Opinion

On April 25, the Patagonia Town Council voted to join 34 other borderlands communities to adopt a No Border Wall resolution. Patagonia will join a collective of municipalities whose goal is convincing lawmakers that a $25B wall is not only unnecessary, it is expensive to taxpayers, damaging to borderland ecosystems, and deadly, for both crossers […]

RedforEd. It was on the news, on street corners, on social media. There were signs in businesses, shirts on people, and bumper stickers on cars. The governor signed a bill that was touted as a raise for teachers. But does it answer our needs? Governor Ducey signed his “20X2020” bill without a solid plan for […]

I don’t remember the day my sister was born. I don’t remember what it was like to be the only child either, but in my defense, I was only three. My mother said I was indifferent to the whole event and that I simply ignored her. That would be the first and last time I […]

Have you looked at the flesh of a nonagenarian lately? It looks like lifeless suet, full of bumps and scars, and stains. It’s not attractive, nor was it meant to be. When someone young – someone of mating age – looks at such flaccid and discolored flesh, the bio-message sent is DO NOT MATE! When […]

Opera House Kudos I recently had the pleasure of attending the final performance of the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts’ concert season, which featured artist-in-residence pianist Evan Kory. This Sunday afternoon program capped an outstanding season of concerts that featured world-class musicians from across the United States and points beyond. And the Foundation’s […]

The Board of Supervisors voted to close the Justice Court in Sonoita at the March 21 meeting. This was after numerous eastern Santa Cruz County residents not only spoke in opposition but gave a substantial numbers of valid reasons and facts to keep it open. This was the second board meeting as well as a […]

By now the mainstream culture knows what lots of us have always known: that emotional bonding with dogs, cats, horses, hamsters – even potted plants – is good for us and good for them. Such connection brings blood pressure down and allows us to feel less alone. I wish I could connect as well with […]

When we walk in our desert mountains, it’s hard to miss the hidden meadows often created by the strangest elements. A fallen tree or boulder can stop water otherwise lost downstream, sinking the water and feeding our watershed’s sprouting trees and grasses. Where before there was nothing, now life begins. Rocks, trees, flood-taken cars, and […]

I refer to him as “The Pushy Tamale Guy.” I know it is not exactly nice but, well? You know who I’m talking about, Patagonians. It’s the guy who shows up on Thursdays and goes door to door, business to business chanting “Tamales! Tortillas!” Now I have nothing against his products – they’re authentic as […]

Kudos to the County Supervisors I thought that the county did an excellent job of explaining its reasoning related to the consolidation of the Sonoita JP Court during meetings the last two days [3/20 – 3/21]. Afterreviewing the proceedings (public record) it becomes evident that the county in the past has bent over backwards to […]