Sedona AZ (December 16, 2016) – A family-friendly Hanukkah celebration is scheduled at the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley on Monday, December 26 at 4 p.m. Please bring a Hanukkah menorah and four candles (three candles for the third night of the 8-day holiday along with the shamash, helper candle). Enjoy potato latkes (pancakes) as part of traditional Hanukkah dinner, Hanukkah songs and blessings,and a live auction of great prizes. Cost for Adults with reservations by December 16 is $18; at the door it will be $25. Children under 12, no charge. Call the office at 928 204-1286…
Author: Tommy Acosta
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By Anne Marie Mackler, Development DirectorSedona AZ (December 16, 2016) – Recently, when I asked a friend to direct his end-of-year philanthropy to Sedona Public Library, he said, “I don’t use the Library.” I was perplexed as I am a lifelong library user, and he’s an avid reader. When I asked why, he answered, “I buy the books I read.” Then he rushed off leaving me to murmur to his disappearing back.I wanted to tell him that Sedona Public Library is not just a storehouse for books; it’s a thriving community center.
By Ted Grussing… I’ve been receiving reports from different forests about pile burns this week and new what I was going to be viewing after I took off … smoke … everywhere. So I decided against going very high and after looking at the mess from 8500’ while heading out to Sycamore Canyon, I decided to try something else. A few days when I was shooting out at the ponds a Cessna flew fairly low over the ponds, so I headed that way and began shedding altitude and passed over the ponds about twelve hundred feet above them (higher than…
Stellar ensemble cast featured in award-winning film debuting at Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (December 15, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Sedona premiere of the critically-acclaimed audience sensation “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” showing Dec. 23-29 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” features an award-winning, all-star ensemble cast including Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, with Vin Diesel, Steve Martin and newcomer Joe Alwyn.
Sedona AZ (December 15, 2016) – The holiday season is upon us once again, and I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving with family and friends. While our November weather has been unusually warm, it looks like winter has finally begun to set in.The election is over, and the new City Council is now seated. We will be determining our priority list for the next year, and possibly the next two years as one of our first tasks.
Phoenix AZ (December 15, 2016) – Governor Doug Ducey and Airbnb today announced an official agreement between the online home sharing company and the Arizona Department of Revenue on the reporting and paying of taxes on behalf of Airbnb hosts. The agreement furthers the governor’s vision of embracing new, 21st century business models in the sharing economy that benefit all Arizonans.
By Ted Grussing… I’m not sure what the three ducks on the water are thinking as they eye the invading force that is about to splash down right in front of them … and can you imagine three planes coming in for a landing like this … major news events with airplane parts scattered all over the place, but these characters do it all day long. Incoming are three drake Ring Necks’ and waiting to be buffeted are two more drake Ring Necks and a hen Mallard. The far one seems to looking back and trying to clear the area…
By Ted Grussing… two rafts on the Colorado River have beached and are on the beach before they continue the journey down river … it is also an area that appears to be safe from commercial intrusion for the foreseeable future as through the efforts of many groups including the Grand Canyon Trust the Escalade Project which intended to build a tramway down to the river here has been stopped. This is the Confluence of the Little Colorado River (turquoise water) and the Colorado River (kinda green) … the entrance to the Grand Canyon and the end of Marble Canyon.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens documentary offered at Fisher Theatre Sedona AZ (December 13, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present free screenings of Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens’ new, award-winning documentary “Before the Flood” on Thursday, Dec. 22 at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.“We are offering this eye-opening film as an early holiday gift to the film lovers of Sedona and to our planet,” said festival director Patrick Schweiss. “We would like to thank everyone for their support of our festival and our theater by giving the gift of this film…
By Ted Grussing… I’m catching up and remembering all the techniques I use in faceting … I’ve restarted the stone three times now and think this time we’ll get it done without further shrinkage and I’m glad that my first stone this time around is a relatively inexpensive (but beautiful) laser ruby. Since after the first shot at it, my redo’s have been in thousandths of an inch the loss is not great, just the pain in realizing you pooched it again and have to start over. Should be polishing the pavilion in the morning, transfer the stone and start…
Cottonwood AZ (December 9, 2016) – On December 8, 2016, at approximately 7:30 AM, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a report of a gunshot sound and a structure fire in the 2300 block of S. Posse Trail in the Verde Villages. Fire Department personnel and deputies arrived to find an unattached metal shed in the yard of this residence with visible burn marks on the walls of the shed. After surveying the damage, deputies suspected the fire was the result of a “bottle cook,” terminology referring to the clandestine manufacture of illegal drugs. Additionally, strong chemical odors were detected…
By Ted Grussing… every once in a while it is fun to try something new and on this particular flight I did … I put my prime 400mm lens on the Canon 6D with the knowledge that it was unlikely I would get anything worth looking at. The majority of the shots I take in the air are with a 24-70 lens and most of the time it is set to 24mm or 35mm. At 24mm I am getting a field of view of about 74 degrees, but with a 400mm lens I am only getting a field of view…
Bolshoi Ballet production from Moscow debuts on the big screen at Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (December 9, 2016) – Come and experience a holiday treasure! The Sedona International Film Festival presents Ballet in Cinema on Sunday, Dec. 18 when it hosts the big screen premiere of “The Nutcracker” from the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. There will be one show at 4:00 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Christmas would not be complete without the enchanting tale of young Marie and her Nutcracker prince! E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fairytale staged by Russian ballet master Yuri Grigorovich will transport children and adults alike to…
By Ted Grussing… when I left for the airport this morning the clouds were draped over the rocks and in general a very low ceiling. A lot of water vapor in the air and a lot of smoke from a fire up on the rim. Not exactly sure who to attribute the fire too, but will know in the morning. It was still throwing a huge amount of smoke into the air at sunset and now the wind has done the usual switch to the NE so … we are downwind overnight.
Inspiring and acclaimed new films debut at Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (December 8, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premieres of the critically-acclaimed new films “Believe” and “Bleed For This” showing Dec. 16-21 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.