Welcome to winter! And with winter comes flu and cold season. I wanted to share with you this month something I always have on hand to not only fight illness, but also to help prevent illness. Bone broth. Bone broth is making a big comeback right now and it should! It has numerous health and digestive benefits. Bone broth is incredibly nutritious, providing protein, gelatin, collagen, vitamins, and minerals. These key nutrients benefit virtually every system in our bodies, including our digestive, nervous, and immune systems as well as our bones and joints. There is a reason chicken soup is what we always take people who are sick. Homesteaders in the past knew the benefits, but in our “processed” society, its benefits have seemingly gotten lost. Bone broth is not just good for when you are sick, but research has shown it’s a great way to build your immune system by drinking a warm cup each day. However, it’s important to understand that most store-bought “stock and “broth” today aren’t “real.” Instead, companies use man-made meat flavors in bouillon cubes, soup, and broths. Manufacturers also use mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), which is recognized as a meat flavor, but in reality, is not. If you want real bone broth and real bone broth benefits, you should make it yourself at home. Making your own is very easy and you can freeze or can it for future use. When you make it ahead of time, you have it ready when you need it!! When you make a meal with chicken, turkey, beef, or pork and want to make broth with the bones, be sure to purchase high-quality, free-range, grass-fed animals. What the animal is raised eating is also in the bones. You are making broth at home for the health benefits. You need to make sure the animal is healthy to begin with. After a meal, I freeze my carcasses in a freezer bag. I also freeze any vegetable scraps (onion ends and skin, carrot tops, celery ends) in a freezer bag. When I’m ready to make broth, I pull a carcass out of the freezer and a bag of veggie scraps and throw it all in the Instapot. I add water to the top fill line and add any spices I desire. I also add about ¼ cup apple cider vinegar. This is VERY important and is what ensures that the bones release all the essential nutrients that you want. Then, I set the Instapot on manual for 2 hours. Once the broth is done, release the pressure and strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer. Once the broth is cool, I can freeze, can or use right it away in a soup. Typically, I will put it in the fridge overnight for the fats to solidify on top. In the morning, I will skim that off and then use or can the broth. If you don’t own an Instapot, you can cook the broth on the stove or in a crock pot. It will just take much longer. Roasting the bones ahead of time will also help them release their nutrients and give you an even deeper flavor but is not necessary. In my broth, I like to add different spices like turmeric and ginger that you might not think about. Many spices have health benefits and add to the immune building foundation of the broth. You can research the benefits of different spices, but I have included below a few that I have found make the best broth for me. The following information came from an article I found. If you want to learn more, you can read the article here. Basil Basil is an aromatic herb in the mint family that has anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and antibacterial properties. It also works as a pain reliever, blood vessel protector, and immune booster. Basil contains essential oils that are rich in antioxidants. Bay Leaf Bay leaves come from the ancient tree Laurus nobilis, and it’s often used in cooking because of its distinctive savory flavor. Bay leaf has antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties. Cumin Seed Cumin seeds come from the herb Cuminum cyminum, which is a member of the parsley family. It’s often ground into a powder for cooking. Cooking with cumin seeds can aid your digestion, boost your immune system, promote the health of your skin, relieve respiratory conditions, promote detoxification, combat oxidative stress. Ginger Root Ginger root is the rhizome of the Zingiber officinale plant that contains 115 different chemical components. It’s often used in Asian cooking for a sophisticated flavor and is even used as a pickling spice. It works as a potent antioxidant, reduces inflammation, boosts the immune system, supports digestion, reduces pain and lowers cholesterol levels. Oregano Oregano is an herb that has been used for healing for thousands of years. Oregano has the power to reduce inflammation, fight bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections, fight allergies and even shrink tumors. Oil of Oregano is extracted from the herb to make a powerful antibiotic agent that can kill many species of harmful bacteria. Paprika Paprika is a spice that’s made from a variety of peppers in the Capsicum annuum family. Capiscum, an ingredient in hot peppers that are used to make paprika, is known to support immune function and aid in treating autoimmune conditions. Paprika also contains many antioxidants, including carotenoids, that fight free radical damage that can cause disease, and it can be used to improve the health of your heart and eyes. Rosemary Rosemary is an aromatic herb that’s part of the mint family. It’s known for its ability to improve memory, promote hair growth, relieve muscle aches and pains, improve cognitive function and soothe digestive issues. Rosemary also possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying, anti-stress and healing properties. Thyme Thyme is an herb that’s part of the mint family and is often used in cooking. Thyme is a source of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, manganese and calcium. It can be used to boost your mood, relieve respiratory conditions like sore throat and bronchitis, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Turmeric Turmeric is one of the most powerful herbs on the planet and its benefits often rival those of conventional medications. Turmeric supplements can be taken in place of antidepressants, anticoagulants, arthritis medications, skin condition treatments, anti-inflammatory medications and cholesterol regulators. However you decide to make your bone broth, do your body a favor and start making it yourself at home. You won’t regret it!!

The View From Here Jincy Jane Casner, a widow along with two of her 11 sons, Bill and Dan, came to the lush wilderness of Northern Arizona from Oregon in the early 1870’s. In April of 1875 the family was joined by three other sons - Riley, John and Mose along with Riley’s wife, Rebecca. The three brothers brought 1600 head of sheep and a herd of draft horses. Jane along with Mose, Dan and William then entered the sheep business here joining other local ranchers such as William Henry Ashurst, the Daggs Brothers and Charles H. ODell. Strong and industrious, Jane along with her sons would make a lasting impression on the place names of our great state. Strong women of immense fortitude typified that era and Jane was no exception. She was said to have worked herding sheep and cattle until she was over 100. On July 12, 1876 the Casners received $6,300 in $20 gold coins from the sale of the spring wool and lambs near Winslow. The nearest bank at the time would have been Prescott and the Casners, particularly Mose generally didn’t trust banks - so the money was temporarily hidden in a strong leather sack in the sheep camp. While the men were out with the flock an employee named William Clancy located the money and made the decision to steal it. He got the bag on his horse and was gone with a good head start before the theft was discovered. Clancy thought he had the gold tied securely to the strings on the back of the saddle but as he rode it came loose and was lost somewhere on the side of Mormon Mountain. Not knowing that the theft had been discovered or that the Casner brothers were hot on his tail, he turned around and began to retrace his route looking for the gold pieces. He was then overtaken by the Casner brothers who roped him, tied him up to a tree and severely beat him in an effort to get him to disclose the whereabouts of the money. He was only able to disclose that the money had fallen from the back of his saddle and was lost. He was ultimately turned over to the Yavapai County Sheriff as all of what is now Coconino County was then part of Yavapai County. The story of the lost $6,000 in gold spread throughout the area and the Casners and many locals wasted much time unsuccessfully searching for the loot. Six years later, a sheep herder named Andrew Locy Rogers who was with Lot Smith at the Mormon Dairy at Mormon Lake was out in the mountains tending the communal flock. He came across a pile of what appeared to be funny looking oak leaves. Upon further examination it turned out to be the lost gold. He’d heard of the misfortune of the Casners and in a tremendous show of personal integrity he hauled the money back to Mormon Lake and saw to it that it was returned to the Casner brothers. Unbelievably grateful for his honesty and integrity the brothers rewarded him with ten $20 gold pieces. Mose Casner didn’t quite learn his lesson though for he still didn’t trust banks. He was said to have buried gold coins in Dutch ovens and tin cans in the camp fire and in miscellaneous other places around his winter home along Walker Creek in the Verde. It was known that he never told anyone including his two sons, Aaron, known as Big A and his brother Lucky where the money was hidden and ultimately took the secret to his grave. I have interviewed old-timers from the period who recall that when they visited Moses’ house in the months following his death the fireplace had been anonymously dismantled stone by stone and the orchard had holes dug under every tree by treasure hunters seeking the lost gold. It was also speculated during the period that whenever someone seemed to have more money or possessions beyond their means that they must have somehow discovered one of Moses’ buried Dutch Ovens. So next time you are up sampling the quiet beauty of Casner Park or walking down Casner Canyon trail into Oak Creek keep an eye out for the ghosts of Jane and Mose Casner or the edge of a Dutch oven buried in the dirt. Who knows you might get lucky on either account. If you get out into our spectacular mountain backwoods please be very careful with fire, don’t litter and try to leave the place better for your visit. Enjoy Northern Arizona! Bill Cowan's book on the Verde Valley History is available at Candy’s Creekside Cottage in McGuireville, Arizona and from Amazon, eBay, and various other retailers, including the Verde Canyon Railroad.

One of the Great Natural Wonders The night sky is one of the great natural wonders. We in northern Arizona are fortunate to be able to enjoy it in a nearly pristine state. Fewer and fewer people have this privilege. According to a study published in the journal Science Advances , 80% of people living in North America cannot see the Milky Way from where they live. The residents of Flagstaff and the surrounding areas are among the lucky few who can not only see the Milky Way, but see it with clarity. We can do this largely because the residents of this area have a long tradition of protecting a dark, natural sky, relatively untainted by artificial lights. In Flagstaff’s early days it was nicknamed the skylight city. Flagstaff is also the world’s first international dark sky city, as designated by the International Dark-Sky Association in 2001. The city’s practices to preserve the natural sky have long served as a model for communities all over the world that also value natural skies. Coconino County also has similar protections to maintain a natural sky. The preservation of a natural sky has many benefits. A major one is to astronomical research, which can only be done with something close to a natural sky. Arizona has more observatories than any other state. Northern Arizona is home to both Lowell Observatory and the Flagstaff branch of the U.S. Naval Observatory. Lowell Observatory has been at the forefront of astronomical research since its founding in 1894. Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930, the first evidence that the universe is expanding was discovered at Lowell Observatory by V.M. Slipher in 1912, and Lowell Observatory played a key role in creating the maps of the Moon that were used to plan the first Moon landings. Lowell Observatory continues to do cutting edge research on everything from the planet Mars to distant galaxies. The U.S. Naval Observatory opened a station in Flagstaff in 1955. This observatory specializes in accurately measuring star positions, research that has wide ranging applications in both military and civilian technology. Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, was also discovered by Jim Christy in 1978, using photographs taken from the Flagstaffbranch of the Naval Observatory. These institutions bring millions of dollars a year into northern Arizona’s economy, and the research they perform is something all residents of the area can be proud of. A natural sky has other advantages as well. Maintaining a natural sky helps preserve natural ecosystems. Animals use the natural night sky for navigation, to hide or to hunt, to know when to sleep or to be active, even to navigate. Virtually all animals use the cycle of day and night in some way or another, and so having a night sky that is bright with artificial lights can interfere with local ecosystems in countless ways. Maintaining a natural sky does not mean that we have to live in darkness. By using light thoughtfully, we can maintain a natural sky while actually having better ground level lighting than we might have had otherwise. Better lighting efficiency can lead to lower energy bills as well. Dark skies does not mean dark grounds! Here are some of the things you can do to help preserve a natural, starlit sky for yourself and your community: Make sure that lights are shielded in such a way that the light from them points down towards the ground. Light that goes straight up degrades the natural sky without providing any benefit to ground level visibility. Shielding lights so that illumination is directed downwards increases the efficiency of the light, helps preserve a natural sky, and actually improves lighting and visibility on the ground. Don’t use brighter lighting than is needed. It’s a misconception that more light automatically means better visibility. Think of the last time you looked into car headlights with the brights on. The glare from bright lights, even from something lit indirectly, can make it much harder to see anything else. Avoiding excessively bright lighting not only helps preserve a natural sky, it can drastically improve ground level visibility and safety. It matters what color lighting you use. The eyes of humans and most animals are impacted much more strongly by blue light than by red or orange lights. The LEDs that are used in most modern lights usually emit disproportionately blue light. However, it’s not hard to obtain LEDs that have been modified to emit light richer in reds and oranges. The packaging for most LEDs should indicate what temperature the light from the LED emulates. The International Dark-Sky Association recommends LEDs that emulate a temperature of less than 3,000 K (lower temperature means more reds and fewer blues). These kinds of lights are much more animal friendly, will make things more visible with less light, and will give things a more color rich and natural appearance as well. Turn off lights when they’re not needed, or attach them to motion sensors, so they’ll only be lit when there are people nearby who need them. Talk to your friends and neighbors about the value of a natural sky. The more of us that act to preserve a natural sky, the better all of us will be able to enjoy it. Enjoy the night sky, especially with friends and family. We’re extraordinarily fortunate to live in a place where so many of the sky’s wonders are easily visible. On a clear and moonless night, away from any artificial lights, you’ll be amazed by what you can see with just your eyes, and even simple binoculars will unlock even more wonders. The more in touch we are with the sky, the more in touch we are with the universe, and the more we realize what we lose if we lose the natural sky. The natural night sky is a birthright of all people, and its protection is a cherished tradition in northern Arizona. If we work together, we can preserve the wonder and beauty of the natural night sky for ourselves, our friends and families, and generations to come.

Inspired by The Bourbon Capital of the World by Lisa Collard If you already have all the ingredients you’d need to mix up a Manhattan, a Mint Julep, an Old Fashioned, or a Whiskey Sour, chances are pretty good that you know a thing or two about Bourbon cocktails. But have you ever heard of a Bardstown Bubbler? What about a Proven Perfection? From classic recipes to complex concoctions, cocktails made with Bourbon are as unique and intriguing as the land from which Bourbon hails: Bardstown, Kentucky. The Bourbon industry has been the economic backbone of Bardstown for decades. No less than six heritage brand distilleries call the beautiful small town home, as do several newer, craft distilleries. Thus, it should come as no surprise that a sip of really great Bourbon can help tell the true story of Bardstown. And sometimes, that story is emphasized by other ingredients. With a healthy dose of Bourbon ingenuity, modern mixologists are helping debunk the myth that adding even a drop of water to great Bourbon will ruin the whiskey’s flavor. They’re coming up with new and unexpected combinations that result in some tongue-tingling and refreshingly original Bourbon cocktails. So, next time you’re looking for some creative cocktail inspirations, try an original recipe from The Bourbon Capital of the World®. 1. Bardstown Bubbler Hobbyist bartenders, rejoice! The Bardstown Bubbler is an easy-to-make, effervescent creation by Howard Keene, owner of the Kentucky Bourbon Marketplace and renowned Bourbon aficionado. This drink features the refreshing flavors of Campari and sweet champagne, along with a bold citrus kick and, of course, your very favorite Bourbon. The best part about The Bardstown Bubbler is that “anybody can make this drink,” according to Keene. “You don’t have to be a professional bartender with a million ingredients at your fingertips.” Ingredients 2 oz. Kentucky Bourbon ¼ oz. Campari ¾ oz. Lemon juice ¾ oz. Simple syrup 2-3 oz. Sweet champagne 4 Dashes peach bitters Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Bourbon, Campari, lemon juice, simple syrup, and peach bitters and stir just long enough to chill the liquid and combine ingredients. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and top with a floating pour of sweet champagne. 2. Proven Perfect Want to try America’s Best Manhattan, Bardstown-style? Check out the Proven Perfect Bourbon cocktail created by award-winning bartender Allison Widdecombe. The Proven Perfect is inspired by a traditional Bourbon Manhattan, but in this version, Widdecombe suggests swapping out the traditionally sweet and dry vermouths for a ruby port and bitter orange liqueur. The result is a complex drink that’s drier than your typical Manhattan, but still super balanced and easy to sip. Ingredients 2 oz. Kentucky Bourbon 1/2 oz. Ruby port 1/2 oz. Bittermens Amère Nouvelle (a type of bitter orange liqueur) 1 tsp. Fernet-Branca (a type of bitter herbal liqueur) Lemon peel and maraschino cherry for garnish Directions: Combine the Bourbon, port, Bittermens Amère Nouvelle, and Fernet-Branca in a cocktail shaker with 3-4 ice cubes. Stir just long enough to chill the liquid and mix ingredients thoroughly, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and maraschino cherry. 3. The Petal Pusher The official drink of the 2017 Kentucky Bourbon Festival, The Petal Pusher is a fresh lavender and grapefruit concoction that’ll have you thirsting for seconds and pushing for thirds. Originally created by Colleen McCarthy-Clarke for Martini’s Italian Bistro in Louisville, Kentucky, The Petal Pusher features Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon for its full-bodied flavor and smooth, mellow finish. Ingredients 2 oz. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon ½ oz. Monin Lavender Syrup ½ oz. Grapefruit juice ½ oz. Grapefruit soda 10-12 Mint leaves 2 Wedges ruby red grapefruit 4-5 Dashes Bittermens Hopped Grapefruit Bitters Lavender stick and mint sprig for garnish Directions: In a cocktail shaker without ice, combine the Bourbon, lavender syrup, grapefruit juice, ruby red grapefruit wedges, grapefruit bitters, and mint leaves. Muddle everything thoroughly, and add ice. Shake to chill the liquid, and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top it all off with a splash of grapefruit soda, and garnish with lavender stick and mint sprig. 4. Bardstown Sling The Bardstown Sling was created by renowned bar professional and master mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim, to show off the unique flavor profile of Maker’s Mark® Bourbon. Abou-Ganim likens his Bourbon creation’s flavor to that of ripe peaches, making it a superb cocktail to enjoy on summer evenings with friends. Ingredients 2 oz. Kentucky Bourbon 1 oz. Peach brandy 1 oz. Peach puree 2 oz. Fresh lemon sour* 2-3 Dashes peach bitters Ground nutmeg for garnish Directions: In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, pour the Bourbon, peach brandy, peach puree, fresh lemon sour, and add a few dashes of bitters. Shake until well-blended, then strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg and enjoy! *To make the fresh lemon sour, mix 2 parts freshly squeezed lemon juice with 1 part simple syrup. 5. Apricot & Honey Bourbon Sour The Apricot and Honey Bourbon Sour was created by popular mixology bloggers Jay and Leah Hall. It features a citrus syrup that’s easy enough for any budding bartender to make at home, and has warm, sweet flavors to match on crisp fall days. When writing about the inspiration for this cocktail on their blog, Hall said, “Bourbon and honey are a winning combination.” He explained that adding the fruity apricot syrup pulls out warm caramel notes from the Bourbon and brings out the sweetness of the honey. Sounds like the perfect combination! Ingredients: 2 oz. Kentucky Bourbon 1.5 oz. Honey apricot syrup* 1/2 oz. Lemon juice 5 Dashes bitters 3-5 Mint leaves for garnish Directions: Combine the Bourbon, homemade syrup, lemon juice, and bitters in a drinking glass of your choice. Add fresh ice and stir with a cocktail straw to chill. Garnish with mint leaves. *To make honey apricot syrup, you’ll need: 3-5 apricots 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup water Directions: Pit and slice the apricots. Place the flesh of the fruit in a saucepan and add the honey, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil and let the concoction simmer for about five minutes (or until the syrup starts to thicken). Strain the mixture into a sealable container for safe storage, removing any apricot slices or broken down fruit remnants. Now try the real thing! Of course, you can make these delicious Bourbon cocktails at home—and we certainly recommend that you do—but sometimes, there’s nothing quite like getting something straight from the source. Visit www.visitbardstown.com to sip, see, and savor on your next trip.

It’s mushroom season, and with all the wonderful rain, it should be a great season too! If you are new to foraging or just need a refresher, this is a great read to keep you safe and our foraging sustainable. Rules to Forage By 1. When finding a patch of mushrooms, be sure to leave at least a few there. This is not only respectful to other mushroom pickers who may discover the patch, but it also gives the mushrooms a chance to drop their spores and continue on their course naturally, ensuring that more will come within the season or next season. If the patch is large, leave a little less than half of the mushrooms in place. Don’t be greedy and take an entire patch because this may prevent mushrooms from returning to that area. 2. When picking mushrooms, make sure to pick them from the stem and not pull out the entire mushroom from the ground. This prevents messing up the mycelium network by sheer force and thus allows for the fruiting bodies to return. It’s best to slice the mushrooms off cleanly at the base with a small knife, although you can use your hands if you are careful about it. Some people like to ‘pluck’ or tap the mushrooms while they’re in the ground to release loose spores back into the area for recolonization. You can tap the stem of the fungal body with your finger a few times before you collect it. 3. Try to respect not only the mushrooms themselves but also the surrounding area. Oftentimes people hunt on private property such as farms and cow fields. Always leave everything as-is, and it is wise to seek the landowner’s permission rather than trespass. You shouldn’t damage or destroy any fences in the process. Also, try not to disturb any cows/other animals in your hunt—it can be dangerous. Likewise, these rules also apply to public places—it is everybody’s land. Take care of it. 4. When wild mushroom hunting, carry your finds in a mesh bag. Wild mushrooms spread through the dispersal of spores, and the more spores you allow to drop the better the chance of more mushrooms in the future! Baskets or paper bags don’t allow spores to spread, so find something with large holes in it. 5. Be respectful of other mushroom hunters you encounter. While public land is there for all of us to share – just like any other public land activity – be respectful of others and their space. Perhaps one of the worst things you can do if you see someone picking mushrooms along a hillside is to rush over and invade that space. Best case is to speak politely, wish them luck, and make a note of the spot for future forays. 6. Lastly, when you find a hot spot or a treasure trove of mushrooms, keep the area secret. Tell only close mushroom enthusiasts to help keep the area from over foraging. Safety By Terri Clements Folks, I have a very important announcement, especially for those who are new to mushroom foraging. In one weekend we had four mushroom poisoning’s reported to Poison Control in Arizona. In at least one case, the poisoning was due to eating unidentified mushrooms! In another case, the poisonings were due to eating a large quantity of various species at one time. Rule 1. Never eat a mushroom that YOU cannot identify the species. If someone tells you what type of mushroom is from a photo online, do not rely on the ID but treat it as a suggestion. You need to verify the type by looking at multiple reputable online resources or guide books. If you are still uncertain, do not eat it. Rule 2. When eating a mushroom for the first time, try a small portion, say a tablespoon. Make sure it is well cooked. If you have no reaction, the next day you can then eat a normal portion. Try only one new mushroom a day, or you won’t know which one is causing the problem if you have a problem. Rule 3. Most experts advise that you don’t eat large quantities of wild mushrooms at one time or the same mushroom continuously over a period of days. The key is variety and moderation. Rule 4. Only fresh mushrooms should be eaten. Just like you wouldn’t eat rotten meat you shouldn’t eat old mushrooms. If the smell or taste is off putting don’t eat it. If you want to learn more about mushrooms and foraging, a great Facebook group is the Arizona Mushroom Forum, operated by The Arizona Mushroom Society. There you can learn and share information with fellow mushroom hunters. Sautéed Lobster Mushrooms A Munds Park Favorite Look for heavy, dense Lobster Mushroom A proper lobster mushroom should be heavy, like a paperweight. If the mushroom feels light like Styrofoam, has a strong fishy odor, or a pronounced purple color, they’re too old, leave them be or cover them with leaves in a futile effort to keep your spot secret. You wouldn’t eat a moldy piece of meat, so don’t eat an old, crumbly lobster. Ewe. Cleaning You Harvest Lobster mushrooms can often be vase-shaped, serving as homes for small creatures, rainwater reservoirs, and all around stuff you don’t need to eat. When foraging, slice them from the base to remove from the ground, brush them as clean as possible, and shake out detritus from the inside. Then carve out the middle and any soft tissue using your knife. Sautéed Lobster Mushrooms Recipe adapted from Kevin Meehan Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 1 shallot, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 pound lobster mushrooms, cleaned and diced 1 teaspoon minced thyme leaves Ground nutmeg, to taste Salt and pepper Directions In a large frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the shallots and garlic. Cook until the shallots have softened, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and thyme and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add a pinch of nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.

When you think of Aretha Franklin, you probably think of R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Natural Woman, or many other classic songs that made her the Queen of Soul. Not only was her voice mesmerizing, but the music that accompanied it allows many of us to recognize her songs before we even hear her voice. We are fortunate to have as part of our Munds Park community, a person that helped keep the Queen of Soul and many others on key. Kappé Rousseau, a new full-time Mundsie and piano tuner extraordinaire, is here to enjoy all that is wonderful about Munds Park, bringing with her a contagious creative energy and a thirst for outdoor life. Kappé Rousseau is starting over right here in the Park, and she couldn’t be more excited. She left Oakland, California, to live in our small town and get back the four seasons that she enjoyed at an earlier time in her life. Kappé is also an avid backpacker and spends most of her time outdoors. She couldn’t have picked a better town to live in. Kappé, originally from Michigan, grew up in a loving home filled to the brim with 9 siblings. To keep all the little hands and minds busy, the children in the Rousseau home were expected to learn something, anything, at the age of five. So, when it was Kappé’s turn, her Mother asked her little girl what it was she wanted to learn. She said the piano. Soon an upright piano was delivered to their home. Curious, Kappé explored her new piano and quickly learned that when she opened up the piano’s lid, she could see the internal mechanics, and when she played, she could see them move to make sound. Kappé was absolutely fascinated and would play for hours, watching the piano work with each stroke of the key. It wasn’t long before Kappé was sneaking into her Dad’s workshop to get tools to tweak the piano. Something she was sure her parents wouldn’t allow, but she just couldn’t help herself. After time, her curiosity paid off because there wasn’t enough money for a piano tuner, so she learned to tune it herself. Kappé explained that she loves mechanical things. She loves to fix things and sleuth through problems. She will sit and think, and then she will ‘see’ a solution. “I see a lot of what other people don’t see, and that’s why I love to tune pianos because the piano is the perfect blend of art and science which means it’s movable. It is not fixed, and there are so many things you can adapt and customize for the player. When a piano technician understands this and knows how to problem solve, listen, and feel, this merger of art and science makes the high-end player love your work”. You don’t meet piano tuners every day, so we wondered how you become a piano technician. Kappé explained that a little over 22 years ago, after 3 previous careers, she decided to get back to what she loved, working with and tuning pianos. She says that her desire and pure luck landed her a remarkable career working with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Prince, and Neil Young. Her luck started when she moved her old 1914 Baby Grand piano from Michigan to California. Once it got to California, she needed a tuner, and she found a family of tuners through the Yellow Pages (kids, that’s Google in the olden days). There were five brothers, so she gravitated to them, and as luck would have it, they were the dynasty of all dynasties of piano technicians—The Callahan Piano Service. This was her first connection to learning her trade. Kappé then joined the Piano Technicians Guild to be legit and bonified. “I got in with the Guild, and I inhaled every piece of information I could find from anyone who would teach it to me. Back then, the only way to learn piano tuning or anything related to pianos was through the old-world apprentice style. There were no schools to learn this trade, except for one in Boston, and schools are not the same as going into someone’s shop and saying, “Oh, I’ll sweep your floor for a few pearls of wisdom.” It’s an old-world craft that could only be taught by the masters, and Kappé had amazing mentors who all knew and shared knowledge with one another. “It was a fountain of knowledge,” Kappé said. I was fortunate to know and learn from these incredible mentors. Once in the circle of piano tuners, you were part of a tribe. A historical tribe that learned from one another. Built tools for one another, and they did this with the intent of moving their craft forward, and Kappé is a part of this old-world family of technicians. Kappé, a well-trained, seasoned technician, spent most of her career working large performance venues in the Bay Area. She was hired by artists not only to tune pianos before events, she was hired to sit and wait. Wait for a string to pop or some other musical calamity during live performances that would need her quick attention. She had to be at the top of her game, and she loved being in the hot seat. Not every performance included an urgent response, but when it did, she would have 10 minutes to figure out and fix the problem, tune and get the piano up and playing. Kappé said, “It’s just delicious to work at that level because the electricity is flowing, you let your ego go, and you become one with it. You move with it because you are a part of it. You get to fly. It’s very exciting.” Remember the old, but wonderful, Baby Grand piano Kappé moved from Michigan to California? Well, it’s here with her in Munds Park, and she’s going to rebuild it. Yes, Kappé can rebuild pianos too. She says it’s very difficult, and very few women can fully rebuild a piano. She knows she was one of three women who can do this. However, she doesn’t think any of the others are doing it anymore. Kappé is a fascinating woman, filled with unique and positive energy that just pours out of her. She has wonderful and creative ideas for Munds Park. She not only wants to keep your pianos in tune, but she plans on connecting with other musicians in the Park and surrounding areas to have music parties. She also wants to bring something new to the area, Circle Singing, which sounds absolutely fascinating. More just to the right of this article. If you want to contact Kappé, you can reach her at Kappepiano@gmail.com. Welcome to the Park Kappé! We’re glad you are part of our tribe! Join Kappé for Circle Singing In a Circle, there are no sides – all are one and all is connected. In a Circle, every voice counts and is blended into sweet harmonies with music from around the world. This is an improved way of creating music, unlike anything you have ever experienced before. Circle Singing is all-inclusive. You don’t need to know how to sing to participate. If you can sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and are open to doing something different, then this is for you. Circle singing is discovering your vocal expression through improvisation. It is about being in a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your creative potential. Circle singing plays with movement, where your body can also become ´musical´or an extension of your own voice. If you are interested in future circle singing events, contact Kappé at 510-384-8164.

In the early days of our land, Arizona was a harsh and brutal yet beautiful wilderness - luring men on with the promise of rich, sunny, grass-lined valleys, untamed wild rivers and jagged mountains laced with veins of gold, silver and copper - all free for the taking. One man who answered this call in the fall of 1879 was Joel Willard - his health ruined and tired of the long cold Nevada winters in the foothills of the Sierra. He gathered the family cattle and horses with sons; Ninian, Charles, Dolph, Mac, Jim and Alex. Joel then kissed his wife Mary and daughters Francis and Mabel goodbye with the promise that they would meet again once the men established themselves in the warm and sunny south. He left sons Mac and Jim behind to help their mother and departed in a wagon following the cattle driven by the other boys headed on to make their mark in a new wild and untamed country. Joel Willard and sons made their tortuous way to Arizona across the deserts of southern Nevada into Utah and they then followed the Virgin River down to the swollen muddy waters of the Colorado River. Their wagon was barged across the raging torrent on a rude ferry but the cattle and herders had to swim. The winter weather was cold and many cattle drowned in the crossing. Unfortunately while Joel had made it to Arizona, he died of pneumonia on January 27th, 1879. The boys buried him near Dolan Springs north of Kingman. Charles, Dolph, and Alex forged on into the wilderness without their father but were soon met by Ninian, who had scouted the way on south and knew the way. They reached the Verde with their cattle in the early spring of 1879 and found tall grass, free land and warmth - but the hardships that had dogged them were far from over. The small but growing community in the Upper Verde was working on a dam that would divert water from the river to irrigate fields for the common benefit of all. On June 18th, 1879, Ninian, 23, and his brother Alex, 10, were working in a small boat hauling rocks and brush to fill in the dam. As they neared the middle preparing to drop large rocks overboard, the boat flipped and both boys were swept up against the dam by the current and both drowned. This incident left Charles, 21 and Dolph, 19 to carry on alone in a wild unknown land which while full of promise only seemed to hold death and despair. The two boys, though lonesome for family and grieving their losses were determined to make a go of it in the lush untamed valley. Fortunately for them, they soon struck up a friendship with pioneer cattleman, William Munds. Munds and his family had come into the Valley three years earlier and fortunately took the Willard boys under his wing. He partnered with the two young men in the cattle business and helped them move their cattle to the Mogollon highlands in the spring and summer and back to the valley in the fall. As Munds Park was already taken by Munds and his children, the Willard boys established a headquarters just north of Munds Park which came to be known as Willard Springs. The Willard men prospered through hard work and determination and in 1886 sent for their mother and the rest of the family. Mary built a very large brick home on the north end of Main Street in Cottonwood. Charles Willard married Ettie Scott whose family was from Jerome but ranched northeast of Munds Park. Charles served as the Upper Verde Justice of the Peace in Cottonwood where the couple also operated a dairy and owned much of downtown Cottonwood. Dolph Willard married Ella Prime, whose parents ranched near Prime Lake northeast of Munds Park. They had a ranch on lower Oak Creek where they raised fruit and almonds. They were said to own one of the first phonographs in the vicinity and provided bass for an early stocking of Lake Mary. George MacDonald Willard, known as Mac, married Bea Scott, Ettie’s Sister. Mac established the first post office in Cottonwood. When he retired from the post office, he was appointed to head the Arizona Game and Fish commission by then Governor George W. P. Hunt. The true flowering of the relationship between the Munds and Willard families though came when Francis Willard, known as Fannie, met and fell in love with John Munds. Following their marriage, John was elected sheriff of Yavapai County and Fannie became Arizona’s first woman state senator and only the second woman to be elected to a state senate office in the United States. In 1915, the Willard brothers returned to the grave of their father Joel. They exhumed his body and reburied the remains near the graves of his two sons who had drowned in that early tragedy. Times may have been rough, but the promise was ultimately kept, as the families including their dead reunited and prospered here in Arizona. If you get out into our back country, drive carefully, tread lightly, and please leave our homeland better for your presence! Enjoy Northern Arizona! Bill Cowan'sbook on the Verde Valley History is available at Candy’s Creekside Cottage in McGuireville, Arizona and from Amazon, eBay, and various other retailers, including the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Bread. Who doesn’t love a warm slice of homemade bread slathered in butter? I can’t think of anything I’d rather have, except maybe tacos. Warm bread just spells comfort for me. My family loves my bread and they have come to expect it when sitting down for dinner at my house. Bread is also a wonderful gift. Many of you get bread from Spread the Bread at the church and isn’t it fun to take a loaf to a neighbor? I have found that giving bread out randomly to friends is a great blessing and is always appreciated! Do you know someone who is having a bad day? A loaf of warm bread can brighten it up for sure! I started learning how to make bread in Minot, North Dakota where we were serving in our first church. These ladies, many who lived off the land, taught me so many things. They taught this city girl to garden, to can, to make bread and to drink coffee, but that’s for another story. While living in Minot, I would make homemade sandwich buns every week for us. I loved it. And since I was home most of the time with 3 young kids, I had the opportunity to do it. However, as the kids got older, we were involved in music, sports, school projects, homework, serving at the church and there was simply no time to make homemade bread. Life got so busy. I wish I had found this recipe I’m going to share back then because it is incredibly simple and easy. Don’t let the length of the recipe scare you, it’s really easy. Over the pandemic I have taught myself how to make sourdough bread. This is a process I love, but it takes several days before you get to the final loaf. Most people don’t have the time or patience to do that. But homemade artisan bread can be made in a very short time and look like you spent days making it!!! This recipe makes 4 loaves and the dough keeps in the fridge for two weeks. So you can just slice a hunk off and bake it up! So try it out and then make one for a friend!! This recipe comes from the book Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day. So many good recipes in it! Check it out at the library, find it on Amazon or go to their website at artisanbreadinfive.com. Artisan Bread 3 cups (1 1/2 pounds) lukewarm water 1 tablespoon granulated active dry yeast 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt 6 1/2 cups (2 pounds) all-purpose flour Mixing the dough: In a 5 or 6 quart bowl or lidded dough bucket (lid that does NOT seal) dump in the water, and add the yeast and salt. Dump in the flour all at once and stir with a long handled wooden spoon. Stir it until all of the flour is incorporated into the dough, it will be a wet rough dough. Put the lid on the container, but do not snap it shut. You want the gases from the yeast to escape Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for about 2 hours to rise. When you first mix the dough it will not occupy much of the container. But, after the initial 2 hour rise it will pretty much fill it. DO NOT PUNCH DOWN THE DOUGH! Just let it settle by itself. The dough will be flat on the top and some of the bubbles may even appear to be popping. (If you intend to refrigerate the dough after this stage it can be placed in the refrigerator even if the dough is not perfectly flat. The yeast will continue to work even in the refrigerator.) The dough can be used right after the initial 2-hour rise, but it is much easier to handle when it is chilled. It is intended for refrigeration and use over the next two weeks, ready for you anytime. The flavor will deepen over that time, developing sourdough characteristics. The next day when you pull the dough out of the refrigerator you will notice that it has collapsed, and this is totally normal for the dough. It will never rise up again in the container. Dust the surface of the dough with a little flour, just enough to prevent it from sticking to your hands when you reach in to pull a piece out. Cut off a 1-pound piece of dough using kitchen shears and form it into a ball. Place the ball on a sheet of parchment paper… (or rest it on a generous layer of corn meal on top of a pizza peel.) Let the dough rest for at least 40 minutes, (although letting it go 60 or even 90 minutes will give you a more open hole structure in the interior of the loaf. This may also improve the look of your loaf and prevent it from splitting on the bottom.) You will notice that the loaf does not rise much during this rest, in fact it may just spread sideways, this is normal for the dough. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees with a baking stone on the center rack, with a metal broiler tray on the bottom (never use a glass vessel for this or it will shatter), which will be used to produce steam. (The tray needs to be at least 4 or 5 inches away from your stone to prevent it from cracking.) Cut the loaf with 1/4-inch slashes using a very sharp serrated knife. (If your slashes are too shallow you will end up with an oddly shaped loaf and also prevent it from splitting on the bottom.) If your dough is collapsing when you make the slashes, it may be that the dough has over proofed or your knife is dull and dragging the dough too much. Slide the loaf into the oven onto the preheated stone and add a cup of hot water to the broiler tray. Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes or until a deep brown color. As the bread bakes you should notice a nice oven spring in the dough. This is where the dough rises.

This Veterans Day Arne Soderman never intended to join the Navy. He grew up in Wappingers Falls, New York, in a modest home without any military influence. As a result, Arne never gave much thought about the military, even though the Vietnam war was just starting to make the nightly news. It wasn’t until Arne’s 11th-grade math teacher, Mrs. June Tate, introduced the idea of furthering his education through a military academy. Mrs. Tate saw something special in Arne, and knowing his modest beginnings and sensing the draft was a genuine possibility, she encouraged him to apply. She knew Arne could earn a good living while getting an excellent education, and rather than being drafted as an enlisted member “in the trenches”, he could serve as an officer. Arne listened to Mrs. Tate’s advice and took the competitive exam. He competed favorably and was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Arne said the training was grueling, “They basically grind you down to nothing then build you back up in their mold.” Arne graduated from the Naval Academy in 1965. After graduation, Arne was chosen for the Navy nuclear power program, which required an additional year of schooling and technical training. Not only that, to work on a nuclear submarine, Arne had to interview with the legendary Admiral Hyman Rickover. Rickover was known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy” and was well known for his infamous interview techniques that involved putting candidates off-guard. For example, when interviewing, Rickover would throw candidates off by seating them in chairs with a shortened leg and at the same time positioning them, so the sunlight streamed through the blinds perfectly to shine straight into their eyes. That way the candidate had to maintain their wits while they were teetering on the chair. After a lengthy interview process, Rickover accepted Arne into the nuclear program, but not without conditions. First, Arne had to bring his already good grades up and take an additional nuclear physics class. No problem—Arne was willing to put in the hard work. Arne finished his intense training successfully and was deployed to carry out missions in Vietnam. However, it wasn’t long before Arne’s thirst for knowledge and adventure began tugging at him when airplanes caught his attention. Arne returned from one of his cruises aboard the USS Harry E. Hubbard (DD-748) and decided to take flying lessons at Long Beach Airport in California. His flight instructor, after two lessons, suggested that Arne should learn to fly from the Navy and become a Naval Aviator. Taking his instructor’s advice, Arne applied and was accepted into the program in 1968 and reported to Pensacola, Florida learning how to fly! Arne got his wings in 1969 and found himself on the USS Hancock (CVA-19) with his squadron, VA-164, flying combat missions in North and South Vietnam. Throughout Arne’s time in the military, he was very blessed. The pilot training alone was extremely dangerous. Many men died just in training, let alone the perilous job of flying in combat missions. Arne recounted a time when he was on a bombing mission in North Vietnam. The target was a power plant north of Hanoi. Arne was flying in formation and was on the wing of the lead fighter pilot when the world went white. The lead pilot was hit in the wing by a 37 millimeter anti-aircraft round. The wing is full of fuel, and fortunately and for whatever reason, the bullet passed through the wing without detonating. All the fuel bloomed through the air blinding Arne in a white cloud. The lead pilot immediately pulled out of formation and took his white cloud, allowing Arne to see again. The damaged aircraft flew safely back to the carrier after refueling while in flight. Keeping calm during tense events is a military must. Keeping calm and accurate in their duty is also a military must. Arne proved over and over his keen ability to do both. Later Arne was part of a larger mission of 20 aircraft, all outfitted with different weapons to take out the Thanh Hóa Bridge in North Vietnam. Arne’s job was to fly ahead of the strike aircraft with cluster bombs to suppress anti-aircraft fire allowing his fellow pilots to take out the bridge. When Arne got back to the carrier, he was told by his commander the gun site was completely destroyed, and for his accuracy and proven skill, Arne was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The dangers of flying bomb missions are nothing compared to the sometimes terrifying process of landing an aircraft at night on the flight deck. Arne explained this was the most dangerous and anxiety-ridden part of his career in the Navy. When landing at night, Arne explains, “All I had for guidance were a couple of landing aides, the lights of the ship, and the Landing Signal Officer guiding me on the radio. The visual cues were minimal, and I had to approach the deck at exactly the right angle and at the right speed to hit one of the four arresting wires”. Each plane is equipped with a tailhook to land on the flight deck—an extended hook attached to the plane’s tail. I had to snag the tailhook on one of four arresting wires. These wires stretch across the deck, absorbing the energy of his aircraft traveling 150 miles per hour in only 3 seconds in a 315-foot landing area. That’s quite a stop! Arne finished his tour in Vietnam and had various assignments including Post Graduate School and flying the A7E off of the USS Midway (CV-41). One of Arne’s last jobs in the Navy was flight testing jets in Pensacola, Florida. After aircraft reached so many hours, they were brought in to be torn down and rebuilt. After the rework, Arne would test the jets to ensure all was in working order. One day Arne and his good friend, Jim, were sitting together when the phone rang. Jim answered, and Arne could get a feel for the conversation. It was another mutual friend trying to talk Jim into taking early retirement. It was 1981, and Southwest Airlines was looking for pilots. Jim was too close to retirement from the Navy and couldn’t take the job. Arne, never missing an opportunity, took the call and took advantage of a lucky moment. Arne left his position, stayed in the Naval Reserves, and flew for Southwest Airlines for 22 years. In total, Arne served for 16 years in active service and eight years in the Reserves. Throughout Arne’s life, he listened to those around him and took advantage of what he calls “lucky moments.” Arne’s life in the military served him and his country very well. Arne explains that his military service was a rewarding and honorable career with many educational benefits. The military allowed him to do what he loves—Fly. To Arne and all our Veterans, we cannot thank you enough for your service and sacrifice in both war and peacetime. We are forever grateful. Arne has been a Munds Park resident since 1991, and lives here with his sweet wife Pat. If you are driving around Munds Park and see a happy couple on their porch enjoying coffee in red robes happily waving at all the people going by, you’re probably saying hi to Arne and Pat! Happy Veterans Day to our soldiers & their families both past and present. We owe you our thanks, but more than that, we owe you our freedom.

Meet one of Munds Park’s originals, Clarence Brady, who just celebrated his 101st birthday! Living to be 101 years old is either good luck or good genes, either way, it’s a big deal. After hearing some of Brady’s stories, I would say it was more than chance; it was an angel by his side. Brady grew up during the Great Depression. As a young man, he remembers difficult and worrisome times and how all Americans, no matter their age, had to chip in and do their part. After Brady graduated high school in 1939, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a work relief program that gave millions of young men employment on environmental projects during the Depression. The CCC helped shape the national and state park systems we enjoy today. Brady said wildfires were burning out of control because the forest floors were filled with dry leaves and branches that fuel fires when lightning strikes. That was his main job, to clear the forest floor. He also learned to build structures, flagstone porches, walkways, and retaining walls throughout our National Parks. He earned $30 per month and sent $25 home to his family, keeping only $5 for himself. He took pride in his work and had the honor of helping his family during the Great Depression. Coming out of the CCC, Brady was the batting coach for a boys baseball team out of Williamsport, PA. Only 4 teams were competing in 1941, but it would grow and come to be known as “Little League Baseball”. Brady remembers the founder of Little League baseball, Carl E. Stotz, watching them practice. Brady’s true passion was flying. As a matter of fact, he learned to fly before he learned to drive! It was his passion for aviation that Brady’s brother Jake encouraged him to enlist in the Airforce. You see, the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, and Jake was immediately drafted. Brady’s brother thought it was better to choose your destination during the draft rather than leave it to chance. During this time, Brady was working an intricate lathe in a factory in Williamsport, PA. Because of his expertise, he acquired a full deferment from the war. Brady could have stayed home, but he’s a patriot and felt the call to duty. He enlisted and began training to become a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He was only 23 years old. After a year and a half of military flying school in aircrafts such as the P-40, he became an Officer. He received his Aviation Wings in June of 1944. Second Lieutenant Clarence Brady is now a WWII American fighter pilot, flying the new and powerful P-51 from 1943 to 1945. He is deployed in the South Pacific on a small island, Ei Shima. He flies almost 50 missions dropping bombs over Japan. Brady described what it was like flying the P-51. He said the plane’s cockpit was small and that he could hardly move. There was just enough room to maneuver the joystick and manage the plane’s controls. He flew in cramped quarters for 6 hours, 3 of which he would have two 500 pound bombs resting on each side of the aircraft or three small bombs on each side that he would deploy over his targets in Japan. Brady explained that the P-51 didn’t have autopilot technology and that it was him, and him alone, flying the plane hundreds of miles each way. He remembers one account when his plane ran out of fuel just before landing. Brady was approaching a cliff, and the engine kept sputtering and cutting out! He pulled hard on the joystick causing him to blackout. When he came to, he found himself in the clouds and thought, “Is this what heaven is like?” He discovers he is still climbing straight up and is in grave danger. With incredible skill and maybe a little angelic support, Brady safely landed his plane. While Brady was flying missions over the Pacific, he, like everyone else, was left in the dark about America’s plan to drop the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima. He and his squadron were flying back from a mission when they saw a bright flash of light. One of them remarks, “Look! It looks like the sun is rising!” Another in the squadron responds, “The sun doesn’t rise in the west!” After landing, they find out they witnessed the Atomic bomb. So coming back from their next mission, they took a detour and flew low over the bombed site, unknowingly flying through damaging radiation, trying to comprehend the devastating aftermath. I asked Brady how he felt about his missions and the war. He said he had to block it out. He knew each mission left behind massive destruction, killing hundreds. He said he was lucky. He was in the air, removed from the sight of the pain and devastation. A few times, Brady had to stop to compose himself as he reflected on his service. The war ended and Brady returned home to live in Williamsport, PA, where he attended art classes at a Technical School. One evening, after a few beers, Brady and a friend decided to go to the local YWCA Dance. There he meets a young woman who immediately catches his eye, Miss Jean Peeling, and she is dancing up a storm. She will be the love of his life — A love that has lasted 70 years. For me, this was a special part of our interview. I am not sure I can find the words to describe the love between these two. As they reminisced about their life together, they exchanged sweet smiles, had moments of laughter, and would hold each other’s hand as they held back tears of gratitude. They understand their gift of true love, and they cherish it. Their life together was filled with a lot of love and hard, hard work. Brady returned to civilian life as an illustrator for Sears and Roebuck—a job he really loved. However, it didn’t last long. When America joined the Korean War to aid South Korea, Brady was recalled back into service. Because of his experience as a fighter pilot, the Air Force needed him to watch the Canadian/American border for unauthorized aircraft at the radar site. He literally had to identify every aircraft flying into American airspace from the ground. The stakes were high. Russia had the atomic bomb, and America wasn’t going to be caught off guard again. It was Brady’s job, along with his fellow servicemen, to ensure they didn’t enter our air space. After the Korean War, Brady stayed in the Air Force for a total of 27 years. Brady has a long record of serving our country. Do you know who else does? His family. Military families have to be strong and resilient, and the Brady family was just that. When Brady was in active duty in the Air Force, it was at a time when the military family moved with the service member. If the family couldn’t or didn’t want to move overseas, they had to move off base and find housing of their own. Today, families can stay on the base while their hero is stationed overseas. Jean remembered a time when Brady got transferred, and they had to move quickly. They owned their home and Brady left for his new assignment leaving it to Jean to sell the house, pack their belongings, and move with two children and a newborn in tow. She was stressed, to put it mildly. She never sold a home before and had to do it fast. Think about it. Women didn’t really do those things in 1961. Feeling overwhelmed, she shared her concerns with the lawyer who was selling the house. He told her to pull herself together and get moving, and that’s precisely what she did. Military life requires a great deal of hard work, planning, and ingenuity. After Jean sold the house and was ready to move, she didn’t know how to manage a newborn driving across the country. “Well, That’s easy, said Brady!” He made the first-ever, so we think, car seat. He constructed a bassinet out of wood that snuggly rested between the driver and passenger seats, making it easier for Jean to tend to the baby. Because they moved so much, Brady made makeshift beds for the kids in the back of the sedan. He designed sleeping areas made of wood for each child in the back seat of the car. To keep the children warm, he connected hoses to the heat vents in the front of the car and ran them to the back so his little ones could be kept nice and warm. As you can imagine, the Brady’s, like all military families, have many stories of pulling together, working hard, and getting things done. It’s clear that when someone serves our country, their family does too. Brady’s last Military base was Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1970. The family moved to Litchfield Park and Brady became a 5th grade teacher at El Mirage Elementary School in 1972. Imagine a fighter pilot as your teacher — What a great role model for children. I imagine that’s why Brady was given the students that needed a strong teacher and mentor. He taught for fifteen years before retiring...again. One summer day in 1968, Brady decided to take his wife and their three children, Susan, Mark, and Michael, up north on a family picnic to escape the valley’s heat. They took the 1-17 North and exited 322 knowing nothing of Munds Park. It was a beautiful area, but back in 1968, there wasn’t much there. They could see the Pinewood Clubhouse and golf course, but little other development. There were many empty lots, a few cabins, and a small real estate office, Pinewood Realty. Driving up toward the National Forest, the family found a nice place for a picnic. They wanted to enjoy the cool pines and fresh air but were soon told to leave because they were on private land — a lot that was for sale. So they drove into the National Forest and had their family picnic. They enjoyed the area so much that by the time lunch was over, Brady and Jean decided that Munds Park was the place for them. Before heading home, they made a trip to the realty office and purchased that very lot! That same year Brady builds a picnic table on their land to enjoy many picnics to come. A few years later, they buy a second lot. Brady builds the cabin himself with a kit and help from family and friends. He constructs the fireplace by himself, using flagstone and cement, a masonry skill he learned decades ago in the CCC. So we come full circle. Brady and the family love their cabin in Munds Park, which is a true labor of love. It is where the Brady family lives today.

Kids! An exclusive interview with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus! We at the Pinewood News were lucky enough to sneak a few moments with Mr. and Mrs. Claus after their headline appearance at the annual Santa’s Visit right here in Munds Park! Santa’s Visit to the Pinewood Fire Department has been a tradition enjoyed by Mundsies since before 1993. This year was just as memorable despite COVID-19 restrictions. Sandee Caviness: Hello Santa & Mrs. Claus! Thank you for finding the time to give this interview. We know it’s a very busy and fun time of the year for you! Santa Claus: Ho, ho, ho! Yes, Christmas is busy and our elves are hard at work, but we always have time for our friends in Munds Park! Sandee: Thank you Santa! It is always special when you visit. I understand that Engineer Devon Liggett, one of the Pinewood Firemen, drove you around the Park in old Engine 41. Did you enjoy riding in the fire truck? Santa: Yes! Mrs. Claus loves that the fire truck is red! Ho, ho, ho! Sandee: That does sound like fun! How did Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen feel about you riding in the fire truck rather than the sleigh? Santa: Oh, they were fine with it! They need to eat lots of carrots, rest, and build their strength for the big ride on Christmas Eve. Sandee: Santa, you have visited Munds Park for many years at the Pinewood Fire Department. Is this because Munds Park doesn’t have a mall? Santa: Why yes, it is. However, I have to say, the fire station is my most favorite place to visit. It’s been a long tradition and the fire station allows Mrs. Claus and me to spend more time with the kids and their families. Of course, this year was different, but we still were able to celebrate the season together. Sandee: Santa, what is your favorite part about visiting kids in Munds Park? Santa: Oh, I love the look on the kid’s faces when they see us! They are happy and bouncy and full of joy! Also, the people of Munds Park are extraordinary and even magical some would say! Something about a small-town that brings a close connection between families and neighbors. Everyone is eager to help one another. Sandee: I know lots of people feel the same way, Santa. Ok, next question. Have any of the kids pulled your beard? Santa: Ho, ho, ho! No, not yet! Just lots of hugs around the legs. Sandee: That’s sweet. A hug around the legs is a lot better than a tug on the beard! What is the funniest thing a child in Munds Park asked for Christmas? Santa: Oh, that is easy! One time a little boy asked for a can of black beans! Ho, ho, ho! Sandee: Black beans? Hahaha! Ok, Santa. I have a very serious question. Santa: Yes? Sandee: Is it true you have a naughty and a nice list? Santa: Yes, it’s true. We make a list every year and we check it twice to see who is naughty or who is nice! Sandee: Oh boy! Any words of advice on how to stay on the nice list? Santa: Yes, there are lots of ways to stay on the nice list. The general rule for kids is to respect and help their parents, do their chores and homework with their best effort, and always be kind. These simple but important rules will always keep kids on the nice list! Remember, I see you when you’re sleeping, I know when you’re awake, I know if you’ve been bad or good. So be good, for goodness sake! Sandee: Yes! Yes! Be good! Santa, kids and adults all love getting gifts from you, but we also know that giving as well as receiving brings joy. What do you tell kids about giving? Santa: We all know how great it feels to receive gifts, but the magic of giving, now that’s the best feeling of all. Our hearts fill with joy when we make others happy and this joy lasts a long time. Do you remember the last time you gave a gift? Maybe it was a picture you drew in school and gave it to your Mom or Dad, or you gave a friend a toy you no longer used or even shared a piece of candy. Do you remember how you felt? It’s that feeling of sharing that brings happiness. This is why I am so jolly! Ho, ho, ho! Sandee: That’s a wonderful lesson Santa. Thank you and we wish you a very Merry Christmas! Kids! It’s not too late to write to Santa! His address: Santa Claus 123 Elf Road North Pole 88888 Want to track Santa on Christmas Eve? NORAD, The North American Aerospace Defense Command, will follow Santa on December 24 as he flies from the North Pole to visit children’s houses worldwide! Check out the site at www.noradsanta.org. Google also has a Santa Tracker complete with games. Visit them at SantaTracker.google.com.

Can We Preserve Our Small Town Charm and Not Trample on the Rights of Others? Growth is coming to Munds Park – with expanding and planned RV parks catering to an increasing demand for seasonal housing at a vacation town known for outdoor recreation, a cool climate and a friendly atmosphere. What that growth will look like, and how to preserve the community’s natural beauty and old-time charm, are matters of current debate. “How do you keep a balance?” said Cindi Eagleton, owner of Munds Park RV Resort, the Chevron gas station and a shopping center. “How do you add to the community and not make a ruckus?” The Munds Park RV Resort, with 370 units, is adding 122 more units in Phase 4, expected to be completed in August. The shopping center is getting a new storefront this summer — Mary Coyle’s Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream, founded in Phoenix in 1951. Mary Coyle’s has a retro vibe with black-and-white tile flooring and classic sundaes, including its specialty “mountain” of ice cream with multiple flavors and toppings. In the planning stages, but not a done deal, is a new RV park with 125 RV spots and 20-30 rental cabins on about 10 acres behind Munds Park Community Church. Prospective buyers Ari Levenbaum and Adam Sandoval have a contract with the seller and hope to close in April. The property is going through rezoning from residential to commercial, which is considered likely to happen. Also in progress up the freeway is the proposed new Windmill Ranch RV resort, which would bring 151 RV sites and 147 cabins to a 61-acre property between Munds Park and Flagstaff, just south of the Newman Park exit. In late February, the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission forwarded the proposal to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. Trendlines on multiple fronts are driving the growth. A shortage of housing and escalating prices in Arizona and nationwide are pushing people to consider alternatives like RVs in rural areas like Munds Park. The pandemic taught people they can work from anywhere, not bound to an office or a house. Munds Park has only one RV park, and it has a wait list. Baby boomers are retiring and looking for affordable options in pleasant surroundings. Phoenix metro has 4.7 million residents, according to 2017 population estimates. Rising summer temperatures are motivating more of those people to head north for weekend getaways and summer homes. Levenbaum and Sandoval considered those trends when they explored building a mobile home park on land behind the church. The land has been for sale for five years — originally zoned commercial, then residential, and now proposed back to commercial again. Concerns about flooding and its current status as a patch of residential property bordered by commercial property made the land challenging to sell. The investor pair hired hydrologists, engineers and surveyors to evaluate the land. They have met with the sewage district, the church, local business owners and the county, he said. As required by ordinance, a neighborhood meeting of residents within 1,000 feet of the proposed development was held March 17 at Provident Partners in Munds Park. More than 20 people from outside the boundary area showed up. Space was limited, but to accommodate as many people as possible, names were drawn and seven additional people were allowed to attend. Concerns expressed included more traffic through the main drags; slower internet connections as population and demand grows; noise and foot traffic; and the environmental impact on night skies and the forest. “Like anything else in this world, if everybody had their way, they would keep everything the same as what they grew up with,” said Bill Spain, CEO of Provident Partners, listing agent for the seller. “Growth is a difficult thing to calibrate. You want to make sure when growth does occur that you can work with the people who own the project to maximize benefit to the community.” Spain is a 30-year Munds Park resident who founded his company more than 20 years ago, serving the Valley and Munds Park. Levenbaum said he and Sandoval are respectful of the Munds Park community and will be good neighbors. Government requirements will be met to address flooding, water, environmental and power needs, he said. More trails will be created to give people another option. Limitations will be placed on noise, with quiet hours and speed limits enforced, he said. High-speed Internet service is scheduled to be installed along I-17 in two to three years, he said. “I’m a resident of Munds Park. It’s been my vacation home for four years. I love it and plan on staying there the rest of my life,” Levenbaum said. Levenbaum is chief operating officer of the American Association of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers, a national marketing and advertising company. He is not a lawyer, but graduated from Northern Arizona University with a master’s degree in education and taught school for eight years before joining the association. He and his wife Kathy bought a home in Munds Park and spend two or three months a year there. He grew up in Scottsdale and has a home in Phoenix. Sandoval is a resident of Moyers, Oklahoma, where he owns a campground for motorcyclists. A self-described entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sandoval created ScootinAmerica, a two-year road trip to raise money for military veterans. He is active on social media. Though Levenbaum and Sandoval are both motorcycle enthusiasts, their proposed park would not become a motorcycle mecca, Levenbaum said. Munds Park is a popular destination for off road and all-terrain vehicles. The area has an expansive trail system designated for hiking, mountain biking and ATVs. If their plans for Munds Park become reality, Sandoval would move here to develop the property and manage it, Levenbaum said. Most of the proposed park’s rentals would be long-term seasonal rentals, not short-term, Levenbaum said. “We will be bringing in more people but also bringing in more money and taxes and people supporting local businesses,” he said. “We want to provide people with a home away from home – a sanctuary to share in what makes this place special.” Steve Bowyer, pastor of the church next to the property, thinks it is likely that the land will sell at some point to a business that will develop it. “My hope is that it would be developed by owners we can work with in Munds Park, who think about what the people want. I feel like the partners working on the RV park are eager to be part of our community,” Bowyer said. Dick Drinen, president of the Pinewood Property Owners Association, said the association does not take positions on development issues. Residents are free to bring questions to the association’s attention and everyone will get a response, he said. The association is a nonprofit supported by voluntary dues. Eagleton believes the property next to the church should remain residential zoning because of the flood plain issues. She also is concerned about the roadway not being sufficient for RV traffic and about the proposed park attracting short-term renters who come and go, with no investment in the community. The Munds Park RV Resort, which Eagleton describes as “adult camp,” offers activities for the community with bands, dancing, bingo, the sports bar, a pool, and the Wandering Donkey Mexican food restaurant at the strip center, she said. Most of the resort is for park models, which Eagleton said gives the residents “ownership pride.” Another pool will be added for phase 4, she said. “My family has been here 50 years,” she said. “I’ve been here 17 years full-time. We won’t develop things unless we know it is good for the community.” Levenbaum feels the same way. “Someone is going to purchase this land,” he said. “Someone like me who is part of the community will develop it in a respectful way and make it a high-end park.” NEXT ISSUE OF THE PINEWOOD NEWS We will review existing Munds Park organizations that can help make positive change and welcome our new neighbors. After all, we are Mundsberry USA!