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News
Halloween in Patagonia means another visit from Heidi’s Monkeys
This year’s iteration of Heidi’s Monkeys, an original Halloween play, follows a 15-year-old girl who has figured out that if she never goes to sleep, nobody will die.
Heidi’s Monkeys: COPPER, a new play by Patagonia writer Matthew Lysiak, opens Friday, Oct. 23, at the Tin Shed Theater for three performances only. Admission is $10, under 18 get in free, and every dollar goes to Patagonia United Methodist Church.
Heidi Mayerson has been on a children’s cancer ward for four years — long enough to have made herself its night watch. Somebody is coming for one of them, and the only thing standing in the doorway is a teenager who has decided not to blink.
The play runs about 75 minutes without an intermission, in three acts, and is performed by a company of 10, drawn largely from Patagonia families.
“Every year somebody asks me why the Halloween play is so disturbing,” Lysiak said. “The honest answer is that what actually frightens people isn’t monsters — it is something far darker. That is what I try to tap into with this play.”
PERFORMANCES
Friday, Oct. 23 — 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 — 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 — 2:30 p.m.
Tin Shed Theater.
$10 admission · Under 18 free · All proceeds benefit Patagonia United Methodist Church
(Tickets at the door. Halloween-themed food and refreshments will be served)
A ‘very good’ Fall Festival
By Dave Lumia
Neither rain, nor shaky economy, nor temporary highway closures were sufficient to prevent a successful 37th edition of the Patagonia Fall Festival.
“Given the rain, the forecast, given the price of gas, the fact that (Highway) 83 was closed both days for over an hour, we were very pleased at the end of the day Sunday,” said Linda Shore, president of the Sky Island Tourism Association (SITA).
Shore said the Festival attracted about 95 vendors and as estimated 10,000 attendees —7,000 on Saturday before the heavy rains hit later that evening and Sunday morning.
The Festival was a joint endeavor between SITA and Art State Arizona, which played a major role in coordinating the vendors. Shore said Matt Roland, head of Art State, said the vendors’ feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Isabella Gonzalez, 4, of Nogales and Caryssa Coleman, 9, of Tucson work intently on their pumpkins paintings. (Photos by Dave Lumia and Robert Gay) 
Alan Rios shows off one of his glass-metal creations. (Photos by Robert Gay and Dave Lumia) \ 
WindRaven describes himself as a Native American healer (also known as a Shaman or Curando) of the Yaqui nation. (Photos by Robert Gay and Dave Lumia) 
One can never have too much purple, can they? (Photos by Robert Gay and Dave Lumia) 
Early morning rains on Sunday let up in time for sun-spackled afternoon of browsing. (Photos by Dave Lumia and Robert Gay) 
The Double G Alpacas always are sure to attract a lot of attention, rain or shine. (Photos by Dave Lumia and Robert Gay) 
Cirque Collective performers provided afternoon entertainment. (Photos by Dave Lumia and Robert Gay) 
Cirque Collective performers provided afternoon entertainment. (Photos by Dave Lumia and Robert Gay)
“The returning vendors all said that they had equaled or were withing 10 percent of their best Saturday,” Shore said. “And there were quite a few new people too, which was neat. They had no frame of reference, of course, but they were thrilled. Three of them commented to me how beautiful the park was.”
While the weather gods were temperamental, they spared Patagonia the worst of their wrath. Heavy winds and a downpour swept through Town Park on Saturday, but not until around 7 p.m., after the Festival had shut down for the day. A couple of the portable tents were blown over, but no serious consequences. And while Sunday’s forecast called for heavy rains, the skies cleared by mid-afternoon, making for pleasant browsing amid ideal fall temperatures.
“The fact that the vendors were seeing good sales results means the people did how were buyers,” Shore said. “Given all the circumstances, it was a very good festival.”
Border wall passes Lochiel and protest encampment disperses
By Robert Gay
Preface. Last week’s Lochiel events of Sunday-Monday-Tuesday and the truck lockdown of Thursday were reported Oct. 7 by the PRT an on Oct. 8, with an Oct 10 update. This account picks up from there. Sources include both personal contacts and unvetted private chat groups, where users adopt (and play with) pseudonyms in online communication. In public encounters, many of the land defenders chose to wear masks. PRT’s reporting respects the sources’ desire for anonymity. Similarly, Border Patrol’s SWAT team, BORTAC, participated in some of the Lochiel altercations and were masked up and with no personal or agency ID visible.
A group decision to wind down the camp was announced on Saturday, Oct. 10. It came with the explanation that the community connection and collective spirit of resistance was “powerful and agile,” and would be using its power in other border hotspots. The Lochiel activists’ action and information network includes the Big Bend area of Texas, the Tohono O’odham Reservation lands, and the sacred springs at Quitobaquito, near Organ Pipe National Monument.
The camp closing was not staged for the press, and the collective reformulation process is not instant. The activists’ actions raised awareness in other locales, with cross-freeway bridges in places such as Chicago, Nashville and Portland, Ore., sporting solidarity banners.
The dispersing community is cleaning up camp as of this writing and has said it will be supporting their arrested “comrades” in upcoming court proceedings. The total number of arrests is believed to be about 40, but the Border Patrol and other agencies have not provided details. Some protesters have documented injuries, and they say they are being supported by an experienced legal team whose function includes “jail support.”
Wall construction. In making its way westward, last week’s construction shifted from the south wall to the north wall and moved rapidly past the encampment and the rest of Lochiel. There were many full nights of work, with as much as 400 feet of panel erection in a 24-hour period. Visuals from the area appear to show that crews neglected to place the PVC conduits to be used for fiber optics and other wiring, but how they deal with that is yet to be revealed.
The “leading edge” of wall panels is now substantially west of the De La Ossa family cemetery. The access road to the cemetery was seen by PRT to be still undrivable on Oct. 5.
Click here to continue reading.
Hathaway fires back at Sheriff’s Association over border-wall policing
By Dave Lumia
As activists began packing up and dismantling their encampment this week at the border-wall construction site in Lochiel, Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway issued two statements Monday rebuking Arizona Sheriff’s Association for its criticism of him and the sheriff’s office for failure to protect federal agents and border-wall contractors.
The brouhaha surfaced after Hathaway was quoted by the Patagonia Regional Times as instructing sheriff’s department officers not to respond to calls regarding disputes involving border-wall protests. He said his stance was influenced by the massive number of federal agents already in the area, a pattern of “disingeuous” reports and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which states that federal law takes precedence over state and local laws, ensuring a uniform legal framework across the county and preventing states from undermining federal authority.
The months-long standoff between contractors and protesters — who called themselves “land defenders” — escalated last week when armed Border Patrol officers entered the protesters encampment on private land and held them at bay while contractors knocked down the symbolic “grandmother” cottonwood that activists were occupying to prevent wall construction. The confrontation, at times violent, was captured on video and shared on social media. Two days later, an activist locked herself onto a construction truck, sparking another heated confrontation. It was during the latter confrontation that an audio recording captured the sheriff’s office dispatcher saying the department would not be responding to the incident, as it was a federal matter. The PRT then reached out to Hathaway regarding the department’s response.
“Ninety percent (of the calls) are very disingenuous calls from Border Patrol and Fisher Sand and Gravel,” he said. “They will invent things that have buzzwords attached to them that they think will get us to respond and do something. They will say their people have been kidnapped, that their vehicles have been stolen, that the protesters are trespassing. And it’s all very disingenuous because the protesters are on private land. So I have instructed the sheriff’s office to not respond. … They just kind of want us to take on the responsibility of going against the protesters, which we’re not going to do.”
The Arizona Sheriff’s Association responded with a widely distributed release chiding Hathaway for failing to uphold his responsibilities “relating to preserving the peace, addressing public offenses, and preventing and suppressing disturbances.” The release said ASA member sheriffs, representing 13 of Arizona’s 15 counties, were prepared to intervene if requested to do so by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Click here to continue reading.
Lobos tip off home stretch with showdown vs. St. David
After suffering their first loss of the season on Tuesday night at Valley Union, the fourth-ranked Patagonia Lobos can settle in for the most important week of the season.
The Lobos (11-1) have played nine of their 12 matches on the road. Now comes five days to get ready for the home stretch in front of the home fans: four games over six nights, starting with Monday’s showdown against third-ranked St. David. Then, in rapid succession, are a rematch on Tuesday against Valley Union, Thursday night’s homecoming contest vs. Superior and Saturday vs. Ray.
After next week, just one match remains before the postseason, Wednesday, Oct. 28, at top-ranked Cicero Prep in Scottsdale. Cicero handed St. David its first loss last Friday.
Patagonia was originally scheduled to host St. David in September, but a rainy forecast and a leaky roof at Patagonia’s gym led to a postponement. St. David has won the last four region championships and has a 30-0 record against region opponents over the past five seasons. Patagonia last defeated St. David in 2015.
The Lobos are hoping to have junior Monique Snell, their top attacker, at full strength. She has seen limited action over the past three weeks while recovering from a shoulder injury.
Upcoming schedule
Monday, Oct. 19 — St. David, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Valley Union, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22 — Superior, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 — Ray, 3 p.m.
Elgin School Students of the Month
Flint Peterson and Dayton Swift were recognized as Elgin Elementary’s September Students of the Month at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Sonoita Elementary School Governing Board.
In presenting the award to Flint, first grade teacher Sheree Gronlund saluted his academic growth, positive attitude and kindness to others. “Every child can make great strides when given the opportunity to succeed,” Gronlund said.
In acknowledging seventh grader Dayton Swift, Jen Cranston, middle school social studies teacher, applauded the youth’s steady work ethic, resilience and time management skills. “Success comes from showing up,” Cranston said.
Congratulations to Flint and Dayton!
Governing board meetings are open to the public and are normally held at 5 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month, 22 Elgin Road. October’s meeting was delayed due to fall break.
Elgin School earns Arts Ambassador Award
Elgin School has been recognized by the Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Public Schools with a 2026 Arts Ambassador Award for its collaborative work on the Row the Boat artwork submitted for the Celebrating Young Artists exhibit at the county fair. The piece was honored in the category of “collective masterpiece.”
The students and teacher Anna Coleman will be honored at the Celebrating Young Artists Event scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, at the 1904 Historic Courthouse in Nogales from 4 to 7 p.m.
Council agenda includes Sonoita Creek Wildlife Conservation Corridor easements
Approval of the final easements for the Sonoita Creek Wildlife Conservation Corridor is among the agenda items for Patagonia Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m.
A draft of the conservation easements was approved on May 13. The final approval included a deposit of $57,500 into the Wildlife Corridors Easement Maintenance Reserve Fund for continued maintenance by the town.
Other items on the agenda include closure of the sale of a portion of the right-of-way on Pennsylvania Avenue to Caleb Smith for the cost of $6931.73; and amending Town Code Chapter 9 – Health, Sanitation and Environment – by adding Article 9-5, Cemetery, establishing regulations for the operation, maintenance and protection of a public cemetery.
The meeting can be attended via Zoom, using Meeting I.D. 957-511-4862, Password 338501.
Flood risk meeting set for Oct. 21 in Patagonia
Santa Cruz County and the Town of Patagonia are evaluating options to help address flood risk in Patagonia and surrounding areas. The public is invited to attend a meeting on Oct. 21 to learn more, share comments and complete a survey to help inform the project’s next steps.
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026
6-8 p.m., Patagonia Town Hall, 310 McKeown Avenue
Remote participants can tune into the presentation via Zoom:
Meeting ID 957-511-4862 | Passcode 338501
Mail-in voting guidelines
Voters who requested but did not receive a mail-in ballot by Friday, Oct. 16, should contact the Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office at (520) 375-7990 to request a second ballot.
The use of drop boxes to return those ballots is highly encouraged. In eastern Santa Cruz County, drop box locations are:
- Patagonia Town Hall, 310 McKeown Ave.
- Sonoita Library/County Complex Building, 3147 Highway 83.
Drop boxes are emptied three times a week. You can track the status of your ballot by clicking HERE.
Voters have until Friday, Oct. 23, to request a mail-in ballot, with a deadline of Tuesday, Oct. 27, for ballots to be returned.
Voters opting for election-day voting are reminded to bring a valid driver’s license.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Eastern Santa Cruz County voting sites are:
- Elgin Community Hall, 475 Elgin Road, Elgin
- Cady Hall, 346 Duquesne Ave., Patagonia
- Sonoita Library/County Complex Building, 3147 Highway 83, Sonoita
Special Notice to PRT Readers: Phishing scam
The Patagonia Regional Times has become aware that certain of our business assets have been illegally cloned in a phishing scheme seeking donations to the PRT.
Further details on the scheme are cited below so you will know how to identify it, but the critical message to all is do not respond to these emails and do not click on the “Donate to the PRT” button or any other buttons or links. You’ll notice the identifying logo is different than the official logos the PRT currently uses:
If possible, we ask that you take a screenshot of any such solicitations and email those to editor@prtnews.org, report the phishing attempt to your internet service provider and delete it. If you have already clicked on the donate button, please notify us immediately so that we can track the number of followers impacted. If you already sent money or data to the fake site, contact your bank immediately and file a report at https://www.identitytheft.gov/.
As we near our annual NewsMatch campaign beginning November 1 – December 31, 2026, you’ll be receiving an official letter and emails from us asking for your support. All correspondence related to the campaign will have our official logo as seen above. Please only respond to official requests from us and use our website’s donation option when contributing support online.
Kind regards,
Amy Glass
Executive Director
Patagonia Regional Times
Public Service Announcements
Blood pressure checks at the Senior Center
From the Patagonia Senior Center:
Did you know the Patagonia Senior Center is offering blood-pressure checks for seniors (ages 60 or over) on the first and second Monday of every month, from 10:15 a.m. until 11 a.m.? We hope to see you there!
To submit an announcement, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
School News and Youth Events
To report school news or list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. To list an event, please submit by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
From Elgin School Parent Teacher Club:
The Elgin PTC is looking for new members to join our team and help make our school an even more amazing place for our students, staff, and families! Whether you can volunteer a few hours a month or help with a specific event, there is a place for everyone in the PTC! Interested in learning more? Send us a message at Elginptc@elgink12.com. We’d love to have you join our flock! Together, we can help Elgin soar even higher!
Upcoming Events
To list an event, please submit an image file in JPEG or PNG format. Email your submission to prtadast@gmail.com by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
From the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve:
Jeff Servoss, a Wildlife Biologist specializing in herpetology at the USFWS, discusses behavior, adaptations, defense mechanisms, physiology, conservation biology, habitat ecology, biological diversity, folklore, human safety and first aid, and other concepts that pertain to our native venomous reptiles. Live specimens of Arizona’s most fascinating venomous reptiles are displayed in lockable enclosures specifically designed for exhibition in an interactive forum.
Recurring Events
To list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
Fresh vegetable distribution Mondays at the Patagonia Senior Center
Come with friends and pick up your weekly fresh vegetables from East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank every Monday at the Patagonia Senior Center (100 Quiroga Ln, Patagonia) at 10:30am. Take what you need and give what you can.
The Sonoita Food Pantry at The Vine Church is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Monthly bird walks at the Paton Center
From the Paton Center:
Fun news: we will now be having regular monthly Paton Center bird walks led by docent Wayne Smith on the fourth Saturday of every month! Join us for a relaxing morning featuring short, easy walks (less than a mile total) along trails like the Cuckoo Corridor and Gray Hawk Birding Trail. We’ll also spend some unhurried time enjoying the activity around the bird feeders.
-Alexis Stark, Paton Center Site Manager
Attention Patagonia residents:
Boat tours at Patagonia Lake State Park
Every Saturday and Sunday, $7 per adult, $5 per child (13 years and under)
- 9 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
- 10:15 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
- 11:30 a.m. Lake Discovery Tour
- Twilight Tour on Saturdays only. Time varies.
Call the park to make your reservation: 520-287-2791
Boat rentals are available at the Patagonia Lake Marina.
Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Highway 83, Sonoita. Doors open at 6:30. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
- Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Crossroads Quilters: Are you a textile artist (weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting)? The Crossroads Quilters invites all interested textile artists to our meetings. Bring a project to work on and enjoy a morning of information sharing and camaraderie. We meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 9am at the Sonoita Bible Church, 3174 N. Highway 83. For more information email: alisbunting@gmail.com
Overeaters Anonymous: The OA Sky Islands Recovery group meets every Wednesday 11am-12noon at the East Santa Cruz County (ESCC) Food Bank at 772 Harshaw Ave in the meeting room at the end of the driveway. For additional meeting info, go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
Farmers Markets
Patagonia Farmers and Crafts Market – Thursdays 10am-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
Nogales “Little” Mercado – Fridays 4-7pm 163 Morley Ave, Nogales
Church Events and Schedules
St. Therese Parish in Patagonia
Patagonia Community United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
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A 2026 CORE Grant from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona provides the Patagonia Regional Times with valuable operating support.
Funding for the Patagonia Regional Times’s operating expenses is supported by a generous contribution from the El Paso Community Foundation Borderland News Fund.