremony. The regional nonprofits look forward to putting the…

NEW AUDIO TRACK BY GENE WEEDCottonwood AZ (August 7, 2018) – The League of Women Voters and co-sponsored by the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce presented a forum of all the Cottonwood Council Candidates. The purpose was to introduce the candidates to the community and to provide a platform for the candidates to answer some audience questions about the issues coming before the Cottonwood community. Present were all candidates: Bill Tinnin, Doug Hulse, Jackie Nairn, Kyla Allen, and Michael Mathews. These five candidates are vying for three seats on Council in the August 28, 2018 election. If a majority is achieved…

By Ted Grussing… I captured a series of shots of the Blue Heron that I sent out last night and this shot is the next in the series, taken approximately .14 seconds after the shot from last night … you can see where he has lifted off with the mighty force of the push from the legs and the forward and downward beat of the wings. The shot that precedes last nights shows our heron just beginning to uncoil into that max stretch we saw last night. Total elapsed time of the three shots is approximately .4 seconds and each…

Coalition of Law Enforcement and Victim Advocacy Agencies join together to provide Sexual Assault Victims Recovery and Reporting resourcesPrescott AZ (August 7, 2018) – “Seek Then Speak” (https://www.seekthenspeak.org/) is a new online resource for sexual assault victims seeking assistance and support. Victims can remain anonymous as long as they would like, because they are in control of the information being shared, who it is shared with, and what they want to happen with it.This service has been brought to Yavapai County through membership with the following agencies: Cottonwood Police Department, Prescott Police Department, Prescott Valley Police Department, Chino Valley Police…

Camp Verde AZ (August 7, 2018) – Camp Verde Community Library offers FREE Health Screenings Friday, September 7th, between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. These non-fasting screenings for cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure are sponsored by Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) and Verde Valley Medical Centers.

Prescott AZ (August 7, 2018) – The monthly meeting of Prescott Indivisible will be held at the Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 882 Sunset, Prescott, Friday, September 7, 2018 from 6-7:30 pm.Prescott Indivisible is a non-partisan community which seeks to promote a progressive and inclusive agenda in support of human rights and the environment.  We focus on local actions in defense of the rule of law, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. We invite all to participate and have your voice heard.

By Ted Grussing… A friend and I headed over to Watson Lake in Prescott Friday afternoon and talk about water … up at least seven or more feet. I think because there is so much water in it now the predators are having some difficulty getting fish. We saw no Osprey, Eagles or other raptors; probably fewer than twenty Cormorants and maybe a dozen or so Blue Herons and too few ducks to think about. It was amazingly beautiful and the plan is to return this week and focus just on herons and some landscape at days end.

By Stephen DeVol, Sedona.biz Publisher (August 5, 2018) It’s the oldest trick in the playbook of elections: make ‘em mad and they’ll make changes. Well, are you mad enough? This issue with the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sedona has certainly got the desired result. But civil dialogue is missing from this playbook. And with angry people comes angry solutions. “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater” is what’s missing from the discussion. Stop and think what you are contemplating doing in anger. I was in Santa Cruz, California last month. I found all the highways going…

Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward (August 5, 2018)Someone asked me how I was voting in Sedona and why. Because everyone is entitled to my opinion, below is my response.No on Home Rule will force the City to prioritize spending — finally! Notice that the people screaming loudest about what might happen if No wins are those who have the most to gain from Yes winning, the Chamber of Commerce (CoC), the Lodging Council, and the City gov. itself. Notice that the City (or others), when listing everything they say will be cut, never lists money to the CoC ($2.5M last year!)…

Camp Verde AZ (August 4, 2018) – The next Music in the Stacks, a free monthly concert series, will take place on Thursday, August 9th at 5:30 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.

Fire managers with the Coconino National Forest continue monitoring and utilizing several lightning-caused fires to benefit the landscape and maintain a healthy ecosystem by allowing fire to fulfill its natural role and consume forest debris.Information and details about the Surveyor, Seep, Bristow, Platypus, Rhino and Deer Fires, including their objectives, will be updated on Inciweb under the name of the fire at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/. Quick updates will also be provided via the Forest’s social media sites, to include Twitter at www.twitter.com/coconinonf (@CoconinoNF) and Facebook at www.facebook.com/CoconinoNF (@CoconinoNF).