“The American flag carries a profound symbol of unity, resilience, and pride", as beautifully expressed by Franklin K. Lane, former Secretary of the Interior under President Woodrow Wilson. He wrote, "I am what I am, and I am proud. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself, the pictured suggestion of that big thing which makes this nation." Understanding the proper etiquette for displaying our flag not only rekindles a sense of collective spirit and optimism, but also becomes a meaningful way to show reverence for the Stars and Stripes. Inspired by Lane’s profound words, we come to realize that the American flag encompasses our dreams and our labors, shining brightly with cheer, courage, and faith. It represents the remarkable story of our nation, where each of us plays a vital role in its creation. While these guidelines are not mandatory, they hold the power to uplift our hearts and celebrate the enduring spirit of our country. By honoring the flag, we honor ourselves and the unity, resilience, and pride it represents. Let us embrace the opportunity to display it with reverence, for we are the makers of the flag, and it is through our collective efforts that its symbolism shines brightly for all to see. Displaying the American Flag How to display the American flag with utmost respect and pride: Orientation When hanging the flag vertically on a wall, window, or door, make sure the blue Union is on the left side as you face it. For horizontal or vertical display against a wall, remember to position the Union on the left. During a procession, let the American flag take the honored position on the right, whether it’s the only flag or leading a line of flags. Placement If you’re using a staff to display the flag from a building, raise it to the peak with the Union at the top. When the flag is not on a staff, you can either lay it flat or suspend it in a way that allows it to gracefully fall, giving the impression of being staffed. On a street, if you’re suspending the flag vertically, let the Union be to the north on east-west streets or to the east on north-south streets. For special events or speaking engagements, position the flag above and behind the speaker, ensuring the Union is uppermost and to the left as you face it. In churches or auditoriums, where the flag is displayed with a staff, place it at the speaker’s right, signifying its position of honor. Hoisting & Lowering When raising the flag, do it with a sense of enthusiasm, hoisting it briskly to full mast. Lowering the flag should be done with solemnity and grace, honoring its significance. If you’re displaying the flag at half-staff, first raise it to the peak for a brief moment, then lower it to halfway. Before the day ends, raise it to the peak once more and then lower it. Half-staff is a position midway between the top and bottom of the staff and is reserved for specific occasions, such as honoring fallen heroes. Finally Never fly the flag if it is weathered or torn. Alway have a light on the flag from sunset to sunrise. Do not fly the flag in rain, snow or heavy winds. Embracing the Flag’s Spirit The American flag symbolizes our shared values, resilience, and hope. Let’s ensure we treat it with the utmost care and respect, showcasing its splendor and inviting a sense of unity. By embodying the flag’s spirit, we can ignite a renewed sense of pride and togetherness in our great nation. Proper Disposal of the American Flag When the time comes to retire a worn or tattered flag, let us do so with dignity and reverence. Consider reaching out to local American Legion posts, who often hold annual ceremonies for flag retirement, or contact local Mundsie Mark Simon at (703) 548-6662. He will collect your flag and take it to the American Legion for you. Together, we can ensure the flag is disposed of properly, honoring its symbolism and the principles it represents.

The Pinewood Sanitary District (PSD) volunteer board and staff strive to modernize the district’s aging infrastructure and outdated operations, working hard to bring PSD into the 21st century. However, their challenges have intensified with the emergence of costly legal battles. PSD was established to serve the East side of Interstate 17. However, in 2013, the Shuster companies, Munds Park Community Church, and a few private lot owners requested the extension of sewer lines to the west side. Unlike traditional property taxes, PSD operates on a unique fee-based system, charging property owners within its boundaries for essential services, including construction costs to run sewer lines to their land. PSD, acting on behalf of district-wide property owners, secured a $3 million loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) to initiate the west side project and address other priority needs. Over several years of hard work, bureaucratic obstacles, and $1.9 million in west-side construction costs, the PSD sewer lines have been extended. Unfortunately, now that the bill is due, the new owners of the Munds Park RV Resort, Inspire Communities, along with the Shuster companies, are either contesting payment of their outstanding construction bill or, in Inspire Communities’ case, taking legal action against the Sanitary District. Because these disputes, depending on the outcome, can significantly impact the Sanitary District and our community, the Pinewood News contacted the Shuster Companies, Inspire Communities, and Bill Spain, Board Chairman for the Pinewood Sanitary District for comment. Shuster Companies Battle Over Paying Their Tab At the heart of the dispute lies the unpaid construction fees owed by the Shuster companies, who in 2013 sought annexation into the Pinewood Sanitary District, and Inspire Communities, who now find themselves entangled in the financial aftermath after purchasing property from the Shusters. Garry Shuster, a prominent local landowner, holds several properties in the Park through various LLCs. Shuster properties on the east side include the boarded-up Woody’s gas station on Pinewood Blvd, the land behind Woody’s, and the land behind REMAX. On the west side, Shuster companies own the Chevron station, the strip mall that houses Mary Coyle’s Ice Cream, the land and buildings for Flagstaff ATV Rentals, Agee’s B.B.Q. and Kota’s Coffee House, and Phase 5 of the RV Park. In 2021, the Shusters sold the Munds Park RV Resort (Phases 1, 1a, 2, 3, and 4) to Inspire Communities for more than $43 million. In 2022, the Shusters paid around $121,000 for sewer line construction costs related to properties on the west side. They are currently awaiting connection pending county approval. However, the Shusters still owe an outstanding debt of $659K for the construction fees associated with Phase 5—originally planned as a vast expansion of the RV Park prior to the sale to Inspire Communities and are now contesting payment. I was curious why the Shuster companies were disputing construction fees for Phase 5, despite explicitly requesting annexation to PSD. So, I rang Bill Moore, Account Manager for Shusters M.B.C. Properties, who handles communications between PSD and Garry Shuster, to schedule an interview. During our conversation, Bill pointed out that their main concern is the perceived inability of PSD to serve Phase 5 adequately. Bill Moore states that, to this day, they have not received a clear timeline or written assurances that PSD can handle development of Phase 5, and without these assurances, they see no reason to pay at this time. Before my interview with Bill Moore and Cindi Eagleton, Garry Shusters daughter and business partner, I addressed Bill Moore’s concerns at the PSD Board Meeting on May 31. I asked the Board directly about Bill Moore’s difficulties obtaining capacity information and guarantees from PSD regarding their plans for Phase 5. Bob Timberman, a board member, stated that the Shusters have not submitted development plans for Phase 5, and until they do, their needs cannot be assessed. Bill Spain, the board chairman, affirmed PSD’s responsibility to provide services and assured that they would do so. However, he emphasized the need for the Shusters to present their development plans so that the district can properly advise them on how to move forward. I noted this information and presented it to Bill Moore and Cindi Eagleton during our interview. I explained that the PSD Board is ready and capable of servicing Phase 5 but underscored the absence of submitted plans. I expressed my curiosity about the new development and asked what was planned for the area. However, Cindi and Bill declined to respond stating that the matter was with their attorney. In an email exchange, Bill Moore expressed frustration, writing, “After waiting for over ten years, the Shusters are also being asked to pay sewer line construction costs of an additional $659K for the large and mostly vacant pastureland to the northwest of the RV Park.” This statement is intriguing because it does not imply that the land is slated for development, but rather it would be a waste to connect it. Furthermore, it’s not “an additional $659K”; it’s the bill for completing annexation at the request of Garry Shuster. Considering this statement and the lack of submitted plans to PSD, it raises the question: are there genuine intentions to develop Phase 5? Regardless, it’s important to note that PSD did not offer this service arbitrarily. The provision of service and the associated construction fees were requested and agreed upon by the Shuster companies. Before our interview, Bill Moore sent an email outlining their concerns. He mentioned that the Shusters had expressed their intention to pay the outstanding $659K to PSD but were dissatisfied with the requirement of full payment. While the Shusters paid in full for construction costs for other west-side properties, they now want to establish installment payments for the $659K due for Phase 5. During our interview, I reminded them that the recorded Rules and Regulations (R&R) state that payment is due in full upon completion of construction and that installment payments must be arranged beforehand. I brought attention to the outstanding debt spanning a decade and wondered why they never made payment arrangements before now. Cindi and Bill declined to respond, citing their attorney’s involvement. Lastly, there was one more puzzle I sought to unravel. When Inspire Communities acquired the RV Park from the Shusters, they inherited an outstanding debt of about $650K owed to PSD. This debt is directly tied to the annexation of Phases 1, 1a, and 2—A debt incurred by Garry Shuster prior to the sale of the RV Park. It remains unclear whether Inspire Communities was aware of this obligation before the purchase, as they are currently pursuing legal action against PSD to be released from it. One would assume that negotiating the debt before the acquisition would have been a more straightforward solution rather than resorting to an expensive and time consuming lawsuit. To shed light on this matter, I asked Bill and Cindi if Inspire Communities had been informed of the debt before purchase and requested a copy of the Disclosure Statement for verification. Cindi and Bill declined to respond, citing their attorney’s involvement. Inspire Communities, Development Powerhouse Challenges Hometown Sanitary District with Legal Action I contacted Inspire Communities R.V. Resort Regional Manager Ashley Skeeters for comment. She responded to our written questions with a copy of the filed complaint, stating that it clearly outlines their position. Further, because of the ongoing legal proceedings, they have been asked by their attorney not to comment on the matter. Inspire has lodged two complaints against PSD. The first complaint aims to relieve Inspire of the financial burden associated with the PSD construction fees incurred by Garry Shuster, while the second seeks to substantially reduce their PSD Operating and Maintenance fees (O&M) to a mere one-third of the sewer bill. Inspire Disputes Construction Fees & Sewer System Compatibility Inspire Communities is disputing the construction fees of about $650K for Phase 1, 1A, and 2 of the RV Park—A debt obligated by the Shuster companies prior to their purchase. Inspire believes these construction costs were solely meant to repay the entire WIFA loan of $3 million. Furthermore, they argue that PSD will not service Phase 1 and 2 of the RV Park. Bill Spain, the Board President of PSD, explains that the construction costs were allocated among the property owners on the west side, with their agreement based on the benefits derived from the provided infrastructure. Furthermore, the Pinewood News obtained the construction cost invoice approved by the PSD board, which amounted to $1,972,586 for the lots and associated construction fees. It’s important to note that this amount does not represent the entire $3 million of the WIFA loans that Inspire suggests. According to Bill Spain, the remaining funds from the WIFA loans were used to make repairs and bring the North Lodge and Northernaire properties online with PSD. Inspire is correct that Pinewood Sanitary District cannot currently provide services for Phases 1, 1A, and 2 of the RV Park. These phases still rely on septic systems, fundamentally different from PSD sewer systems, and cannot be interconnected. Septic systems pose a higher risk due to elevated levels of harmful pathogens, contaminants, and potentially toxic chemicals in R.V. septic systems. To ensure proper wastewater treatment, prevent water source contamination, and protect public health and the environment, stopping the discharge of septic waste into PSD’s sewer system is essential. Prohibiting septic waste is especially critical for PSD because they discharge into areas that run off into Oak Creek. Our sewer company must follow strict guidelines from the E.P.A. and the ADEQ to protect our water source and environment. As a side note, this is one of the reasons PSD will report to the authorities anyone in Munds Park emptying R.V. waste into home sewer lines. Despite Inspire’s current inability to connect due to their continued use of septic systems, it seems that the Shuster companies had the foresight to prepare for the future. It is conceivable that when Garry Shuster facilitated the annexation of the entire RV Park (Phase 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, and 5) into PSD in 2013, he had precisely this in mind—That one day, the septic systems will fail, and ADEQ will require hook up to the Sanitary District. Unfortunately, the bill is due for Inspire, and they simply do not want to pay. The lingering question remains: Did the Shuster companies inform Inspire about this financial obligation before selling the RV Park? If they did not disclose it, one might wonder why Inspire chose to take legal action against PSD instead of pursuing litigation directly against the Shuster entities. Alternatively, if the Shusters did disclose this pending debt, wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to negotiate this contested debt during the sale of the RV Park rather than suing our hometown sewer district? These circumstances raise legitimate questions that leave us pondering the motivations behind Inspire’s course of action. Inspire Says Paying the Full Bill for Sewer Service is Unfair! During the August 11, 2022 PSD Board Meeting, members voted unanimously, and with strong community support, stating that “a toilet on the west side is the same as a toilet on the east side,” and all residential dwellings will be charged the same Operation and Maintenance Fees (O&M Fees) of $50.57 per household. Inspire Communities is contesting the PSD fees and argues that they are unjust and do not comply with proportionality requirements. Fees, they say, must reflect proportional shares of the wastewater system’s operational costs. Inspire points out that PSD’s own rules emphasize the need for proportional distribution of these costs among users. They further argue that the 08/11/2020 PSD R&R estimates approximately 53 gallons of effluent per day for park models. Based on this projection, PSD assigns an “equivalent residential unit,” establishing a proportional relationship between the effluent generated by a single-family residence and that produced by park models. They continue, stating that park models are smaller and accommodate a maximum of two people, generating significantly less effluent than a typical home. The R&R dated 08/11/2020, under Schedule II Commercial Schedule of Fees, does estimate 53 gallons of effluent per day for park models, but it also notes the monthly O&M fee is $50.57 for park models, reflecting the board’s vote, that all toilets are the same. While single-family homes in Munds Park are billed a flat rate of $50.57 per month, Inspire maintains that their sites should be assessed proportionally. According to Inspire, the maximum assessment for park models would be $16.86 per month (1/3 of the O&M fees). According to Inspire’s notion of ‘proportionality requirements,’ should my neighbors across the street, who have a household of two people (the same number of people in park models) and are here only sporadically, pay significantly less for their service? What about my other neighbor, who lives here year-round but is just one person? Should he also pay his sewer bill proportionally to his usage? And what about the short-term rental property behind me, where they maximize occupancy by renting to as many people as they can stuff into their home? Shouldn’t they be responsible for paying more? These examples raise valid questions regarding the fairness and practicality of Inspire’s proposed approach and make one wonder why they choose not to fully support the infrastructure that sustains the very community in which they reside. The Pinewood Sanitary District’s Legal Team Seeks Case Dismissal In an effort to bring about a fair resolution, the Pinewood Sanitary District has taken steps to request the court’s dismissal of Inspire’s lawsuit. PSD argues that the involvement of key individuals who are currently not part of the case is crucial. If the court denies the motion to dismiss, PSD is seeking an alternative solution by insisting that these “indispensable non-parties” be included as mandatory participants in the lawsuit. PSD has specifically identified the following parties as vital to the proceedings: M.B.C. Properties No. 3, LLC Pinewood Partners, LLC All other property owners within the boundaries of PSD, particularly those residing on the west side of Interstate 17 (“West side Property Owners”). Final Thoughts In the intricate web of our community’s affairs, a disheartening truth emerges. The major players, who profit handsomely from our community, seem strangely averse to fulfilling their financial obligations or bearing their fair share. When prominent local businesses such as Inspire Communities and the Shuster companies turn their backs on their fiscal responsibilities, it inevitably falls upon the ordinary folks to shoulder the burden, as they so often do. Inspire Communities compliant and PSD's motion to dismiss is below for those who would like to read further into the issues. Letters to the Editor The Pinewood News is always interested in feedback and/or story tips from our community and welcome comments on any subject or article written. The Pinewood News will attempt to publish every letter received, except for those that are an invasion of privacy or libelous. Letters must be signed and include an address and phone number. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Letters: PO Box 18977, Munds Park, AZ 86017 • email: Hello@ThePinewoodNews.com

The Pinewood Sanitary District Board of Directors voted at the May 11, 2023 board meeting to direct district staff to begin reporting of violations to Arizona Revised Statute 13-3724, commonly referred to as “Obtaining Utility Service Fraudulently.” The class six felony statute states it is unlawful for any customer or person to intentionally do any of the following: Make a connection or reconnection with property that is owned or used by a utility to provide utility service without authorization or consent of the utility. Prevent a utility meter or other devise that is used to determine the charge for utility services from accurately performing its measuring function. Tamper with property that is owned or used by a utility. Use, receive or otherwise divert utility services without the authorization or consent of the utility if the customer or person knows or has reason to know of the unlawful diversion, tampering or connection. Divert or cause to be diverted utility services by any means. There is a rebuttable presumption that the customer or person intentionally violated an act specified in this section if an apparatus, instrument or devise that was installed to obtain utility service without paying the full charge and is attached to the meter or device that is used to provide the utility service on the premises controlled by the customer or by the person who uses or received the utility service. A meter was altered, tampered with or bypassed in no measurement or an inaccurate measurement of utility services and the person occupying the property receives a benefit from the bypassed equipment This statute has been in place for many years and is a theft charge designated as a class 6 felony where values of up to $2000, if convicted, can be punished by a minimum of four months to a maximum of two years incarceration and fines up to $150,000. The board decided to take this firm action due to the number of reported attempts by people in Munds Park to circumvent the sewer district by obtaining access to the system in an unauthorized manner. Additionally, anyone caught breaking into manholes or the sewer collections system shall be reported to both the Coconino Sheriff’s Department and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. In the past, Pinewood Sanitary staff have merely informed the abusers that they must immediately stop and make required repairs to the system. Due to the increase in problem behavior, the Board is now requiring that formal complaints be processed with both governmental agencies. A 100% NO TOLERANCE POLICY.

The recent removal of Skyline Waste’s recycling service from Munds Park has brought to light a major issue that affects us all: improper recycling. Shockingly, over 70% of Skyline’s customers in Munds Park were found to be improperly recycling, which resulted in entire hauls of recyclable materials being sent to landfills. Unfortunately, this is not unique to Skyline. All waste management services must take their recycle loads to the landfills when their hauls are contaminated with unrecyclable materials. Many people think their efforts are helping, when in reality, folks who don’t pay attention or care about the guidelines, undermine the efforts of those who recycle properly. sustainable future, eco-friendly products As we face the devastating consequences of pollution in our oceans and soil, it is important to take action and make a difference. Recycling is just one way to reduce waste if people do it right, but it is not enough. Instead, we need to focus on preventing waste in the first place. If you share our concern for the environment and want to be part of the solution, we have some suggestions that can make a difference—more than recycling itself. Let’s work together to protect our planet, for ourselves, and future generations. Purchase Wisely for a Sustainable Future First and foremost, buy and use less! Buy only what you need and use all of what you buy. If you follow the guidelines below, you can feel good about your purchases! Buy durable products: Choose high-quality, long-lasting items that can be repaired or repurposed, rather than disposable or cheaply-made products that quickly end up in landfills. Choose reusable items: Opt for reusable products like cloth bags, refillable water bottles, and rechargeable batteries, which can significantly reduce waste. Shop secondhand: Purchasing pre-owned items, such as clothing and furniture, from thrift stores or online marketplaces can save money and reduce waste, as these items might otherwise end up in landfills. Avoid over-packaging: Choose products with minimal packaging or packaging made from recycled materials, and avoid single-use plastic packaging. Support eco-friendly businesses: Patronize companies that prioritize sustainability, use recycled materials, and have transparent supply chains. Buy in bulk: Purchase items in larger quantities or shop at bulk stores to reduce packaging waste. Be sure to store bulk items properly to prevent spoilage. Purchase local and American-made products: Support local businesses, farmers’ markets, and American-made products, which often have a smaller footprint due to reduced transportation and can offer fresher, more eco-friendly products. Plan your purchases: Create a shopping list and stick to it to avoid impulse buys, which often result in unnecessary waste. Educate yourself: Stay informed about the environmental impacts of the products you consume and make informed decisions about what to buy and how to dispose of it responsibly. With these simple steps, we can all make a difference in the fight against waste and pollution. Let’s do our part to contribute to a more sustainable future. The Pinewood News will feature eco-friendly products for our readers’ consideration in future issues. Many companies are working on providing excellent products that are friendly to our land, and we will be happy to introduce you to them!

Welcome to Part II of last month’s article, “Local Mundsies Trust is Shattered as Scammers Make Off With Almost $30,000!” This heart-wrenching story depicted the struggles of two locals who fell victim to scammers. While our previous story aimed to raise awareness, this article aims to equip you with the necessary tools to stay safe online. We extend our gratitude to local Mundsie Fred Lloyd, who contributed the following article to help locals not fall victim to scammers. By Fred Lloyd Understanding Social Engineering. The first term you must become familiar with is social engineering. Social engineering is a modern term for the classic con man or flim-flam artist. Social engineering means, in effect, making the other person feel normal while being manipulated. One form of social engineering is to blend in. It’s how party-crashers get away with attending a party where they know nobody. They stay and enjoy the party because they act as if they belong there. That is social engineering. The concept of social engineering goes far and has many twists and turns to suit the attacker’s needs. The key to most scams is misrepresentation in one form or another. The scam might be misrepresenting a legitimate business or attempting to misappropriate an identity. As I was writing this article, my phone rang. It was a strange area code. I answered, “Hello,” and there was an unusual silence. Then the voice said “hello” back and, in a calm, emotionless voice, identified themselves as the Police Officers Association. I hung up. It was a computer. There is no way on God’s green earth that this was a policeman or that the caller was even associated with the police. online security This scammer was looking for honest, trusting people, the ones easiest to manipulate. By claiming to be with the police, the wheels are pre-lubricated for action. The victim is guaranteed to remain polite and cooperative on the phone. The victim might actually donate to the “Association” and never think twice about it. Perhaps the most compelling scam strategy should be called “something for nothing” or, in other words, a bargain. The offer of a bargain is what keeps slot machines running, except that in the real world, people don’t expect there to be a payout. No, quite the contrary; they are expecting value for money. When I ask a user, “Why did you send $1500 to a P.O. Box in Brooklyn,” they often respond with, “Because it was a great deal!” Umm, a good deal for the P.O. Box, but not so much for you. In this sense, scammers rely on human greed as a motivator. It works extremely well. You need something expensive, and, being the sensible shopper you are, you search for the best price. During your search, you find one with a very attractive price, so you lay your money down... only to never see it again. Tips for Avoiding Scams online security So, what can you do? Believe it or not, quite a bit. Here are a few tips that may help you avoid a loss: Never answer a text message from a business that claims urgency. “Your Amazon account will be suspended; click here to respond” is a perfect example. Amazon doesn’t send messages like that. Moreover, no business does. Text messaging is not considered secure communication. Never give any person a verification code. If someone says, “I’ll send you a code to verify you,” hang up because it’s a scam. Authentication codes, such as two-factor authentication and those sent as text messages, must never be given verbally to another person. They are intended for “eyes only” and are never spoken. If a person asks you for a code sent by text, they want it to impersonate you. Do not respond to emails that request you to log in to fix an issue. Don’t do what they ask. For example, suppose you receive an email that looks like it’s from your bank, complete with the official logo. It asks you to log in for some plausible reason. You click the login link in the email and see your bank’s familiar login page. You enter your name and password, and nothing happens. You’ve just been Phished. Now, some crook has your username and password, and they will be logging into your bank momentarily. Scammers build fake websites that look like the real thing, so you will unwittingly input your legitimate username and password. That’s Phishing. Anytime a financial message comes to you by email or text, do not click on it. Instead, open a browser (or your App) and manually log in to your bank, as you typically do, to see if anything needs your attention. Don’t trust sites like Craigslist, where sellers are not authenticated. Never send money to a Craigslist seller that isn’t local, and never send money to a Craigslist seller that you haven’t spoken to on the phone. Most scammers won’t give you their phone number, which automatically disqualifies them. If they give you their number, call them and discuss the item in detail. Ensure that the seller knows as much about the item as you would if it were yours. It’s a tip-off if the seller is generally ignorant. If they’re selling it “for someone else,” run, don’t walk away from the deal. Never accept third-party deals. It doesn’t matter if the owner is on his deathbed and can’t speak, DON’T DO IT! Don’t respond to compassionate pleas. “I need the money for surgery” is the example here. The surgery is actually a “dollarectomy” from your wallet. Say NO. You’re not saying no to their problems—You’re saying no to being ripped off. Don’t be a softie. They’re hoping for that. Pay attention to what’s on your screen. It’s unsafe to disregard things you don’t understand on the screen. For example, the lock symbol on the browser shows that the connection is encrypted and that the website you’ve arrived at is registered to the name shown in the address bar. For heaven’s sake, folks, please get into the habit of looking at the address bar on your browsers. It tells you where you’ve actually landed on the internet. It is guaranteed accurate if the lock symbol is there. If the lock symbol shows missing or unlocked, it could be a phishing site. A phishing site might imperceptibly misspell the company’s name, and you might not notice it. Pay attention! Don’t let your decisions be driven by price. Too many people have lost everything trying to save a buck. Things that have value are worth paying for. Low prices are the calling card of a scammer. Scammers will always offer the lowest price and claim urgency. Don’t believe it because nobody sells things of value at a loss for very long, if at all. Be wary of unusual payment requests. Be extremely wary. Never pay someone other than the seller. An example is to ask for money to be sent to the seller’s wife or friend, who, coincidentally, has a different last name. Never use PayPal Friends & Family payments unless the person is actually Never accept a cashier’s check unless you’ve specifically arranged for one. Never accept a check for more than your asking price. Be wary of any payment that cannot be tracked. PayPal is your friend, despite the fee. Don’t assume that any police or agency can help you with recovery. Not even the bank. I recently had a large, unauthorized withdrawal from my bank that was stopped due to my vigilance. The bank will not disclose what happened to me in any detail, even though my statement showed where the unauthorized withdrawal went. You’re on your own and probably lost at this point. The way to avoid this is not to get scammed! Protecting Yourself on Social Media Be cautious with your social media account, as it can inadvertently expose your personal information or location. Here are some tips to help safeguard your online presence: Disable Location Services: Turning off location services on apps like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook prevents criminals from knowing your whereabouts. This reduces the risk of being targeted based on your location or having bad actors use your absence from home to their advantage. Adjust Privacy Settings: Customize your privacy settings on social media apps to limit who can access your posts and profile details. Default settings on most apps can expose sensitive information about you, so limiting access is crucial. The most secure option is only to allow people you know in person to access your posts and profile. Be Careful with Friend Requests: Ignore or delete friend requests from people you don’t know. Be cautious of requests from people you know if they seem suspicious. Bad actors may impersonate a friend to gain access to your information. If unsure, verify the request’s legitimacy by contacting your friend through a different channel. Take A Moment Before You Post: Avoid sharing sensitive and personal information that could be used to harm you. Think carefully before posting and consider the potential consequences of sharing with the world. By being mindful of what you post, you reduce the risk of your personal information being misused by scammers or cybercriminals. Handling Emergency Scam Calls & Messages If someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a family member or a friend desperate for money, here’s what to do: Resist the pressure to send money immediately. Hang up. Then: Call or message the family member or friend who (supposedly) contacted you. Call them at a phone number that you know is right, not the one someone just used to contact you. Check if they’re really in trouble. Call someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if the caller said to keep it a secret. Do that especially if you can’t reach the friend or family member who’s supposed to be in trouble. A trusted person can help you figure out whether the story is true. Additional Tips for Internet Safety Use antivirus software and firewalls on all your devices to protect against malware and other threats. Create strong, unique passwords and use a password manager to keep track of them. Enable two-factor authentication whenever available. Following these tips and staying vigilant can protect you from scams and maintain a safer online presence. We must continually educate ourselves on new threats and stay up-to-date with best practices for internet safety.

We have sneaky green villains sapping the land of its value and beauty while causing a ruckus in the environment. You, dear reader, can become the hero in this story, fighting the good fight against these invasive plant culprits! These pesky invaders aren’t just a nuisance; they cost the US economy a whopping $120 billion annually. They also fan the flames of wildfires, mess with our precious biological diversity, and leave a lasting scar on the land, unlike the natural healing process after a fire. Here’s how these green meanies disrupt our environment: They push out native plants and reduce biodiversity. They steal water and native pollinators from desirable plants. They turn diverse plant communities into a single-species party. They downgrade wildlife habitats and block streams, causing floods. They make soil erosion worse and cover trails, walkways, lots, and landscapes. Munds Park has a couple of these invasive weeds that need our attention. Keep an eye out for these two troublemakers: The Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) This non-native knapweed grows 1-2.5 feet tall, with white, pink, or lavender flowers. It’s super competitive, excluding other vegetation and producing lots of seeds. Yank it out before it seeds, and bag those pesky flowers to avoid spreading. If you find rosettes (clusters of leaves at the base) in the spring, pull them out too. Mowing is a no-go; it only makes things worse. Patience is key, as it takes years to control knapweed due to its long-lasting seeds. The Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium) Another non-native, Scotch thistle is a relentless weed that can grow up to 6 feet tall. In its first year, it produces a rosette (cluster of leaves at ground level) and then sends up a multi-branched, flowering stalk in its second year. Its leaves have a grayish appearance due to dense hairs. Dig it out, cutting the root an inch below the ground. Bag the flowering plants or chop them up to avoid seeding. Mowing isn’t recommended for this one either. Be prepared for a long battle, as Scotch thistle seeds can stay viable for decades. Important note: Don’t confuse Scotch thistle with native buddies Wheeler’s and Arizona thistle. For further information, please see the informative website on Northern Arizona’s Invasive Plants from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension at: www.nazinvasiveplants.org. Together, we can protect Munds Park from these botanical baddies! Note: It is crucial to exercise caution and use environmentally friendly methods when addressing invasive plants. The use of herbicides should be avoided, unless they are organic, as they can have detrimental effects on forest land, animals, and bees. Preserving the delicate balance of our ecosystems is paramount in our fight against invasive plants.

How to Live Among Our Wild Neighbors Cougars, also known as mountain lions, pumas, panthers, or ghost cats are known by over 40 different names in English alone. They are the most wide-ranging cat species in the world and live right here in Munds Park! Nature lovers celebrate sharing space with woodland animals. After all, the forest and wildlife are part of the Park’s romance. Lately, local Facebook groups have been buzzing with mountain lion sightings. Most are in awe, while some are concerned. It seems everyone has Ring installed or external security cameras catching our nocturnal animals as they pass through. Today’s need to record everything gives the illusion visits from mountain lions are a new phenomenon, but wildlife roamed the Park long before we got here. If you talk to seasoned Mundsies, they will tell you there was a lot more wildlife in Munds Park than what you see today. Gail Van Deurzen, long-time resident, remembers when she and her husband Rick enjoyed watching Elk from their front porch. She said a momma Elk and her two babies lived in a ravine nearby, and she would come out at dusk grazing for food. Gail remembers a time when the momma Elk went to the neighbor’s hummingbird feeder and tipped the nectar into her mouth gulping it down like a refreshing Coca-Cola. She says those were lovely memories and misses when the Park was quiet and wildlife freely roamed. Today, if it wasn’t for cameras, we would hardly know animals are visiting. Loud parties, overly lit cabins, roaring side-by-sides and ATVs have made wildlife unwelcome. That’s a depressing statement considering woodland animals are one of the gifts of living in Munds Park. The question is, how do we live in harmony with our wild neighbors? Let’s start with a few facts about our stealthy friends. About Mountain Lions Mountain Lions are strong, sleek and agile. Adult males average 2 to 2.7 feet tall and about 8 feet long from the nose-to-tail. They generally weigh between 115 to 160 pounds. Females are slightly smaller. Mountain Lions can sprint up to 50 mph, jump as high as 18 feet off the ground, and can leap 45 feet horizontally. Mountain Lions don’t roar. Instead, they growl, shriek, chirp, hiss, and even purr. Their night vision is excellent, and they are most active at dusk and dawn. They navigate their home range in a zigzag course, avoiding open areas and taking advantage of available cover. The cat’s keen senses are focused on picking up the slightest movement, odor, or sound. They are stealthy predators, often lying in wait for prey or silently stalking it before pouncing from behind and delivering a lethal bite to the spinal cord. Typically they prey on deer but will eat any animal, including pets. Like all cats, mountain lions are carnivores. Due to mountain lions’ prey being mostly herbivores, the seeds in the stomach of their victims will be spread through the cougar’s scat. This results in cougars unintentionally planting over 90,000 plants per year. Like most cat species, mountain lions are solitary, interacting only to mate and raise their young. Female mountain lions give birth to 2-3 kittens at a time. On average, only one out of six cubs survives to maturity. Mountain lion cubs are covered in black spots from birth until about 6 months old when they fade. These spots act as camouflage to help the cubs blend into their surroundings while young. Other than humans, no species prey upon fully-grown mountain lions in the wild. Mountain Lions Don’t Like People The risk of mountain lions attacking humans is infinitely small, and frankly, the number of attacks would be greater if they had a natural urge to hunt people. Instead, they avoid humans and won’t attack unless they feel threatened. While attacks are very rare, living in cat country does require Mundsies to be knowledgeable and take steps not to artificially attract mountain lions into the Park. Living with Mountain Lions Safety tips for walking and hiking: Be alert and walk with a companion between dusk and dawn. Make noise and carry an air horn. Keep children close and always keep pets on a leash. Cabin safety tips: Closely supervise children whenever they play outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn. Talk with your children about mountain lions and teach them what to do if they encounter one. Keep dogs, cats, and other domestic animals indoors or in a secure enclosure. If pets are kept outdoors overnight, ensure the enclosure has a sturdy roof. Do not let your pets run free. Trim landscaping around your cabin. Remove dense, low-lying vegetation that can provide good hiding places for mountain lions and coyotes, especially around children’s play areas. Keeping landscaping away from your home not only removes hiding spots for wildlife but also keeps your cabin firewise. It is important to keep wildlife wild. Do not feed wild animals and do not feed your pets outdoors. By feeding deer, javelina, or other wildlife in your yard, you may inadvertently attract mountain lions and other wild predators, which prey upon them. Properly close trash cans so trash and food do not spill into our streets and attract animals. If You Encounter a Mountain Lion Never approach or corner a mountain lion (or any wild animal). If you encounter a mountain lion, STOP. DO NOT RUN. You can’t outrun them, so don’t even try. Pick up small children – picking them up will both protect them and keep them from panicking. If you can, remain facing the Mountain Lion and maintain eye contact as you pick up your children. Slowly back away and allow the cat room and time to move on. Stand tall. Look bigger by opening your coat or raising your arms. Slowly wave your arms and speak firmly and loudly. Mountain lions are opportunistic hunters and most likely don’t want to fight. In the rare event of an attack, fight back. Try to remain standing and face the animal and fight back with anything you can, such as sticks, rocks, hiking pole, or your fists. Following these tips will help keep you safe the next time you are outdoors in mountain lion habitat. What happened to the mother and her cubs roaming Munds Park? Game and Fish were notified of a mother and her cubs in Munds Park. The cubs were even spotted in a Mundsies backyard. Now that’s cool and scary! I spoke with Tom Cadden, Public Information Officer for Game and Fish, and he was aware of the mother and her cubs. He said they believe she was the same mountain lion they had been tracking for a couple of years. He further explained that she is not showing any signs of aggression toward humans or behaving unusually, and they have no plans to relocate her. Their only objective at this time is to educate the public. Mountain lion removal is usually a last resort. They are territorial and often return to the area of capture post-relocation. Further, because of their territoriality, conflict may occur with another mountain lion in the release area and often ends in the severe injury or death of one or both mountain lions. The future of Mountain Lions Mountain lions used to be found throughout the United States but are now only found in 15 western states, including Arizona. Mountain lions live a short 13 years in the wild—If they reach old age. Today, few lions live a natural lifespan. It’s a difficult life, full of lethal challenges: even when the lion avoids humans. They are shot for recreation, for sport, and for trophies. They are shot when a rancher’s livestock is lost and when pets disappear. They are shot when people are afraid. So far, Arizona is blessed with sustainable populations of mountain lions. Let’s keep it that way and act accordingly. To report a mountain lion sighting call Game and Fish at 623-236-7201.

When I say “comfort food,” what comes to your mind? I think we all have different opinions on what comfort food is for us. For some, it could be pizza; for others, steak and potatoes. But for me, when I hear comfort food, the first thing that comes to mind is Amish chicken and noodles. This is the ultimate comfort food for me!! Steve and I lived in Indiana, where we served in a church in the South Bend area. We were very close to a large Amish community. And let me tell you what, the Amish know how to cook!!! Every year, we would make multiple trips to an Amish town called Shepshewana. They had so many wonderfully fun stores to shop in, including a monthly auction and flea market. But the best thing about Shepshewana was the Blue Gate Café. As you walked into the café, you had 2 choices of where to eat. To the right was the family-style part of the restaurant. There you paid one price, and the food was brought to your table family style. Bowls of the best mashed potatoes you ever ate, vegetables, broasted chicken (yes, broasted. Somewhere between broiled and roasted and the best I have ever eaten), homemade rolls and much more. If you turned to the left, you ate in their ala carte restaurant, where you were given a menu and could order what you wanted. This is where we most often ate. However, the first choice for either side was to stop at the dessert counter. You see, the Amish make the most amazing pies!!! And you had to pick your piece as you went in because if you waited, it might not be there when you got done with your meal! Oh my word, the pies!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If you know me very well, you know I am not much of a dessert person. I love savory and salty. So the thing I always looked forward to at the Blue Gate was the Chicken and Noodles that was served over and a generous amount of mashed potatoes! The first time I heard of it, I thought wow, that is a lot of carbs! What happened to the balanced plate of a protein, a starch and a vegetable? Well, one bite of this bowl and you will never miss the vegetables!! Of course, the noodles were always thick and homemade and each bite just warmed your stomach like a warm blanket in the winter. It was and still is my go-to comfort food. As fall is approaching and cool weather is starting to show up, the other comfort food I love is soup. Give me a big bowl of hearty soup and some homemade sourdough and I am a happy girl. I have soups on rotation in my home, and I have many of them ready as a dump-and-serve meal. What I love about soup is that you don’t necessarily have to follow the recipe. You can add or omit as you feel led by what you have in your fridge or pantry. The base of the soup can stay the same. But if you don’t have potatoes and you do have sweet potatoes? Then swap them. Have some extra kale that needs to be used? Add it to the soup. Want to make it a bit heartier? Add some rice or pasta! Soups are versatile and always a welcome place at the table during the winter months! I hope you enjoy the recipes I’ve included and that they warm your stomachs this winter and bring you comfort! Roasted Tomato Basil Soup Ingredients 2 1/4 lbs Roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise 1 1/4 lbs grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes 4 1/2 Tbsp olive oil Salt and black pepper 8 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole 2 small yellow onions, sliced just under 1/2-inch thick 2 cups (lightly packed fresh basil, divided 5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 3 Tbsp olive oil then season with salt and pepper (place Roma halves cut side upright). Place onion slices and garlic on a rimmed half sheet and brush with remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil on all sides, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place baking sheet with tomatoes and half sheet with onions in oven (on oven racks set near center) and roast garlic 15 minutes (or until just golden) and remove, roast onions 30 – 35 minutes (until edges are golden brown) and remove, and roast tomatoes 40 – 45 minutes until slightly browned. Pour roasted tomatoes, onions and garlic into a large pot. Add vegetable broth and the basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, cover, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Blend soup with an immersion blender or in small batches in a blender (only fill blender half full and remove center insert and cover with a kitchen towel). Serve warm topped with grilled cheese or grilled cheese croutons if desired. Amish Chicken & Noodles Ingredients One 4 lb. whole chicken Salt and Pepper 4-6 Tablespoons chicken base (the amount you use will depend on the brand and your taste feel free to use more or less according to your taste) 12 ounces Amish style thin egg noodles 4 Tablespoons butter (optional) Directions Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in a slow cooker and cover it with water. Set the crock pot to high and cook for 5 hours on high or 8-10 on low. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and allow to cool slightly, then debone and shred the chicken. Carefully pour the broth from the slow cooker through a strainer into a large pot. You need enough liquid in the pot to boil all of the noodles, so if needed, add a cup or two of water. Add the chicken to the pot, then bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Stir in four tablespoons of the chicken base, dissolve completely, then taste. If the broth doesn’t have a strong enough flavor, add an extra Tablespoon or two to taste. Add the noodles and boil for 8-10 minutes or until noodles are soft. Stir in the butter, if desired, and allow it to melt. The noodles will be soupy, but they’ll keep slurping up the broth the longer they sit. Plus, the broth makes a great “gravy” for your mashed potatoes. Feel free to strain extra broth off before serving if you wish. Serve noodles over mashed potatoes.

Folks, let me share a cautionary tale with you. We’re living in an age where technology has made it easier than ever to manipulate reality and take advantage of unsuspecting people. Thanks to user-friendly graphic design software, anyone can create fake documents and websites that look absolutely legitimate, fooling even the most discerning eye. To make matters worse, the advent of AI-powered tools that simulate voices and create deep fake videos has thrown our sense of reality into the Twilight Zone. It’s a new world where we can no longer trust our own eyes or ears. Evil con artists will stop at nothing to gain your trust and ultimately steal your hard-earned money or even worse, threaten the lives of those you love. The community of Mundsberry, though tucked away from the hustle of the big city and known for its laid-back lifestyle and friendly people, is not immune to fraudsters seeking to steal your money. Deanna and Ren Bascelli, esteemed owners of Kota’s Coffee House, as well as my wife Genna Caviness, have recently been swindled out of nearly $30,000. Understandably, they were hesitant to share their experience, as being duped is embarrassing. However, let me dispel a common misconception: it’s not just the elderly or the naive who are vulnerable to such crimes. In fact, anyone can be ensnared by these elaborate schemes, regardless of their age or level of sophistication. In this day and age, where scammers have access to advanced and highly effective tools, it’s crucial to shed light on these accounts and acknowledge that deception can strike anyone. I am going to Kill Your Grandson! I recently received a frantic phone call from Genna, and her distress was palpable. She was nearly incoherent, but amidst her tears and trembling voice, she managed to utter the shocking words: “I was forced to empty our bank accounts!” My initial reaction was one of disbelief. What could she possibly mean? As Genna tried to explain further, I realized she was claiming that the Mexican Cartel had coerced her into draining our personal and business accounts. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I wish I could say that I responded with kindness and understanding, but I did not. Normally, I don’t place much importance on material wealth. In fact, I might have told her, “Honey, it’s only money. Come home, and let’s talk.” However, losing that much money could have had significant repercussions for us, and I found myself angry at Genna for being so naive. When Genna got home, I saw the fear in her face, and my heart broke. It turned out that the scammers had psychologically tortured her for over five hours, and it all started with a Verizon Gizmo Watch that our daughter had purchased for our 10-year-old grandson. The watch is designed for kids too young for a smartphone but too old not to have the ability to call select family members and friends. It allows parents to select up to 10 people their kids can contact and be contacted by. Further, it tracks the child’s location so that all 10 people can see where the child is at any given moment. Personally, I’m not a fan of apps that track locations, and I felt it was too intrusive, but because it was for our grandson, we downloaded the app onto our phones. Genna went to work, and while showing the app to her boss, the phone rang. Thinking it was our grandson, she picked up the call, and that is when the horror began. On the other end of the phone was a young boy screaming, saying there had been an accident. Genna tries to find out what’s happening through our grandson’s incoherent and terrifying pleas for help when a man with a heavy Mexican accent gets on the line and says he’s with the Mexican Cartel and they had our grandson. As Genna further tries to get a grip on what’s going on, the man gets angry and indignant, telling her to do exactly as he says or he will kill our grandson. Genna is now in panic mode and not thinking—exactly how the scammer wants her to be. Irrational and terrified out of her mind. The scammer tells her he has control of her phone and knows everything she is doing and not to try to contact anyone, or her grandson will die. Genna very compliantly agreed and said, “I will do anything—anything! Just please keep my grandson safe!” Genna is now their puppet. They knew she was in Munds Park and knew how to navigate her to Flagstaff and through the city. For over five hours, they guided her from bank to bank, from one wire transfer to another. Pulling money, sending money, dumping receipts, and terrorizing and manipulating her the entire time. When she would ask to talk to her grandson, they would yell and scream profanities, “Do you want me to (expletive) chop his fingers off one at a time? Do you (expletive) want to hear that? Do you (expletive) think the Cartel (expletive) cares if we kill this kid? They don’t! They want their (expletive) money, so shut the (expletive) up and do as we say!” They threatened our grandson and manipulated her the entire time they had her on the phone. As she withdrew money from the bank, she would be aggressively told, “Put the money in your right pocket. Put the receipt in the left pocket. We are watching you!” Another man with a Mexican accent would get on the phone and nicely told Genna she was doing a good job. He even worried about her getting hungry and needing water. The scammers went back and forth from friendly to evil throughout the call. This is another one of their manipulative strategies. The thought of being constantly monitored and tracked by the scammers kept Genna paralyzed with fear. The app she had just downloaded with tracking capabilities only heightened her terror. The idea that they could track her every move, intercept her calls and messages, and prevent her from seeking help was not an implausible scenario. Further, we live in a state where our borders are more open than at any time in history. The notion of the Mexican Cartel having our grandson? Why not? The situation was entirely plausible for Genna; thus, she emptied out our accounts. The question of whether the scammers had access to Genna’s phone through the Verizon Gizmo Watch remains a mystery. It’s difficult to say definitively whether it was just an unfortunate coincidence or something more sinister. However, the timing of the call, coming just a few hours after the app was downloaded and opened when the call came through, certainly raises eyebrows. Were the scammers monitoring Genna’s every move? It’s impossible to know for sure, but the possibility is certainly real and very unsettling. We are happy to report our grand-love is just fine and was in class the entire time. The scam pulled on Genna is called an “emergency scam,” sometimes called “grandparent scams.” It all starts with the scammers trolling social media sites, looking for public profiles that provide ample information. They will use this information to create a convincing scenario that incorporates real-life details, such as travel plans and nicknames, to lure their targets into believing that their loved one is in grave danger. Now with artificial intelligence combined with social media intel, scammers have the ultimate tools to convince anyone their loved one is in danger. Arizona’s Family News Channel 3 recently reported on a voice cloning scam that was used to trick a mother in Arizona into believing that her daughter had been kidnapped. Jennifer DeStefano received a call from an unknown number. Initially, she thought it was her daughter, who was away skiing, but then a man’s voice came on the line and threatened to drug the teenager and take her to Mexico if DeStefano contacted the police. In reality, the daughter was safe, but the call was a “virtual kidnapping,” which uses AI-generated voice clones to convince people that their loved ones are in danger. Voice cloning technology is becoming more sophisticated, and criminals can now create a convincing clone with just a few seconds of a person’s voice. In today’s world, the line between reality and illusion has become increasingly blurred and requires us to be hyper-vigilant. Subtle Changes to Legitimate Business Names Trick Unsuspecting Customers Like many businesses in the Park, Kota’s Coffee House was hit hard by recent snowstorms. The owners, Deanna and Ren Bascelli, found themselves unable to open their doors because they couldn’t get their parking lot plowed. To be more self-reliant, Ren wanted to purchase a tractor to help clear the snow for their business and offer the church and elderly locals assistance with snow plowing. Ren scoured Craigslist, hoping to find a gently used tractor at a reasonable price, and he saw the perfect one. The price wasn’t too low to set off any alarms—The price was just right. A good deal, he thought. At first glance, everything seemed on the up and up. This wasn’t some shady individual Ren was buying from. It was a legitimate business based in Idaho that sold tractors. Their website was polished and professional, complete with pricing, photos, and even videos of other tractors for sale. When it came time to finalize the sale, all the documentation looked authentic. The contract, title, and business license all seemed to check out. They sent other documents to prove their legitimacy, which appeared over the top and gave Deanna a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Unfortunately, they were under immense stress from the snowstorms and other calamities and ignored this red flag. They wired the money to the supposed seller’s Wells Fargo account and expected delivery of their new tractor on a Friday. But the delivery never came. Ren reached out to the driver and was met with apologies and excuses about a broken water pump delaying the delivery until Monday. Monday came and Deanna’s gut was telling her they had been scammed—even though the “driver” was still saying the tractor was on the way. She shared her thoughts with Ren, and he began investigating. Ren contacted a similar tractor sales company in Idaho and learned that the woman who had conned them was Tatianna, a con artist under FBI investigation. She had been using their company to appear legitimate, only slightly changing the company name in the website URL. It was a devastating revelation, but at least Ren finally had answers. That day, Ren and Deanna filed a report with the FBI, Idaho Police Department, and the State Attorney General. Their report now sits among the thousands of reports coming in each and every year. They also turned to their bank to try and stop the wire transfer, with absolutely no help. Scammers are a serious problem, with 1 in 10 people falling victim. Law enforcement struggles to keep up, and the banks... do not expect any assistance regarding wire transfers. The chances of getting your money back are slim to none. I am happy to report Ren did get his tractor. He researched the tractor he wanted and purchased directly from a dealer in Oklahoma—taking additional steps to verify who they were. He even called businesses around the dealer to verify they had a brick-and-mortar business and had been around for a while. It’s with gratitude that I thank Deanna, Ren, and my Genna for being strong and allowing me to share their stories. People must be vigilant and cautious in today’s digital landscape, where sophisticated and cunning scammers lurk around every corner. Let their stories serve as a cautionary tale for us all, reminding us to do our due diligence before making any significant purchases or engaging with unknown individuals. So, when you happen to run into Deanna, Ren, or Genna in the Park, there’s no need to offer any advice on the subject. Just give them a warm hello and let their experience inspire you to stay alert and stay safe. In the May 5th issue for the Pinewood News we will provide tips on how to protect yourself from scammers.

In the face of an emergency, time is of the essence. This was abundantly clear with last year’s Tunnel Fire in Flagstaff, which had 75-mile-an-hour winds at the source and was moving at an astonishing 30 miles per hour. As evacuation teams hustled to notify residents through the Ready, Set, Go System, it became clear that the manual mapping process was taking up valuable time. In fact, some residents only had 12 seconds between the “Set” and “Go” directives at one point. To ensure the effectiveness of the emergency alert system, evacuation areas need clear geographic boundaries before issuing communication. That’s why Coconino County Emergency Management has created a way to simplify the process through automation. By pre-designating evacuation zones throughout most of the heavily populated areas in the County, emergency teams can now simply call in a zone name and number to implement the Ready, Set, Go System, rather than stopping to draw each notification area by hand while an emergency is underway. This new system eliminates the need for emergency management teams in the field to manually draw evacuation areas, freeing them up to focus on more critical tasks. And while some may worry that pre-designated zones may be less precise than made-in-the-moment evacuation areas, the use of geo-fencing technology ensures that people in the relevant region are the only ones who receive an alert. Of course, it’s important to remember that a resident’s success during an evacuation ultimately depends on their personal preparedness and how fast they respond to the system’s alerts. If you have livestock or multiple family members and pets to manage, don’t wait for the “Set” directive to get ready to roll. It’s worth noting that the map is only designed to apply to unincorporated areas, so those living off-grid or outside the zones will need to take an active role in figuring out what zone they live next to and pay attention to that area. If a nearby zone is evacuated, there’s a good chance that they should consider evacuation as well. For those living in Munds Park, the designated zones are 17, 18, and 19. The map is available for public viewing online at www.coconino.az.gov/evacmap, and we encourage all community members to check it out. With this new system in place, we can all feel a little more secure in the face of emergencies. Not registered for emergency alerts? It’s past time. It is essential to you and your family’s safety, especially during fire season. Do it today at www.smart911.com.

This winter’s “SNOWMEGEDDON” coupled with chronic rain created a record amount of snowmelt and water runoff for the Pinewood Sanitary District. The 600,000-gallon capacity sewer plant experienced multiple days of flows almost four times greater than the plant’s capacity. Fortunately, the dedicated staff and technicians at the plant worked through many nights in order to treat the overflowing water so that the downstream tributaries would not suffer unacceptable contamination. However, these continuous events have brought about violations from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, (ADEQ,) called “Administrative Consent Orders” and “Notice of Violation.” ADEQ is a state agency with the task of overseeing multiple state organizations dealing with sanitary and water control. The Pinewood Sanitary District is allowed to operate under the guidance and requirements of ADEQ. A combination of an aging plant and collection system, growing community, increased inflationary costs and failing lateral collection lines are causing an emergency situation for the district. ADEQ is requiring the district to initiate immediate repair plans for the entire collection system. The plant is also aging and needs to implement a strategic repair and replacement program. The collection system is comprised of the sewer lines between each home/business and the main sewer connection from the street to the main line hook-up. Additionally, the manholes throughout the community are in desperate need of repair and replacement. There are more than 600 manholes in Munds Park and hundreds of them need to be repaired. To date, twenty-six of the worst leaking manholes have been repaired. Since this is a private district which handles only the residents and visitors of Munds Park, the cost of those repairs become the responsibility of the community at large. There is no tax basis to pay for the repairs; they are paid for via assessments to the district’s members. There are loans available to sanitary districts where the government will loan monies ,under prescribed circumstances in order to address the very circumstances that PSD is facing. The Board of Directors is in the process of requesting those funds and assistance from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA), in order to move forward with the necessary repairs. It is a long process which begins with a vote this November in order to procure the funds via approval of the electorate in the community. All full-time homeowners in Munds Park will vote on this measure. Failure in this arena would result in the State taking over the district and convening a mandatory state tax and assuming operational control over PSD, which presumably would see the costs soar even more than they would otherwise. The last time this kind of event occurred was in the early nineties when Munds Park was prohibited from adding any bathrooms, building any additional homes, obtaining any building permits, etc. Naturally, the community’s real estate valuation would be negatively affected, not to mention the quality of life. We have to have a fully operational sanitary district in order to enjoy the benefits of living in Munds Park. The Board of Directors is committed to being transparent to this necessary endeavor as we embark on years-worth of collection system repairs. We are all in this together, literally, and we feel that communication is an incremental requirement of the process. We plan to communicate the combined efforts of the Board and our engineering and construction partners as we move from phase to phase in the repair process. During the March Board meeting, the Board voted unanimously to request a proposal for services from Ardurra Engineering out of Flagstaff to draft the initial proposals for the work needing to be done. The Board also voted to move forward with the WIFA loan process including a $50,000 loan request for environmental studies and planning for the process. This entire process will address the deficiencies currently affecting the plant’s collection procedure and also ensure long term operational maintenance so that sanitary services can continue to be provided to our current and future population of Munds Park resident’s and visitor’s. Besides our communication via the Pinewood News, our District website and postings in the Arizona Daily Sun, the District is implementing a bulletin board in the conference room which will detail PSD’s plans as they develop and share information with those residents that desire to be kept abreast of the progress being made during this process. In addition, those interested in hearing first hand about the process can attend the monthly meetings, open to the public, on the second Thursday of each month at 3:00 pm at the PSD office. Inflation Causes Operating Increase for Pinewood Sanitary District Monthly Maintenance Fees The Pinewood Sanitary District Board voted unanimously during the March meeting to increase the monthly “Operation and Maintenance” fee 8.5% from $50.57 per household to $54.90. The increase is due to soaring operational costs spearheaded by energy costs that have mushroomed over the last two years. The Pinewood Sanitary District also assessed increases to the applicable businesses utilizing the private sewer district for sanitary relief. All increases become effective July 1, 2023 with the new fiscal budget. “Nobody likes to see prices go up,” said Bill Spain, District Chairman, “yet we have to be able to fill the trucks with gas and diesel fuel, pay the electric bill and maintain operations and with the inflation incurred over the last eighteen plus months, something has to give. We have looked at every possible avenue to reduce overhead before we made the decision to raise the rates,” added Spain. “We are in the process of revising our monthly mailings to minimize expense, cutting our payroll system fees, copy and cloud storage costs and reducing employee expenses where we can but the pace of the inflationary trend requires we increase our fees at this point,” he added. In combination with the increase in expenses, the District has seen a huge spike in the volume of processing the plant has had to absorb. The extreme weather events that have been plaguing the plant during the last several months are making it difficult for plant personnel to operate the plant efficiently. The increase in usage by Airbnb and VRBO’s are a big problem on weekends and holidays, especially in the summer months. “The diapers and wipes in the system are a real problem for our plant operation,” stated Lee Krosnicki, Sanitary District Manager. “The equipment can’t handle the influx of these “flushed” commodities. This behavior is causing breakdowns at the plant, replacement of pumps, filters and additional manpower hours to deal with the clogs and equipment breakdowns. It has to stop,” exclaimed Krosnicki. “This is a call to all those in our community to help us keep the plant working by being critical of anything you put into the sewer system.” said Spain, “We all need to help our aging plant work efficiently by being considerate of each other and ensuring we do not pollute the system by flushing any kind of wipes, diapers or toweling into the sewer. It is another reason for the increase in costs,” stated Spain. In case you missed it, read Pinewood Sanitary District Confronted with Soaring Costs from our March 2023 issue.

Wow! What a way to bring in the New Year! January winter storms blanketed our Park with rolling hills of snow and trees so white Munds Park looked like a land only read about in fairy tales. So far, Flagstaff has had a total of 69.5+ inches of snow this January, and although Munds Park does not have official readings, we estimate the Park received more than our neighbors up the hill. What we love about the Park is also the most challenging. We are surrounded by wilderness and enjoy four seasons, and with that comes Mother Nature. She will dump heavy-wet snow, create strong winds, make our roads dangerous, pull down power lines and take our lights and heat. Seasoned Mundsies understand and prepare for weather events. They heed the warnings from officials and have the necessary provisions on hand, local services organized in their contacts, and they are in touch with their neighbors. All these things are part of being self-sufficient and an essential quality of living in the mountains. However, we have a lot of new Mundsies in the Park and many experienced a significant winter storm for the first time, catching them off guard. Even some of our experienced community members got into trouble. However, we are fortunate. We live in a community that takes care of our own. Everyone pitched in, from short-term rental owners opening their cabins for people without power to owners of 4-wheel drive trucks and snow plowers pulling the stranded off the icy streets. The Red Cross, County Emergency Management, and the Munds Park Community Church opened a Warming Shelter. Community volunteers and our firefighters helped transport cold guests to a friendly place to get warm. It’s a beautiful thing to see people come together—Munds Park is rich with good people. With all the newcomers, Munds Park is also rich with people who have no idea how to live in mountain country. Your realtor told you about the beautiful forest, the woodland animals, our cool summers, fresh air and endless blue skies. Munds Park is a romantic community—An easy sell to Phoenicians looking to escape the summer heat and hustle of the city. What realtor’s don’t tell you is how to live in the mountains and navigate the nuances of the Park. Genna and I understand. We’ve only been in the Park for a little over three years and were flatlander’s, completely ignorant of mountain living. We’ve made mistakes and we are still learning. The Pinewood News hopes to help with the learning curve. We are in our 30th year of publication, and it’s time to gather our resources and publish a Munds Park Living Guide. Going forward, the Pinewood News will publish a monthly feature, Munds Park Living, that will include tips and resources to help navigate the nuances of mountain living. This guide will be available online for easy reference. For this month’s feature, we will start with lessons learned from January’s incredible snowfall. Power Outages We live in the forest, our land is heavily treed, and our weather can get turbulent. During inclement weather, our tree-filled land gives APS added challenges. The trees can bend and break, tearing down power lines and causing outages. Add strong winds, snow, and ice to the equation; someone somewhere in the Park will be without power. APS provides reliable service 99% of the time across their territory, with Munds Park at 98%. The other 2% is managed by Mother Nature, and it’s our responsibility to prepare for when we are without power. The storm that ended January 19 dumped 36.9” of snow on Flagstaff, and we believe a few more inches here in the Park. With this, it ranked as the 12th greatest snowstorm in Flagstaff history and caused outages throughout Northern Arizona. APS worked day and night restoring power, with January 17th challenging them the most. A large transmission line was impacted, along with intermittent power outages throughout Munds Park for over 23 hours. Some residents were without power for over 10 hours. Unfortunately, some residents did not have a secondary heat source. Some ran out of firewood, or the snow blocked their supply. Some ran out of propane, or their provider failed to auto-fill tanks before the storm and the heavy snowfall blocked trucks from safely entering their property. To provide relief for these residents, Coconino County Emergency Management, the American Red Cross and Munds Park Community Church, in partnership with APS opened a warming shelter for those without power. Ten residents were welcomed into the Church, and all were able to return home by 1 a.m. To stay safe and warm, consider these tips. Tip No. 1. Power outages happen, and you must always be prepared, especially in snow country. You can view and print a checklist for preparing for storms right here. The list is extensive and an essential tool for living in the mountains. Tip No. 2. Always have essential numbers ready in your contacts and bookmark important websites. We have suggested sites and contacts available here. Tip No. 3. Have a second heat source. If you are like Genna and me, we only have a propane heater, so our backup plan is a generator. Look for sales, and purchase a generator if needed. Make sure APS information is on your phone to learn of power outages or report an outage: APS outage hot-line 855-688-2437 Sign up for text alerts online at www.aps.com. You can also view their outage map online. Download the APS mobile app at the Apple Store and Google Play. Communication When Coconino Emergency Management and other local services determined a warming shelter was needed, news traveled through the Park via word of mouth and social media. Mundsies, concerned for their neighbors, knew that word of mouth and social media would not reach everyone and worried some would be left in the cold. It was suggested to create a contact list to reach at-risk residents notifying them directly that a warming shelter was available. Fortunately, we have systems in place, and it’s called being a good neighbor and Smart911. Get to know your neighbors. Crack open your door, say hello, and make a friend. Exchange phone numbers and stay in touch—even with neighbors you may not like or enjoy. Why? Because when Mother Nature is in a nasty mood or a wildfire threatens our community, you will need one another. Knowing your neighbor is the best and most reliable system. Your neighbors are invested and can be depended on better than any government agency. Case in point. We already have an emergency notification system in place that could have notified Mundsies of the warming shelter, and it’s called Smart911. Mundsies mainly associate Smart911 with Ready Set Go and fire season, but Smart911 is for all natural disasters. The system would have notified all of Munds Park that a warming shelter was available. Unfortunately, the Emergency Management Department and other leaders missed the opportunity to use it. Chances are they won’t miss it again, but it makes my point. Systems can fail, but the chance of a community member forgetting about their 85-year-old neighbor during a snowstorm is unlikely. Follow these tips to stay safe: Tip No. 1. Get to know your neighbors and exchange contact information. Don’t let personalities or differences get in the way—we’re all in this together. Tip No. 2. If your parents are elderly and live in Munds Park, get to know their neighbors and exchange contact information. Don’t rely on Facebook to check on your elderly parents! Our Facebook Groups in the Park are, for the most part, safe—but they are strangers. Don’t advertise to strangers that your parents are elderly and on their own. It’s not wise or safe. Tip No. 3. If you are snowed in, power is out, and you are freezing—Call 911. That is why we have emergency services... to help when situations are bad! Tip No. 4: If you or your parents only have a landline, getting a cell phone for emergencies is imperative. Today’s landlines run through the internet and can fail during storms. Cell phones can too, but they are more reliable—That is if you don’t live in a cell-tower blackout area. Again, knowing your neighbors will be critical if all communication methods are knocked out. Smart911 If you have lived in Munds Park for any length of time, you have heard of ‘Ready Set Go’ and the importance of signing up for fire notifications via Smart911. But did you know Smart911 will notify you of any natural disaster in the area and provides vital information to 911 Operators? 911 Can’t Find You Over 80% of calls made to 911 come from mobile phones. When you dial 911 from a mobile phone, the dispatchers have little information to help you—only your phone number and a very general sense of your location. This is a serious problem in an emergency when seconds count, particularly if you or your loved ones have medical conditions or are unable to speak safely. Smart911 Saves Time and Lives Smart911 can provide dispatchers and first responders with critical information during an emergency. When you call 911, your Smart911 Safety Profile displays on the dispatcher’s screen and they can view your addresses, medical information, home information, description of pets and vehicles, and emergency contacts. You can provide as much or as little information as you like. Smart911 is a national service. Your profile travels with you and is visible nationwide to any participating 911 center. Safety profile can include: People living in your home, phone numbers, and emergency contacts Pets, service animals, and livestock Medical conditions, allergies, medications and medical equipment Property details, layout, and utility information Vehicle descriptions When you register and a natural disaster occurs, Smart911 will call you AND text you AND email you. Tip No. 1: Not registered with Smart911? It’s past time. It is essential to you and your family’s safety, especially during fire season. Do it today! Tip No. 2: Update your Smart911 profile every six months. It’s incredible how much can change in only a few months. Register today at www.smart911.com Download the Smart911 App at the Apple App Store or Google Play. Need help signing up? Call the Pinewood Fire Department for assistance at 928-286-9885. Propane Some Mundsies ran out of propane during the snowstorm because they failed to check levels before the storm, relied on companies to auto-fill tanks and didn’t verify delivery, or didn’t clear a path for propane providers to get their trucks safely on the property. To avoid running out of propane during a snowstorm: Tip No. 1: Watch the weather forecast and plan accordingly. Even if you are on auto-fill, don’t leave it to chance. No matter who your provider is, you need to check your propane levels and ensure your tanks are full. Also, don’t call at the last minute! Companies have schedules and prior commitments, and you may miss out when the storm comes through. Plan ahead! Tip No. 2: Heavy trucks have difficulty safely driving through snow and ice. If you expect a propane delivery during snowy weather, you or someone you hire must clear a path (a path that exceeds the width of a large delivery vehicle - about 10 feet) through your driveway. Don’t expect companies to risk their employee’s safety to deliver propane. Tip No. 3: Keep propane equipment clear of snow and ice and mark the location of underground propane tanks. Tip No. 4: If you order propane on demand, order when your tank is at 40%. Also, as a reminder, always verify your auto-fill orders! Tip No. 5: Unless you own your propane tank, you cannot order service from another company. It is illegal for propane companies to fill tanks that are not theirs. You must buy your tank if you wish to shop around and order from different companies. We always suggest buying local. For pricing information, we’ve called the two local favorites, Yavapai and Graves propane. They both offer the following services: Yavapai Bottle Gas Contact: 928-776-9007 • www.yavapaigas.com Yavapai offers both “keep full” and “will call” services for $3.29* $80 annual tank rental $45 set fee for new customers They will fill (2-3) 5-gallon tanks John Graves Propane Contact: 928-714-1111 • www.johngravespropane.com Graves Propane touts the best price for gas in Munds Park. They have two price options: $3.44* for “Keep Full” and $3.50* for Will Call. $72 annual tank rental $0 set fee for new customers They DO NOT fill up 5-gallon tanks Graves provides complimentary safety and pressure test if you own your tank before filling it. If you want to change propane providers, they suggest new customers change in the spring so trucks can easily access tanks. Yavapai and Graves are booking up for the spring, so call to get scheduled. *Gas prices are subject to change. These prices are as of January 24, 2023. Firewood Some got into trouble because they couldn’t access firewood once the snow level got too high. It’s important to store firewood properly, especially for snowstorms that can block your access to your wood. To keep firewood accessible and dry, follow these tips: Tip No. 1: Store firewood 30 feet away from your cabin but with easy access. You need a minimum of 30 feet from your house to your firewood for wildfire safety. Tip No. 2: Be vigilant. Shovel a path to your firewood regularly during snowstorms. If you are elderly, you may need to hire someone or ask a neighbor for help. Plan ahead, and get services lined up before the storm. Tip No. 3: Don’t wait; bring extra wood into the cabin before the storm Snow Berms Plowing and shoveling your driveway is hard, and when county snowplowers leave massive snow berms at the foot of newly cleared driveways, you want to poke your eyes out. No one likes snow berms! But the facts are this: Time is limited, manpower is limited, and county snowplowers must clear the roads quickly and safely. There is no time to ensure each driveway doesn’t get blocked. Their number one job is to clear the streets and make them safe. It’s our job, the property owner, to remove the berms from our driveway. We should not expect the government to do everything; we have a part in this too. You will still cry with each new berm, but hopefully, these tips will help! Tip No. 1: No matter how big they are, berms are the property owner’s responsibility to remove. You must be proactive and remove berms with each snowfall before they become a colossal iceberg. We can’t stress this enough... don’t let your berms sit and wait for a day you feel motivated to remove them. The longer you wait, the harder it is to break through. Removing snow right away is the same for your decks and paths. If you wait, the sun will rise and melt your snow just enough to freeze overnight and create ice that is difficult to get through. Further, if you hire someone to clear paths, you may get hit with a larger bill if you procrastinate and now they are dealing with thick ice. Snowplowing Independent contractors provide snow removal services in the Park, and each has a specialty. Some have large plows that can easily burst through hardened berms no matter how high and easily move tons of snow off long or short drives. Some snowplowers have mid-sized plows that can tackle reasonable berms and can plow long or short drives. Some services only include plowing, some include plowing and shoveling, and others only shovel paths and decks. As you can see, it’s important to understand your needs and ask appropriate questions when booking snow removal services. Tip No. 1: Understand snowplowers are independent contractors. It’s generally one or two people teams working the snow gig, and they typically don’t have help answering phones or texts. When storms come rolling in, these guys are slammed. They work in inclement weather, navigate dangerous roads, and work extremely hard and obviously can’t return calls when they are on the job. So be patient and kind. Tip No. 2: Know your snow. Is your berm five feet tall and hard as cement? Does your drive have fluffy white snow, or did you wait to call after driving up and down your driveway creating rivets and stacks of ice? Do you need only your driveway plowed or, in addition, a path to your door and decks shoveled? Know your needs so you can clearly communicate them—This will help manage expectations. Tip No. 3: After a snowstorm is not the best time to book plowing services. Full-timers and owners of STRs compete for these services, and they book up fast. If you know a storm is coming and you must have a path out, don’t wait. Book ahead of time. Tip No. 4: The Pinewood News always has reputable snowplowers listed on page two of the paper and pinned to our wall on Facebook for easy reference. Trash & Snow The Park is abundant with Short-Term Rentals and Weekenders who don’t pay for services to dig their cans out from the snow, ensure cans are not tipped over and that guests do not overfill them. It’s a hot topic in the Park, and nothing gets a Mundsie more peeved than when they see their streets covered in trash. Neighbors have no choice but to clean up the mess. Genna and I recently saw Facebook posts of STRs with overflowing trash and tipped cans. So one Sunday morning we gathered tools and gloved up for a cleaning expedition. I have to say, it was disgusting. One STR had amorous guests who were, let’s say, very active. We had the misfortune of scraping up several frozen condoms off the road. We thought about leaving them, but kids were out playing. You don’t have to be an STR owner or Weekender to have trash issues. There are specific ways everyone needs to handle trash, and it’s your responsibility to understand them and keep our neighborhoods litter free. Please keep the Park litter free with these tips: Tip No. 1. Ravens are strong and intelligent birds. They can easily lift the tops of garbage cans to sift through trash looking for food and nesting materials. Do not overstuff your garbage can, and keep a brick or large rock on the lid to prevent ravens from foraging. Using bricks or large stones is not seasonal... all year long, you need to protect your garbage from ravens. Tip No. 2. When it’s snowing and trash day, you should put your trash out after the snowplow has cleared your street. Otherwise, the chances of the plow burying or knocking over your cans are great. If your can stays on the street, you must dig your can out from newly made berms, and on trash day, ensure waste services can access your can or risk being skipped. It is not the job of waste services to ensure your cans can be easily accessed. Tip No. 3: If you own an STR or are a weekender and are not around to properly care for your trash, it is your responsibility to hire someone who can. Don’t ‘hope for the best’ or leave it up to your guests to keep our neighborhoods trash free. If you cannot afford these services, you may consider whether you are in the right business or can appropriately manage a second home—This is mountain living, and no one ever said living in the Park was easy or cheap. Tip No. 4: If your cans are frequently overflowing... Skyline would be happy to deliver more cans. Skyline is a local business with excellent service, a Munds Park Business Alliance member, and a generous supporter of community fundraisers and your local paper. Tip No. 5: Mundsies are proud of Munds Park and their community. Sometimes it’s hard to admit that we have lazy or uncaring residents, but we do. Take care not to be discouraged, and when you have to, grab a trash bag and pick up the litter of others. It keeps our Park clean and leaves you feeling good and with great karma too. There is much more to discuss regarding safety and being prepared, but we will stop here and continue our conversation in March. For now, we thank our thoughtful community, those who volunteer, help out and those who make it their life work to keep us comfortable and safe. If you have feedback or suggestions about living in the Park, we are interested in what you have to say. You can email Hello@ThePinewoodNews.com or call 928-286-9827. Stay warm, Mundsies!