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Photo of the Week
Two pronghorns forage near a house in Sonoita. Photo by Dave Lumia
News
Rangers deliver Easter dinners in Sonoita
Arizona Rangers Todd Garrod (left) and Bart Lawrence were at the Vine Church in Sonoita last week to distribute Easter dinners to those in need. The Rangers traditionally purchase food to donate to the community on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, with Fry’s Food giving a generous discount to help with the project. Photo by Pat McNamara
Anti-Trump Administration protesters demonstrate in Patagonia
Over 50 demonstrators participated in last Saturday’s roadside protest in Patagonia. Most participants brought their own handmade signs. Photo by Robert Gay
The heater is on and the water is warm and beautiful. Come and enjoy it. Contributed photo
By Karen Riggs
The Patagonia Pool opened on April 14 after much work from an entire tribe of volunteers.
Until school is out, the pool schedule is: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, lap swim from 10-11:30 a.m. and Water Aerobics from 11:45-1 p.m. Wednesday evening swim from 6-8 p.m. (Wed. evening is dependent on having volunteers to open and close the pool and lifeguards, so please check the Patagonia Regional Aquatics Center (PRAC) Facebook page for the latest opening and closing information), Friday open swim from 1-3 p.m.
Entrance fees are $5 for adults, $3 for teens, veterans and first responders, and children 12 and under are free. Season passes and discounted punch cards or tickets are in the works and will be announced via Facebook.
Also: PRAC is holding a BAKE AND YARD SALE at Patagonia Senior Center on Saturday, April 26 8am-4pm, and Sunday, April 27 9am-1pm. Drop off items on Friday, April 25 4-6 pm and Saturday morning at 7:30am. We do not accept donations on Sunday. Come on over and check it out! Every sale helps keep our jewel of a pool up and running.
Fielding woes cost Lobos in loss to Baboquivari
Catcher Chris Lopez greets pitcher Johnny Fields after he struck out a Baboquivari batter to close out the sixth inning.Photo by Dave Lumia
By Dave Lumia
The Patagonia Lobos enter the final week of the 2025 baseball season still seeking that elusive second victory.
The Lobos got a strong pitching performance from senior Johnny Fields against Baboquivari on Thursday, April 17, but defensive lapses—a season-long theme—led to a 6-2 defeat.
The loss left Patagonia with a 1-11 record with three games left to play: Wednesday, April 23, at Duncan; Friday, April 25, at home vs. St. David; and Monday, April 28, at home vs. Fort Thomas.
Fields struck out eight batters and walked five in six innings pitched but was undermined by seven errors by the Patagonia defense.
Baboquivari took advantage of two errors in the first inning to score three unearned runs and added a fourth in the second inning after a third error by the Lobos.
Patagonia left two runners on base in the first inning and another in the second but got on the scoreboard in the third inning after back-to-back singles by Josh Woods and Kannon Shore, a fielder’s choice and a wild pitch that enabled Shore to score.
It was still 4-1 in the fifth inning when the Lobos’ fielding woes surfaced again. Two misplayed ground balls and a throwing error let to two more Baboquivari runs. The Lobos scored their second run in the bottom of the fifth when Shore doubled, stole third base and came home on a hard-hit sacrifice fly to left field by Miguel Albarron, but they wouldn’t score again.
Reminder: Sonoita/Elgin Preservation and Planning Community Meeting next Tuesday, April 29
Reminder: Patagonia Town Council study session on fire/emergency services contract next Wednesday, April 30
Patagonia’s Town Council will hold a study session to review the Request for Proposal for fire and emergency services for fiscal year 2025-6 that the Town sent to three local fire departments in February.
The study session will be held Wednesday, April 30 at 5pm in Council chambers at the Town Hall. The meeting will be open to the public, and all members of the public will be given the opportunity to speak.
Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue (PVFR) currently provides fire and emergency services to the Town under a one-year, $65,000 contract that ends on June 30. PVFR and Sonoita-Elgin Fire District have submitted bids for the FY 2025-6 contract.
The Town of Patagonia is also holding a regular Town Council meeting tonight, Wednesday, April 23, at 6pm in Town Hall Council Chambers at 310 McKeown Avenue. The meeting, which is open to the public, can also be attended via Zoom: meeting I.D. is 957-511-4862, password is 338501. This meeting has a very short agenda, available here.
Acclaimed Santa Rita Abbey documentary now streaming
A limited number of DVDs are for sale at Santa Rita Abbey’s gift shop (14200 E. Fish Canyon Road, Sonoita, 85637-6545), for anyone willing to drive over to pick one up.
School News and Youth Events
Rotary Club college tuition scholarships
From Mountain Empire Rotary Club:
Mountain Empire Rotary Club (MER) is offering local graduating seniors a chance to receive up to $2,000 that can be used toward college tuition. Two scholarships are available.
“These scholarships are intended to recognize graduating seniors who have demonstrated an interest in continuing to develop their own leadership skills and making a difference in their community,” said Mountain Empire Rotary President Annelies Dompe. “The funds can be used to help cover tuition costs whether the students will be attending a technical school, community college or four-year university.”
The application can be obtained by contacting Mary Faley at mufaley@outlook.com. All completed applications must be returned no later than Friday, May 2, 2025. Each recipient can receive $1,000/year for two years.
Eligible students must be graduating from high school, accepted by and plan to attend an accredited post-secondary institution or vocational program, and reside in one of the following ZIP codes: 85611, 85621, 85624, 85637
Upcoming Events
To share information about an upcoming event in this newsletter, please submit a poster/flyer 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!
Border BioBlitz and Lens on the Border at BECC May 3: Drop in anytime from 8 AM – 1 PM
Borderlands Earth Care Center (BECC) 59 Stevens Canyon Rd., Patagonia, AZ 85624
Come join a very special citizen science event and help us record the biodiversity of the border region!
BRN is hosting a Border BioBlitz event at BECC in Patagonia on May 3. Join us to discover, record, and share the wealth of the borderlands! All you need is a smartphone and the iNaturalist app.
In addition, we will present the Sierra Club Borderlands’ photo exhibit Lens on the Border, which features vibrant images of the Southwest landscape, the people, and the communities that have been impacted by walls and would be impacted by more border walls. Full details: www.borderlandsrestoration.org/events
There are only a few slots still available in our Seed Pelletization Workshop on Saturday, May 3 from 9am to noon! Join us at the Seed Barn to learn about seed-based revegetation methods and then get your hands dirty making some seed pellets that will be used in a restoration project! Sign up for this workshop through our events page at www.borderlandsplants.org.
Click flyer for more info and to buy tickets
Recurring Events
AA: Alcoholics Anonymous:
Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Doors open at 6:30. Highway 83, Sonoita. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Overeaters Anonymous: to find a meeting go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
The Patagonia Senior Center has received a grant from Delta Dental of Phoenix to help seniors with dental expenses. Vouchers are provided for up to $350 to participating dentists. If interested, please call the Senior Center at (520) 394-2494.
To list an employment opportunity, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
We are a mustang and a mule who need your help for approximately 1 hr./day to feed, water & pick up manure. Mon.-Thurs. $25. day. Sonoita 520-975-9920
Family Health Care Amigos/Purple Elephant, a certified charity, seeks a dependable part-time furniture mover for approximately ten hours a month at $20 per hour. Please call 520.256.7213 to set up an interview.
Click flyer for more info
Click flyer for more info
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)
For information on advertising in the PRT’s print edition, weekly newsletter, website or a custom package, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
Private collector interested in buying good quality minerals from the Patagonia area and other Arizona locations. Please contact Bob Stewart, 315-440-2786 (Sahuarita)
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