The Patagonia Creative Arts Association celebrated its 20th anniversary with an open house on Jan. 20 at the Art Center.
After a brief history of the Association, Director Cassina Farley thanked the many volunteers who have worked to make the non-profit a success.
Guests enjoyed music on the porch played by Zach Farley, Jeff Latham and Barry Muehe, children’s art displayed on the fence, chalk drawing on the sidewalk, and cake, donated by the Gathering Grounds.
New Year, New Boards
Volunteers have stepped up recently to take up town positions, join Patagonia and Sonoita School Boards, the Sonoita Elgin Fire district, Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association, and other community organizations and nonprofits. Everyone who serves on these boards deserves our thanks for helping to keep our communities thriving.
Matus Morriss, Paula Schaper. Photo by Rachell Hochheim
Cody Byer, Randy Scouten, Amanda Zamudio, Rachell Hochheim, Paul Brosseit (President), Harry Dotson (Secretary), Doug Van Epps. Photo by Marion Vendituoli
Museum Offering Mexico Tour
The Patagonia Museum is offering a 3 day, 2 night tour to Banamachi and Rio Sonora in Mexico from March 12 – March 14, 2019. Overnight stays are in the best hotels in Banamichi (Opata word for “where the river turns”). Two expert guides, Bill Steen and Rebecca Orozco, will explain the history of this area. P.D. Ronstadt & The Company will accompany the tour providing musical entertainment. Museum staff will accompany the guides to assist with arrangements as the trip progresses.
The bus will depart from Patagonia, 317 Mckeown Avenue, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2019 and return Thursday late afternoon, March 14. From Patagonia the tour will proceed to Magdalena for lunch in the church plaza. The group will then arrive at Banamichi at La Posada del Rio Sonora, the former residence of General Padilla. Wednesday morning the tour will explore the local towns on the Rio Sonora and visit a local ranch for lunch. Wednesday evening there will be local entertainment at an open air plaza across the street from the hotel. On Thursday, the group will depart Banamichi for Arizpe, Sonora’s first capitol, and then proceed to Bacoachi for lunch, returning to Patagonia via Naco.
Both guides and museum staff are bilingual and experienced with travel in Mexico. Some extended walking on uneven surfaces may be required. You will need a current passport to enter Mexico and return to the United States.
Price:($600, double occupancy per person, $550, museum members) includes transportation via USA licensed motor coach, meals, meal gratuities and lodging for one person. Additional beverages are not included. There are 24 seats available for this tour with double occupancy at the hotels in Banamichi. Full payment secures a seat on a first come, first served basis. Seats and accommodations are transferable if your plans change and someone is available to go in your place.
HospiceCare Looking for Volunteers
Valor HospiceCare is looking for compassionate, reliable volunteers to visit some of our patients in the Sonoita-Patagonia region.
Volunteers provide companionship to patients and brief, much-needed respites to caregivers. There is no hands-on nursing care, only visiting as a companion and sitter. We will work around your schedule!
Prospective volunteers must pass comprehensive background check, TB testing, have personal/professional references, provide a copy of driver’s license and registration, and be willing to complete hospice training program (offered locally in Santa Cruz County.)
Contact Meagan, Volunteer Coordinator at Valor HospiceCare, at 520-234-4371 for more information.
Errors and Omissions
In the Jan. 2019 issue, we incorrectly stated that the water released during the testing at the Hermosa Site was 400 times the amount of water used by the town of Patagonia. The correct figure is 40 times. We apologize for this error.
SC Property Tax Seminars to Be Held in Sonoita
Those Sonoita, Elgin and Canelo residents attending past Town Hall meetings rank property taxes as their biggest concern and issue. In response, the Sonoita/Elgin Community Group has scheduled two meetings to educate property owners. This will be the What, When, Where and How, designed to educate local property owners and to answer questions or issues residents have concerning this hot topic.
The first meeting is 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019 at the Sonoita Fairgrounds. Santa Cruz County Assessor Felipe A. Fuentes, Jr., along with his staff, will present the entire assessment process his office uses to create property tax valuations. This includes the effects of Arizona State Proposition on 117, market values, and limited property value (LPV), county tax rate and property comps, plus much more valuable information. Agriculture status is a major concern for this area, so it will be reviewed in detail.
Special Tax Districts are a major component of the tax bill. For that reason, Chief Joseph DeWolf from the Sonoita Fire Department will review how the Fire Department budget process works. Additionally, a representative from the local school district will discuss what is involved in creating the school district budgets.
This meeting is designed to answer all residents’ questions. To expedite this process, we are asking that individuals send questions that they would like answered as soon as possible. These will be presented and reviewed with the Assessor’s office prior to the meeting. Please do this by email to TaxProGary@gmail.com or by telephone to (760) 473-6651 or (520) 230-0405. Each question will be discussed with the seminar audience.
This will be your best opportunity to learn how the property tax valuation process works.
The second seminar will be two weeks later at the Sonoita Fairgrounds on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 6 p.m. At this session, residents will learn how to contest and appeal the property valuation listed on their property tax notice that will be mailed out the beginning of March.