PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES SPECIAL EDITION SPECIAL EDITION 2020 IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 BP Agents Often the First Responders in Sonoita By Sasha Hartzell In the high desert of southeast- munity liaison. “We closed that.” Just ern Arizona, there is a vast range ten years ago, however, Bartine said of grassland known by local Border traffic numbers were still crazy. Patrol agents simply as ‘The Valley.’ “You had to pick what you were An aerial view of the region re- going to do that day, what groups to veals a shape like cupped hands, the respond to.” Now, local agents are Huachuca and Patagonia Mountain finding they have more flexibility in ranges curving around a long, shad- their ten-hour shifts. owed hollow: this is the San Rafael While the Border Patrol agents Valley, where the border is marked still prioritize their primary mission only with vehicle barriers - approxi- - “to detect and prevent the ille- mately 24 miles of steel rails welded gal entry of aliens into the United into Xs, demarcating the southern States,” according to the Department Photo by Rocky Baier edge of ‘the valley.’ of Homeland Security - they’ve found Emma Young (left) and Liam Young (right) pose like statues in a museum as It is a designated state natural themselves using this flexibility to Chesed Chap talks to the audience during the show, “A Catcher in the Rye: area, home to the San Rafael Ranch partake in a different kind of mission: A Gluten Free Tale” on March 6, 2020. and the headwaters of the interna- local emergency response. tional Santa Cruz River. It is constant- In the rural communities in which Making Your Own Stage - ly surveilled by the Border Patrol they patrol, Sonoita Station agents agents posted in the mountains have become the first responders, above. arriving early on scenes ranging from As a Teenage Playwright Monitoring this segment of border car accidents to lost hikers, from By Rocky Baier Rye: A Gluten Free Tale.” The audience quieted as the lights dimmed and the is the responsibility of the nearby wildfires to domestic abuse. In a Patagonia’s Tin Shed Theater is an jazz song ‘Take Five’ began playing Sonoita Station, created in 1989 to community in which the average wait intimate space with no stage, black over the speakers. Nick Botz, a mem- address what was seen as a glaring time for law enforcement can be foam squares covering the floor, and ber of the tech crew, flipped the main hole in border enforcement, accord- hours, it is a service generally much three rows of chairs that can accom- spotlight on and the space trans- ing to the U.S. Customs and Border appreciated. modate an audience of 100. Red formed, ready for the show to begin. Protection website. “We love Border Patrol,” said curtains hang over the walls, creating a Chesed Chap, the director, writer The station’s jurisdiction includes Joseph DeWolf, chief of the mock backstage. and lead actress of the show, stepped its namesake, Sonoita, as well as Sonoita-Elgin Fire Department. For The theater was alive with activity the towns of Patagonia and Elgin. It small departments like his, which rely on Friday, March 6 as the audience See Playwright page 5 encompasses the valley, the sur- heavily on volunteers, DeWolf said took their seats for “A Catcher in the / rounding mountains, and everything lack of personnel is the biggest chal- in between. In total, it covers an area lenge - and one which the BP agents of around 1,000 square miles - about help alleviate. the size of Rhode Island. The station’s DeWolf’s team has been collabo- Patagonia, a Pit Stop for initial eight agents had their hands rating with Border Patrol for as long full. as he has been there, 25 years. In Migrating Butterflies In the 31 years since, the Sonoita the past ten years, however, he said By Alexandra Pere to be monarch butterflies - flew away. Station’s workforce has grown signifi- the relationship has become much Nabhan’s lifelong fascination with cantly - an estimated 231 agents now stronger. When Gary Nabhan was growing up pollinators had just begun. patrol the region, seven days a week Formerly limited by a lack of in the Indiana Dunes, he remembered Pollinator animal species such as and 24 hours a day. Concurrently, agents, Border Patrol now can being sleepy in the middle of his class bees, bats and monarch butterflies are illegal traffic through the area has respond to calls for help 99% of the one day. Looking out the window, he essential to biodiversity. Patagonia is decreased from what it once was. time, according to Bartine. “They studied the leaves of a tree nearby. an important corridor for monarchs “The area used to be an open used to call the station and ask for Nabhan, who would later find out migrating from Mexico as they fertilize door for smuggling,” said Justin he is color-blind, thought they had odd colors and when this crossed his Bartine, the Sonoita Station’s com- See / Page Border Patrol 13 mind, the leaves - which turned out See Butterflies/page 7 About this special edition By Ruxandra Guidi Within days of our meeting, started with this collaboration in early Tom and I would begin to plot our January we did not foresee how the PRT Last August, just two weeks after three-way collaboration involving Covid-19 pandemic would affect our moving to Tucson to start my job as an the Patagonia Regional Times, the students’ reporting on the ground - let MISSION STATEMENT assistant professor at the University University of Arizona School of alone how it would affect all our lives. of Arizona’s School of Journalism, I Journalism and residents of Eastern Many of our stories could not be fully To publish a nonprofit headed to a coffee shop near campus. Santa Cruz County. The PRT board reported on the ground before mid- community newspaper which One of my new colleagues sat at a not only approved our idea, but went March, when we all found ourselves serves the Mountain Empire little table inside, eager to introduce to local residents and foundations to suddenly unable to leave our homes communities of Santa Cruz Coun- me to Tom Beal, a former reporter raise money for the project, which or get close to people as we’d typically ty, including Canelo, Elgin, at the Arizona Daily Star who’d been would involve the students’ two- need to in order to interview them Patagonia, and Sonoita, and there for more than four decades. day visit to Patagonia, meals, van and spend time with them. which is open to all views, high- “Tom has a great idea for a rides, and printing costs for a special We hope that by the time this issue lighting local issues and empha- collaboration,” Renée told me as summer issue. reaches you, life in Patagonia and sizing the contributions of local we shook hands. Folks in Sonoita and Patagonia Sonoita will have returned to normal. talent. I’d come to the School of also shared their concerns and ideas Thank you for reading; for trusting Journalism with 20 years of for coverage; a number of them - us with your stories, and supporting WHO WE ARE experience, but gathered all over business owners, activists, researchers a collaboration that we hope to the place: I’ve been a public radio - even came to speak to our group and continue for years to come. We want We are a nonprofit organization, producer and reporter, a freelance guided our students throughout the to thank all of the participants who funded by paid advertising, do- foreign correspondent in South semester as they wrote their pieces. shared their experience with our nations and grants. PRT is a free America, a contributing editor for a We are very proud of what you’re students, as well as the generous monthly publication distributed to magazine and a freelance magazine about to read: these stories are donors who made this special edition news stands and local merchants writer. But through it all, I’ve stuck the product of our students’ hard possible. in The Mountain Empire. to my vision that some of the best work, but also of a simple wish to We would welcome your feedback journalism is produced collaboratively try to revitalize not just community on this issue. Please contact me at - not just among professional Managing Editor: journalism but also journalism [email protected]. journalists, but also including different education. Marion Vendituoli institutions and media outlets. Needless to say, when we got Assistant Editor: Aisha Chapra Sander IN THIS ISSUE Bookkeeper: 1 BORDER PATROL 10 WINERIES Border Patrol agents serve as local emergency first A look at the wine business in Elgin and Sonoita. Cynie Murray responders. By Seth Markowski Administrative Assistant By Sasha Hartzell Ad Manager: 11 OPINION & COMMENT Jared Krikorian 1 PLAYWRIGHT Chesed Chap writes, directs and stars in her own plays. Two students share their personal pandemic stories. By Rocky Baier By Aiya Cancio Special Edition By Vianney Cardenas Layout and Design: 1 BUTTERFLIES Rocky Baier Patagonia is a stopping point for migrating monarch 12 Alexandra Pere butterflies. LOCAL HISTORY Smuggling on the border - A longstanding problem. By Alexandra Pere Board of Directors: By Conor Villines New uses for old buildings in Patagonia. Bob Brandt 3 REMEMBERING HARSHAW By Ray Diaz Tom Beal Growing up in a Southern Arizona mining town. Francesca Claverie By Clara Migoya Lynn Davison 13 BORDER TECHNOLOY Cassina Farley 4 OPERA HOUSE Technology supports Border Patrol mission. Jac Heiss Young musicians find an audience at the Opera By Vianney Cardenas Donna Lee House. By Nagisa Tsukada Kathryn Schrag 14 CHURCH Jamie Smith Harvest Christian Church reaches out to the Mollie Wright 6 CONSERVATION community. Healing the borderlands. By Pei-Yu Lin Borderlands Restoration Network works to protect Contact us at: bats and the agaves they feed on. [email protected] PO Box 1073, Patagonia, AZ By Ashley Fredde 15 FIRE SEASON 85624 or (740) 206-9594. Sonoita Elgin Fire district makes adjustments to To Place an ad: 8 COWGIRL deal with COVID-19 restrictions. [email protected] Ranching in Patagonia - A profile of Chris Peterson. By Conor Villines Print Edition available at By Briannon Wilfong newstands the first Thursday of the month. Online Edition posted the first 16 HIKER 9 BASKETBALL Chuck Veylupek and his journey along the Arizona Wednesday of the month Patagonia Union HIgh School boy’s basketball team Trail. Online edition: makes it to the state playoffs By Devyn Edelstein patagoniaregionaltimes.org By Aiya Cancio FAMILY HISTORY Remembering Harshaw By Clara Migoya walnuts, wild oregano and quelites - Antonio Tapia, 79, stands on the fresh edible herbs, like bledo, chuales, porch of his southside Tucson home, verdolagas and wild onion. scanning a sepia drawing through “Harshaw was named after the guy thick, smoky glasses. His eyes move that founded the mines, but it already from a tall poplar tree, to the small had a name: El Durazno,” said Henry adobe building, the tin-shed house, Soto, third of the six siblings. “We still a horse grazing, the dirt street at the call it El Durazno (peach).” Juan Soto border of the wire fencing. On the top said the name came probably from the of the frame there is a rusty metal fruit orchards that the Spanish planted label that reads “Tapia Household.” in the early 18th century. During the Photo courtesy of the Patagonia Museum The piece of art, drawn by a family European colonization the mountains Juan Tadeo, “Lacko” Beltran and Luciano Lopez ride their donkeys down friend and given to Tapia by one of his of Arizona and Sonora were covet- the street in Harshaw, circa 1940. granddaughters for Christmas 2015, ed for their minerals –a USGS report wasn’t much work left in Harshaw. town grounds, a new mine is pros- depicts the Tapia family home as it states that the altar of the San Xavi- When the railroad in Patagonia closed pecting to take, with better means looked before it and the other build- er Mission, in the Tohono O’odham down, so did the mine. Most of the and technology, what others couldn’t. ings in the mining town of Harshaw reservation south ofTucson, was once people soon followed. In 2015 Arizona Mining Inc. began were demolished by the U.S. Forest adorned with $40,000 of solid silver “The mining went away, so people exploratory drilling on the Hermosa Service in the 1980s. from the Santa Rita mountains. had to move out and go find a job,” mining site, a 450-acre property of Inside the house, Tapia’s daughters, “When we lived there, there were said Frank Soto. “Most of them went private land. In 2018, South32, an grandson, and son-in-law are sitting by two apple trees, two apricot trees and to Silver Bell Mine and Mammoth.” Australian mining company with a the kitchen counter or in the adjacent two pear trees, outside our house, and The mining families lingered as long global presence, acquired Arizona living room listening as Tapia and his peaches,” said Frank Soto. Mike, jump- as they could. But eventually, as em- Mining Inc. for $1.3 billion gaining wife, Alicia, reminisce about their early ing in right after, “They were about this ployment had attracted them to settle ownership of the project. The compa- lives in the mining camp just south of big,” he said, mimicking the size of a in Harshaw in the late 19th century, ny estimates that the Taylor and Clark Patagonia. Granny Smith apple. “You would come the lack of it pushed them out. Not mineral deposits contain 5.3 million Conversations turn lively when by the trees and they were ripening, long after, the U.S. Forest Service took tons of zinc, 5.7 million tons of lead they talk about the ballroom nights in the juice would just come running back the land and everyone was evict- and 344 million ounces of silver. Lucky’s Saloon and the wild food and down your arm.” There never was ed. Around the 1980s they plowed the South32 says that their polymetallic plant harvest. Merlinda Tapia, the old- any tap water in town, nor electricity town down. No one had legal claims to mining operation would take place est of Tony and Olivia Tapia’s children, for most of their childhood. They ran stop it. completely underground, starting at leaves her post behind the kitchen around barefoot. “We were poor, but “They weren’t landlords or any- around 2,500 feet beneath the surface counter and comes back with a plastic we had everything,” said Angelina thing, they were all settlers there, in- and eventually tunneling to 4,000 feet. bag full of acorns they picked last sum- Soto, across the phone line. cluding us,” said Tony Tapia. “So, they The Hermosa-Taylor site, as it was mer around the Harshaw grounds. The Soto family story is a typical leveled down the place.” renamed, has the potential to become Tony Tapia grew up during the one in Harshaw. Their great-grandfa- Today there is barely a trace of the one of the largest zinc-producing 1940s and 1950s in the town of ther Angel Soto, from Placer, settlements. Centuries-old sycamore mines in the world. Harshaw, when the Trench and Flux California, moved across the West, trees line the dry riverbed of Harshaw “We are a mining family, so to me mines were under the operation of chasing wealth and an opportunity in Creek. On both sides, where the a mine is just another mine. But it is the American Smelting and Refining the mining industry which extracted town used to stand, there is only flat too close to home,” said Juan Soto. Company (ASARCO). His father worked rich silver, copper and zinc ores in earth. Only four families managed to “Kind of a ‘not in my backyard’ thing.” there, as did the fathers of the 20-or- Arizona. In the 19th century he arrived retain some land; the Hales (the only Mike Soto goes almost every week so other families who lived in the area. with his wife in the Patagonia Moun- non-Mexican family of Harshaw), the to do garden work and care for the The mining legacy traces centuries tains in hopes of earning a living and Villagráns, the Tapias and the Sotos. In Soto Homestead, which sits on a 15- back. During its prime, Harshaw was a sustenance for his seven kids. De- the 1930s Tony’s grandfather Mariano acre plot and receives a few seasonal bustling town of 2,000 inhabitants and spite the mine’s prosperity, wages at Soto had applied for a homestead, hunting guests and family and friends one of the richest mining locations in that time were around $2 a day for a acquiring titles for 60 acres of govern- for the holidays. The Sotos decided the West. In 1880, the Harshaw mining Mexican worker. Non-Mexicans would ment land outside of the U.S. Forest they wouldn’t split their inheritance so district, consisting of about 40 mines usually make double that wage. Service lands. The Tapias also inher- the land could stay undivided, in the plus prospect sites, produced around Several generations of Sotos ited land through their grandfather family. $1.1 million in silver. By 1883, the worked the mines, including Frank who was married to Mariano’s sister, Juan Soto, the “historian of the Hermosa Mine alone, half a mile away Soto’s father, Miguel “Skippy” Soto. Teresa. family” as his brothers call him, has from Harshaw, produced $700,000, He was called Skippy because of his Many now call it a “ghost town,” a hypothesis for why his grandfather according to a 1915 U. S. Geological energetic work style, Juan Soto said. but those who grew up in Harshaw would apply to the homestead pro- Survey report. From a young age, Skippy pushed min- never stopped visiting. Sometimes the gram. It was the memory of disposses- “Harshaw at that time was boom- eral-bearing ore wagons, right behind Tapias and Sotos go out on the week- sion. The Sotos have been in the West ing and word got around,” said Frank the mules, out of the shaft. ends. “Easter, it’s always a big time,” since the 1770s, even before it became Soto, a cousin of Tapia and the oldest Although they never went inside said Merlinda Tapia. In April campers U.S. land, but lost all their land when of six brothers and sisters who grew the shafts, Henry, Mike and Juan Soto and tents set up along the creek and the Guadalupe-Hidalgo treaty made up in Harshaw in the days of ASARCO. also worked in the Trench Mine, when under a big sycamore tree by the small Mexicans living in California foreign. Frank sits with his three brothers, it was still operated by ASARCO. Harshaw cemetery where tombstones The memory is still fresh in a way. Henry, Mike and Juan, around their In 1964 the company closed its op- and crosses mark the graves of mem- “My mother said, ‘No matter what family dining table in southside eration and a man by the name of E.W. bers of the Medina, Cota, Robles, happens, you guys stay with the land. Tucson. Angelica Soto, their sister, McFarland tried to squeeze out what- Valenzuela, Tapia, Encinas and Don’t sell it, let it stay in the family’,” follows the conversation through a ever was left in the rock, although with Acevedo families. They line the hill, Tony Tapia remembers. phone call on speaker. Conversations very poor results, Tony Tapia said. For decorated with religious figures, col- “I would go back to live there any- go back and forth from English to a brief time, after high school, Tapia orful plastic flowers and some fresh time,” said Tapia, dreamily. He paused Spanish as they all laugh and joke, was employed by McFarland to run the bouquets. and, referring to the South32 oper- pouring out memories of their child- mill. He also took shifts as school jani- The wealth inside the Patagonia ations, added: “But now there is too hood and life in Harshaw. The Sotos tor and highway worker, and unloaded Mountains continues to attract inves- much noise from all the trucks going recall the bounty of mulberries, black hay from trucks. In those days, there tors. Less than half a mile from the old up and down.” PAGE 3 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 ARTS

Contributed Photo Contributed Photo Daniel Karger-Penalosa performed at the Opera Yihui Wang and Grace Sheppard, students at the U of A, perform at the House on March 1, 2020, as part of the U of A Musicians on Tour Series. Benderly-Kendall Opera House A Local Venue for Young Classical Musicians By Nagisa Tsukada assistant professor of tuba and of the audience members because more than 900 people on the mailing Santa Cruz County residents euphonium who came to Arizona of lighting. At the Opera House, the list. have been discovering and savoring in 2015 and tried to find venues for close physical distance allows the According to Wilhelm, visitors have performances at the Benderly-Kendall students. He connects the Opera performers to directly see and feel the started to share a sense of belonging Opera House in Patagonia since it House and the University to arrange audience’s expressions. in the three years since the opening, opened in 2016, and young musicians concerts. Tropman believes it is good for the as they constantly come back to have found it to be a great place to Tropman said the Opera House is a students to engage with the audience. experience the music. “People know showcase their musical abilities. great venue for students to experience Tropman said he also enjoys working each other and it takes me a long time That was part of the mission to performing outside of Tucson. with Wilhelm. He respects her passion now to get them to be quiet, so we can begin with, said Christina Wilhelm, Students usually have opportunities for music and the Opera House. start a concert,” she said with a smile. director of the Santa Cruz Foundation to perform for an audience on “I love Christina. She and I have a “It’s wonderful, except we’re always a for the Performing Arts. Wilhelm said campus such as senior recitals or very good friendship,” Tropman says. little bit late now starting.” she wanted to provide a venue for graduate recitals. However, the “I only get to see [her] when I go down Wilhelm believes that live music young musicians “who don’t have a audience for those concerts tends to there, but it’s always so nice to see can connect people like few other place to perform.” The Opera House be their friends and family. According them and chat with them and we’ve activities. The audience makes music hosts performances by new musicians to Tropman, the experience of really had a fun time putting a concert together with the musicians when on Sundays, including college students performing in Patagonia is helpful for together.” they are not passive listeners but pursuing a degree in music at the students because it is a more realistic Wilhelm says the project to build “are actually involved in the process University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School performing environment. the Benderly-Kendall Opera House of the live music.” When musicians of Music. “It’s not easy for them to find those started in 2005. Her friend Virginia perform for the audience, they directly The U of A has collaborated with opportunities to perform in front of Benderly initiated the concept of the experience the response during the Wilhelm for about three years. This strangers,” he said. “The process of opera house. After Benderly died of performance. Lively response inspires partnership has allowed music preparing a performance and then cancer in 2006, Wilhelm continued the musicians more; active listeners students to perform at the Opera going out of town and performing it the campaign for ten years until she encourage performers. House for the local audience. This brings up the skills that they might obtained 20 to 30 regular patrons. In addition, the Opera House year, two student pianists, Daniel not have had a chance to work on, Wilhelm built the Opera House with frequently collaborates with the local Karger- Penalosa and Yujia Luan, whether it’s writing a written program donations. She named the facility after school districts. Elementary and high performed on March 1. Two more or figuring out how to speak to the two big donors: Benderly and John school students serve as interns at the concerts were planned for March, but audience.” Kendall. Opera House to learn how to put on were postponed due to COVID-19. Tropman says the performances “Then we got local donations which a concert and experience live music. Wilhelm said she is going to provide at the Benderly-Kendall Opera helped us to actually begin the project According to Wilhelm, most children the venue for the performers planned House are different because the hall and complete the project in a year,” who participate are unfamiliar with in March after the stay-at-home policy is smaller than usual. The physical she said. “The fact that we could start classical music concerts. is terminated. distance between the performers and end in a year was remarkable.” “They have to make sure there are The Vocal Studies Program and and the audience can be as close as The local residents helped the seats for everyone, to meet and greet, three harpists, Xiaodu Xu, Yvonne the distance between professors and project not only with their money and it gives some idea of belonging Cox and Victoria Gonzalez, had also students in a classroom. but with their talents, too. Wilhelm to a different community,” she says. scheduled concerts for the first time The Opera House is far more hired local architects, builders and “And who knows, maybe one or two at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House, elegant than a classroom. It features laborers to complete the project. The of them…decide, ‘Yeah, maybe that’s according to University of Arizona big windows, soaring plastered walls, Opera House was built entirely by the what I wanna do for my life.’” Assistant Vocal Professor Yunah Lee. polished wood floors, a beamed ceiling community. While all events this spring were Lee and her vocal students were and a grand piano beneath a white Since the opening of the Opera postponed, Wilhelm did not stop planning to join one of the Patagonia chandelier. Rows of chairs sit close by. House, the size of the audiences at sharing music. She collaborated with concerts in March, thanks to Matthew It is an intimate space. the performances has increased. the local radio station KPUP to play Tropman, a University of Arizona In most concert halls, performers Audiences come from Sonoita, Nogales recordings of performers who have play on stage and cannot see the faces and beyond. Wilhelm said that she has played for SCFPA since 2006. PAGE 4 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 ARTS Norton felt that Chap put a piece of said. “So the arts Playwright herself into her own character as well. programs, there- Cont. from Page 1 Norton said Chap feels stuck between fore, suffered. I’m into the light, wearing a white shirt “the bliss of being a young kid” and thankful that the tucked into a green plaid skirt under “where she wants to be beyond high Art Center actually a brown blazer, her backpack slung school.” took that over as over one shoulder. “If you really want “Being in such a rough place is far as the visual to hear about it, the first thing you’ll something she can be so consumed by, arts.” probably want to know is where I was but then by the end of it she always Last year, her born, and what my lousy childhood pulls herself out the same way her school did not was like, and all that kind of crap,” she character does in the play,” Norton have a drama said to the audience. “But I don’t feel said. program. Working like going into it, if you want to know Chap was guided in the writing by with her friends, the truth.” Matthew Lysiak, a journalist, writer family and the Her line, adapted from the first and father of young journalist Hilde Patagonia paragraph of “A Catcher in the Rye” Lysiak. Matthew Lysiak served as her Creative Arts As- writing mentor. He helped Chap as she sociation, which by J.D. Salinger, was the beginning of Contributed Photo 16-year-old Chap’s third show. She modernized the play, writing it from a operates the Tin female perspective and adding mod- Shed Theater, The cast of “The Catcher in the Rye: a Gluten Free wrote her first play in fourth grade - a Play,” presented at the Tin Shed Theater March 6 and 7. Christmas show that she can’t even ern-day touches, like cell phones, frat Chap created an From left: Emma Young, Reyna Ochoa, Caleb Weaver, remember now. parties and vaping. arts curriculum Liam Young, Lars Marshall. Seated: Chesed Chap, Hilde Lysiak. “The second grade teacher came to “I was taking Matthew [Lysiak’s] for herself, com- me as a fourth grader and said, ‘Hey, writing class and he really challenged plete with direct- she has a tennis or soccer match in I want you to write this play for me me to just expand on this play and ing, writing and Tucson, getting a taste of what it’s like based off of this book.’ She gave me make it interesting and not just the acting. “This is my passion, this is what to be in a ‘big town.’ the book, I wrote it, I directed the kids, same old “Catcher in the Rye” every- I love to do. And I was like, ‘I need to Her mom said Chap will do well in we performed it for the Christmas pag- one’s read,” Chap said. do this.’ It took this realization that I an even bigger town, if she chooses eant thing at school,” Chap said. “But Lysiak believes Chap will ‘make it’ can’t depend on anyone else … I have that path. “She’s going to have the I don’t recall what the play was called. in Los Angeles or New York City when to sort of take it into my own hands choice to go wherever she wants after And I really wish I remembered.” she grows up. “I think people will hear and look to the people who support this, and that’s great,” Manjarre said. In eighth grade, she wrote, directed about [her] in the future,” Lysiak said. me, right here and just go forth and “I want whatever’s gonna make her and played the role of Willy Wonka in “She has a different way of looking at hope that people will actually want to happy.” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” the world. And I can’t speak for artists, come see it and be a part of it,” Chap Chap already got a taste of the Now, as a junior at Patagonia High but for writers that’s 99% of it.” says. professional writing life when Lysiak School, she decided to write an adap- Chap said her perspective comes Chap began going to camp at the invited her to join him and Hilde in tation of her favorite book, “The from the experience of growing up Tin Shed Theater when she was five. Los Angeles for the table reading of Catcher in the Rye,” a story about in Patagonia, a town with fewer than “My first play was actually in this the- the Paramount Pictures show being teenager Holden Caulfield after he gets 1,000 residents. “The person I am is ater, and I grew up with this theater’s written about Hilde. The screenwriters kicked out of school and his struggles because of the community I’ve grown after-school program,” Chap said. liked Chap so much they wanted her to as he becomes an adult. up in,” Chap said. “What I think is real- Watching Chap perform has been a stay. “They were blown away by her,” To write the show, Chap based ly interesting about this community is joy for her father, Peter Chap. “When Lysiak said. “She got some one-on-one some of the characters on real people there’s a lot of grassroots movements. they would all be up in front of the time with some of the writers and they in her life, such as Duke Norton, Chap’s It’s a lot of people taking initiative for school singing, she was the one that came away very impressed by her to close friend from high school. In the themselves and building things from always stood out,” Peter Chap said. “I the point where one of the producers play, Holly (Chap’s character) meets the ground up, and that’s sort of what would tell her, ‘Don’t just go through of the show mentioned, ‘I wonder if I her friend Carl in a “hipster” bar, and I did with this play.” the motions, just live that part. Live could get her here to be an intern?’ ” they chat over kombucha and cauli- Chap loved growing up in the song. When you’re acting, live it When some of the writers asked flower “chicken” wings about his life at Patagonia. Even though it’s small, and be it.’” Peter encourages her to her to stay for a week, Chap declined, Columbia and his fraternity. she considers it an arts community follow her passion, but to also have not wanting to miss that much school. “I definitely do drink kombucha and because it has so many resources like a plan B, such as teaching drama at However, she does hope to be able I am in a frat,” Norton admitted. the art center, the theater, the opera the high school level and chasing her house and the art galleries. dreams during the summers. However, to make this a career someday. “You “You grow up amongst that doesn’t stop them from spending always hear that you can never make a artists, and it’s really inspiring hours in the living room discussing job in the arts and that it’s not possi- to see other people constant- movies they would turn into shows ble,” Chap said. “It was really amazing ly crafting something new,” and how to get a scholarship for col- to see the joy in that room during the Chap said. “It’s really inspiring lege to continue studying theater. table reading and I felt so lucky to be to be amongst people who Her father encouraged her to write there, and everyone’s just laughing care about the same things I this play. “I was looking for a good and having the best time ever and do. It’s just difficult to accom- book in 8th grade and he told me I they’re so proud of what they did. I plish some of these things.” would like ‘Catcher in the Rye’,” Chap just really want to get to that point in Chap’s school does not said. “My dad has been a big part of my life someday.” offer art classes, electing my life, egging me on to write these At the end of the show, Chap sat to focus on academics and plays.” on a bench, one of the few set pieces athletics. During Chap’s Her mother, Elia Manjarre, who in the minimalistic production. She sophomore year, the school lives in Tucson, is also proud of her. called each character by name, and the administration switched to “[Her father and I] were both English actors took their places behind her. a block schedule that took and P.E. teachers, and we’re so proud The cast took a bow as the audience another toll on the arts pro- of her because we see students all the clapped and cheered. Bouquets of grams. “Their plan was just to time, and Chesed just exceeds our ex- flowers in hand, she smiled, spoke with Photo by Rocky Baier teach to the test, and really pectations,” Manjarre said. Chap visits all her friends and family, and went Chesed Chap and Caleb Weaver practice a home to sleep and prepare for the bar scene during rehearsal for their show focus on core classes,” Chap her mom on weekends and whenever on March 2, 2020 at the Tin Shed Theater. next performance. PAGE 5 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 ENVIRONMENT Reimagining the Border In Patagonia, Agaves By Ashley Fredde countries,” according to Borderlands’ website. If one were to conjure up an image During the 2016 presidential cam- and Bat Conservation of a southwestern rancher, Richard Col- paign, then-candidate Donald Trump By Ashley Fredde lins might be close. Collins looks every had vowed to build a bigger, better Go Hand in Hand bit the part, with his pants pulled over While there are many plants nes- border wall and denigrated Mexican boots that have dried mud around the tled in Borderlands Restoration Net- immigrants as drug smugglers and sole. His hands and face are weathered work’s greenhouses, the blue agave rapists. Collins has also seen that divide from working in the sun, and his voice is one of Francesca Claverie’s favor- deepen in recent years. “It’s hard to is rough with a slight drawl to it. Yet, ites. As she holds a cup of coffee, de- have a friendship with anybody as long Collins’ reality of ranching is much dif- spite the warm temperatures inside as you know the political leaders of ferent than what one would imagine. the greenhouse, Claverie, the Native our country are calling their population “You think of cowboys riding around Plant Program manager, leans over criminals, drug addicts, and rapists,” on their pretty horses alongside cattle, the agaves hanging in rows, beaming said Collins. “I’ve gotten to know them. the reality is we’re more plumbers with the proud look a mother would They’re not anything like the people than anything else. We worry about have when looking at her child. Gen- you hear described. Very family-orient- wells, windmills, pipelines, troughs, tly she points to a seed rising out of ed, mostly Catholics, gracious people.” ponds and springs.” He continued, “the a brown stock, dirt underneath her Weaver said that the harm done weather affects our personalities.” nails. “We planted these a couple to the borderlands had started long Water is one of the main things that weeks ago, you see it’s starting to before the current presidency. “The worries Collins - alongside everything raise the little seed out,” she said last four presidents have not left really Photo by David Suro that is supported by it: landscapes, with the seed still gently resting on A lesser long-nosed bat feeds on the positive marks on the border. So it’s species, life. her fingertip. “So that is so cute. I’m nectar of an agave plant flower. been a bipartisan effort to cause harm In 1998, Collins and his family ac- so happy that you’re coming up like from the Collectivo Sonora Silvestre, to the borderlands and maybe it hasn’t quired acreage at the Seibold Ranch, that. That’s really good.” work closely with Borderlands Resto- been intentional, but that certainly has which brought Arizona’s Red Rock Can- According to the U.S. Fish and ration Network. Being Sonora natives been the result,” he said . yon into their pastures. The Red Rock Wildlife Service, lesser long-nosed has allowed them to work closely These policies demonstrated to Canyon watershed, just east of bats are nectar feeders and important with the farmers. “We recognize that Weaver why the BECY program is Patagonia, held more than 51,000 pollinators for their nectar plants, bacanora is a big part of our culture so important. “It’s critical to have the acres and supported four cattle ranch- which include agaves, saguaro and we found it important to support it in future decision makers and future land es, but also a live stream that had the organ pipe cacti. The bats enable our conservation efforts,” said Ibarra. managers be from the border and have endangered Gila topminnow living in it. cross-pollination between plants, as The producers of bacanora have really kind of intrinsic and inherent un- Collins and other area ranchers pollen covers the bat’s face and neck been receptive to Ibarra and Cañedo’s derstandings of what it means to work came together to form the Canelo Hills when it feeds on the nectar. This in efforts, allowing them to help design in and be with the border at the same Coalition, a model of conservation turn leads to genetic diversity in the regulations for sustainability. When time,” he said. ranching based on the idea of main- agave plant, something that agave producers meet the necessary guide- People like future land manager taining land health, or the land’s innate farmers are lacking because they typ- lines, a seal of sustainability is added Jake Paun, one of Weaver’s former capacity to renew itself. They pushed ically harvest the agave stalks before to their product. students who participated in the for a shift in ranching practices such as it reproduces, or flowers, to create “Their love for bacanora really program as a high school student in moving cattle to prevent overgrazing, bacanora, a cousin of tequila. The helps them get involved and engage in 2015 and is now a youth facilitator for allowing the land to maintain itself. early harvesting means there’s a lack conservation efforts,” said Cañedo. the program. When Paun first entered Restoring watersheds is a daunting of pollen for bats, endangering both While the Borderlands Restoration the program, he wanted to become an task in a state like Arizona, where only the agave and bat species. Network and Collectivo Sonora Silves- optometrist. But since then, he’s begun 4 percent of its historically flowing Until 2015, the bats were listed as tre look for various ways to restore training to become an agriculture rivers and streams still flow. It’s tough- an endangered species until a group the borderlands, including by saving specialist for U.S. Customs and Border er still where those streams and rivers of scientists found a colony of bats species like the agave and the lesser Protection. Paun said his father also cross an international border, but it’s in a cave in Mexico, causing their long-nosed bat, they are concerned would like him to apply some of his a task both area ranchers and environ- status to be changed to threatened. about how the increased militarization restoration skills on the cattle ranch he mentalists are taking on. Although they were delisted, Claverie of the border will continue to threaten recently started. Caleb Weaver is on the front lines them. The lesser long-nosed bat feeds “A lot of our borderland restoration still thinks they’re at risk, especially of that effort as manager of a youth on and pollinates saguaros and the techniques that I have come to know now that the Trump administration program for Borderlands Restoration Organ Pipe cacti, and currently, through the BECY institute are things is slashing all kinds of environmental Network (BRN). BRN was founded border wall construction in Organ that I hope to carry over into this fami- laws. “Why would you take this off by ecologist Ron Pulliam in Southern Pipe National Monument is under- ly business,” said Paun. the endangered species list? Agaves Arizona, which Pulliam calls one of the way, with construction crews utilizing Paun, too, is concerned about the are becoming more and more rare. three most biodiverse regions in the explosives to clear a path for the wall. increasing militarization of the bor- They’re losing their food sources,” she United States. The wall is part of a 43 mile project on der. “I think that it’s a really difficult said. As manager of Borderlands Earth- national monument land. time where the borderlands region Borderlands Restoration Network Care Youth (BECY), Weaver teaches The border wall has the potential is at risk,” said Paun. “Whether it be works with agave farmers on both “culturally-diverse youth in the eco- to cut off wildlife corridors, affecting because of historical overgrazing, the sides of the border teaching them nomically-depressed region within 50 many migratory species. Removing loss of perennial flows or vibrational how to create genetic diversity by al- miles of the U.S.-Mexico border” about saguaros from the environment will patterns going through the wall. I don’t lowing a percentage of their agaves to landscape restoration and pays them have a detrimental effect on the think it came at a great time.” bloom. “So that’s kind of the goal with to restore the trans-national water- surrounding species. “It’s a mother Regardless of the current political this whole program is to plant a bunch sheds they call home. plant, it nourishes many other species climate, BECY will continue to help on this side of the border where we’re High school students in the pro- and when you remove it the natural young people reimagine the border not cutting them down like crazy,” gram work with conservation profes- balance will be damaged. There will and the land surrounding it. As for said Claverie. “The farmers are now sionals who teach them how to use be relations there that won’t exist any Sonoita rancher Collins, he’d like to letting some agaves flower for the rock, wood, and seeds to slow the longer,” said Ibarra. She continued, re-imagine the border as a simple bats and not just for the bats. I mean, flow of water across the landscape “the border is something we create, fence and “a little more compassion if they cut down all the agaves, then and ultimately “heal the perceived the land doesn’t recognize the bor- and cooperation” between the nations. they won’t have any more agaves.” divide between our deeply connected Lea Ibarra and Valeria Cañedo, der.” PAGE 6 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 ENVIRONMENT Butterflies and Diversity Journal Cont. from Page 1 says current butterfly populations have native plants by transporting pollen difficulty finding from one flower to another. With- their favorite plant, out pollinators, plants in North and milkweed, due to South America wouldn’t repopulate modern agricultural as successfully, according to Nabhan’s practices. Glyphosate, research. an herbicide often But monarch migration across used in Roundup for borders doesn’t just affect plants, it GMO crops in Iowa also touches the lives of humans. agriculture, kills Nabhan, a 68-year-old research milkweed. Milkweeds scientist at the University of Arizona, are essential food currently lives in Patagonia, which sources for monarch has a small butterfly garden on the caterpillars. They edge of the town park. The miniature contain poisonous garden has a small sidewalk with properties, which educational plaques and colorful combined with ceramic sculptures. Rainbow butterfly monarch body shapes line the benches inside the chemistry, make fenced area. A sign reading “monarch them taste bitter to waystation” marks the beginning of a predators. sidewalk flanking the park’s perimeter. Climate change also These signs record locations with has a hand in killing native milkweeds or plants that milkweed populations. support monarch populations on their With temperatures migratory journey. rising in the As a researcher focusing on food Southwest, moisture and water security at the borderlands, is squeezed from the Nabhan has a long history studying landscape. Droughts pollinator species. In the 1990s, are prolonged and Nabhan worked on the Forgotten inhibit massive blooms Contributed File Photo Pollinators Campaign at the Arizona- of milkweed, Nabhan A young volunteer holds up two monarch butterflies captured, tagged and released in Sonora Desert Museum to promote said. Arizona’s native Canelo several years ago. awareness of bee, butterfly, bat, dove milkweeds aren’t being and hummingbird relationships to wild thinned by pesticides, while they land on your head.” She Francesca Claverie, the Borderlands plant and crop health. “This is what they are weakened by climate change. worries the economy of the Reserve Restoration Native Plant Nursery we call one of the most important The third obstacle for the monarchs will weaken if tourists don’t visit due Manager in Patagonia, met Cañedo nectar corridors in continental North lies across the border in Mexico. The to the intense media coverage on when she came to visit the nursery. America,” he said about Southern lush forests in Mexico’s Monarch the murders. This would be a major Claverie gave her a tour of the warm Arizona. Butterfly Biosphere Reserve are setback for reserve conservationists greenhouses with rows of seedlings Nabhan said research into blanketed every winter with thousands working to convince the community native to specific biomes. Cañedo was pollinator migration shows there is of orange and black wings. A UNESCO that ecotourism is a viable economic immediately interested and invited a sequence of flowers from Central World heritage site, this reserve is option to logging and avocado farming. Claverie to present at her university. Mexico to California essential to a major attraction for ecotourism in Cañedo started the project They began a relationship across the monarchs. As recently as 20 years Michoacán state, with a habitat that Alianza Mariposa Monarca in 2016 border, sharing research and grant ago, most assumed monarchs didn’t provides ample nectar sources and with Sky Island Alliance, a nonprofit information for conservation work. pass through Arizona and went water for the monarchs. But some conservation organization based Today, Claverie, Cañedo, and directly to California from Mexico. would prefer to use this land in other in Tucson. Her project involved Nabhan are working together in However, nonprofit organizations ways. Conservationists, farmers, and fellow university students with the Patagonia on a project to identify like the Southwest Monarch Study loggers clash on the appropriate use of goal of educating the community and conserve the wild relatives of collected data by tagging monarchs in the reserve’s natural resources. about the monarch population in modern cultivated crops. They are Arizona, gaining substantial evidence Many of the illegal loggers are Sonora. Cañedo’s group educated working with wild agave, tepary beans that Arizona was a refuge for the connected to cartel groups. In early younger students and citizens on the and chiltepins, the wild relative of butterflies. February, the murders of two butterfly importance of migratory species, and American chile peppers. Gail Morris, the coordinator for conservationists went viral. Their enlisted young volunteers in the effort. Meanwhile, back in Patagonia’s the Southwest Monarch Study, said bodies were found in suspicious That initiative began a monitoring small butterfly garden, you can watch monarchs migrate through Patagonia circumstances but nobody has been program funded by a scholarship milkweed flowers bloom from spring in late March, when temperatures found guilty of the crimes. After the from the nonprofits Conservation to late summer. The white Arizona are mild and flowers begin blooming. media reported heavily on these two International and Nabhan’s Make Way milkweed flowers are a refuge for With spring in the air, the monarchs conservationists, employees at the for Monarchs. Cañedo could finally black-and-orange winged hitchhikers head north to find refuge from the reserve became worried about the collect data on the monarchs in Sonora catching a ride on weather patterns desert’s blistering heat. And while the effect on tourism, said biologist Valeria through monitoring. from Mexico. Patagonia’s unique Southwest Monarch Study illuminated Cañedo. “It was one of the happiest days of location gives conservationists an Arizona’s importance for monarch Cañedo, a biologist in Hermosillo, my life, I was out sick and I couldn’t opportunity to work across the border populations, recent studies have Sonora, displayed childlike excitement go to a field trip with my school so and collaborate on borderlands recorded major decreases in western when she talked about conservation I went to the store and saw five or conservation.“We have to solve these monarch populations. during a WhatsApp phone call. Cañedo six butterflies eating on nectar,” she problems together and one country Pesticides, climate change and excitedly described the first time she said, “I told someone to get a ladder can’t do it on their own,” Nabhan said. habitat loss are to blame. A study visited the Reserve: “It’s something so I could take a picture to show my published in the Insect Conservation magical. You can talk to the butterflies friends they’re here, I’m not crazy.”

PAGE 7 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 RANCHING A Cowgirl in the Business of Raising Calves By Briannon Wilfong As I pull up to the steps of rancher on tiptoe to give Sis a hug around her Chris Peterson’s home, four dogs come neck before placing the rope halter on. to greet me before I can even jump out She says good morning to eight of the truck. Peterson comes walking other horses, greeting every single out of the house with a big grin on her one as she walks past them. She heads face. It is a rainy February morning off through her land to check on her with clouds looming over the rolling, cattle. yellow hills of Patagonia. A week after my first visit, on a Peterson proudly shows me the sunny morning in Patagonia, Peterson bright, blooming daffodils sitting at her and I prepare to ride out to check the gate that she potted recently as the cows. Peterson gently lays a heavy, dogs roll and bark in the dewy grass of studded leather saddle onto Sis’s back. her front yard. She walks up the steps One of her dearest friends and Photo by Briannon Wilfong into her small adobe house, infused fellow rancher Sonny McCuistion gave Chris Peterson with her horse, Sis, on her ranch in Patagonia with the aroma of just-baked bread her that very sparkly studded saddle - and coffee. “a little more bling than I’m used to,” Arizona was new to them. They picked They work side by side, tackling every- Peterson and I sit down at a large she says - but she still uses it just be- it up with Larry working the numbers thing that the ranch throws at them. wooden table in her intricately dec- cause he gave it to her, she said with a and business side and Chris working “We’re going to keep ranching until we orated kitchen. Western art, cowboy heartfelt laugh. with the animals. can’t ranch anymore,” he said. paraphernalia and photos of family She mounts Sis and we head off to Peterson is in the business of Thor is also a silversmith, and has hang from the red-painted walls. find her herd with her dogs in tow, into raising calves, which she then takes to made custom spurs, bits and belt buck- Peterson walks over with a batch of the tall grass and rolling mountains. auction to be sold to other ranchers. les for his mom. When he is not ranch- homemade cinnamon rolls and offers “When I was young, I always want- She makes sure that her female cows ing, he is working in his silversmith coffee as her dogs rest at her feet. The ed to live on a ranch,” Peterson said. produce calves by having enough bulls shop, creating custom cowboy art like front door is open. We can hear the “I love animals. You know, as a little around so the cows get pregnant. She iron bridles, bits, spurs, and jewelry. light drizzle of rain coming down while girl you always dream; you sit on the owns about 22 head of cattle, one bull Something that makes Peterson the birds chirp. wooden fence and you look over all for every 10 cows - all Black Angus stand out as a rancher is her gentle- It’s an atypical day for Peterson. this open country.” cattle. ness toward her animals. When she Typically, the 61-year-old Peterson After years of nomadic living in var- She maintains her own ranch of distributes bales of hay to her cows, is awake as the sun barely starts to ious places, from Haiti to Wisconsin, about 200 deeded acres and works they walk right up to her and let her peak over the Patagonia Mountains, Peterson and her late husband Larry McCuistion’s cattle as well, routinely feed them straight from her hand. tugging on her boots at 5:30 a.m. to wanted a place to raise their three checking his cattle, gates, and waters. “Your animals tell you so much…I go check the cattle. She picks up her young kids. They had a list of require- “She’s a super good rancher and likes like to have my cattle know me on favorite cowboy hat, tussles her sandy ments, chief among them was a place cattle. She takes care of hers and takes foot, on the quad, in the truck and brown hair into it and steps out the where they could settle on a ranch. care of mine. So that works well,” 95 on the horse. I just like to have them front door, her four furry friends right They chose Patagonia because year-old McCuistion said. She goes know me from all angles,” Peterson behind her. Peterson recalled seeing the beautiful over to help herd his cattle and check said. “I have a problem that they’re Looking out over the dimly-lit land, landscape on an earlier trip, and decid- on the calves, and has dinner with him over-gentle,” she said. She said they she sets off walking toward her corral ed this is the place she wanted to be. every night to keep him company. don’t blink twice when she comes to retrieve her horse, Sis. As she comes They purchased the RedRock Ranch Getting a late start into the ranch- around on horse or on foot. That could up to her, Peterson greets her with a in 1997. Larry had some experience ing and cattle raising industry, only be a problem for others who get too smile, calling her pretty. with raising cattle while living in North having handled cattle since 2008, close. “Since I do most of the work, I’d Peterson,at 5’3” tall, has to stand Dakota, but raising cattle in Peterson has picked up a lot of knowl- rather have them over-gentle.” With a edge from other ranchers in the area. small herd, she knows each and every She feels the ranching community has one. accepted her. When Peterson comes upon some While Peterson does most of the cows shuffling through the creek wa- work herself, she does have help. Her ter, her dogs run over to them to herd son, Thor, 30, has ridden and been them. The cows start mooing in dis- around horses since he was two. He agreement at being moved by Zorrita, helps his mom out with daily ranch one of Peterson’s two heelers. duties like branding the cattle, cas- Peterson checks their protein bar- trating the bulls, fixing fencing and rels, water, and where the cattle are putting out salt licks and hay for the moving to and from. She also checks animals. When it is time to castrate or the animals and listens to hear if any brand the cattle, Thor and Peterson are bawling, As she passes her cows, herd them on horseback through the she greets them as if they were hu- hills and along the ridge, down into mans. “Hello girls,” she said. either their corrals at RedRock or to At the end of the day, as Peterson McCuistion’s ranch, where there are came back up the creek towards her specially-made corrals used for brand- house through the tall, yellow grass, ing and cutting designed by McCuistion she hopped off Sis and led her back to himself. “Working with my mom, it’s her corral, hugging her once more as Photo by Briannon Wilfong like working with a friend,” Thor said. her dogs trailed behind her. Peterson’s herd is known for being friendly. They walk right up to her and “Doesn’t get much better than that.” let her feed them straight from her hand. PAGE 8 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 SPORTS

A Historic Year for PUHS Boys’ Basketball By Aiya Cancio The ball was in the air when the final buzzer rang. Fans in The Gregory School’s gym in Tucson watched with hope or dread, as the basketball hit the backboard. One player from the home team collapsed onto the court in defeat, as his teammates dropped their heads with dejection. The visiting players from Patagonia Union High School ran into the stands to celebrate with family and friends. They had just upset The Gregory School Hawks on their homecourt to keep the season alive. For the first time in four years, Patagonia Union High School had advanced past the first round of the State playoffs to become part of the ‘Elite 8’ in the 1A conference for the state of Arizona, a feat that head coach Nate Porter called “potentially the best season in Patagonia Union High School boys’ history.” PUHS and The Gregory School are in the same Arizona 1A South league, so they play each other often. The Lobos had matched up against the Hawks Contributed Photo The Patagonia Union High School basketball team at the 1A Conference playoffs. twice this season already - losing by 4 points in December, and then winning performance of the season, and proba- pionships. While that may not mean and black to support their favorite bas- by 7 points in a February game. bly of the last four years, too. anything for the actual game itself, it ketball team. The Lobos fought hard, The first win against the Hawks, Anna Coleman, the director of the does mean something when Patagonia but they lost a brutal game that con- however, was played without se- Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center, fans show up to away games in larg- sisted of turnovers and missed shots to nior guard Josiah Prior, The Gregory and known around town for her en- er numbers than one might expect, the eventual 1A state champions. After School’s captain and star. The upset couragement of Patagonia’s younger despite the fact that they come from a the game, the players gathered to take win on Feb. 15 further intensified the generations, knew right away what this town with a population of less than a a photo at center court, commemorat- rivalry between the two schools. win meant for the community. thousand. ing a season that would not soon be In order to be a part of history, “This is history,” she said, explaining “I’m humbled to have all these peo- forgotten. Patagonia had to pull off the biggest why showing support for high school ple that love us and are crazy about It’s no surprise that this team treats upset of their season and fight their sports in Patagonia is something she us,” said sophomore Santiny Aguilar, each other like family, considering a way to a win in a drama-filled game loves to do. “Going to these sporting the star of the Feb. 15 game. “It means number of the players are brothers against a team they had never beat- events and sup- so much to me.” or have other family relations. Junior en prior to this year. Going into the porting the school “I’m humbled to While perhaps Julian Vasquez, and senior Sebastian playoffs, the Patagonia Lobos were a shows [the play- The Gregory School Vasquez, are brothers. Sophomore No. 13 seed, while The Gregory School ers] that they’re have all these people fans and players Santiny Aguilar and senior Isaiah Ruiz Hawks were a No. 4 seed. It was the important,” she that love us and are might have been are brothers, and Santiny Aguilar and kind of game that every sports fan said. crazy about us,” said surprised by junior Lalo Aguilar are cousins. Junior loves to watch, and every athlete For most of sophomore Santiny Patagonia’s crowd Alex Santos’ brother, Jose, is the stu- wants to win. the players on turnout, Patagonians dent assistant coach. With only a minute and 30 seconds Aguilar, the star of the team, they the Feb. 15 game. “It are used to cheering Though this is unusual for most left to play in the game, The Gregory have been going on their home team high school sports teams, the kids School led 53-50. Hawks captain Josiah to Coleman’s means so much to me.” in big games. “We in Patagonia have grown up playing Prior began taunting Lobos fans, wav- youth center always travel in a basketball at the park together, so it’s ing them goodbye as Patagonia fans’ since they were pack,” Russell only natural that a number of them hopes of victory began to slip. in middle school. “They may not be my Sherman said after the game. compete together for their school. But then the magic happened. On biological kids but we spend so many When PUHS fans travel to away Despite losing their graduating Patagonia’s final possession, the ball hours together,” Coleman said. “That’s games, the visitor’s bleachers can get seniors, the Lobos will bring back their wound up in senior Russell Sherman’s just how I was raised; family supports so loud that they sometimes over- young core talent next season. The fu- hands. He made a game-winning layup family.” power the rest of the noise in the ture is brighter than ever in Patagonia with 3.2 seconds on the clock. The Patagonia’s high school sports gym. At halftime, everyone hugs and after Lalo Aguilar and Julian Vasquez Patagonia fans went crazy. scene, though small, is taken very seri- greets each other. During moments earned second team region awards “If you guys win this game, you ously by the community. Being a part like these, the closeness of Patagonia’s and Santiny Aguilar made honorable can’t rush the court,” one fan said to of Arizona’s Interscholastic Association community is revealed. mention. Coach Porter was awarded the eager Patagonia crowd. The Hawks (AIA) 1A conference means that The same thing happened at the “Coach of the Year” in his very first ran their out of bounds play from un- Patagonia falls under the category of next game, when Patagonia took on season with the Lobos. der their own basket. The team’s only one of the smallest high schools in the the Fort Thomas Apaches at Findlay This season may be over, but the chance to win this game now all came state. With a student enrollment that Toyota Center in Prescott on Feb. 20. people of Patagonia are already excit- down to a miracle shot by Josiah Prior, hovers around 100, Patagonia Union While at a much bigger venue than ed for the next one. And one thing is who heaved the ball near midcourt. It High School was a third of the size of they were used to, and despite the clear: Patagonians love their basket- bounced off the backboard. almost every other team they were 273-mile journey, Patagonians still ball. It was undoubtedly Patagonia’s best competing against in the State Cham- packed the place, decked in orange PAGE 9 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 BUSINESS Elgin and Sonoita: High Desert, Fine Wine By Seth Markowski An hour southeast of Tucson, the communities of Elgin and Sonoita sit at more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Rolling hills covered in golden grasses slowly transition into towering mountains. Roaming cattle dot the hills. This area of high desert – with unreliable rainfall, tough soil, and scorching summer temperatures – may at first glance seem ill-fit to provide a suitable environment for any type of crop. But, this is wine country. Elgin and Sonoita, which have a combined population of 979 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, are home to 17 wineries registered with the Arizona Department of Liquor. Vineyards have shown up in the area since the 1970s, but winemakers still struggle to meet government regulations and face environmental challenges. Additionally, the coronavirus has caused a significant loss of earnings this year. Southern Arizona’s modern wine industry was created in large part thanks to Dr. Gordon Dutt, a researcher from the University of Arizona. Dutt established Arizona’s Photo Credit Jo Dean first modern commercial vineyard in Winery hosts prepare to greet visitors behind a display of award winning wines at Callaghan Vineyards in Elgin. 1979, and co-authored an extensive study in 1980 detailing the winemaking Southern Arizona “had never owned the industry outside of the state. certifying quality Arizona wines is potential of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, a winery before or been a full-time However, national recognition the best way to gain the trust of and New Mexico - commonly referred professional employed by a winery and praise for wineries like Callaghan consumers. The Bostocks are founding to as The Four Corners Report. or vineyard,” Berg said. Almost all of Vineyards and Dos Cabezas members of The Arizona Vignerons According to Erik Berg, an Arizona them, he adds, were hobbyists who WineWorks from critics such as Robert Alliance, a local group developing wine industry historian, the report’s were just getting into winemaking for Parker Jr., helped bolster both the quality standards and a certification publication and the publicity around the first time. exposure and prestige of wineries in process to build more trust for wines Dutt’s winery helped spark Southern Though good wines were being Southern Arizona in the 1990s. Today, with the Alliance’s seal of approval. Arizona’s wine industry. made from the beginning, the wines wineries across the state are receiving The issue is, however, that not all the Another development that helped produced from the region lacked awards and positive reviews, further wines submitted for the Alliance’s the growth of the industry was the consistent quality, Berg said. improving the visibility of Arizona seal will be of high enough quality to passage of the Domestic Farm Winery The financial difficulty of starting wine. receive the certification. Bill by Arizona legislature in 1982. a winery, in addition to inexperience, But, even with this recognition, “How do you convince your peers When passed, the bill allowed in-state the general lack of effective marketing Southern Arizona wine growers still to submit their wines for this approval wineries to produce 75,000 gallons and multiple occurrences of Pierce’s have difficulty gaining interest outside process, knowing that some of their of wine per year and sell directly to disease, a bacterium that destroys the Southwest and proving their wines’ wines just aren’t good enough to be consumers. wine grapes, caused many wineries to quality and legitimacy to the national certified?” Bostock wondered aloud. “It was absolutely essential in order close in Southern Arizona. wine industry. Regional winemakers have plenty for the industry to become viable,” “The majority of the vineyards and Kelly and Todd Bostock, the of things to worry about: new county Berg said. But, even with the passage wineries that started between 1980s owners of Dos Cabezas WineWorks, health codes, a dropping water table, of the bill, the growth of the Southern and the late 1990s didn’t really make were travelling out-of-state shortly wildfires and the proposed mining Arizona wine industry has been slow it,” Berg said. “They fizzled out, usually after being named one of 10 “Rising activity. Recently, all the issues are and full of obstacles. after a few years.” Star Vintners” by the San Francisco overshadowed by the COVID-19 “One of the biggest challenges – The wineries that did survive were Chronicle in 2015. They stopped at a pandemic. and it’s still true to this day - was from originally limited by a 75,000-gallon- local wine store in New York to see Tasting rooms, which provide a financial standpoint. If you wanted to per-year state production cap, set by what they carried and to pick up a much-needed income for the wineries, start a vineyard, you had to buy large the Arizona Farm Winery Bill. bottle. The store had a shelf dedicated are closed. “March, April, and May pieces of land, put in all your irrigation, Currently, the cap is 40,000 gallons to the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Rising are [the wineries’] heaviest season for and then you plant your vines,” Berg and wineries may only produce half Star Vintners,” but the Bostocks could selling and having tastings,” said Kat said. “Then, you have three to four of that limit to retain self-distribution not find any bottles from their winery Crockett, a local grape grower. “That’s years before you have any real harvest rights, according to the Arizona on the shelf. when they bank money and put it into you can do anything with. All the Department of Liquor website. “It’s almost like they saw Arizona, reserve for harvest time, when it’s while, you took out these great big With some wineries choosing to and said ‘Arizona? That must be a time to pay for the grapes. And they’ve loans with no way to pay them.” stay within the self-distribution limit, fluke,’” Todd Bostock said. “It was been shut down for almost that entire Additionally, most of the early there is less Arizona wine on the really frustrating.” period. So now, they’re saying ‘how winery and vineyard owners in market, which means less exposure for For Bostock, distinguishing and are we going to pay for the grapes?’”

PAGE 10 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 OPINION & COMMENT Nine days later, I don’t really know what has changed. But at least my mom What I Learned During the Pandemic sleeps through the night. That moment feels like months ago. couldn’t believe were true, things that Some mornings I will drive around At first, my new routine went like the rest of my family had worked so town for an hour before ending up back this: Wake up, think about what’s hard to hide from me. He walked into in my parent’s driveway. I’ll drive by my happening in the world, stress, worry, every room in the house, checking to high school’s marquee that reads that maybe take a break from thinking, see what my mom had moved around, the school is closed for the semester. I’ll stressing, and worrying and do other blowing out the candles she had lit drive by my middle school that displays stuff, read doomsday articles and cry along the way. the same message. I had forgotten the myself to sleep. For two weeks my mom slept rest of the world was struggling too. That same whirlwind week ended maybe two hours a night. She went to Through all of this, I have learned with my dad telling me and my brother, sleep very early and woke up at 10 or of my mother’s mental illness as she Zak, on the day after my mom’s 11 p.m. to start cleaning for the day. rediscovered past traumas, I have lost birthday, that she wasn’t acting how She scrubbed her hands so much they By Aiya Cancio touch with people I used to see daily, I she usually did. Apparently the last time cracked and bled. I wake up every morning. I open my saw my grandmother turn 92 the day my mom was like “this,” my dad said, I In lockdown, spending most of windows and I go outside. I see how after she fell and EMTs were called to was around ten years old; my brother my time at home, my routine quickly beautiful everything is around me. her house. was eight. The time before that, I was changed to revolve around her. Keeping Every day. Still, I wake up every morning, maybe five. up with the rapidly changing world was In the beginning, I cried a lot. During open my windows, go outside, and The next morning, I woke up to a not important. a whirlwind week, I spent Spring Break take a walk. I try to see how beautiful missed call and a message from my On the nights my dad was at work, in Vegas, packed up my entire life in everything is and try not to be sad. grandmother saying that my mom my brother and I took turns staying Tucson, and reunited with my family. Yet I am. Obviously. Inevitably. I am had had some sort of “breakdown” up with her until he got home. On I feel like most of us can pinpoint sad every day for all that we are losing. the night before. I drove to my the worst night, my mom came into the moment we realized everything Strangely, though, I have also never grandmother’s house and opened the the living room and told the two of us was really real. For me, it was when been so hopeful. I feel hope when I see front door to the smell of what I later stories about her dad and her brother I got the news notification that NBA my neighbors walking the same path I found out to be tons of candles she had and things I couldn’t believe were even player Rudy Gobert had tested positive just walked. I feel hope when my mom lit overnight. possible. We all cried; eventually, she for COVID-19 on March 11th. Shortly just smiles or my grandmother answers My grandmother said my mom had went to sleep. Zak and I went to the after, the NBA season was suspended. the phone when I call. spent the entire night at her house, guest house and sat on the floor to cry My mom texted me to come home. Maybe I am so hopeful because I am rearranging books, hanging artwork, some more. The next morning, amidst what seemed trying so hard to look for good stuff. I organizing silverware and wine bottles, A week ago I was calling my dad at like breaking news every other minute, go on drives with my mom where she and taking breaks periodically to check his work at the Pima County Sheriff’s I drove seven straight hours from Las will pull over every once in a while and on my grandmother and see if she was Department at 2 a.m., asking him Vegas back to Tucson. I crammed my take a picture of the clouds, sunset, still alive. what I should do because Mom was car with all of my belongings, said mountains, trees, anything. She talks Soon after she told me this, my suddenly up for the day, showered, goodbye to everyone I saw regularly, about how plants and trees and cacti dad came over to trade stories with dressed, and ready to drive over to my and moved into my parents’ guest look especially balanced and centered my grandmother I had never heard grandmother’s house. He told me to house. now. I try to notice too. before, stories about my mom that I take her car keys and take mine as well. from thousands of others who have The Emails that Changed my Senior Year worked just as much, if not more. where I make a cup of coffee and walk paper. My mind couldn’t comprehend On one hand, I have friends and back to my room. I open up my laptop what was happening as I scrolled family expressing their sympathy to get started on the countless things I through Twitter and saw the world go for how it all played out. On the have to do. up in flames. other, I hear people saying “It’s just The small, but present motivation I A few days later, another a graduation. You should be grateful had coming into my senior year at the email from the university titled you’re healthy and safe.” And I agree. I University of Arizona has completely “Commencement Update” lit up am healthy, I have a roof over my head vanished. What kept me going was my phone. I hesitantly opened it and I’m safe. But my pain is not solely knowing that graduation in May would to read what I had been expecting, rooted in the fact that I won’t have come and all the hard work would be but certainly not wanting. “I am so a graduation ceremony. It has never paid off. Now, I can’t say that is the sorry to have to announce yet one been about photos, celebrations, or By Vianney Cardenas case. more difficult but necessary decision ceremonies. It’s way deeper than that: A few weeks ago, I received emails it’s about finally being proud of myself Every day, around 6:19 a.m., I am regarding the most important from the university regarding how this for accomplishing a goal and hearing woken up by the sound of a jump event we have on campus all year, pandemic would change the course of someone say they’re proud of me, too. rope whipping the wooden floor of my Commencement,” the university things. One of the emails was asking It’s about believing in myself and being home. My brother is jumping away in president wrote. With this simple me to not return to campus, a place seen for my accomplishments. the living room as if no one is around, sentence, everything that I had been that I had given countless hours to, As I sit here trapped in these four or much less, asleep. I take a big working towards became something I a place that I found comfort in, no white walls, I can’t help but feel an sigh and bury my head in my pillow, would never get to experience. Amidst matter how much stress it brought immense sadness overcome me. I something that I’ve found myself doing all the chaos surrounding me, this me. I left the campus and my classes realize that I can’t rely on my family, much of in the past few weeks. I lay has been one of the hardest pills to that I have come to love on March 6, on others or on a ceremony to be there, stare at my blank white walls swallow. not knowing that I wouldn’t be able to proud of myself. I need to find that and sigh some more. “Another day of I am normally not one to ‘celebrate’ return again. How could I have known? all on my own. Who knows, maybe quarantine,” I think to myself. myself or attract attention in any How could anyone have known? that breakthrough will occur during It’s important to keep a daily form. I’d rather keep to myself in any Sure, we had heard of the virus this period of isolation or maybe it routine, even in the midst of these and all situations. However, there that was sweeping the world by storm will occur when I’m older, if I’m lucky unprecedented times. I try to do the was something about graduation before then, but not to this extreme. enough to continue getting to know same thing every day: I get up from in May that led me to be okay with When least expected, classes moved the world. But I know one day it will my cozy bed, brush my teeth, shower, celebrating and bringing attention to online, grocery stores were raided come. For now, I will continue to stay throw on some comfortable clothes the work I’ve done. Now, not only has and people were fighting over toilet it been taken away from me but also home and continue to be woken up by and socks. I walk over to the kitchen, that annoying jump rope. PAGE 11 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 LOCAL HISTORY Smuggling in Santa Cruz is Nothing New By Conor Villines On February 27, an unfinished United States. violent. On July 25, 1926, popular accused of smuggling the drugs. Just tunnel for smuggling drugs connecting The June 8 edition of the Daily Border Patrol inspector Lon Parker under 130 tunnels have been found in Santa Cruz County to the Mexican Morning Oasis reported at least two was tracking liquor smugglers in Santa Cruz County since 1990. state of Sonora was discovered by new smuggling stories on the same eastern Santa Cruz County. Later that “While our checkpoint near American and Mexican Border Patrol day. The paper’s front page detailed day, the Wills family found Parker Sonoita and Patagonia isn’t as busy personnel. The secret underground “one of the most sensational [trial dying from a gunshot wound on as Nogales,” agent Vasavilbaso said, tunnel began inside a drainage system cases] ever known in this region” their ranch. Nogales’ Border Vidette referring to the border checkpoint under Nogales, Sonora and ended in which four U.S. Customs officials newspaper speculated that he had along state route 83, “it is a huge inside its American sister city. accused two Americans and two been ambushed by smugglers. Nearby deterrence to smuggling in that It is one of many border tunnels Mexicans of a “conspiracy to smuggle the bodies of a smuggler and his horse, community.” found in recent years, but smuggling is opium and cocaine into the United with “a heap of discharged [bullet] Drug-running organizations not a recent phenomenon. A little over States.” cartridges at hand and a large quantity have found it lucrative to smuggle a century ago, evidence shows that It was alleged that 17-year-old [20 gallons] of contraband liquor,” lay both drugs and undocumented Santa Cruz County had a smuggling Robert Encinas had driven a car on the ground. migrants. “The checkpoint along problem, too. The Nogales Daily packed with a can of cocaine and 50 A disturbingly similar event Interstate 19 gets stuff all the Morning Oasis’s February 13, 1918 cans of opium from the Sonoran side connects those frontier Arizona days time,” said Vasavilbaso. In addition edition reported a “large quantity of Nogales into the American side. to our own. In 2010 a Border Patrol to apprehending over 63,000 of opium for smoking” - 76 tin cans- American customs officials said they unit encountered and attempted to undocumented migrants in fiscal year worth - discovered during a stakeout “knew the contraband was coming in apprehend five men connected to 2019, agents interdicted more than by American Customs officials months that car, and let it pass [through the smuggling within Santa Cruz County. 60,000 pounds of narcotics. earlier and eventually turned over to border] for the purpose of catching the The suspects were part of a “rip crew,” A century ago, border bandits U.S. Army medical personnel. accused parties with the goods.” The which stole from rival drug and human aimed to supply contraband to Cesario Fernandez, who lived American defendants said that they, traffickers in remote areas. Border American markets and use the in Arizona, was accused and sent Encinas and a Mexican border guard agent Brian Terry was fatally wounded profits to recover from the violence to trial in Tucson. According to the were asked by the customs officials to when the groups exchanged gunfire. of Pancho Villa and the Mexican newspaper, Customs inspectors were smuggle and sell the drugs so that the Border Patrol Agent Jesus Revolution. Today, Santa Cruz County aware of the substance stash for a officials could learn who was buying Vasavilbaso says illegal smuggling borderlands are still a gateway for week before Fernandez ordered it drugs in Arizona. The cans of “drugs” remains widespread after a century smuggled contraband, part of a long delivered to him. Each tin can full of were found to hold nothing more than of crackdowns. In December 2019, story of people and goods crossing opium was worth $40 of gold, and the molasses and manufacturing salt. another international tunnel was unregulated through Santa Cruz Nogales Daily Morning Oasis reported Just as they do today along the identified in Nogales, along with 200 County communities. it was worth double once sold in the border, encounters sometimes turned pounds of narcotics and two men New Life for Historic Buildings By Ray Diaz Each former classroom now displays in renovations. Classrooms that used to be full of what made the town of Patagonia “We do have a students are now filled with artifacts unique: The “Ranching Heritage” room volunteer list; I have that depict the history of Patagonia. showcases old leather cowboy boots counted it, it’s easily The Patagonia Museum is one of and saddles used by nearby ranchers. over 100, maybe several restored historic buildings that The “Centennial Celebration” room reaching 200 people now serve a different purpose with honors the town’s centennial in 1998. that have come hopes that they will continue to teach The “Journey Stories” room holds out,” Quiroga said. visitors the value of preserving the old school supplies like individual Patagonia reuses town’s history. chalkboards, rusted metal compasses a lot of its buildings. The building, known as “Old Main,” and dictionaries with cracked spines. A former meat was a school from 1914 until May Most of the artifacts have been market is now 2014. It reopened as a museum in donated, according to Quiroga. “It a Seventh-day Contributed Photo 2016. The school was originally a brick gives our community a sense of place Old Main has been re-purposed from a schoolhouse to Adventist Church. a museum of local history. building but was stuccoed over in and something to remember so we The old railroad the 1950s. It was painted white with don’t forget what it was like,” He said. depot is now useful. “Through donations and a lot maroon shutters that match the color “Anything we can do to promote our Patagonia Town Hall. Patagonia of advocacy they were able to save the of the Spanish tile roof. history, spreading the word about Lumber Company is now a pilates library,” Library Director Laura Wenzel German Quiroga, president of the our history and appreciation and studio. said. Wenzel said that the restoration Patagonia Museum, says that visitors awareness of our history.” Another re-purposed building is process has been an ongoing project are pleased to see it being maintained, The Patagonia Museum was Cady Hall, which opened as a hotel in over the years. It needed much more especially those who grew up in the the second historic school building 1901 and now serves as the Patagonia than just basic building restoration. region and went to school there. in eastern Santa Cruz County that Public Library. The establishment used The foyer, one of the bathrooms, “People come to be inside the Quiroga helped restore. His first to host guests for a night’s stay, but and the kitchen had to be completely building where they went to school or project began in 2009, when he found now it hosts interested minds, offering rebuilt. their mom and dad went to school,” out that the Lochiel Schoolhouse was them books and digital items to read, “I do think it is important for people Quiroga said. “I don’t know what it is in disrepair and had been vandalized. as well as opportunities to learn more to still be able to access and use these about it, but people enjoy it. They are Before the renovations, the about the local history. amazing feats of architecture,” Wenzel happy to see it kept up and kept in schoolhouse had shattered windows According to the Patagonia Public said. Preservation is important to place.” and even bullet holes in the walls. Library website, it’s restoration Patagonians, she noted. “You have to As you walk around the museum, Most of the work done on the began in 1990 when the Cady Hall listen to what the community wants old brown wooden planks squeak with Lochiel Schoolhouse was completed by Restoration committee raised and the community wants these each step. Large LED lights hang from local volunteers, though people from $250,000 in donations and grants and buildings to be preserved and taken the ceiling to brighten the rooms. as far away as Wisconsin participated used them to help the Hall remain care of for as long as possible,” She said. PAGE 12 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 BORDER PATROL off your BP hat, put on your EMT hat, Border Patrol and we have to interchange them all Cont. from Page 1 Technology on the Border the time.” By Vianney Cardenas that can pick up clear features in order The duality can complicate some backup,” he said. “If we didn’t have to identify a subject; others are used for community members’ opinions of anyone in the area, we didn’t have Despite the ups, downs and sharp radar surveillance, and others are mo- the agency; even those who oppose anyone to send. Now that we have turns, Arizona 83 between Interstate-10 bile camera towers that can be placed Border Patrol’s ideology or actions the manpower, we have guys that and Sonoita is a unique and enjoyable in the back of a Border Patrol truck and may still find themselves thankful for are available all the time.” ride. Flat desert terrain gives way to roll- stationed in areas where there is an their help. Bartine distinguishes the At any given time of the day or ing hills studded with trees, brush and influx of traffic or activity. two roles: there is BP’s primary mis- night, 20 to 30 agents will be on shift grasses along the scenic highway. When the sensors detect any move- sion, border enforcement, and then - some patrolling the highway, some Also present are the Border Patrol ment from something or someone there is helping the community. posted throughout the mountains. vehicles that begin to appear where nearby, they immediately alert Border “We have plenty of people that “Border Patrol has so many agents, a tent and bright orange traffic cones Patrol dispatch agents.“Dispatch ana- don’t agree with the primary mission they’re basically everywhere,” said mark the Sonoita U.S. Customs and lyzes what caused the camera to go off for sure, but when we beat Patago- Fire Chief DeWolf. “They’re first on Border Patrol checkpoint. and if appropriate, sends an agent to nia Fire Department to a house fire in scene and can size up what we’re There are approximately 11 border investigate,” Curran said. “The Border Patagonia, it’s hard to disagree with getting into.” checkpoints in the Tucson sector, which Patrol wants the right response to the us being out there,” he said. These border patrol agents also covers 262 miles of the southwest right incursion. The ability to see what is The help isn’t entirely selfless: come with an intimate familiari- border and remains one of the busiest on camera in real time can best help us the new 2020 Border Patrol strategy ty of the many rugged back roads in the region. They are used by Border do that.” emphasized community involvement, surrounding Elgin, Patagonia and Patrol to deter migrants and smuggling This technology has also helped alert according to Bartine. “I think the Sonoita, knowledge critical for local activities that have made it to the agents to assist migrants in distress, Border Patrol realized the need for emergency response. United States. according to Curran. Migrants travel- the community to be involved and “We run around this country all Additionally, there are nine Border ing north come from many countries as supportive as they will be with the time so we know a lot of the Patrol stations located in Casa Grande, around the world: El Salvador, the mission,” he said. “Us helping in roads, we know where most of the Tucson, Nogales, Why, Willcox, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, any way with the community is a big fence lines are,” said Bartine. “We Sonoita, Bisbee, Douglas, and Three Venezuela, Cuba, and Russia, to name bonus.” can get the fire department into Points, where agents monitor the activi- a few. Sometimes, they run into trouble Border Patrol counts on ranchers where they need to be and start ty occurring in the field, according to the on the way. “I have also seen many oc- and other community members to evacuating people left and right.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection. casions in which migrants who are lost, alert agents of illegal border activ- Sue Archibald, a Sonoita resident The small Sonoita checkpoint is start small fires which are detected by ity. Increased cooperation can also whose neighborhood was evacuated approximately 25 miles north of the Border Patrol technology,” Curran said. mean a decrease in headaches. Local for the 2017 Encino fire, remembers U.S.-Mexico border fence in Nogales. Migrants may start small fires in the agents still encounter their share of how Border Patrol, “jumped right in Many Border Patrol agents don’t see the desert to alert anyone nearby that they hostility, particularly at the and made themselves available how- fence as the most important asset for are present and in need of help. Border Patrol checkpoint just north ever they could,” as the fire raged detecting and apprehending migrants. Border Patrol also leaves rescue bea- of Sonoita. through the community. “We utilize the fence as a tool, we know cons out on the ground which migrants But in Sonoita, unlike in Naco In a region of grasslands that people can jump over it, we know peo- can activate when they are in distress. where he was formerly stationed, Bartine refers to as “one big tinder ple can dig underneath it,” said Border “When activated, Border Patrol agents Bartine said he doesn’t mind the box,” extra hands are regularly need- Patrol agent Daniel Hernandez. “A lot of provide a swift and definitive response community knowing he’s a Border ed. DeWolf said his fire department people think Border Patrol relies on the to the migrants in need of help,” Curran Patrol agent. He lives there, his gets approximately 600 calls annu- fence to keep somebody in or out. We added. children go to school there, and he’s ally; Border Patrol agents act as first don’t. We utilize it to buy us time.” There is always a small chance that a familiar face to most. It’s what responders for around 50% of them. To Border Patrol agents, border the enforcement technology can fail Archibald refers to as a ‘rural rela- The other 50% DeWolf described as enforcement technology is a main or make false detections, according to tionship.’ minor calls, not requiring additional factor in making apprehensions. Camera Curran. A report from the Government When the U.S. government shut support. towers, scanners, ground sensors and Accountability Office (GAO) released in down in 2018, and the Border Patrol Some situations are routine: on radar systems, first implemented in the March 2018 shows that Border Patrol agents stopped being paid, some lo- average, local Border Patrol agents 1980s and 1980s, might be the biggest “has not yet used available data to de- cal community members stepped in rescue at least five hikers per year, and most successful tools ever used by termine the contribution of surveillance to help. “A lot of us took collections, respond to one car crash per week, the Border Patrol, according to the U.S. technologies to border security efforts.” bought gas cards and handed them pull tourists’ vehicles out of muddy Customs and Border Protection. The Secure Border Initiative out to our agents,” said Archibald. ditches every monsoon season, and In the past, Border Patrol agents Network (SBInet), a 2006 program to “They’re people we depend on, we change countless tires, according to were sent out to hilltops with a set of install cameras, scanners and towers try to help them.” Bartine. binoculars to look for migrant activity. along the border, failed after the GAO But the dependency on border Other situations, such as domes- Now, the technology being used can do reported several technical problems patrol comes with no guarantees. If a tic abuse calls, are less common. the same work as an agent, if not more, Cameras weren’t picking up clear im- border wall replaces the current ve- “There’s a lot of stuff we’re not according to Hernandez. With just the ages, sensors and radars were making hicle barriers, the local agents’ shifts trained for,” said Bartine, “but we camera towers alone, there are around false detections and the environment will likely change. have to deal with it anyways.” 20 different angles that can pick up didn’t allow for the products to work Instead of patrolling the entire re- Though Border Patrol legally can’t movement within a six mile radius. successfully. Approximately $1 billion gion, Bartine anticipates that agents enforce non-federal laws, such as Ground sensors have been used for went into this program, according to a would have to lock into positions at speeding, drug use, or theft, they can many years, but Border Patrol is cur- May 2011 report. intervals along the wall’s length—a still contain situations while waiting rently phasing them out and integrating Border enforcement technology has strategy commonly used along for local law-enforcement to arrive more camera-based technology, said improved over the years, with better already walled portions of the bor- - typically a wait of at least an hour. Joseph Curran, a Border Patrol agent of quality hardware and software, and the der. With this significantly reduced The rapid response time can prevent the Tucson Sector Strategic Communica- agency has hired agents who are expe- mobility, local Border Patrol would a critical injury from becoming fatal. tion Branch. rienced with the technology being used. likely lose their capacity to respond In this alternate role, local agents There are several different types of “The only negative I would consider is to community emergencies. contort their identity as border en- camera towers, some of which are used the possibility that technology can fail,” For now, Sonoita Station agents forcers. “We kind of have to put on in urban areas and some in rural, rug- Curran said. “Although unlikely, there is are free to roam, and free to act as a different hat,” said Bartine. “Take ged, isolated areas. Some of the camera always the possibility.” first responders. towers carry high definition cameras PAGE 13 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 FAITH Harvest Christian Church Attracting New Followers By Pei-Yu Lin a Christ-centered homeschool ministry, called “Harvest Homeschooler,” where Gardenia Moffett walked onto the raised young families gather once a week platform covered in gray carpet at Harvest Christian in the church to provide classes and Fellowship in Sonoita on the last Sunday in February. activities for the children. Most of the She took the microphone and welcomed the time, the parents take turns teaching congregation. Sophia Bergh, 17, the training leader the group. However, homeschool for youth in the church, stood beside her. Recorded service has been suspended since mid music started playing and they began to sing. “I March because of the COVID-19 virus. raise a Hallelujah. Our weapon is a melody,” as the Face-to-face Sunday worship is also on congregation joined in. Some of the 26 congregants hold, although the church did hold a stood up and swayed their bodies with a light modified Easter service. rhythm. “Many of these families don’t attend Tom Moffett was just off stage, looking at his wife Harvest. They attend elsewhere, but and singing along. The Moffetts are senior pastors at Photo by Pei-Yu Lin they come here for the homeschool the Harvest Christian Fellowship, one of six Christian Gardenia Moffett, a senior pastor at the Harvest Christian co-op, which is pretty exciting,” Fellowship in Sonoita, leads the fellowship in song at Sunday churches in the Sonoita area. Since they came to Gardenia said. worship on Feb. 23, 2020. serve in Sonoita in August 2018, they have tried out “We are not specifically marketing new ways to attract churchgoers. “It’s [the Youtube Channel] been very positive,” or trying to attract a certain age group,” Gardenia Young generation in the church Tom said. “We use social media to let people know said. The congregation has grown slightly and gotten and we interact that way.” She said young families have been drawn to younger since the Moffets arrived. More young The Moffetts also pray with the fellowship Harvest Christian Church because of the “radical people and families with children have started to through phone calls and continue to do Bible studies grace” they find there. “We are a grace-oriented come to the church, Tom Moffett said. via Zoom. Kingdom community that accepts and loves people “It was probably about 30 [at the beginning], but The church is still assisting Borderlands Produce exactly where they are. This is who we are,” what happens is people leave and people come. So, Rescue, a non-profit organization which rescues Gardenia said. we’re kind of reaching a new demographic of people, fresh produce in Santa Cruz County, to host food Cultivating public speaking skills a little bit younger demographic in a small church,” distribution service “Produce on Wheels.” After singing a few songs, Gardenia welcomed he explained. Tom estimated that the congregation “This region is a food desert. If you’re not growing Tom to the stage to start his speech for that day’s numbers about 40 people now. your own produce, you’re driving for it. Bringing worship. Tom shared the story of Jesus’ life with the Bergh, a student in Benson High School, is a fresh produce to the area is meeting a need for all,” congregation and showed an animated video about leader in training at the church. She helps lead the Gardenia said. the holy city, Jerusalem. worship and plan youth activities. She says she In addition to food distribution, the Moffetts also It was a special day for the Moffetts: it was a day became a Christian at age 10, and last January, started a toilet paper donation dropbox. after Gardenia’s birthday, and they wanted to share started to come to the Harvest Christian Fellowship After getting permission from health officials their happiness with the congregation. with her father and her brother. “We wanted to and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department, Tom invited the congregation to sing a happy find a new church with exciting pastors. We wanted the Moffetts held Easter service in a different way. birthday song to Gardenia, which they did, smiling something with more of the youth program,” she Parishioners signed up for a time and came into and applauding. said. the church with a group of less than 10 people. The “Thank you, Pastor Sweetie.” That’s how “Pastor Tom is just really energetic. He’s really Moffetts then shared sermons, prayed, sang songs Gardenia referred to her husband after the song. good at getting fired up about kids,” she said. and held communion with them. Suddenly, Tom pointed at someone off the stage, Bergh loves to sing contemporary music, which “We separated their chairs. We did it outside. and said, “Hey, you don’t call me Pastor Sweetie. is often accompanied by drums and electric guitars. We’ve held a mini-service for them. If they had Only her!” Tom’s humor triggered another laugh It makes the congregation want to dance and sing children, we had a team of people over in the from the crowd. more than the older hymns found in “stricter” playground and those people could go in and play,” Tom’s public speaking skills aren’t in his genes. churches, she said. Tom said. “As far as public speaking, you do it,” Tom said. Tom Bergh said the pastors usually open the Sunday After kids left, their team wiped down the whole was an athlete who signed with two NFL teams for a worship with “peppy” and “fast-paced” songs to “get playground and cleaned the tables. Around 30 to short time when he was 23. “What happens is when people excited about worship,” and afterwards, they 40 people participated in the Easter service, Tom people hear NFL, they want you to come speak.” normally transition to slower, more heartfelt songs. estimated. That’s when Tom started to practice public speaking It “helps diminish the feeling of a strict religion when “It was hard for Gardenia and I. We were out and realized that he enjoys talking to the people in being in church,” Bergh said. there all day. But, the families loved it,” Tom said. the church. Before coming to Harvest, Bergh and her family Tom and Gardenia also published an article, titled Tom went to postgraduate school for theology went to Canelo Cowboy Church. That church’s Senior “Easter in the Time of COVID-19,” in the April Issue to get more training. He had worked for churches Pastor, Steve Lindsey, described the style of the of Patagonia Regional Times to tell the story of the in Texas and Phoenix as a senior pastor and an music provided in the Canelo Church as “country resurrection of Jesus. executive pastor, respectively, before he came to music, “upbeat,” ‘’old-fashioned style” and is usually “I would speak of coronavirus because people are Sonoita. accompanied on guitars. According to Lindsey, the so fearful. That’s where they’re living ... because fear “I’m there [became a pastor in the church] mission of the Canelo church, established in 2006, is and corona and all those things are relevant, then I because I believe it. Because it’s a passion. It’s to reach the working cowboy and those interested in would try to be relevant to where people are in their coming from my life,” Tom said. the Western lifestyle. life,” Tom said. Christianity amid the pandemic “Canelo was a great church, but they didn’t “We believe the church is not a building with Tom and Gardenia usually post information about have contemporary music,” Bergh said. “The music four walls. The church is people. Whether they ever the church on Tom Moffett’s Facebook fan page. was different, and I was becoming less interested decide to visit Harvest Church is beside the point. We After the outbreak of COVID-19 in mid-March, they in horses.” Instead of ranching or rodeo, Bergh’s are the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities started to run a YouTube channel, KingdomComTV, hobbies are rock climbing and paddle boarding. and we can love people right where they are,” to keep preaching the gospel online. For her career plan, she is considering joining the Gardenia said. The Youtube Channel had 25 subscribers as of military and studying medicine. April 20. Beside preaching the gospel, the church also has PAGE 14 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 PUBLIC SAFETY Fire Season Preparations Modified In Response to COVID-19 By Conor Villines April and May are traditionally fires happen it affects our business.” the start of fire season. Sonoita-area Sonoita’s business owners are aware residents have seen years when that out-of-town visitors see news of the blazes begin this time of year fire and figure they must cancel their and continue for months until the plans to visit. This year, business is monsoon season. already slow with people staying at This year, the district has to find home because of COVID-19. new ways to get ready. “Because of In order to mitigate the effects cautions about spreading coronavirus, of fire, firefighters usually visit firefighting this season is going to look residents’ homes and trim weeds different than anything we’ve ever anywhere from 30 to 300 feet away seen before,” said Sonoita-Elgin Fire from a house — for free. Chief Joseph DeWolf. In normal years Sonoita-Elgin Normally preparations start with firefighters preemptively burn brush an eight-hour, all-day refresher at local ranches when the wind is course. Not unlike military boot camp low and ground is moist. Although candidates, members of the district, preemptive trimmings and burns from the chief all the way down to were postponed this year to prevent entry-level volunteers, must walk social gatherings, the fire district is still three miles while carrying 45-pound ready to serve, albeit with a few more packs in under 45 minutes. This precautions in place. march is followed by four hours of DeWolf said he is pleased that classroom time, where participants community members have stepped up Photo by Marion Vendituoli review anticipated weather patterns, and are trimming things themselves. including storm cycles and dry spells Since firefighters have suspended Fire districts are preparing for fire season amid concerns about COVID-19. Pictured above, the Sawmill Fire, which burned 47,000 acres in the Sonoita during the upcoming fire season. They nonessential visits to peoples’ homes, area in 2017. then review efficient fire-attacking they are eager to provide locals with strategies, pump types, water tank guidance about how to keep their volunteer department. usually conduct monthly training setup, and firehose use, along with yards safe from fire. “We rely heavily on the Sonoita during fire season. radio frequencies for communicating Fire season challenges have and Patagonia fire departments,” said Because of coronavirus, the training within the department and also with grown as the district’s population has Patagonia Mayor Andrea Wood. The has been suspended. It will not resume law enforcement, Border Patrol, and until given the OK by the state fire more. marshal’s guidelines. Although training Much of the training this Spring is taking a new shape, Chief DeWolf has taken a new shape because of emphasizes that all agencies are doing social distancing directions from the “Because of the cautions about spreading internal training and are ready to go Governor’s Office and the State Fire coronavirus, firefighting this season is going for this fire season. Marshal. Training is still happening, he to look different than anything we’ve ever Handling big fires will require a said, with only six to ten people at a noticeable change in strategy. Large time in order to avoid close contact. seen before” Chief Joseph DeWolf. fires are normally fought using large The Sonoita community faces firefighter crews. “I don’t expect to extreme pressures to have their fire see 25 firefighters standing on the side department as prepared and rigorously of the road,” explains Chief DeWolf. trained as possible. In April 2017, increased. More homes and wineries Sonoita-Elgin Fire District has helped Group size will be determined on a the first fire of the season sparked are consuming unprecedented Patagonia stop house fires, she said. case-by-case basis, and the firefighters 120 continuous days with fire on the amounts of Santa Cruz County’s They also provide additional who show up will be spaced out from ground. A lightning strike later started groundwater, leaving the fire service emergency response. “EMTs are one another. a blaze that destroyed five houses to be among those competing for valuable in this area,” Wood said. Although regular information along with thousands of grassland what’s left. A declining water table The district is getting a rundown of meetings at the fire station and the acres. exacerbates the fire department’s any symptoms related to COVID-19 local fairgrounds which educate While residents risk losing a home, challenges to retrieve groundwater to help assess the situation before locals about fire prevention have ranchers risk losing a wealth of grazing through their wells. arriving at local medical calls, and is been postponed to enforce social lands which reduces their cattle- “We’ve got shrinking groundwater limiting the number of responders per distancing, education for residents to feeding capacity for the year. Wine and dry grasslands,” explains Chief call. Sonoita firefighters are wearing prevent fires is available on the fire production, hunting, and hiking are DeWolf. “This sustains a fire season masks and cleaning their clothes and district’s website. “When we teach equally affected by Santa Cruz County which is now twelve months long.” equipment routinely several times a some homeowners about how to make blazes. Tourism businesses rely heavily At 325 square miles, Sonoita- day to reduce likelihood of infection their homes safe, other homeowners on firefighters to keep Highways 82 Elgin is a large area of responsibility via their gear. follow suit,” said Chief DeWolf. and 83 open. Todd Bostock of Dos for a district with only 13 full time To make up for a lack of full-time “Despite medical or fire threats, it is Cabezas Wineworks recalls the 2009 firefighters. This staff is reinforced by staff, the fire district relies on a strong important for us that we remain open fire that burned his house and reduced 45 volunteers this year. relationship with the U.S. Customs to the public and ready to serve.” His business in the area. This force of 58 total responds to and Border Patrol, as they have first goal is that safety training will spread “Fires shut down the road and over 600 calls for fire and emergency responders and law enforcement faster than the fires themselves this cut business in half,” said Bostock. medical assistance a year. The of their own to help bolster the fire upcoming season. “We survive on tourism so when big department also reinforces Patagonia’s department’s forces. The two agencies

PAGE 15 PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES U OF A SPECIAL EDITION 2020 HIKING THE TRAIL

Photo by Alexandra Pere Patagonia, a Stop Along the Arizona Trail By Devyn Edelstein “It’s a cheap vacation too, that’s because they haven’t heard from me!” Patagonia is a great stop along the another thing. Something like this, you Laura Wenzel, the director of the trail. “I think most people in Patagonia Patagonia has a lot of visitors who know you could spend as much as 3 Patagonia Public Library, said she sees are proud that the walk a long way to spend a short time. bucks a mile or as little as 75 cents a plenty of hikers. “Usually they are Arizona Trail passes through their Former professional cyclist Chuck mile,” Veylupek says, “So, you know coming off the trail, and need to get town and as we continue to improve Veylupek is one. He passed through all said the whole trip will cost me like on the internet,” Wenzel said. “A lot it and share more information with Patagonia in February, eight days into a thousand dollars. Which is amazing of them will use our computers or they people about what a great resource it a four-month, 800-mile trek on the when you consider four months.” need a nice place to sort of rest up and is, then hopefully the community can Arizona Trail. Hikers don’t spend too much get their wits about them, I guess.” benefit from it,” Nelson said. Veylupek, has a beard, grey hair, money and time when they are in The Arizona Trail extends 800 and the long, lean body of a profes- sional athlete. He took a break at the Patagonia “ I think most people in Patagonia Public Library to check in with family members and loved ones via email. are proud that the Arizona Trail passes He sat down, breathing heavily after through their town,” said Matt Nelson, shedding his backpack full of food, executive director of the Arizona Trail clothes, and other necessities and took a huge sip of water. He wiped his Association. brow, pushed back his graying hair and sighed. Veylupek said he takes his time traveling from town to town. towns because at the end of the day miles across the state, beginning at “What really is going on is you are they want to keep hiking. But they are the U.S.-Mexico border and ending in doing this long hike, in the case of the able to see the towns and share their Utah. The trail winds through many Arizona Trail, 800 miles, but you are thoughts with fellow hikers, who may towns along the way. really dividing it into town-to-town want to explore the town as well. One of them is in Patagonia, where excursions essentially.” Veylupek said Veylupek said he planned to stop hikers can experience art, local restau- he understands that the lifestyle is not in Vail and then Summerhaven atop rants, a Nature Conservancy site, and for everyone. Mount Lemmon to restock his supplies more. Patagonia, 52 miles from the Veylupek is not really in a rush so as he continued north. trail’s start at the Mexico border, is he spends time exploring each town. “I just get my supplies and then one of only three gateway communi- “If you are traveling light you are mov- get back on the trail and walk a mile ties where the trail goes right through Photo by Devyn Edelstein ing a little quicker to get to the next or two,” he said. “Probably tonight [I town. Hiker Chuck Veylupek takes a break town. I am traveling heavy right now will get back on the trail]. I am here to Matt Nelson, executive director of from the AZ Trail at the Patagonia - plenty of food.” use wifi and tell loved ones I am alive the Arizona Trail Association, said Library.

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