Secure Your Garbage
We are about to enter the ‘Season of the Wind’. I have no scientific proof, but I believe the Season of the Wind starts earlier every year, blows harder and lasts much longer than it did in previous years. Growing up in the east, I liked the wind. Living in the mountains of Wyoming I learned what the wind is capable of. Living in southern Arizona, I’ve learned to fear the wind.
When your garbage is not secure, the wind takes that garbage and turns it into litter, sending those garbage bags we have all used from grocery stores into the tall trees to flap in the wind – until it finally shreds and leaves tiny pieces of litter.
Are you being responsible and securing your garbage? Are you putting your garbage into a garbage bag, then putting that bag into a garbage can with a secure lid? That is what the town ordinance of Patagonia requires you to do for proper and safe disposal. It’s a new year, be ready before the winds begin. If you are not already, it is time to start securing your garbage.
Thank you for helping to keep Patagonia beautiful!
Cynie Murray
Patagonia
Support Business
I would like to give a shout out to Zander and Heidi for the opening of their business, The Lumber Co. They not only bring a much needed youthful vitality to our community, but they are really trying to bring us live music occasionally, and music is something we all can use more of. Please do what you can to support their efforts.
Dave Rollins
Patagonia
Need to Address Environmental Issues
I just read Martin Liebowitz’s recent editorial condemning the conquering classes of humans for their roles in history. This has been, for decades, an endless theme of self- recrimination over centuries of humans doing de-humanizing things to each other. I think anyone who has attended a public school, watched many of the thematic movies from Hollywood, or the television’s PBS documentaries need not hear Martin repeat what has been said by so many that many times. I have no idea what technical background Martin has but his focus is social science. I believe we have more pressing problems.
I am an engineer. I have spent 50 years in the environmental engineering field. I have focused on the environment that all humans share on this planet. The topic that I rarely see discussed, is the world population as the primary cause of our environmental challenges. Yes, we hear about global warming because of emissions from specific sources.
But here is my point. As fast as scientists and engineers try to advance the technology for “cleansing” human waste products, the growing population always stays ahead of that technology and our planet cannot self-clean at the current world population. I read that a Harvard sociologist believes that the “sustainable” world population is 11 billion humans. His basis is merely the ability to manufacture a food supply. I disagree. We just simply cannot find ways to self-sustain biologically, chemically, and economically at that population. I do not have a number that is defensible but in the environmental engineering field, we see constant failures with the answers of “too bad about that” or “who can we blame?”
If we are, as a human social group, committed to “humanizing” each other, we need to address the environment. Social issues won’t improve if the planet cannot sustain our waste loads.
Bob Owen
Tucson (formerly of Elgin)
Thank You to Art Walk Participants
This year’s Patagonia ART WALK showcased the work of over 40 local artists, mostly from Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin and a few talented artists from Tucson and Bisbee. Wood, stone, and metal sculpture; oil paintings, watercolors, fine photography, prints, cards, textiles, pottery, children’s art, whimsical birdhouses and homegrown musical instruments delighted residents and visitors. We discovered such a wide range of talent “hidden in the hills!”
I’m grateful to all the people who participated in making the 19th Annual Patagonia ART WALK a wonderful experience…the artists, musicians, business community, and the Art supporters who came to the event! Please accept my deep gratitude to YOU for making it so.
I especially want to thank all the people who stepped up and offered their time and talents before and during the ART WALK. Big thanks to Mary Tolena, Gisa Krueger, Keith Spooner, Regina Medley, Heather Dodge, Martha Kelly, Cassina Quiroga Farley. You made it a successful event!
Thank you to local musicians Zach Farley, Brett and Janet Dodd, Barry Muehe and the Hog Canyon Band, Lori Carroll and the Gratitude Drum Circle, and Jerry and Cenovia who brought us mariachis!
Christine Schlenker Aspenhill and Kathi Gordon offered storytelling and singalong children’s activities.
Gratitude to Town Manager Ron Robinson, the Patagonia Creative Arts Center, and all the local businesses who supported the ART WALK. Appreciation also to helpers Jacqui Treinen, David Krest, Wade Johnson, Don Burham, and Rick Marshall for help with banners and site prep.
Thank you John Shelton for graciously allowing us to transform his vacant lots on McKeown into an Artisan Courtyard and Fine Arts Pavilion. In addition to mainstreet displays, we thank Barbara Kuhns for hosting the Textile Courtyard, Judith Hinton Andrew for opening her art studio, and VOICES from the Border for the quilt show in Cady Hall.
It was my pleasure to reach out and meet so many wonderfully talented and creative members of our community. Thank you for so generously sharing your time and talents in the ART WALK!
And to those who I failed to mention by name, I appreciate your contribution and support too!
Anyone interested in next year’s ART WALK can write to
Thank you,
Mary Sky Schoolcraft
Patagonia
Omissions and Corrections
In the December issue of the PRT, “Broadband Breakthrough” was incorrectly attributed to Sarah Klingenstein. The correct author of the article is Kat Crockett. We apologize for this error.