The PRT Newsletter for the Week of Nov. 27, 2024
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News
Rangers Share the Abundance at Thanksgiving
Churches to Hold Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Fairgrounds, Volunteers Needed
From the organizers:
Area churches are providing a Thanksgiving dinner for all those who wish to join us. Many people do not have a place to celebrate. Well, let’s celebrate as a loving community together. The location will be at the Sonoita Fairgrounds from 1:00 to 4:00pm on Thanksgiving Day. All are invited whether you just don’t wont to cook or would like a meal with friends and family.
With your help this will happen! If you would like to serve, we need people who would like to cook, clean, setup, reset, welcome, serve food on the line and yes, cook turkeys. Please contact Pastor Tom at (480) 226-9779 or pastortommoffett@gmail.com
PARA Starts Search for Executive Director
The Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA) is seeking its first full-time executive director.
“The game has changed,” PARA Mission Coordinator Carolyn Shafer said in a recent interview with the PRT. “What needs to be done now is dramatically different compared to two years ago.”
The organization, which works to protect the Patagonia Mountains from environmental degradation, is presently involved in legal actions against the Forest Service, which PARA alleges did not consider the cumulative impacts of mining to the environment when it issued permits to Barksdale Mining. It is also involved in legal actions against the Arizona Dept. of Environmental Quality over water and air quality permits issued to South32 for the Hermosa Project in the Patagonia Mountains, and it is reviewing Hermosa’s ‘Mine Plan of Operations,’ which was released as part of the NEPA process less than six months ago.
Once the organization fills the executive director position, Shafer, who joined the PARA board in 2012, and has been working part-time for the organization, will move on to co-chair the Board.
The position is being advertised nationally. According to Shafer, the executive director will not be required to live in Patagonia but must be able to be in town twice a week, and for special events. The salary is listed as between $50,000 and $75,000. Click here to see the four-page job description.
Ready, Set, Charge
News from the Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve: “We recently installed the first public electric vehicle (EV) charger in Patagonia, AZ! It costs $8 to use for up to three hours and comes with a free trail pass. It is a Level 2 charger that runs largely on the solar panels on the preserve, and because it was installed as an at-home EV charger, it will not show up on public EV charging site websites.”
Reminder: Stargazing Telescope Party This Moonless Monday
The PRT’s popular astronomy columnist Harold Meckler will be leading this event at the Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve this coming Monday, Dec. 2…
From the organizers:
A moonless night in a very dark location promises to reveal so much more of the night sky than most of us ever get to experience. Far removed from intrusive city lights, participants will have unfettered views of stars and constellations and possibly a few planets, as well as a neighboring galaxy. The event begins and ends with a nature walk. In between, we’ll be on a tour of the stars.
RSVP by emailing aaron.mrotek@tnc.org
Snake Utterly Baffles Roadrunner
A couple of weeks ago, a new local trail cam set up by Vail-based independent videographer Jason Miller captured a sensational encounter between roadrunner and garter snake. But first up in this 75-second video are a couple of wild cats…
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, 2017…
Glimpses Into Our Past: Roundup Time in the Open Range Days
November 3, 2017
Fall in ranching country is roundup time to gather cattle for sale. Until fencing became more prevalent in the 1920s cattle roamed freely on the open range. As a result, roundups were cooperative affairs where ranchers worked together to gather and ultimately sort cattle by brands. Clippings from old editions of the Border Vidette newspaper chronicle what typically went on during these roundups—from choosing a foreman to dealing with cattle that have strayed across the border to mishaps and murder…
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!
From Patagonia Library: On Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11am, Miss Deb will conduct a walking reading of “The Giving Snowman” to get you all in the Holiday spirit. Please meet at Town Hall to join in the fun.
Dec. 12: Dedication of New Lady of Guadalupe Mosaic at Patagonia Community Garden
From the organizer:
The community is invited to attend the unveiling and dedication of the new mosaic on the shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe in the Patagonia Community Garden. This work of art was created by Martha Kelly, who envisioned it two years ago as a prayer for peace in Ukraine. This will occur on the Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 3:00-5:00pm. Our celebration includes refreshments and a flower procession to the shrine, followed by the unveiling and dedication. Please bring a flower(s) from your home to place on the shrine. For more info, contact Mary Sky Schoolcraft at 520-510-2851
Dec. 21: Winter Solstice Celebration at Patagonia Community Garden
From the organizer:
The community is invited to celebrate the Winter Solstice in the Patagonia Community Garden on Saturday, December 21, 2024 with music, storytelling, a community potluck and bonfire, 3:30 pm- 6 pm. Sunset on this shortest day of the year occurs at 5:24 pm and ushers in the longest night of the year. People have honored this seasonal shift for millenia. It is a powerful time to set intentions, connect with nature, and release the darkness. Come Celebrate the turning of the Light with friends in a beautiful way. Bring food to share, a story or song. Dress warmly! For more info call Mary Sky Schoolcraft at 520-510-2851.
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 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.
For questions, contact Heidi Gonzales at hgonzales@elgink12.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.
