SEPTEMBER 2015 SERVING THE MOUNTAIN EMPIRE COMMUNITIES OF CANELO, ELGIN, PATAGONIA AND SONOITA VOL. 5, ISSUE 8

By Ann Katzenbach

There are no lawn ornaments in ordered—by a lot. When the crop came Summer Lewton's front yard. Most of it in, it overwhelmed them. They gave has been converted to fertile garden onions away and still there were hun- plots from which she grows and sells dreds more, so they decided to sell tomatoes, squash, melon, cucumbers, them. Once Summer got the hang of it, garlic, onions, eggplant, and peppers. she says it was easy. The onions In the back she cares for 40 Rhode Is- quickly disappeared and there was land Red chickens, and there are bee some money in the bank. hives as well, maintained by Summer's Since then the garden has grown husband, Sasha. and evolved into what it is today. Dirty Sasha works long hours in the pro- Girl Farmette has two wells that are duce industry in Nogales, but he's also doing fine with all the rain we’ve had. a partner in the business of farming. The Lewtons have invested in a biode- Summer does a lot of the labor, but gradable manufactured mulch that together they plan and figure out what helps keep the weeds down and they fruits and vegetables to grow, what have an irrigation system and a roto- seeds to buy, when to plant, how much tiller. In between harvests, they plant of each crop to plant, and how to save cover crops to put nitrogen back into on labor and water. Sasha grew up on the soil. With weeding, watering, tilling an organic farm in Missouri. Summer and fertilizing all made easier, it’s pos- has always loved to grow things—a sible to just keep ahead of the growth, trait that includes four children. From but no one has yet invented a machine her front yard garden, Summer sells to harvest tomatoes or squash, melons wholesale quantities to local stores and or onions.

restaurants and has customers in No- Photo Ann Katzenbachby Harvesting is the hardest part of the gales (Villa's Market and Mercado business of farming. At the height of Farmer’s Market) as well as Aqua Vita the season, Summer is up most morn- in Tucson. Probably all of us ings by 5 a.m. and out in the garden have eaten something grown until it’s time to take her three school- at Dirty Girl Farmette, the age children to school. The registered name of this estab- rest of the day lishment on North Avenue. disappears with The big garden began just harvesting more two years ago when Sasha or- vegetables, collecting dered onion starts. He says he eggs, packaging, weigh- did all the calculations for the ing, counting, billing, and size of their family, but when delivering to her various cli- two huge boxes of onion starts ents, and being a mom for arrived, he realized he had over (continued on page 3) Patagonia Creative Arts pealing confluence of About Us Association, and Border- wildlife, terrain, and en- lands Restoration, and vironmental awareness. MISSION STATEMENT A Boost For will be used to The grant was pro- To publish a nonprofit commu- strengthen Patagonia’s posed by UA faculty nity newspaper which serves identity as an arts and member, Anne S. Kurtin, the Mountain Empire commu- nature destination. The and TAS Paton Center nities of Santa Cruz county— grant, which will be Coordinator, Keith Ash- including Canelo, Elgin, Pata- Patagonia’s used to enhance the ley. Kurtin and her col- gonia, and Sonoita—and which visitor experience at the league, Siri Trumble, will is open to all views, highlight- center, is expected to lead architecture stu- ing local issues and emphasiz- greatly increase tourism dents in the design of a ing the contributions of local Ecotourism and economic opportu- new viewing pavilion. talent. nities for the commu- Patagonia Creative Arts nity, while improving Association will create Patagonia's economy with the intention of creating WHO WE ARE the health of the ecosys- interpretive signage, will soon benefit from public spaces that promote We are a nonprofit organiza- tem, wildlife, land, and while Borderlands Res- an infusion of $100,000, people's health, happiness, tion, funded by paid advertis- people. toration will develop thanks to the Patons, and well being.” ing, donations and grants. PRT Santa Cruz County's media to promote and to Tucson Audubon Chosen along with 37 is a free monthly publication popularity as an ecot- awareness of their Earth (TAS), current curator of other applicants from 1,300 distributed to news stands and ourism destination is Care Youth Institute Paton Center for Hum- local merchants in The Moun- projected to bring in (BECY). mingbirds. TAS submit- tain Empire. Santa Cruz County's 21.2 million dollars, in- "It is an extraordi- ted a grant request to cluding 6.7 million dol- nary opportunity to Artplace, one of the popularity as an lars in salaries and bring together and fos- Managing Editors: largest national philan- ecotourism destina- wages, and Patagonia is ter cooperative relation- Ann Katzenbach thropies dedicated to tion is projected to a leading beneficiary. ships while demonstrat- Donna Reibslager creative place making . The Paton Center for ing how important bird- Business Manager: For those not familiar bring in 21.2 million Hummingbirds’ world ing and bird watching – with this current catch- Katie Ballard dollar annually, in- renown makes it an quite literally in the word, Wikipedia defines Advertising Manager: ideal tourist attraction. backyard – can be to a it as: “a multi-faceted cluding 6.7 million Janie Trafton Along with The Nature local economy. We are approach to the plan- Contributing dollars in salaries Conservancy, Patagonia excited by the possibili- ning, design and man- and wages…. Lake State Park, Native ties,” commented Karen Writers & Staff: agement of public Seed Search, Arizona Fogas, Executive Direc- Martha Chase spaces. Place making grant requests, the grant was Trail, and Borderland tor for Tucson Audubon Judy Clegg capitalizes on a local awarded to Tucson Audu- Restoration, Paton's Society. Lynn Davison community's assets, in- bon, the University of Ari- helps to define Patago- spiration, and potential, Cate Drown zona School of Architecture, nia as a unique and ap- Cassina Farley John Fielding Patra Kelly Martin Levowitz Spotty Cell Service? Molly McCormick Vince Pinto A lot of Verizon's customers in our area have no- Judith Whitcomb ticed that they have been getting poor or spotty cell ser- Distribution: vice reception recently. According to Raul Mavis, IT Director for the County, Ron Reibslager Verizon's service is coming from the Red Mountain

communication site. Several years ago they invested PRT’s current issue can be nearly one million dollars to install utility power to the found at Patagonia Library, site, and a few years ago they upgraded the site to sup- Patagonia Community port 4G/LTE service. Center, Patagonia Market, and Mavis says that t he current degradation of service could at other locations in Patagonia be attributed to the recent construction of a new com- and Sonoita munications tower, which was erected close to the time that reports of diminished quality of service began. The Contact us at: tower is likely causing interference with their antennas. [email protected] He said that Verizon is working in partnership with (520) 394-0098 the tower owner/operator (GovNet). Once the tower PO Box 1073, Patagonia 85624 construction is completed, Verizon intends to install their antennas on the tower, thus improving the quality Ads : [email protected] of service. The work is expected to be completed in Online edition: about two months. www.patagonia If you would like to register your concern about cur- 2 regionaltimes.org rent cell service through Verizon, you can call them at Artwork by Lee Katzenbach 866.892.7957 Front Yard Farming, continued three-year-old Madi. By then school is unsung volunteer position that requires New over and the family comes back in focus. meetings, reading policy documents, and “Sometimes I can get the kids to come attending workshops. out and help me,” she says, “and they do Are there enough hours in the day for a lot of work around here, but they have Summer to be a farmer, mother, wife, and Mining Bill lots of other things that they think are school board member? Obviously the an- more important. So did I once.” swer is “yes.” She and Sasha are enlarging One of the other things that Summer the garden and there’s talk about leasing Introduced does think is important at this point in some land for Dirty Girl Farmette to ex- By PRT Staff her life, is having some knowledge and pand and keep on growing. say about what goes on in school. She is In Patagonia, you can find their pro- the newest member of the Patagonia Ele- duce at Red Mountain Foods, and they now mentary School Board of Governors, an have a website: www.dirtygirlfarmette.com. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), together with 16 co- sponsors, recently introduced the Hardrock Mining Reform and Reclamation Act of 2015, in an effort to address the nation’s backlog of abandoned mine cleanups and to ensure that NEWS BRIEFS taxpayers get a fair share from public lands mining. The number of hardrock abandoned A video camera has been installed at Paton Center for Hummingbirds. You can mine lands (AMLs) that will require cleanup is watch the hummers and other birds at tucsonaudubon.org/hummingbirdcam. 7,700 – 31,000. Federal estimates of the cost

to clean up abandoned mines are as high Patagonia’s Municipal Court will hold a jury trial in Nogales on October 6. as $54 billion. In addition, mining companies 2015. It’s the first time in recent memory that the local court has summoned a jury. The trial was first scheduled for August 21, but summons were sent to post office currently pay no royalties for hardrock miner- box holders, some of whom don’t live within town borders. New notifications have als they take from publicly owned federal already been sent out. land. The bill would: Ike Isakson, Patrick Hatfield, and Ivan Mingura, Patagonia Volunteer Fire- • End the antiquated patenting system that fighters, and a truck, have gone to help fight the wild fires on the West Coast. They allows companies to purchase mineral- started in California and when last heard from, were near the Canadian border in containing public land for as little as $2.50 Washington. per acre

• Establish strong reclamation standards and Annette Koweek , Elgin’s eighth grade science teacher, has been named Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Rural Schools Association. bonding requirements to make sure taxpayers don’t pay for cleanups if a company skips Two new members are being sought by The Sonoita Elementary School District town or goes bankrupt Governing Board to replace Gary Brown and Alan Neal, who have resigned. Potential • Establish an 8 percent royalty on new mines candidates should submit a letter of interest to the county superintendent’s office: and a 4 percent royalty on existing mines to 2150 N. Congress Drive, Nogales, AZ 85621 bring a fair return to American taxpayers • Use those royalties and money raised by for all sorts of jobs at the Fall Festival, to be held the Volunteers are needed newly established pollution fees to clean up second weekend in October. If you can help, contact Bonnie Macclean at Ovens of Patagonia or call her at 520-308-0963. abandoned hardrock mine lands across the country •·Provide clear authority to federal land man- Ten gardening seminars will be held through a grant received by Patagonia Library, five in English at the library and five in Spanish to be held in Nogales at Mari- agers to reject a proposed mine if it would posa Health Center. A schedule will be posted in October. unduly degrade public lands or resources • Protect wilderness study areas, roadless ar- Fireflies have recently been seen at night by several people in town. According to eas, and wild and scenic rivers from mining entymologist Liz Bernays, this is very unusual, as they are usually found in other •·Empower state, local, and tribal govern- parts of the country where there is high humidity...which we have been experiencing ments to petition federal authorities to with- lately. draw certain areas from mining in order to

protect drinking water, wildlife habitat, cul- Borderlands will expand its Earth Care Institute (BECY) into a year-long tural and historic resources, or other impor- youth business skills program, thanks to a rural development grant it received from the Dept. of Agriculture. They will partner with the PUHS agricultural program. tant values

3 Duquesne House Changes Hands By Donna Reibslager

About a year and a half ago, when Rick and Bekki Jaynes began consid- ering a new direction in their careers, operating a bed and breakfast was on their list of possible ventures. At the time, they were living in Los Angeles, working long hours at stressful jobs, Rick as a manager if visual effects artists, and Bekki as a finance man- ager. Although they had been to Patago- nia often to visit family, they had all but given up on the idea of opening a B & B here, as there were already sev- eral--including the well-known Du- quesne House. Then, while visiting with family in Patagonia last spring, they learned that Duquesne House was for sale. The owner, Nancy McCoy, was hoping to retire from her role as its owner and operator, and initiated the process of listing the property with an agent. Rick and Bekki had already decided that Pata- contemplating a new direction a gonia was one of their favorite year or two ago--one that would al- places, and were thrilled with the low her more time for her own pur- prospect of taking over the popular suits, such as enjoying her horses B&B. and her grandson. And so, after 12 Duquesne House was originally an years of running one of Patagonia's adobe structure built around 1900 to best-known B&Bs, she is turning it house miners. Regina Medley pur- over to the Jaynes, who are ready chased the property in 1989 and and eager to ensure the future of renovated the building, converting it the Duquesne House's reputation as to a bed and breakfast. In 2003, she a welcoming retreat for visitors sold the business to Nancy McCoy, from all over the United States and who has owned and managed Du- abroad. quesne House since then. Bekki and Rick say that they will Nancy was working as an elemen- not be making any changes in the tary teacher in Illinois and had near future, although they admit learned of Duquesne House while that they are planning to take on the visiting Patagonia. She initially role of breakfast preparation to- planned to oversee the business gether, and are enjoying a search for while continuing her job as a teacher, a few special new menu items to but soon decided not to wait. She include. The spirit of a place is in- moved in with her partner, Ralph fluenced by its owners, and it will be Photo by Ann Katzenbach Shultz, and began learning the opera- interesting to see these two bright, tion of the business. convivial entrepreneurs put their Rick and Bekki Jaynes Over the years, Nancy and Ralph stamp on this well-established busi- made many improvements, adding ness. character and color to the rooms, a large screened-in porch, a brick- paved courtyard in the back, and ex- tensive landscaping. They decorated the entire house with hand painted furnishings and mexican folk art, and their growing reputation as an idyllic getaway earned them write-ups in magazines such as Arizona Highways and Tucson Guide, as well as cover- age on Arizona travel radio seg- 4 ments. Like Rick and Bekki, Nancy began Santa Cruz County Fair Celebrates Centennial By Marion Vendituoli

The Santa Cruz County Fair is The always popular Perishable cert with Drew Cooper on the turning 100 years old this year, Foods Contest takes place Friday track, and a fireworks show. and the fair committee wants morning on the ramada behind This is, of course, the big everyone to join the fun and help Pioneer Hall. Entries should be weekend for 4-H and FFA com- celebrate this very special com- brought to the fair at 10 a.m. and petitors in the Bowman Pavilion. Photos by Walter Andrew memoration. So bring your best judging will begin at 11 a.m. Exhibits and projects by these baked goods, your finest flowers, Prizes for both junior and senior youth will be on display in the your super sewing, your fabulous divisions are being offered this Hedgcock Building, and students fine art, your quality quilts, your year. Check the fairbook for more from all over the county will have terrific tomatoes and your rosiest details about this exciting con- their judged artwork on display roses and help celebrate the one test. in the Gardner Building. hundredth birthday of this Santa Friday night, don’t miss the All of Santa Cruz County, and Cruz County tradition, September FFA (Future Farmers of America) neighboring communities, are 18 – 20 at the County Fair- benefit Barbecue and Dance, fea- encouraged to enter crafts, baked grounds.. turing Chuck Wagon and the goods, flowers, vegetables and art There will be a strolling magi- Wheelchairs. Throughout the work in the fair. No matter your cian and a clown giving away bal- weekend, live music, ranging age, craft or skill level, there is a loon animals both on Friday and from rock and roll, bluegrass, class that is perfect for you. New Saturday, as well as a new chil- country, gospel, jazz, and even this year, in addition to special dren’s tent with special games mariachis, will be entertaining awards and ribbons, the fair is and activities, a petting zoo, and fair-goers, while in the arena, bar- offering cash prizes for every a farmers' market featuring local rel racers will be competing Fri- blue and red ribbon. Entry day is produce and handmade products. day night, the Huachuca Saddle Wednesday, September 16 at Pio- Daily prizes will be given to the Club will be holding a fun day on neer Hall at the fairgrounds. best selfies taken at the fair and Saturday, and demonstrations For crafters who are inter- posted to our facebook page. will fill the arena on Sunday. ested in selling and/or advertis- On School Day, Friday Sep- On Saturday afternoon, the ing their work, there will be the tember 18 from 9 a.m.--1 p.m., pet show is always a crowd favor- option of including price tags on kids under 15 are free, and there ite, and the talent show is the entries. For a complete list of all are many special exhibits, dem- place to see the county’s finest classes, visit www.sonoita- onstrations and craft projects aspiring stars. Sunday brings fairgrounds.com. ready for the arrival of more than cowboy church, the 4-H barbecue The fairbook is online and is 1500 elementary school students and the second annual car show also available throughout the from throughout the county. Sun to the fair, as well as the 4-H/ county at many local retailers, as Valley Rides Carnival is bringing FFA livestock auction. well as at the Sonoita Fair- twice as many rides to the fair The main event of the Centen- grounds. For more information, this year for fun for all ages. nial fair will be held Saturday eve- please call 520-455-5553 or 520- ning, September 19, starting at 6 455-4700. Tickets for unlimited p.m. After the 4-H /FFA Parade rides are now being pre-sold of Champions, the fair dedica- throughout the county at a dis- tion will take place on the ra- count. Call 520-609-1483 for mada, followed by a giant birth- more information or to order day cake, a special outdoor con- tickets.

5 Inmates Work With Forestry Crew to Build Erosion Control Structures by David Seibert, Executive Director of Borderlands Restoration at hand. among the crew. They began work, and so had trust. The The first day set the stage and comparing one another’s work men had a good laugh when I tone. We visited pre-built rock and were quick to take credit finally took them up on their erosion control structures— for any functional structure; offer to share one of their low, dry-stacked rock filters but there was more than rock- “State lunches”—usually bread, that slow water and retain sedi- work and habitat resilience tak- peanut butter and boloney. At ment and moisture—and talked ing shape here. On a tour of the end of each day they would about how they function in tan- one arroyo complex soon after insist on filling my water jugs dem with one another to stitch the first rain event, Grumpy with theirs and offer me their degraded watersheds back to- suddenly spoke up with sur- food remnants, intrigued that I gether. We then linked the work prise in his voice: “At first I was was camping at the work site to a larger paired-watershed like, What is this?! No way this and doing what they could to study coordinated by SIA and is going to work. But then when set me up for the night. When I the U.S. Geological Survey, com- I seen that stuff [moisture and had vehicle trouble they in- paring vegetation response to organic material captured be- sisted on following me out at structures in burned vs. un- hind one of his intact struc- the end of the day, and nearly Photo by David Seibert burned areas. We emphasized tures], I tell ya I stood a little every (continued on page 7) the utility of the work and its taller.” need and concern among us Early this summer the U.S. Forest Ser- importance in context, along Pride had made its way into our was accompanied by comments vice, Sky Island Alliance (SIA), and Bor- with three important points derlands Restoration (BR) contracted to that received many nods plan and supervise a ten man inmate from the crew—we would crew’s work to restore a severely burned consider and treat the area in the Chiricahua Mountains. The guys with respect as em- Horseshoe 2 fire created stand-replacing ployees and allies while in conditions and stripped areas of vegeta- the field; our collective tion, making the oak woodland vulner- name would be on each able to erosion and reducing ecological structure, and so we re- resilience. Violent monsoon rains imme- quired high quality work; diately destabilized the habitat, flushing and the effort is not busy nutrients, soil, and moisture out of the work, but work with a system and compromising the region’s purpose. “Good!,” said ability to stabilize, hold moisture, and one of the men, and we regenerate . set to work. Enter the inmates of the Forestry Crew at About half-way into the the Douglas Arizona Department of Cor- first day of building, one rections prison, ready to learn how to of the team passed me on build erosion control structures, earn a the way to refilling a wa- little money, and get a lot of exercise ter bottle, smiling broadly outside “the yard” of the prison. The in- as he said, “This is cool, mates are non-violent offenders who man!” I continued to dem- have earned the privilege of working in onstrate techniques, public. They are required to adhere to a check quality, make cor- strict code of conduct with contractors rections, and quiz the such as BR, while BR staff were required men on how and why we to receive training in working with in- were making specific mates in the field. Multiple potential pit- moves with the rock, falls, warnings about behavioral issues, wood and soil. Nicknames and rules of conduct filled the session; like Grumpy, Foreman but once we entered the field together John, Jarhead, and Bryan and pulled in the same direction for With a Y soon filled the habitat health a unique rapport took air, along with plenty of 6 shape, along with unanticipated lev- expletives, competitive els of respect and pride in the work joking and critiques ing of the top 500, Patagonia Un- Restoring Habitat, continued ion High School came in at num- ber 77. It has an 81 percent low like, “We gotchyou, bro,” these hopes with his mother income rate and graduates 100 “We got your back,” or, on the phone. “We like people percent of its students, sending “Don’t worry, we GOT this who do good work,” I said sim- PUHS 87.5 percent on to college. To put man.” While they didn’t ply. “Felony-friendly!” yelled this in perspective , as of 2001 have a lot of decision- one of the men on hearing this there were 26,407 public secon- making capacity and were response, inciting raucous dary schools in the United States. sometimes obviously joking laughter that turned into a For more information visit around, it was also appar- running joke for weeks. I did- BEATING http://www.newsweek.com/high- ent that they tended to n’t deny the possibility. schools/beating-odds-2015. what they could, and to One day immediately after ma- In other school news, Summer what they cared about in jor rains had ransacked the Lewton, who has three children in ways of their own. area, closing campgrounds and THE ODDS the Patagonia schools, is the most After several weeks of ripping roads, the men were recent member of the Patagonia working together, I began to anxious to gear up and check Elementary School Board of Gov- leave the crew for a couple out their work. Shortly after AND OTHER NEWS ernors. She joins Janet Wynan, hours at a time in order to we headed out, a great yell Cindy Morriss and Kim Sottosanti set up more work sites. I erupted from the burned for- on the board. Bernice Pomeroy would review the site plan est ahead of me: “Woohoooo!! recently resigned from the ele- By Ann Katzenbach and remind them of tech- Take THAT motherfu#%ers!! mentary board after many years

niques and my expecta- We BUILT these!!” By the time I of dedicated service. At age 93, According to the Phoenix Business tions, then head off. In the arrived the men were grinning she says she is too busy to keep Journal, “Arizona's reputation for early days I would return to and yelling excitedly, with one up with the commitment. Her exchange brief updates and bent backward at the waist, education may not be great, but the seat on the board is now vacant, carry on. Soon my returns laughing into the sky. “There’s state had six high schools land in the and Fred Sang, chairman of the were greeted with strong two feet of sand under here! top 500 in the 2015 study developed board, says he would be pleased by Newsweek .” insistence from the most You can feel it!,” another said, to see a new volunteer come for- The Newsweek report lists two outspoken of the crew: bouncing up and down on the ward. categories - one being the top aca- “Dude, you have GOT to go fresh earth. Deeply incised ar- The Old Main Campus is start- demic schools across the country. see what we built back royos that had been flushing ing a new life as housing for fac- there! You GOTTA check moisture and nutrients out of The highest an Arizona school ulty and a home for the Patagonia ‘em out!” They laughed, but the system were now stable ranked was number 92, Arizona Agri- Museum (pending a final lease they wanted to show what sediment sponges, primed to business & Equine Center in Prescott agreement that should have been Valley, with 100 percent graduation they’d done, too. Bryan With support flora and fauna. The signed by now). There’s a one- and college-bound rates. Most of the a Y regularly insists that his structures had held. Formerly bedroom apartment in the old schools in the top 500 were in high work is so good it will disparate parts had been library with more apartments on to medium income level communi- surely make the cover of a crafted into functional fea- the drawing board. hypothetical, future publi- tures of the landscape, and ties, so Newsweek made a second Eleven new teachers have cation to be named ROCK new ephemeral pools had category that looked at achievement joined the staff at PUHS. The WALL WEEKLY. The men formed in association with in low income cities and towns journalism class at the high throughout the U.S. They called this laugh and banter through a them. Little clouds of butter- school provides an introduction category “Beating the Odds.” In rank- “word of the week” game flies rose among fresh deer to the new faculty on page 12. that also raises questions tracks in the soft, damp sedi- about habitat components ment; and different, yet inter- and how they fit together: related features of the greater tributary, arroyo, conflu- system continued to be built ence, restoration. One man and cared for here, while we asked if there might be a skipped around our work and job for him with BR when laughed like giddy children at he is released in a couple what we had built with our years. A few weeks later he hands, together. told me he had discussed

7 powerful pollutant. Then, every once in awhile, a flood comes, or, as in the case of Silverton, a construction mis- The Politics of Mining take happens, and we get to see in By Ann Katzenbach living color how nasty acid mine drainage is. A year tle to boost the town's economy, released all the Everyone knows these old mines ago, floods in water from the mine tailings and essentially are a problem. Lots of taxpayer two abandoned wiped out the town's economic base. It’s a fur- money gets spent on them every mines in the Pata- ther irony that Silverton has refused the funds it year. And yet, as we try to shore up gonia Mountains would get as a superfund site because the town these old mines, we are allowing pushed toxic mine believed that such a stigma would hurt tourism. modern mining companies to con- waste into local streams. The PRT’s Perhaps if it had taken the funds and the des- tinue to break ground. They pay no front page carried a picture of the ignation, the clean up would have had a royalties, can be headquartered any- sludgy orange water running downhill, better outcome. No telling. The fact is, where on the globe, and have the carrying heavy metals into Harshaw and the mess has been made, and tourism right to mine on any federal land. Sonoita Creeks. Last week The Animas River wtll decline in Silverton unless people The public has very little say in the in Colorado filled with a flood of similar come to see what a toxic waste area matter, as Patagonia residents know. heavy metals. This mess was huge. It looks like. The deal the government makes with wiped out a tourist industry, Arizona is full of aban- modern mining corporations is that farming, drinking water and be- doned mines. The moun- they use modern methods to contain lief in the wisdom and exper- tains around Patagonia their mess -- not just today, but for tise of the Environmental Pro- are listed as having thousands of years. The toxic spill tection Agency. The river, about 60, not to men- earlier this year in Mexico was famous for trout fishing, tion the active Hermosa caused by a modern mining corpora- rafting, and pristine beauty, Mine off Harshaw Road. tion. It polluted a river and farmland, will probably never be the Old mines throughout the destroyed aquatic life, and a "sorry same. west, hastily closed up over about that" along with some fines I’ve been to Silverton, the past hundred or more made it all okay. Recent incident Colorado, where this mess years, are leaking toxins point to the fact that while mining started. Like many tourists, into streams, polluting the provides some jobs, it also destroys I traveled up the narrow soil, and poisoning whole economies. gauge railroad that runs along grazing lands The Mining Act of 1872 is the es- the Animas River. It was October and every day. The sential culprit. It encourages mining the aspen trees were golden. The town leaks are usu- at the expense of everything else and itself was small and bit forlorn, trying to ally slow, but really should have been changed dec- base its economy on skiing and tourism. the acid ades ago. It remains in place because According to news accounts, in recent that is the corporations that benefit from it years the economy had perked up a leach- make sure it stays buried in the legis- bit with the arrival of EPA contrac- ing lative detritus of Washington D.C. tors doing mitigation on the Gold out is where most everything is for sale. King Mine. How ironic that these a workers who were helping a lit- See New Mining Bill article on p. 3

8 OPINION &COMMENT •OPINION &COMMENT •OPINION &COMMENT

doesn't try. And therein lies his they both? What's most in- loutish charm. People in this triguing to me about the cur- country are so fed up with poli- rent presidential race is that Reflections: tics-as-usual -- evasive crap and the two most radically differ- lofty talk and empty promises - ent candidates -- The Warlock - that even those who know that With The Forelock and the Donald is a boorish narcissist Diplopia Populi rejoice that there is someone By Martin Levowitz who seems real. The Donald blurts. His bad behavior has another benefit, as well. If I've enjoyed the you know whose buttocks to Trump were more refined, the first stirrings of what promises to be the massage. The only good news, voting public would, of course, longest presidential campaign ever. Still for the moment, at least, is that reject the multibillionaire as fifteen months to go—already verbal el- we seem to agree on the left one of the elite. But since he is bows fly. The Republican field is currently and the right that things are an shameless thug, the disaf- at 17 candidates; an unprecedented horde. really out of whack. We're Citi- fected masses strongly empa- Let's watch them twist themselves into zens United in mistrust, if noth- thize with him. His crude re- odd shapes in hopes of being recognized ing else. marks concerning women, among the herd of piggies gamely vying When Sarah Palin disap- Mexicans, et al., are callous and for the trough. It's the usual fare: embarrassing, of course. And unassuming innocent who Obamacare, abortion, immigration, Iran, yet, it's refreshing to see some- doesn't comb his hair before and all that. Some of the candidates speak one new who refuses to play by appearing on TV -- are both to the issues themselves. Some focus on the rules. It's etiquette that sets responding to the same mal- dissing the other guys' views. Ahh, the the stage for fraudulence, of aise -- the public's craving for games have begun. course. More effort goes into what's real. The Democratic side is less complex. seeming virtuous than being Life for most of us here is Hillary, of course, is the predicted nomi- virtuous. more comfortable than for nee. The big surprise, thus far, has been There's something fascinat- street-vendors in Tunisia. Bernie Sanders, the eccentric-seeming ing, even mystical about mirror We're not yet at the flash- seeming-idealist, whose this-is-what-I- point of madness or revolu- really-think neo-socialist authenticity has tion. We still have hope for excited large numbers of liberal voters. His the electoral process. And, "eccentricity," it seems to me, consists yet, the restless outrage mostly of telling the truth, instead of peared, I felt deeply bereaved. mounting here is not unlike blithely parroting what we might like to She'd been a bonanza of self- what sparked The Arab hear. caricature, provoking the dim- Spring. Both the right and the By now, like J. Ralph Nader nearly 20 witted and the aggrieved. When left are impatient and miffed. years ago, many of us realize that the two trying to be passionate and ab- It's as if the same landscape major parties differ more in rhetoric than solutely right, it helps to be is being reflected in two substance. Both seem to be owned by the simplistic, don'tchya know? But highly polarized pools. The banks and the corporate world. This unfor- now, thank God, we have some- first is a pond of cool, frothy tunate situation was not helped by The one to fill the void she left champagne, and the other, a Supreme Court's Citizens United decision when she went home. As enter- tub of hot bile. You'll have to (which allows unlimited campaign dona- tainment, Donald Trumpet can- decide for yourself which is tions from corporations and billionaires.) not be surpassed. The Donald images. It's two worlds for the which. Then, go vote. You don't get to be the Democratic or the couldn't be diplomatic even if price of one. Waking versus Republican nominee, these days, unless he tried. More to the point, he dreaming; which is real? Or, are

9 OPINION & COMMENT •OPINION & COMMENT •OPINION & COMMENT Food For Thought by Cassina Farley

In my made pancakes with Mrs. But- rule: if it fits between family food terworth’s maple syrup and bread or can be is love, an perfectly fried over easy eggs. wrapped in a tor- archive of Dinner for the kids was ham- tilla, eat it. Now a our lives in burgers grilled outside by my days we grow our dishes grandpa with sharp cheddar own food and eat 40 made and cheese (my mother only bought pound turkeys on Thanksgiv- grandma’s biscuits and gravy then delicacies eaten. We comfort each Longhorn) and ranch style ing. move on to cheese sandwiches in other with cake. We grieve with gravy. beans. If I close my eyes I can Not a lot has changed the shade by the creek. I'd eat a We celebrate with cheese. My child- still smell his after shave and since I was a kid. Food has slice of Aunt Denise’s chocolate hood reads like a menu at a restaurant. the charcoal fire on that warm become entangled in my cream pie and follow it with a red Easter: pit barbeque at great grandma’s Friday night. memories, a built in cook- chile burro made with the tortillas house. Mexican spoon bread and hom- Grieving meant Texas sheet book for the future. The other my mom bought at Choice Market. iny casserole under the elderberry tree cake and platters of sandwich day Zach asked me if it was I’d have a scoop of hominy casse- at the edge of town. Great grandma fixings with that seedy mustard my last day on earth what role under that elderberry tree on Helen's bunny cake with the jellybean that nobody liked. Weddings would be my last meal? I an- the edge of town and then I'd eat eyes and her crab salad to which she included homemade wedding swered quickly saying I’d eat brisket and beans at the farm. At purposefully added too many lima cakes with lemon filling, brisket a steak or something and the end of the day I’d eat my Dad’s beans because her son-in law hated and copious amounts of keg then I thought about it and specialty, a spaghetti sandwich on them. Summertime meant staying at beer. At home we were privy to changed my answer. “I’d eat buttered white bread and I guess if grandma’s house and eating home- our dad’s way of eating. The all day.” I’d start with it was the end I’d be satisfied hav- ing spent the entire day with my family with a menu of happy memories.

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10 Rain Topples Tree

On the morning of August 10, Sandy Bayless walked out into her front yard with her morning coffee and noticed that there appeared to be a huge bush where her car used to be. Upon closer inspection, she saw that a very large chinaberry tree had broken off at its base and fallen toward the street--landing directly on top of her 2011 Prius. It took Harry Hower and Mike Brown nearly 15 hours to clean up the mess. Harry speculated that the split was brought about as a result of frequent rain, which soaked the trunk, rotting the wood to the point that its water-soaked weight could not be sustained-- something to be mindful of during our monsoon sea- son. Fortunately, Sandy's insurance will be replacing her car, which was totaled. Photo by Donna Reibslager 11 Contributed by Patagonia High School Journalism Class Meet The New Staff Mark Gilbreath Susan Boyd Jeff Weger by Sabrina Mendoza By Guadalupe Bueras By Jacqueline Mann & Gianna Martin Fourth and fifth Ms. Susan Boyd is Mr. Jeff Weger is the grade teacher Mark PUHS’s new special new Biology, Earth Gilbreath received education teacher. Science, Chemistry, his B.A. at South- This mother of four and Physics teacher at western College in was born in Leesport, P.U.H.S. With over 30 Winfield, KS. He Pennsylvania. Discov- years in the teaching then attended the ering that she was of field, Mr. Weger has University of Arizona Native American taught at reservations, for his M.A. in bilin- Lanape heritage, Ms. in Nogales and Rio gual multicultural Boyd found a fascina- Rico, and most re- education. Finally, tion early on in study- cently at Salpointe he received his M.A ing Native American Catholic High School in in geology at North- History. Tucson. ern Arizona Univer- Ms. Boyd has a bache- He holds a B.S. in Biol- sity in Flagstaff. Mr. lor’s degree for special ogy from the Univer- Gilbreath has been education from East sity of California River- in the teaching field Stroudsburg Univer- side, with a minor in for 36 years and at one point was Santa Cruz Anthropology, and attended Northern Arizona Uni- sity, a masters from Wilkes University in classroom county teacher- of-the-year. He is excited for the versity to get his teaching education in Science. new year and enjoys the environment that Patago- computer technology and a doctorate in education He truly appreciates teaching and being in Patago- nia has to offer. “I want my students to be success- leadership from the University of Phoenix. nia. “I wanted to go to a place where people are ful and go as far as they can,” says Mr. Gilbreath. still down to earth,” says Mr. Weger.

Carmen Gomez Doug Brewington Paisley McGuire By Garrett Fish By Audriana Paz & Gianna Martin By PUHS Journalism Class With 23 years experience Mr. Doug Brewington, the Mrs. Paisley McGuire, PUHS educating and several new physical education Journalism teacher, has taught leadership and volunteer teacher for PUHS grades from the misty slopes of Mount opportunities, Ms. Car- K-12 is also the new assis- Fuji in Japan, to the red rocks of men Gomez has learned tant high school football our own Red Mountain. Mrs. that the key for success coach. Mr. Brewington McGuire received a B.A. from is patience. This former played football at the Uni- Saint Mary’s College in South Prescott College and versity of Southern Califor- Bend, Indiana, and a M.A. from Northern Arizona Univer- nia and earned a B.S. in Middlebury College’s Bread sity graduate, has a B. A. Physical Education and Loaf School of English in Ver- in secondary education Health from the University mont. Mrs. McGuire has ex- and joins the Lobo pack of Arizona. He has taught perience teaching ages 3-18 as a Spanish teacher. P.E. and Health for 31 and is a returning teacher, hav- With Santa Cruz County years and has won wres- ing taught Journalism and Eng- roots, Ms. Gomez hopes tling coach of the year at lish at PUHS in the late 1990’s. to implement the main Rio Rico High School. Mr. Brewington says, “Persistent “I love every age. Every age goal she has as a teacher: to “see that special light that painstaking dedicated work is the foundation of success. has its sparkle,” says Mrs. goes off, interact, and to witness student compre- To achieve a lot you have to work a lot.” McGuire. 12 hension.” Contributed by Patagonia High School Journalism Class Meet The New Staff Catherine Parker Jacob Masters James Hunter By Sabrina Mendoza By Kathryn Miller By Yasmin Quiroga Ms. Catherine Mr. Jacob Masters Mr. James Hunter, the Parker is Patagonia will be serving as Middle School’s new School’s new cur- computer lab super- social studies teacher riculum and instruc- visor, special educa- is in his first year of tional special- tion paraprofes- teaching, but has had ist. Mrs. Parker at- sional, and as the a lifetime of experi- tended the Univer- assistant football ence. Mr. Hunter sity of Dallas, TX for coach. He earned a spent 20 years in the her B.A. in educa- BA degree in classi- Air Force and traveled tion and was magna cal archeology and to many places, such cum laude at the art history as well as as Belgium, Spain, and University of Arizona a bachelor’s degree France. “The Air Force when she received in anthropology. A was hard,” he said, “it her M.A. degree. childhood in the was a drop-everything She is certified as a wild timbered coun- kind of job.” He said common core math try of Northeast that the traveling was teacher and has Missouri with his an upside to the job. taught K-12 math for many years. Aside from her family of educators has shaped Mr. Master’s pas- After retiring from the Air Force, he worked for the teaching, Ms. Parker enjoys the art of quilting. She sion for encouraging people to think. He hopes to federal government, coached soccer, and substi- hopes to enter one of her quilts at this year’s Santa weave thoughtfulness, in the form of conservation tute taught. After coaching, he realized he wanted Cruz County Fair. Ms. Parker is more than excited to be and teamwork, into his curriculum on and off the to be a full-time teacher. “The best coaches are a part of the PUHS staff. “I am looking forward to field. “A classroom is a classroom, inside or out of the best teachers,” said Mr. Hunter. knowing the teachers and students,” says Ms. Parker. doors,” says Mr. Masters.

Paisley McGuire Joshua Moore Anna Reese By PUHS Journalism Class By Garrett Fish & Kathryn Miller By Guadalupe Bueras & Kathryn Miller Mr. Joshua Moore always knew Ms. Anna Reese, a member of he wanted to pursue a career in the Patagonia community, will agriculture. He attended the be collaborating with Ms. University of Arizona, earning a Boyd to begin a new chapter Bachelor’s in Agricultural Tech- in the Special Education De- nology Management and a Mas- partment. Ms. Reese earned a ters in Agricultural Education bachelor’s degree from the Research. He also served on the University of Minnesota in university’s livestock judging secondary education, teaching team and as a keynote speaker social studies with a concen- at several United States Depart- tration in history, and received ment of Agriculture (USDA) con- her master’s in history from ferences. Mr. Moore is deter- the University of Wisconsin. mined to start a Future Farmers Ms. Reese has extensive pro- of America program at PUHS. He fessional experience with high says that after “five or six inter- school and middle school stu- views across the country, this dents. was the only interview where I left smiling.” Photos by Paisley McGuire 13 By Donna Reibslager DEVELOPING ARTIST: RHONDA BREW Patagonia's best-known sign painter says she has been draw- ing since she was 12 years old. "My dad was a drafts- man," says Rhonda Brew, "and I guess I got some of my in- terest in drawing from watching him work." This past month, Rhonda held her second exhibit of paintings and drawings at the Gathering Grounds. Her first show at the Grounds, in 2012, was pre- dominately careful renderings from photographs. The exception was a large painting on canvas of the Gathering Grounds interior, in which she played with perspective, painted with a looser hand, and gave the viewer an image full of color and feeling. In her recent exhibit, the piece that best reflects

Photos by Donna Reibslager

this more personal ap- use her technical skill in a proach is a painting titled more creative way. Other ex- "40's Women's Club Meet- amples in this show were a ing." Rhonda says it was painting of Einstein with a inspired by a book from body builder's torso, and the 1940s featuring "Hooker," which depicts a women's hat styles. The young woman seated on painting portrays a group some steps with a look of of old women as they give despair. their full attention to a For many years, Rhonda's subject being discussed. interest in art had to take a The composition flows, back seat to her obligation to and the women are support and raise her chil- painted with affection and dren. Now approaching humor. "retirement" age, she has be- Rhonda Brew is a de- gun to devote more time to veloping artist who has the painting and drawing she just begun to experiment has always loved to do. And with subjects that are of its getting more and more her own creation, and to interesting. 14 erage they are almost as thick as collect plants that you will actually my thumb and about as long. These consume, not just because you “kinda I roast up until tender, much as sorta were thinking of eating some.” with commercial potatoes. The Collecting most of my wild edibles taste is indeed closest to spuds, from where we live allows me to study definitely agreeing with my palette. my effects upon the land, which have The last edible that I’ll cover in been positive. When I forage for wild this proverbial “tip-of-the-iceberg” edibles, I also kill any nonnative plants introduction to our local late sum- by hand, look for opportunities to cre- mer wild food plants is a rather ate passive rainwater harvesting basins unusual one. Saya is a plant that I that benefit a broad spectrum of native discovered when I moved here. plants, note the local wildlife and By Vince Pinto While I have never found it to be changes in it over time, etc. Collecting abundant, it is common at Raven's wild edibles, then, is certainly not just Nest Nature Sanctuary. There it an- about eating. You must be an earth September's Surfeit: Harvesting the Wild nounces its presence in July and steward and try to leave the land even When my mind ruminates upon the month of September, it August with ostentatious orange better than you found it. There are far invariable turns to a wide variety of wild edible plants that fre- flowers. While the leaves are edible, to many of us to choose any other quently enrich my everyday fare. After the monsoonal mois- my favorite part are the bladder- route. ture, the Sky Islands landscape gleams with verdancy. In many like seed pods. I collect them while Finally, be safe. You should NEVER ways September is our greenest month. The habitats that have still green and succulent. Their consume a plant that you are unfamil- hit the “rain lottery” will harbor a number of delicious wild taste is not unlike that of fennel or iar with. The surest way to identify treats for the intrepid forager of wild foods. anise, while remaining distinctively safe wild edible plants is to consult Amidst our woodlands, velvet mesquite is the dominant saya. with an expert. In lieu of that, admire tree. If the monsoon has been sufficiently abundant, then a Prior to departing, allow me to the plant in the wild, leaving it for oth- second crop of mesquite pods can enrich our diets. I gather share some advice on wild forag- ers to admire. them when they are ripe and sweet to the taste. The key here is ing. First, never collect a rare plant Vincent Pinto and his wife, Claudia, to sample a wide range of individual trees until you establish or over-collect a common one. Our run Raven’s Way Wild Journeys. They which of them holds the sweetest pods. I dry them and then local wildlife depends upon these offer local tours dedicated to the preser- either grind into flour or boil down to a molasses-like syrup. plants far more than we do, so we vation of the incredible biodiversity in Growing in amazing profusion beneath and near the mes- should always defer to them. Only the Sky Islands. quites are dense patches of Palmer ama- ranth or careless weed. This native amaranth proffers its greens from the first sprouts in July until the seed heads emerge in August and September. The early greens can be nib- bled raw, while the older ones should be thoroughly steamed. They are high in pro- tein, as well as in taste. It's a far better deal to consume amaranth than to pick their prickly seed heads out of your socks in No- vember! Any plants you miss, will feed our wintering sparrows and other seed-eating birds. Another admirable wild green can be had from our goosefoots or lamb’s quarters. Their leaves are indeed reminiscent of the webbed foot of a waterfowl. As with the amaranth, steam the greens first prior to enjoying them. This cousin of spinach is so close to it in both texture and taste that my survival students are often at odds to distin- guish the two once they are plated. Now that we have some sweets and greens, let’s add some substantial carbohy- drates. Luckily, September is a month where several herbaceous plants hold the promise of edible tubers. Foremost among these are those of the orange flameflower. This succu- lent member of the purslane family is so abundant at our place that I believe we could subsist on it for months on end if need be! In late summer its foliage starts to wane, heralding a shift of energy back into its tu- 15 bers. These are relatively easy to dig. On av- By Ann Katzenbach

Whipple Observatory sits atop a peak to the right of Mount Wrightson. Its white dome, reflected by the sun, sug- gests a temple for the delphic oracle. I recently toured the observatory, which is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysi- cal Observatory in conjunction with Har- vard and the University of Arizona. From Patagonia you drive up route 19 to the Amado exit, then go east for several miles. At the modern visitor’s center, a guide showed our small group some films in an attempt to explain what goes on there. The most impressive part of this was seeing how telescope mirrors are manufactured at the University of Arizona’s Mirror Lab. This was just the first example of an engineering feat that, for most lay people, is amazing to look at and nearly impossible to conceive of. Happily, the lengthy tour delivers more than an introductory course in astro- enced another optical illusion. On that drive some bought “off the shelf,” that are nevertheless physics, computer science, mechanical, your ears pop, you see amazing rock forma- powerful and helpful to astrophysicists who have to electrical and chemical engineering. tions, dry stream beds, and big trees. It was sign up for time on all the observatory’s telescopes. For me, driving up the winding moun- built as a mining road over a hundred years All these machines send their gathered information tain road from the visitor’s center was ago. To me that feat of engineering is as im- back to universities and researcher around the world. the best part of the day. When we went pressive as building a giant telescope. Sadly, in the age of computers, no one on Mount Hop- out to the waiting van, our guide, Ken, The observatory is much bigger than it kins actually looks through a telescope. told us it was 20 kilometers to the sum- looks from my porch in Patagonia. There are At the very top of the mountain is the observatory mit and would take 45 minutes. I was several types of telescopes at various pla- that houses a 6.5 meter telescope known as the MMT. sure I hadn’t hear him correctly --you teaus, starting at the base camp, where there At night the roof opens up and the telescopes moves could look up from the parking lot and are four enormous mirrored discs gathering with the earth’s rotation. During the winter, there are there was the observatory right up there , information about gamma rays, the most small plows affixed to the outside track so that snow a mile or two miles at most. A half hour powerful energy in the electro-magnetic won’t damage or change the delicate balance of the later as we made yet another turn on the spectrum. According to Ken, scientists don’t telescope. Two managers run the MMT. They rotate gravel road and I could see the road know what causes them. working for a week and then get two weeks off. The snaking behind us, I realized I’d experi- Close to the top are more telescopes, work week is long, especially in winter when there are more hours of darkness. The other people who actually work up on Mount Hopkins vary from day to day, season to season. Dur- ing the monsoons the telescopes take a break because of cloud cover and a team of engineers goes in to probe and polish and replace parts. Graduate stu- dents come to do research. There are facilities for them, but they have to procure and prepare their own food. Living at the top of Mount Hopkins would be excit- ing for an astronomer, but anyone fascinated with storms (thunder, lightning, snow), or mountains (it feels like you can reach out and touch the side of Mt Wrightson), or wildlife (bear sightings are common) would love to spend a few days up there. It's like camping without getting wet, pitching a tent or carry- ing a backpack. Too bad this isn’t a possibility. A visit to the Whipple Observatory makes for a long day. You need to pack a picnic and be prepared to listen to lots of engineering stories and explana- tions. However, the experience will make you appreci- ate the ingenuity, curiosity and drive of those who study the universe, and the engineers who design and Photos by Ann Katzenbach build their tools. And, at an elevation of 7,300 feet, it’s lovely and cool up there. This 6.6 meter telescope rotates throughout the night at the top of Mt. Hopkins. 16 www.LaFronteraAZ.com Homes, Land & Ranch Properties throughout Sonoita, Elgin, Patagonia, Lake Patagonia, Tubac & the extended environs of Santa Cruz County

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GARY RETHERFORD, 520-604-0897 Designated Broker, Owner, REALTOR®

KATHLEEN JAMES, 520-604-6762 Owner REALTOR® 340 NAUGLE AVE (HWY 83) / POB 98 / PATAGONIA AZ 85624 / 520-394-0110 17 meetings events special interests

The Patagonia Museum --- Regular meetings w/ September 4: Dinner & A Movie at Sonoita Bi- Scrabble players: Bring a board to The Visi- topics incl. local history; For info, visit ble Church; BBQ burgers / hot dogs with all the tors Center, Sundays at 10 a.m. Ann 394-0098 www.thepatagoniamuseum.org trimmings.@ 6p.m., “Beyond the Mask”, a family AA - Patagonia Comm. Ctr., Sun., 8 a.m.; Sonoita movie, @ 6:30pm; No charge, donations welcome. September 2-24: Make a Shrine workshop Bible Church, Tues., 7:30 p.m.; Pat. Methodist with Linda Chase; 4 classes, 9-11 a.m., $80; Church, Fri., 7:30 p.m. September 5: Adam Esrick performs at the Materials supplied. Call 520 394-2740. Kief-Joshua Summer Concert Series. AlAlAl-Al ---AnonAnon - Wed. at 6 p.m., Sonoita Hills Comm. 370 Elgin Rd., Elgin. For info call 520 455-5582. September 19-24: “Riding Into Your Mutual Church, 52 Elgin Rd., just off Hwy 83; Info: 237- 8091 Relationship”: an intensive riding workshop . September 5-6: In Sonoita. $1500. Contact Shelley at (520) CHOP (Community Homes of Patagonia, Inc.) --- 100th Annual 419-6467 for more info. Board Meeting 3rd Monday at 6 p.m. in the Sonoita Labor Day Patagonia Town Council Room Chambers. Rodeo ; Gates open Yoga for Seniors: Mondays, 8:30 a.m. – 9:45

at 10 a.m.. Jr. Rodeo a.m. at Ecobody Acupuncture in the Patagonia Patagonia Town Council --- 2nd and 4th Wednes- at noon, Main per- Plaza, Patagonia. $10. (520) 559 -1731. day of the month at 7 p.m. Town Council Hall. formance at 2 p.m.;

Steak fry and dance Rotary Club - 1st Thurs., 7 a.m. at Patagonia Community Acupuncture Clinic: Call Dr. Papin after rodeo, Sat. & Sun. Admission: $15 adults, $5 H.S.; All others at Kief Joshua Winery, 6 p.m. Call at (520) 559- 1731. for kids ages 6-12, age 5 and under free. (520) 907-5829 for more info. Art Makers - After school art classes, ages 5-12; San Rafael Community 44----HH Club - 2nd Mon. at September 10: Patagonia Women’s Club’s Tuesdays. Begins 9/15. Call 394-9369 for info. the Patagonia Methodist Church, Thurber Hall at meeting and potluck, 1 p.m. at Cady Hall, Pata- 5:30 p.m. Tami @455-5561. gonia. Bring a “potluck salad”. Adult hand-building ceramics classes Wednes- days, 4-6 p.m. $65 Call 604-0300 Overeaters Anonymous - Tue. & Thurs., 6:30 September 12: “Monte Python’s The Life of p.m. Fragrance-free meeting. Patagonia United David”; 6 p.m. at The Tin Shed Theater. Bikram Yoga - Patagonia; call 520-604-7283. Methodist Church. 520 404-3490 September 17: “The Seeds of Time,” a movie, Bingo - St. Theresa Parish Hall, Patagonia, 1st & will be shown to kick off 5 seminars on gar- 3rd Mondays at 6 p.m. 455-5681 community services dening, at 7:00 p.m. in the Patagonia Library . Crossroads Quilters - Sonoita Fire Dept., 2nd &

Lunch for Seniors --- Fresh-cooked meals, Mon. - 4th Mondays at 9 a.m.; call (520) 732-0453. September 18 - 20: Santa Cruz County Fair: Fri. at the Community Center. Tuesday is Pie Day! At the Sonoita Fairgrounds. Events, rides, conces- Try the Thursday Special! Open Tennis - PUHS, Tues. & Thurs. at 5 p.m., Sat. sions, 4H, riding / roping competition, music and at 8 a.m., Call 394-2973 for info. more. See p. 5 for details. Sr. Citizens of Patagonia Van Service - Medical transportation available Mon. - Fri. for seniors & Sonoita Tergar Meditation Practice Group - 1st & disabled to Sierra Vista, Tucson, Gr.Valley & No- September 26: Com- 3rd Mon. Free. Jonelle 455-9222. gales. By appt. only. 394-2494 munity Garden’s An- nual Pie Auction - at Sonoita Plant Parenthood Gardening Club - con- Patagonia Food Bank, Community Center; 2nd the Community Garden, tact [email protected]. Wednesday of the month, 9-11 a.m. 4th & Smelter, Patago- FULL MOON nia. Dinner at 4 p.m., Patagonia Methodist Church Thrift Shop, Fri. 10 Auction at 5 p.m.; Dinner/Adults: $15, Kids: $7, a.m.-2 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - noon. Auction only: $5. Cash bar. Call Martha at 604- & TOTAL 0300 for more info. Angel Wings Thrift & Gift Shop Our Lady of the ECLIPSE Angels Mission Catholic Church, 12 Los Encinos Rd, Sonoita. Thurs-Sat. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: Send your info to 455-5262 [email protected] SEPTEMBER 28 18 they served 6,600 on average. For some, its a meals, of which about meal they might not be 4,500 were to qualified able to provide for them- Lunch Is Served people, for whom the selves. For others, its a By Donna Reibslager center was reimbursed. friendly and relaxed place The cost of the addi- to socialize while enjoying Weekdays at noon, san, lamb stew, green center without any charge, al- tional meals, to guests lunch. the Patagonia Commu- chile stuffed burritos, though donations are encour- who are not on the ap- Kudos to Erika and her nity Center serves up a and tuscan sausage and aged. Guests who don't qualify proved list, is paid by volunteer staff, who keep freshly made, healthy bean soup. Each of these are also welcome, but pay for the center--which is this valuable community lunch under the direc- main dishes is served the meal. The program reim- why they ask for dona- program running smoothly tion of Erika Miller, Ex- with several sides, a burses the center based on the tions and charge non- and make everyone who ecutive Director of the salad, beverage, and yo- number of qualified people it approved guests. comes feel welcome. center and its services. gurt or fruit. Tuesdays serves. The program serves Thanks to a grant it and Fridays there's also Erika says that the first year about 35 people a day, received a little over a dessert. (You can view year ago from South the month’s menu on East Arizona Govern- their website, at senior- ment Organization citizensofpatagonia.org.) (SEAGO), the center has The program is in- been able to purchase tended to provide a nu- and prepare the food it tritious meal for seniors serves, and the monthly over 65, and the dis- menu includes dishes abled or their spouses. such as eggplant parme- Registered can eat at the

Erika Miller 19 By John Fielding

Harvest season is wind- ing down, but there is still a selection of fresh veggies to be found at the weekly Farmer’s Market in Sonoita. Every Saturday morning at 10 a.m., local growers and craftsmen set up their ta- bles at the intersection of Highway 82 and 83 behind the mini-mart. Fruits, vege- tables, spices, and cheese, along with home-made soaps, leather and jewelry are on display. Buying Local In Sonoita Every week during the harvest season you will find Tom Hansen from Hilltop and cheeses. and leatherworks. Several spices. ing from 10 to 49 acres. Hydroponics selling a selec- The aroma of Russell locals come with soaps, Unfortunately, Yucca Thirteen of these farms tion of fresh veggies picked Compton’s slow-cooking lotions and breads. No- Ash Farm with their excel- sell directly to consumers. at his greenhouses in Texas BBQ beef, served gales Mercado comes up lent selection of produce, Buying from local farms Sonoita. Lesia George al- with beans and coleslaw, from Nogales to sell at the has moved away. and craftspeople keeps ways brings her goat wafts through the market. market, and “Senor Cilan- According to a recent your money in Santa Cruz cheeses. Rancho dos Osos Barbara Neville brings her tro” displays his many report, Santa Cruz County County. Make the market displays their farm eggs books along with jewelry varieties of cilantro has 193 farms, most rang- a weekly stop.

Sonoita Fire Team Joins CA Firefighters

Four firefighters from the California. Sonoita-Elgin Fire District re- Their original assign- cently returned from 14 days ment was to travel to of battling the California Anderson, California, near fires, which drew 29,000 fire- Redding, and cover the local men, fighting 95 uncontained fire stations while their fires in eight western states.. counterparts were already Droughts, high winds and low on the fire lines. Soon after humidity had fanned the that they loaded up their flames and made it almost truck with 300 gallons of impossible to quell the fires. water and headed west to Captain Brian Jackson of fight fires in Humboldt the Sonoita Fire District, des- County, where they worked ignated as Engine Boss, took shifts that allowed for as three wildland firefighters little as four hours of sleep with him from the local sta- per night. Eventually they tion. J.W. DeWolf, Michael Jen- made their way to the Fort sen and Joseph KcKearney, all Bragg area, where they fin- volunteers, made up the four- ished their two week assign- man team that traveled to ment. 20 Submitted photo By Cate Drown

This year I have been granted I have tended to other peoples’ the opportunity of having a donkey donkeys for short periods of time under my tenure. Friends agreed to and I find them all to be curious let Paco Belle come and be my and extremely intelligent. They mare’s companion, and the two can open all kinds of gate latches. have become very attached to one Chains are a must. On two occa- another. If the donkey strays out of sions I have seen burros pick up sight, my mare whinnies and fusses the rope of a ground-tied horse in until she has her in her sights and their mouths and start shaking vice versa. the rope to lead the horse away. Paco Belle is an absolute delight I had heard that donkeys are where affection is concerned and used to protect horse herds from loves to be groomed and fussed wild predators and just recently over. My challenge lies in her diet. observed this trait in action. Donkeys are descendants of the There are two large dogs that wild ass and have thus developed a stray on to the property where I system that does best on high fiber keep my mare and this little gal. diets that are not rich in protein or Recently the dogs have been dis- carbohydrates. They are prone to playing pack mentality, chasing weight gain which can predispose and circling my mare. Well, ap- them to laminitis and hyperlipae- parently enough was enough, so mia. Since many burros (Spanish gallant little Paco Belle started for donkey) are kept with horses chasing these dogs, head down, that require higher caloric intake ears back and stomping wildly at than they do, it becomes difficult the two of them with her front to keep the donkey from becoming hooves. They took off, tails be- obese. tween their legs, and have not Any kind of sweet feed or com- returned since. mercial horse treats are not good If she wants attention, she will for them. An occasional carrot is bray until someone comes to okay. High fiber grasses, hay or spend time with her. She loves to even straw are preferable. Alfalfa is have her long, adorable ears a no-no. Supplementation is not stroked and just to be touched necessary although they must have and loved on. If I walk away to access to salt and minerals and tend to other things before she is fresh water. Any changes to the finished with me, she will follow diet must be done gradually over a me and stand in front of the six to eight week period to avoid wheelbarrow until I stop and re- hyperlipaemia. A general rule of turn to tending to what is most thumb is to feed a donkey 1.5 to 2% important…her! of its body weight with high fiber Cate Drown, certified Sumerel grasses and straw. As with horses, Therapy technician, specializing in hoof maintenance is imperative. equines, can be contacted at- [email protected].

21 Surviving August By Ann Katzenbach There were too many days in August when 90 degrees actually felt cool. Usually I like the monsoons, but there haven’t been enough airclearing storms and the heat and humidity have been stultifying. When it gets over 100, I sometimes wonder if my lungs will work. Like so many weather events in the world, August’s heat seemed extreme. The wildlife slept in, the plants and trees in my garden were stressed. Normally I enjoy watering my garden in the cool of the early morning, but just getting it done before the sun started scorching everything felt like a mad dash. A big rain in the mountains brought a flood down Harshaw Creek. It hardly rained in town, but the higher elevations got 5 inches of rain and the ensuing flood of water cut under roads, carved out banks, threw trees and debris every which way. No doubt there have been worse weather events and intense periods of heat in previous years, but last month gave me first hand experience with a sun that can really shrivel up the world, and with flash floods that can easily take a life away. One afternoon two men came up from the wash and sat in the shade of our workshop. They were so stealthy that even the dog missed them. They asked for “agua” which we gladly got for them. They asked “How far to Tucson?” The answer was obviously much further than they hoped for. They thanked us and left, two phantoms hoping for some luck in this harsh season. There were three ash trees on this property when we bought it. We’ve watered them and watched them grow. Trees are so precious here. Then one morning I saw that one of them had dropped every leaf and the one next to it was on its way to doing the same. The third tree is following suit as I write this. Reference material provided by Cliff Hirsh tells me that these trees have Texas root rot, a fungus that lives in soils around here. It takes about four years before you know if you’ve got this fungus. Then your trees die. End of story. Now the bees are here. Obviously they’ve been around all summer, but now they are really here trying to find sustenance at our hummingbird feeders. The hummers keep their distance. Bee expert, Abbie Zeltzer, tells me that there is no nectar in the landscape right now and the bees are trying to survive. This doesn’t seem quite fair. Those birds have been counting on us for sugar since spring, and suddenly there’s no free lunch for them, just pain if they're not careful. How do they cope? Life in this high desert is pre carious. Out on the porch, the bees who can’t find a seat at the sugar bar fly around, acting a bit annoyed. Summer Luten says they don't like you to breath on them. I hold my breath as I hang up the laundry. And I'm holding my breath waiting for yellow eye and rabbit bush to bloom on the hillsides. Then, Abbie says, the bees will go back to their natural life and the hum mingbirds will line up at the feeders and entertain us with aeronautical 22 dueling matches and autumn will be just around the corner.

HOUSING RENTALS

ROOMS FOR RENT at a 4 bd. ranch home Spacious, fully furnished home in Patago- on 52 acres, 6 m. east of Patagonia. nia. Sleeps four. Available Oct. 17 - Jan 1. $300. Call Fritz at 480 215 1907 Call 406-646-9232

Fed. funded Senior apt. complex; 285 2 BR/1 BTH $850/mo. Carport, laundry Pennsylvania Ave. Call (520) 394-2229, or rm. John: 394-0148 or 360 317-4281 go to the Town Clerk’s office.

HOMES FOR RENT: contact Kathy HELP WANTED O’Brien @ Sonoita Realty 520 455-5381

ROOMS FOR RENT AT 56 Harshaw Rd. Certified caregiver or CAN for Patagonia $350-550. Ages 55+; winter rates avail- Assisted Care. Call 520-604-8179. able. Call Don @ 520 297-7065 PT housekeeping job at Sonoita Inn. Must be able to work Mondays and at least one STUDIO APT. FOR RENT; $410/mo. in- day on the weekend. Cleone 604-1917. cludes water & laundry, renter pays elec. Quiet area of town. 520.444.1665

1 BR/1 BTH $750/mo. Utilities included. MISC. CHURCH SERVICES 3 BR/2 BTH $1450/mo. Includes utilities. John: 394-0148 or 360 317-4281 Patagonia Community/ STORAGE - need more space for your United Methodist Church antiques, car, family treasures? Monthly 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia BRIGHT PRIVATE 1 BD/ 1 BTH VAC. rental - 5x10,10x10, 10x20; 394-2274 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. RENTAL in town. Kitchenette, nightly or call Ginny at 520-455-9333 or 455-4641. weekly. Claire: 520.904.0877 St. Andrews Episcopal Church Casa Blanca Chapel of Sonoita Justice of the Peace Courtroom 2nd & 4th Saturdays; 10 a.m.

Hikers Beware Sonoita Hills Community Church Sherry Luna reports that she and her husband, 52 Elgin Rd., Sonoita Philip Ostrom, were both bitten by ticks they be- 455-5172 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. lieve they picked up while hiking in Patagonia. Phil Make A Shrine became symptomatic for a form of spotted fever St. Therese of Lisieux that has been linked to the tick Amblyomma triste Catholic Church Linda Chase will offer and was given antibiotics. Sherry did some check- 222 Third Ave., Patagonia ing, and says that it looked like the Amblyomma a series of 4 classes 394-2954 Sunday Mass: 10:30 a.m. triste, a tick that caused an outbreak in the White from 9 - 11 a.m. Mountains a few years back. Two other Patago- Sonoita Bible Church Sept. 3 - 24. nians have encountered the same tick. Below is the 3174 N. Highway 83, Sonoita Materials provided. tick she found (left) and a photo of Amblyomma 455-5779 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. triste. Unique gift or Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church personal momento 12 Los Encinos Rd., Sonoita 394-2954; Sunday Mass: 8 a.m. $80. Call to register. (520) 297-7065 Canelo Cowboy Church Hwy 83, MP 14 455-5000 Sunday Services: 8:45 & 11:00 (except third Sundays) 23

3 Offices to Serve You $399,500 $435,000 $425.000 PATAGONIA HORSE PROPERTY - CROWN C PRIVATE RETREAT — CANELO HILLS SAN RAFAEL VALLEY w/IT’S OWN CREEK 520 394-2120 MLS # 21431000 MLS# 21220353 MLS# 21422976 325-A McKeown Ave. 1600 sf country home on 42+ ac 2144 sf, 3bd/3ba, borders Nat. Forest. Custom home off the grid surrounded by w/trees Great Rm w/pellet FP, Shed- Lots of trees on 20 ac, pool, easy access Nat. Forest. 17.6 ac of natural beauty. row barn, miles of trails & forest access. to Parker Canyon Lake & Sierra Vista. 2bd/1.5ba, sleeping porch or studio, 2 car Next to the Gathering CAROL FORD 520 604-0162 CAROL FORD 520 604-0162 garage. JEAN MILLER 520 508-3335 Grounds

SONOITA

Main Office $259,900 $159,000 $248,000

520 455-5235 PATAGONIA ADOBE REMODEL BARGAIN IN RAIN VALLEY ON 5 ACRES WINE COUNTRY HOME IN SONOITA Corner of Hwys MLS# 21417693 MLS# 21520352 GREAT VIEWS MLS# 21510641 JUST REDUCED Completely remodel w/luxury thru out! Loaded with features! 1576 sf + 21x12 Tucked into the hillside for privacy, built in 82 & 83 Enclosed porch, gourmet kitchen, large Sunroom, detached 2 car garage, 2 2007. 1642 sf, 3bd/2ba, Great Room master bedroom, den, tiled patio. Built carports. 3 Bd/2 Ba, den or office, large w/fireplace, high ceilings, wrap around on a bluff w/views & room to add on. kitchen, laundry, private well, fenced porch, private well, fenced, drip system. Next to the Post Office JEAN MILLER 520 508-3335 yard. JEAN MILLER 520 508-3335 CHRISTINE SULLIVAN 520 271-2372

SONOITA East Office $119,000 $439,000 $249,000

520 455-4634 MINI STORAGE PLUS HOUSE & RENTAL HILL TOP HACIENDA - PATAGONIA NESTLED IN THE TREES IN FLUX CANYON NE Corner of Hwys MLS# 21503128 PRICE JUST REDUCED! MLS# 21505546 - JUST REDUCED MLS# 21509329 1685 sf house with att. rental/ guest unit 2741sf, 2bd/2ba. Elegant Great Room, Surrounded by oaks. Sunny Great Room, 3 82 & 83 & 16 mini storage units on Harshaw Road. fireplace, courtyard, covered porch & bd, large kitchen, hardwood floors, 2 car Shared well. Great income potential. WOW views. 4.9 ac Private yet close garage, workshop. 4+ac w/14.5 avail- CHRISTINE SULLIVAN 520 271-2372 to town. CAROL FORD 520 604-0162 able. JEAN MILLER 520 508-3335 Buysonoita.com SUSAN ABAGNALE 520 260-8139 Download the FREE Long Realty Mobile App Learn More Arizona Real Estate at Your Fingertips. Search active listings, pending sales and recently sold properties. Sonoita.longrealty.com http://longrealtyapp.com