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News
Patagonia Town Council sets short agenda for Oct. 8 meeting
The Patagonia Town Council will hold its first of two regular meetings this month on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 6pm. As always, members of the public may attend the Council meeting in person or via Zoom: Meeting I.D. 957-511-4862, password 338501
Agenda items for this meeting include:
- Discussion and possible action to request a proposal from CPE Consultants to design a reconstruction project for the Fourth Avenue public restrooms parking area to add one space and extend the sidewalk and curbing.
- Discussion and possible action to accept Bill O’Brien’s resignation from the Town Engineer’s position and the chairman of the Flood and Flow Committee after three years of service.
For more information, including the complete meeting agenda, click here.
From Arizona Luminaria: ‘A jaguar, a wall, a sacred valley: What’s at stake in San Rafael‘
Border wall construction in San Rafael Valley is pitting federal border security goals against environmental and sacred beliefs. Click here to read the Oct. 7, 2025 report by John Washington for Arizona Luminaria
Road reconstruction on SR 83 in Elgin tentatively set to begin Tuesday, Oct. 14
From Santa Cruz County:
ADOT announced a reconstruction and pavement rehabilitation project on SR 83 between Black Oak Drive to Lower Elgin (mileposts 31 and 29) will tentatively begin Tuesday, Oct. 14. For more information, visit the project website
From ADOT:
- Flaggers and temporary portable traffic devices will direct traffic through the project area during construction.
- One lane of travel will be maintained during construction.
- Construction is tentatively scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- ADOT will provide advance notice of restrictions and closures to email subscribers and on the project website.
- The project is expected to be completed early 2026. Schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen situations.
New Interim Director of Operations and Development joins PRT
The Patagonia Regional Times is excited to welcome Amy Glass to our team as Interim Director of Operations and Development.
“We are confident Amy’s addition will assist us in focusing resources as we position ourselves for the future,” said PRT Board President Carrie Lumia.
Click here to read more about the PRT’s exciting new hire.
Mysteries of nature: Why are these butterflies obsessed with Tanglehead grass seeds?
By Vince Pinto
After an abundant monsoon season, native grasses and butterflies are both thriving at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary. Many years of meticulous removing of nonnative grasses, such as Lehmann lovegrass, means that native grasses and wildflowers now hold sway over the preserve. Though butterflies are most often linked to flowers where they seek nectar, select species are also known to gain nutrients from tree sap, rotting fruit, animal scat and even the bodily fluids of corpses. In my youth I had thought grasses to be neither here nor there when it comes to butterflies—they might land on some, but that seemed to be the totality of their lepidopteran utility. Years later I learned that select grass species actually serve as a larval food source for certain butterfly species, especially various skipper butterflies. The caterpillars consume grass in order to become butterflies.
About a decade ago, I observed several species of butterflies—especially American snouts and Queens—lingering on the seedheads of a particular species of native grass. Why were they selecting just this one species of grass, with dozens of other native species to choose from? Further, why were the butterflies unfurling their long proboscises and probing the seed heads? Clearly, something was afoot.
The video above depicts a dense patch of native grassland at Raven’s Nest with multiple American Snouts hanging from native grasses or navigating among them. Careful inspection of the grasses reveals several species, including Cane Beardgrass, Sideoats Grama, and in particular Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus). The common name of this last species emanates from its twisted, blackish seeds at the terminus of its flowering stems—the seeds are indeed twisted into a tangled mass. This tall and attractive perennial grass is native to the southern U.S., Central America, South America, the West Indies, parts of Europe, southern Asia and select oceanic islands. Having spear-like seeds that readily attach themselves to various creatures—think migrating birds—clearly has paid dividends when it comes to distribution.
But what precisely are the butterflies seeking in the Tanglehead seeds? After extensive research I can honestly say that this is a mystery. I’ve been unable to uncover one iota of information regarding this strange grass seed-butterfly association. Still, we can make some useful inferences.
When a butterfly repeatedly uses its proboscis to probe an item—the Tanglehead seeds in this case—it clearly is searching for life-sustaining nutrients or calories. I strongly suspect the former when it comes to Tanglehead. Perhaps the grass seeds provide a particular nutrient or trace mineral otherwise lacking in the diet of the butterflies. dding further intrigue to the association is the near certainty that this is a one-way relationship. The butterflies gain some mystery item—perhaps a salt—from the Tanglehead seeds, while the grass seems not to benefit at all. Unlike the pollination services provided by butterflies that visit flowers, the Tanglehead seeds are already formed, having been wind-pollinated.
Another mystery within this butterfly-grass mystery is the fact that the vast majority of visiting butterflies at Tanglehead seeds are American snouts. Clearly, they are its main patrons, whatever they may be gaining from the seeds.
We all need a good mystery from time to time to spice up our lives. Fortunately, Nature is rife with them, keeping us in awe of its complexity and sheer beauty!
Public Service Announcements
Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue seeks gym equipment donations
From PVFR:
We Need Your Help!
The PVFR is looking for donations of weights or resistance machines to add to our station gym! If you’ve got any gym gear you’re not using, we’d love to put it to good use.
Thanks for always supporting your local volunteers!
Paton Center seeks volunteers
From Tucson Bird Alliance – The Paton Center for Hummingbirds:
Join Tucson Bird Alliance’s restoration team in enhancing and maintaining habitat around the Paton Center grounds [in Patagonia]. Events will focus largely on invasive species removal and weeding but could include any of the following activities:
- Weeding and planting the meadow
- Trail maintenance and building
- Brush clearing and hauling
- Irrigation system maintenance
- Native seed collection
Multiple days to choose from!
- October 8 & 22
- November 12
- December 10
School News and Youth Events
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!
Come hungry and support your local heroes at the Patagonia Fall Festival!
All proceeds go directly to supporting Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue. Your support helps us keep serving and protecting our community! Stop by, grab a meal, and show your love for your volunteers. See you there!
Celebrate the harvest season with us in our new recently completed greenhouse! This new greenhouse is by far our fanciest and was funded by the US Fish and Wildlife department in 2024 through the Burned Area Rehabilitation program to support native plant material development for restoration. We will have some food, beverages, and music. Bring any additional snacks or drinks to share. Camping available at the nursery. To sign up for camping click the link on the events page on borderlandsplants.org.
October 19, 3pm: Edmundo Santacruz
A Benderly Concert Event at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House
Do you want to hear the piano sing? Then join us for this memorable performance of the romantic and poetic music of Spanish composer Enrique Granados. In his debut performance at the Opera House, pianist Edmundo Santacruz will perform several major works by Granados, including selections from the “Danzas Espanolas, Valses Poeticas and the exquisite Allegro de Concierto—the Maiden and the Nightingale.”
Prepaid admission is $30 – adult or $15 – student. You can pay online until noon on the day of the concert (using your preferred credit/debit card or PayPal) or by sending a check to SCFPA PO Box 875, Patagonia AZ 85624. Tickets purchased at the door on the day of the concert are $35/$20 (if seats are available)
Recurring Events
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 contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
From Borderlands Restoration Network:
Job Opportunity: Full-time Environmental Field Educator
We’re looking for an Environmental Field Educator to join our Education Program at Borderlands Restoration Network, serving the beautiful Mexico-USA borderlands between Sonora and Arizona. This role is vital to our mission of connecting communities to the land through shared learning.If you have a passion for education and the environment, and experience in developing experiential learning for diverse audiences, we want to hear from you!
Full details: borderlandsrestoration.org/employment
From Santa Cruz County:
Santa Cruz County is hiring! We’re seeking dedicated individuals to support our community in various departments, including public safety, community development, administration, and technology.
Competitive benefits
Explore current openings and apply today at: santacruzcountyaz.gov/Jobs
From City of Nogales/Santa Cruz County Library:
Homework Tutor (Sonoita Library)
Responsibilities: Receives supervision and direction from the Library Director or designee. Greets students and assesses each one for subject area and grade level; groups students in areas by grade level. Works one-on-one with students that have difficulty with subject at hand or with expressing themselves. Group students, no more than three to a group, if they are compatible and are working on similar projects. Alerts the Children Services Coordinator if they have a problem or need advice. While waiting for students, shelves books so they can show students where the materials are. Must have basic secondary knowledge of Math, English, and general Science courses. Skills in defining problems, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
Education, Certification and Requirements: Must be attending high school (junior or senior) and have good grades (A’s and B’s) OR have graduated high school and currently attending local college. Valid AZ Driver’s License.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with children. Knowledge of how to use computers. Familiarity of the way materials are stored in the library and willingness to learn the library system. English and Spanish language fluency.
Salary/Classification: Part-time position; FLSA non-exempt; $15.79 per hour
Close Date: Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply by submitting a completed City of Nogales Employment Application and resume to the Human Resources Department. This position is Open Until Filled.
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 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)
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