Geronimo. Cochise. Chiricahua Apaches. If it's Native American history, former West Friendship postmaster Pierre "Skip" Brehm is here to set the record straight. Brehm recently visited West Friendship as he made his way east from his new home in Willcox, Ariz.

Brehm was postmaster at the West Friendship post office from 1967 until his retirement in 1986. Many will recall that he personally made sure any letter to Santa received a written response. I know that because I still have those letters from Santa.

We still laugh that with Brehm sorting our mail back in the 1970s, all an envelope needed was a last name and one could be certain it would be delivered.

A great guy and a great public servant, Brehm added to the color of our community with his ubiquitous bolo ties, his (possibly non-regulation by today's standards) post office decorations and his genuine interest in the community he served. Now in retirement in the beloved Arizona territory he calls home, Brehm has found the niche which has always been waiting for him.

He is a master of Arizona trivia and anecdotes. He shares this gift with tourists and visitors as a volunteer at his local Chamber of Commerce, as a Friend of the Library in Willcox and most importantly as chief guide and volunteer at the Rex Allen Center. Allen was an actor, singer, songwriter and narrator of Walt Disney films. His voice would be familiar to any who ever watched a Disney nature film from the 1950s.

Brehm, as chief tour guide at the Rex Allen Museum, is known to dress up in spurs, boots, cowboy hat, vest and even tote a Colt .45. A perfect match for our colorful former postmaster.

"Running at the mouth is what I do best," Brehm said, laughing.

That he does at the museum in Willcox, where he has been given a gold medallion as a thank you from a group of dignitaries of one of the former Soviet Union countries, who were visiting. He's educated German tourists as well as locals. His enthusiasm, as contagious now as it was back in the 1970s and '80s in West Friendship, is what keeps this fellow going.

Faced with some pretty serious health problems in the past few years, Brehm is not about to let it get him down. A listener was amazed that given his recent quintuple bypass and open heart surgery, he is still driving cross country. His trip this summer included stops in Minnesota, Pennsylvania and, of course, West Friendship.

Brehm admits that this trip to West Friendship will be his last. If you would like to drop a line to Brehm, and I know that he would love to hear from any of the community, e-mail me and I will happily give you his mailing address in Willcox. Better yet, if you're making a trip out West, stop in Willcox, locate the Rex Allen Cowboy Museum and the man wearing cowboy clothes with the big smile is sure to be Pierre Brehm.

Just a reminder that West Friendship Elementary teachers Ann Stull and Cathy Huebner will host a parent orientation for new kindergarten parents Thursday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. at the school.

West Friendship Elementary principal Corita Oduyoye has invited students and parents to attend the annual Open House Friday, Aug. 22, 2:30-3:30 p.m., at the elementary school.

Principal's secretary Penny Jones, who has been the hub of things at West Friendship for more than 16 years now, reminds the community that West Friendship Elementary has been designated as a "green school."

One of the first ecologically friendly items on the school calendar is a resolution to reduce paper consumption. The school Web site is wfes.hcpss.org.

Parents and community members are also encouraged to register at www.eSchoolNewsletter.com for receipt of important school news by e-mail.

Mark your calendar for the Poplar Springs United Methodist Church Back to School bag sale which is slated for Aug. 28 and 29, 1-3 p.m. and Aug. 30, 10 a.m. to noon. Organizer Karen Gibson promises shelves full of backpacks, school supplies, clothes, shoes and coats. Customers may fill up a bag for just $3.

The shop, off of Route 144, is located at 915 Watersville Road, in Mount Airy. Questions? Call 410-489-7072

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