Welcome to issue #60 of Trail Mix, a weekly newsletter thatâs about the people, places, history, and happenings in Southeastern Arizona.
Hey neighbor!
Sixty issues. Sixty!
When I launched Trail Mix, my goal was simple: bridge the gap between our amazing local small businesses and the neighbors who live, shop, and hang out here.
Since that very first newsletter, Iâve shared neighborhood deep-dives, rounded up weekend plans every single week, featured adoptable pups looking for forever homes, and celebrated the incredible folks who make Vail, Rita Ranch, Corona, and even Sonoita and Benson feel like home.
Iâve loved bringing fun initiatives to life, like the Local Passport, and highlighting the hidden gems in our 'lil corner of Arizona.
Every single week, I get multiple email responses from readers sharing their thoughts on the stories being featured or responding to the Two Truths and a Lie game, local style. Trail Mix consistently hits record-high open and click rates (double industry averages) which tells me our neighbors aren't just letting this sit in their inbox. They're actually opening it, reading it, and clicking through.Â
And so many of you have told me you found a new favorite local spot through the newsletter, and our past partners have confirmed that neighbors are actually walking through their doors because of it.
That is what makes Trail Mix special.Â
This isn't just another place to throw up a banner ad that gets glossed over or ignored. I get to tell real stories, connecting the heart and the people behind our local businesses to neighbors who genuinely want to support our community by doing business with folks who live right here.
Hereâs the reality: What started as a small passion project has grown into something truly special, reaching hundreds of engaged local households every week. To make sure Trail Mix can continue serving our community with the quality and care it deserves while honoring my commitments at home, Iâm stepping back to figure out the most sustainable path forward.
I still have so many fun ideas Iâd love to bring to life, like:Â
Curated seasonal guides, including another local gift guide for this holiday season (another huge hit from last year where lots of our small businesses said they got found by new customers!)
Deep-dive features or people, places, history, and happenings in our area to share more of the story behind the love thatâs been poured into our community every day.
Community events â think: a town-wide "Whereâs Waldo?" style hunt where families explore local shops, hunt for clues, and win prizes, or another local passport (a HUGE hit last year). But whether those ideas happen, and whether Trail Mix comes back, really depends on the support and interest from our community and local businesses.
Local dinner clubs to connect neighbors at local businesses
AND MORE!
So, for the next month or so, Iâm putting Trail Mix on pause to step back, retool, and see whatâs possible.
While Iâm taking this breather, my inbox is open to you, and Iâd love to hear back:
For Readers: What features, stories, or past guides have you loved most? Is Trail Mix something you want to see continue in your inbox?
For Local Business Owners & Leaders: Would you be interested in partnering, being part of our local gift guide, sponsoring an issue, or hosting a stop on a town-wide scavenger hunt to help make this sustainable?
If you have thoughts, feedback, or want to explore working together, hit reply and let me know. I read every single email.
Thank you for letting me into your inbox every week and for loving local as much as I do!
Warmly,
Kimberly Crossland
P.S. You didnât think Iâd let you go that easily, did you? Hereâs a featured pet of the week from PACC and some of this weekendâs events!
P.P.S. The Vail area is our oyster! If youâre a partner with an idea for how we can buoy each other up while serving the community, letâs get creative together! I have ideas for days and welcome the chance to explore with you how we can bring even more connection to the greater Vail area.
Nya | A907733
Located At:Â Pima Animal Care Center - Eastside
Description:Â My name is Nya.
I am a spayed female, white Pit Bull Terrier and Labrador Retriever.
Age:Â The shelter staff think I am about 6 years old.
Bio: This sweet girl is a volunteer and a staff favorite. She always has a big smile, and she loves to greet people at her kennel. The sign next to it says âNo fingers in kennel,â but she is always absolutely BEGGING to be petted. Come meet her today!
Happening Around Town: Oct 1 - Oct 8
⥠Vail School District Athletics (Home Games)
đ Varsity Football Home Game | Mica Mountain High School vs. Walden Grove When: Friday, October 2 | 7:00 PM Where: Mica Mountain High School Stadium, 10800 E Valencia Rd, Tucson The Details: Grab your seats under the Friday night lights as the Thunderbolts host rival Walden Grove in a high-stakes regional matchup!
đ Varsity Football Home Game | Empire High School vs. Catalina Foothills
When: Friday, October 2 | 7:00 PM Where: Empire High School Stadium, 10701 E Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Tucson The Details: Come out to support the Empire Ravens as they defend home turf against the Catalina Foothills Falcons.
đ Community Events & Happenings
đ· Weekend Wine & Live Patio Music | Charron Vineyards & Winery
Saturday, October 3 - Live Music by Steve K from 4:00 - 6:00 pm
All month: Halloween Wine 'n Candy Tastings, plus Dog Trick or Treat!
October Wine Club Membership Drive - Join Charron's Wine Club, get a $10 Gift Card
Where: Charron Vineyards, 18585 S Sonoita Hwy, Vail, AZ
đ„ Saturday Morning Local Market | Rustic Roots Farmers Market When: Saturday, October 3 | 8:00 AM â 12:00 PM Where: 9848 E Old Vail Rd, Rita Ranch The Details: Start your Saturday morning right with local produce, fresh-baked pastries, local honey, handcrafted soaps, and community vendor goods.
đ Saturday Night Asphalt Racing | Tucson Speedway When: Saturday, October 3 | Gates open at 5:00 PM | Racing at 6:30 PM Where: Tucson Speedway, 11900 S Harrison Rd, Tucson The Details: Catch local short-track asphalt racing featuring Thunder Trucks, Modifieds, Outlaw Stocks, and Super Late Models under the stadium lights.
đ Fall Harvest & Pumpkin Patch | Apple Annie's Produce Farm When: Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4 | 8:00 AM â 5:00 PM Where: 6405 W Williams Rd, Willcox The Details: Take an autumn family road trip to pick your own pumpkins, navigate the giant corn maze, and enjoy fresh apple cider donuts!
đ Family Storytime | Esmond Station Library When: Tuesday, October 6 | 10:30 AM â 11:30 AM Where: Esmond Station Library, 10931 E Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Vail The Details: Bring young kiddos for interactive stories, songs, fingerplays, and hands-on activities designed to build early literacy and connect local families.
Welcome to Spot the Lie, our new weekly game testing your local desert wisdom! Think you know the quirks, history, and survival secrets of our Southern Arizona backyard? Hit reply with your best guess. The answer will appear in next week's issue.
âïž Spot the Lie: The 2026 Monsoon Season Edition
Think you kept track of this summer's storms? Two of these statements about our Sonoran Desert monsoon season are true, and ONE IS A LIE. Can you spot the fake?
The Official Clock: By official National Weather Service criteria, the Sonoran Desert monsoon always runs on fixed datesâstarting June 15 and ending September 30âregardless of when the rain actually falls.
Dust Before Rain: Haboobs (giant wall-of-dust storms) are formed when collapsing thunderstorm downdrafts hit the dry desert floor and push a wall of dust miles ahead of the actual rain.
Lightning Record: A single summer monsoon thunderstorm over the Santa Catalina Mountains can unleash more than 10,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in under two hours.
Think you spotted the lie? Hit REPLY to this email with your answer (1, 2, or 3) and Iâll tell you if you were right!
Answer to last weekâs game: #2 was the lie!
SEE YOU OUT THERE
Publisher, Arizona Trail Mix
Southern Arizona's Unofficial Hype Woman