The PRT Newsletter for the Week of March 15, 2023
Breaking News in Our Community
The body of a 51 year old male was discovered yesterday inside a parked vehicle along the 2300 block of Hwy 83 in Elgin. The SCC Sheriff”s Dept. is investigating what appears to be a suicide. The victim, a resident of Marana, was first reported earlier in the week as a missing person and an”attempt to locate” was issued by the Marana PD. If you, or someone you know needs to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Hotline, dial 988 for 24 hour support and assistance.
FUN-draising for Sonoita Vineyards due to Longview Wildfire
Elgin AZ, 3/11/23 – Collaborative efforts to present FUN-draising, taking place at Sonoita Vineyards on 3/18/23, and featuring The Band Wanted and Border Hookups.
The local Elgin and Sonoita communities are proud to bring FUN-draising to Sonoita Vineyards at 290 Elgin Canelo Rd, Elgin, AZ 85611 in response to the Longview Fire that occurred 3/5/23 causing damage to the vineyard and outbuildings. From The Band Wanted “Sonoita Vineyards were recently affected by the Longview Fire in Elgin. We are organizing this FUN-draising event to help with some of the expenses not covered by insurance. Our goal is to take some of the stress and worry off the little things. Focusing heavily on bringing some FUN and joy to this business and family during this time.” More details about the event: The Band Wanted, scheduled to perform 10 – noonish Border Hookups, scheduled to perform 1-4 pm Tasting room hours 10-4 No admission fee Food truck scheduled Silent auction and buy it now items https://www.facebook.com/thebandwanted GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/16b61f26 Contact Information: Candy Carpenter, candy@thebandwanted.us – 970-208-6609 Kim Rego, kim@photosbykcrego.com – 520-990-0137
Food Bank to Move April 1
On April 1st, The East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank will be moving to a NEW LOCATION at 772 Harshaw Avenue, Patagonia, AZ 85624. Adjusted hours of operation at the new location will be the SECOND SATURDAY of the month from 8:30am to 10:30am to better serve our community. Stay tuned for an upcoming open house. This move WILL NOT effect the every Monday Vegetable Distribution at the Senior Center, 10:30am to 11:30am
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.
Getting to Trailheads From Patagonia (again)
Note: We tried to post this map in last week’s newsletter, but messed up. Our apologies!
PRT contributor Robert Gay has created a series of free trail maps for Patagonia and surrounding areas. In this month’s print edition of the PRT, we’ve shared 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, high-resolution size.
Being Cautious During Calving Season
Calving season for cattle has started in Santa Cruz County. Although calves are very cute, human interaction with them can be a danger to both people and animals. Here are a few tips to stay safe around cattle this time of year:
- Admire calves from a distance but do not approach them.
- Do not get between mother cows and young calves. You could get hurt, and the calf and mother cow will be stressed if you get close.
- Do not worry if you see a calf by itself. The mother cow is usually eating or drinking nearby and will return.
- If you do find a calf by itself, never approach it or attempt to touch or relocate it. Those actions can result in injury to you and/or calf.
- Always keep your dog on a leash and away from any calves in areas where livestock are present.
- If you believe a calf is in significant distress, or appears to be injured, sick or dead, please note the location, the color of the animal, brand or ear tag info, and contact the SCC Sheriff Department at 520-761-7869 or the AZ Dept of Agriculture at 602-364-0857.
Sign up for Emergency Alerts!
With the on-set of fire season, now is a good time to sign up for the County’s Wireless Emergency Notification System. Once enrolled on you mobile device, you will receive alerts for severe weather, emergency situations, air quality and boil water advisories and there is no cost participate. You have the option to choose both the specific type of alerts you want to receive and the geographic areas of interest within the county. During the Longview Fire, the PRT received alerts on evacuations and people and livestock shelters. The sign-up form can be found at: http://entry.inspironlogistics.com/santacruz_az/wens.cfm
Property Assessment Claims and Appeals
The County recently mailed the annual notice of value reflecting the 2024 valuation for property tax purposes. If you feel that your property is improperly valued, you may petition the assessor for review within 60 days of the Notice Date on the front of the card. Also, the county would like you to contact them in event your home, business, or outbuildings were damaged due to fire, flood, high winds or other disasters which caused significant damage and could lead to a reduction in your property valuation. For additional information you can contact the assessors office at (520) 375-8030 or complete the Notice of Claim Form at: https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8304/Form-82135C—Taxpayer-Notice-of-Claim—Destroyed-Property
New Planning and Zoning Regulation Proposed
On March 23,2023 at 1:00 PM, the County Planning and Zoning Commission will host a public meeting. The agenda includes discussion and possible action to Add Article 31, “Specific Zoning Plans” to the Zoning and Development Code by establishing uniform criteria and procedures for the review, adoption and implementation of Specific Zoning Plans within the unincorporated area of the County, in order to promote land use flexibility and provide a bridge between the County’s Comprehensive Plan and individual Development projects by establishing versatile, orderly, cost effective and environmentally sound land development regulations for designated areas. You can find the proposed new Article 31 at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/162/Planning-Zoning-Commission and click on the links at the bottom of the main page. The county encourages comments or questions be received no later than March 21, 2023. For additional information on attending the meeting in person or on Zoom and requests to speak, please review the agenda at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03232023-855
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…
Taking Care of Business
By Ann Katzenbach
March 6, 2014
When the town of Patagonia’s garbage truck broke down earlier this winter, Francisco (“Poncho”) Valenzuela and Everardo (“Pio”) Gonzalez used their own pickup trucks and trailer to do the twice-weekly trash pickup along with their third man, Manuel Cardenas.
Upcoming Community Events
Remember to check out and add any upcoming events to our NEW community calendar!
ALSO, we have our YOUTH in the community having a fundraising Bake Sale & will be selling gently used handbags for donation at each POWWOW March – June, All funds raised go directly to their Youth Camp trip in Prescott, Arizona. Please stop by for some goodies & purses and support our youth!
*At POWWOW it is a $15 contribution for 70 LBS of produce. No residential or income requirements.
If you’d like to join the Community Volunteer Team or become a Market Vendor, please text/call gardenia 602.292.1616. AND if you know of any youth in the community who would like or need volunteer hours, I can provide documentation for those who would like to volunteer ;D
Follow @SonoitaAZCommunityMarket on FB & IG to see our Veggie Varieties Friday afternoon!
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.
Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands
A film exploring the rich ecology and inherent beauty of key wild areas of the Patagonia Mountains and Sonoita Creek and the threats to their valuable natural resources will be showing at The Tin Shed Theater in Patagonia on Friday, March 24, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. The film is approximately 75 mins. long and Q&A at the end.
Tickets will be sold at the location on the date of the movie and the admission cost is $20.00. All proceeds benefit Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, a non-profit organization working to ensure that mining activities in the Patagonia Mountains meet the highest science-based standards in order to protect our region’s natural assets.For more information visit Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands • Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (patagoniaalliance.org).
YARD SALE! Do you need to do some Spring Cleaning? Saturday, March 25th (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and Sunday March 26th (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.). If you have yard sale items to donate, you may bring them to the sale on Sat., beginning at 7:30 a.m. Also looking for volunteers to help set-up and take-down, perform cashier duty, and rove/interact with customers. We will be having a bake sale as well, so if you’d like to contribute goodies, please let us know! If you can volunteer during the sale, please click here or send an email to: patagoniapool1@gmail.com.
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
Actors Wanted – Julia Green Voice and Piano Studio LLC will be producing an original one-act comedy theatre work at the Tin Shed, Patagonia AZ, and we are seeking to expand the cast to 50+ years old actors. Audition requirement is one short, memorized monologue or poem limited to one minute. Please prepare to deliver your chosen monologue in different accents, i.e. East Coast melting pot. Auditions being held at the Tin Shed in Patagonia April 22-25. Performance dates are September 8,9, and 10 of 2023. Please call Julia Green at 505-350-8543 to discuss and schedule your audition.
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
Elgin Community Club Scholarships
The Elgin Community Club offers scholarships for 2023 graduating seniors living in the Sonoita, Patagonia and Elgin area. Students attending Patagonia High School can pick up an application from Mr. Michael Young. Students attending other high schools can contact Ginny Cosbey at 520-820-6155 or email her at gcosbey@yahoo.com, and she will send you an application form and answer any questions you might have about the scholarships. Plese apply if you plan to go to a university, community college, or a trade school. We would love to give you a financial boost as you prepare for your future.
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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