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Photo of the week
“A female acorn woodpecker guards her nest. My dogs’ favorite spot, when they wait for my return, is in the shade under her tree.” — Anne Vogt, Patagonia
News
County seeks input on Workforce Development Strategic Plan via survey, local ‘community convenings’ next week
From Santa Cruz County:
Santa Cruz County is developing a Workforce Development Strategic Plan to provide a roadmap for expanding employment opportunities and strengthening collaboration among the public, private, and educational sectors. This comprehensive data-driven plan will be informed by perspectives from key community leaders, organizations, and residents across the county. WestEd, a national, nonpartisan research, development, and service organization, is seeking insights and perspectives from community members across the country through a survey and community convenings.
All community members are invited to complete a survey to share their insights and perspectives. Through this survey and the community convenings, we hope the Workforce Development Strategic Plan centers on community perspectives that are critical to its success.
Please join us at one of the following convenings:
- Sonoita County Building (3147 State Route 83, Sonoita, AZ 85637) – Wednesday, May 6, 12:30pm-1:30pm
- Patagonia Courthouse (310 McKeown Ave, Patagonia, AZ 85624) – Wednesday, May 6, 4:00pm-5:00pm
Please RSVP using this link: https://forms.gle/ZVohT9dq4M6QrU4n7.
Lobos earn state tourney berth, play at Williams on Saturday
By Dave Lumia
When asked at the start of the season what the goals were for the Patagonia High School baseball team, coach Ryan Shore was cautious about tipping his hand.
The Lobos had taken baby steps over the previous two seasons, from zero wins in 2023 to one in 2024 to two in 2025. Shore knew they were capable of more, but just how much, he wasn’t prepared to say.
So, how does nine wins and a 9-9 record sound? And a berth in the 1A state tournament for the first time in five years?
“I don’t know if I thought we could get to .500, but I definitely thought we could make some big improvements from where we were last year,” Shore said Tuesday, as the Lobos reconvened practice for Saturday’s state tournament game at Williams.
“It means a lot to me, and I hope it means a lot to the players, and especially the seniors who have had three years prior with not a lot of success. Being able to have this kind of success their senior year is awesome.”
Third baseman/pitcher Noah Gallardo and outfielder Miguel Albarran are the two seniors who persevered through three trying seasons to make it this far. Three seasons, three wins, 44 losses.
“It’s amazing, from losing so many games to a .500 season, that’s very impressive,” Gallardo said.
Gallardo was a key factor in the turnaround. He missed the start of the season with an ankle injury suffered during basketball. When healthy enough to return, he slotted into his usual starting position at third base. It wasn’t until April 13, the Lobos’ 13th game of the season, that Shore was able to convince him to take a shot at pitching.
He quickly established himself as the Lobos’ second-most-trusted pitcher, a needed complement to junior ace Kannon Shore.
“I didn’t really want to,” Gallardo said, “but we needed the extra hand. I just went out there and started throwing strikes. I’m starting to like it, but I still like infield better.”
Kannon Shore, Ryan’s son, has been the anchor of the pitching staff, and he was at his best in Patagonia’s regular-season finale, an 8-1 victory at Fort Thomas. Shore limited Fort Thomas to two hits and struck out 14 in a seven-inning complete game.
“It’s crazy going from two wins to state,” Shore said, but he knew the Lobos were capable.
“This team is way different than last year’s team,” he said. “Everybody is really close to each other. Everybody’s friendly; in the dugout, everybody’s loud, we all have each other’s back.”
Gallardo agreed: “We just started to pick each other up. We’ve just been playing baseball and having fun.”
It hasn’t been all fun. Along the way, there have been some big losses: 24-2, 15-0, 18-3. But the Lobos never let those define them.
“You’d think they’d start to lose a little bit of their confidence, or they’d get a little embarrassed or beat down by it, but they never, ever (did),” Ryan Shore said. “They could move on to the next thing, which is a skill. It’s a skill to be able to forget what happened and move forward and still continue to believe and work.”
That, Shore said, is the story of the season.
“It’s been a whole lot of fun,” he said. “I talked to them a lot yesterday and thanked them for being so open to receiving coaching. I am not the easiest person in the world to play for because I want to win, I want them to do the right things, to play the right way.
“They all did a great job of taking constructive criticism and not taking it personally, and that’s a big part of being an athlete. And we had a whole group of kids who did that this year. They were all extremely bought in the whole time, which makes a huge difference.”
Next up is a 350-mile drive for Saturday’s 4 p.m. game against a Williams team with a 17-7 record and No. 4 ranking in Class 1A.
Shore acknowledges that the Lobos will be a “huge underdog,” but they’ve earned the right to take on the challenge — not by just “squeaking in” to the state tournament
“We’re actually a team that deserves to be there,” he said. “And I believe if we play well we can play with a lot of these teams. We haven’t done it yet, but I believe we can.”
Swinging with the Santa Cruz Singers
The Santa Cruz Singers sang and swung to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” under the direction of Christina Wilhelm at a concert last Thursday, April 23, at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House in Patagonia. The event, part of the “Patagonia Retrospective: The 1940s” festival that’s running through May, featured songs from 1940s movies and Broadway musicals and a selection of “Old American Songs” arranged by Aaron Copland. — Linda Jade Fong
Sidenote: The Santa Cruz Singers will be celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2027. The chorus is composed of men and woman possessing a wide range of choral and musical experience. New singers are welcome at any time. No audition or formal training is required, just a willingness to learn. For more information, contact Christina Wilhelm at scfpaexec@gmail.com.
Locals turn out for Mountain Empire Rotary Dinner & Movie Night fundraiser
Dave and Doreen Daiss of Elgin pause for a pose while checking out the silent auction items that were up for bid. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Tucson actor and stuntman Eddie McKechnie served as the emcee for the night. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Patti Holbrook Oliver of Elgin appeared as an extra in the film and was guest of honor at Saturday’s event. Photo by Dave Lumia 
(From left) Patty and John Brock, Don and Margaret Hepburn, and Barbara Harris enjoy dinner and camaraderie before the show. Margaret Hepburn is the chief executive officer of the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona, one of the main sponsors of the evening. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Larry Putnam of Tombstone shows Sonoita resident Teresa Messier how to sight in the gun for the quick draw competition. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Brand and Audrey Doles made it a family affair with their three children (from left) Lorenzo, Leviana and Logan. The Doles own and operate Gathering Grounds and were a major event sponsor. Photo by Dave Lumia
By Dave Lumia
The Mountain Empire Rotary Club hosted a Dinner & Movie Night fundraiser at Pioneer Hall in Sonoita on Saturday, attracting over 85 attendees. The featured flick was McLintock!, which was filmed in Santa Cruz and Pima counties and starred John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Patti Holbrook Oliver of Elgin appeared as an extra in the film and was guest of honor at Saturday’s event.
Who was that caped man?
By Linda Jade Fong
A caped crusader running by the Patagonia Public Library?
Actually, it turned out to be a runner in this year’s Beer, Miles, and Tacos event, held April 18 in Patagonia. Event organizer Adam Boyd said that the first-time participant mentioned the costume was to honor a family member who was a Mexican wrestler.
About 50 runners came to Patagonia, mainly from the Tucson area and some from out of state. This is the third year the event has been held in Patagonia. Runners complete varying set distances, which permit them to fortifying breaks of beer and tacos. Boyd explained, “This is a fun event I created to have something different and allow people to relax and have a good time.”
And, no, costumes aren’t required. “Most don’t wear costumes and just come for the fun,” Boyd said.
Abuzz with activity: Community Garden celebrates Earth Day
Etymologist Jason Botz shares the world of lovely microscopic bugs and their vital role in the ecosystem. Other speakers included Tom Brown (birds), Jim Koweek (native grasses) and Richard Gambino (composting). Photo by Mary Sky Schoolcraft 
The Patagonia Community Garden attracted over a hundred nature lovers to learn, listen and celebrate our role in caring for the Earth. Musicians Berkly and Jac Heiss kept the atmosphere festive and fun, with many singing along. Photo by Mary Sky Schoolcraft 
With the help of 10 volunteers and the entire Patagonia Community Garden board, Earth Day in the community garden brought together 120 young students, six environmental organizations, four speakers, and two musicians to learn, listen and enjoy. Photo by Robert Gay
The Patagonia Community Garden celebrated Earth Day with an Earth Day Garden Party on April 22, with speakers, learning sessions for grades K-8, a Bee-r Garden, an info fair and live music. More than 100 people — plus 120 students — stopped by to learn, listen and enjoy.
Hawaiian shirts going fast as May 2 KPUP Luau fundraiser approaches
By Linda Jade Fong
One of the most anticipated and appreciated splashes of color in downtown Patagonia each spring are the racks of brightly colored Hawaiian shirts that appear for a week just before the popular KPUP 100.5 FM Luau fundraiser event. Yes, there’s the traditional gorgeous tropical flower designs, but also unusual prints with vintage beach vehicles or striking abstract art motifs.
The KPUP Annual Hawaiian Shirt Sale, first organized first 13 years ago by Jan Herron (left in photo), has grown in size. Herron and fellow volunteer sellers Kama Koontz (right) and Mark Berg report that this year’s inventory had jumped to about 700 shirts, dresses and wraps. A total of 140 flew off the racks on Monday, the first day. At $10 each, most shirts are bought to wear to the luau and then often donated back to the cause after the event. There are even purchases, Jan says, of 10 at a time to be added to someone’s year-round wardrobe. All of the proceeds are donated to KPUP, Patagonia’s low-power community radio station.
You can see these festive works of art modeled at the KPUP Luau, which will be held at the Patagonia Lumber Company this Saturday, May 2, at 5 p.m. Tickets sell out quickly, so make sure you purchase in advance at https://www.patagonialumberco.com/upcoming-events.
The pool is open!
By Clare Bonelli
With a big splash of weekend events, the Patagonia pool opened on April 13 – only to close due to the weather. However, by the Wednesday, the pool was warm, the weather was cooperating and lap swimmers, “rehabbers” and water aerobics people were all in.
On the previous Saturday, April 11, the pool was open free to the public with a pool party. Over 60 people, including over 40 kids, attended for games, raffles, prizes and free swim. The kids were in the pool nonstop from the time they got there until the pool closed. One mom said, “The only time my child passes up cookies is when he’s on his way to the pool.” At 2:30 p.m., two of the regular seniors who are not up to swimming or aerobics did a “demo” of how they use the pool to stretch, increase strength and flexibility, and recover from injuries.
Sunday, April 12, saw a fundraiser hosted by Patagonia Lumber Co. with an amazing Greek dinner catered by Spoon’s Kitchen. The Porch Rockers came from Tucson to play blues, jump, and swing for the crowd’s listening and dancing pleasure – and the crowd was pleased! Youngsters Patrick, Henry and the supposedly shy Cora helped out by drawing the 35 raffle tickets. Between donations, the raffle on Saturday, and the 50/50 and bucket raffles on Sunday, $2,000 was raised for the pool. Thank you, everyone!!
The cost for running the pool, despite being operated entirely by volunteers (with the exception of the lifeguards) is in excess of $100,000 each year. Some of this money comes in the form of grants, but most of it has to be raised by donations. Thank you to all of local businesses and individuals that continue to support the pool.
Come join the fun! Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information, go to patagoniapool.org.
Public Service Announcements
To submit an announcement, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
ADOT’s SR 83 lane restrictions in Sonoita are scheduled to continue through April: click here for more information.
From Santa Cruz County:
JP-East Justice Court services are available every first and third Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Sonoita Community Space/County Building. We provide civil services including small claims, civil complaints, evictions, orders of protection and weddings — bringing access to justice closer to Elgin, Sonoita, Canelo and Patagonia. We’re here to serve our community with fairness, empathy, and integrity. Call: (520) 375-7661
School News and Youth Events
To report school news or list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. To list an event, please submit by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
Elgin Parent Teacher Club is looking for volunteers to help in the Snack Shack at Little Leagues games from April 1-May 13. All money fundraised goes towards school events and programs, like our upcoming Taiko Drumming! Please visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044FADAB28AAFAC52-63218856-ptclittle to sign up!
Upcoming Events
To list an event, please submit an image file 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!
UA wild cat researcher to give presentation at Friends of Sonoita Creek’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 2, at the Tin Shed
From Friends of Sonoita Creek:
Friends of Sonoita Creek is very excited to announce our Annual Meeting and wildlife program at the Tin Shed Theater in Patagonia on May 2 at 10:00 am.
Our featured presenter, Susan Malusa, will dazzle us with a presentation and slide show featuring jaguars and and ocelots who coexist along Arizona’s borderlands. This event is open to the public and is an excellent way to show your support for Friends of Sonoita Creek. Anita CW will be catering a lovely lunch after Susan Malusa’s presentation.
Susan Malusa is director of the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center, where she leads long-term monitoring of jaguars and ocelots in southern Arizona. Her work combines wildlife camera data, genetic scat analysis, and environmental DNA (eDNA) to better understand species presence, movement and ecosystem health.
Her team utilizes a community science model, with trained volunteers supporting field data collection across the Sky Islands. Her research focuses on jaguars as an indicator species, using their presence to better understand habitat quality, biodiversity and how these landscapes are functioning.
Susan also developed SPARCd, an open-source platform used to manage and analyze wildlife camera data. Her talk will highlight how community science and emerging tools like eDNA are shaping conservation in the borderlands.
We look forward to seeing you at our 4th Annual Home Repair Fundraiser!
Included in your $25 ticket is DINNER: Bean Tostadas, Rice, & Calabasitas, and a DRINK: margaritas, Mexican beers, lemonade, & horchata, and dancing with a DJ.
Additional alcoholic drinks can be purchased for only $5
Use the QR Code to purchase tickets or stop by Red Mountain Foods. SEE YOU THERE!
Recurring Events
To list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
Fresh vegetable distribution Mondays at the Patagonia Senior Center
Come with friends and pick up your weekly fresh vegetables from East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank every Monday at the Patagonia Senior Center (100 Quiroga Ln, Patagonia) at 10:30am. Take what you need and give what you can.
Thursdays: ‘Open Forum‘ at Patagonia Senior Center
A time to share personal stories, interests and ideas.
Thursdays at 1 p.m. after senior lunch
April 30: THE ART OF AGING IN PLACE — Amber Salinas on how to stay the boss when you need help
An 80-year-long study by Harvard University found that the quality of our relationships helps us live longer, happier lives, more so than genetics. Community provides the grounding force of being seen, known, and supported through life’s ups and downs. There is space in our lives for both self-care and community care.
The phrase “inconvenience is the cost of community” has become a popular slogan online, referring to the effort required to maintain meaningful connections with others—effort which we seemingly are less and less willing to make, even as we crave connection.
Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Highway 83, Sonoita. Doors open at 6:30. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
- Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Crossroads Quilters: Are you a textile artist (weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting)? The Crossroads Quilters invites all interested textile artists to our meetings. Bring a project to work on and enjoy a morning of information sharing and camaraderie. We meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 9am at the Sonoita Bible Church, 3174 N. Highway 83. For more information email: alisbunting@gmail.com
Overeaters Anonymous: The OA Sky Islands Recovery group meets every Wednesday 11am-12noon at the East Santa Cruz County (ESCC) Food Bank at 772 Harshaw Ave in the meeting room at the end of the driveway. For additional meeting info, go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Steward
We’re hiring for a Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Steward to perform preserve operations at the 878-acre property in Patagonia.
Find the full position description and apply today at nature.ly/3NheXj4
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 Community United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
To advertise in the PRT’s print edition, Weekly News Bulletin or website – or a custom package – contact Priscilla Bolanos at prtads@gmail.com or 520-313-6062.
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