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ALAMOGORDO AND DONA ANA COUNTY
Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31, and Halloween 2025 will occur on Friday, October 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon,All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known asAll Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trickor-treating, carving jack-o-
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lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.
This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October
31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts Story continues next page
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wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes.
When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
ByA.D. 43, the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the 400 years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. Continued
The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of bobbing for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.
On May 13, 609, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1.
By the 9th century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted older Celtic rites. In the year 1000, the church made November 2All Souls’Day, a day to honor the dead. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, churchsanctioned holiday.
All Souls’Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and Story continues page 16
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devils. TheAll Saints’Day celebration was also calledAllhallows orAll-hallowmas (from Middle EnglishAlholowmesse meaningAll Saints’Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be calledAll-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
The celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was more commonly recognized in Maryland and the southern colonies.
As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups andAmerican Indians meshed, a distinctlyAmerican version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing.
Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the 19th century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.
In the second half of the 19th century,America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing the Irish Potato Famine, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally.
Borrowing from European traditions,Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.
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In the late 1800s, there was a move inAmerica to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft.At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes.
Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the 20th century.By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide Halloween parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague some celebrations in many communities during this time.
By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the 1950s baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they
could be more easily accommodated.
Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-ortreating was also revived. Trick-ortreating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats.
Thus, a newAmerican tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today,Americans spend an more than $11 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday after Christmas.
Did you know? One-quarter of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween.
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Spooky Stars: How Each Zodiac Sign Celebrates Halloween
By Jessie Quinn Readers Digest 2024
Choosing a Halloween costume based on the stars is a lot like picking a Halloween candy based on your zodiac sign.
In both cases, you need to look at the characteristics of your sun sign and the energies you harness as someone born under that sign. But using your zodiac sign to decide on a Halloween costume is also about selecting something that makes you stand out— especially if you plan on winning a costume contest (or if you’re a Leo).
“The sun is at the center of the universe, so it follows that Story continues next page
Tom Charles Tours
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your sun sign is where you shine the brightest,” says Abigail Nora, a Chicago-based astrologer. “If you’re looking for a standout Halloween costume that’s sure to steal the show, tapping into the energies of your sun sign can be an excellent place to start.”
Aries
(March
21 to April 19)
Gory monster
As the zodiac’s bold leader, Aries might choose to break away from trends, opting for a legitimately scary Halloween costume. “Unlike fellow fire sign Leo,Aries might be the sign that cares the least about whether or not they look ‘good’ in their costume, and they aren’t afraid to get gory or truly scary,” says Nora. With that in mind, a full-on zombie costume with fake blood and guts spilling out might inspire an Aries this Halloween. “If that’s
too much though, lean in to the active side ofAries and channel a favorite superhero”
Aries will get a chance to impress lots of people in their costumes too. They’re most likely to stop by a few parties on Halloween, or they might even take the initiative to host their own Halloween gathering—after all, they love to take charge. Forget about bobbing for apples or other wholesome Halloween party pursuits—a fright-night get-together is another opportunity forAries to share the gory gimmicks of their costumes.
Taurus (April 20 to May 20)
Royalty
“Earth sign Taurus loves all things luxury, and that extends to holiday celebrations and Halloween costumes too,” says Nora. With that in mind, the
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perfect Halloween costume for a Taurus is someone truly regal and iconic. Those dressing as real-life royalty might imitate Queen Elizabeth II of England—or Beyoncé. For a fictional icon, there’s always KingArthur or the Queen of Hearts (who makes a fun best friend Halloween costume if you have a pal who could
double asAlice).
Gemini (May 21 to June 20) A work of art
Quick-witted, playful and curious, Geminis are interested
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in dressing up as something that sparks a conversation—and bonus points if it has an intellectual edge or is a nod to pop culture.Acharacter from the show of the moment is also a great option for this sign.
This Halloween, Geminis are most looking forward to interacting with a diverse group of characters, playing games and having stimulating conversations.
Cancer
(June 21 to July 22)
TV character
Ruled by the moon and highly intuitive and sensitive, Cancers prefer a more nostalgic costume; going as an iconic character from a TV show, such as Lucy from I Love Lucy or someone a little more recent, like Lizzie McGuire.
And where will these throwback characters be hanging out?
Probably not at a rocking Halloween party. Cancers will enjoy staying home and carving pumpkins with their family or passing out candy.
But if they were to go out, they would enjoy trick-or-treating with the youngest members of the family or attending festivities with their closest crew. With that in mind, a nostalgic costume is a perfect choice forAll Hallows’ Eve.
Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22) Famous icon
“Regal Leo lives every day believing they’re an icon,” says Nora. “For them, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to keep that going by dressing as a fellow icon.” She suggests choosing someone with an instantly recognizable look, “like Madonna [also a Leo!] or Elvis.”
Any costume with an emphasis on hair or wigs is perfect for Leo—it taps into that lion’s mane.
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These costumes are also aligned with Leo’s ideal Halloween plans: attending a Halloween concert in costume.
They appreciate the dramatic arts, music and all forms of creativity, especially if it’s rolled into one event. Have a bunch of music lovers in your crew? Come up with a group Halloween costume and go to the concert together.
Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Book character
“Detail-oriented Virgos are analytical and intellectual, so lean into that with a literary
costume,” says Nora.Aspinechilling character from a favorite horror novel, vampire book or Halloween story for kids is a fun option. Better yet, Virgos can take Nora’s suggestion and play up their intellectual nature by channeling the smartest, most analytical character of the bunch: Sherlock Holmes.
Virgos also combine that attention to detail with an appreciation for aesthetics. That’s why the best place for Virgos to wear their costumes is a fall craft night, where they
can show off their costumedesign skills.
(Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Fashion icon
Libras’zodiac element is air, and that—combined with their appreciation for harmony and Continued on page 36
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Libra
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beauty—makes a fashion- or artinspired costume ideal.
“Dress as your favorite fashion icon, whether it’s a designer like Karl Lagerfeld or a supermodel like Twiggy,” says Nora.
Dressing up as a stylish fashion icon also lends itself to a Libra’s ideal Halloween plans. Sociable Libra will also host the chicest
Halloween party, with an impeccable guest list and themed drinks and food.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Witch
“Scorpios are known for their intensity and [as] the sign most associated with matters of the occult—Halloween falls during Scorpio season, after all,” says Nora.
With this in mind, a Scorpio could go for an occult-inspired
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Halloween costume, like a witch or fortuneteller. People born under this sign can go full-on horror, warts and all, or have fun by dressing as one of the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus.And since witches do best with their familiars by their side, Scorpios can tote along their feline friends—decked out in cat costumes, of course.
Since Scorpios innately understand the darker elements of life, Dawn suggests they wear their witch costume to a séance, on a graveyard tour or at a historical haunted house.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Famous archeologist
Sagittarians are knowledge seekers who are constantly learning and exploring the wonders around them. “Pop culture archeologists like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft are a great option for this adventurous sign,” says Nora.
On top of a lust for information, Story continues page 46
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A New Flight Path:
The Remarkable Rise of Shafic
In the heart of the desert, among the humming air conditioning units and sunbleached rooftops of Classic DesertAir, you’ll find a man whose story doesn’t just defy odds—it rewrites them.
Shafic, a housekeeping supervisor with barely a year under his belt at the company, walks the halls with quiet confidence, greeting coworkers with a nod, a smile, and a presence that speaks of deeper resilience.
To many, he’s the dependable guy who ensures things run smoothly, the one who’s always willing to pitch in, cover a shift, or stay late to make sure everything’s spotless. But to those who know him better, Shafic is
something more: a story of redemp-tion in progress, a man who’s taken some of life’s hardest knocks and still chooses to rise.
The Fall Before the Flight Shafic’s adult life did not begin in the safety of routine or the security of structure. In fact, much of it was shaped by chaos.After his early twenties, he struggled with addiction—a battle that consumed years of his life. What began as recreational experimentation spiraled into dependency. The world around him narrowed, and the light inside him dimmed.
“It didn’t happen all at once,” Shafic recalls. “You don’t realize you’re falling until you hit the bottom.”
And hit it he did. His struggle with addiction led to a series of arrests and, eventually, jail time. He doesn’t shy away from talking about it; there’s no sugar-coating in his voice when he says, “I broke the law. I hurt people. I hurt myself. I lost time that I can’t get back.”
Prison was both punishment and pause—a cold, hard mirror that forced Shafic to confront the life he’d been leading. But even there, transformation doesn’t come automatically. “You can sit in a cell for five years and come
out the same person. Or worse,” he says. “But for me, I had this moment one day—just sitting there—and I asked myself, ‘Is this it?’That was the first real question I’d asked myself in a long time.”
He started attending recovery meetings inside. He read voraciously—books about recovery, psychology, spiritual texts, anything that gave him a different window to look through. Slowly, a version of Shafic began to emerge that wasn’t defined by his past mistakes.
Story by JuniorThurman
A New Beginning
When he was released, freedom felt fragile. “You come out and you think everything’s going to fall into place, but it’s hard,” he says. “People don’t trust you. You don’t trust yourself.And the world moves fast.”
It was through a halfway house program that Shafic first heard about an opportunity at Classic DesertAir. It wasn’t glamorous—a housekeeping position—but it was a chance. And that was enough.
“I remember the interview,” says his now-manager, Jesse Muniz. “He was honest. He didn’t try to hide his past, but
you could tell—he was ready to work, ready to change. There was something steady in his voice.”
He was hired as a housekeeping staffer, and from day one, he stood out. Not because he had more experience, but because he showed up early, stayed late, and asked questions. He treated every task, no matter how small, like it mattered.
“Most people don’t think twice about who mops the floor or who makes sure the supplies are stocked,” says a coworker “But Shafic made us all pay attention. Not just to the work, but to how we carry ourselves doing it.”
From Surviving to Leading
In under a year, Shafic didn’t just survive—he advanced. His consistency, attitude, and commitment caught the attention of leadership, and he was promoted to Housekeeping Supervisor. It was more than just a new title.
“Being a supervisor here isn’t just about delegating,” Jesse explains. “It’s about setting a tone.And Shafic sets a tone that’s respectful, focused, and calm. People respond to that.”
He now oversees a team of five, ensuring daily cleaning
operations are completed with precision. But he does more than give orders—he mentors. He listens.And, when needed, he shares his story.
And he’s not stopping there. Shafic recently enrolled in school full-time. He’s pursuing a certification in facilities management, with hopes to eventually move into operations or even project leadership.
“I didn’t think I could do it,” he admits. “But something shifted in me. Working here gave me back a sense of trust in myself.And school—it’s hard, but it’s like proving to myself every day that I’m not done.”
A Ripple Effect
The impact of Shafic’s transformation extends far beyond his personal life. Within the Classic DesertAir community, he’s become a symbol of what second chances can truly mean.
“He reminds us why we take a chance on people,” says OM Rebecca Baca. “People like to throw around words like ‘rehabilitation’and ‘restoration,’but Shafic makes those ideas real. He lives them.”
and
Outside of work, he continues attending recovery meetings and volunteers at a local support group for men transitioning out of incarceration. “It’s not just about staying clean anymore,” Shafic says. “It’s about helping others believe they can get through it too.”
Looking Forward
When asked where he sees himself in five years, Shafic smiles— not with arrogance, but with purpose. “I want to lead. Not just in work, but in life. I want to be someone people can count on. And maybe, if I do it right, I can build something that outlasts me.”
He pauses, then adds, “But even if all I do is keep doing the next right thing, that’s enough.”
His story is far from over. But what’s clear is that Shafic is not running from his past. He carries it with humility, using it as fuel rather than chains.And with every floor he polishes, every new hire he trains, and every class he completes, he continues to redefine what it means to rebuild.
In the dry heat of the desert, at a company where airflow and function matter most, Shafiq has become a quiet current of hope— proof that no life is too far gone to be turned around, no mistake too permanent to overcome, and no dream too far out of reach.
Sagittarians have an adventurous spirit and might enjoy putting their costume to the test at a Halloween theme park or escape room.As an alternative, taking a night hike and telling ghost stories around a fire would be gratifying.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)
Classic monster
Capricorns love traditions and, according to Nora, are most likely to dress up as a classic Halloween creature, such as a mummy or Frankenstein’s monster, and they will be the absolute best version of this costume you’ve ever seen.
Classics-loving Capricorns might plan on showing off their costumes at a screening of their favorite Halloween movie or at a wine-and-candytasting party.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Alien
“QuirkyAquarius is the most
and
likely to pick a hyper-specific costume that requires lots of explanation,” says Nora.As fans of “out there” ideas, Aquariuses might also want to “lean in to their otherworldly vibe and dress up as an alien” Nora adds
These out-of-the-box thinkers might also choose to celebrate Halloween a bit differently. They might dream up a spooky scavenger hunt or host a Nightmare Before Christmas party that combines the holidays in a nod to the film.
Pisces (Feb. 19 to March 20) Mermaid
Pisces is a water sign symbolized by two fish, so any aquatic-leaning costume is perfect for them,such as going as a mermaid, which is also a nod to Pisces’dreamy nature.
This sun sign loves the changing of the seasons and is especially drawn to the beauty of fall foliage celebrating the spooky season outdoors at a pumpkin patch or apple orchard.
Ingredients
• 1 package 3 oz lime Jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 can 15 oz fruit cocktail, drained
• 1/2 cup mini marshmallows optional
• 1/2 cup sour cream or cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup whipped topping for the creamy layer
• Whipped cream for topping
• Maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
Make the Lime Jello Base:
• Dissolve the lime Jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir for 2 minutes until completely dissolved.
• Add 1/2 cup cold water and
stir to combine.
• Let the Jello cool slightly, then stir in the drained canned fruit cocktail and mini marshmallows if using.
• Pour half of the Jello mixture into a 9×9-inch dish or individual serving dishes. Refrigerate until set (about 1 hour).
Make the Cream Layer:
• In a separate bowl, combine sour cream (or softened cream cheese) with the whipped topping. Mix until smooth and creamy.
• Once the first layer of Jello has set, spread the creamy mixture evenly over the top.
Add the Final Jello Layer:
• Pour the remaining lime Jello mixture over the cream layer.
• Refrigerate again for at least 2 hours, or until fully set.
Serve and Garnish:
• Before serving, top with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
• Garnish each serving with a maraschino cherry.
• 2 Envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup hot bouillon
• 1 pound cooked liver cut up
• 2 cups drained, canned French-style green beans
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 tbsp parsley flakes
• 2 tbsp wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp mustard
• 2 tbsp brandy extract (optional)
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/8 tsp thyme leaves
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• GLAZE* (see below for instructions)
• Chicory to garnish
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Liver Pate En Masque
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• Radish slices to garnish
• GLAZE* (see below for instructions)
Sprinkle gelatin over bouillon in blender container.Add remaining ingredients except GLAZE and garnishes. Process at medium speed, until mixture is smooth. Pour into 1-quart mold. Chill until firm. Unmold and place on a flat platter. Coat with glaze. Chill.
Transfer excess glaze from platter to small pan. Place pan over bowl of warm water and stir vigorously until syrupy. Spoon glaze over liver loaf 3 or 4 times (or until all glaze is used), chilling until set after each coating. Garnish with chicory and radish slices. Makes 4 servings.
*GLAZE:
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1/4 cup bouillon
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp mustard
• 1/4 tsp onion salt
• pinch salt
• pinch pepper
• 1/4 tsp sugar
Sprinkle Gelatin over bouillon in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in buttermilk, mustard, onion salt, salt and pepper. Cool.Add sweetener. Chill until syrupy
Shrimp Aspic
• 1 tablespoon plain gelatin
• 4 tablespoons cold water
• 1 lemon, juice of
• 3⁄4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1⁄2 cups cooked shrimp,
• 12 stuffed olives, sliced
• 3⁄4 cup celery, finely diced
• salt, to taste
• 1 canned pimiento, minced
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons onions, finely minced
• 2 eggs, hard cooked, peeled and chopped
DIRECTIONS
• Soften gelatin in cold water for five minutes, then heat to melt completely.
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• Add lemon juice and cool.
• Before it congeals, add mayonnaise, salt to taste and mix well.
• Add remaining ingredients, mix thoroughly but lightly to preserve the shape of the shrimps.
• Lightly spray mold with cooking spray (or lightly oil with vegetable oil) and transfer mixture to mold.
• Chill until firm.
• Unmold onto salad greens.
• Serve with additional mayonnaise.
Byron Nelson's Mustard Ring
• 4 eggs
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons dry mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1⁄2 cup cider vinegar
• 1 cup whipping cream
Directions
• Beat the eggs in the top of your double boiler.
• Mix thoroughly the sugar and gelatin, then stir in the mustard, turmeric, and salt. Add the water and vinegar to the eggs, then stir in the sugar mixture, then cook the resulting mixture over boiling water until slightly thickened, stirring constantly all the while.
• Cool in refrigerator until the mixture becomes very thick making sure it does not congeal.
• Whip the cream and fold it into the mixture. Turn into a 1 1/2 quart ring mold and refrigerate until it becomes firm.
• Unmold and if desired fill center with cole slaw or fresh fruit. This will serve 8.
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Meet Curtis and Tiffany, the family behind Mas Art.
In the vibrant heart of Las Cruces art scene, MasArt stands as a testament to the power of Collab-oration, passion, and artistic innovation.
At its helm are Curtis and Tiffany Bristol. They are a dynamic duo whose individual talents converge creating a unique and captivating artistic experience. Their story isn’t just about creating art. It’s about building a community dedicated to the fostering creativity.
MasArt is a dual art destination - offering custom picture framing and ensuring that cherished artworks and memories are beautifully preserved.
MasArt also provides a dynamic selection of art supplies, catering to both beginning and established artists in the community.
MasArt functions as a vibrant art gallery. Once a month they host a reception for theArtist of the Month. The gallery also displays works from 30 talented local artists. This local engagement fosters a diverse and inspiring environment.
Curtis is a lifelong artist and expert framer and is the creative force behind MasArt. With over 17 years in the field, his work is set apart by his sensibility. His background as a retired tattoo artist for over 20 years and his extensive carpentry experience ensure exceptional precision and durability, giving him a unique eye for intricate design, color, and accuracy.
Curtis shines in his ability to select the perfect frame and presentation, honed through years of intricate design.
He brings attention and narrative depth to every piece he handles, truly bringing art to life. He works with clients to choose the best way to enhance the impact and beauty with energy that’s both immediate and story continues next page
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thought-provoking. With his deep knowledge of color match-ing, he guarantees each piece is presented in its optimal light.
Complementing Curtis is Photographer Tiffany Bristol. Her work is founded on the belief that “beauty can be found in any situation, you just have to look for it”.
Her photography explores the beauty in a dark world and is drawn to subjects that evoke a sense of peace and wonder.
The shadows that fall upon an old church wall, luminous glow of lanterns, serene presence of the moon, and the vibrant colors of desert flowers. It is in these small moments that her artistic vision truly shines.
She is the background of MasArt’s operations, handling business management and marketing, ensuring the gallery thrives and connects with its audience.
The Bristols’infuse every project with their unwavering dedication and infectious creative spirit.
MasArt is an extension of a philosophy, being a vibrant expression of two artists who have found their rhythm together, enriching Las Cruces’s cultural tapestry.
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When it comes to bologna, the only things that come to mind might be the simple lunches you grew up on or perhaps the protein source you've always been too nervous to try out.
Regardless of whether you've come to like it or not, though, bologna is an overall popular deli meat that's been around for centuries and is here to stay.And if it's going to stick around for a while longer, you should know: It doesn't have to be the "mystery meat" people so often believe it to be.
There's a lot more to learn about the sausage apart from its affordability and popularity in sandwiches, such as how it came to be and where in the world you can expect to find dishes that use it. The history
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behind this meat and the unique ways in which it's eaten today often goes by unknown, completely drowned out by images in our mind of Boar's Head recalls and Oscar Mayer-lined aisles. But some of the facts you'll learn might just pique your interest in the food and make you want a bite -- or not.
f the word "bologna" spurs images of mass-produced meat being churned out in factories, you're likely thinking of the American version we so often see sitting in grocery store refrigerators now.And while that has yielded the store-bought bologna brands people both love and hate today, know that this meat actually started out being made by hand around 1660, when official rules were set regarding the production of mortadella, the original Italian sausageAmerican bologna was based on (though the meat itself was first created even earlier).
Back then, Italian mortadella was made by grinding pork into a paste with the use of a pestle and mortar. Some artisanal food producers still use a traditional, hands-on method these days, though the use of machines in Italy to create this food item has become common.Afinely ground, cured pork product consisting of cubes of
fat, black pepper, pistachios, and myrtle berries, mortadella is an Italian mainstay.
Bologna, called after the Italian city of the same name, uses similar ingredients. Like mortadella, bologna is made of ground meat, though it's usually from scraps of either pork, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mix of these. These elements are all blended together, typically along with spices like black pepper, coriander, nutmeg, and allspice, creating the uncannily smooth, uniform look that bologna is so often known for. It usually also has preservatives to help maintain its pink color, slow the growth of bacteria, and extend its shelf life.
When you think of bologna, you may think of the cold cut sandwiches that sustained you during your early school days. But its roots trace back much further
than your childhood lunches. With bologna's origins dating back centuries, it's not all too surprising that the meat is actually deeply rooted inAmerican history.
The ingredient was especially useful in times of rationing, making it one of the foods eaten during the Great Depression, right alongside fascinating options like the allergyfriendly wacky cake and fruitless "apple" pie. Bologna was greatly appreciated for its low price point and accessibility in a period when unemployment was high and food was hard to afford or even come by.
The meat was simply eaten fried or was often used in something like a bologna casserole. For the same reasons mentioned concerning its affordability and availability, bologna was also popular as people had to continue rationing out of the Great Depression and into World War II.
Whether bologna is your cold cut
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of choice or it's just something to reach over as you grab ham or turkey from the fridge instead, the meat has already established itself as having a successful multi-billion-dollar global market, regardless.
More specifically, it's estimated that the global market for bologna products was a hefty $7.7 billion in 2024.
There's no pretending that bologna is at the top of the healthy eating pyramid. But once you get past the fact that it is rather high in calories, saturated fats, and, more often than not, preservatives, you'd be surprised to learn that there are actually some benefits going on.
Bologna has some vitamins and minerals, though not a very large amount. This includes an estimated 48 milligrams of phosphorus and the same amount of potassium in one slice of beef bologna.
It should be emphasized, however, that this is out of a daily recommended value of 700 milligrams and 2,600 milligrams, respectively.
For a more specific example, one slice of Oscar
Mayer's beef bologna contains about 8% of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and 2% of iron. These numbers aren't particularly high, meaning bologna definitely shouldn't be your goto source for any of the aforementioned nutrients, but it's still an amount worth noting. for one day every year, the entire country is called to (unofficially) celebrate the meat with a holiday that largely flies under the radar. That would be National Bologna Day, which falls on October 24 each year.
So when you're officially all candy'd out for the month of Halloween, take a break from the sweetness of it all by celebrating the savory sausage instead.
If you don't know how to do that, a good start would be to try bologna in something other than a simple bologna sandwich consisting of just the cold cut and two slices of bread.
There are many ways to make a bologna sandwich that your grown-up taste buds will love, whether it's glazing the meat first or adding special toppings.
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In 2006, when accountant Peter Cruz felt the need of a lifestyle change, he walked away from a steady job as CEO and HR manager of L&P Building Supply to open a window cleaning business.
“We were both working 60 hour weeks” Peter said on himself and wife Diana, then a vice president of Citizens Bank.
They had reached the point where they needed time to enjoy each others’company, do projects, and hang out at their pool that had been sitting idle in their backyard.
The idea for the new gig came when Peter had dinner with Shanon Windecker ofArtsy Times Design, an old friend from high school.
“She told me that I ought to get into window washing” Peter says, and I thought “You have got to Story continues next page
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been crazy! You can’t make a living doing that!”
But Windecker became his partner and proved him wrong.
“Shanon had a good customer base- he already had window tinting clients, and he refereed them to me.”
Peter opened his business with “some squeegees and buckets, a couple of ladders, a little old pickup, and a couple of part-time helpers.”
When Peter first started, he did a lot of cold calling in neighborhoods where residents likely had disposable income, he remembers. “The business took off and I figured it was going to work.”
Today Peter washes windows big and small throughout New Mexico, serving well over 1,000 clients, the majority of which are homeowners. Homeowners are given the3 same level of quality service as their business accounts.
Peter says that “I try to structure the business so it’s corporate, run efficient, and professional. There is a time clock where employees check in each morning before daily meeting. Our employees receive benefits, bonuses, and get regular training.
. ”Its not rocket science” Peter
says, but there’s a certain way we like to do things.”
“Our customers see that we have very well trained employees. Very smart and articulate.”
“Alot of our customers let us go right into their homes when they are not there because they trust us”
Peter went on to say that many of his clients appreciate ClearVue’s use of environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Peter told us that the company does jobs in Silver City, El Paso, Deming, andAlamogordo.
As ClearVue grows, Peter finds himself back behind the desk for 90% of his work day, managing the business. He has turned down offers to sell to a national company because he wants to grow ClkearVue a bit more without going back to those 60 hour work weeks.
ClearVue gives Peter the fun and flexibility he was seeking as well as the time to share with his wife and family.
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October 4th and 5th see ad page 22
October 4th and 5th see ad page 22
October 4th and 5th see ad page 22
October 4th and 5th see ad page 22
October 4th and 5th see ad page 22
Hatch chile peppers are actually a generic name for New Mexican peppers that are grown and harvested in the Hatch Valley region, New Mexico.
Located in the heart of the Rio Grande agricultural territory, Hatch, New Mexico, is often referred to as the Chili Capital of the World.
The name "Hatch peppers" often refer to the type of chilies the area has brought to fame, regardless of where they were actually grown, though to be authentically called a Hatch pepper, the pods must be grown in the Hatch region.
Hatch chilies grown today (in fact all New Mexican peppers) owe their genetic base from cultivars first developed by Fabián Garcia at the New Mexico College ofAgriculture and MechanicArts, now known as the New Mexico State University, in 1894.
Legislators passed a law in 2012 that prohibits the sale of chili peppers with the label "New Mexican" unless actually grown in New Mexico, or they must include a disclaimer label of "Not Grown in New Mexico".
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Lincoln Historic Site is unique in that it manages most of the historical buildings in the community of Lincoln. This most widely visited state historic site in New Mexico is part of a community frozen in time—the 1870's and 1880's.
Through a gift from the Hubbard Family Trust, the historic site now includes 17 structures and outbuildings, 7 of which are open year round and 2 more seasonally as museums. Most of the buildings in the community are representative of the Territorial Style of adobe architecture in theAmerican Southwest.
Lincoln is a town made famous by one of the most violent periods in New Mexico history. Today's visitors can see the Old Lincoln County Courthouse with museum exhibits that recount the details of the Lincoln County War and the historic use of the "House" as store, residence, Masonic Lodge, courthouse, and jail. Walk in the footsteps of Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and other famous and infamous characters of the Wild West. Trace the events of 1878 Story continues next page
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through the Courthouse and the Tunstall Store, with their preserved 19th-century atmosphere.
Remarkably, the Tunstall Store contains displays of the original 19th-century merchandise in the original shelving and cases! Continue your walk through history by visiting El Torreón (a defensive tower built by native New Mexican settlers in the 1850s), the San Juan Mission Church, the Convento, Dr. Woods' House, the Montaño store and other historic structures throughout the town. TheAndersonFreeman Visitor's Center & Museum features historical exhibits in a timeline starting withAmerican Indian prehistory and ending with the Lincoln County War.A22 minute video about the Lincoln County War and the community is shown every half hour.
The importance of this community and the significance of the Bonito Valley in the prehistory and history of the Territory of New Mexico are interpreted within some of the 17 structures that comprise Lincoln Historic Site. These historic adobe and stone buildings are preserved as they were in the late 1800s and represent the factions involved in the Lincoln County War, 1878-1881.
Here’s a photo of the courthouse after it became the Elephant Butte Saloon, taken some time in the 1920s.
This historic building listed on the Historic Register was built early in Mesilla’s history. It has housed the capitol of the New MexicoArizona territories, the details of the Treaty of Mesilla (the Gadsden Purchase) were partially worked out here and served as the county court and jail..
It was here onApril 12, 1881, that Billy the Kid was sentenced to hang. He was taken to Lincoln County for execution where he later escaped. He later met his death at the hands of Pat Garrett, who was one of DonaAna’s pioneer sheriffs.
Some say the ghost of Billy the Kid still lives in this building.At one time this building held a courthouse, jail and school at the same time. Children would be let out of school before a hanging so they would not see it.
In 1905 the first of many bars occupied this property until the 1970’s when a gift shop was opened on the premises.
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As unappealing as it may seem, cockroach milk is real and packed with nutrients. Despite its name, cockroach milk is not milk but a yellowish fluid that crystallises inside the stomachs of cockroach offspring.
Recently, it has sparked interest as a potential superfood, with claims of high nutritional value and health benefits
Cockroach milk may not sound appealing, but it does exist.Surprisingly, it is even classified as a superfood.
Cockroach milk is not actually milk. It is a yellowish fluid that hardens into crystals inside the stomachs of cockroach offspring.
What is cockroach milk, and how does it benefit the body? Is it really more nutritious than
cow’s milk?And most importantly, is it safe?
To nourish its offspring, the cockroach produces a milk-like fluid that forms protein crystals inside their bodies, according to Healthline.
Scientists have recently identified this substance as highly nutritious, classifying it as a complete food since it contains proteins, carbohydrates, and fats in a balanced ratio.
Notably, cockroach milk provides all nine essential amino acids - nutrients the body cannot produce on its own and must obtain through food.
Proteins play a key role in repairing and maintaining cells. Once consumed, they break down into amino acids, which support functions like digestion, cell regeneration, and overall growth.
Lab tests conducted back in 1997 revealed that cockroach
I don’t believe in the Bible or Jesus because there is no historical proof!
Dr. Bart Ehrman, a prominent secular New Testament scholar and agnostic (not a Christian), wrote the book "Did Jesus Exist?" (2012). In it, he states:
“Virtually every modern scholar of antiquity—across the theological spectrum—agrees that Jesus existed and was crucified.”
He calls Jesus mythicism—the theory that Jesus never existed—
“Afringe theory held by a tiny, tiny minority of nonexperts.”
This isn’t just Christian scholars defending their faith.A 2011 survey of experts across theological and ideological lines—biblical, Jewish, Islamic, secular, and even skeptical historians—showed over 99%
agreement that Jesus of Nazareth was a real historical person
Actually, the claim “there are no sources for Jesus outside of the Bible” is a common claim that circulates every couple of years given the increasingly secular makeup of society: but regardless of increasing secularism changing our religious makeup- this claim Jesus isn’t mentioned outside of biblical text collapses under intellectual and historical scrutiny. The real “debate” is: was he who he claimed to be? Not if he existed.
First: Jesus is absolutely mentioned by multiple firstcentury or near-first-century sources, both Christian and nonChristian.
So, who outside the Bible mentions Jesus during the first and second century? Several.
1. Tacitus (c. 56–120AD):
InAnnals (15.44), Tacitus — a Roman historian and no friend of Christians — records that "Christus, from whom the name [Christian] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus."
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source confirming Jesus’s execution, time frame, and the existence of early Christians.
2. Josephus (c. 37–100AD):
InAntiquities of the Jews (Book 18, 3.3), Josephus — a Jewish historian writing for a Roman audience — mentions Jesus explicitly:
“At this time there was a wise man called Jesus... He was the Christ. Pilate condemned him to be crucified... those who had loved him did not cease to do so. To this day the tribe of Christians named after him has not disappeared.”
Even though later Christian interpolations may have expanded this, scholars broadly agree that Josephus did mention Jesus—and also his brother James inAntiquities 20.9.1.
3. Pliny the Younger (c. 61–113AD):
Writing to Emperor Trajan (Letter 10.96), Pliny describes early Christians as gathering to “sing hymns to Christ as to a god.” This reflects established worship of Jesus within decades of the crucifixion.
This shows worship of Jesus as divine within decades of his death.
4. Suetonius (c. 69–122AD):
In Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Suetonius refers to disturbances in Rome under Claudius due to “Chrestus,” a variant spelling of Christus. This is strong evidence of early Christian activity and conflict.
In context, Suetonius is not describing a living agitator in Rome at the time (c. 49AD), but rather disturbances caused by debates among Jews over Christ, whose movement had already spread.
Online critics outside of academic circles love to point out that Philo ofAlexandria (prominent Jewish philosopher) never mentioned Jesus, as if that proves something—but it doesn’t. This is a classic argument from silence. Philo was a wealthy Jewish aristocrat, steeped in Greek philosophy and living in cosmopolitan Alexandria, far removed from the political and religious strife of rural Judea- not to mention the poor area of Nazareth Jesus was from was routinely ridiculed for. His focus was elite intellectual synthesis—not documenting fringe movements from the peasant class.
Jesus, by contrast, was a provocative figure from Galilee, specifically Nazareth—a
milk is packed with nutrients, offering a rich mix of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and all nine essential amino acids, according to Healthline. Notably, it’s also free from lactose.
The growing interest in cockroach milk and its potential health benefits took off in 2016 when researchers analysed the nutritional composition of the milk-like fluid produced by female cockroaches.
Their findings suggested that this substance, typically consumed by cockroach offspring, might be one of the most nutrient-dense substances ever discovered.
Astudy published in the Journal of the International Union of Crystallography in 2016 found that cockroach milk contained three times as many calories as the same amount of buffalo milk, which was previously considered the most calorie-rich milk from a mammal.
The researchers noted that a single crystal of cockroach milk “is estimated to contain more than 3 times the energy of an equivalent mass of dairy milk.”
Scientists believe this secretion from cockroaches is rich in proteins, fats, and sugars, making it one of the most nutrient packed natural substances known so far.
Since cockroach milk is not derived from dairy, it is naturally lactose-free, making it a potential alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to cow’s milk.
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As unappealing as it may seem, cockroach milk has caught the interest of both scientists and some consumers.
With an increasing demand for dairy-free alternatives to cow’s milk and ice cream, it has sparked curiosity.
However, researchers behind the Journal of the International Union of Crystallography study noted that there is no concrete evidence proving cockroach milk is safe for human consumption.
They also pointed out a major limitation. Cockroaches produce only a tiny amount of this fluid, making large-scale production extremely difficult.
Currently, extracting cock-roach milk is a labour-intensive process. It requires killing a lactating female cockroach along with her embryos and then harvesting the protein crystals from its midgut, Healthline reported.
One of the co-authors of the study on cockroach milk said that mass production is not practical at this stage.According to their estimates, over 1,000 cockroaches would need to be sacrificed to produce just 100 grams (approximately 0.104 litres) of milk.
Another factor to consider is its high-calorie content.Asingle cup
(250 ml) of cockroach milk is estimated to contain around 700 calories, more than three times the calorie count of the same amount of regular cow’s milk, according to Healthline.
At present, there is no scientific research confirming that cockroach milk is safe for human consumption.
As a precaution, vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women should steer clear of it.
Moreover, cockroach milk is not widely available, and given the challenges involved in its production, it is unlikely to become affordable anytime soon.
On top of that, the mere thought of drinking cockroach milk is enough to put most people off.
For these reasons, cockroach milk is not yet considered a possible option for human consumption. Like other socalled superfoods, it should be regarded as a supplement rather than a staple.
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Old Man Whales was an evil man who loved money more than anything in the world, except his wife.
When his beloved wife died in childbirth, Whales fell to pieces. He hated the child – a little girl named Mary – that had killed his wife. He neglected her, dressing her in rags, making her do all the farm choirs and half-starving her. In spite of this cruel treatment, Mary grew into a sweet girl who loved her wicked father.
As Mary reached adulthood, the resemblance to her dead mother was striking. Whales saw his dead wife every time he looked at the daughter who had caused her death. One night, after a hefty bout of drinking, Whales lumbered into Mary’s bedroom and stabbed her
repeatedly. Mary woke screaming and thrashed around in agony, trying to fight off her demonic father as blood spurted everywhere and bits of torn flesh littered the bedclothes and fell to the floor. When she was dead, Old Man Whales carried her down to the basement, dug an indifferent grave and tossed her body into it.
Two nights later, when Old Man Whales came back from doing his nightly chores, he found Mary standing in the kitchen, her nearly severed head lolling against one shoulder as she stirred an empty kettle. Apool of steaming blood lay beneath her feet, and bits of skin from her knife-slashed face were breaking off and falling into the kettle. “Faaaaaather….”
Bloody Mary hissed. Old Man Whales screamed and leapt out the kitchen door. When he glanced
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over his shoulder, the apparition was gone.
Aweek later, Old Man Whales looked up from reading the newspaper to find Bloody Mary sitting in the chair opposite him, her knife-slashed dress covered in blood. Her tattered hands were busy knitting him a shirt. “Faaaaaather….” she hissed through knife-scored lips. Blood fell from her body like rain as she flew across the room toward him, knitting needles held like knives. Old Man Whales fled from the house in panic with two deep cuts scored across his back.
Old Man Whales cowered in the barn for several days, afraid to go near his house. After
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nearly a week of sleeping in the hay and eating raw food from the garden, he decided it was safe to return to his house. The spirit must be gone by now.
Old Man Whales hurried into the kitchen, eager for a wash and a shave after sleeping so many nights in the barn. He pumped an ewer of water and took it over to the little shaving mirror they kept on the far wall. When he looked in the mirror, Old Man Whales saw the glowing red eyes and knifescored face of Bloody Mary. Her once-fair lips were split down the center and blood dripped from them as she smiled evilly. “Faaaaaather….” she hissed, raising blood-stained fingers. Her nails were long and story continues next page
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Continued from previous page sharpened like the claws of a beast. She reached out of the mirror and slapped her father twice across the face. Old Man Whales screamed, blood streaming from four slashes on his cheeks. He ran from the house and leapt into the safety of the barn, his heart pounding so hard his chest ached with it.
“Faaaaaather….” a voice hissed softly a few paces to his right. Old Man Whales screamed and whirled around. Blood Mary stood smiling at him through her blood-stained, razor-sharp teeth. Her tattered tongue was bleeding from several places as if it had been scored by a butcher’s knife. She pointed above her head, and Old Man Whales saw a noose hanging from the rafters beside the ladder to the loft. The rope looked inviting, hanging there in a dustspeckled sunbeam. Obediently, Old Man Whales placed his hands on the rung of the ladder and started to climb.
"Halloween Is Coming."
Creeping, crawling creatures scurry in the night,
Rats and bats and spiders, nibble, out of sight, Don’t look too carefully, You’ll get a nasty fright!
Monsters in the bathroom, witches in the hall,
Hairy beasts and demons climbing every wall,
You won’t want to catch them, When they start to fall!
Vampires’stealthy footsteps cross the wooden floor,
Werewolves howling fearfully, beyond your kitchen door, Don’t look outside now,
You won’t want to find out more!
Zombies with their wild eyes and their soulless grins,
Skeletons with their bony cheeks and their missing skins, Listen for their rattling sounds, But do not let them in!
Halloween is coming, what a scary night,
Ghosties, ghouls and goblins dancing in the light,
Here they are all coming now, feel the spooky beat,
If you listen, hear ‘em shout: “TRICK OR TREAT!”
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It was one a.m., and Guy Halverson sat in his dark living room. He hadn’t moved for over an hour. The accident earlier that evening kept playing over and over in his mind. The light turned red, but he was in a hurry and accelerated.An orange blur came from his right, and in a split second there was a violent jolt, then the bicyclist rolled across his hood and fell out of sight on the pavement.
Horns blared angrily, and he panicked, stepping on the gas and screeching away from the chaos into the darkness, shaken and keeping an eye on his rear view mirror until he got home. Why did you run, you idiot? He’d never committed a crime before this and punished himself by imagining years in jail, his career gone, his family gone, his future gone. Why not just go to the police right now? You can afford a lawyer. Then someone tapped on the front door and his world suddenly crumbled away beneath him. They found me.
There was nothing he could do but answer it. Running would only make matters worse. His body trembling, he got up, went to the door, and opened it.Apolice officer stood under the porch light.” Mr. Halverson?” asked the grim officer. He let out a defeated sigh. “Yes. Let me —” I am terribly sorry, but I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your son’s bike was struck by a hit-and-run driver this evening. He died at the scene. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
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October 4th and 5th see ad page 22
October 4th and 5th see ad page 22
DISCOVER THE SACRAMENTOS
Cloudcroft * Mayhill * High Rolls Sunspot * Timberon * Pinion * Weed
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cherry festival june 13th, 14th, 15th see ad page 16
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The Legend of 'Stingy Jack'
People have been making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. One version of the practice may have originated from an Irish legend—which first appeared in print in the 19th century—about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.”
PACKAGESTORE
According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him.
True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form.
Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Soon after, Jack died.As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and
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then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”
That story likely drew on a parallel etymology of the term ‘jack-o-the-lantern’as akin to ‘will-o-the-wisp,’a mysterious light seen in wooded or swampy areas at night—sometimes with natural causes, other times as a result of mischievous children lighting lanterns.
Jack O’Lanterns Origin
In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought their vegetable-carving traditions with them when they came to the United States, helping change American pumpkin-carving from a general autumn pasttime to one uniquely associated with Halloween.
The word "Banshee" originates from the Irish term "bean sídhe," which translates to "woman of the fairy mound" or "fairy woman."
In Irish mythology, the Banshee is a female spirit or fairy that is believed to be a harbinger of death. When a Banshee's mournful cry is heard, it is said to signal the imminent passing of someone within the family or community. This eerie wail, known as the "caoine," is often described as a haunting lament, filled with sorrow and despair.
Banshee mythology is deeply rooted in Ireland's ancient past, with its origins tracing back to the early Celtic belief in the "Otherworld." The Celts believed in a supernatural realm inhabited
and
by deities, spirits, and fairies. The Banshee, as a member of the "sídhe" or fairy folk, was thought to be a messenger from this Otherworld.
Legend has it that the Banshee's role as a death omen evolved from the tradition of keening, a form of vocal lamentation performed by women at funerals. In ancient times, these keeners were often paid to wail and cry over the deceased, mourning their loss. The Banshee's cry is said to echo this tradition, but with a supernatural twist—her lament is not for the dead, but for those who are about to die.
The appearance of a Banshee varies across different legends and regions of Ireland. In some stories, she is portrayed as a beautiful young woman with long, flowing hair, dressed in a white or silver gown. In others, she appears as an old hag with ragged clothing, her face twisted with grief. Despite these variations, the Banshee is consistently depicted as a solitary figure, mourning the impending death of someone connected to her.
IntheAmericanfolkloreof Ohio,Michiganand Connecticut,melonheadsare beingsgenerallydescribedas large-headedhumanoidswith bulbouslargecraniumswho occasionallyemergefrom hidingplacestoattackpeople. Differentvariationsofthe legendattributedifferent originstotheentities.
ThemelonheadsofMichiganare saidtoresidearoundFeltMansion,althoughtheyhavealsobeenreportedly seeninsouthernforestedareasof OttawaCounty.
Accordingtoonestory,theywere originallychildrenwithhydrocephalus wholivedattheJunctionInsane AsylumnearFeltMansion.Thestory explainsthat,afterenduringphysical andemotionalabuse,theybecameferal
October 4th and 5th see ad page 22 andwerereleasedintotheforests surroundingtheasylum.
TheAlleganCountyHistorical Societyassertsthattheasylumnever existed,althoughitwasatonepointa prison.however,thestoryhasbeen partofthelocalfolkloreforseveral decades.
LaketownTownshipManagerAl MeshkintoldtheHollandSentinel thathehadheardthetalesasateenager,notingthathisfriendsreferred tothebeingsas"wobbleheads".
Someversionsofthelegendsay thatthechildrenoncelivedinthe mansionitselfbutlaterretreatedtoa systemofcaverns(orcavesina nearbyhillleftoverfroman abandonedzoo).
Someversionsofthislegendsay thatthechildrendevisedaplanto escapeandkillthedoctorthatabused them.Itissaidthatthechildrenhad noplacetohidethebody,sotheycut itupinsmallpieceswhichtheyhid aroundthemansion.
Rumorsexistthatteenagerswho hadbrokenintothemansionsaw ghostsofthechildrenandclaimedto seeshadowsofthedoctor'smurder throughthelightcomingfroman opendoor.Thelegendhasspread throughouttheregion,evenbecomingthesubjectofa2011filmsimply titledTheMelonheads.
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primarilyassociatedwiththe ClevelandsuburbofKirtlandinLake County.Accordingtolocallore,the melonheadswereoriginallyorphans underthewatchofamysterious figureknownasDr.Crow(sometimes spelledCrowe,KroheorKrohor knownasDr.Melonhead).
Crowissaidtohaveperformed unusualexperimentsonthechildren, whodevelopedlarge,hairlessheads andmalformedbodies.
Someaccountsclaimthatthe childrenwerealreadysufferingfrom hydrocephalusandthatCrowinjected evenmorefluidintotheirbrains.
Eventually,thelegendcontinues,the childrenkilledCrow,burnedtheorphanage,andretreatedtothesurroundingforestsandsupposedlyfeedon babies.
Themelonheads'appearanceisthe resultofthemhavingresortedto cannibalisminordertosurvivethe harshwintersoftheregionandto inbreeding,whichinturncausedthem todevelophydrocephalus.
This pumpkin pie record is one for the books. As a matter of fact, it is baked into the Guinness Book of World Records, as the largest pumpkin pie ever served. Furthermore, it’s big enough to serve thousands of your friends.
The great pumpkin folk at New Bremen, Ohio did it……again ! They broke their own record for the World’s Largest Pumpkin Pie. On September 25, 2010, they baked a 3,699 pound pumpkin pie, far surpassing their prior record of 2,020 pounds.
The world’s largest pumpkin pie was made in New Bremen, Ohio.Amazingly, this pie was 20 feet in diameter and weighed 3,699 pounds!
What’s the recipe for a world record pumpkin pie?All you need is 1,212 lbs of canned pumpkin, 2,796 eggs (233 dozen), 109 gallons of evaporated milk, 525 pounds of sugar, 7 pounds of salt and 14.5 pounds of cinnamon.
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She lived deep in the forest in a tiny cottage and sold herbal remedies for a living.
Folks living in the town nearby called her Bloody Mary, and said she was a witch.
None dared cross the old crone for fear that their cows would go dry, their food-stores rot away before winter, their children take sick of fever, or any number of terrible things that an angry witch could do to her neighbors.
Then the little girls in the village began to disappear, one by one. No one could find out where they had gone.
Grief-stricken families searched the woods, the local buildings, and all the houses and barns, but there was no sign of the missing girls.A
few brave souls even went to Bloody Mary’s home in the woods to see if the witch had taken the girls, but she denied any knowledge of the disappearances. Still, it was noted that her haggard appearance had changed. She looked younger, more attractive. The neighbors were suspicious, but they could find no proof that the witch had taken their young ones.
Then came the night when the daughter of the miller rose from her bed and walked outside, following an enchanted sound no one else could hear. The miller’s wife had a toothache and was sitting up in the kitchen treating the tooth with an herbal remedy when her daughter left the house. She screamed for her husband and followed the girl out of the door. The miller came running in his nightshirt. Together, they tried to restrain the girl, but she kept breaking away from them and heading out of town.
The desperate cries of the miller and his wife woke the neighbors. They came to assist the frantic couple. Suddenly, a sharp-eyed farmer gave a shout and pointed towards a strange light at the edge of the woods.A few townsmen followed him out into the field and saw Bloody
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Mary standing beside a large oak tree, holding a magic wand that was pointed towards the miller’s house. She was glowing with an unearthly light as she set her evil spell upon the miller’s daughter.
The townsmen grabbed their guns and their pitchforks and ran toward the witch. When she heard the commotion, Bloody Mary broke off her spell and fled back into the woods. The far-sighted farmer had loaded his gun with silver bullets in case the witch ever came after his daughter. Now he took aim and shot at her. The bullet hit Bloody Mary in the hip and she fell to the ground. The angry townsmen leapt upon her and carried her back into the field, where they built a huge bonfire and burned her at the stake.
As she burned, Bloody Mary screamed a curse at the villagers. If anyone mentioned her name aloud before a mirror, she would send her spirit to revenge herself upon them for her terrible death. When she was dead, the villagers went to the house in the wood and found the unmarked graves of the little girls the evil witch had murdered. She had used their blood to make her young again.
From that day to this, anyone foolish enough to chant Bloody Mary’s name three times before a darkened mirror will summon the vengeful spirit of the witch. It is said that she will tear their bodies to pieces and rip their souls from their mutilated bodies. The souls of these unfortunate ones will burn in torment as Bloody Mary once was burned, and they will be trapped forever in the mirror.
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The reports had been on the radio all day, though she hadn’t paid much attention to them.
Some crazy man had escaped from the state asylum. They were calling him the Hook Man since he had lost his right arm and had it replaced with a hook. He was a killer, and everyone in the region was warned to keep watch and report anything suspicious. But this didn’t interest her. She was more worried about what to wear on her date.
After several consultation calls with friends, she chose a blue outfit in the very latest style and was ready and waiting on the porch when her boyfriend came to pick her up in his car. They went to a drive-in movie with another couple, then dropped them off and went parking in the local lover’s lane. The blue outfit was a hit, and she cuddled close to her boyfriend as they kissed to the sound of romantic music on the radio.
Then the announcer came on and repeated the warning she
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had heard that afternoon.An insane killer with a hook in place of his right hand was loose in the area. Suddenly, the dark, moonless night didn’t seem so romantic to her. The lover’s lane was secluded and off the beaten track.Aperfect spot for a deranged mad-man to lurk, she thought, pushing her amorous boyfriend away.
“Maybe we should get out of here,” she said. “That Hook Man sounds dangerous.”
“Awe, c’mon babe, it’s nothing,” her boyfriend said, trying to get in another kiss. She pushed him away again.
“No, really. We’re all alone out here. I’m scared,” she said.
They argued for a moment. Then the car shook a bit, as if something…or someone…had touched it. She gave a shriek and said: “Get us out of here now!”
“Jeeze,” her boyfriend said in disgust, but he turned the key and went roaring out of the lover’s lane with a screeching of his tires.
They drove home in stony silence, and when they pulled into her driveway, he refused to help her out of the car. He was being so unreasonable, she fumed to herself. She opened the door indignantly and stepped into her driveway with her chin up and her lips set. Whirling around, she slammed the door as hard as she could.And then she screamed.
Her boyfriend leapt out of the car and caught her in his arms. “What is it? What’s wrong?” he shouted. Then he saw it.Abloody hook hung from the handle of the passenger-side door.
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Werewolves are cursed humans that involuntarily turn into large, strong wolf-like monsters during each full moon.
Some legends say they look like a human/wolf hybrid while others say they are all wolf.
While they’re in this state their hunger for human flesh is unquenchable. The curse is the result of being bitten by a werewolf while it’s in its monster form.
One of the first mentions of the werewolf is in the world’s oldest known (1400 BCE!) Western prose, the epic poem Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is said to have abandoned a lover because she turned an ex into a wolf. Yikes!
Another early mention of werewolves is from Greek mythology and the legend of Lycaon. Lycaon was a king who tried to get in Zeus’s good graces but fed him the remains of a sacrificed boy. This angered Zeus, who then turned Lycaon and his sons into werewolves as punishment. Werewolves are also mentioned in early Nordic legends.
While werewolves are exceptionally strong beasts, their weakness is silver. They can still be harmed in many of the same ways that humans can (say, getting hit by a car, for example), but silver will harm them much more efficiently.
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Another undead, flesheating monster is the ghoul. The difference is that a ghoul is not a picky eater! They will eat the living or feast on those already dead. They look similar to their once-human form but appear much more demonic. Aghoul’s favorite place to be is a graveyard.They will lure the living in to try and feast on them, however, so watch your step if you’re ever in a graveyard!
The curse of the ghoul is brought about on a human that has eaten flesh— living or dead— according to ancientArabic lore. Some lore states that ghouls can shapeshift and will appear as the last thing they ate. Never has the phrase “you are what you eat” been so creepy!
For protection from a ghoul, the best thing to do is to decapitate it. If that won’t work, they are similar to zombies in that if their brain is damaged catastrophically enough, they will die.
Kumiho or Gumiho spirits in Korean mythology are ninetailed magical foxes that can assume the appearance of young and beautiful women. If a Kumiho abstains from eating human flesh for a thousand years, she may transform into a human. Still, that doesn’t seem to happen all that often as most Kumiho spirits just can’t abstain from seeking human flesh for that long.
The usual victim of the Kumiho is indeed a young man she has seduced and tricked into marriage. However, that’s not always the case.
For example, in The Emperor’s Kumiho Daughter-in-Law a Kumiho marries the emperor’s son. Instead of feasting on his flesh and energy, however, the Kumiho instead targeted unsuspected people in the emperor’s court.
CARRIZOZO IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYWHERE!
Portrait of a Pioneer: The Intrepid
Mrs. J. A. Simpson
Mary Isabelle Yates Simpson’s left hand was steady on the long, heavy reins. Her right arm was wrapped around three-yearold Saluria, beside her on the bench seat of the wagon. She held the child tightly against the jostle of the canvascovered hack.
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From behind her she could hear her husband whistling to his mules. That team was pulling two covered wagons trained together, the chic-ken coop hung between them. This rough stretch of llano would set the chicken coop swaying wildly. Mrs. Simpson sighed for the egg supply.
Off to her left rode her brother Amos Yates. To her right rode her nephew-in-law Will Simpson.A day or two ahead, her brother-inlaw Clayborn Simpson and his wife and three children drove the combined herd of cows. The whole family was seeking good grass, sweet water and unfenced land to homestead.
It was a quest that had begun in 1899 and would take nearly two years.
Mary Yates Simpson knew stock and she knew good land. She could grow, harvest and preserve enough food to keep her family through the seasons. She could sew and cook, drive a plow, swing an ax, and soothe a child with hands she worked to keep smooth. She knew enough medicine to care for family and stock when “living out,” far from doctors.
And she built community like some people build homes.
She and her husband JosephA. Simpson were good partners. Now 31 and 33, they shared a level,
measuring gaze, sharpened by years of raising cattle on the increasingly dry West Texas plains.
They’d been married 14 years and had three children, including Saluria, already developing that same assessing regard.
The family had spent their first overland winter in Bull Canyon, near Liberty, New Mexico. The winter closed in hard that year, and to survive they dug pits in the earth and roofed them over with logs and branches. The dugouts were damp, cold, smoky and bug-ridden, but for folks who’d spent months sleeping outside on the ground beneath the wagons, this was only a different kind of discomfort.
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Every day through that cold winter they waded out into the snow to dig grass out of the drifts for the stock. They melted water in washtubs. They guarded their supplies, and they made it through to spring, gaunt and tired but still heading West toward fabled rangeland.
The journey was to take some unexpected turns.
They crossed the Pecos River atAnton Chico, then a bustling trading town not long since full of outlaws.
They carried on to La Joya on the Rio Grande. By this time the railroad had begun to replace the old Camino Real, that fabled highway that had run alongside the great river for centuries, but the old river crossings remained. They forded safely here, driving the cattle across the sandy water, and pushed West toward Arizona.
But the landscape grew steadily bleaker. They saw nothing but land so dry that most cattle had been shipped out.
So they regrouped and turned East again, crossing the Rio Grande further downstream and heading toward a place they had heard of, at the head of the Gallo Draw in Lincoln County.
The draw drained water from a
Carrizozo Community Festival
Carrizozo Community Festival will take place Saturday, September 27 in McDonald Park and along 12th Street, in the Carrizozo Community Park, Carrizozo Library and venues in town. Vendors, kids’ activities, music, food trucks, vintage cars, a parade and a disc golf tournament and cornhole tournament will take place. Beer garden courtesy of Bonito Valley Brewing at 406 12th next to the Carrizozo Rock and Roll Museum (pending town council approval). Come join the fun!
wide watershed. During a good monsoon season, the many smaller draws were lush. But no standing water existed, no lakes or rivers, only the rainy-season arroyos and the deceptively beautiful “Gallo Lake”.
It looked perfect. They staked out their homesteads, built a log cabin, and brought in a governess to teach the children. Mrs. Simpson’s school was the first at the head of the Draw.
Arancher’s sense told them that Gallo Lake would dry up, so Joseph spent a year looking for water in an uncertain aquifer. He finally found it, and later drilled wells for other homesteaders.
Alice Cooper
For a long time theirs were the only cattle on this open rangeland. But there were plenty of sheep, herd after herd of sheep.
The family soon added their own flock, and built a bigger house, and set up businesses, meeting the needs of the homesteaders arriving after them.
Joseph was the settlement’s first marshal, much needed as the area’s wild cattlemen and miners made space for these “nestors” and ranchers.And Mrs. Simpson, as she always was called, turned her eye to stock and garden and home.
Her rancher’s soul settled into this soil and took root.
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But all of that was in the future on this bright day in 1901, as the Yates and Simpson clan moved back eastward toward the Gallo. Now the track smoothed out a little, the hummocky grasses more closely cropped. Mrs. Simpson handed Saluria the reins, watching as the child wrapped tiny, confident hands around the leather. Mother and daughter gazed ahead.
Joseph died in 1920. Mrs. Simpson carried on ranching for another 20 years. She was 91 when she died, leaving behind an important heritage ranch. She is buried in the Corona Cemetery along with Joseph. In graves nearby are their pioneer children Saluria, George, Ila and Dan, and their pioneer spouses, and many of their children and their children’s children.
Bill Graham
Copyright Corona Museum of Frontier Life 2025
JOAQUIN MARTINEZ: HM2 PEOPLE — "Making Tortillas with Grandma.
$45,000 HOTEL TO BE ERECTED AT 4TH AND EL PASO CORNER
Building to be Three Stories in Height, on Mission Style and Contain 62 Rooms
Carrizozo Outlook Friday, March 2, 1917
Acompany has been organized at Carrizozo, the purpose of which is to promote the building of a hotel that will surpass anything in this section of the state.
Henry Lutz, prominent ranchman and business man of this place is the the head of the organization and the plans for the structure have already been received from tho architects.
The building will cost about $45,000 and will be located onthe site now occupied by the Carrizozo Trading Company at Corner Fourth street and El Paso avenue.
It will be three stories in height, built on mission style, contain sixty-two rooms, embracing every modern convenience demanded by tho public. It will be conducted on the Harvey House plan.
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This is without question tho biggest project ever undertaken in Carrizozo and bespeaks strongly Mr. Lutz's faith and confidence in the future of our city.
Mr. Lutz has just returned from Santa Fe where he went to confer with the architects employed and it is stated that work will begin on the building just as soon as the present building occupying the site can be vacated and removed.
Work on tho 75x100 foot, twostory, brick store building on Fourth andAlamogordo avenue, just back of tho present location of the Carrizozo Trading Company will begin soon and it is planned to have the building ready for occupancy by the Trading Company within sixty to seventy days.
This building will be modern in every particular, basement builtin refrigerator, steam heated, electric lighted and latest approved ventilation system. There will also be in connection an elegantly designed and handsomely furnished ladies' rest room where everything for the convenience of their lady customers will be provided.
The upper story of the building will be divided into spacious office rooms.
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REECE PARKER: 3RD PLACE NEW MEXICO EXPERIENCE — "Enduring Faith." No matter how small the village, there will be a church showing peoples deep faith.
As soon as this building is completed and occupied, the wood building tho present home of the Trading Company, will be removed as early as practicable, according to Mr. Lutz, and preparations for the erection of the hotel will be begun on the site.
Watch Carrizozo Grow!
THOUGHTS ON THE LUTZ BUILDING by WARREN MALKERSON
• Our building is called The Lutz Building---and it is in bold letters on the outside of the building
• The date at the top of the building in bold is 1917
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• The building originally had more rooms in it
• Counting the basement [ of which there were not too many built in those days] there are three floors---each one about 2,500 sq ft.
• It was a big hardware building on the first floor---basement was mostly storage---upstairs it even had a roller rink at one time
• At the time it was built it was one of the largest---if not the largest building in Lincoln County.
• Huge windows across the front---some of the largest in the County.
• An elevator between the basement and the first floor but not to the top floor
• Lots and lots of bricks hauled down from the old brickyard up old HWY 54 before the actual hwy was really built.
• Built when al the action was really had been in White Oaks with the gold mine
• Gold was stored in the basement to be shipped out when the special guarded train car came through town IT WAS THE PLACE !!!!
Why did the skeleton climb up the tree? A dog was after his bones!
What can you catch from a vampire in winter? Frostbite.
What’s it like being kissed by a vampire? It’s a pain in the neck. Where do fashionable ghosts shop? Bootiques.
Where do ghosts like to travel on vacation?
The Dead Sea!
Who did Dracula take to the school dance?
His ghoul friend.
What do mummies like listening to on Halloween? Wrap music!
Why are all mummies workaholics?
They’re afraid to unwind. How did the great pumpkin fix his jeans? With a pumpkin patch
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‘Carrizozo needs a public library” a wise woman once said.
“Yes, yes!” They all agreed. And so, many years of planning and dreaming began..
Carrizozo Community Public Library &Archive became a true grass-roots success story.
It all started as a committee with Carrizozo Works, Inc. (CWI) and a group of dedicated volunteers who became Friends of the Library.
The Town of Carrizozo, population 972, adopted the library as a municipal entity by ordinance. The grand opening was celebrated in January of 2019.
Library staff areALL volunteers and we know the value and
importance of a free public library in a rural community.
Carrizozo Library offers free curb side Wi-Fi 24/7, public computers, Book Nook for PreK, STEM programs for youth, Summer Reading Program, 3D printing classes,Ancestry Library Edition, Career Information System, and so much more.
We host meetings for community organizations, a film series and workshops. We strive to be a part of the community and provide for it.
In addition to books, DVD’s, and other standard library materials, we have a wide assortment of objects available for check out with your free library card.
These range from garden tools and crochet tools to binoculars and telescopes with rock hounding kits thrown in for good measure.
Library funding comes from a variety of sources including the Town of Carrizozo, New Mexico State Library State Grants-in-Aid, Rural Library Grant, and the non-profit “Friends of the Library” CWI, Inc.
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Friends of the Library Book Store has a large selection of used books for sale, proceeds help us do what we love to do!
Friends of the Library is a committee of Carrizozo Works, Inc. which is a 501(c)(3) economic and community Development organization.
You are welcome to add your support toward developing library services and facilitating our programs. Please make checks payable to CWI, Friends of the Library, mail them to PO Box 1053 Carrizozo NM 88301. Your donations help us do what we love!
YES! You can volunteer in your library to make a difference in your community, make new friends, and experience the reward of helping others.
Library Hours: Tuesday 10AM-3PM; Wednesday & Thursday 1-6PM; Friday & Saturday 10AM-3PM Find us: Facebook.com/CarrizozoFriends-of-the-Library Website – carrizozolibrary.com
Photo by Tiffany Bristol
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