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Photo Gallery of the Week
A brilliant aurora borealis illuminated the Mustang Mountains in Elgin on Tuesday night, offering a rare sight for Arizona skies. The glow, captured here around 8:30pm, was part of a widespread geomagnetic storm visible across much of the United States. Photos by Heather Norris
News
Food Bank sees 25% increase in demand at last Saturday’s distribution
Emergency food distribution for SNAP recipients set for this Saturday, Nov. 15, 8:30-10:30am
Eastern Santa Cruz Community Food Bank’s (ESCCFB) monthly free food distribution last Saturday was not like any typical distribution day. When volunteer workers arrived at the ESCCFB’s Harshaw Road location an hour before the Food Bank’s 8:30am opening, they were surprised to find 15 cars already lined up awaiting their allotments.
James Staudacher, the Food Bank’s long-serving president, wasn’t taken entirely by surprise.
“Usually we just have two or three people arriving early,” he said on Sunday, “but this week our phone was ringing off the hook with folks asking about our program. Since the government is shut down and SNAP programs are on hold, we know there are more folks out there in need. We ordered more food last week, in preparation.”
The 15 early arrivals were just the beginning. Although the traffic slowed, a steady stream of local residents filed through, picking up 65% of what was ready by 9am. Between 8:30am and 10:30am, 11 volunteers prepared and gave out 98 bags in total, up 25% from the previous month.
The volunteers continued putting together extra bags and dug into items gathered for the December distribution. Before the day was out, all the tortillas were gone and several other items were in short supply, but no one had gone away empty handed.
Staudacher noted that ESCCFB operates differently from many other food banks.
“We run our program without help from the government so we don’t have the barriers created for some food banks,” he said. “Our donations and local grants fund 100% of our operations. I used to work for the Southern Arizona Food Bank where people had to qualify to receive help. Here we serve any residents who are experiencing food shortages.
“Nobody knows when this situation is going to end. As a result of what we have seen today, we will be making an emergency distribution Saturday, November 15, from 8:30am to 10:30am here at the Food Bank. This distribution will be limited to individuals and families that have lost their SNAP benefits for November. We need community support and donations.” (Editor’s note: Additional local resources are listed below in the “Public Service Announcements” section of this bulletin.)
Gamma Leyva, one of the Food Bank’s longtime volunteers, talked about the value of the service they are providing. “This is one of the great assets of our community,” he said. “People are in need. When that happens, this place consistently steps up.”
ESCCCFB, an all-volunteer organization, has served East Santa Cruz County residents with food insecurity since 1994. The Food Bank’s service area includes Patagonia, Sonoita, Elgin, Canelo, Rain Valley and Kino Springs. The Food Bank is located at 772 Harshaw Ave in Patagonia.
For information on how to donate funds or food items, or to assist the Food Bank in any way, contact Staudacher at info@escccfoodbank.org or (520) 302-4450. More information is also available at escccfoodbank.org
South32 Hermosa announces new air quality monitoring dashboard
From the Nov. 4 press release from South32:
[South32 Hermosa] has launched a new publicly accessible air quality monitoring dashboard, giving community members a view of local air quality conditions. The dashboard is part of South32’s commitment to transparently share data and provide air quality monitoring results in a timely manner.
South32’s community monitoring stations, built and maintained by ADVM² and located near Patagonia, Nogales, and Sonoita, were established in direct response to community desires to know more about the distribution of metals in the air before and during mining operations. Monitoring near current and future traffic routes associated with Hermosa has begun now, two years before the mine operations begin, to establish a background concentrations for comparison.
Click here to read the full press release.
Veterans Day celebrated at area schools
The 29th annual Elgin School Veterans Day Celebration was held on Monday, November 10. With songs by the school choirs, posting of colors by Tombstone High School JROTC Honor Guard, and guest speaker Master Sergeant Daniel Kilpatrick, the morning offered a moving tribute to all our veterans. —Eddie McArthur
Veterans Day came early to Patagonia Union High School this year. On Thursday, November 7, special student art work lined the walls of the school cafeteria where students, veterans, parents, staff and guests gathered to commemorate the day.
Each class contributed in some way to the program according to Nate Porter, National Honor Society (NHS) advisor who organized and coordinated the event. “Teachers worked with students in the classroom ahead of time to create poems, projects, presentations, and artwork for the day,” Porter said. “There were many impressive results.”
From the kindergartners leading the Pledge of Allegiance and combined K-1 singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag” to NHS officers hosting the program, students contributed to make the assembly a moving experience.The middle school participated in a choral reading while fourth and fifth graders along with high schoolers shared their poetry.
The program was emceed by NHS President Briana Majalca and Vice President Miguel Albarran. They introduced special guests from VFW Post 2062 Sergeant Joe Diaz, U.S. Army and Petty Officer First Class Arturo Garino, U.S. Navy. The special guest speaker was Sergeant Luis Parra, U.S. Army, who served in Desert Storm.
A highlight of the afternoon was a special video presentation created by senior Valeria Castellanos. The video featured and thanked Patagonia teachers who had served in the military: MR3 Nate Mershon, US Navy; Sergeant Jeff Gudenkauf, US Army; and Specialist Elliotte Codding, US Army.
“We received lots of compliments this year after the event,” Porter noted. “Briana and Miguel did a great job emceeing. I think it was quite successful.” —Sondra Porter
Roadside shrine for law officers appears on SR 82
By Robert Gay
Last weekend, a diminutive shrine appeared along SR 82 near San Antonio Road in a spot frequented by Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies and Border Patrol (BP) officers.
Set at one side of a parking area, the shrine is a pile of rocks with a small white crucifix set loosely in it, ringed by more rocks. The crucifix itself marked with a brass-like generic police officers’ emblem, using traditional symbols of eagle, scrolls, a star and laurel leaves. A prayer on the upright member reads, “Lord God, be my protection as I protect others, my strength as I enforce the law, my guide as I lead all to justice and my source of good as I work against evil.”
In conversation at the site, a BP officer, preferring anonymity, said he welcomed the little shrine. “We get a lot of hostility,” he said.
The shrine joins at least nine others of various types along SR 82 between Nogales and its eastern end at SR 80 north of Tombstone. The brightly painted wooden crosses are for migrant deaths; others are private memorials for highway fatalities; and there are a couple that are more general offerings and blessings.
Arizona Department of Transportation’s policy for visible memorials on State highways is to leave them in place. Some will be maintained, while others will fade with the decades. Few are ever vandalized.
Public Service Announcements
To submit an announcement, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
Update: SNAP chaos met by local efforts
Local efforts are being made in response to the chaos surrounding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the federal government’s anti-hunger initiative that serves over 850,000 low-income Arizonans.
Here is an updated round-up of organized efforts in our region offering food to those in need:
1. East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank
SNAP recipients who have lost their benefits are invited to come to the Food Bank (772 Harshaw Ave, Patagonia) on Saturday, Nov. 15 between 8:30am and 10:30am to receive emergency food.
Fresh vegetables are distributed every Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM at the Patagonia Senior Center, 100 Quiroga Lane, Patagonia. Those in need, as well as community members in general, are invited to pick up vegetables and, if possible, make a donation.
Emergency food is available by calling the food bank at: 520.302.4450.
2. Vera Earl Ranch Store
Vera Earl wants to ensure no one goes hungry during this time. Anyone needing food assistance, with a valid SNAP card in-hand, can stop by the store [3282 AZ-82, Sonoita] once per week to receive up to 3 lbs of certain cuts of beef – NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
3. The Vine Church Community Food Pantry
Please contact the PRT at prtadast@gmail.com if you have information on other organized anti-hunger efforts in our area.
Also: Borderlands’ Produce on Wheels will be offering 70 lbs of rescued fresh produce for $15 this Saturday, Nov. 15, 8-11am at the Vine Church in Sonoita. Here’s all the info:
There is a $15 contribution for 70 LBS of produce. No residential or income requirements.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for this Sonoita Produce on Wheels (POWWOW)!
If you’d like to lend a hand, this is what you would be doing… Sorting and Packing fresh produce, and assisting participants as they go through our farmer’s market style line. The shifts are 6:30 – 9:30 AM AND/OR 8:30 – 11:30 AM. *Those who volunteer for a shift will receive a complimentary unit of produce. If you’d like to give back to your community in this way, please call/text gardenia 602.292.1616 and let us know which dates and shifts you’re able to volunteer. Thank you all in advance! What we do, we do together! GM
Remember When?
We’ve published over 3,500 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, 2019…
Rotary Park Opens in Sonoita
Nov. 1, 2019
The opening ceremony for the Fred Sang Memorial Park, held Sept. 29, 2019 at the Sonoita Fairgrounds, was the culmination of eight years of hard work, planning, fundraising, searching for a site and construction by the Mountain Empire Rotary Club.
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.
The Elgin School PTC will be holding a Bake Sale on Thursday, November 20 in front of National Bank-Sonoita from 9am-1pm. We are in need of baked good donations for this event and volunteers. Please sign up below by Tuesday, November 18.
Items can be dropped off to the office on Wednesday until 3:30pm or delivered to PTC members in front of the school on Thursday, November 20 at 7:30am.
Proceeds from this bake sale will be used to purchase new boys’ volleyball uniforms for Elgin School. Monetary donations are also appreciated. Please contact the PTC at elginptc@elgink12.com with any questions. Sign up: signupgenius.com/go/4090544AAAB28A6FD0-60156512-2025
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!
Kyungsun Choi Trio – A Benderly Concert Event Sunday, Nov. 16 at 3pm
What do Beethoven and Brahms have in common? They both wrote a signature clarinet trio. Beethoven’s Clarinet Trio in Bb major Opus 11 is celebrated for its lyrical themes, and overall genial character while Brahms’ trio is known for its rich dark timbres and a deeply integrated conversation between the piano, clarinet and cello.
Don’t miss an inspired program performed by a trio of gifted musicians, Kyungsun Choi, Caroline Bell and Daniel Becker at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House at 344 Naugle Avenue in Patagonia. Tickets are $30 and are available online until noon on Sunday, Nov. 16. https://rebrand.ly/c80e93
The Vine Church, along with area churches, local businesses, and ministries, are coming together to host a FREE Community Thanksgiving Dinner—and you’re invited! We know that some may not have a place to celebrate this special day. So let’s gather as friends, neighbors, and family to share gratitude, laughter, and a turkey-load of fun!
Bring your appetite, your family, and your thankful heart. Together, let’s celebrate the gift of gratitude as a loving community this Thanksgiving. For more information or to request a ride, please contact: Pastor Tom Moffett Call/Text: (480) 226-9779
thevineschurches@gmail.com
Sunday, November 30, 2pm
Screening in the Tin Shed Theater (340 Naugle Ave., Patagonia), with an introduction by Cholla Duir of the Northern Jaguar Project
$5 suggested donation
The annual “Christmas in Elgin” event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10am-4pm and will have many arts and crafts. The event will be held at the Elgin Community Club, located at 475 Elgin Road in Elgin. Vendors may contact Rebecca Smith at 520-559-4835
Recurring Events
To list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
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.
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.
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 email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
Pronghorn Pizza is now hiring kitchen workers. Email resume to chow@pronghorn.pizza
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.
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