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.

Prescott Valley AZ (April 15, 2016) – MATFORCE invites students from throughout Yavapai County to participate in a youth-led group helping to raise awareness about substance abuse risks and issues.  Student in grades 5 through 12 are eligible to participate.  The advisory group is called the Yavapai County Youth Council or YC2 for short.

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Sedona AZ (April 15, 2016) – The city of Sedona will conduct its 2016 Primary Election on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 and its General Election, if necessary, on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. If a candidate receives a majority of all the votes cast at the Primary Election, they will be elected to the office for which they are a candidate, effective the date of the General Election. A General Election is only required if the offices are not filled at the Primary Election. The new City Council members will be seated between November 22, 2016 and December 13, 2016.

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By Virginia Volkman, Library DirectorSedona AZ (April 15, 2016) – During the week of April 10-16, Sedona Public Library joins libraries in schools, on campuses, and in communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Libraries Transform.” First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) each April.

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Chaz Ebert to be Keynote speaker for Conscious Film Convergence Sedona AZ (April 15, 2016) – The 2016 Illuminate Film Festival, which takes place June 1 – 5 in Sedona announced today the official line up of films for the 3rd annual event. The only film festival of its kind, the Illuminate Film Festival offers a collection of over 20 feature length and short films from around the world, exploring the year’s best in conscious cinema, as well as eye opening and thought provoking panels and conversations that will expand minds and inspire dialogue.

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By Ted Grussing… photography tonight, fueled by music from American Authors after a search and sampling of music to fit my mood tonight … One seems to enjoy it too as she naps in front of the left desktop speakers … sub woofers on the floor in front of me and volume set to permit my neighbors to sleep … I think? Not in this house though!

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Production from Canada’s renowned festival makes big-screen debut at Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (April 14, 2016) – The Stratford Festival’s renowned new production of “Hamlet” makes its Sedona big-screen debut on Sunday, April 24. The Sedona International Film Festival hosts the high-definition premiere from its home in Canada’s prestigious festival. There will be one show at 3 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre.A ghostly visitor with a shocking secret, a daughter devastated by loss, a deadly duel and the most famous question in all of drama: Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy will hold you spellbound.

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Sedona AZ (April 14, 2016) – Sedona Recycles is hosting their second annual Earth Day Celebration, taking place at the recycling center at 2280 Shelby Dr. on April 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Over twenty educators will have hands-on exhibits, including solar cooking, watersheds, hiking, composting, and organic gardening. Seedlings from Verde Valley School garden will be on sale. Herpetologist Russell Dunn will have live snakes for handling and teach how to recognize local species.

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Sedona AZ (April 14, 2016) – Phase One of the Sedona Bike Skills Park located within Posse Grounds Park began on Monday, March 14. Following an extensive design phase of the Bike Skills Park, the city entered into a contract with Baniki Construction for the building of Phase One, which will be completed by Friday, April 29.

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Prescott AZ (April 13, 2016) – On April 12, 2016, just after 9AM, a YCSO deputy saw a man, later identified as 28-year-old Theodore Acosta Jr. from Prescott Valley, standing near a blue passenger sedan on Marina Street at the west side of YCSO headquarters, 255 E. Gurley Street, Prescott. Acosta seemed unusually nervous as the marked Sheriff’s patrol car drove by. The deputy circled around and as he came by again, Acosta was now in the driver’s seat leaning over the steering wheel. The deputy circled one more time and pulled in behind the car to check on the driver.…

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By Ted Grussing… a friend of mine gave me a photo of her horse, Kash, and after taking a look at him, images and possibilities started going through my mind … the apocalypse, end of time, headless horseman and you name it. Anyhow I kept part of the image she gave me and added a sunset and more of my own and came up with this image which if I do say so, I really like … hope you do too and what a magnificent animal.

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By Ted Grussing… beautiful … terrific and joyful … regardless of what else happens on any given day and whilst breathing, we always have the privilege of witnessing the beauty that is found in the natural world. It is Iris season and for the next several weeks I plan on replacing much of my Iris portfolio with fresh 50MP raw images. I got this shot in the parking lot at Linda Wallace’s law office this afternoon and they are kinda growing wild. My Iris plants are not doing much right now, but am hopeful for them.

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Verde Valley AZ (April 12, 2016) – April 23, 2016 will be observed as the third annual National Lost Dog Awareness Day. Lost Dogs of America celebrates this special event to shed light on the number of dogs that are lost each year and to bring attention to the many dogs in care of shelters and animal control facilities that have family looking for them. Lost Dogs of America, co-founded by Susan Taney (Lost Dogs Illinois) and Kathy Pobloskie (Lost Dogs of Wisconsin) is a coalition of individual state organizations, including Lost Dogs Arizona (LDAZ).  Each state organization is an all-volunteer organization dedicated…

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By Ted Grussing… and that is exactly what One is doing in this image … I love the way that felines run … it is a total commitment and if they can cross into other realms they will do it, just takes the extra energy and incentive as they go for the unseen and other worlds.

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An Elephant, a Swan, a Dove and a Jaguar will join artists from around the world during the First Piano on the Rocks International FestivalSedona AZ (April 11, 2016) – This 2016 first Piano on the Rocks International Festival, “From Paris to Sedona” celebrates great music by French composers and composers who lived in Paris. It will take place this week on April 15,16, 17, 2016 in Sedona. Of special interest will be the opportunity for our audiences to taste the richness of Parisian artistic life during the 1830s when Paris was a center of the new Romanticism. Piano on…

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