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.

Grand Canyon AZ (March 8, 2016) – The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the scope of the Bison Management Plan at Grand Canyon National Park. The focus of the planning effort will shift from development of a long-term management plan for North Rim bison to initial herd reduction. Proposed National Park Service actions that will be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment include:

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Sedona AZ (March 8, 2016) – Building Bridges Event Series will be hosting a Student Art Exhibition and Teen Discussion Panel, this Tuesday March 15th , starting at 5pm.  The event will take place at Sedona Posse Grounds Hub,  525 Posse Grounds Road in Sedona.   The exhibit will feature both visual and performance work from students attending schools in the Verde Valley.  The theme, “What does it mean to be a living bridge?” is part of the greater Building Bridges Art exhibit going on at the Hub throughout the month of March.  Building Bridges events series is a month-long event series running March…

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Sedona Film Festival hosts big-screen debut of new art series at Mary D. Fisher theatreSedona AZ (March 8, 2016) – Sedona International Film Festival is proud to be the official host of the new “Art & Architecture in Cinema” series, joining hundreds of theatres around the globe for this special exhibition on screen. The program will feature seven different titles and bring the world’s greatest works of art, and their environs, to the big screen. Cinema guests can now enjoy unprecedented high definition access into the lives of renowned artists, their art and the fabulous museums and galleries that are…

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By Ted Grussing… a quiet weekend doing stuff around here, working on the websites, photos, cleaning carpets and such … some time out on the deck with One and in general just a relaxed kind of weekend that finished listening to Rod Stewart doing American Classics. I think One was visualizing the landing in the video I just added to my website when I took this shot of her.

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Sedona AZ (March 7, 2016) – David Wells, Ph.D., professor at ASU and Research Director of the Grand Canyon Institute, will speak to the topic, “Prison Crisis: Why is Arizona in the Top 10 States in Incarceration?” on March 21 as part of the League of Women Voters Greater Verde Valley monthly voter education program on critical Arizona election issues. The monthly series, presented in partnership with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Yavapai College, is free, open to the public and will be presented twice on March 21, 9-10:30AM at Yavapai College in Sedona, and Noon-1:30 at Yavapai College in Clarkdale,…

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Sedona Film Festival hosts big-screen debut of new production of a timeless classic at theatreSedona AZ (March 7, 2016) – The National Theatre of London continues its season with “As You Like It” showing in Sedona on Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. The Sedona International Film Festival hosts the big screen premiere at its Mary D. Fisher Theatre.Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change comes to the National Theatre for the first time in over 30 years, with Rosalie Craig as Rosalind.

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Sedona AZ (March 7, 2016) – March is Women’s History Month and the 2016 theme is honoring women in public service and government. Consistent with that theme,  the Veterans and Families Task Force of The Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley is dedicating the Mental Health Monday program  on March 28 to the needs and challenges of women military and veterans.   In partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Mental Health Monday takes place at Yavapai College Sedona Campus, 4215 Arts Village Dr. The free program is open to the public and consists of three parts: a speaker, Joan E. Sisko,  from…

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With Susie Reed, Keep Sedona Beautiful, Goldenstein Gallery and Jeep Tour  Sedona AZ (March 7, 2016) – The 5th annual Explore the Ancient Wonders of Sedona Events, held in honor of Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month, offer great opportunities to learn about Sedona archaeology treasures and their influence on contemporary artists. March 9th and 15th events include a free talk by eminent rock art photographer Susie Reed, a Honanki dwellings and rock art tour and a Goldenstein Gallery reception. 

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Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward(March 7, 2016) To pay for its “smart” meter boondoggle, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) in Maryland is asking the Maryland Pubic Service Commission for a staggering $15.20 per month rate increase for all its 1.85 million customers, even those who had sense enough to refuse a “smart” meter.If the so-called “smart” grid really worked, really saved money, people would be getting a rate reduction not a rate increase. But nowhere in the world have rates gone down where “smart” meters have been introduced. Rates have only increased because the upfront and ongoing costs of the…

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By the Red Rose Inspiration For Animals TeamSedona AZ (March 6, 2016) – Red Rose Inspiration for Animals originated as promoting quality art and craft shows exclusively in West Sedona for animal rescue since the fall of 2009.   Through the concept of promoting artists they expanded and opened a thrift store and artist boutique called the Red Rose Thriftique in the Bell Rock Plaza in Village of Oak Creek and a pop up store called Red Rose Re-Tails Thrift at 841 S. Main Street in Cottonwood. As they are entering their 7 year of promoting shows that benefit homeless and abandoned animals of…

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Mary D. Fisher Theatre now the official exclusive Northern Arizona location for monthly eventsSedona AZ (March 5, 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 March premiere event will feature the debut of “The Confirmation” — a new, award-winning comedy starring Clive Owen, Maria Bello, Robert Forster and Jaeden Lieberher. “The Confirmation” will premiere for one show, one night only on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 p.m.The series is hosted by Rolling Stone Magazine’s Peter Travers,…

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Sedona Az (March 5, 2016) The beauty of music is not so much defined by the scales that compose it but the sequence, combination and timing of the notes played. Poetry is not just the rhyme but the words and meaning it conveys. When you combine poetry and music then we have what is called a song and songs are what the Green Light dance band is all about. On Friday, March 11, 7 to 10 p.m., Green Light brings their original music and songs to Sound Bites Grill in Sedona, Arizona.

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By Ted GrussingA week of water is coming to a close and in addition to sunset at Pigeon Point Lighthouse south of Half Moon Bay in Northern California I am also including a beautiful daffodil from Filoli Gardens for good measure. Beauty is everywhere you are, all you have to do is be open to it and willing to acknowledge that life is really great. We have so little time here that it seems a shame to waste a single moment wishing our lives were different or that we could be happier in a place or circumstance other than what…

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Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward (March 4, 2016) Not to be outdone by ONZO, a data analytics company that last month boasted it knew who was using what appliance and when, another data analytics company, Opower, bragged yesterday that by analyzing “500 billion meter reads from more than 60 million households and businesses,” it “puts utilities in the driver’s seat” by “targeting” customers to such a degree that Opower can even predict who is going to telephone the utility.Opower’s press release is below. Read it and you’ll see 1984 is here at last, and Opower and the utilities are Big…

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Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated films premiere at the Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (March 4, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premieres of “The Danish Girl” (nominated for four Academy Awards, winning one) and “Carol” (nominated for six Academy Awards) showing March 11-17 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.

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