Mating bordered patch butterflies. Photo by Vince Pinto This year’s local monsoon moisture has been fickle in its arrival – the sixth-driest start ever in our locale. The wetter the winter, the more drought prone is the summer, it seems. As I pen these words in mid-July, only a few fortunate areas have received substantial […]
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Posted inCommunity
Local Nature Sanctuary Offers Unique Experience
Vince Pinto and his wife, Claudia Campos-Pinto, have devoted the last eleven years to creating a unique wilderness experience for visitors to their 42-acre nature preserve near Lake Patagonia.
Posted inColumns
Glimpses Into Our Past: The Beebes
After striking it rich in 1911 at the Rainbow mine, George Beebe, age 56, married Edna Woodworth, age 34, and moved to Elgin. There they homesteaded, planted a great orchard and “dry farmed” for 15 years, with their home becoming a focal point in the growing community. Here’s their story.
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Casting Light on Light Pollution
(C) Google Earth, Fabio Falchi et al (2016) Light pollution, which has joined air, water, and soil pollution as a major environmental concern, occurs by direct transmission of light which we experience as “skyglow.” It can be caused by many sources including homes, businesses, signs parks, roadway lighting, sports events, vehicles, construction, airports and military […]
Posted inColumns
Starstruck – April 2019
It doesn’t get much better than April to find your way among the stars. The Big Dipper is high overhead throughout the month. Look northeast to find the distinctive pattern comprised of three “handle” stars and four that give shape to its “pan.” Seems like everyone knows about the Big Dipper. It’s an asterism, a […]
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Nature Journeys: April’s Aerial Armada
The Costas hummingbird is one of our smallest hummingbirds in the Sky Islands. Photo by Vince Pinto As a wildlife biologist and professional bird guide, I look forward with great anticipation to the month of April. This is one of the best months of the year to seek a broad diversity of bird species in an […]
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Glimpses Into Our Past: The Empire Merry Makers
Flag raising at the Empire School, 1950’s. Photo courtesy Empire Ranch Foundation From 1932 to 1936 the “Empire Merry Makers,” contributed articles for an Arizona Daily Star column reporting on 4-H Club activities in Pima County. 4-H in Arizona began in 1913 with a club in Chandler. The University of Arizona Agriculture Experiment Station organized 12 […]
Posted inOpinion
Oaks, Toads and Sleeping Women
The horned toad had a great place to live. He was king of his hill. But I was bigger, and stronger, with money for a bulldozer. He had to go.
Posted inCommunity
Mickey Ginsburg: AZ’s Oldest Pharmacist
Musician, horseman, pharmacist and the oldest working pharmacy owner in Arizona, Myron (Mickey) Ginsburg, at 88, is still working at his drug store in Sonoita.
Posted inOpinion
The Times Are Always Changing
As I recently spent time in Patagonia after being away for two years, I noticed changes that most residents have probably come to take for granted…