contents
Cover: Bearly Country bears by Cindy Steele
16 Stone Head Nature Preserve
~ by Paige Langenderfer
20 Ferrer Gallery Friends
~ by Lee Edgren
24 Sampler at Brozinni Pizzeria
30 The Legend of Picker Dan
~ by Mark Blackwell
34-35 Photos by Marti Garvey
36-37 Calendar of Events
40 Early Artist Will Vawter
~ by Julia Pearson
46 Christmas in Brown County
~ by Paige Langenderfer
53 Humane Soc. Chocolate Walk Deja Vu Art and Fine Craft Show
54 Big Trees ~ by Paul Sackmann
56 Brown County Christmas Tree
~ by Jeff Tryon
58 Deb James, A Life with Bears
~ by Cindy Steele
60 Memoirs of a Naturalist
~ by Jim Eagleman
64-65 Services Directory
66 Once Upon a Time Ago
~ by John Wm. Sisson
contributors
Mark Blackwell makes his home in an area of Brown County where“ the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines and present a meatless, barren, backbone effect.” He was born in the last century and still spends considerable time there. He plays music with the“ Lost Shoe String Band” when he can get away with it, writes for Our Brown County, and only works when he has to.
Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, a former region reporter for The Republic, and a former bureau chief for The Huntsville Times. Born and raised in Brown County, he currently lives with his wife, Sue, in a log cabin on the edge of Brown County State Park. He is a Baptist minister.
Jim Eagleman is a 40 year veteran of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as an interpretive naturalist, first working at Turkey Run State Park for three years and for the last 34 at Brown County. He and his wife Kay have three sons, all graduates of Brown County High School. Kay and Jim enjoy all outdoor activities, especially kayaking. Jim is currently working on his memoirs.
Julia Pearson wrote for a secular Franciscan magazine for ten years and served as its human interest editor. She and her husband Bruce have made Lake Woebegone Country their new homebase for life’ s continuing adventures. Julie, Bruce, and four-footed Suki are adjusting well. Julia enjoys traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes, with her children and grandchildren.
Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of The History of Clowns for Beginners and Dante for Beginners and illustrator of six other titles, including the forthcoming Dada and Surealism for Beginners in the ongoing“ for Beginners” series. He is an awardwinning editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer. Joe lives with his wife Bess, son Brandon, George the cat, and his dogs, Jack and Max.
Lee Edgren, writing since kindergarten, attended journalism school at the University of Michigan. Her career includes writing for a newspaper, for a government agency, and for UM Medical Center. She became seriously interested in yoga during the late 1980s and traveled widely. Lee has a master’ s degree in Wellness Management from Ball State University. She lives in both in Brown County and in northern Michigan and owns River Light Yoga studio.
Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and communications consultant. She writes for numerous Indiana publications, and is a featured columnist in The Republic. She earned her Bachelor’ s degree in journalism from Indiana University and her Master’ s degree in public relations management from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughter. She can be contacted at < langenderferpaige @ gmail. com >.
Marti Garvey is a photographer and artist who has lived in Brown County for more than 30 years. She and her husband, Norbert, raised four children in the hills and hollers of Owl Creek. Inspired by light, structures, nature, music, people, and spontaneity her work has been featured in various publications.“ Do at least one creative thing a day” is a motto she has lived by her whole life— which is why her camera and art supplies accompany her wherever she goes. Contact her at < momgarvey @ gmail. com > or view her photos at < www. momartiphotos. tumblr. com >..