The PRT Newsletter for the Week of April 12, 2023
A Note from Our PRT Board President
Most of our readers know that the PRT exists because of the support of our community: donors, advertisers, grants, volunteer writers, board members and our staff. I visualize it as a beautiful round, six-legged table. What you may not realize, is the importance of a seventh leg that contributes to our stability: NewsMatch. The PRT was first accepted into this national year-end matching gift campaign in 2019 and each year since then has successfully met their annual fundraising challenge, thus receiving important unrestricted funds to stabilize and grow our newsroom.
NewsMatch released their 2022 Campaign Report last week. The PRT was one of 303 participating newsrooms. Through individual donations from readers like you, we reached their $15,000 match goal, and thus received another $15,000 from NewsMatch. Thank you to NewsMatch. And thank you to all of you who make our table stable!
Across the country, newspapers continue to disappear at a rapid rate. Since 2005 the United States has lost more than a fourth of its newsrooms, most of them serving small communities. Read more about the national picture in the The State of Local News, and watch for the soon to be published PRT Annual Report to learn more about the challenges and successes facing local newspapers.
Finally, this is a special request to you if you are one of our readers who doesn’t financially support the PRT: NOW is the time. We are nearing the end of our Spring Campaign, with up to $2,500 pledged by our board of directors to match new donors who make a gift by Friday March 14. Click this LINK to donate online, or send a check to PRT at PO Box 1073, Patagonia, 85624
Kathryn Schrag
Breaking News in Our Community
Concerns About South32 Road Safety Plans Brought To ADOT
A group of concerned citizens from the Greater Patagonia/Sonoita/Elgin region have sent the following letter to Arizona Department of Transportation managers raising “serious issues” surrounding the permitting process for South32’s plans for State Route 82 and the Cross Creek Entrance to the mine at Hermosa. Click here to read the full article.
Celebrating Academic Excellence
A Note from German Quiroga
On March 28, six Patagonia Museum Board of Trustees members attended an informational meeting at the San Rafael Ranchhouse presented by the Arizona State Parks and Trails staff regarding the plans for the San Rafael Ranchhouse and the San Rafael State Natural Area. The condition of the property was dismal. After 24 years under the stewardship of the State, the property has declined tragically. The reason given by staff was the lack of funding by the State. The funds dedicated for the maintenance and upkeep for these State Parks are susceptible to reallocation by the State Legislature for other state expenses. Please contact your state legislators and request that funding for the upkeep and improvements for the San Rafael Ranch and the San Rafael State Natural area be maintained and maximized. Click on this link to find your state representatives: Click on this link to learn about the history of this state park. The Patagonia Museum is dedicated to the preservation and collection of the history and culture of eastern Santa Cruz County. The San Rafael Ranchhouse is an iconic treasure from the 19th Century that must be maintained and preserved for future generations. Attached is an east view photo of the San Rafael Ranchhouse.
Remember When???
The PRT has been hard at work placing online over 2,000 articles, photographs, artwork and poems from past years’ print editions of the PRT. Take a walk down memory lane with this 2015 article about volunteering at the old Patagonia Visitor Center…
Meeting and Greeting Our Visitors
By Ann Katzenbach
April 1, 2015
A visitor’s center is an important link in the economy of this region where visitors spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. Without a visitor’s center it’s hard to know who these people are, much less encourage them to stay awhile. They aren’t likely to find The Nature Conservancy or Patons, the Arizona Trail, the cemetery, or even the library without some guidance. One couple asked about “the pizza place” and I pointed across the road. “We drove right past and never saw it,” they said.
Upcoming Community Events
Remember to check out and add any upcoming events to our NEW community calendar!
Second Showing of Film Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands
Sonoita Produce on Wheels – YOUTH Fundraiser & Farmers Market, at the VINE Church Sonoita – Saturday, APRIL 15th, 7-10 am. ***NEW TIME!!!!Borderlands POWWOW in Sonoita, AZ is always on the third Saturday of the month. At the same time, we have Farmers Marketside Venders. At our local market, you’ll find wonderful homemade goodies/coffee/breads/jams, and gift items. If you’d like to share your handcrafted or homemade local goods at the market, we’d love to have you. – please text/call gardenia at 602.292.1616 to reserve a No-Fee spot. ALSO, we have our YOUTH in the community having a fundraising Bake Sale & will be selling gently used handbags for donation at each POWWOW March – June, All funds raised go directly to their Youth Camp trip in Prescott, Arizona. Please stop by for some goodies & purses and support our youth!*At POWWOW it is a $15 contribution for 70 LBS of produce. No residential or income requirements. If you’d like to join the Community Volunteer Team or become a Market Vendor, please text/call gardenia 602.292.1616.
On Saturday, April 22, the Patagonia Museum will sponsor a docent training day. At 9 am in front of the Train Depot, a walking tour of Patagonia historic sites will begin. At 10:30 am in the Patagonia Public Library, a power point presentation of a History of Patagonia will be offered. At 1 pm in the Patagonia Museum, a brief tour of the museum will be presented. All interested persons are welcome to attend one, some, or all of these events. No obligation to volunteer as a docent is required.
Community Interest Items
Starting in April at the Sonoita Library, every second Wednesday of every month, bring your partner or even your own chess game to play! 520-455-5517
Actors Wanted – Julia Green Voice and Piano Studio LLC will be producing an original one-act comedy theatre work at the Tin Shed, Patagonia AZ, and we are seeking to expand the cast to 50+ years old actors. Audition requirement is one short, memorized monologue or poem limited to one minute. Please prepare to deliver your chosen monologue in different accents, i.e. East Coast melting pot. Auditions being held at the Tin Shed in Patagonia April 22-25. Performance dates are September 8,9, and 10 of 2023. Please call Julia Green at 505-350-8543 to discuss and schedule your audition.
Open Friday & Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Find us on Facebook: Patagonia Community UMC Thrift Shop. Donations taken when we’re present – Thursday am, Friday & Saturday 10 – 1:00 pm. Donations by appointment – email the Church at: patagoniaumc@gmail.com
Accompanist WANTED for the Santa Cruz Singers. Paid position. Must be able to sightread music and have advanced piano skills. Please call/text 617-645-4239 or email scfpaexec@gmail.com
Community Farmers’ Market Schedule Patagonia Farmers and Crafts Market -Thursdays 9am-12pm by Red Mountain Foods. Sonoita Farmers Market – Saturday Mornings 9am-12pm at the Sonoita Post Office parking lot (NW corner of Hwy 82/83) Sierra Vista Farmers Market – Thursday 10am-2pm at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Click here for more info. Nogales “Little” Mercado – Fridays 4-7pm 163 Morley Ave, Nogales. Click here for more info.
Gratitude Drum Circle
Meets at Patagonia Town Park by the gazebo Tuesdays 4-6pm, no experience necessary. Call 520-490-4991 for more info.
Community School Information
Patagonia High School is currently recruiting a High School Soccer Coach. Interested individuals can contact Nate Porter at the school for details.
AZ Community Foundation Scholarship Application
The Arizona Community Foundation’s online scholarship portal is now accepting applications at azfoundation.org/scholarships. Scholarships are available to students in Patagonia and surrounding communities attending postsecondary schools during the 2023-24 academic year. Scholarships are available for high school seniors, current college students, graduate students, or adult re-entry students attending accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities, as well as career and technical schools anywhere in the United States. Each award has its own deadline, with some closing as early as March 1 or as late as May. Students are encouraged to apply early to maximize their opportunities. Visit azfoundation.org/scholarships to access scholarship awards and learn more about scholarships available through ACF.
Stradling Foundation Scholarship Applications
The Anne C. Stradling Equine Foundation is offering scholarships for students graduating in the Class of 2023 who attend public or parochial high school, trade school, or are home schooled in Santa Cruz County. County residents who attend high school in neighboring Pima or Cochise County are also eligible to apply. The awards are based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and extra curricular activities. Enrollment in an agricultural or related course of study is encouraged but not required. Interested high school seniors may apply online at: https://tinyurl.com/Stradlingscholarship2023 before April 17, 2023.
SCC Cowbelles Scholarship Applications
Two – $1000.00 scholarships/available for eligible graduating seniors from Santa Cruz County. Applications are due April 15, 2023.
Contact: vensel4755@gmail.com for more information and applications.
PRT Community Calendar
The Patagonia Regional Times is pleased to offer our new Calendar of Community Events on our website. See online form here. Your text, photos and fliers all can be posted on the calendar. Click here to read our guidelines.
E-Newsletter
We do not post any notices in the PRT Newsletter for events that are more than three weeks away. Flyers for nonprofits, community organizations and fundraisers will be accepted. Submissions and or questions should be in email form or a word document to Nisa Talavera, Assistant Editor at prtasted@gmail.com. All submissions for the Wednesday e-newsletter must be submitted by Tuesday, 10 a.m.
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