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Photo of the Week
Above: “This is a Regal Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus regalis) I encountered recently in the San Rafael Valley. They have enlarged rear teeth and a weak venom that serves to immobilize their small prey, but is harmless to humans. I was afraid of snakes since childhood. When I lived in New York, I walked my dog Lucy almost daily on old Rail Trail in a swampy area and there were lots of water snakes. At first I was scared, but then I started looking for them to take pictures. Eventually fear dissipated and interest grew. After moving to Arizona, I came across many different species of snakes — some are harmless to humans, and some can hurt a human, but none of them want to have anything to do with us. I love them all and treat them with respect. Snakes are out right now. Too many of them get run over on purpose by people who fear snakes, who try to kill them when they have the chance. Please understand that snakes are an important link in the ecosystem, and that they are just trying to survive.” — Yuri Ouskov
News
Town Council to discuss potential road work following half-hour CPBA hearing this evening
The Patagonia Town Council will hold its first regular meeting this month on Wednesday, April 8, at 6 p.m. As always, members of the public may attend the council meeting in person or via Zoom: Meeting I.D. 957-511-4862, password 338501.
This council meeting will be preceded by a half-hour public hearing starting at 5:30 p.m., which will allow citizens to voice concerns regarding “air quality protections” that should be included in the Community Protection and Benefit Agreement for the Hermosa Project currently being negotiated by South32, Patagonia, Nogales and Santa Cruz County. For more on the CPBA hearing, click here.
Agenda items for the council’s regular meeting include:
- Discussion and possible action to enter a design and project management agreement to reconstruct Fourth Avenue from SR82 (Naugle Avenue) to Pennsylvania Avenue. This would be funded by the balance of the Surface Transportation Block Grant funds plus a portion of Highway User Revenue Fund funds that were originally committed to the project. Total design and management agreement less invoices paid toward design of Fourth Avenue parking project is $28,920.
- Discussion and possible action to reappoint Concepcion Bracamonte as town magistrate. Her current term expires on April 28, and this is a four-year appointment.
To see the regular meeting’s full agenda, click here.
Patagonia Montessori School to close
at end of school year
The Patagonia Montessori Elementary School‘s board of directors voted on March 19 to close the school at the conclusion of fiscal year 2026.
With little publicly available information about the decision, questions have inevitably been raised in recent weeks across the community as to what precipitated this decision, what will happen to the 31 private preschool and charter school students currently enrolled at PMES, and how the nonprofit corporation that runs the school will wind down its affairs and dispose of its property.
The PRT is currently gathering information for a full story to run in our May issue. In the meantime, here is a letter to the community from Jessie Beebe, the school’s principal and superintendent:
The End of an Era in Patagonia Education
By Jessi Beebe
For those of you who do not know me, my name is Jessi Beebe, and my husband Jerrin and I have been working at the Montessori School for the past 19 years. I want to share with you a bit of insight about myself as well as an official update about the future of our school.
I was first introduced to the Montessori philosophy purely by happenstance. During my graduate studies, I took a part time job at a Montessori school. The classrooms looked so peaceful and inviting, and the children were all engaged in the materials before them. I was fascinated by what I saw – young children working independently in a purposeful environment, guided, rather than directed, by their teachers. Working in the classroom was exciting, and I soon realized that I wanted to be a Montessori teacher. This revelation was followed by years of studying and training to learn all I could about the Montessori philosophy.
In 2007, Jerrin and I were led to Patagonia Montessori School. What we thought would be a temporary move turned into something much more meaningful. Patagonia became our home. Over the years, I have served as elementary teacher, middle school teacher and principal/superintendent, while Jerrin has supported the school in countless ways – from office management to classroom assistant to maintenance man and beyond. Jerrin and I have worked as a team to continue the Montessori legacy in Patagonia. Our entire adult lives have been intertwined with Montessori.
While we had originally planned to make this our forever home, we have recently come to the realization that we need to be closer to our families. After much consideration and lots of prayers, we have decided to move back to our hometown to be closer to our parents and our extended families. This was a really tough decision for us, and we are definitely sad to close this chapter of our lives.
The decision to close the school was not an easy one. Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult to hire Montessori trained teachers. With most of our teachers and staff moving away at the end of this school year, we feel this is the right time to close our doors. After all, a Montessori school needs Montessori teachers; without them, it is not possible to continue our mission in a way that our students deserve. Rising costs and lower enrollment were also factors in this decision made by the board at the March 19 board meeting.
Right now, we are focused on providing the best education to our students and a memorable close to the year. While the future of the school property and the nonprofit is still unknown, we are confident that our students will continue to thrive in the many excellent schools in the area.
We are so very grateful for all of the community support the Montessori School has received over the years. We are so proud of our students, past and present, and feel we have provided a great education and amazing memories for so many. We have been truly blessed to have worked with some of the most incredible students and families and will carry these precious memories with us always. We will definitely miss our Patagonia community but know we have made some lifelong friends that we will cherish always.
Lobos lose heartbreaker to St. David
Catcher Patrick Rohde and pitcher Kannon Shore meet on the mound. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Shortstop Diego Padilla throws across the diamond to retire a St. David batter. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Kannon Shore limited St. David to three runs in six innings pitched. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Josh Woods, Miguel Albarran, Matt Young and Patrick Rohde cheer on the Lobos during their five-run second inning. Photo by Dave Lumia 
First baseman Troy Hawkins prepares to slap on the tag on a pickoff throw. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Coach Ryan Shore gathers the Lobos for a pep talk after St. David tied the score in the seventh inning. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Catcher Patrick Rohde looks to make a throw after tagging out St. David’s Canon Haynie at home plate. Photo by Dave Lumia
By Dave Lumia
The Patagonia Lobos were three outs away Monday from their biggest victory of the season, but those three outs were too steep a challenge to overcome.
Patagonia took an 8-3 lead into the seventh inning, only to see St. David rally for five runs to tie the game and four more in the eighth to hand the Lobos a heartbreaking 12-8 loss.
It was St. David’s 14th consecutive victory over Patagonia, dating back to 2015.
“We played well enough to win today and just didn’t get it done,” Patagonia coach Ryan Shore said. “That’s the best we’ve played against this team in a very, very, very long time.”
Shore took the blame personally for the loss, saying he should have challenged the call on a bunt single in the fourth inning when it appeared pitcher Kannon Shore beat the St. David batter to first base. The safe call extended an inning in which the Tigers ended up scoring three runs.
“I told the guys this one’s on me,” Ryan Shore said. “I didn’t argue a play that I probably would have gotten an out on. I should have argued that play and it would have saved three runs.”
The loss left the Lobos with a 5-5 record with eight games to play and ranked 14th in their bid for one of 16 Class 1A state tournament berths. St. David is ranked 10th with a 4-4 record in games that are calculated into the rankings.
Patagonia took a 5-0 lead in the second inning, getting run-scoring hits from Matt Young, Mario Vasquez, Troy Hawkins and Patrick Rohde.
After St. David cut into the lead with their three runs in the fourth, the Lobos answered back with three of their own in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice when St. David mishandled Miguel Albarran’s groundball and once when Noah Gallardo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The score remained 8-3 heading into the seventh, but Kannon Shore had reached his pitch count limit, and St. David capitalized on the pitching change to score five times, drawing five walks and tying the game on Jaxon Brogan’s two-run single with two outs. The Tigers then strung together three walks and three hits in the eighth to secure the victory.
“The hardest thing being here is that we’ve had so much losing for such a long time, when stuff starts to not go our way, it’s stopping that spiral,” Shore said.
“Kannon’s been really, really good for us, and I’m trying to develop that second (pitcher). You can’t just rely on one person all the time. We talked about it a lot. Especially when you don’t throw real hard, you have to throw strikes, trust your defense, and we struggled with that a little bit today. But I’m proud of them. They played hard.”
The Lobos return to action today , hosting Ray at 3:45 p.m. in a makeup of the game that was rained out last week. Then it’s four consecutive road games before the home finale on April 22 versus Duncan.
A ‘perfect day for riding’ for Empire Ranch’s annual Spring Trail Ride
From the Empire Ranch Foundation:
The Empire Ranch held its annual Spring Trail Ride on Saturday, March 28. The event is an opportunity for riders – from first timers to experienced – to travel through parts of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area that most visitors never get to see.
This year, there were 87 riders in total, most of whom rented horses for the two-hour guided rides. A few of the riders who brought their own horses had never ridden on the LCNCA and wanted to learn the trail so they could come back to ride on their own.
The hot weather of the previous week was a concern, but the day turned out to be perfect for riding. The rides were led by Faith Boice McCabe and accompanied by wranglers from Tucson Mountain Stables and Empire Ranch Board members and volunteers. There were also docent-led tours of the historic ranch house and live music by Permafrost Road in the Adobe Hay Barn.
The Spring Trail Ride is usually held on the first Saturday in April but was moved up a week this year due to Easter Sunday being on April 5.
For the first time in many years, the Trail Ride coincided with the annual Old Pueblo 25/50 Mile Endurance Ride conducted by the American Endurance Ride Conference. Luckily, the 45,000-acre LCNCA was grand enough to allow both rides to take place at the same time without riders encountering each other on the trail!
Tomorrow, April 9, is ‘Local News Day’
Here’s how the Patagonia Regional Times helps our communities stay engaged, informed and, most importantly, connected.
>> All of our contributors at the Patagonia Regional Times, whether staff or volunteers, know how important local news is, especially in our community. We think of ourselves as part of the area’s infrastructure: Most of our citizen journalists live in Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin.
>> Where national news outlets cover anything from celebrities to politics, the PRT covers local issues and frames them within the context of the Patagonia, Sonoita, Elgin and Canelo communities.
>> Our local news covers what affects you here at home: local elections, Town Council decisions, road updates, business openings, community events and more.
Perhaps, even more importantly, the Patagonia Regional Times is free! We pride ourselves on being a free resource, offering access both digitally and in our monthly print edition to information residents rely on to make everyday decisions.
You can support your local news by inviting a friend or family member who doesn’t yet follow us to join the PRT community. Pick up an extra paper in town or send them an article from our website!
Obituary
Public Service Announcements
To submit an announcement, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
From East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank:
Come to the Food Bank this Saturday, April 11, between 8:30am and 10:30am and pick up your April Food Bag. The Food Bank is located at 772 Harshaw Ave, Patagonia.
ADOT’s SR 83 lane restrictions in Sonoita are scheduled to continue through April: click here for more information.
From Santa Cruz County:
JP-East Justice Court services are available every first and third Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Sonoita Community Space/County Building. We provide civil services including small claims, civil complaints, evictions, orders of protection and weddings — bringing access to justice closer to Elgin, Sonoita, Canelo and Patagonia. We’re here to serve our community with fairness, empathy, and integrity. Call: (520) 375-7661
School News and Youth Events
To report school news or list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. To list an event, please submit by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
Elgin Parent Teacher Club is looking for volunteers to help in the Snack Shack at Little Leagues games from April 1-May 13. All money fundraised goes towards school events and programs, like our upcoming Taiko Drumming! Please visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044FADAB28AAFAC52-63218856-ptclittle to sign up!
Upcoming Events
To list an event, please submit an image file 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!
Saturday, April 11: Arizona250 Celebration at the Historic San Rafael Ranch
From Arizona State Parks:
Join us for a special Arizona250 celebration at San Rafael Ranch Historic District, located within the San Rafael State Natural Area.
This commemorative event invites the public to experience one of Arizona’s most significant historic ranching sites while celebrating Arizona’s rich heritage, landscapes, and communities. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to explore the historic ranch house, learn about the San Rafael Valley’s ranching and conservation legacy, and enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding short-grass prairie.
The park is not currently open to the public for general visitation, so this commemorative event is a do-not-miss. Connect with Arizona’s past while supporting the preservation of this remarkable place for future generations!
This event is brought to you by the Friends of San Rafael Valley and Arizona State Parks and Trails. Visit their website at https://fosrv.org. Stay tuned for updates on programming offered and educational partners joining the celebration.
Self guided ranch house tours and educational displays will be offered throughout the day. A dedication of property as an Important Bird Area will be held at 10 a.m.
Know before you go! This location is in a remote area with no amenities, approximately 2 hours south of Tucson, east of Patagonia, Arizona. Plan ahead by bringing plenty of drinking water and fuel. Drive only on designated motor vehicle routes (includes dirt road surface suitable for most vehicles in regular conditions). See an area map and additional information from the Patagonia Mountains and the San Rafael Valley Recreation Opportunity Guide by the USFS – Coronado National Forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/…/PatagoniaMountainsROG_RG-R3….
This is an Outdoors250 event: a proud part of America250, a nationwide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and reflecting on our shared history, values, and future. Learn more at AZStateParks.com/Outdoors250.
EVENT OFFERINGS
– International Bird Area dedication at 10 a.m.
– Self-guided ranch house tours
– Educational displays (leather tooling demo)
– Guided bird walks
– Live performances by musicians Andy Hersey and Bruce Andre
– Food available for purchase from Las Vigas Steak Ranch and Food TruckPlease register for this event at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SARATour04112026.
Sunday, April 12 – Grupo Arizona – Classical and Jazz Fusion Chamber Ensemble
https://scfpapresents.org/performance/grupo-arizona-classical-and-jazz-fusion-chamber-ensemble-a-benderly-concert-event/
From Sky Island Alliance:
Ready to explore the surprising world of rattlesnake families and learn how these remarkable reptiles care for and protect their young?
Join us for our next virtual Coffee Break on Thursday, April 16, at 9:30 a.m. Our guest speaker is Melissa Amarello, co-founder and executive director of Advocates for Snake Preservation. For her talk, she’ll draw on more than two decades of studying and living with reptiles to show us what snakes are really like through stories and videos.
The Patagonia Community Garden is celebrating Earth Day in a big way! Structured learning sessions for grades K-8, and a BEE-R GARDEN and INFO FAIR, expert speakers 4-5 pm, our local environmental groups, and live music! Check out our cold custom cocktails and botanical mocktails, or enjoy a beer or wine during our Happy Hour, 5-7 pm. Great raffle prizes will support our scholarship for a local student.
April 24-25: Community flea market at the VINE church Sonoita
This event is open to anyone in the community who would like to have a yard sale, but would prefer to have it at a central location. Whether you are selling personal items or would like to share your homemade goods and crafts, this event is for you!
There are NO fees for this event! We kindly ask that you reserve your spot in advance by texting 602.292.1616, and let us know how many tables you will be setting up.
**We invite local sports clubs and schools who would like to host a fundraiser at this event.
Please call or text gardenia at 602.292.1616**
CELEBRATE WESTERN CULTURE AND CINEMA
What does Shakespeare have to do with a John Wayne western? Join Mountain Empire Rotary Club for a delicious dinner and the answer to that question. The Club will be
screening the Duke’s classic “McLintock” on Saturday, April 25 at the Sonoita Fairgrounds Pioneer Hall.“From the larger-than-life persona to the all-star cast, it’s a quintessential John Wayne film that happens to have been filmed largely at Old Tucson Studios and around Sonoita,” said Mountain Empire Rotary event co-chair Jean Miller. “Arizona is as much as part of the film as John Wayne himself.”
Guests are encouraged to dress ready to party like it’s 1895. In other words, get into the spirit of territorial Arizona when choosing what to wear. There will be prizes for the best dressed. No weapons allowed.
Each ticket is $65 and includes appetizers, buffet dinner plus two drink vouchers per person. Additional drinks will be available for sale. Tickets are available online. Seating is limited. All ages are welcome.
When: 5 p.m., Saturday, April 25
What: McLintock Dinner & Movie Night
Where: Pioneer Hall – Sonoita Fairgrounds
Presented by: Mountain Empire Rotary Club
Details: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CLw2qq4VY/The evening also will feature raffles, silent auction and McLintock-inspired contests.
Funds raised support community improvement efforts of the Mountain Empire Rotary Club.
April 26th – Brahms Piano Quartet:
https://scfpapresents.org/performance/brahms-piano-quartet-a-benderly-concert-event/
Recurring Events
To list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
Fresh vegetable distribution Mondays at the Patagonia Senior Center
Come with friends and pick up your weekly fresh vegetables from East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank every Monday at the Patagonia Senior Center (100 Quiroga Ln, Patagonia) at 10:30am. Take what you need and give what you can.
Thursdays: ‘Open Forum‘ at Patagonia Senior Center
A time to share personal stories, interests and ideas.
Thursdays at 1 p.m. after senior lunch
April 9: HISTORY OF MUSIC — Janet Palmer on Camina Burana
April 16: MY DEPRESSION’S LIGHT SIDE — David Krest
April 23: ALL ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY GARDEN – David Fain on opportunities for growing food
April 30: THE ART OF AGING IN PLACE — Amber Salinas on how to stay the boss when you need help
An 80-year-long study by Harvard University found that the quality of our relationships helps us live longer, happier lives, more so than genetics. Community provides the grounding force of being seen, known, and supported through life’s ups and downs. There is space in our lives for both self-care and community care.
The phrase “inconvenience is the cost of community” has become a popular slogan online, referring to the effort required to maintain meaningful connections with others—effort which we seemingly are less and less willing to make, even as we crave connection.
Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Highway 83, Sonoita. Doors open at 6:30. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
- Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Crossroads Quilters: 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
Overeaters Anonymous: The OA Sky Islands Recovery group meets every Wednesday 11am-12noon at the East Santa Cruz County (ESCC) Food Bank at 772 Harshaw Ave in the meeting room at the end of the driveway. For additional meeting info, go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Steward
We’re hiring for a Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Steward to perform preserve operations at the 878-acre property in Patagonia.
Find the full position description and apply today at nature.ly/3NheXj4
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 Community United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
To advertise in the PRT’s print edition, Weekly News Bulletin or website – or a custom package – contact Priscilla Bolanos at prtads@gmail.com or 520-313-6062.
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