View From The Bridge 3/4/20

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
3/4/20

MARCH MOON
It is the FULL WORM MOON. As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw earth worm castings appear heralding the return of the robins. (By the way, Barb, a cashier at the River Market, reported to me that she saw a robin two weeks ago. I asked her if she knew that some robins stay around all winter. She said this was a returning robin at her feeder. Good Job Barb for feeding the birds. (I have to fill my feeder every day.)

March has four names for the moon. Another is the FULL CROW MOON as the cawing of the crows signaled the end of winter. Has anyone out there heard crows cawing?

The FULL CRUST MOON is another name and as the snow cover begins to thaw by day and freezes at night, it forms a crust.

The FULL SAP MOON, making the tapping of maple trees. To the settlers it was called the FULL LENTEN MOON and considered the last full moon of winter.

CELEBRATIONS
Wednesday the 3th is “Hug a G.I. DAY. Since we do not have many G.I.
personnel around town, I suggest you look for a Veteran. It is also GRAMMAR DAY so watch what you are saying.

Thursday the 5th is Hospitalist Day. Call your local hospital and tell them how much you appreciate what they do.

Friday the 6th has several celebrations. It is DENTISTS DAY. Call your dentist and thank him for all the pain and suffering you have received in his chair. JUST KIDDING! No. 2 is “DRESS IN BLUE DAY”. (That’s easy.) No. 3 is EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY. (I suggest some small gift like a rose.)

Saturday the 7th is “BE HEARD DAY.

Sunday the 8th has several days. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY. Tell a woman in your town who deserves Kudos for her work in the community about this day. It is also OREGON DAY.

Monday the 9th is “GET OVER IT DAY”. I have a mile-long list of get over its. How about you?

Tuesday March the 10th is Blueberry POPOVER DAY. (I prefer MUFFINS or PIE.)

DAY LIGHT SAVINGS
Do not forget to set your clocks ahead before you go to bed on Saturday night. I personally enjoy that extra hour of light but have several individuals who do not like it. Several others said they wished it would just be left one way or the other. I think it should be put to a vote.

SLEEPING
I have had several conversations lately concern sleeping. Someone read that women have a harder time sleeping than men.
I am passing this on and hope you find it of interest. By the time you are 80 years old, you will have spent more than 233,600 hours sleeping! That is the equivalent of 26.87 years. (No wonder I don’t get anything done.)

Another trivia is your brain never turns off, or even rests, throughout your entire life. (Enough already. I’m tired just thinking about it.)

BASKETBALL
I was able to go to many of the District and Regional basketball games. They were exciting and although the outcome wasn’t what we hoped it would be, it still thrilled all of us fans. “There is always next year” was the conversation round and about.

I want to say to the Girls team that we love you very much no matter what. In the years to come it will make for lively conversation and happy memories of teammates.

COMMUNITY BUS
Last week Friday was Cinnamon Roll Day at the Golden Age Senior Center. It is always held on the last Friday of the month.

Nancy had one rider who wanted to go to the Center. I met them outside of the Center and Nancy took me and my GoGo home in the bus.

Nancy said to tell you that if you need to ride the bus every other Friday, please call Kelli at 622-3022 Nancy will pick you up at your home and return you there. Nancy will take you anywhere in Fort Benton that you want to go.

So, get going and although I don’t really want to share those Cinnamon Rolls, I am sure there will be enough for everyone.

CCPA
The next performance will be on Wednesday the 11th usual time and place. Featured will be The Wardens.

They are Rangers at Banff National Park in Canada. Their delightful stories and singing will captivate you. When you get this issue of the River Press, it will be the next Wednesday. Put it on your calendar now. You do not want to miss this one.

ROAD CONDITIONS
Last Friday when we headed to Great Falls for the basketball game, we ran into a small section of blowing dirt. I can only imagine how it was a few weeks ago when Highway 87 was closed for that reason.

I have not put my Flag out for over a month now. The wind does a terrible job on it. It actually shreds them. I miss putting the Flag out when I fill the bird feeder. I look forward to that routine soon.

BE KIND. IT DOESN’T TAKE ANY EFFORT. PRACTICE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS AND SENSELESS ACTS OF BEAUTY.

WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS TO SUPPORT OUT TROOPS.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMEN AND WOMEN, FIRE FIGHTERS, AND EMT’S.

View From The Bridge 3/6/19

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Muncie
3/6/19

MARCH MOON
It is called the Full Worm Moon. As the weather begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw the earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of robins.

The more northern tribes knew this as the Crow Moon. The crows begin cawing and it signaled the end of winter.

It is also called the Full Crust Moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing during the day and freezing at night.

Another name is the Full Sap Moon marking the time of tapping maple trees.

To the settlers it was known as the Lenten Moon and considered the last Full Moon of winter.

The full moon is on Thursday the 21st, the day after spring begins. 

COMMUNITY BUS
I know that many people have been asking about trips around town. Last weeks River Press had an article from Kellie Butler advising that Nancy Lachapelle has volunteered to do that route. The every half hour route will be convenient for most folks and now they can plan ahead for appointments.

If you have no need to use the Fort Benton bus service, show your support by waving when they drive  by. Someday you may have to use the service. Donations also show your support for those who have worked very hard to get this project off the ground.

BASKETBALL
Is there life after basketball? I did not know what to do with myself on Friday evening. The only good thing was that it was too cold to go anywhere. I do watch the State Meets on the news and that helps a little. There certainly are many great natural players that are great to watch. Fort Benton also has many and it will be interesting to see what colleges they will be recruited by.

OOPS AGAIN!
I did it again. I reported that Loma Day would be Sunday the 6th. NOT! The 6th is Saturday and Loma Days are always on Saturdays. I hope that I didn’t mess your calendar up. So, it is just a month away and please Father Winter let go of your tough grip. We need to get out and about. See you there.

NOTE FROM PATTY
Spoke with Patty Paulsen over the weekend and she wanted me to tell all of her friends that she is doing well. Her Aunt is still with her as there is not much Patty can do. She can put a little pressure on her legs but not too much. She hopes to be back to normal by the time the temperature raises to at least 50 degrees. Then she can get out and about. At this date it is not too difficult to be confined to the house.

We will never know why bad things happen to good people but Patty is one of the bravest women I have ever known.

NOTE FROM MIRIAM
I also called Miriam Bramlette to see how she was doing. She said to tell all of her friends that she is getting better and better each day. She is no longer in P.T. and the situation is the same as Patty’s. She doesn’t mind not getting out when the temperatures are as they are.

We hope to see you too, Miriam, out and about and back to normal.

I wanted to mention here that a long time back I found on my computer that 1,200 pedestrians were hit by vehicles in parking lots each year. (I can understand that as many parking lots are not well lit.)

Last week on the world news I saw a report that 5,000 pedestrians are killed in the United States each year.

The Bramlette’s accident happened as they were crossing the street. The first car stopped, but the second car came around the stopped car and hit both her and Bruce. Miriam was on the inside and she and Bruce were holding hands. She was injured the most. That accident happened last fall in Missoula after a football game. (All good people go to football games.)

It was so good to chat with Miriam and hear that she was doing better. We would like to see you out and about soon.

NOTE FROM TIM FARWICK
I didn’t talk with Tim but I did with Cindy. Tim is doing well and waiting for his prosthesis. That will require more P.T. and hopefully that comes along with the nicer weather.   The reason I am writing these notes is because many readers ask me about Patty, Miriam, and Tim. Since there isn’t much happening these days I thought I would check with them and get questions answered. You are all V.I.P’s and thought about often. If there is anything that you need help with please let me know. I will arrange what I can as long as it isn’t anything to do with Windows 10. (My joke of the week.)

A little tidbit of news is while talking to Cindy I asked about the Gun Fight entertainment that she and her group do during Summer Celebration. They are planning on doing two shows this year. One will be at the Old Fort Park and the other at the Old Bridge.

That was great news for me as I sat by The Old Bridge last year waiting for the show when I found out it was at the Old Fort Park. I hurried down in my GoGo and got there just in time for the show. I really enjoy that show and so do the many others that are in attendance.

RUTH WILLETT GOOD
Ruth was a cousin by marriage to the Morger family. She was married to Wally’s 1st cousin Ernie. She passed away on February 21st.

I do not know much of Ruth’s history but I do know that she lived in Fort Benton at one time. The Willett Electrical Shop burned in the fire of 1949. I do not know when she moved to Great Falls but it was sometime after her husband passed away. She met Ernie Good at an Elks dance and they were married for quite a few years.

The reason I mention this story about Ruth is because I have found that many people remember Ruth and would never have known that she passed. Ruth was 99 and1/2 years old. She would have been 100 in July. Her family planned a graveside funeral last Friday but it was cancelled because of the snow. It is now planned for Wednesday the 6th. I do not have any details and hope to find out more at the funeral. You can call me if you want to know more. (I’m in the book.)

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, POLICE OFFICERS, VOLUNTEER FIREMEN AND WOMEN, AND EMT’s. 

View From The Bridge 3/2/16

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
3/2/16

NO NEWS
I have heard that no news is good news. There actually is nothing much going on around town unless organizations and businesses are keeping their events secret. Please let me know if your business or organization is planning an event. I would appreciate being the first to know. (Just joking.)

SPRING AHEAD and SPRING
I just know that you can hardly wait to get your River Press to be reminded about Daylight Savings Time and the start of spring. I can hardly wait to tell you.

There are only 10 days before you have to change your clocks and 17 days to spring. I do not really think that spring will make much difference. March can be a very strange weather month and the predictions confusing.  It is a wait and see game.

MARCH MOON
The March Moon is the moon of many names. It is the FULL WORM Moon as the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw.  Earth worm casts begin to appear heralding the return of the robins.

The FULL CROW Moon name began when the cawing of the crows signaled the end of winter.

The FULL CRUST Moon was when the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing by night.

The FULL TAP Moon was marking the time to tap the maple trees.

The LENTEN Moon was named because it was the last full moon of winter.

ROBINS
Remember to call me at 622-3217 when you see the first Robin this month.  You have to call immediately as I cannot claim your first place for you if you call on March 15th to tell me that you saw a Robin March 1st. This is a contest that I try to hold each year but have not heard from anyone the last couple of years or it was too late.

MEADOWLARKS
The same goes for the Meadowlark’s arrival, give me a call.  One of the joys of the Rural Mail Route we had was watching for the first Meadowlark and their October leaving. I can still hear the Meadowlark’s song in my head. What a perfect bird to be chosen for the State Bird.

JIM TAYLOR AD
What a great ad in the River Press about the Student of the Week and A Business Owner of the week. It is such enjoyable reading and one gets to know the student and business owner much more than you might have known before.

I had a conversation with Principal Scott several months ago about doing an article about the high school activities. He said it had been brought up before and he would like to see something about students and teachers. It is interesting to get to know some backgrounds and the Taylor ad fits the bill.  I am looking forward to more of the same.

Appreciation to Bethany for writing the stories. She is such a tremendous addition to our community as is Lindsey (the puzzle gal…read on.) I have always wanted to spend a day at the River Press when Lindsey is putting articles and ads together to fit on the pages. She said it is like a puzzle to make everything fit. And fit it does to a certain amount of pages. I would like both young women to stay with the River Press forever.

X-RAY
I had to have one last week and found out there were 5 or 6 broken bones this fall and winter season. That figure is down, as you must know, because we did not have as much snow and ice as in previous years. (For those of you who had broken bones, I am sorry about your fall and hope you are all healed up by now.)

I heard that those of you who live in warm climates were jealous when Friday, the 26th, it was 71 degrees in Fort Benton. At least that is what my weather stations recorded. I’m still waiting for a big blast to hit us. Do not put your heavy jackets, gloves, and boots away yet.

BINGO
Because of Leap Year the Bingo schedule became confused. A decision was made to have a session on the 29th of February and then again on the 14th and 28th of March. The VFW report in the River Press last week said that would be the end of Bingo for the season and will begin again in October. Keep that in mind.

In the meanwhile, the Golden Age Senior Center is going to have Bingo on Thursday March 3rd at 1:00pm. If it is well attended, they will continue.  So if you are an addict, show up at the Senior Center so you can be counted in the numbers.

VETERANS PHOTOS
I asked in the View a few months ago for some help to finish up this project. I had two people answer my request and Joellyn Benjamin Clark and I have met three weeks on Tuesdays to do catch-up and finish. Joellyn brings her own computer and is so quick it makes my head spin. She scanned pictures, made a list of bios that had to be checked on, and in general organized what was left to do. In a couple of weeks we should be wrapping it all up and the photos will be hung.

If you make a trip to the Sunrise Bluffs to check out your picture/bio or your loved ones, and if there is an error, please write in the black notebook a.s.a.p. I do not know how long I can keep Joellyn chained to the desk as she is a busy Homemaker, Wife/Mom, and Volunteer.

NEW PROJECT
After the successful response to my plea for help with the Veterans Photo project, I have a new project in mind. I now need a Carpenter to volunteer to check out how much wood I would need. Then of course I would have to raise the money and ask for more volunteers to put the whole project together. It has everything to do with the Veteran’s Photo Project and I am sure there are Veterans, VFW, and American Legion members who will want to take part. I estimate that if I had 4 to 6 helpers, it would be a one day job.

Does this appeal to you? I would like to start with 1 Carpenter and work on from there. Call me at 622-3217 after 10:00 a.m. I’ll keep you posted.

OBSERVATIONS
Right handed people tend to chew food on their right side. (I wonder if they have more cavities on the right side of their teeth. I’ll check with my dentist on my next visit.)

SUMMER CELEBRATION
I have donated all of my Sweetheart’s Summer Celebration t-shirts for a quilt that there are plans to have a quilt made and raffled off.

Would you please check your closets for a few that are missing in our collection? Any size will do.

We need a 1995 “River Runs Through It”. A 1997, do not know the theme, a 2008 “Rockin’ the River,” an X-large 2009 “With an Irish Flair”, a 2014 “Year of the MT Woman” and finally a 2015 “Believing in the Future.” I also have a shirt that has two glass bulbs on it, no theme and no date. Perhaps someone will remember. Could it be the 1997 that we do not know the theme?  

If you are willing to give up anyone of these shirts, it will be appreciated and for a good cause.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, OUR POLICE FORCES, OUR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, and EMT’s.  PLEASE WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS AND PUT A GREEN BULB IN YOUR FRONT PORCH LIGHT.

VIEW from the BRIDGE
by Muncie
3/4/15

WE LOVE YOU
This message is for the students in the Chouteau County Schools that are involved in any kind of activities. I want you to know that the community appreciates and love all of your efforts. I do not mention enough about them but believe me; you are always in conversations around town. We are proud and you bring pride to your community by making the efforts in every sport, speech and drama, Band, 4H, honor rolls and help with community projects.

I will not mention specific groups because I am afraid that I will miss someone. You all know who you are. We love you and want you to know that we are aware of your impact on our community. We know about those of you who went to district, divisional, and state competitions. To the parents, brothers and sisters, grandmothers and grandfathers and even great grandparents, our appreciation for your efforts to get them going to where they have to go, is also appreciated.  I think about you when I read the results of all of the activities and how proud you must be. I am proud to say I live in Fort Benton and your reputation makes that possible.

WHO KNEW?
I attended a Public Health Assessment meeting a week ago Tuesday at the Missouri River Medical Center. The attendees were mostly from the Health Department, E.M.T’s, Hospital Staff, the Superintendent of Schools, and the Principle of the Elementary.

The meeting consisted of reviewing % figures of the Health Fairs and other medical coverage. A nurse from the Big Sandy Hospital was included in the discussions via a TV screen. At one point she was discussing the Senior Citizens activities. She said that they walked in the gym of the school.

Since I had Scott and Rory sitting close by, I asked if I could walk in the gym. If you remember I walked the halls of the high school last summer for several months when the temp was in the 90’s.

They assured me that the schools have always been open for walking and that several people are there daily. The Elementary School is open at 7:15 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. The High Schools hours are from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The High School’s hours fit into my schedule like a glove at 4:00 p.m. I began walking on Wednesday and thus far have not seen any other walkers. I am sharing with you and hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity. There were some students in the gym practicing basketball and the Clean-Up crew is busy with their tidying job. Otherwise, I had to whole place to myself.

I enjoy walking as a routine exercise especially along our fantastic Levee Trail. This past year, with the snow and ice beginning in November, blocked my efforts to walk. It was so great to begin walking last week and I hope to see more of you there. I listen to my Talking Books and it is a special time for me as it is the only time I can listen.

So who knew about this and wasn’t I the lucky one to find out by attending that meeting. See you there.

MARCH MOON
The Full Worm Moon is upon us. It is named as such because as the temperature thaws, the worms began their work and that brings on the robins. (Please let me know when you see your first robin.)

This moon has more names than any other. The full Crow Moon name comes from the cawing of crows to signal the end of winter. The Full Crust Moon gets its title from the snow crusting during the day and freezing at nigh. The Full Sap Moon indicates it is time to tap the Maple trees. The last listed name is the Lenten Moon that is the last full moon of winter.

You can check the internet for the Almanac to read more about the moons. Also note that the full moon is next Thursday the 5th of this month.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
It has rolled around again to that time and next Saturday night you can adjust your clocks so you will not be late for Church on Sunday.

It is such a chore for me because there are clocks, (and sometimes two,) in every room of this house in addition to my watch and the clock in the truck.  I have several that are too large and heavy for me to lift off the wall that I just leave the same year round. It took a while to get used to that but it was a good solution. It is also a good time to change batteries if the clocks are not plug-in. Perhaps it is better to let the batteries live their lives out. I write the date nowadays just to research how long they last.

SENIOR MOMENT
The biggest lie I tell myself is “I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.”

MONTANA
 Of the “50 Things You Didn’t Know About Montana” book, I am on No. 43 to 46 and next week I will copy the last four. This information has gone one for about 20 weeks. Where does the time go?

42. Montana was the first state to adopt a State Library.

43.  Montana has more species of mammals (108) than any other U. S. state.

44.  Montana was the last state to adopt an age limit for buying cigarettes.  (Shame on them.)

45. The first federal census in 1870 showed only 20,595 living in the Montana territory.
(If you would like to have a copy of “The 50 Things,” go to http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm Trust me, it is family friendly and has nothing to do with Strippers.)

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS and WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS.