Patagonia Regional Times
Spring Has Sprung at the Paton Center
I think each person, depending on what part of the country they grew up in, has a unique “thing” that represents the first of spring for them. Daffodils coming up out of the frozen ground, the rose bushes starting to bud out, fruit tress blooming, and for some it is the arrival of the first American Robins of spring. For me personally, the true harbinger of spring here in the Patagonia area, is the arrival of the Gray Hawks. I usually hear their unique call, before actually getting to see them, as they return to begin setting up territories and looking for a nesting site amongst the Cottonwood trees.
Act Fast to Get Tax Credit for Your Donations to Local Charities and Schools
Give much-needed support to our local providers of critical services at NO COST TO YOU! Good food for those who need it. Important after-school programs for youth. And nutritious lunches, medical supplies and transportation for seniors to critical healthcare appointments. You may already be taking advantage of a direct credit...
3-R, Is This You?
You have heard the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. You have seen the “chasing arrows” recycling logo. You have seen signs and media about the importance of recycling and reducing what is dumped in our landfills, right? You know what I am talking about. You may be thinking does it really matter that just little ‘ol me brings a few items for recycling? Does my material really get recycled? What about the water I am using to clean the material? What about the trucks and equipment being used to process it? Does all of this really matter?
Santa Cruz County Voters Go to the Polls
19.01% of registered democrats and 25.84% of registered republicans cast their vote in Santa Cruz County in the presidential preference election held March 19. There are 14,946 registered democrats in the county and 5742 registered republicans. In the democratic race Joe Biden won 2353 votes, with 93 voters showing up...
Officials Voice Frustration With Congress Over Border Funding
On March 18, Congressman Ruben Gallego, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, and SCC Sheriff David Hathaway held a press conference in Nogales to express their concerns about the lack of support and resources for border communities. During the conference, Gallego, Meyes, and Hathaway all expressed frustrations and urged Congress to pass legislation to address the crisis at the border. They emphasized the need to fund critical technology for detecting fentanyl at all ports of entry.
Audubon and Nature Conservancy Defend Use of Herbicides
By Melissa Fratello and Aaron Mrotek, on behalf of Tucson Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy, respectively. One of the most pernicious threats to biodiversity and the resilience of our watershed is the ever-growing impact of aggressive invasive vegetative species. Invasive species can be defined as non-native plants that have the ability to outcompete native vegetation, usually due to a lack of endemic biocontrols, or “checks and balances.” The presence of aggressive invasive species often results in decreased vegetative biodiversity and the establishment of single-species monocultures, which have compounding negative consequences. These consequences pose a significant, imminent threat to the health of the Sonoita Creek watershed.
Lobos Win First Baseball Game in Nearly 3 Years
To say victory was a long time coming for the Patagonia High baseball team would be more than a slight understatement. As the kids might say, it was more like FOREVER: 1,050 days to be precise. Monday’s 8-5 victory over Baboquivari was the first for the Lobos since May 3,...
PRT awarded inaugural Local News Initiative Grant
The Patagonia Regional Times is proud to announce our recent grant award from The Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. The award was granted to six organizations, supporting local news throughout Southern Arizona. In total, 18 news organizations applied for the first round of grant funding. The recipients were selected by a grants committee comprised of diverse community volunteers from throughout Southern Arizona.
“Little Rock Star” Returns to the Paton Center
It’s always a great day at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds! In fact, even when it is cold (Everyone knows I hate being cold!), even when it is raining, and yes, even when it is hot, I cherish every day that I get to spend here, one of Patagonia’s most popular locations to visit. When I started visiting here many years ago, it was for the birds, literally. Yeah, there was always hummingbirds as well as dozens of other species, but after a time it became more than that. There is a serenity, a tranquility to this location that is rarely found at a destination that sees so many visitors every day. Marion Paton is gone now, but her memory, and what she brought to this quaint little yard still lingers in those moments you get when you take the time to sit, watch and listen.
Bicyclists, Vehicle in Accident on SR83
An accident involving bicyclists and a vehicle on SR83 occurred earlier today. Two patients were evaluated at the scene and flown to Tucson for treatment. SR83 was briefly shut down but is now open. The PRT will update this post as additional information becomes available.
SEFD Conducting Prescribed Burn Today in Sonoita
Sonoita-Elgin Fire District (SEFD) is conducting a prescribed burn within Sonoita’s Casas Arroyo community today (Thursday, March 7). Ignitions began at 8am and will continuing throughout much of the day, weather permitting. Smoke and flames may be visible throughout the community. The prescribed burn is part of an annual...
$2.16 Billion Hermosa Project Rolls Forward
The Hermosa Project continued to advance on several fronts over the past month. The announcement that the Board of South32 had voted to fund the project with $2.16 billion, the public release of the Mine Plan of Operations submitted to the Forest Service, and Santa Cruz County’s hiring of Stephanie Smith, a contractor to help the County craft a legally binding Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA), all took place since the end of January.
BRN Revamps BECY Program
Now in its 12th year and under new leadership, a revamped edition of Borderlands Restoration Network’s Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) program is ready to deploy ten borderlands area youth in a variety of work-study settings as sustainability and ecology interns. Up to now, BECY has been offered as...
Mine Plan Raises Concerns for Local Dude Ranch
An escape from worries and the world: that’s what draws visitors to guest ranches. It’s as true today as it was 98 years ago when the Circle Z Ranch outside Patagonia was founded. But all that is about to change. Or could. Diana Nash, co-owner of the Circle...
Students Ready Cars for Auction
A recently restored car set for auction on March 15 in Patagonia comes with a twist. The automobile—a silver, four-door 2008 Dodge Avenger in beautiful condition, minimum bid $2,000, purchase is tax deductible—wasn’t worked on by auto mechanics. Instead, it was completely restored, from top to bottom,...
Town Council Notes – March 2024
In Call to Public, Keith Dennis, Executive Director of Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) explained some of the complexities of the Community Development Block Grant funding program, to which the Town of Patagonia is interested in applying. The Federal program starts with Housing and Urban Development. It is administered at...
Ferocious Fauna
In late December an aficionado of wildlife caught a stunning image of an adult jaguar prowling the Huachuca Mountains via his remote trail camera. About a month earlier the same cat had been photographed in the semi-connected Whetstone Mountains to the North. Thinking about that wild felid, I began to...
Meet Father Simon
Father Simon, the new priest at Patagonia’s St. Therese Catholic Church, is talking about his favorite books. He winks and asks if you have heard of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.”. “I read books to learn—books that help you get in touch with yourself and the best...
How a Puppy Becomes a Bird Dog
The Arizona quail season came to a screeching halt on February 11, which left bird hunters with a case of wondering what to do next. Like other wingshooters hoping to extend the season, a friend and I went for a two-day hunt in New Mexico because their season remains open until the 15th.
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Patagonia Regional Times is a free monthly publication serving the Mountain Empire communities of Canelo, Elgin, Patagonia and Sonoita in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
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