View From The Bridge 3/21/12

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
3/21/12

C.C.P.A.
It just gets better and better. The consensus was that it was one of the best performances ever. It was all professionalism. Philip and Rebecca have been all over the world, have performed on Broadway and Las Vegas for years. It was simply so enjoyable that you did not want the show to end. I believe that the best word to describe it was enchanting. My one disappointment was the count of the audience that numbered 156 people at the Elementary School.

To top it all off, they performed again on Thursday evening at the Grand Union Hotel. The dining room was completely full and everyone eagerly waited for the 8:00 p.m. performance to begin. We were again treated to three or four songs by Rebecca and many solos by Philip. I sat in the front row at the Grand Union and so I do not know how many attended. The lobby did seem quite full.

Philip had been to Fort Benton for a C.C.P.A. performance sometime ago and had told Rebecca about its charms. She said she was not disappointed and told me that she did not get enough of it in the short time they had here. She hopes to return soon. We do too.

CHOUTEAU COUNTY FAIR TIME
I pushed Summer Celebrations, Shep’s 70th anniversary, and the Grand Union 130th anniversary in November last week. This week I would like to give you some exciting events that will happen for the 100th anniversary of the Chouteau County Fair. There are events you will not want to miss. The “BRISKET COOK OFF” contest returns by popular demand and that is a “FREE FEED.” There will also be a “FREE CONCERT,” sponsored by the Chouteau County Performing Arts. The performers are still “a big secret” however; as soon as I find out, I will let you know. The Fair Board Committee is hoping for better garden planting weather this spring (just enough rain,) so the produce display is huge. I know you surely remember that most gardens were planted very late last spring because of the rainfall.

Folks, it is such fun to enter the contests. Most of us know who are the best pie bakers, the best canners of fruits and veggies, the best quilters, and the best artists, however it is still fun to enter. You will get a ribbon no matter what place you are. Who knows? You may be the new “best” of any of the events mentioned above. It is especially great for the youngsters. It teaches them a “spirit of community.” Think FAIR and help make this 100th anniversary a new beginning. We cannot let the Fair go by the wayside. Just do a little and if everyone does a little, it will amount to a whole lot. See you at the Fair in August.

GOLDEN AGE SENIOR CENTER
Awesome and amazing! A new look is at the Center. It is the coziest, most comfortable setting ever because of the General Federation of Woman’s Club of Fort Benton. They decided to give the Senior Center a boost in appearance.

With the carpentry work of Greg Bonilla, a partial wall was built separating the kitchen from the dining area. Another cabinet was built to separate the lounge area from the dining area. When we went to the Center on Friday, (Pie Day,) the walls had been painting with an undercoating. On Saturday, when we arrived for the Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner, the walls were almost half painted. The painters were the young women that I talked about last week as stepping up to take over some of the duties of the projects Woman’s Club does. There were also several husbands giving a helping hand. The left wall as you walk in is a beige color, the right wall from the kitchen to the lounge area is light blue, and the lounge area is a dusty rose. It all blends so attractively. New furniture for the lounge area is the next project. It will be a very pleasant lounge area with the piano and organ back against the cabinet, and the TV in good viewing position. The round table will still be near the front window with the continuous puzzle in progress by whoever has the desire. There is also a cabinet with items for sale made by the seniors.

The public is always welcome for lunch, (it actually is a full dinner,) at noon everyday at a very small cost and at 1:00 on Sundays, for a few cents more. If you have no more than a couple going for lunch, you do not have to call the Center. If you have friends or family of more than 6 people, please call 622-3601 by 10:30 a.m. for a head count. The Center also provides Meals on Wheels and will deliver to your home or office. Do your best to support the Center because remember…someday you are going to be a senior? The menus are printed in the River Press every week. The Cooks are the best and very caring and the Hostesses are very diligent and helpful. Make it a point to visit the Center soon and you will be delighted.

CHAMBER NOTES
The next five clues to rural community survival are very much in touch with the community instead of business. They are Celebration of Diversity in Leadership, Strong Belief in and Support of Education, Problem-Solving Approach to Providing Health Care, Strong Multi-Generational Family Orientation, and Strong Presence of Traditional Institutions that are Integral to Community Life. These I understand more than last week’s clues. These survival clues are all about community and the involvement of community. It seems to be all about giving a little of yourself back to the place where you spend your time living. You choose Fort Benton as the place you wanted to live. Please do not just let the next guy do it. Get involved, get interested in what is going on around you, and you will find great satisfaction in just doing. Enough said. Is it just going in one ear and out the other?

WORD CONFUSION
I received an e-mail from Dusty Kuehner quoting a phrase she does not know where it came from. It reads, “Idiosyncratically eccentric phraseology is the promulgator of triturable obfuscation.” It means big words cause confusion. I replied to Dusty that even small words cause me confusion.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS. PLEASE BRING THEM HOME SAFE.