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Video of the Week
“This time of year, we see lots of babies at the Paton Center. And not just in the bird families. Young squirrels, javelina, deer and even the occasional coati show up in the yard. A few weeks ago we had our first of the year Coues whitetail deer fawn born right here on the property. Last week we had a set of twin fawns wandering around the backyard, and not to be outdone, this weekend, we had triplets! In doing a bit of research, I found that twins are born about 50% of the time. The percentage really drops for triplets, down to 1%, but it can be as high as 8% in extremely healthy habitat. It is so exciting to see these deer, and all the birds and other animals flourishing in this amazing habitat that we provide and maintain. Kudos to the entire team at Tucson Bird Alliance, for a job well done!” —Tom Brown, Site Manager – Paton Center for Hummingbirds
News
County Fair this weekend, with ‘Sonoita Smash’ demolition derby on Saturday night
Here is the general admission ticket information:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH
School Day: 15 and Under FREE entry until NOON
Admission $5, children 5 & under FREE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Admission $5, children 5 & under FREE
2:00 PM – CLOSE: Admission $15, children 5 & under FREE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH
Admission $5, children 5 & under FREE
Click here to see the complete schedule of events for the County Fair.
Agenda set for Patagonia Town Council’s Sept. 10 meeting
The Patagonia Town Council will hold its first of two regular meetings this month on Wednesday, Sept. 10 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:
- A proposal to install two speed controllers on Naugle Avenue for $16,859.90; “the Town’s direct expense is $9,400, of which a $5,000 grant has been applied for…with a possible out of pocket expense of $4,400 for the Town.”
- Zander Ault will present event details for the Oct. 23-26 Spirit World 100 gravel bike race, as well as a proposal to run a “community bike ride” on Town streets on Oct. 23.
- A proposal for artist Keith Spooner to create and place a sculpture in the original section of the Town Park.
Click here to see the complete agenda.
Lobos volleyball continues impressive early season run
Sophomore Monique Snell puts away the spike. Photo by Dave Lumia 
The Lobos celebrate after sweeping Baboquivari on Tuesday night. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Senior Ximena Gonzalez sets up her teammates. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Monique Snell and Ximena Gonzalez team up on defense. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Freshman Charlotte Myers keeps her eye on the ball. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Senior Emma Lewton follows through on a kill. Photo by Dave Lumia
By Dave Lumia
The toughest tests are yet to come, but the Patagonia High volleyball team continues to ace its preliminary exams.
The Lobos improved their official record to 5-0 with a 25-11, 25-15, 25-11 homecourt victory over Baboquivari on Tuesday night, but 5-0 doesn’t tell the whole story.
The five victories are all by 3-0 scores—including a pair of wins over Class 2A schools (Bisbee and Tombstone)—and only once in 15 sets have the Lobos surrendered more than 17 points to an opponent.
Even more telling is Patagonia’s play in two early season invitational tournaments. After winning three of four matches to finish second at the Cochise County Roundup on Aug. 30, the Lobos duplicated that feat at the Small School Invite in Phoenix on Sept. 6. Two of the three victories came against Class 2A schools—Lincoln Prep and Mountainside. Patagonia lost the championship match to undefeated Wickenburg, one of the state’s largest 2A schools, by a score of 25-17, 25-18.
While the tournament results don’t count in state rankings, they provide valuable experience against tougher competition. The Lobos already have 13 matches under their belt—six of those against Class 2A teams—and have amassed 11 victories.
“It’s good to get our feet wet against bigger schools,” captain Emma Lewton said.
The Lobos overcame a number of obstacles to put up a strong showing at the Phoenix tournament. They were without two of their starting players—Lewton was taking her college entrance exams, and senior libero Lulu Donnelly was ill—plus they had to play four matches after a three-hour bus ride, leaving the school at 5am to make the journey.
“The girls were really tired,” coach Brenda Somoza said. “It was a really good tournament; a much different level of competition that we don’t see here early in the season. It’s good to go up against teams that play faster volleyball. It gets [us] ready for what we’ll see later on.”
Lewton and Donnelly were back in the lineup for Tuesday’s win over Baboquivari, but senior Brianna Majalca missed the match due to illness. The Lobos jumped out to a fast start, scoring the match’s first seven points, then suffered a bit of a letdown in the second set before putting away the Lady Warriors, with the final point coming on a resounding kill by sophomore Monique Snell.
“We need to keep our energy level consistent,” Lewton said. “We kind of mellowed out, matched their energy level.”
Somoza agreed: “Games like this teach me some things we need to work on. The game was slow. Our back row got a little lazy.”
While the Lobos continue to rely on their veteran core of seniors Lewton, Majalca, Donnelly and Ximena Gonzalez, junior Amaya Somoza and sophomore Snell, the recent absences have created opportunities for sophomore Nicole Cabrera and freshman Charlotte Myers. Myers had a strong game at the net against Baboquivari.
“She’s gaining confidence, being more aggressive, taking risks,” Somoza said. “That’s what I’ve been telling them. I’d rather they make mistakes taking risks than being too passive.”
The Lobos are back in action Thursday with a road match at Ray, then return home to play Lourdes Catholic next Tuesday.
Saturday, Sept. 13: Free food bag distribution at Food Bank in Patagonia
From East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank:
Come to the FOOD BANK, 772 Harshaw Ave, Patagonia AZ on Saturday September 13 between 8:30am and 10:30am to pick up a supplemental food bag!
The ladder-backed woodpecker: a highly equipped predator who’s also tasty prey
By Vince Pinto
In the video above, we can see a ladder-backed woodpecker plying his trade, chiseling into the bark and wood of a velvet mesquite tree at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary. This adult male, as evidenced by the red cap at the back of his crown, is searching for insects, particularly woodboring beetle larvae—a mainstay of the species. Aiding in his caloric quest are a reinforced skull that serves as a cranial shock-absorber, as well as a tongue so long that it wraps around the top of his skull! Ladder-backed woodpeckers also have acute hearing that enables them to auditorily detect unseen prey sequestered within wood. Once found, an insect can be extracted from relatively deep in the wood, as the tongue is also barbed and sticky, acting like a sort of flexible harpoon.
Like most woodpecker species, the ladder-backed woodpecker has zygodactyl feet with two toes pointing forward and two backwards. This enables them to efficiently cling to trees, aided by their stiff tail feathers that serve as a strut. All of this evolutionary hardware and associated behaviors have earned them the name “Pajaro Carpintero” in Spanish.
Given that they are among the smallest woodpeckers in North America, ladder-backs must keep their senses honed for predators. I recently observed several coachwhip snakes climb tall trees at our preserve with ease. Once ensconced on a limb, these slick reptiles could easily snatch an unwary bird. Loggerhead shrikes, American kestrels and sharp-shinned hawks also loom as palpable threats to this diminutive woodpecker. Although their mottled black and white plumage serves as excellent camouflage, over the years I have found quite a few piles of plucked ladder-backed woodpecker feathers on the ground—a testament to their vulnerability to predatory birds.
Public Service Announcements
County Justice Project seeks Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin youth for fall internship program
From Santa Cruz County Justice Project (SCCJP):
The Santa Cruz County Justice Project (SCCJP) is inviting high school juniors, seniors, and college students from Patagonia, Sonoita, and Elgin to apply for its Fall 2025 Internship Program.
SCCJP is a local nonprofit organization seeking to make the legal system easier to understand and more accessible for everyone in Santa Cruz County. This hands-on internship will empower youth to contribute to real-world justice initiatives and help develop resources addressing domestic violence, housing challenges, and civil disputes.
Recognizing that traveling to Nogales can be a challenge for eastern county residents, the program will offer flexible participation options, including remote work, carpool coordination, and adjusted meeting times.
For more information, including how to apply, visit sccjpaz.org/internships or email info@sccjpaz.org.
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!
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 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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