Five leaders of local environmental organizations concerned with the health of Sonoita Creek shared ways their organizations are working to protect and enhance the watershed at the annual meeting of the Friends of Sonoita Creek (FOSC) on Saturday, March 17. A crowd of over 40 people at Cady Hall learned how the staff and volunteers […]
Bob Brandt
Posted inCommunity
Town Clean-Up Day Offers Chance for Unity
“Let’s Work Together!” That’s the slogan for the annual Town Spring Clean-up Day sponsored by the Patagonia Regional Business Coalition. Sporting a lively new poster this year, the PRBC and its sponsors have designated April 21 as the day area residents can dispose of their hazardous materials at Doc Mock Park across from the public […]
Posted inLocal News
Patagonians May See Lower Flood Insurance Rates
The initials CRS will be seen and heard with increasing frequency in the coming months around Patagonia and they will have nothing to do with the memory loss often associated with this abbreviation. No, this CRS will be welcomed by as many as 50 or 60 homeowners whose homes lie within the flood plain who […]
Posted inLocal News
Council Notes – April 2018
Despite expressions of regret from all quarters about the discord that has marked recent town council meetings, civility once again fell victim to partisan infighting at the February 28 session. Fire department volunteer Jeff Maxwell made a statement that suggested that the issues dividing the town could be bridged by promoting community dialogue. He also […]
Posted inLocal News
Research Ranch Director Retires
Retiring AWRR Director Linda Kennedy (L) and incoming Director Cristina Francois share a moment at the AWRR potluck on February 10. Photo by Bob Brandt After more than a decade at the helm of the National Audubon Society’s Appleton-Whittel Research Ranch, Dr. Linda Kennedy has, with somewhat mixed feelings, turned over the lead responsibility for […]
Posted inLocal News
Council Notes – March 2018
Tears flowed, emotions ran high and discord reigned at the Patagonia Town Council meeting on February 14. In a request, that in retrospect was a harbinger of things to come, during the call to the public, local resident Joe Nitsche called on council to put on the agenda for a future meeting a discussion of […]
Posted inOpinion
A Call for Civil Discourse
Elsewhere in this publication my colleague and friend, Martin Levowitz, leaves no doubt about his views of Donald Trump. I write not in opposition to Levowitz’ basic premise, for I share his disdain for how our president has comported himself and his concern that the president’s heart’s desire may be dictatorship. Rather, my purpose in […]
Posted inLocal News
Town Truck Ordinance Challenged
Carolyn Shafer speaks at the town council meeting on November 29, urging passage of the heavy truck traffic ordinance. Photo by Bob Brandt A state legislator who represents parts of Pima and Pinal Counties has filed a complaint against the town of Patagonia in response to the ‘heavy truck traffic’ ordinance passed at the November […]
Posted inCommunity
An Adventurous Couple Share Their Story
Pakistan and Patagonia are worlds apart and one might be led to believe that they have little in common, but Brad and Aisha Sander have observed that the two places share an exceptional friendliness and sense of community. Since arriving in Patagonia last November, the couple have had numerous locals ask them about Pakistan, so […]
Posted inLocal News
FOSC Implements Three New Measures to Monitor Health of Sonoita Creek
It’s just human nature to pay little attention to something that we do not directly encounter in our daily lives. But when it comes to Sonoita Creek, we ignore it at our own risk. Were this modest stream to become polluted or suffer the fate of rivers such as the Colorado, the Rio Grande and […]