Circle Z Ranch is the PRT Weekly News Bulletin’s Premier Sponsor for 2025. We are grateful for their partnership. If you would like to be a newsletter sponsor, click here for more info.
Share your news with the PRT’s Weekly News Bulletin’s 2,000 subscribers! Got an eye-catching photo or video? A noncommercial or nonprofit event announcement or report? Maybe a volunteer opportunity, or birth/graduation/wedding news, or an obituary? Please tell us about it. Email us at prtadast@gmail.com
Above: “The Borderlands Restoration Network Watershed Restoration crew is planting aspen trees in the Huachucas! Kidding, that’s just Aspen, the Watershed Restoration Project Manager, climbing out of a small ‘headcut’—a steep drop in the earth where water flows and strips away loose soil. While aspen trees may be seen high up near Miller Peak, we work lower among the oaks, junipers, and the occasional Arizona madrone! Trees are incredible soil stabilizers as their large and extensive root systems physically hold the soil together. However, accelerated erosion can strip sediment away and expose their roots. We build erosion control structures to help capture and rebuild soils within incised drainages to protect these amazing native trees!”—Borderlands Restoration Network
News
Patagonia prepares to celebrate 2025 4th of July with parade, music and fireworks
Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s brightly outfitted fire trucks are always a popular part of the town’s 4th of July parade. File photo by Marion Vendituoli
Patagonia’s 4th of July parade will stage at the high school this Friday starting at 10am. The parade itself will begin at 11am. The Grand Marshal this year is Irma Sang.
The parade will proceed west on SR82, turn left onto Fourth Avenue, turn left onto McKeown Avenue and continue down to Taylor Avenue where it will then return to the Patagonia Schools. If you wish to participate in the parade, bring a float, bike, horse, truck, old car or walk in the parade.
The Town of Patagonia is enforcing “NO WATER BALLOONS, etc.” to be thrown or sprayed on the parade participants.
If Patagonia has rain this week, Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue will hold its annual fireworks display at the high school soccer field. Donations for fireworks can be mailed to: Town of Patagonia, PO Box 767, Patagonia, AZ 85624.
Arrive early in the Town Park on Friday to hear a free performance of patriotic music from the Patagonia Minstrels. Here’s the flyer:
Nearly 600 attend PVFR’s annual Steak Fry and auction fundraiser
Steaks are fried by PVFR members at the department’s popular annual fundraiser last Saturday. Photo by Dottie Farrar
Steak Fry attendees wait in line to pay at last Saturday’s fundraiser. Photo by Dottie Farrar
The Steak Fry also featured an auction, netting $10,000 for the PVFR. Photo by Dottie Farrar
Slack and Friends, a local band, accompanied by singers from Nogales and Rio Rico, provided music in the park gazebo. Photo by Dottie Farrar
(Click arrow at side of image to see the next slide.)
By Marion Vendituoli
A crowd of close to 600 people attended the Steak Fry put on by Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue Saturday, June 28 in the park in Patagonia. The volunteers served approximately 550 steak dinners, according to PVFR Board member Denise Bowdon.
Attendees also bid on 35 auction donated items. “The big item of the night was the 1965 restored fire hydrant that was purchased for $1900,” Bowdon wrote the PRT. The auction raised $9,900. Madison Ramirez, who donated her time as auctioneer, donated $100 to the auction to bring it to a grand total of $10,000. 39 items were also donated for a raffle, as well. Preliminary estimates indicate that a total of at least $26,000 was raised at the event.
Slack and Friends, a local band, accompanied by singers from Nogales and Rio Rico, provided music in the park gazebo.
“PVFR appreciates all the donations for the raffle and auction,” Bowdon wrote. “We are proud to have so many community members come and support the department every year. We couldn’t do what we do without all of you!”
At its June meetings, Patagonia’s Town Council quietly approved a contract with Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue (PVFR) to provide fire protection and emergency services to the town for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, and appointed Mayor Andy Wood as the Town’s member on PVFR’s Board of Directors. Council member Steve Finch had previously held Patagonia’s seat on the PVFR board.
Father Simon gives an opening blessing. Photo by Robert Gay
“Gratitude” drummers start raindrops before thunder. Photo by Robert Gay
Laurie Carroll boosts the energy. Photo by Robert Gay
Joni Stellar calls in the South. Photo by Robert Gay
Mary Sky Schoolcraft helps the desert broom sweep in some rain. Photo by Robert Gay
A pinata about to burst. Photo by Robert Gay
Click here to read Robert Gay‘s report on the June 22 “El Dia San Juan: Calling in the Rain and Celebrating Summer Solstice” event at the Patagonia Community Garden.
Critters show us how to get through these hot and dry summer days
FotoFauna highlights from last month are in, and we’ve got various critters showing us how to get through these hot and dry summer days: Stick near water and wait for rain. Check out this video from our Wildlife Specialist Miguel Enríquez, and if you live where the wild things are, consider joining us.
FotoFauna is a growing network of 302 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, visit: https://ow.ly/5C3o50TTLT7
Click flyer to go to beeswarmed.org
School News and Youth Events
Elgin School releases information on free and reduced-price meals for new school year
From Sonoita Elementary School District:
Sonoita Elementary School District has announced its policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program. Elgin School offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.75; lunch costs $3.00. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $ .30 for breakfast and $ .40 for lunch.
To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households may fill out the application and return it to the school unless your children qualify for free benefits. Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for their children and what is required to complete on the application. Applications also are available at the Elgin School Office.
If you’d like to help provide lunches to our community’s kids this summer, please donate via P.O. Box 1248 or go to patagoniacreativearts.org
Click flyer to go to online registration page
Upcoming Events
To share information about an upcoming event in the PRT Weekly News Bulletin, 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!
Click flyer for more info
Click flyer for more info
Recurring Events
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
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.
For information on advertising in the PRT’s print edition, Weekly News Bulletin, 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)
Want to know when a new PRT Weekly News Bulletin is out? You can receive an email the moment our Weekly News Bulletin is published every Wednesday. Click here to join the PRT email list.
