The PRT Newsletter for the Week of March 8, 2023
Breaking News in Our Community
Public Detour for Improvements to Harshaw Road
South32 will be working to make improvements to Harshaw Road near the Hermosa Project entrance for approximately six months starting this month, resulting in a public traffic detour. Road detour signs will be established where the road intersects with the north and south edges of the Hermosa Project site. A detour around the construction zone—along a short stretch of Flux Canyon Road—will be made available for public use during this time. Emergency services have been notified.
For more information about the route, flagging, or barricading, please email askhermosa@south32.net.
New County Manager Appointed
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at the Supervisors meeting held on March 7 to appoint Jesus Valdez as County Manager. Valdez, who is currently serving as Deputy County Manager, as well as Director of Public Works for the county, will be replacing Jennifer St. John, who will be retiring in July.
A contract for Valdez will be presented at the next BOS meeting. “I made the motion for the Direct Appointment of Deputy County Manager and Public Works Director Jesus Valdez because I feel that Mr. Valdez has the skill set that will benefit Santa Cruz County,” District 3 Supervisor Bruce Bracker wrote. “Jesus has played a critical role in many projects and strategies that have benefited the different areas of our community. The Board of Supervisors is making this decision now to allow Mr. Valdez time to build his leadership team and to facilitate the transition from County Manager St. John. I would also like to thank Ms. St. John for her service to our community, the past 7 years as our County Manager and prior to that her 29 years as our Finance Director.”
Prescribed Burn Scheduled in March
The Sierra Vista Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest, in collaboration with multiple partners to include BLM GID, Border Patrol, Arizona Game and Fish, Fort Huachuca, U.S. Park Service, BIA, Wild Turkey Federation, and Quail Forever, will be conducting a prescribed burn March 13-15, 2023, on the west side of the Huachuca Mountains, Scotia Canyon, Sunnyside (NSFR 228), and the areas north of Lone Mountain and east of Parker Canyon Lake (map attached) if environmental and safety conditions are met.
The Scotia Prescribed Burn will include approximately 490 acres of miscellaneous fuels in the area (grass, juniper, pinyon, oak, etc.). This will be a broadcast burn with the intent to reduce hazardous fuels loadings, improve forest health and wildlife habitat, stimulate new growth to improve grazing, and reduce juniper encroachment. Intended objectives will be to consume 95% of piled materials, 60% to 100% of the fine fuels, 25% to 75% of dead and down fuels, and reduce juniper regeneration by 10% to 50%.
Getting to Trailheads From Patagonia
PRT contributor Robert Gay has created a series of trail maps for Patagonia and surrounding areas. In this month’s print edition of the PRT, we are sharing his map with directions to the trailheads in and around Patagonia; now we are sharing the map online. Click on the map below to see it at full size.
Remember When???
The PRT has been hard at work placing online thousands of articles, photographs, artwork and poems from past years’ print editions of the PRT. Take a walk down memory lane with this 2014 article from the PRT archives…
March Madness—Avian Style
By Vince Pinto
March 6, 2014
March is truly a month of transition for our Sky Island birds. True, April through May is peak migration time for many species, but March holds it own special allure. Many early migrants begin to spill into our area from their wintering grounds further south and a keen eye might reveal a few surprises.
Upcoming Community Events
Remember to check out and add any upcoming events to our NEW community calendar!
Friday March 10, 2023 – Rana A. Murphy, Terrestrial Wildlife Specialist ~Game Management AZGFD; “Rana Murphy, Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Terrestrial Wildlife Specialist responsible for the management of 12 game (or huntable) species of wildlife in Southeastern Arizona, will talk about pronghorn on the Sonoita Plains, with an emphasis on biological features that influence population-level management.”
The Patagonia Museum will conduct its quarterly highway cleanup on Friday, March 17, beginning at 9:30 am. Please meet at the southwest end of Doc Mock Park, Beaty Lane and Highway 82, for a safety briefing.
The Patagonia Museum will meet on Saturday, March 18, at 10:30 am, in the Patagonia Public Library for a brief business meeting followed by Rebecca Orozco’s presentation of the history and preservation efforts of Camp Naco.
The Lochiel Schoolhouse workday will be on Friday, March 31, from 10 am to 2 pm. Please bring water, lunch and gloves. Volunteers and visitors are welcome at this time.
Items of Interest in Our Community
The Sky Island Alliance – We still have spots left for a volunteer camping trip March 24-26 in the Huachucas. So come join us, and help install new wildlife-friendly fencing at an old cattle tank at the edge of the beautiful San Rafael Valley. All in one weekend, you can learn some new skills or help teach others, spend the night under the stars, and hang with good people. During this trip, we’ll focus on getting the new fence set up, so the oasis can recover. Then in the future we’ll install a new tank and trough so cattle still have access to water here but without disturbing the pond. Learn more and sign up: https://conta.cc/3J59VkG
Open Friday & Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Find us on Facebook: Patagonia Community UMC Thrift Shop. Donations taken when we’re present – Thursday am, Friday & Saturday 10 – 1:00 pm. Donations by appointment – email the Church at: patagoniaumc@gmail.com
Accompanist WANTED for the Santa Cruz Singers. Paid position. Must be able to sightread music and have advanced piano skills. Please call/text 617-645-4239 or email scfpaexec@gmail.com
Community Farmers’ Market Schedule Patagonia Farmers and Crafts Market -Thursdays 9am-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. Click here for more info. Nogales “Little” Mercado – Fridays 4-7pm 163 Morley Ave, Nogales. Click here for more info.
Gratitude Drum Circle
Meets at Patagonia Town Park by the gazebo Tuesdays 4-6pm, no experience necessary. Call 520-490-4991 for more info.
Community School Information
Elgin School Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-24 school year will be held on Tuesday, March 28th starting at 8:00 AM. See flyer for more information and the agenda for the morning. Any questions can be directed to Ms. Paul at mpaul@elgink12.com or 520-455-5514, ext. 300
AZ Community Foundation Scholarship Application
The Arizona Community Foundation’s online scholarship portal is now accepting applications at azfoundation.org/scholarships. Scholarships are available to students in Patagonia and surrounding communities attending postsecondary schools during the 2023-24 academic year. Scholarships are available for high school seniors, current college students, graduate students, or adult re-entry students attending accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities, as well as career and technical schools anywhere in the United States. Each award has its own deadline, with some closing as early as March 1 or as late as May. Students are encouraged to apply early to maximize their opportunities. Visit azfoundation.org/scholarships to access scholarship awards and learn more about scholarships available through ACF.
Los Charros Foundation Scholarship Application
We welcome scholarship applications from all students no matter their grade point average or the high school they attend. We focus on recipients that are in financial need, but we also support students from all demographics. We have received scholarship applications from youth with varying backgrounds. We also award scholarships to students already enrolled in college or trade/vocational programs. To apply, click on the following link: https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/LosCharrosFoundation
Stradling Foundation Scholarship Applications
The Anne C. Stradling Equine Foundation is offering scholarships for students graduating in the Class of 2023 who attend public or parochial high school, trade school, or are home schooled in Santa Cruz County. County residents who attend high school in neighboring Pima or Cochise County are also eligible to apply. The awards are based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and extra curricular activities. Enrollment in an agricultural or related course of study is encouraged but not required. Interested high school seniors may apply online at: https://tinyurl.com/Stradlingscholarship2023 before April 17, 2023.
SCC Cowbelles Scholarship Applications
Two – $1000.00 scholarships/available for eligible graduating seniors from Santa Cruz County. Applications are due April 15, 2023.
Contact: vensel4755@gmail.com for more information and applications.
PRT Community Calendar
The Patagonia Regional Times is pleased to offer our new Calendar of Community Events on our website. See online form here. Your text, photos and fliers all can be posted on the calendar. Click here to read our guidelines.
E-Newsletter
We do not post any notices in the PRT Newsletter for events that are more than three weeks away. Flyers for nonprofits, community organizations and fundraisers will be accepted. Submissions and or questions should be in email form or a word document to Nisa Talavera, Assistant Editor at prtasted@gmail.com. All submissions for the Wednesday e-newsletter must be submitted by Tuesday, 10 a.m.
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