A Witness to History: Border Monument 111 speaks to the then and now
A walled-off border monument in the San Rafael Valley speaks to the progression of political, social and cultural norms that have changed since the 1853 Gadsden Purchase.
Arizona Supreme Court rules for orchard, vineyard farmers in assessment dispute
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in favor of several Cochise County farmers who challenged skyrocketing agriculture land values for ‘permanent crops’ such as orchards and vineyards.
WHAT’S NEW?
Prop. 417 asks voters to raise county’s spending limit
Santa Cruz County voters will decide in November whether to authorize up to $20.5 million in additional spending by the county as new revenues are generated.
Classical music finds a home in Patagonia
The Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts is embarking on its 10th season of providing a special place for area residents to experience classical music and for young performers to get their start.
LOCAL NEWS
Spirit World 100 maintains low-key vibe entering its 8th year
The Spirit World 100 returns to town for its eighth year Nov. 5-8, bringing together hundreds of cyclists, families and out-of-town visitors to Patagonia for the weekend.
ADOT posts display boards for Babocomari Bridge project
A series of 11 display boards outlining the Babocomari Creek Bridge project in Elgin has been posted for public viewing by ADOT.
Activists schedule ‘Day of Action’ on Oct. 4 in Lochiel as Forest Service issues closure order
Border-wall protests continue in the Lochiel area as the U.S. Forest Service closes off a strip of borderland ‘to protect public health and safety.’
Monitoring the air in eastern Santa Cruz County
The AirSMART Network is a community air-quality monitoring project, using relatively small, low-cost sensors capable of providing frequent, real-time measurements of particulate pollution and other atmospheric conditions.
Trump administration sued to stop Hermosa mine expansion in Patagonia Mountains
Two environmental organizations filed suit challenging approvals by U.S. Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, alleging violations of Endangered Species Act.
COMMUNITY
A community comes together on pickleball courts
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning you’ll find a dedicated community of pickleball practioners paddling away on their freshly installed courts behind the Patagonia Museum.
On your mark, get set, bake: Pie Auction returns on Oct. 17
A celebration of pies and pie lovers in all their varieties is the theme of this year’s Annual Pie Auction hosted by the Patagonia Community Garden on Oct. 17.
Satisfy your fright fix at the Haunted Orchard (if you dare)
The Haunted Orchard returns for its third year of Halloween frights on Lower Elgin Road.
Spooners put their stamp on Patagonia Lumber Co.
Wendy and Keith Spooner are committed to making the Patagonia Lumber Company ‘a space for people to have fun, her music and be themselves.’
Photo gallery: Community Confab
A total of 27 nonprofits representing arts, cultural, environmental and community service organizations, to name just a few, gathered at the Patagonia Lumber Company on Sunday to share information about their missions, services and ways to get involved.
SCHOOL NEWS
Meet the teachers: Kara Haas, First Grade
Kara Haas is the new first grade teacher at Patagonia Elementary School.
Meet the teachers: Patricia Munozcano, Kindergarten
Patricia Munozcano is in her first year teaching kindergarten at Patagonia Elementary after most recently teaching third grade in Nogales.
Meet the teachers: Rainey Carpenter, Language Arts/ELL
Rainey Carpenter teaches 11th and 12th grade language arts and K-12 English Language Learner classes.
Road-weary Lobos ranked 4th in 1A volleyball
Patagonia is ranked fourth in the initial state volleyball rankings for Class 1A schools. A leaky gymnasium roof has enabled the Lobos to play just two home matches in the season’s first five weeks.
Patagonia-St. David volleyball showdown postponed until Oct. 19
The Lobos lost three of four matches at the Epic Small School Invite in Scottsdale, but the rugged competition helped prepare them for Wednesday’s showdown vs. region powerhouse St. David.
ARTS & CULTURE
37th Patagonia Fall Festival returns to Town Park on Oct. 10-11
Some 130 vendors are expected for the 37th Patagonia Fall Festival on Oct. 10-11.
Yarn-ing for a relaxing hobby? This club might be for you
Gather your yarn and acquaint yourself with the Knitting and Crocheting Club, which meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Patagonia Library.
Celebration marks Empire Ranch’s 150th birthday
The Empire Ranch will celebrate its 150th birthday on Aug. 22 with historical presentations, tours, exhibits, book signings, musical entertainment and, of course, birthday cake.
What the heck? Oddities of the Arizona Trail
Anyone missing a giant metallic cylinder? It can be reclaimed along the Arizona Trail in the vicinity of Casa Blanca Canyon.
Cookbooks are troves of story and wonder
Take home one of the 132 cookbooks listed on the Patagonia Library catalog, pour yourself a glass of iced tea and settle in for a lovely summer afternoon of beauty and inspiration.
OPINION
Heartbreak among the cottonwoods
I didn’t want to see what was happening to my childhood playground of Lochiel. It’s like visiting a hospice room. The patients are dying.
Letter to the Editor: We don’t need another Border Patrol Station
With all the heightened security at the border, there is absolutely not enough illegal migrant traffic north from Mexico to justify an ugly station blemishing our beautiful grasslands.
Letter to the Editor: Vote No on Prop. 417
Santa Cruz County voters should be deeply concerned about Proposition 417, the proposed expenditure limitation increase on this November’s ballot.
Letter to the Editor: Thanks for support of Santa Cruz Humane Society
I would like to send a “thank you” to the communities of Sonoita and Patagonia for supporting the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, and hopefully preventing their closure.
Taxation without representation
Eastern Santa Cruz County taxpayers short-changed again by county’s unwillingness to preserve historic Elgin Bridge.
COLUMNS
Glimpses Into Our Past: Huachuca District Ranger Olof J. Olson
Olof J. Olson was the third district ranger for the Huachuca Forest Reserve, serving at thee Rosemont Station and the Canelo Station.
Monsoon rarities
The above-average monsoon rainfall seemed to roll out the red carpet for a wide range of species, flourishing in various local habitats.
Take a Hike: Josephine Canyon Trail
Many people believe Josephine Canyon is the most beautiful area in the Santa Rita Mountains, and I agree.
Starstruck: Sirius, the Dog Star
Sirius, the Dog Star, headlines a glorious southern sky in October that is best viewed before sunrise.
Glimpses Into Our Past: Huachuca District Ranger Robert Thompson
Robert Thompson was the second district ranger for the Huachuca Forest Reserve, serving from 1922 until 1930.
FROM THE PRT ARCHIVES…
Robert Cabot Reflects on Turning 100
Nearing his centenary, the Patagonia author is still happy to be here: “I am slipping away slowly, but grateful that my basic mind is still working.”
Sonoita water customers face rate shock, water shortages
Over the last year, customers of the Sonoita Valley Water Company have been dealing with water shortages, low water pressure and leaking lines. Now they’re facing a doubling of their rates, too.
Wilson’s donuts
Wilson could make or find anything, and solve employee, customer or logistics issues—whatever no one else could figure out. When Dad needed skilled cattle horses for the ranch — and word was that the best and cheapest were to be found in Mexico — Wilson and I got the assignment.
Small, affordable houses
Can a 300-square foot house meet a need for affordable housing in Patagonia? A ‘tiny house’ built by local developer Todd Lipton and contractor Kevin McKay at 446 Duquesne showcases the concept.
Town looking to close Marshal’s Office
At its June 23 meeting, the Patagonia Town Council will vote on a proposal to close the Marshal’s Office on June 30. Going forward, law enforcement would be supplied by the County Sheriff’s Office.