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Photo/video of the week
Above: A hawk flies from its perch on a vineyard fence at Sunset Ride in Sonoita, a snake in its talons. Photo and seven-second video by Lori Johnson.
News
New $6.9 million Patagonia budget makes up for half-million dollar sales tax shortfall
Patagonia Town Manager Ron Robinson shows council members an example of the new street signs that will be installed on Naugle Avenue.Photo by Carrie White
By Dave Lumia
The Patagonia Town Council on June 10 presented and approved a $6,929,139 budget for the 2027 fiscal year. The budget takes effect July 1.
Town Manager Ron Robinson said the budget accounts for a significant downturn in local sales tax. The 2026 fiscal year budget estimated sales tax revenues at $1,045,543, based on collections from the previous year, but actual revenues are tracking at $611,012 – a decrease of more than 41 percent. As a result, the 2027 budget estimates those revenues at $640,000.
Robinson said he first noticed the downturn last August and theorized that it is related to South32 busing in its workforce to the Hermosa mining project in response to complaints about increased traffic.
“I’m seeing all the buses that South32 is bringing in, and I’m seeing that these trucks and people are not driving to the park-and-ride and trading at the stores, not eating at the restaurants and spending money,” he said.
Robinson said he has spoken with South32 President Pat Risner about the declining revenue and hopes for at least a partial solution: “I said, ‘Hey guys, fill up the (Stage Stop) hotel, that’s our biggest draw.’ They’ve started to put up their contractors there. They’d had them staying in Nogales.”
Brenda Somoza, owner of the Patagonia Market, said the market has experienced a notable dropoff in business, which tracks with what she’s heard from other business owners.
“We all knew this was going to happen, it was going to hurt our businesses, and it did,” she said.
The market expanded its hours – opening at 4 a.m. to cater to South32 workers – and that’s where the impact has been greatest. “We took a big hit on that morning group we would get in,” Somoza said. “A few of the (contractors) are running vans instead of buses, so we’re still getting some.”
Somoza said she understands the community’s concerns about the mine’s impact, but it leaves business owners in a difficult position.
“I understand that it’s in the town’s best interests that our water, our air, our natural resources are protected, and I’m thankful that we have people doing that,” she said. “But I feel like nobody is taking into account the local businesses. If we do speak out, we get bashed. It’s really a double-edged sword.”
Somoza said there are likely other factors that play into the loss of tax revenues, and the arrival of summer doesn’t help matters.
“I think a lot of it is just our economy in general,” she said. “People are a little more cautious, not going out to eat as much, not spending as much.
“Summer is always very slow for the whole town. Those extra people coming in helped us get through this slow time.”
Robinson said in order to maintain a balanced budget, the most significant impact of the lost revenues will be on the town’s inability to add to its reserve fund, which is managed by the state treasurer and invested in conservative vehicles such as U.S. Treasury securities and government-backed bonds. He said local residents will not see a downturn in services.
“We started with $738,000 in reserves in 2019 when I started (as town manager); it’s over $2.4 million now,” Robinson said. “We’ll be drawing some of that down.”
He said other adjustments to account for the shortfall are the discontinuation of a lobbying contract – a savings of $24,000 – and the reallocation of a portion of Deputy Town Manager Carmen Fuentes’s salary to a $114,000 community investment and development agreement signed by South32.
Robinson said the town will continue to be proactive in trying to attract tourism dollars, such as enhancements at town parks and staffing at the Caboose Welcome Center. The town will also be installing larger, visually appealing street signs along Naugle Avenue.
“There’s a lot of things we’re trying to do,” he said. “I want people to come here, but I don’t know what two years from now looks like.”
The manure is ready, bring your own shovel
By Keith Krizan
Every day needs a theme. Tuesday has tacos, Thursday has throwbacks, and now Monday has manure.
The Fairgrounds in Sonoita is looking to spread the love by giving away their accumulated wealth of manure and woodshaving mix at regular “Manure Monday” giveaways.
A heap of hot, fresh manure sits ready for pick-up at the inaugural Manure Monday earlier this week at the Sonoita Fairgrounds. The date for the next Manure Monday has not yet been set.Photo by Keith Krizan
The bounty comes in two temperatures: hot and fresh, which can be used immediately as mulch around established trees and shrubs, and cold and aged, which can be used in gardens.
Note: Horse manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter that improves soil structure and water retention. The wood shavings are a bit more problematic. Fresh wood shavings (especially pine) are high in carbon but low in nitrogen, and the microbes that break the shavings down may “borrow” the nitrogen from the soil and cause the plants to become nitrogen deficient. There is a fix. It is called time and sun, mixed with a little bit of monsoon rain and an occasional overturning of the pile. Composting like that begins to break the wood down, and the nitrogen becomes more available to plants.
Aged horse manure with decomposed shavings is excellent for gardens, trees, and shrubs.
Beyer advises to bring your own shovel but says that if grounds manager Kevin Henington is available he will load you up with a tractor bucket.
So keep your ear to the ground for the next manure giveaway.
Community invited to July 4 unveiling of Blue Star Memorial in Patagonia
By Dave Lumia
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony for Patagonia’s Blue Star Memorial monument at 1 p.m. on July 4 at Dr. Mock Park. The memorial will be located at the intersection of McKeown Avenue and Beaty Lane.
The Blue Star program is administered by the National Garden Clubs, Inc., and began during World War II as a tribute to the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Murphy Musick spearheaded the local project and coordinated fundraising efforts. He envisions the monument serving as an enduring reminder of the sacrifices of the town’s military veterans and an educational resource for schools and youth organizations.
Musick for many years has worked with the Patagonia Museum to place flags on the gravesites of military veterans in the town cemetery on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. That involvement prompted him to research the Blue Star program.
The monument stands 3 feet tall and 4 feet across and will sit atop a 4-foot pedestal. The cost of the memorial is approximately $2,900, with the town contributing $1,000 in labor for the installation.
“I just started spreading the word,” Musick said. “Local people generously filled in the rest. I had to quit asking for money, people were so generous.”
He said the location at Dr. Mock Park is “the perfect place, like it was built for this project.”
Council member Steve Finch will represent the town at the dedication ceremony, which Musick describes as a “minor moment that will be there a long time, honoring the veterans within our community who we owe a lot to.”
Sonoita students create lasting memories at Marine Institute
Sonoita middle school girls explore the waters of the Gulf of Santa Catalina via kayaks. Photos contributed by Kyndra Ortiz and Terrell Harper.
Suzanna Gallardo experiences the sensation of a sea urchin. Photos contributed by Kyndra Ortiz and Terrell Harper.
Sonoita middle schoolers check out the shark tank at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. Pictured (from left) are Hudson Willie, James Thomas, Deegan Ortiz, Lowen Davis, Nexus Wagner and Landry Kyrklund. Photos contributed by Kyndra Ortiz and Terrell Harper.
Daylyn Corbell (left) and Ryker Hintsala dissect a squid. Photos contributed by Kyndra Ortiz and Terrell Harper.
Rydia Fennell studies the jaw of a sand tiger shark. Photos contributed by Kyndra Ortiz and Terrell Harper.
James Thomas reads up on aquatic species found in the Pacific Ocean. Photos contributed by Kyndra Ortiz and Terrell Harper.
Sisters Suzanna (left) and Olivia Gallardo pet a shark. Photos contributed by Kyndra Ortiz and Terrell Harper.
By Carrie White
Dissecting squids, petting sharks, night snorkeling: Core memories for seventh and eighth graders at Sonoita Elementary School who recently spent five nights at the Catalina Island Marine Institute.
Nexus Wagner, an eighth-grade graduate, was one of 28 students participating in the Fox Landing camp on Catalina Island. His favorite activities included the giant swing and snorkeling. And, of course, hanging out with classmates.
Brett Wagner, Nexus’s dad, characterized his son’s adventure as a “huge success. A lot of good memories were made there.” With a curriculum that blended hands-on laboratory experiments, ocean exploration and terrestrial island ecology, the Marine Institute programs focus on experiential learning, conservation and team building.
Dan Erickson, superintendent and principal of the Sonoita school, was one of three staff chaperones, along with middle school math teacher Kyndra Ortiz and P.E. teacher and counselor Terrell Harper. Erickson said the jam-packed days offered up a lot of firsts for students — experiences that could not be replicated in a classroom.
“Some of the kids told me it was the first time they had ever been on a flight,” Erickson said. Some had never been on a ferry; others had never put on a wetsuit or snorkeled. “They spent so much time in close quarters for a week, they built very strong relationships,” he said — no doubt aided by the fact that cell phones were taken away on arrival at the institute.
The Catalina trip has been part of the district’s curriculum for more than 10 years. Previously, the trip was limited to eighth graders, but Erickson said taking two grades was more financially practical. Thousands of dollars per child must be raised, with parents required to put up the first $100. Donut sales, walk-a-thons, school dance fees and tax credits all contributed to the fundraising.
“We are always glad to give a shoutout to the donors who make the trip possible,” Erickson said.
Saga of the loose burros of Patagonia, Part II
Photo by Carrie Whitehill
Above: A lone burro, one-half of the notorious, apparently owner-less pair that have been wandering the streets of Patagonia since June 3, strolls through the Patagonia Cemetery at sunrise on June 12. The mini burro that had initially accompanied this feisty larger burro on adventures around town does not appear to have been seen since June 9, with the PRT still unable to confirm a previously reported rumor/speculation that the little one had been lassoed that day by local youths on a quad in the Harshaw Road area. Please send any tips on these mysterious, charming burros, including suggestions for what they should be named, to prtadast@gmail.com
When Christina Wilhelm told me that the Santa Cruz Singers would perform Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major, I had contrasting emotions. Mostly, I felt delight. The Gloria is one of the most beautiful compositions in the classical choral repertoire. It is one of my favorite pieces of music. I knew I would deeply enjoy working on it, and I knew Christina would make it a comfortable, enjoyable experience.
But, along with delight also came a bit of terror. Could we produce a convincing performance of this challenging masterwork?
To submit an announcement, please emailprtadast@gmail.com.Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
The Saturday, June 20 Produce on Wheels (POWWOW) at the Vine Church in Sonoita has been canceled.
From the Town of Patagonia:
On Monday, June 22nd, from 8:00am till 5:00pm McKeown from Taylor to Harshaw at Duquesne will be closed to repair an underground sewer line at 100 Harshaw Avenue.
From Santa Cruz County:
Hon. Judge Olaiz will be swearing in the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office graduation class on 06/19. As Judge Olaiz will be at the ceremony, JP-East will be closed on June 19th, 2026. The court will resume its services on July 17th, 2026.
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.
Click flyer for more info
School News and Youth Events
To report school news or list an event, please emailprtadast@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!
The Elgin PTC is looking for new members to join our team and help make our school an even more amazing place for our students, staff, and families!
Whether you can volunteer a few hours a month or help with a specific event, there is a place for everyone in the PTC!
Interested in learning more? Send us a message at Elginptc@elgink12.com. We’d love to have you join our flock!
Together, we can help Elgin soar even higher!
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!
Paton Center Firefly Survey with the Xerces Society
Wednesday, June 17, 6:30–8pm
Did you know that there are fireflies in Southeast Arizona?! There are and they need our help.
Join Saff Killingsworth from the The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation for a presentation about Southeast Arizona’s amazing fireflies at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. We’ll talk about firefly diversity and biology, their threats, and conservation efforts to protect these special creatures. We’ll also conduct a Firefly Atlas survey for the rare and imperiled Southwest springs firefly. Specific instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.
Join us as we celebrate 102 years of service at our 49th Annual Steak Fry on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM at The Gazebo in Patagonia Town Park.
Steak Dinner – $25
Vegan Dinner – $25
Children 12 & Under Ground Steak Dinner – $15
Dinner includes: Steak or Burger, Beans, Coleslaw, Salsa, Tortilla, Drink
Live Music by Slack & Friends, Raffle, Live Auction, Fun for the Whole Family!
All proceeds and donations will be used to help improve department equipment and facilities, allowing us to continue serving our community.
Mark your calendars and come enjoy a great evening of food, music, and community while supporting your local volunteers. We look forward to seeing you there!
No worries if you can’t purchase tickets ahead of time, they will also be available for purchase at the event!
Don’t wait—tickets are limited, and this is always a great community event. We look forward to seeing everyone there for a great meal, good music, and an evening supporting your Patagonia Volunteer Fire Department!
Join us for our next virtual Coffee Break on Thursday, July 9, at 9:30 a.m. SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel will take us on a deep dive into the different cottontail and jackrabbit species that make their home in the Sky Islands and bring so much joy with their every hop and step. Together, we’ll learn how to identify each species in the field and on camera. Meagan will also share their life history and distribution across the region using data from our FotoFauna and Border Wildlife Study cameras.
Click flyer for more info and to purchase membership
Click flyer for details
Recurring Events
To list an event, please emailprtadast@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.
The Sonoita Food Pantry at The Vine Church is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Fun news: we will now be having regular monthly Paton Center bird walks led by docent Wayne Smith on the fourth Saturday of every month! Join us for a relaxing morning featuring short, easy walks (less than a mile total) along trails like the Cuckoo Corridor and Gray Hawk Birding Trail. We’ll also spend some unhurried time enjoying the activity around the bird feeders.
-Alexis Stark, Paton Center Site Manager
Boat tours at Patagonia Lake State Park
Every Saturday and Sunday, $7 per adult, $5 per child (13 years and under)
9 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
10:15 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
11:30 a.m. Lake Discovery Tour
Twilight Tour on Saturdays only. Time varies.
Call the park to make your reservation: 520-287-2791
Boat rentals are available at the Patagonia Lake Marina.
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.
To list an employment opportunity, please emailprtadast@gmail.com.Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
We are hiring seed collection seasonal positions in Tucson and Patagonia, AZ this season!
These jobs primarily consist of field work collecting seeds and digital data collection. Applicants should be comfortable working outside in a variety of weather conditions, be prepared for some weeks of camping in the field, be interested in native plants, and enjoy working on a team. Crew Lead applicants should also have some experience with data collection and leading crews. Apply by July 10th.
To advertise in the PRT’s print edition, Weekly News Bulletin or website – or a custom package – contact Priscilla Bolanos at prtads@gmail.comor 520-313-6062.
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A 2026 CORE Grant from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona provides the Patagonia Regional Times with valuable operating support.
