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.

By Cherie R. Wright, CPA, CFE, CGFM, DirectorSedona AZ (April 4, 2016) – Spring can be a season of change, and the city of Sedona’s Financial Services Department is experiencing several changes – from staffing and legislative changes to budget methodology and accounting changes.

Read More

By Ted Grussing… the first photo is a shot of my instrument panel as I waited for the oil temp to come up; this gives you a glimpse at the control panel in Mariah and what I rely on for information when in the air. A combination of “steam” instruments and electronic flight information systems (EFIS) as well as manual inputs. I had just started the engine and everything in the green except for oil temp and within a minute or so it was in the green too … a trip up taxi way A to R21, magneto checks, flaps…

Read More

By Virginia Volkman, DirectorSedona AZ (April 1, 2016) – April is a good time to focus on finances, with the tax filing deadline rapidly approaching. Sedona Public Library is available to help answer your financial questions this month with individual tax help and tax forms. Year-round we offer many other financial resources.

Read More

By Ted Grussing… I decided to use some of my absolute favorite aerial shots for my presentation at our ISO group tonight and found it to be a tough task keeping the numbers down; this is one of my all-time favs which I shot very late afternoon in September 2012 while cruising along about midway up the side of the northwestern slopes of the San Francisco Peaks. It is one of those dreamy otherworldly images looking out across a portion of the Flagstaff Volcanic fields.

Read More

Prescott AZ (March 31, 2016) – Willow Creek, a new housing program in Prescott for low-income and disabled veterans, will house its first residents by the end of March.  Catholic Charities is currently accepting applications in its Prescott, Cottonwood, and Flagstaff offices, as well as through area Veterans’ Services providers.“Willow Creek is an important addition to Prescott as a provider of much-needed affordable and supportive housing for Veterans”, says Camie Rasband, Housing Supervisor at Catholic Charities Community Services.  “We are very sensitive to issues common in Veteran populations and those who have experienced homelessness.” 

Read More

Sedona AZ (March 31, 2016) – The Sedona Heritage Museum is hosting the next in its Living History speaker series on Wednesday April 13 at 10:00 a.m. at the Museum. The topic will be “The National Register of Historical Places: What the Heck is it?” with Nancy Burgess.

Read More

By Ted Grussing… perhaps it will come true … tomorrow … maybe. Winds are supposed to be down and a test flight by noon or thereabouts is not out of the question. I have commitments at noon, midafternoon, late afternoon and the ISO group in the evening so I may be pushing it a bit. Whilst Rick has been working his magic on Mariah I have been helping him when he needs it and otherwise I’ve been putting a fabulous gloss finish on her … once again shots like this will be possible.

Read More

Cornville AZ (March 30, 2016) – On March 28, approximately 1:30 pm the Verde Valley Fire District responded to a residential fire on Southern Street, in Cornville.  Upon arrival crews found a fully involved medium size barn. Under high winds the crews immediately went into a defensive mode to protect exposures.  In addition to the hazards of the fire and high winds the crews were challenged with power lines, stored gasoline, and propane tanks throughout. 

Read More

Sedona AZ (March 30, 2016) – On Thursday, April 14th, at 6:30 PM, The Inspiration of Sedona, will present Aluna, an astonishing film about saving the planet, from the indigenous Kogi people of Northern Colombia. See trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecoonOVWBc8. David Warr, co-founder of the ChocolaTree restaurant in Sedona, who is one of a small handful of people that have been allowed to visit the Kogi, will be present for Q&A. 

Read More

By Ted Grussing… certain areas and certain visages attract our attention and we see portals to other worlds and other places where we feel a special energy, perhaps only known and felt by us, but it is a special sense that we feel and know it is real … and that is all that counts. This is a shot I took at Pigeon Point Lighthouse looking nearly straight down into large rollers striking the rocks below and creating an impossible storm of water and foam blasting fifty or more feet straight up into the air and while I know the…

Read More

By Ted GrussingFrequently we look at a common bird like the House Finch, an indestructible plant like the Dandelion and we pass them by looking instead for the raptors and find ourselves awed by the rare California Condor … we pride ourselves on the uniqueness of our own life form and the singular star that provides life to our planet … and we gaze out into the universe and find ourselves seemingly alone, but not really knowing, and we circle this small star which is one of billions of stars in a single galaxy such as this which is but…

Read More

Clarkdale AZ (March 28, 2016) – The Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale (601 Black Hills Drive) and the Town of Clarkdale will host the Verde Valley SciTech Expo on Friday, April 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Expo, which is free and open to the public, is an extension of the statewide Arizona SciTech Festival, held annually in February and March. For a complete list of events, go online to http://www.vvscitech.org/events.html.

Read More

Sedona AZ (March 28, 2016) – Sedona’s oldest continuing Arts and Crafts show is readying for the season. New dates for Art For Sedona’s Sake Spring events are April 9/10, April 23/24, and May 7/8.  All shows are Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Parking and admission is FREE.The show utilizes the lots of Big O Tires, Sedona Paint Center and Kala 48, with help from AmTrust Bank.

Read More

Three year battle for a disabled children’s rights to an education culminates in victoryBy Matthew Oskowis (March 28, 2016)On Tuesday, March 22nd, a Senior United States District Judge, James A. Tielborg, of the U.S. District Court of Arizona filed a judgement in favor of the pro se parent Plaintiff, Matthew C Oskowis, and against the Defendant, Sedona Oak-Creek Unified School District (“SOCUSD”) in the federal case CV-14-08166- JAT. In his associated Order filed the same day, Judge Tielborg also awarded to Mr. Oskowis 200 hours of Special Education Services and twelve hours of Occupational Therapy to be provided by SOCUSD to…

Read More