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.

Sedona AZ (June 19, 2015) – Hello! My name is Petey and I am a very stunning, 2 year old neutered male of the American Bulldog variety . . . or at least I am told that I look American bulldoggish! I am all muscle and built like a Tonka Truck. Who doesn’t like to play with trucks? Let me be your new friend and we can play together. I am good with other dogs and have a friendly disposition. I love to play and especially enjoy the outdoors. Are you a family that likes the outdoors? I love the…

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Sedona AZ (June 19, 2015) – Novice writers are often eager to earn their first publishing credits and writing paychecks and in a series of writing workshops award winning local author Gary Every will help them achieve these goals.  In the last decade the science fiction/ fantasy market for authors has changed drastically.  Once upon a time it used to be that a few giant publishers and magazines dominated the science fiction marketplace.  These few outlets paid well but only accepted a handful of submissions out of  tens of thousands received and often took several months to reply even with…

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Mary D. Fisher Theatre presents Oscar-shortlisted documentary for special one-night-only event Sedona AZ (June 19, 2015) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the one-night-only Northern Arizona premiere of “Merchants of Doubt”, an award-winning new film that was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary (by the director of the Oscar-nominated “Food, Inc.”). The film will show Thursday, July 2 at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Inspired by the acclaimed book by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, “Merchants of Doubt” takes audiences on a satirically comedic, yet illuminating ride into…

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Sedona AZ (June 19, 2015) – Jennifer Epperson and Mary Helsaple have created a new collection of art about Sedona Icons that present Sedona as you have never seen it before.  Their ironic view of Sedona is part of the “Sedona in the Summer“ celebration at Indian Gardens Park in Oak Creek Canyon on June 26th,27th and 28th. The event features Red Earth Theater’s open air performance of a new play based on writer James Bishop’s, “Pink Nectar Café’. Tickets are available for 3 performances of the play, and the Sedona Icons art exhibit is open to the public, Friday…

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Sedona AZ (June 19, 2015) – The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Sedona by the Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its 2014 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).  The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.  This is the sixteenth year the City of Sedona has received this award.

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By Patricia Lowell, Reference Librarian Sedona AZ (June 19, 2015) – Sedona Public Library has some very special items in our building that you might not know about.   For example, a unique feature is the striking geology pillar, which was constructed by Paul Lindberg, our world-renowned local geologist, showing and naming each stratum. The names roll trippingly off the tongue and evoke images of how the land here in Sedona was formed:  Hermit Formation, Supai Formation, Redwall Limestone. You can almost see the layers being formed. Look out the window by the pillar and see all the strata in the…

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Sedona AZ (June 18, 2015) – On Friday June 26th at 5 pm the Pumphouse Poetry and Prose Project will host a show to soothe the scorched summer soul featuring Honshin and Barbara Mayer.  On the southernmost end of the Creekside Plaza parking lot beneath the shaded sanctuary of the giant sycamore trees Honshin and Barbara Mayer will speak about their spiritual insights.

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By Ted Grussing … there was considerably more action available to me down at the ponds in the water than around or above it. From a distance I did see a Bald Eagle take down something, but it was better to just enjoy the attack than try and capture it. All critters seemed to enjoy hunkering down in the shade or just drifting on the surface of the ponds. As I was coming up on one of the far ponds I saw fish jumping; probably there was a new hatch of some kind of insect … so … I just…

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Verde Valley AZ (June 18, 2015) – A 77-year-old Chino Valley resident called Monday, June 15, 2015, to report fraud by phone. The man told deputies that on Thursday, June 11, 2015, he received a cell phone call from a number with an 876 area code. This area code identifies the country of Jamaica which is a home base for suspects who victimize thousands each year. The suspect/caller told the Chino Valley man he had just won a Publisher’s Clearing House award but needed to send $3500 in processing fees to claim his prize. The victim went to a local…

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Film Festival presents visionary new production from New York onscreen at Fisher Theatre Sedona AZ (June 18, 2015) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to join theaters around the world in presenting the big screen premiere of Julie Taymor’s critically-acclaimed stage version of Shakespeare’s iconic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The production will show in Sedona on Sunday, June 28 at 4 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Filmed at the Theatre For A New Audience in Brooklyn, New York in 2014, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opened to rave reviews at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival,…

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Verde Valley AZ (June 18, 2015) – The summer oven has been turned on across the state, so the Arizona Department of Transportation is reminding motorists to take precautions for driving in extreme heat.  Whether embarking on a long road trip, getting away for the weekend or even commuting to work, taking a few moments to prepare for hot weather conditions could be a lifesaver.

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Camp Verde AZ (June 18, 2015) – Looking for fun for the entire family this Saturday?  Ruby Road invites you to Family Fun Day. For the kids they will have Pony Rides!  In addition they will have “Make and Take” crafts that include Bird Feeders and Wind Chimes (Compliments of Ruby Road).

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Sedona AZ (June 18, 2015) – Build your way to an awesome summer with Play-Well TEKnologies Lego Engineering Summer Camp!  This new and exciting camp is being held at the Recreation Room at Posse Grounds Park for two sessions with two age categories (5 to 7 and 8 to 12) per camp session.  Camp One is July 6 through 10 and Camp Two is July 20 through 24.

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By Ted Grussing …the flow … and over tens of thousands of years, wind and water have worked there artistic magic on this once active volcano on the northern edge of the San Francisco Volcanic Field. The surface appears to have a somewhat fuzzy or velvety texture to it, but rather doubt if it would feel like that if you fell and skidded along the surface :+)

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Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward(June 17, 2015)  Today I spoke with Don Conrad, the head of the Arizona Attorney General’s Criminal Division. I had wanted to set up an appointment to discuss laws broken by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), in particular the ACC’s multiple violations of A.R.S. 40-253 (as outlined in detail on pages 2 through 7 of my appeal here: http://images.edocket.azcc.gov/docketpdf/0000163221.pdf ). Those violations are not a matter of opinion. A.R.S. 40-253 specifies the procedure the ACC must follow when dealing with an appeal. In the case of my appeal of last December, the ACC’s multiple violations…

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