Yavapai County, AZ – MATFORCE, a primary prevention organization in Yavapai County, AZ, that is dedicated to stopping youth drug use before it starts, has announced the August continuation of its virtual learning series, “MATFORCE Messages.” The series features presentations from subject matter experts designed to build healthier communities. On Thursday, August 27th, 2026, at 11:00 am, Amanda Hoskin, Director of Metro Phoenix Partners in Prevention, will present Kratom & 7-OH: Understanding the Risks. This session will provide essential facts regarding kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). It will address their physical effects, clarify why they are frequently misinterpreted as safe, and…
Author: Tommy Acosta
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By Amaya Gayle Gregory Now don’t get pissed. Guessing a few of you will, but oh well, this is what’s coming through today. Each of us is a master storyteller living our own unique version of life. We think that our story is THE story, that our truth is THE truth. It isn’t. It is just our version of how to do life. If you’re religious, fundamental or progressive doesn’t really matter. That’s the story and being a believer means sticking to it. In one of these stories a man named Jesus died for your sins and you get to…
By Rabbi Alicia Magal The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences. The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, concerts, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. All are invited to Erev Shabbat service on Friday, July 31 at 5:30…
By David Stephen What are the strengths of China in AI in July, 2026? Top-level math, coding, and access to near latest GPUs. This means that if U.S. labs are depending on those alone to stay ahead of China, the gap would continue to thin. What is the biggest weakness of China in AI development, lack of thorough theories in brain science to predicate AI model advancement. So, what should U.S. labs do to be unmatched at consequential advantages, take off where China has a limited path? China is closing in on the United States in capabilities of AI models because…
By Steve Segner– Sedona, AZ — If you spend much time reading posts on Nextdoor, you begin to notice a recurring theme. According to many commenters, every city council is either corrupt or incompetent. They don’t listen to “the public.” Every contract is overpriced, unnecessary, or over budget. Every new project is labeled a “Taj Mahal”—too expensive, poorly designed, and poorly engineered. City staff is described as lazy or inept, and supposedly, they, not the elected council, are really running the government. I think you get the picture. Before we critique every city decision, let’s clarify a few key facts…
Sedona joins theatres around the world for global music documentary premiere event Sedona, AZ — The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to join theaters around the globe for the worldwide premiere of “WHAM! 10 Days in China” showing July 28-30 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. In 1985, WHAM! made history as the first Western pop act to perform in communist China. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou were a cultural milestone – East meets West, music meets politics. https://youtu.be/buJaVlIE2_k?si=A1_-janoDagbO0xZ Now, newly restored footage reveals the untold story of the iconic tour that helped launch…
Sedona, AZ – July 15th, 2026 – Immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of art, music, and collective connection. The Fine Art Museum of Sedona (FAMoS) and Sedonya Conscious Living Center joyfully invite the community to Oneness Weekend on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026. Built on the beautiful truth that we are all interconnected, this unique two-day gathering fuses visual art, live music, storytelling, and delicious food into an unforgettable community experience. Attendees won’t just view the art—they will actually become a part of it. SATURDAY EVENING: Mastery in Motion & The Tree of Oneness August 1…
By David Stephe The World Federation of Neurology declared July 22 as the World Brain Day for 2026. Sedona, AZ — Last week, there was news that Chinese startup Moonshot AI had released a major new open model, Kimi K3. There was a lot of discussion about China overtaking the United States in the AI race, even though Anthropic’s Claude Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT 5.6 are said to be the fiercest closed models on Earth. There seems to be a growing Chinese scare of sorts in the United States, similar to the Red Scare, in terms of AI, since the technology…
By Rabbi Alicia Magal The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences. The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, concerts, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. All are invited to Erev Shabbat service on Friday, July 24 at 5:30 pm…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory Sedona, AZ — Fearing life, not wanting to feel it twist the body, trying not to experience life’s myriad bouts of suffering as they come – the aching sense of lack, the surety of loss, the dread of betrayal and being deemed unworthy, the roiling belly, your shoulders up around your ears like skin and bone earrings, some easy to see, most below the belt or caged like a zoo animal – ah yes, life as most live it. Every bit of the gut wrench, the ceaseless mental chatter, the carefully planned escape routes that lead…
By Kathleen King, I’ve lived in Sedona for six years, and one of my favorite things about living here is the conversations. Some of the richest conversations I’ve ever had have happened in the grocery store produce section, sidewalks, or sitting next to someone at the bar at Picazzo’s. That’s Sedona. Complete strangers have a way of becoming old friends before you’ve finished your pizza. People come here looking for all kinds of things. Healing. Meaning. God. Films. And some genuinely hope for an encounter with extraterrestrials. Others come for the red rocks, a beautiful hike, and meals with a…
By Tim Perry We at Small-Town Sedona urge Sedona residents to vote no on Proposition 400, reauthorization of home rule, and yes on Proposition 403, the Cultural Park Preservation Act, at the polls this coming Tuesday. There really is only one issue in this election: The current Sedona city council and city staff think it’s absolutely fine to flush democracy down the toilet and impose their will on us because they, who hail from big cities sharing few of Sedona’s problems, think they know what’s best for us. And they’re absolutely indignant and outraged when we contradict that narrative. When…
The locally loved retreat earns national recognition for its personalized care, Southwest-inspired treatments and tranquil garden sanctuary. Sedona has long been celebrated as a destination for rest, renewal and wellness. Now, one of the community’s most established day spas has earned recognition on the national stage. Sedona’s New Day Spa has been named the No. 9 Best Day Spa in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The honor places the locally owned Sedona retreat among the country’s leading wellness destinations. USAToday Surrounded by Sedona’s iconic red-rock landscape, Sedona’s New Day Spa offers an intimate…
The loudest voices aren’t the majority—and the healthiest response may be to simply walk away. By Bear Howard and Associates — Sedona,AZ — By almost any measure, Nextdoor has failed Sedona. It was created to help neighbors connect, exchange useful information, and strengthen communities. Instead, during this election season, it has become, for many residents, a daily exercise in outrage, grievance, suspicion, and political warfare. In a previous Bear Howard story, this overview was well captured in his Sedona.biz column, which called Nextdoor “Sedona’s Wailing Wall.” It is an apt description. Rather than a town square where ideas are tested…
Sedona, AZ.– If you want to know who Sedona City Council mayoral Henry Silbiger is, his background, his values, his accomplishments and vision for Sedona, click HERE for YouTube video. To learn additional details about his candidacy, click HERE. To watch more videos on Henry, click HERE.