The PRT Newsletter for the Week of Feb. 26, 2025
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News
Hermosa CPBA Signatories Report Progress, Schedule Mar. 17 Community Listening Session at Patagonia High School
Click here to read the complete text of today’s joint press release from Santa Cruz County, Nogales, Patagonia and South32 regarding the development of a Community Protection and Benefit Agreement for South32’s Hermosa project.
PARA Hires New Mission Coordinator
The Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA) has named Harold Thomas as its new Mission Coordinator, succeeding Carolyn Shafer. Shafer will continue with the Patagonia-based nonprofit organization as Board Chairperson.
In an introductory greeting published in PARA’s monthly newsletter earlier this week, Thomas wrote:
What an honor to join PARA as the new Mission Coordinator. I don’t know if the expression “big shoes to fill” is big enough to express the gratitude needed for Carolyn Shafer and her years of leadership and stewardship of Patagonia Area Resource Alliance.
… Over the upcoming weeks and months I hope to meet many more of you and work with you at this critical moment in Patagonia’s future. We’ll be organizing neighborhood gatherings to listen to your concerns and share updates on our work. This moment in time will define what Patagonia’s future will hold, and of the future of Santa Cruz County. As I step into this role of stewardship, I look to you. More than ever we need you to talk about the impact the mine will have on your life and to share your story with other Arizonans.
To read Thomas’ complete remarks in the PARA newsletter, click here.
Food Truck Ordinance, Affordable Housing, April Foot Race on Agenda for Tonight’s Patagonia Town Council Meeting
The Town of Patagonia Town Council will meet Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6pm in Town Hall Council Chambers at 310 McKeown Avenue. The meeting can also be attended via Zoom. The meeting I.D. is 957-511-4862 and the password is 338501.
Items on the agenda include:
- Discussion to consider an ordinance for food truck use in the Town of Patagonia.
- Discussion and possible action to schedule a council workshop on March 5 at 6pm to review the site plan and building layout for the duplex units for an affordable housing project located on one acre of Town-owned property on Harshaw Ave.
- Discussion and possible action to approve Destination Trail to rent 580-588 Harshaw Ave. from the Town of Patagonia. The rent would be $500 per seven days of use. They will be bringing approximately 25 people to monitor and manage the finish line for the [April 4-11] Arizona Monster 300 Foot Race.
Click here for more information on the meeting, including the full agenda.
Barkleyanthus and Butterflies
Above: Barkleyanthus, a subtropical member of the aster family Asteraceae, typically blooms in winter and early spring, attracting butterflies and other native pollinators along Sonoita Creek. Video from earlier this week by Vince Pinto/Ravens-Way Wild Journeys
Seven Planets Line Up This Friday
Seven planets will be visible in the night sky simultaneously this Friday, February 28.
Here’s some guidance on how to see the planets from Harold Meckler’s ‘Starstuck’ column in the February PRT:
Head outdoors on the 28th just after sunset. As the sky darkens, you might be able to spot five planets with unaided eyes and two more with binoculars.
Don’t expect our fellow solar system members to be in a straight line. Begin your search in the southwest where Saturn can be spotted barely above the horizon. Then, heading eastward, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will all be visible with the right magnification, most just by looking up.
After you’ve captured the planets, admire some of the other great sights in the winter sky. Orion is to the south. The Big Dog, Canis Major, is below it and to the east. That’s where you’ll find Sirius, the sky’s brightest star…
To read the complete text of Harold’s February column, click here.
Who’s Been Out and About in February
From Sky Island Alliance:
FotoFauna highlights from January are in — and this month, thanks to a couple doe-eyed deer, we couldn’t help but notice and admire the eyes of all the rest. Enjoy.
FotoFauna is a growing network of 301 individuals and organizations in the Sky Islands, with wildlife cameras set up in the U.S. or Mexico. It’s easy to get started. Just set up a wildlife camera in your backyard and submit an online monthly checklist of species you observe. In addition to being fun and another way to form community, the data will help us study when and where wildlife is present so we can better protect their habitats.
To learn more about how to join us, visit: https://ow.ly/5C3o50TTLT7
Remember When?
We’ve posted over 3,100 articles from past years’ print editions on the PRT website, with more to come. Take a walk down memory lane with this article from February, 2016…
Old Main Begins New Life as the Patagonia Museum
Feb. 4, 2016
A celebration marked the transition of the longest continuously utilized elementary school facility in Arizona into the new home of the town’s museum.
School News and Youth Events
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!
Spring Blood Drive in Sonoita
Local Items of Interest
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.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
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.
Santa Rita Abbey has a new part time job opening in its altar bread bakery. Position is Monday through Friday mornings assisting with the manufacturing of Communion Hosts. Contact Sister Pam for further details. 520-455-0481 (no text messaging) or cistercianab@gmail.com.
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 United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
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.
