View From The Bridge

‘VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
10-24-12

LOST, NOW FOUND
My happy news this week is that the plaque that was lost has now been found.  If you have been following the View the last couple of weeks, you know that a plaque was missing from one of the tables.  I had received an e-mail from someone about the loose and flapping plaque but did not follow up.  I also could not remember who e-mailed me.   I did discover who it was, my friend Joan Albers, who gave me a few clues.  She said that it was that very windy day Fort Benton had endured and that it may have blown off.  I realized that it could very well have happened because the plaques I ordered about halfway through the project were from a different company.  They were much lighter material.  I began checking the area over the Levee bank but to no avail on my part.

Last Friday late afternoon, I received a phone call from the Riverview Greenhouse.  It was Corrine who is “My Heroine of the Year,” and is employed as one of the “flower and plant arranging specialists.”  She said, “Your plaque is here at the Greenhouse.”  I had her repeat it because I could not believe it.  After reading my plea about a someone with boots on to check the Levee, she walked over and peered over the bank.  There was the plaque face up in good condition.  I cannot believe that I did not see it.  Corrine tried to comfort me by saying that she thought it was covered with leaves and that they had blown off.  O.K.  I will accept that.  The plaque had just one corner with a chip broken off.  She is now holding it at the Greenhouse for me to pick up.  Please tell Corrine thank you the next time you shop at Riverview because it made me so happy.

PIE DAY
Last Friday was the greatest time we have ever had at Pie Day and was probably the best attended one in its history. There were 11 pies, not two alike (except two Sour Cream Raisin,) and just a few pieces were left.   There was a Pumpkin, Banana Cream, Apple, Lemon Meringue, Sour Cream Raisin, Cherry, Key Lime, Raspberry Rhubarb and one other that I could not remember.  Doesn’t that just make you sorry if you were not there.  As I said last month, the Raspberry Rhubarb was my favorite and I appreciate that Idela, who baked it last month, baked another this month.

More news about Pie Day is that in November there will be NO PIE DAY.  It is too close to Thanksgiving and because of Plan B, they decided not to have it at the end of the month.  You ask, what is Plan B? In cooperation with the Grand Union Celebration of 130 years, the Senior Center will be having pie, coffee and baked goods on November 3rd at 2:00 p.m. at the Golden Age Senior Center.  This event is partnering with the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs Fort Benton.  They do not have any decade planned but will either wear or decorate with hats from the past.  I vote for them wearing the hats and perhaps my one vote will sway the way they go.  It should be an interesting get-a-way on Saturday afternoon and to make it a success requires your attendance.

RECYCLING
At the meeting Monday morning at the L & R Sandwich Shoppe, there was a core group to plan the next move in the direction of a recycling program in Fort Benton.  I also received phone calls from two organizations saying they were very interested but could not attend at this time.  The organizations are the roots of our community and will be welcomed at our next meeting.  This Monday morning meeting was a brainstorming session with ideas contributed from those women who attended the Women’s Club Conservation meeting on October 11th.  It never ceases to amaze me what meetings such as this one can bring to the table.  GO RECYCLERS!

INTERESTED IN RECYCLING
There will be a meeting at the Golden Age Center on November 8th at 7:00 p.m.  Sandra Boggs from the Department of Environmental Quality will lead a discussion on creating a permanent recycling solution in Fort Benton.  She will discuss economics and models from other towns in Montana.  There will then be a round table discussion about attendee’s thoughts and ideas as to what they think could be done with recycling personal and business.  Please read more details in another article about this meeting.  Please attend and bring your friends and neighbors.  It is vital that Fort Benton begins a workable recycling program.  Every bit of information that you give to this meeting is important   See you there...

FALL CLEANUP
 It is time again for the Fall Cleanup.  I have been waiting since last spring because I was not able at the time to participate.  This is the opportune time to be rid of “want-to-be but cannot-be anything” around your home, garage, and shed.  Honestly, ask yourself if you really need to keep that rusty can, or that pile of junk that you have no idea what it is.  You hardly notice it because you see it every day but others view it as not necessary to keep for use someday.  Please help to make Fort Benton a tidier and cleaner town than Philipsburg.  There is something to be envied about that town and sometimes I wish the volunteers from the Visitors Center had never gone there to visit.  Most of us keep comparing their town to ours.  I know, for a fact, that Fort Benton is a more beautiful town but their town is cleaner.
Please make the coming weekend, (October 26th, 27th, and 28th a time to cleanup, fix up and enjoy.  If you are busy or away, then take advantage the following weekend, November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.  Appearance is everything.

CONGRATULATIONS
Many kudos and congratulations to the volunteers who worked on and completed the Naval Monument.  It looks very impressive and one day last summer I talked with a family who had come to Fort Benton from Kalispell just to see the monument.  I hope that there is some sort of ceremony, (perhaps Veterans Day,) to celebrate the completion.  It adds feelings of nostalgia to anyone who spends time reading all the plaques.  How many of us really realize what those men and women who fought in WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Afghanistan went through?  The least we can do is support them.  The most we can do is remember, pray for them, keep them in our daily thoughts, and WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS