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Photos of the Week
This week’s photo gallery comes to us from PRT reader/sponsor Ann Vogt of Wood Canyon in Patagonia, who comments: “Here is an adult brown-crested flycatcher carrying a roach in its beak, ready to feed its hungry, noisy youngsters, which are about ready to fledge. Some flycatcher species are secondary cavity nesters, but readily accept artificial nestboxes which are made for bluebirds. I have several types of bluebird boxes on my property and found that a variety of birds are nesting in them: brown-crested flycatchers, ash-throated flycatchers, dusky-capped flycatchers, bridled titmice, Bewick’s wren and a pair of Mexican Azure Bluebirds. I labeled the nestboxes BB-1 through BB-8 to better keep track. Cornell Labs of Ornithology has a NestWatch program where anyone can contribute information about nesting behavior of birds.”
News
Los Milics, Rune, Pronghorn Pizza nominated for Best of USA awards
By Dave Lumia
Three of Sonoita-Elgin’s finest establishments have been nominated for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
Los Milics Vineyards in Elgin and Rune Wines in Sonoita are among 20 nominees for Best Wine Tasting Room in the country.
Pronghorn Pizza, which operates as a separate business within the Dos Cabezas WineWorks tasting room in Sonoita, is one of 20 nominees for Best Winery Restaurant.
In addition to the individual nominations, Sonoita is one of 20 nominees for Best Wine Region. Voters can vote once per day for all awards, now through July 21, at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/.
Agenda, documents for tonight’s Patagonia Town Council meeting
The Patagonia Town Council will hold its second regular meeting of the month on Wednesday, June 25 at 6pm. As always, members of the public may attend the Council meeting in person or via Zoom: Meeting I.D. 957-511-4862 Password 338501
Agenda items for this meeting include:
- Discussion and possible action to approve the annual Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue 2025-2026 Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Agreement (click here to download the document).
- A public hearing for a use permit request by Jose Delgado, proposing to build one two-story duplex (1,389 sq. ft. per unit) on Parcel No. 106-35-010B at 273 Smelter Avenue. Approval of the permit has been recommended by the Planning & Development Committee. The hearing will be followed by discussion and possible action by the mayor and council to approve the permit.
- Discussion and possible action to approve the amended Library Director job description (click here to download the document). Discussion and possible action to approve Town Manager Ron Robinson to sign a funding agreement with the Friends of the Library for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year in the amount of $21,000 (click here to download the document).
Click here to see the complete agenda for the meeting.
Visitors at a multi-species watering hole
From Borderlands Restoration Network:
Wildlife drinkers at the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve provide critical water sources for animals during the hottest and driest part of the year. Hopefully, in a couple weeks, we will enjoy some much-needed monsoon storms!
Caution! Armed termites at work
By Vince Pinto
In the video posted above: Nozzle-headed termites in the genus Tenuirostritermes file over the ground on a hillside at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary. A June 1 soaking rain of 1.50 inches at the preserve has brought their subterranean colony to life. Workers gather dead plant material for food, the cellulose of which can be digested due to their symbiotic gut microbiota. Meanwhile, the nozzle-headed soldiers stand guard on either side of the column to spray any would-be predator—in particular, ants—with irritating chemicals. This strange defense is clearly effective, as a powerful trap-jaw ant—not visible in the video—foraging on the periphery of this particular column of termites left them utterly unmolested.
Without the decomposition services of these and other termite species, nutrient cycling would be severely impaired in the Sky Islands and beyond.
School News and Youth Events
Upcoming Events
To share information about an upcoming event in the PRT Weekly News Bulletin, please submit a poster/flyer in JPEG or PNG format. 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!
* THIS Saturday, Community Rummage Sale at The Vine on Friday & Saturday, JUNE 27th & 28th !! 8 am – 2 pm both days – 3107 AZ-83 (across from Sonoita Propane)
Also, it’s not too late to leave your donations of household goods, bedding, toys, clothing, furniture etc., at the Vine double red doors anytime. Please text/call 602.292.1616 for details. AND if you’d like to lend a hand, we could use the extra help.
*Proceeds will go to Missions fund.
Recurring Events
Are you a textile artist (weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting)? The Crossroads Quilters invites all interested textile artists to our meetings. Bring a project to work on and enjoy a morning of information sharing and camaraderie. We meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 9am at the Sonoita Bible Church, 3174 N. Highway 83. For more information email: alisbunting@gmail.com
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 – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 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 has 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.
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.
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 News Bulletin, website or a custom package, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
Private collector interested in buying good quality minerals from the Patagonia area and other Arizona locations. Please contact Bob Stewart, 315-440-2786 (Sahuarita)
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