Fair and Rodeo Board Plans Centennial Celebration
The Sonoita Fair and Rodeo Board returned from their November planning retreat with renewed enthusiasm and great plans for the year 2015. Board President Jim Cosbey called the retreat a success.
Thirteen local residents, representing the two groups (the Fair and Rodeo Association and the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Foundation, a 501c3 corporation) that provide leadership for events at the County Fairgrounds in Sonoita, participated in the retreat. They spent the day in the Patagonia Town Hall planning and organizing under the facilitation of Paula Schaper of West-Word Vision.
The retreat attendees brainstormed topics and goals including facilities, maintenance, volunteers, membership, events, and fundraising. “2015 is our centennial celebration for the fairgrounds, and we want this to be the biggest and best family event in Santa Cruz County,” proclaimed Cosbey. He is pleased that newly elected board members John Titus, George Masek, and Gary Brown will add their expertise to deliberations.
The fairgrounds hosts four main events a year—the County Fair, Rodeo, Derby Day Races, and the quarter horse show. Jim Cosbey reminds everyone that the fairgrounds is membership owned and welcomes public involvement. The boards are looking for suggestions for new and exciting events for 2015. Some that are already hoped for include bull riding, barrel racing, dances and musicals, cowboy mounted shooting competitions, junior rodeo, film festivals, and trade shows.
Cosbey points out that maintenance needs are ever present. His current list includes repairs to the infield and restrooms. He also says the fairgrounds need a newer tractor, bleachers, more grandstands, and permanent storage units. It is hoped that increased membership and fundraising will provide funds for these items. A membership drive is under way, and residents from throughout the area are invited to join the Fair and Rodeo Association and help make 2015 a year to remember. Contact the association at 520-455-5553.
460 Christmas Shoeboxes Delivered to Children in Sonora, Mexico
Kathryn Pena, Priscilla Perez, and Greg Zumsteg
On December 18, 460 shoeboxes full of Christmas presents were delivered to church workers in Sonora for distribution to needy Mexican children. Local churches, civic organizations, and the Sonoita-Elgin Fire District all prepared boxes for this annual project. Each box was filled with presents that were age and gender specific. This guaranteed a great Christmas party for the children of the barrios.
Two large vans packed to the hilt with shoeboxes left Sonoita and stopped at the El Via Nueva area of Colosio Colonia, where the presents were delivered to Elder Michael Fuentes. Fuentes then distributed them to four additional barrios in Sonora.
“Without the contributions from the Sonoita residents, the children in these barrios would have no Christmas presents whatsoever,” he said.
Pastor Chuck Carlson of the Sonoita Hills Community Church led the caravan to Mexico, accompanied by Chuck Hammond, Jean Gawenda, and Susan Johansson. Kathryn Pena, Priscilla Perez, and Greg Zumsteg represented the Sonoita-Elgin Fire District.
The tradition of collecting empty shoeboxes and filling them with gifts for Sonoran children has been going on for many years. Pastor Carlson and the many churches and organizations participating thank the local residents for supporting this important project.
Dentistry Practice Restored After Crash
Six months after her Sonoita dental office was severely damaged by a runaway car, Dr. Christina Pace is reopening her practice. She has almost completed the rebuilding and re-equipping of her office and is looking forward to serving the community again. She is taking appointments now for basic dental cleanings. By January 21, she and her new assistant, Kathy, will be ready to offer all the procedures she previously provided, including fillings, crowns, bridges, partials, dentures, and extractions.
This year Dr. Pace, an Arizona resident since her childhood, began her 26th year in dentistry. She initially attended the University of Arizona, where her father taught for many years. She then received a doctorate in dental surgery at the University of Southern California.
The office of Santa Cruz Family Dentistry, located at 3121 Highway 83, Suite D, will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 520-455-9230 or contact Dr. Pace at santacruzdentistry@gmail.com.