The PRT Newsletter for the Week of May 24, 2023

Breaking News in Our Community

SEFD Board Looks at 2023-2024 Budget Proposal

Photo by Marion Vendituoli SEFD Board members listen to Fire Chief Marc Meredith’s presentation of the 2023-2024 budget. Meredith presented the 2033-2024 budget for the station to the SEFD Board of Directors on May 15. The $1,660,212 budget, which reflected an increase of $108,004 in expenses over last year’s budget, will not result in an increase in the district’s tax rate, which will remain at 2.72. Meredith anticipates an increase in revenue, as property valuations in the district went up, in many cases significantly, which will increase residents’ tax bills. He also projects that revenue from ambulance calls will increase.

PUHS Class of 2023 Graduates

Photo by Marion Vendituoli The PUHS class of 2023 takes the ceremonial final walk across campus on Friday, May 19.
Photo By Robert Gay Rebecca Ford, senior at PUHS, catches a ride along the parade route of cars and trucks as they honked their way through the town of Patagonia celebrating the class of 2023.

PRAC Benefit Concert

Photo By Clare Bonelli The Patagonia Regional Aquatics Center (the Patagonia Pool) would like to give a big thank you to the Patagonia Minstrels for staging a concert for the benefit of the pool on April 29, raising about $400. Many thanks Brent Dodd, Janet Dodd, Pat McNamara, Christina Wilhelm, and Mark Berg for an afternoon of beautiful music, and for their willingness to donate their time to benefit our community. 

Community Mural Project

Photo by Marion Vendituoli ‘Tribal Elders,’ senior citizens who grew up in Patagonia, gathered in Richardson Park on May 17 to share stories with Cassina Farley’s PUHS art class about growing up in Patagonia, as part of the community mural project. Joe and Gilbert Quiroga, Leslie Schupp, Bob Bergier, and Cynthia Matus-Morriss told stories about growing up when the train still came through town, most of the roads were dirt, cattle were driven into town to be loaded in railcars, and people had to buy blocks of ice to keep their food fresh. The mural features a tree, in part to honor the ancient tree that fell last year in the park. “How many things did that tree see?” asked Farley. Who came here? Why did they come? Who’s still here? Let the tree tell their story.”
Photo By Cassina Farley A group of volunteers from the Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center assist with filling in the tree of the mural that is underway in Richardson Park in Patagonia.

A Note From the Patagonia Library

On Monday, May 29, at 9 am at the Patagonia Cemetery a brief ceremony and flag raising will take place to honor our veterans. The Patagonia Museum, led by Murphy Musick, will present the colors with musical accompaniment from The Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts led by Christina Wilhelm.

The Patagonia Museum continues to maintain the individual US flags at the veterans gravesites in the Patagonia Cemetery. Thank you Murphy, Christina and the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts for honoring our veterans!

Remembering Our Veterans

Over the last few years, the PRT has been compiling a list of names of veterans who are buried in local cemeteries in Canelo, Duquesne, Elgin, Lochiel and Patagonia to recognize these men and women for their service and sacrifice for our freedom. Click here to read the full list. If you know of a veteran buried in a local cemetery, please contact us at prteditor@gmail.com.

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A Note From The Patagonia Museum

The Patagonia Community Cemetery Project is a collaboration between the Patagonia Museum and Doug Gann, a 3D Digital Archaeologist, to utilize a process of three dimensional (3D) digital modeling, digital photography, and oral histories to create an interactive resource of the Patagonia Cemetery and those interred there that can be shared via the internet and the Patagonia Museum. The primary guiding principle for this effort can be summed up in the word “respect.” Respect for the persons interred, respect for the lives these people have led, and respect for the descendants alive today. This effort will not entail any financial liability to the Town of Patagonia and will include a drone survey by Doug Gann over the Patagonia Cemetery with markers embedded in the soil to create coordinates for accuracy and orientation. The Patagonia Museum will coordinate the oral history portion of the project. This effort has been made possible by generous support from Prestamos CDFI and the SCC Forgivable Loan Program. The Patagonia Museum is seeking volunteers to help with this project. If you are interested contact German at 520-343-5641 patagoniamuseumpresident@gmail.com

Public Notice of Intent to Destroy Records 

In compliance with Federal and State regulations, Sonoita Elementary School District #25 intends to destroy Special Education records for students whose services ended before August 1, 2018. Before records are destroyed, parents, guardians, and students have the right to review the records and obtain copies of any information needed. Destruction of these records will take place starting June 5, 2023. For additional information, contact:  Christine Clouse (520) 455-5514 ext 117 cclouse@elgink12.com

Remember When???

The PRT has been hard at work placing online over 2,000 articles, photographs, artwork and poems from past years’ print editions of the PRT. Take a walk down memory lane with this 2013 article…

Request for Support: Patagonia/Sonoita Train Track Trail (TTT)
Proposed Trail Expansion from Casa Blanca Canyon to Sonoita. Connecting People and Community to Nature Through Trails. Click here to read more and learn how to give your support.

Upcoming Community Events

Angel Wings Shop located at 22 Los Encinos Rd. in Sonoita, is having a 50% off Sale on EVERYTHING in the store. May 25, 26, & 27. The Store will be closed for the monthof June.

May 25 5 – 7 pm – Music at the Cafe in Sonoita – Featuring Andy Hersey

At the Patagonia Library for Kids


Community Interest Items

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Sonoita Produce on Wheels (POWWOW) JUNE 17th! Sorting and packing fresh produce and assisting participants as they go through our farmer’s market style site. The shifts are 5:30 – 8:30 AM AND/OR 8:30 – 11:30 AM. *Those who volunteer for a shift will receive a complimentary unit of produce.
If you’d like to give back to your community in this way, please call/text Gardenia at 602.292.1616 and let us know which dates and shifts you’re able to volunteer. Thank you all in advance!

BARN HELP WANTED – 2 days per week, approx. 2 hr shifts, days negotiable. Pick up manure for 3 horses. $30 dollars/day. .5 mls from Sonoita on lower Elgin Rd. Possibility for more ranch work if you are a hard worker
Call: 858-805-5357

The pool will open May 30
2023 Pool Schedule
May 30 – Aug. 2nd
Monday through Saturday 8:30 – 9:45 Lap Swim
10:00 – 11:30 Water Aerobics
11:30 – 1:00 Summer School Program (06/05-06/29)
Swim lessons (07/05- 07/28)
1:00 – 5:00 Open Swim
5:00 – 6:30 Open Swim/Lap Swim

A free audio driving tour of the Cienega Watershed is now available! To take the tour the first step is to download the TravelStorys.com App to your phone or other device. Open TravelStory and select “Tour the Cienega Watershed” to save the tour on your phone. Once you’ve downloaded the app and the tour, no Internet access is needed.

New Time for Bike Ride

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

Patagonia High School is currently recruiting a High School Soccer Coach. Interested individuals can contact Nate Porter at the school for details.

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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