Author: Tommy Acosta

Tommy Acosta is the publisher, editor, and lead opinion writer of Sedona.biz, the hyperlocal cyber magazine known as "The Voice of Sedona and the Verde Valley." He writes on local issues, politics, national affairs, culture, and personal reflection, often with a provocative or satirical tone.In addition to his work as a writer, Acosta is a working musician and reflexologist. He has written extensively about the challenges Sedona's musicians face, noting their low pay despite the town's vibrant music scene.Acosta describes himself as a "political actualist," rejecting strict party affiliations and instead focusing on how people are manipulated by political processes. His coverage spans local Sedona issues, tourism, short-term rentals, cultural events, community building, as well as national commentary and critiques of political figures, sometimes through imaginative pieces like "What Would Tommy Do?"Acosta is deeply engaged in Sedona's cultural and spiritual community, advocating for local musicians, artisans, and businesses, and writing about Sedona's unique identity as a spiritual and artistic hub.

Sedona Film Festival and Mary D. Fisher Theatre present big screen debut in SedonaSedona AZ (July 27, 2016) – The first season of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company Live continues an exceptional series of plays broadcast to cinemas from London’s Garrick Theatre. The second of the series is “Romeo and Juliet” showing on Sunday, Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. in Sedona. The Sedona International Film Festival hosts the big screen premiere at its Mary D. Fisher Theatre.The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company Live cinema season presents a new vision of Shakespeare’s heartbreaking tale of forbidden love — “Romeo and Juliet”. Branagh…

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Sedona AZ (July 27, 2016) – The summer event series, the Sedona Street Arts Festival returns this month to the Sedona Posse Grounds Hub and Posse Grounds Skate Park on Saturday, July 30, 2016 from 2-9 p.m. A FREE intergenerational event showcasing and celebrating the street arts, the Sedona Street Arts Festival drew over 80 in attendance last month in June, and will again feature local live music and performances, live arts, a skateboarding competition, local food vendors, and a ‘street dance party’ into the evening.

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Sedona AZ (July 27, 2016) – The Sedona Heritage Museum presents Michael Peach in a performance of his new original show “Lions (& Rattlers & Dragons & Longhorns) and Bears – Oh My” on Saturday, August 6 at 1:30 p.mPeach’s show features his unique blend of original cowboy poetry with a tongue-in-cheek look at Arizona and local history, also incorporating jokes, stories, and first person narrative.

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By Ted Grussing… in an effort to make our area look good this summer I have been spending a lot of time in Photoshop dehazing images and other techniques to bring out the natural beauty of the area. I do not believe that we have had a day this summer that the air has been clean. Know how when you look at Mingus from Sedona and you cannot see detail, but there is kind of a white haze obscuring your vision? That is smoke. When you look at the red rocks in Sedona and they have that white haze obscuring…

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Sedona AZ (July 26, 2016) – UPDATE – Following aerial reconnaissance this morning, the Point Fire appears calm with some isolated burning within the fire area. Fire managers have determined not to staff firefighters on the ground and to reinforce existing fire-lines using helicopter water drops. The fire will continue to be monitored over the next several days.Yesterday some precipitation occurred on the fire later in the day and crews were pulled off the fire due to approaching thunderstorms.  

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By Ted Grussing… fire, that is, I took this shot Saturday morning and it gives you a pretty good view of the Point Fire as they call it. It was caused by a lightning strike on Wednesday. As of this morning it was 190 acres and they Are trying to contain the fire on the north end of the mesa. As you can see the terrain is extremely rugged and they are trying to keep it from spreading into nearby canyons.

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Jerome AZ (July 25, 2016) – A warm and sultry night filled with art, music and gallery hopping is in store on August 6 for First Saturday Art Walk in Jerome. Visit 25 galleries and studios throughout this charming mountain town from 5:00-8:00PM. A free shuttle runs during the walk, from Mark Hemleben, Seeds, Sterling Fine Arts and Anderson Mandette at The Old Jerome High School up to Main Street and the gallery of Patrick Lincoln and Made in Jerome Pottery at the top. Caduceus will be Open until 9pm with special wine by the glass and special offerings for first…

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Sedona AZ (July 25, 2016) – Sedona residents and visitors are invited to join thousands of other communities nationwide in celebrating the annual National Night Out with safety presentations and a free community picnic on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Posse Grounds Park, at 525 Posse Ground Road. National Night Out focuses on crime and drug prevention awareness while generating support for, and participation in local anticrime efforts.

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Sedona Lit is a series by Dr. Elizabeth Oakes, an award winning poet and former Shakespeare professor. A Sedonian of three years, she will highlight the literature, written or performed, of Sedona, past and present.By Elizabeth Oakes(July 25, 2016)There seems to be something ancient, even primeval, about the feeling here when the thunder starts to roll. The professional photographers are out in it capturing the water cascading off the rocks, and we, with our camera/phones, record the beauty of the drops hitting our own yard. To preserve and to share seem to be the two main emotions. I’ve never heard…

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Sedona AZ (July 22, 2016) – Coconino National Forest fire personnel are monitoring the Point Fire today.  The fire, reported earlier today, is located on Munds Mountain approximately 5 miles east of Sedona. The fire is approximately 15 acres in size and producing visible smoke.

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By Ted Grussing… every minute of every day, nature is perfecting its work of art. Rain and wind sculpt the land and earth is removed from hillsides and washed down into streams where water is flowing and the waste products are washed down stream and additional material is removed from the stream beds and slowly it cuts deeper into the earth and the canyon walls increase in height as a result … millions of years pass as the process continues and here is the current state of the project at the confluence of Sycamore Creek and the Verde River ……

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Sedona AZ (July 22, 2016) – On Friday July 29th at 5pm the Pumphouse Poetry and Prose Project will present a very special musical program featuring musicians Wendy Harford and Marie Jarreau, poets Elizabeth Oakes and Gary Every presenting lyrical verse.  Rumor has it that the Zoot Suit Zebras will make a special guest appearance presenting their own zany brand of poetry and jazz in an eclectic beatnik mix.  Pumphouse Poetry and Prose shows are held on the southernmost end of the Creekside Plaza Parking lot in Sedona, just north of Tlaqapaque, on the steps of the old historic stone pumphouse…

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New acclaimed independent films premiere at the Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (July 22, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premieres of the critically-acclaimed new films “Genius” (featuring an all-star ensemble cast) and “Hunt for the Wilderpeople (a critic and audience sensation) showing July 29-Aug. 4 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.

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