October RimShot Magazine

RimShot magazine

Celebrating the joy of living in and around the White Mountain Rim County.

September 2022 | VOL. 1 - nO.5

Published monthly by RimShot Publishing, LLC. Contact info@rimshotpublishing.com for any questions.

Article & Photo Submissions

Welcome & Encouraged!

Please limit stories to approximately 300 words. Email your articles, photo submissions and calendar events (apx. 100 words) to info@rimshotpublishing.com.

We are primarily interested in stories directly related to our circulation area. We will run these stories and photos based on space available each month. No guarantee of publication is made.

This is not a platform for complaints or political agenda.

Opinions expressed in editorial or advertisements do not necessarily represent the view or opinion of RimShot Publishing, LLC.

No liability is accepted for errors or omissions in editorial or advertising copy. We make every effort to insure the accuracy of the publication but are not immune from mistakes.

We reserve the right to refuse any editorial or advertising copy that is not compatible with our publication standards.

Advertising rates and information are available at RimShotpublishing.com

DEADLINES

All editorial, photo and advertising are due by the 15th of each month prior to the month of publication.

MAILING ADDRESS:

RimShot Publishing, LLC PO Box 3128 Overgaard, AZ 85933

Halloween Fun

We like to go, on Halloween

All up and down our street, Dressed up like ghosts and witches bad, And frighten those we meet.

I like the lively jack o’ lanterns That wink and blink at me.

The screeching bats and creeping cats Are funny as can be.

I like to eat the pumpkin pie

That mother makes - yum, yum!

Oh, I’m so very glad each year, When Halloween has come!

On the Cover: Black Canyon Lake by Sheila Smith

October Happenings in our Area

participate in the fun run/walk for free. FUN RUN KIT | $25.00 Adults and $20.00 Kids. Elevate your color run experience with our fun run kit. Kits will include a race shirt, sunglasses, and bandana. Pre-ordering is required. Kits will not be available for purchase at the race. The order deadline is September 17, 2021. Place your order online at www.PinetopLakesideAZ.gov

The Willis Farm Corn Maze -SnowflakeAgrifact Maze Hours: Monday-Friday 1-8pm, Saturday 10am-10pm. Closed on Sundays, $4.00. Big Cornmaze Hours: Monday- Friday 1-8pm, Saturday 10am-10pm, Closed on Sundays, $8.00. PLEASE CHECK THE WEATHER BEFORE COMING!! *Sorry to inform you but we will not be allowing dogs on the premises anymore. This is for the safety of all our customers. Thank you for your understanding!! For more information about the fun and festivities go to www.thewillisfarm-ranch.com.

October 8 - Harvest Fest - Snowflake. 9am - 2pm, Pioneer Park, 506 1st St. E. Snowflake. Enjoy the fall weather at the Snowflake Harvest Fest. Arts and Crafts vendors, food vendors, entertainment, Game Zone for kid, wagon rides to Willis Farm Corn Maze.

October 8-9 - Pine/Strawberry Fall Festival & Antique Show - Pine Strawberry Cultural Hall, 3886 N. Hwy 87, Pine. There will be Roving Performers with Local talent. The music will be Variety, and there will be other activities like antique show, chili cook off. 70 Vendors.

October 8 - 2022 Annual Color Fun Run & Walk - Woodland Lake Park, 450 West Woodland Lake Road Pinetop - Start Time is 9:00 AM. Starting location will be at the covered bridge. The run will follow the Woodland Lake paved path. (Each loop is a mile) There will be a 1 hour time limit on the event. PARTICIPATION IS FREE! All ages are welcome to

October 8 -18 Dawn til Dusk, Show Low Bluff Trail, Show Low. Take a walk and vote for your favorite scarecrow! Registration is already closed for scarecrow entries.

October 8 - CLINT BLACK at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

Highway 87, Mile Marker 251, Payson, AZ. 7pm11pm. Join us for our 50th Anniversary Celebration Clint Black concert. 50th Anniversary Celebration fireworks display following concert. After the concert and fireworks display please join us for a special after show free concert inside the casino event center with the Latin Ladies, A tribute to Shakira, Selena & JLo.

October 15 - 16 - 1st Annual Neighborhood Holiday Boutique - LakesideFeaturing Hand Crafted Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas Gifts 9am - 2pm. Rainbow’s End Gnome Village. 1511 Hand Cart Trail, Lakeside.

WE ARE IN SEARCH OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ARTICLES FROM THE COMMUNITY:

Monthly events and special interest information from Heber-Overgaard, Snowflake, Taylor, Pinedale, Clay Springs, Linden, Show Low area and even Payson. There is always something happening around us!

Advice/Informational Articles:

DIY, Home Improvement/ Gardening

Living Well, Health, Wellness

Informational Home, pet articles

Food and Recipes

Real Estate Advice, Financial Advice

Personal interest, short story, poems

We would also like to highlight local/new businesses, artists, community care stories and history.

Local wildlife and landscape photos, even your cute or funny pet pictures. The higher quality the better and your photo could end up on the cover!

Since this is a community magazine, the advertising helps to pay for each month to keep this publication free to the community. And by helping support the magazine you also give your company the visibility to thousands of potential customers.

We look forward to promoting our wonderful rural community and all the activities, beauty and lifestyle.

Why We LoveOur Community

9-11 National Day of Service was a huge success! Thank you to HOCRN and all the wonderful people that helped us clean up and supported the event.

On 9/8/22 members of the Top of the Rim Fraternal Order of Eagles delivered $4500.00 to the Mogollon High School teachers. With costs going up and supplies sometimes low, teachers end up making up the difference out of there own pocket. Today the FOE 4437 members tried to ease that pain with $200 going straight to each classroom. We are very proud of making a difference in our community FOE.

We wanted to acknowledge The MOGOLLON ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for helping to cut around 10 cords of wood for the needy and the widows around the community. You really felt the spirit as this is what community is all about . They are a great example to us and they truly care about the community. Photos supplied by Betsy Standage

Fire In The Sky UTV Fun Run

The Fire In The Sky UTV Fun Run September 16-18, was a huge success and a whole lot of fun! And thank you to everyone who made it possible and a special thank you to Travis Walton for coming

Star Performance donated the grand prize to the event. Here is Mike Flanary owner, with the winners Brandon & Trisha Carroll

Photos provided by Kyle Krause and Vikki Flanary

How to Prep Your Lawn and Garden for Autumn

As autumn colors set in this season, make sure your all-important home and garden upkeep checklist is ready.

Although the lawn is often overlooked during the fall, it’s actually the perfect time to make sure everything is organized before the harsher winter elements take hold. Paul James, host of HGTV’s “Gardening by the Yard,” advises homeowners to start early – approximately six weeks before the first good freeze.

Here is a list of some of the tasks and items you should add to your fall checklist this year:

• Maintain the landscape. Tidy up the lawn, flowerbeds, bushes, gardens, etc. Remove unsightly foliage, dead stems, piles of leaves and other debris. Fluff your mulch with a rake so water can seep into the subsoil.

• Keep muscles relaxed, and stay hydrated. Don’t underestimate the fall sun. Summer may be over, but hours of gardening in the sun can still leave you exhausted, strained and parched. Remember to drink plenty of fluids, take breaks and stretch your muscles. If you suffer from backaches and muscle

strains, keep some relief like Absorbine Jr. (www.absorbinejr. com) on hand. The natural menthol in Absorbine Jr. helps relieve muscle and back pain to make it a must-have for yard work. Its herbal ingredients also help provide relief from sunburn and gnat and other insect bites.

• Make room for indoor plants. Your potted or container plants won’t survive the winter outside, so it’s time to make room indoors for tropical plants, herbs and succulents. Potted perennials can be transplanted into a garden after trimming the roots and some top growth.

• Clean garage, shed or outbuildings. Once you organize your storage space, you can neatly put away all of your summer tools or patio furniture. Plus, your newly emptied planters will have a home next to all the other stuff families accumulate.

3 Ways to Save the Planet in Your Own Backyard

(StatePoint) “Think globally, act locally” is a motto that everyone should take to heart. It emphasizes the importance of real actions you can take at home and in your community, while stressing the fact that every creature on planet Earth is connected. With that in mind, here are three great ways to save the planet in your very own backyard this fall:

1. Save the lives of birds: Bird populations are in decline due to a range of threats, including habitat loss and climate change. In fact, North America has lost more than one in four birds in the last 50 years, according to the Audubon Society. Amid this alarming trend, you can make the skies safer for birds by mitigating the chance of window strikes, one of the more common threats birds face. In the United States each year, 350 million or more wild birds are killed when striking windows. Research shows that applying decals that reflect ultraviolent sunlight to your home’s windows can substantially reduce the likelihood of this occurring. Check out the bird decals from WindowAlert, which feature patterns that give the appearance of slightly frosted translucent glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds. The brand also makes WindowAlert UV Liquid, a high-tech liquid that offers even greater protection when applied between decals. Remember, wild birds migrate in fall, making it an especially important season to take this step. From hummingbirds to eagles, learn more about the beautiful birds you love and how to protect them, visit WindowAlert.com.

2. Start a compost bin: Composting food scraps and yard

waste is one action you can take with multiple benefits. It’s not just an excellent way to reduce the amount of trash you send to the landfill, your finished compost can be added to your lawn and garden to help plants thrive without chemical fertilizers. While it sounds simple since time does most of the work, there are some important composting do’s and don’ts to consider. Be sure to read up on best practices before you get started so that you only toss compostable items into the mix, and so you strike the right balance between nitrogen and carbon. This will speed up the process and yield higher-quality compost.

3. Go low maintenance: According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Americans consume nearly 3 trillion gallons of water, 200 million gallons of gas, and 70 million pounds of pesticides on their lawns each year. You can reduce your contribution to the problem by swapping out your conventional lawn for a meadow (which is comprised of native plants already adapted to thrive in your region), xeriscaping (a droughtresistant option requiring no mowing and little to no irrigation) or by simply letting your grass grow wild and free. Talk to your neighbors about your decision and encourage them to do the same.

By making your little patch of land a safe haven for animals and by conserving natural resources, you can help make a difference at home this fall.

GUNS, SELF-DEFENSE, AND YOU

KEN CRANE MINDSETCCW LLC

Anyone who reads the news knows we are in unprecedented times not only nationally but globally. Violent crime rates across America, especially in large cities, are through the roof. At times it seems as if the inmates are running the asylum. In rural areas and small towns, it can be easy to get lulled into a false sense of security. Although the frequency of crime is much less than in a large city, no location is immune from crime.

People, now more than ever, are taking personal safety seriously and this often equates to buying gun(s) for selfdefense. The decision to have a gun is a very personal decision and not one to be taken lightly. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. For those who do own or are thinking of getting a firearm, it can be a good first step, but it’s only one part of a bigger equation. Gun safety training is paramount. We must also understand a firearm is a mechanical device that takes training and practice to be able to operate comfortably and confidently. Shooting is a perishable skill meaning lack of practice will show on the target paper. In turn, we must be willing to invest the time needed to train to maintain proficiency.

Then there are the legal aspects. What can I do and not do? What actions might result in lawsuits and or prison time? Knowing the self-defense laws of the state you live in is a must if you have a gun for self-defense purposes.

All too often people buy a gun and a couple of boxes of shells to keep in a bedside table as an expensive security blanket. Their “training template” is what they got in the military 30-years ago or when they went shooting with their dad or granddad out in the woods. Their knowledge of legal issues might not be current as people often rely on information passed on from family and friends that is either inaccurate or out of date.

Being a “responsibly armed” citizen means having the knowledge and training needed to make sound decisions under conditions of extreme stress should your hour of decision ever arrive.

Ben Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to guns, some time and money invested on the front end can often aid in the prevention of jail time and expensive legal fees on the back end.

Ken and his wife are native Arizonans who now call the White Mountains their home. Ken spent 4 years in the military followed by a 30-year career in law enforcement with the Phoenix Police Department where he held numerous assignments. He holds multiple firearms instructor certifications, has taught thousands of students, and continues to instruct post-retirement, teaching concealed weapons permit courses and basic handgun instruction in the Heber/Overgaard area.

For questions on training, Ken can be reached at Mindsetccw.llc@ gmail.com or via the MindsetCCW Facebook page.

Christie

The Legend of the Pinecrest Lakes Monster

Story by: Cheryl Goodger Huffman Painting by: Vern Goodger

Many years ago it was told of a giant serpent that lived in Pinecrest lake. She was wise and lovely with purple and green scales. She lived peacefully beside the waters. Basking in the summer mountain sun. The ancient ones saw her and recognized her as a special creature of the earth. There are rumors that the ancient Mayans knew of her and called her Quetzacoatal or Kulicakan. She was shy of the humans and avoided their company. Years passed with nobody seeing her. Slowly the knowledge of her slipped into obscurity.

Time passed and an RV park was created around the lake. Humans stocked it with fish and people came to fish and enjoy the serenity of the lake. The blue skies and tall pines provided a cool refuge to the people who visited from the desert below.

One day my Dad was up early sitting by the lake painting, when she surfaced. He quickly sketched her in all her beauty, swimming beside the fountain in the lake. She was beautiful and happy in the environment of the lake. Her scales were bright and shining in the sunrise. They stared at each other for a moment before she slipped beneath the water. Of course nobody believed him; even though he’d drawn her and painted her. Again time passed without more sightings.

All was well until the fire came. It burned hot drawing water from the lake to create its own weather. The heat permeated the ground. Ninety percent of the homes were destroyed and acres of the ponderosa pines that grew in the mountains.

Crestie had been sleeping below the surface of the water, she swam to the surface to see the devastation caused by the flames. Smoke swirled above her and the water was so warm it burned her beautiful scales. Everything was changed, the houses were gone, melted into a blob of aluminum. Worse than that chemicals had flowed into the lake from the destroyed homes and sheds.

She felt a change in herself as well as she sank beneath the waters again. The caustic chemicals were absorbed through her skin. Instead of being a vegetarian her tastes changed.. She started to crave meat.. Small animals started to disappear. Skeletons were seen where the forests once grew. Bones were left at the side of the lake. Few fish survived in the polluted waters.

The residents of the park didn’t know what caused the disappearances or why the bones showed up. Eventually the lake couldn’t provide for her appetite for fresh meat. She left the lake and explored other waterways in the area. Traveling by night through the washes and dry streams, she made her way through the town. Leaving bones and death in her wake.

She hasn’t been seen since the big fire but people still hear her at night. The russell of leaves, a splash in the lake, a missing pet. Small dead animals in the woods.

The once beautiful serpent transformed by fire and human pollution is something else. No one knows where she will surface next.

Market Update

JOAN LEBIGOT

FALL IS SOON APPROACHING

Fall is soon approaching. The market for second homes will be coming to a close soon. As the market shifts to a more balanced market, what can you do now to ensure your home or cabin will be in tip top shape for the spring market?

Here are a few tips to help you.

1) Check all doors and windows for drafts. Seal any areas that are not quite tight or replace windows and doors.

2) Assess your roof. With the snow on its way, does your roof need any tlc before the white stuff starts falling. Any loose shingles? How are your gutters?

3) Landscaping needs can be addressed easier in the off season too. Trim up trees and branches prior to winter. This will eliminate any unwanted fallen branches on your deck, roof or garage which can lead to more damage inside.

4) Water sources. Be sure to turn off the water not only at the house, but at the street as well, and drain the line if you’re going to be gone for more than a week. This will eliminate any possibility of frozen water in the pipes. Saving you thousands in damage.

5) Coat of paint or stain on decks, siding and interiors. Cooler weather make it easier to get these projects done. If it’s been more than 5 years since your last paint job, consider doing it now. It will look fresh in the spring.

AUTHOR BYLINE: Palms and Pines Group is a daughter/mother team of Stacie Sumpter and Joan Lebigot, REALTORS® of West USA servicing the Palms of West Phoenix (Surprise, Sun Cities, Peoria and Glendale) and the Pines of Rim Country (Payson, Pine/Strawberry, Christopher/Hunter Creek, Forest Lakes, Heber-Overgaard) and

White Mountain (Alpine, Blue, Clay Springs, Concho, Eagar, Forest Lakes, Greer, Hannagan Meadows, Heber, Holbrook, Joseph City, Lakeside, Nutrioso, Overgaard, Pinedale, Pinetop, St. Johns, Show Low, Snowflake, Springerville, Sun Valley, Taylor, Vernon, White Mountain Lake, Winslow, and Woodruff).

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.palmsandpinesgroup. com or find them on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook @ palmsxpinesgroup.

REALTOR, ABR, RSPS, SRS NARPM, SFR WEST USA REALTY - PALMS AND PINES GROUP

The Comfort of Fall

It’s officially fall! And as we welcome the cooler weather and changing landscape we also welcome the rich warm flavors it brings as well. Here are a few recipes to warm the belly.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

a drizzle of olive oil

1/4 cup butter

1 small onion, finely chopped

1-2 garlic cloves, crushed

2-3 cups sliced mushrooms—any kind a few sprigs of fresh thyme

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

a splash of sherry or white wine (optional)

3-4 cups chicken or vegetable stock salt and pepper

1/2-1 cup cream (heavy or half and half)

Instructions

Heat a drizzle of oil and about half the butter in a pot set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook it for a few minutes, until it’s soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, then the mushrooms, the

Pumpkin Alfredo

20 minutes · Serves 6

1 pound fettuccine cooked to al dente, reserve 1 cup of pasta water

6 tablespoons butter

2 garlic cloves minced

1 cup pumpkin puree not pie filling

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

2/3 cup half & half

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese off the block

1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

Bring a stockpot of water to a boil over high heat. Add a teaspoon of salt to the boiling water, then add fettuccine. Cook until al dente (check package

rest of the butter, and pull the leaves off thyme off their stems and add them. If you like, add some chopped ham, too.

Cook until the mushrooms get soft, then the moisture cooks off and they start to turn golden. Shake the flour overtop and stir to coat the mushrooms with flour. If you like, add a splash of sherry or white wine, and let it cook off.

Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes, until smooth and thickened, then season with salt and pepper and stir in the cream. Serve.

instructions). Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Meanwhile, melt butter over medium-low heat. Stir in garlic and cook for about a minute, careful not to burn. Stir in half & half, Parmesan, pumpkin and nutmeg. Stir until sauce is heated through and cheese is melted. Stir in pasta water, about ¼ cup at a time, until sauce is desired consistency (I used about ½ a cup, and it was thick and creamy. For a thinner sauce, use more pasta water).

Add pasta and cook over medium-high heat until sauce is smooth and pasta is well coated; about 1-2 minutes.

Divide into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and fresh grated Parmesan, if desired.

Whole Pear Crisp

By Beth Chen

2 Pears peeled

3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided

3 tablespoons brown sugar divided

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon divided

1 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon rolled oats

Salt Cooking spray

Instructions

Heat the oven to 400°F.. Melt the 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan (or in a small bowl over low heat in the microwave).

Once cooled add 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and then set aside. Slice the pears in half from top to bottom (the long way).

Core the pears but using a melon baller or grapefruit spoon. Spray a thin layer of cooking spray over the inside of a baking dish.

Place the pears in the baking dish, flat side up. With a pastry brush, brush the pears with the melted butter and brown sugar mixture. Cover the baking dish with tinfoil, and bake for 20 minutes.

Cut the remaining tablespoon of butter into cubes.

APPLE CIDER MOJITO

1/2 Cup lemon juice

1 Cup rum

2 1/2 Cup apple cider club soda

Sprigs Mint as garnish cinnamon sticks as garnish slices apple as garnish slices lemon as garnish

Ice

Instructions

In a pitcher stir together the lemon, rum and apple cider. Once you are ready to serve add the ice to the pitcher and stir. Pour into glasses and finish with a splash of club soda. Garnish with mint and cinnamon sticks.

Add it to a bowl, along with 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, flour, oats, and a pinch of salt. Use a fork to blend the ingredients together.

After the pears have finished baking, remove the baking dish from the oven.

Use a fork to carefully spread the oat mixture over top of the pears. Increase the oven temperature to 425°F. Place the baking dish back in the oven and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes more. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Cool the pears for about 5 minutes before serving.

Fresh Fruits & Veggies • Hand Crafted Gifts

OUT & ABOUT

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR PHOTOS!

Photography From Around The Area

One of the most cherished aspects of our community is nature itself. We want to highlight YOUR PHOTOS! You could even make the cover! Email us at info@rimshotpublishing.com. LIMIT 2 PHOTOS PER PERSON.

Photo by Lisa Sorensen

Photo by Sheila Smith

Photo by Diane Crum

Beautiful flowers in McNary!

Photo by Mark Brown

Blue River area near Alpine, AZ. Photo by Mark Brown

Photo by Keely Dugger