The PRT Newsletter for the Week of Nov. 13, 2024
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News
The View From the Mountaintop
A New Era Dawns at Red Mountain Foods
“Yay! We did it! It worked!” Mandy Montanez (right), the new owner of Red Mountain Foods, celebrates with customer Binx Selby as they complete the first-ever credit card transaction at the popular natural foods store in Patagonia using the new system she has introduced. — Linda Jade Fong
Making Ice Cream the 1930s Way
Power From the Past member Zane Parker, of Marana, was at the Nov. 2-3 Cowboy Festival at Empire Ranch with this 1930s five-gallon ice cream maker in tow. It has a gasoline or kerosene ready Novo Engine made in Michigan, and can produce ice cream in less than 45 minutes. Yum. —Keith Krizan
Veterans Day Celebrations
Update From the Paton Center
By Tom Brown, Site Manager for the Paton Center for Hummingbirds
The last few weeks at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds have been a bit chaotic with the on-going roof construction project. In addition, a great number of Tucson Audubon staff and volunteers have been planting cottonwood trees and other native species along Sonoita Creek, the Cuckoo Corridor Trail, and the new birding trail to the south of the Paton Center yard.
The new, dark green metal roof for the Paton home is in the final stages, with a new HVAC also to be installed by the middle of this week. The whole process took on a much larger scope once we were able to get the old roof off and see what we were dealing with. The next step was to remove all the asbestos in the tar paper, insulation, and old decking. Following that big job, we had to replace every one of the rafters due to poor construction, rot, and a little bit of termite nibbling! We have now added a new OSB decking, a waterproof/vapor barrier, and the final framework for the HVAC. By the end of next week, our new roof will be ready for another 109 years!
While this work has admittedly been a bit stressful on the birds, volunteers, and our guests, we have all adapted nicely, and the birds are still coming through. All of our winter sparrows have arrived, and we are seeing good numbers of White-crowned, Lincoln’s, Song, and Brewer’s Sparrows in the yard. With cold mornings, a lot of our hummingbirds have migrated south, going to what I refer as a “beach vacation at Puerto Vallarta.” Despite this, in the last few days, there have been Anna’s, Broad-bills, the ever-present Violet-crowned Hummingbirds, and even a few rarities, like Broad-tailed and Costa’s.
Without question, the highlight of the last couple of days has been a very photo friendly male Painted Bunting that is pretty consistently found back by the large pond, feeding on millet seed tops. Even more recently a beautiful Fox Sparrow has also shown up!
On behalf of myself, our staff, and incredible volunteers, we look forward to your next visit. It has been very chilly in the mornings here at the Paton Center, so bring an extra layer!
Remember When?
We’ve posted nearly 3,000 articles from past years’ print editions on the PRT website, with more to come. Take a walk down memory lane with this article from November, 2015…
Together Again—PUHS Class of 1945
By Donna Reibslager
November 6, 2015
On the occasion of four PUHS classmates getting together last month for their 60th reunion, Isaac Jose Montoya shared his recollections of their school days.
“We hadn’t thought much about careers but accepted that we would all be cowboys or work at the Trench Mine and the girls would be raising families when school was over,” he said. “Then along came the war…”
School News and Announcements
Who Made the Honor Roll?
Click here to see who made the first quarter honor roll at Patagonia Elementary.
Click here to see who made the first quarter honor roll at PUHS.
Lobos Volleyball Team Ends Season With Loss at State Tournament
The Lobos volleyball squad lost 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-11) at North Phoenix Preparatory in the first round of the state tournament on November 5. The PRT’s Dave Lumia will have a wrap-up on the Lobos’ season soon.
Patagonia Schools Recognized for Learning Labs and Restorative Circles
Last month the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) recognized Patagonia’s schools for two new initiatives. Click here to read the ASBA’s press release, or watch the four-minute video below.
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!
/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 – Fridays at 7pm. 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 recently 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.
The Patagonia Museum has joined the Jim Click Millions for Tucson Raffle fundraiser. The grand prize is a 2024 Jeep Wrangler. 100% of proceeds sold by the Patagonia Museum will benefit the museum. Please contact a board member of the museum to buy your chance(s) to win. Click here to learn more about the grand prize. To learn more about the additional prizes that are available, click here.
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.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for the upcoming academy classes for Patrol Deputy, Adult Detention Officer, and the Communications Division (Dispatch).
Starting Salaries:
Deputy: $49,595.00/Year
Detention Officer: $42,766.00/Year
Dispatch: $42,766.00/Year
Please complete an application and submit it to the Santa Cruz County Human Resource Office. Application Link: https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/documentcenter/view/3602
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.
