Author: Tommy Acosta

Sedona AZ (April 18, 2016) – As part of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month programs, the Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley and Spectrum Healthcare are offering Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on Friday, May 6, 8AM-5PM, at Christ Lutheran Church, 25 Chapel Rd, Sedona at the intersection of Chapel Rd and Hwy 179. The training is designed for adults who regularly interact with young people: parents, family members, teachers, school staff, faith community leaders, neighbors and other caring community members who want to learn how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or…

By [Concerned Sedona Resident] (April 18, 2016)This is the second in a series of three follow-up articles to the “Selling Sedona” series published this time last year.  Last week we documented the failure of the Chamber of Commerce’s big city-funded marketing push to generate new tourist tax revenue.  This week we look at the impacts of Sedona being overrun by day-tripper tourists.Part 2While the big marketing push failed completely to generate new tourism revenue, it succeeded spectacularly in another way – namely generating hordes of day-tripper tourist traffic.  The irony is that all that traffic was a major reason why…

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(April 18, 2016)Between them, David Bell and Molly McCaffrey have two Ph.Ds and twelve publications: eight novels, one volume of short stories, one memoir, and two edited anthologies, plus one long running blog. They will become a part of Sedona literary history when they read from their works and discuss writing at the Pumphouse Poetry and Prose Project at 5 p.m. Friday, April 29,…

Cottonwood AZ (April 17, 2016) – The Verde Valley Humane Society is hosting a yard sale on May 13th and 14th from 10 to 4 at the shelter at 1520 W. Mingus, Cottonwood. They are now collecting donations of gently-used to new items, all of which are tax-deductible.  Donations can be dropped off at the VVHS from 10 to 5 from Monday to Saturday, and at Sedona Paint Center ((928) 203-9500).

Chet Baker biopic and country music documentary premiere at Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (April 17, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premieres of “Born To Be Blue” (the Chet Baker biopic starring Ethan Hawke) and “Country: Portraits of An American Sound” (a visual odyssey through the history of country music) showing April 22-27 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.

By Linda J SentivanacSedona Resident(April 17, 2016) Three of the four front page stories in Friday’s edition of the RRN tie in together with a familiar theme.: The city is being sold out to tourism. Soldier Pass trail, along with dozens of others, are being overrun with hikers, bikers, and off-road vehicles,  tearing up the land and blocking roads with parked cars.  The pedestrian and vehicular traffic in Uptown is unworkable. Flow of traffic up 179 and all throughout Sedona has become a frustration for tourists and locals alike.

Proceeds for the event go to benefit underprivileged schools not only here in Arizona but across the world.Sedona AZ (April 17, 2016) – Hillside Sedona, located at 671 State Route 179, Sedona, AZ is once again the site to display this year’s Umbrella Project Charity Event taking place from April 29th, 30th and May 1st.Started in 1990 by Hilda Brown, the Umbrella Project is a 501c (3) nonprofit raising funds for various causes.  In years past, proceeds from the sales of the umbrellas have been donated to victim charities such as the 2006 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haitian earthquake and…

Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward (April 17, 2016) If you are following my Public Records lawsuit against the corrupt and incompetent Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), you may be interested to read what I filed in the Court today. It’s here.Among other things, lacking an argument of substance, the ACC resorted to whining about my “tenor, tone and specific language.” Poor babies, maybe they should find other work if they can’t handle it. And I always thought specific language was a good thing!

By Adele O’Connor-VernierDirector of Marketing & Public RelationsHumane Society of SedonaSedona AZ (April 16, 2016) – The Humane Society of Sedona offers a Wellness Clinic to the Verde Valley Community staffed by Dr. Todd Metcalf and team to ensure that all animals have access to veterinary care to promote a lifetime of good health and longevity.Our clinics’ mission is to provide high-quality, affordable services to our community, allowing families to keep their pets in loving homes for the lifetime of their pets. Providing this service aligns with our mission statement to care for and have compassion for all animals and people…

Mary D. Fisher Theatre now the official exclusive Northern Arizona location for monthly eventsSedona AZ (April 16, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is the official, exclusive Northern Arizona home for the New York Film Critics monthly series debuting new films weeks prior to their theatrical release. The April premiere event will feature the debut of “Papa: Hemingway in Cuba” — a new, award-winning film starring Adrian Sparks, Giovanni Ribisi, Joely Richardson and Minka Kelly. “Papa: Hemingway in Cuba” will premiere for one show, one night only on Tuesday, April 26 at 7 p.m.The series is hosted by Rolling…

Sedona AZ (April 16, 2016) – The City Vision Statement defines Sedona as a “city that is animated by the arts”. What does this mean, and what are we doing to live up to this statement?Sedona is world renown as a place of inspiration and beauty, thus attracting creative and artistically gifted people who desire to live and work in this environment. Our community also attracts visitors who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of our natural environment and find their own personal inspiration.

Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward (April 16, 2016) As you probably know, I appealed an Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) “smart” meter decision that was filed a year ago this month. The appeal was dismissed from Superior Court over a bogus jurisdictional issue, so I appealed that dismissal to the Court of Appeals. I made my case and the ACC recently answered. Typically, the ACC repeated their same old lies but actually invented some new ones.One absolute whopper they told was that the Arizona Department of Health Services’ “smart” meter study concluded that “smart meters have not been shown to be…

By Ted Grussing… Thursday, that is and here we are about an hour into a fresh day and we shall call it Friday … TGIF … end of the work week and for some of us, a welcome chance to make a few changes in our lives … or not. I’m a fan of change (if there is something in your life you do not like, fix it today) and a fan of enjoying each moment of the day; you do not have the future yet and never will, but if you are living tomorrow, what you did, thought and…

Filmmakers will be in Sedona to host film premiere and Q&A at Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (April 15, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Durant’s Never Closes” showing Thursday, April 28 at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. The event will feature a special introduction and Q&A with the film’s writer and director Travis Mills.“Durant’s Never Closes” features an all-star cast including Tom Sizemore and Peter Bogdanovich. It is based on the true story of the legendary Phoenix restaurant, Durant’s, and the equally legendary restauranteur Jack Durant.

Sedona AZ (April 15, 2016) – On April 13th, 2016, Reay Brothers Excavation began installation of a 2-inch waterline for Arizona Water Company across Carol Canyon Drive, just south of highway 89A.