The PRT Newsletter for the Week of Oct. 2, 2024
Circle Z Ranch is the PRT newsletter’s Premier Sponsor for 2024. We are grateful for their partnership. If your business would like to be a newsletter sponsor, click here for more info.
Want to know when a new PRT Newsletter is out? You can receive a notice the moment our weekly newsletter is published, conveniently delivered to your email inbox every Wednesday. Click here to go to the sign-up page.
News
Time to Get Out the Lawnmower
From Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch of the National Audubon Society:
“Mowing the lawn takes on a whole new meaning when you’re managing nearly 8,000 acres of fire-adapted grasslands. We love the summer monsoon green-up, but when the color fades it’s time for us to start our #FireWise maintenance work—mowing roads, creating defensible space around buildings, and reviewing emergency response plans. Thank you to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management for supporting this important work!”
New $40-60 Million Sonoita Dude Ranch Receives First Permit
The proposed dude ranch development at Babacomari Ranch in Sonoita cleared its first hurdle Sept. 26 when the Santa Cruz County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 to issue a Conditional Use Permit, with four members abstaining.
We’ll have a full report on the Commission hearing in the October issue of the PRT, out this Friday, Oct. 4.
Party at the BRN Farm This Saturday
News from Borderlands Restoration Network:
Our big farm party is this upcoming Saturday, October 5, from 6PM to midnight. We will be celebrating the acquisition of the farm we have been renting for the past decade!
The party will take place at the seed barn at the BRN farm, located at 42 San Antonio Road in Patagonia. There will be food, drinks, music and more! Camping will also be an option.
Come celebrate this milestone with us! RSVP to horticulture@borderlandsrestoration.org for more info and detailed directions.
Expect Slight Traffic Delay During Oct. 10 Homecoming Parade
Patagonia Union High School will be having their homecoming parade on Thursday, October 10 from 9:30-10:30 down Highway 82 and McKeown Ave. This will cause a slight traffic delay.
Traffic will be able to detour down 1st Avenue to Sonoita to 4th Avenue if necessary.
They Are the Champions…Again!
The Elgin School flag football team won their league championship Sept. 25, the third championship in a row for the Eagles. This championship game was also the team’s 26th consecutive win. Congratulations to all the student-athletes and Coach Terrell Harper!
Paton Center Construction Work and Closures
News from the Paton Center:
It has finally started! We have broken ground on the first major projects in the renovation and upgrade of the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. One of our priorities has been to get the new public restrooms finished up. In order to move forward with that, we have installed a whole new septic system. Once the bathroom project is completed, we will create the new off-street parking area, located in the same area. We will also begin the massive job of putting a whole new roof on the original Paton house on October 3, and hope to be done by the 17th.
While this is very exciting news, the down side is that there will some days when, for safety’s sake, we will need to close the Paton Center yard. On all of these days, the Cuckoo Corridor Trail, the New Birding Trail, and the wash area next to the Paton yard will still be open. Unfortunately, our live-streaming webcams will also be offline October 2–18. The closure days are:
Thursday, October 3 – all day
Friday, October 4 – all day
Monday, October 7 – all day
Tuesday, October 8 – all day
Wednesday, October 9 – tentatively open in the afternoon
Thank you for your understanding and patience!
A Cavalcade of Critters
From Sky Island Alliance:
FotoFauna highlights from August are in, and this month we’ve got a cottontail training for the steeplechase, Gambel’s quails on parade, and a late night gathering of mountain lions. Check out this video and, if you live where the wild things are, join us: https://conta.cc/3JkXBd1
Our Crickets and Grasshoppers Beauty Pageant Continues…
We’re still looking for great photos (and videos!) of this year’s crickets and grasshoppers to share with the 2,000-plus readers of this newsletter. Please email your entries to prtadast@gmail.com — the higher the resolution, the better. Thank you!
Did you know that as part of our mission, the PRT does not charge to publish obituaries?
Please support the PRT — every dollar counts!
Remember When?
Over the last two years, we’ve posted over 2,900 articles from past years’ print editions on the PRT website, with more to come. Take a walk down memory lane with this article from October, 2015…
Four Generations Reunite in Patagonia
By Ann Katzenbach
October 2, 2015
In September a Turner family reunion brought 40 or so people from Oregon, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin and California to Patagonia. The family thread that ties all these people together, from 99-year old matriarch Cleo Mock to teenager Gianna Martin, is complex but strong—and Patagonia is at the root of their connection.
School Announcements
Upcoming Events
To share information about an upcoming events in this newsletter, pleas submit a link to your event page or poster/flyer, or a brief description of the event. Poster/flyer submissions require an image in JPEG format, along with a brief description of the event. Email your submission to prtadast@gmail.com by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
Local Items of Interest
AA: Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Doors open at 6:30. Highway 83, Sonoita. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
- Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Fridays at 7pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Overeaters Anonymous: to find a meeting go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
The Patagonia Senior Center recently received a grant from Delta Dental of Phoenix to help seniors with dental expenses. Vouchers are provided for up to $350 to participating dentists. If interested, please call the senior center at (520) 394-2494.
The Patagonia Museum has joined the Jim Click Millions for Tucson Raffle fundraiser. The grand prize is a 2024 Jeep Wrangler. 100% of proceeds sold by the Patagonia Museum will benefit the museum. Please contact a board member of the museum to buy your chance(s) to win. Click here to learn more about the grand prize. To learn more about the additional prizes that are available, click here.
On Saturday, October 19, from 4pm to 8pm, the Patagonia Museum Board of Trustees will host a Member Appreciation Dinner. Jim Koweek will provide the entertainment. Please save the date and if you are not a museum member please consider joining.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for the upcoming academy classes for Patrol Deputy, Adult Detention Officer, and the Communications Division (Dispatch).
Starting Salaries:
Deputy: $49,595.00/Year
Detention Officer: $42,766.00/Year
Dispatch: $42,766.00/Year
Please complete an application and submit it to the Santa Cruz County Human Resource Office. Application Link: https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/documentcenter/view/3602
Farmers Markets
Patagonia Farmers and Crafts Market – Thursdays 10am-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.
Nogales “Little” Mercado – Fridays 4-7pm 163 Morley Ave, Nogales.
Church Events and Schedules
St. Therese Parish in Patagonia
Patagonia United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
For information on advertising in the PRT’s print edition, weekly newsletter, website, or a custom package, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
