Big Weekly Blend - June 5-12, 2023

CONTENTS

BIG

CELEBRATE THE ARTS 8.

EDITORS BLOCK

“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” Maud Hart Lovelace

Welcome to the second issue of the new BIG WEEKLY BLEND Variety Magazine! Covering Big Blend’s most recent ar�cles and podcasts, it’s also a companion publica�on to our Big Weekend Blend Podcast. From roses and bu�erflies to the great outdoors and foodie trends, this week’s podcast celebrates the na�onal holidays of the month with a big music playlist, and links to themed recipes, ar�cles, books, and podcasts.

June is Na�onal Great Outdoors Month, and this issue takes a step out into nature with transforma�onal life coach Shelley Whizin and digs into the gardening season with a spotlight on Woodlake Botanical Garden in California’s Sequoia Country and a fascina�ng interview with straw bale gardening pioneer Joel Karsten. We also find out about the gray wolf situa�on in Washington state with author and journalist Eli Francovich.

With this week being the anniversary of D-Day, the Normandy Landings of World War II, Glynn Burrows shares some of the incredible stories of how America set up airfields in Norfolk, England, and best-selling author Craig Nelson talks about his new book, “V is for Victory.” And, in case you missed our Memorial Day programming, we feature the three podcasts with guitarist Brian Tarquin, various innkeepers, and the Na�onal Park Trust, who all support our military community through fundraising efforts and special programs.

The arts are back in full force with concerts and fes�vals, exhibits, and book signings. Check out travel writer Debbie Stone’s ar�cle about her visit to the new Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas, and our podcast conversa�ons with musicians and authors who discuss their new work and crea�ve processes. We also highlight the current works on display at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun in Tucson.

Please keep up with our upcoming and past shows on YouTube.com or on BigBlendRadio.com.

Happy June!

Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith Big Blend’s mother-daughter publishing, podcas�ng, and travel team.

BIG BLENDMISSION STATEMENT: Big Blend is a company based on the belief that education is the most formidable weapon that can be waged against fear, ignorance and prejudice. It is our belief that education starts at home and branches outward. Education leads to travel, and travel leads to understanding, acceptance, and appreciation of cultures and customs different to our own, and ultimately to world peace. Our company is further based on the principle that networking, communication, and helping others to promote and market themselves leads to financial stability; thus paving the way to better education, travel, and the spirit of giving back to the community. This magazine is developed by Big Blend Magazine™, copyrighted since 1997. No part of it may be reproduced for any reason, without written permission from Big Blend Magazine. Although every effort is made to be accurate, we cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies or plagiarized copy submitted to us by advertisers or contributors.

PAGE 5

FRONT COVER IMAGE: Roses at Woodlake Botanical Garden. See page 22.

CELEBRATE THE MONTH OF JUNE

it’s all about Roses & Bu�erflies, Camping & Surfing, Pride & Ice Cream, and much more! Enjoy Big Blend Radio’s new BIG WEEKLY BLEND podcast with hosts Nancy & Lisa. This episode covers the monthly holidays for June! Airing every Sunday, this show is a companion produc�on of this new Big Weekly Blend digital magazine.

Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast, and check out links on BlendRadioandTV.com for the music playlist (over 70 songs!), ar�cles, recipes, and puzzles that connect with, celebrate, and honor the month of June!

FIVEDECADESOF PUNKHISTORY ATTHE NEWPUNKROCK MUSEUM

by Debbie Stone

Joe Brigade - Courtesy of The Punk Rock Museum

The wait is finally over! A�er years of planning and collabora�on, The Punk Rock Museum opened its doors in Las Vegas on April 1st. And no, it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day joke!

The museum is the brainchild of the Punk Collec�ve, a group of musicians and industry pros that include Vinnie Fiorello, former drummer for American ska punk band Less Than Jake, and Fletcher Dragge, guitarist for Pennywise. Its goal is to preserve the ephemera of the punk rock movement for future genera�ons.

Encompassing 12,000 square feet between the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown, the museum celebrates the history of punk rock and showcases the best of the an�-establishment movement; a movement defined by non-compliant fashion, music, and culture. Think Pa� Smith, Doc Martens, and Social Distor�on ta�oos. First emerging in the 1970s, punk has been a driving influence in the decades since. And now this subculture has a new place to call home.

On display are images and displays of clothing, instruments, handwri�en lyrics, concert fliers, and artwork, donated by the people and bands who were there during punk rock’s heyday 45 years ago. Expect to see Debbie Harry’s iconic Vultures t-shirt, Johnny Thunders’ 1959 guitar, FEAR’s saxophone, molds for the Devo helmets, and more.

There is a Jam Room, where visitors can play

instruments originally owned by punk musicians who wanted to give them a permanent home to be shared by many. Chris Shifle� from Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, for example, contributed his green guitar featured on the back cover of the band’s album “Take A Break,” while Pete Koller from Sick Of It All donated his white ESP Viper guitar. You’ll even get to play these instruments through the same amps the ar�sts used.

Another unique aspect of the museum is that visitors can book guided tours of the place led by more than a dozen actual punk legends. Every tour features unscripted stories direct from the source, focusing on the guide’s own connec�on to the ar�facts. This offers a more in�mate interac�on that will give a deeper insight into the displays and what they personally represent to each guide. The list of guides includes such notable punk rockers as Roger Miret of Agnos�c Front, Jennifer Finch of L7, Joe Escalante of The Vandals, CJ Ramone of The Ramones, and Casey Royer of Social Distor�on, among others.

For those looking to pick up punk-related merch, the Vegas Punk Shop is on-site with one-of-a-kind items. And if you’re interested in ge�ng some ink to commemorate the occasion, there’ll also be a ta�oo parlor. Thirsty? The Triple Down bar will help ensure you’re well-hydrated.

Con�nued on Next Page…

The Punk Rock Museum - Courtesy of The Punk Rock Museum

Finally, on April 15th, the museum celebrated the opening of its wedding chapel, where you can �e the knot in the ul�mate punk rock ceremony. Choose from packages like “Partners in Crime,” a quick, no-frills elopement in a pop-up style milieu, where you bring an officiant and a legal marriage cer�ficate, or “Till Death Do Us Punk,” a ceremony and mini recep�on for up to 25 guests. Do it up in style when you add on the opportunity to invite an actual punk rocker to be a witness to your wedding! www.thepunkrockmuseum.com

Debbie Stone is an established travel writer and columnist, and regular contributor for Big Blend Radio and Big Blend Magazines, who crosses the globe in search of unique des�na�ons and experiences to share with her readers and listeners. She’s an avid explorer who welcomes new opportuni�es to increase awareness and enthusiasm for places, culture, food, history, nature, outdoor adventure, wellness, and more. Her travels have taken her to nearly 100 countries and all seven con�nents.

Fear Sax - Courtesy of The Punk Rock Museum

Iron + Cross - Courtesy of The Punk Rock Museum Punk Rock Con�nued…

New Music & Insider Conversa�ons…

JASON BLAKE: SUBSEQUENT RUINS

Known as “one of the most dis�nguished technicians on the Warr” and for his work with the progressive metal instrumental band, Aziola Cry, guitarist Jason Blake has begun to build an impressive resume as a solo ar�st. Hear about “Subsequent Ruins,” his new solo instrumental progressive rock album that features the Warr guitar as the sole melodic instrument along with Marco Minnemann on drums.

TIM ARNOLD: SUPER CONNECTED

The songs work as a modern retelling of Ra�enfänger von Hameln (The Pied Piper), whereas screens play the �tle role.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://www.jasonblakemusic.com

UK solo ar�st Tim Arnold talks about his new concept album “Super Connected” that li�s a magnifying glass up to the technology vs. humanity debate. Conceived with guidance from Arnold’s mentors Kevin Godley and the late Lindsay Kemp, the album fuses tech addic�on, consumerism, family trauma, and for those affected by screen dependency into 12 new songs. Produced by Arnold with addi�onal produc�on from Jethro Tull bassist Jonathan Noyce, it spans an elec�ve mix of

genres, and includes a vocal cameo from actor Stephen Fry on Track 6 “A Commercial Break”.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�p://www.superconnected.technology/

BILLY YFANTIS: BIRDS IN

Experimental electronic musician and author Billy Yfan�s discusses his new digital album “Birds in Space.” The album consists of 27 experimental tracks that explore space from a musical and conceptual perspec�ve. The concept refers to a flock of birds that travel in space among various space objects (clusters and galaxies). The album's song �tles refer to real space objects that exist in

the science of astronomy. Trivia: The “Birds in Space” track is a 30-minute psychedelic composi�on that includes real bird sounds, recorded somewhere in Athens, Greece!

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://billyyfan�s.bandcamp.com

Tucson Arizona-based singer-songwriter Lara Ruggles talks about her music and crea�ve process, and month-long Na�onal Parks Arts Founda�on residency in Hawai'i Volcanoes Na�onal Park. Lara Ruggles is an ac�vist, singer/songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and electronic music producer performing under the stage name “Sharkk Hear�”. Since 2011

Ruggles has released an EP, two albums, and four standalone singles both as Sharkk Hear� and under her own name.

Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://www.sharkkhear�.com/

LARA RUGGLES IN HAWAI’I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Roaring out of the fog-shrouded hills of Sonoma and drowning out the cha�er, prog-pop troubadours Pardon The Interrup�on are taking their place and asser�ng their voice in the storied musical conversa�on of the San Francisco Bay Area. David Noble, founder, lead singer, and guitarist, discusses the band's music and latest album “Hot ‘N Fresh” that finds them in full stride with nine original tracks mining every corner of the indie-

LIZ

LENTEN:

FAVOURITE MISTAKE

pop-funk spectrum, always with a self-effacing smile and a nod to the progressive rock of the ’80s and ’90s that is the quartet’s uni�ng influence.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://www.p�music.com/

UK singer-songwriter Liz Lenten, founder of the Americana Ensemble Auburn, chats about her music, life during the pandemic, and new EP "Favorite Mistake." As always, the lyrical themes cover a myriad of emo�ons – Love, Resigna�on, Betrayal, Metamorphosis, Yearning…amongst others! With wonderful contribu�ons from Thomm Jutz (guitars), Mo Pleasure (bass), JB Benne�s

(drums), Ruth Elder & London String Group (cello/ violin), Eden Parish & Ivan Toolit (harmonies), Will Fowler (piano), and featuring No�ngham-based rapper – Sanka GBM.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�p://www.auburn.org.uk/

SUMMER EXHIBITS AT DEGRAZIA GALLERY IN THE SUN

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is a 10-acre historic landmark nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona. Opened in 1965, it is home to over 15,000 originals of Ted DeGrazia art pieces including oil pain�ngs, watercolors, ceramics, and sculptures. There are six permanent collec�ons on display and several rota�ng exhibi�ons each year.

A limited number of DeGrazia originals are available for purchase, while the gi� shop and online store offers a wide variety of popular DeGrazia reproduc�ons. The Li�le Gallery hosts visi�ng ar�sts during the winter months.

“DeGrazia’s Beggars” is a selec�on of pain�ngs that traces the evolu�on of the ar�st’s ar�s�c style and approach to the subject across four decades.

“DeGrazia Underground” Miners and Prospectors of the Old West” – Miners and prospectors of the old West are the subject of this new exhibit. This new selec�on of drawings and oil pain�ngs by Tucson ar�st Ted DeGrazia dates from 1936 to 1972.

“On the Trail with Ted DeGrazia” – Da�ng from 1948 to 1972, riders on horseback are in this new exhibit. These pain�ngs include cowboys, Na�ve Americans, and Mexican revolu�onaries

“Abstract Pain�ngs of Ted DeGrazia” – A rare collec�on of abstract work by Tucson ar�st Ted DeGrazia is featured in “Abstract Pain�ngs of Ted DeGrazia”. Beginning with his master’s thesis pain�ngs in the mid-1940’s and con�nuing through the mid-1950’s, these works range from small sketches and studies to large format pain�ngs and screen prints.

TED DEGRAZIA EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY NOW:

“DeGrazia’s Beggars” – In 1940, Tucson ar�st Ted DeGrazia began a series of beggar pain�ngs that would con�nue un�l his death in 1982.

“The Way of the Cross” – The annual showing of Ted DeGrazia’s “The Way of the Cross” is on display through Lent with 15 original oil pain�ngs that depict the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. Instead of the tradi�onal 14 Sta�ons of the Cross, DeGrazia’s collec�on culminates with the resurrec�on. “I never thought the cycle would be completed unless we had the 15th sta�on where Jesus arises in glory,” the ar�st explained on a 15minute audiotape that accompanies the exhibi�on. More: www.DeGrazia.org

Lance Laber on Big Blend Radio: Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

Miners and Prospectors - Ted DeGrazia

BOOK NEWS & AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

Six Summer Reads from a Historical Mystery to a Regional Anthology, a Women’s Contemporary Fiction Novel to a Travel Memoir, and A Collection of Poems for Girls to a Children’s Picture Book….

TROUBLE IN TUCSON: A LEFT COAST ANTHOLOGY

This panel discussion includes some of the writers who have short stories featured in the Tucson Sister in Crime book, "Trouble in Tucson: A Le� Coast Anthology," which is available on Amazon. Featured guests include editor Eva Eldridge, designer Cheryl Ryan, and writers Conda Douglas, Lynn Nicholas,

Ambre Dawn Leffler, Kris Neri, Elaine A Powers, Janet Alcorn, and Minerva Raz.

Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://www.tucsonsistersincrime.org/ PAGE 18

Award-winning author Ma� Cost discusses his fastpaced historical mystery, “Velma Gone Awry: A Brooklyn 8 Ballo Mystery.” The story is set in the roaring ‘20s and follows a PI on a surprising, peculiar case to find the flapper daughter of a wealthy businessman. The searchwill lead him to cross paths with Dorothy Parker, Zelda and F. Sco�

Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, Bugsy Siegel, Babe Ruth, and many more.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://www.ma�cost.net/

MARGARET KLAW: EVERY OTHER WEEKEND

Con�nued on Next Page…

Author Margaret Klaw discusses her contemporary women’s fic�on novel, “Every Other Weekend.” Founding partner of an all-women law firm, Klaw uses her experiences as an award-winning family lawyer and writer to create an engaging and darkly humored mul�-perspec�ve look at one family’s

journey through the complexi�es of divorce and custody.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://margaretklaw.com/

Books Con�nued….

Travel writer, author, and novelist Linda Ballou talks about her newest book, "Lost Angel Unleashed: Stories from the Heart.” In this cap�va�ng collec�on of tales, Linda shares how her lust for adventure was spawned early in the wilds of southeast Alaska. As we follow her in the footprints of such legendary trailblazers as Jack London and

Isabella Bird, we come to understand why being in nature is the cornerstone of her work.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast from Acast.

More: h�p://www.lindaballouauthor.com/

Former educator Shetal Shah discusses her book “Shak� Girls,” a collec�on of poems illustra�ng the stories of 13 unforge�able, powerful Indian women that reflect the diversity of India and its diaspora. The book includes representa�ons of over 10 different industries, such as women in science,

poli�cs, math, ac�vism, and sports.

Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

More: h�ps://www.shetal-shah.com/

SHETAL SHAH: SHAKTI GIRLS

Physician, scien�st, and children's book author Dr. Bruce F. Scharshmidt discusses his new picture book "Tina the First Tooth Fairy." With deligh�ul rhymes and rich, colorful illustra�ons, it’s an engaging and �mely story that will resonate with young readers everywhere, while providing parents with the opportunity to introduce their kids to the concept of environmental sustainability.

Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast from Acast.

More: h�ps://brucescharschmidt.com/

WoodlakeBotanicalGarden inTulareCounty, California

On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Travel Tulare County” Show, Manuel and Olga Jimenez give an overview of Woodlake Botanical Garden in Tulare County, a region known as California’s Sequoia Country. Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

patches, along with ornamental shrubs, roses, and flower beds.

A perfect place to enjoy a garden stroll, there is a wheelchair-accessible trail with benches for visitors to sit and relax in the flower-filled tranquility and soak up the color of all the vibrant blossoms, as well as watch the local birds and wildlife.

Opened in 2003, the garden got its start from Woodlake Pride, a volunteer program started by Manuel Jimenez and his wife Olga, to get local youth to work on community and beau�fica�on projects.

Upcoming events include the Berry Tas�ng Fes�val on June 10, and Firecracker Fundraiser over the 4th of July weekend. For hours and more informa�on, call (559) 280-2483 or follow the garden on Facebook.

Located in Woodlake, right next to Bravo Lake, Woodlake Botanical Garden makes for a gorgeous garden des�na�on complete with a backdrop of the picturesque Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The garden showcases San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural bounty with fruit trees, row crops, and vegetable

Plan you adventure to California’s Sequoia Country, which is home to Sequoia & Kings Canyon Na�onal Parks, as well as the Giant Sequoia Na�onal Monument and Sequoia Na�onal Forest, at h�ps://www.discoverthesequoias.com/

Raising a garden can lower the grocery bills and provide the freshest, most delicious tas�ng veggies, says straw bale gardening pioneer Joel Karsten.

“Tomatoes, even in season, are a couple of dollars a pound, and it isn’t uncommon to grow 100-plus pounds of tomatoes from a single bale,” he said. “The savings you’ll get from growing a garden are astounding and make a huge difference in any family budget.”

Now is the �me to lay the groundwork for a summer garden, and Karsten shares the details of his revolu�onary method in his book, “Straw Bale Gardens Complete.” This unique technique makes growing fresh veggies possible even for those with bad soil or no backyard at all.

“If you have never picked peas fresh from a garden and brought them immediately to the steamer and then slathered them in bu�er and sprinkled them with salt, then you have never even tasted peas!” Karsten con�nued. “It is a flavor so deligh�ul that it is unmatched in even the finest restaurant.”

And those looking for the perfect hostess gi�s for summer barbecues can create beau�ful flower arrangements without breaking the bank.

“Flowers are amazing in straw bales,” Karsten said. “For less than two bucks, anyone can buy a pack of midget sunflower or zinnia seeds, and with just

one bale, grow enough flowers to make 50 vases of cut flowers all summer long.”

Karsten’s method requires less maintenance and weeding, and because of the raised height, makes gardening more accessible for seniors who can’t do the hard physical work of gardening, he explains. The method works in any climate and for nearly every vegetable crop, and doesn’t require any soil at all, so it can be done on concrete, asphalt or even on a roo�op.

Joel Karsten on Big Blend Radio: Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

Grow Crops and Flowers

“Straw Bale Gardens Complete” provides an abundance of inspira�on, with detailed steps for planning, plan�ng and harves�ng a straw bale garden; bale varia�ons and op�ons; watering guidelines; and plant profiles. Also included are �ps for irriga�ng in dry climates, gardening in small and urban spaces, and even DIY instruc�ons for homemade bales from compostable materials. The book is filled with color photos and project ideas, including how to set up a greenhouse for less than $100.

“Growing a successful vegetable garden is difficult enough if you have terrific soil to plant your garden into, but with poor soils it can be virtually impossible,” Karsten added. “Straw bale gardening allows anyone, even those with the worst soil condi�ons, to grow a terrific garden that is inexpensive, produc�ve and much less labor intensive.”

A hor�culture science graduate from the University of Minnesota, Joel Karsten grew up on a crop and dairy farm in southern Minnesota where the seed for his love of gardening was planted. A�er buying his first home and realizing that nothing could grow in the compacted construc�on backfill, he experimented with growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in straw bales.

He con�nued to perfect his method for gardening this way for 14 years un�l a reporter from the local NBC affiliate did a story and he realized just how revolu�onary his method was. This prompted him to write his straw bale gardening series of books, which includes “Straw Bale Gardening,” “Straw Bale Solu�ons” and “Straw Bale Gardens Complete.”

Karsten also developed BaleBuster® condi�oner to help prepare straw bales for op�mal plant growth. A keynote speaker, Karsten has made more than 2,000 presenta�ons about straw bale gardening since his first appearance on the local news. He and his wife, Pa�y, live in Roseville with their dog, Tucker. For more informa�on, visit h�ps://strawbalegardens.com/

Straw Bale Garden

IT’S TIME TO GET OUTDOORS & RECENTER YOURSELF!

By Shelley Whizin

Well, it’s June, and we’re almost halfway through the year 2023. Time is such an elusive commodity, isn’t it? We think we have a lot of it, it goes by fast, and we wonder where it went, how we spent it, and how we feel.

Since the pandemic, we’ve been busy repriori�zing, shi�ing, adjus�ng, hustling, bustling, and figuring out what’s next. So, how do we relax? How do we balance all of it for the sake of our wellbeing?

Do we just keep ourselves busy with I-don’t-knowwhat, and just con�nue on automa�c like robots? No! We take TIME OUT, go outside, be in nature, and take a walk, preferably barefoot on the grass or on the sand at the beach, feeling the earth beneath us.

Nature is a powerful source of healing and rejuvena�on, and it’s important to take the �me to reconnect with it. Listening to the birds chirping, smelling the flowers, feeling the grass or sand beneath your feet, and no�cing the beauty of nature can help you feel more grounded, calm, and centered.

Taking breaks from our busy lives to spend �me in nature is essen�al for our well-being.

It’s important to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and take the �me to recharge. As the saying goes, “Go outside and play.”

Walking barefoot restores balance in the body and improves your mood! When you add a walking medita�on, it can clear your mind, engage the parasympathe�c nervous system, and quiet the stress response, connec�ng you to your body and breath.

I walk nearly every day and the roses are in full bloom. Many of them don’t have a scent, but they are a delight to my senses, and I love taking the �me to smell them.

Listening to the birds chirping, smelling the flowers, feeling the grass or sand beneath our feet, and no�cing the beauty of nature can help us feel more

Shelley Whizin on Big Blend Radio: Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

grounded, calm, and centered. Spending �me in nature can help us to regain our balance, reduce stress, and reinvigorate our souls.

When you add a walking medita�on, it can help clear our minds, engage our senses, and connect to our breath and body. Spending �me in nature is an essen�al part of taking care of our well-being and nurturing our souls. So, go outside and enjoy the beauty of nature, and remember to take a break and breathe.

In conclusion, using a walking medita�on is a wonderful prac�ce that can help us connect with nature and our inner selves. And, scien�fic evidence has shown the numerous benefits of walking barefoot, including improved immune

func�on, sleep quality, and reduced stress and inflamma�on.

When was the last t �me you went outside to play? Take yourself out into nature. It’s worth every single moment!

Shelley Whizin is a transforma�onal life coach and the founder and CEO of the Soul Diving Ins�tute™ (SDI), established to study and teach the art and science of Being Human. She’s also the author of “The Healing Journal”, “The Story of the Magical Baby Grand Piano”, and “What Do You Bring to the Table? A Savory, Sensory and Inspira�onal Guide to Living a Yummy Delicious Life”.

More at www.ShelleyWhizin.com

THERETURN OFWOLVES

An Iconic Predator’s Struggle to Survive in the American West

Following a February 10, 2022, court order, gray wolves in the con�guous 48 states and Mexico –with the excep�on of the Northern Rocky Mountain popula�on – are now protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened in Minnesota and endangered in the remaining states.

A�er being nearly eradicated in the 1990s, the gray wolf has made an astonishing comeback in Washington state, deligh�ng conserva�onists but infuria�ng ranchers. Eli Francovich is a journalist who covers the environment, conserva�on, and outdoor recrea�on in Washington. For Francovich, there is perhaps no be�er metaphor for the fundamental tension in contemporary American behavior.

In his new book, “The Return of Wolves: An Iconic Predator’s Struggle to Survive in the American West” (Timber Press: April 11, 2023), Francovich combines interviews, extensive research, and onthe-ground repor�ng to reveal the deep social and poli�cal struggles at the core of this debate over the endangered species. Ul�mately, he endeavors to find a solu�on that will appease both par�es—and perhaps mend an everwidening division in American culture.

As he covered the wolf’s reintroduc�on in The Spokesman-Review, Francovich found that the public’s passionate response revealed a more complex underlying story. It was clear this was not just a fraught issue, but a microcosm of American poli�cs: a study into what happens when ques�ons of science are pit against ques�ons of belief. Determined to find common ground, Francovich sought the input of local ranchers, poli�cians, environmentalists, and everyday folks caught in the middle, ul�mately finding an answer in the �me-honored tradi�on of range riding.

By communica�ng with groups from all walks of life, he comes to realize that our poli�cal climate, much like the precarious ecosystems of wolves, is a

delicate dance of compromise, sacrifice, and a desire to survive. In The Return of Wolves, Francovich sinks his teeth into the topic of wolf conserva�on and what it can teach us about our society. As he says, “striking a balance in wolf land would go a long way toward kneading the dough of society back together.”

Eli Francovich on Big Blend Radio: Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast

ICYMI on Memorial Day: Three Big Blend Radio podcasts covering Programs that Serve Ac�ve Military, Veterans, and their Families…

BED & BREAKFASTS WHO SUPPORT MILITARY PROGRAMS

This episode features innkeepers who support veterans and ac�ve military through special programs such as providing free and discounted stays and sending baked goods and care supplies to soldiers who are deployed. Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast.

Featured Guests:

* Steve & Karen Wilson -

The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast

* Tiffany Bertram - Tiffany's Bed & Breakfast

* Judey Trui� - The Virginia Cliffe Inn

* Kathleen Panek - Gillum House Bed & Breakfast

* Dana Underwood - Stuart Avenue Inn

* Mikelyn Wustman - The Bird & Bu�erfly Inn

* Susan Harman - 5 Ojo Inn

The two main military support programs the inns collaborate with are B&Bs for Vets at h�ps://bandbsforvets.org/, and Soldiers Angels at h�ps://soldiersangels.org/.

NATIONAL PARK TRUST MILITARY PROGRAMS

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Ivan Levin, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Communica�ons for the Na�onal Park Trust, who discusses the organiza�on's Military Family Programs. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast

Na�onal Park Trust supports military communi�es, including ac�ve military and Gold Star Families, military family survivors, veterans, and others. They provide these dedicated servicemen and women and their families with memorable outdoor park experiences in a variety of public parks, lands, and waters na�onwide.

More: h�ps://parktrust.org/overview/military-familyprograms/

GUITARIST BRIAN TARQUIN – BROTHERS IN ARMS

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Part 2 of the "Brothers in Arms" conversa�on with mul�Emmy award-winning guitarist/composer Brian Tarquin. Hear about his latest Heavy Friends album "Brothers in Arms" that was inspired by those military soldiers who have fought for their country, and how par�al proceeds from the sales go to the Fisher House Founda�on who supplies housing to veterans' families while they are hospitalized. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Acast

Join the effort at this dona�on page: h�ps://�nyurl.com/bdze82za

Nominated for four Josie Awards, the "Brothers in Arms" features iconic guitarists including Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore (UFO), Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (Guns N’ Roses), Alex De Rosso (Dokken), Travis Stever (Coheed & Cambria), Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), Johannes Weik (Son of a Bach),

Gerald Gradwohl (Tangerine Dream), Chris Haske� (Henry Rollins Band). Brian Tarquin, a one-man army, composed, produced, and performed all guitar melodies, solos, bass, rhythm guitars and used session drummer Reggie Pryor.

Check out Part 1 of the Podcast on BlendRadioandTV.com.

NORFOLK’SUSAIRFIELDS DURINGWWII

By Glynn Burrows

Liberator Bomber at Duxford Museum

It is difficult to imagine that, between 1942 and 1945, at any given moment, there would have been around 50,000 US personnel serving on bases within the County boundaries of Norfolk. The County, roughly oval in shape, and 50 miles North to South and 70 miles East to West must have wondered what had hit it.

In 1942, the United States joined the European theatre sending their own Engineer Avia�on Ba�alions to the U.K. Their task was to support Bri�sh squadrons by building their own airfields ready for the huge influx of men and machines that were about to arrive.

The crea�on of airfields was an exact science, as trees and hedges were removed, ditches filled, and the land levelled to a maximum gradient of 1:60.

Perimeter tracks were built, to allow the delivery of heavy loads to any part of the sites, and, with such a big workforce being dra�ed in, accommoda�on for the workers had to be built. These would o�en be the huts that would later be used for the aircrews and other personnel on the base once ac�ve.

The Nissen huts, shaped like a tunnel, were built of corrugated steel sheets which bolted together in sec�ons of 16, 24, or 30 feet, with brick ends and, although they were cold, they were a very easy and quickly built effec�ve hut. They were commonplace on many airfields and were used as both accommoda�on and general-purpose buildings.

With the arrival of the USAAF in 1942-3, they brought with them the Quonset hut, bigger in design than the Nissen, but, with their semi-circular shape, the Quonset gave less height at the sides. The Nissen hut, with the extra curvature, gave greater use of ground space than its US counterpart.

The Class A airfield would be designed around three hard concrete runways, shaped like an ‘A’ with each runway at 60 degrees to each other where possible. The main runway would be aligned with the prevailing wind, where possible, to allow aircra� to take off and land in the wind as o�en as possible. Obviously, this was not always possible, so, although this design was the norm, it wasn’t always how the airfields were laid out.

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American WWII Airfields in Norfolk UK

The runways and other paved areas; perimeter tracks, aprons, and hardstands, were the most important parts of the airfield. The main runway would usually be 2,000 yards with the two subsidiaries being 1,400 yards. Each of these would be 50 yards wide. The perimeter track would be 50 feet wide. Alongside these runways would be hard standings to disperse the aircra� around the airfield as a form of protec�on in case of a�ack.

Whilst the general layout of airfields did not change for the remainder of the war, some runways were extended to 3,000 yards and some to 4,000 yards, to accommodate larger aircra� or to facilitate emergency landing.

The material requirements for building runways suitable for heavy bombers were approximately 18,000 tons of dry cement and 90,000 tons of aggregate. The runway thickness was between six to nine inches of concrete on a hardcore base, covered with a layer of asphalt. In areas where there was no natural rock, such as Norfolk where we only had flint, stone had to be imported for the hardcore. Trains ran daily from London to East Anglia carrying rubble from buildings that had been destroyed in Lu�waffe raids.

Hangars were massive buildings and the most common were the T-2 type metal ones which were 240 feet long by 115 feet wide by 29 feet high. There are s�ll some of these buildings in use today!

Some of these airfields were small and some were very large, but every single one of them served

their part in World War II. It was an unbelievable feat of engineering and logis�cs and is said to have cost £645,000,000 to build all 250 US airfields in the UK.

The 8th Air Force, “The Mighty Eighth” were the umbrella for all the separate opera�ons and, in Norfolk alone, we had the following airfields:

The 319th BG, 320th BG & 466th Bomb Group flew out of A�lebridge.

The 352nd Fighter Group flew out of Bodney.

Deopham Green is where the 452nd Bomb Group was based and was home to around 3,000 personnel.

East Wretham was home to the 359th Fighter Group.

Fersfield was where the 388th Bomb Group called home.

Hardwick had the 310th Bomb Group as well as the 93rd Bomb Group.

There were three Bomb Groups based at Hethel: 320th, 310th, and the 389th, and nearby, was the 2nd Air Division’s HQ at Ke�eringham Hall.

Horsham St Faiths, now the present-day Norwich Airport, was where we would find fighters and bombers. 319th and the 458th Bomb Groups and the 56th Fighter Group. North Pickenham was

Name tag showing workers on duty Airfields Con�nued…

Home to the 491st and the 492nd Bomb Groups.

Old Buckenham is where we would have found the 453rd Bomb Group, and is where Jimmy Stewart and Walter Ma�hau both served.

Oulton had the 803 RMCS.

The 467th Bomb Group was based at Rackheath.

Sculthorpe housed the 96th (803rd) Bomb Group.

The 448th Bomb Group was to be found at Seething.

Shipdham was home to the 44th and 319th Bomb Groups. 344 missions were flown and over 8,400 individual combat sor�es were flown by the 44th. These missions meant that 850 young airmen were killed in ac�on. The group lost 153 planes.

Two Bomb Groups were based at Sne�erton Heath during the war, the 386th Bomb Group and the 96th Bomb Group. It is now a motor racing circuit.

Thorpe Abbo�s was home to the 100th Bomb Group. Here there were 306 missions and 8,630 sor�es 229 planes lost or salvaged and 785 men killed or missing in ac�on and 894 were taken as prisoners of war.

Thruxton was home to the 366th Fighter Group.

Tibenham housed the 445th and the 320th Bomb Groups. This was another base where Jimmy Stewart served.

Wa�on was home to the 3rd Strategic Air Depot as well as the 25th and 802nd Bomb Groups.

The 392nd Bomb Group was at Wendling.

Several of these airfields are now gone from the maps and li�le trace exists, but there are many of them which are s�ll totally recognisable today. Many old USAF buildings are found in quiet corners of Norfolk and it is s�ll quite common to stumble across an old Nissan Hut in the long grass and brambles of many old farm yards.

The young men who gave their lives and the young men who got to return home to their loved ones are s�ll spoken about in local villages and the memorials to those we lost are s�ll well-kept.

We will remember them.

Glynn Burrows provides customized, private tours and also helps his clients trace their English family history. Past guests have visited and experienced stately houses and gardens, castles and churches, ruins and villages, birding and wildlife, World War II airfields, and general area taster tours too. Accommoda�ons can be in all types of establishment, from character buildings such as windmills, thatched co�ages and castles, selfcatering or five star luxury – just say what you want and it can be arranged. Nothing is too much trouble for Glynn! Visit www.Norfolk-Tours.co.uk.

Glynn is on Big Blend Radio every fourth Saturday. Follow the podcast on Acast.com

Old Shipham

VISFORVICTORY

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