View From The Bridge 1/18/2012

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1/18/12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
I received this comment on the View from the Bridge blog. “Would your readers and friends send EFFIE A. JOHNSON a birthday card for her 90th birthday celebration on February 10th?” She is currently in the MRMC (Missouri River Medical Center,) Nursing Home. While you are thinking about it, send the card now with Open on February 10th on the front of the envelope. Make it your good deed for the day. Let us deluge the Post Office with cards for her. It would be so special. I will remind you again next week.

CHILI FEED
On Saturday, January 28th, there will be a fun time at the Pour House Saloon. A Chili Cook-Off contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. I was made aware of this Cook-Off when I had a chance meeting with Gayle Lehman at the Price Rite Grocery Store. She had her basket full of canned beans. I asked if she was going to make Chili for supper. She said that she was practicing for the Chili Cook-Off scheduled in a couple of weeks. What fun! I cannot remember the last time Fort Benton had a Chili Cook-Off. It was discussed at several organization meetings but never materialized. I love Chili and I am sure there are many of you who do to. This should be a well-attended event on a cold Saturday afternoon. I spoke with Karen Holstein this evening and she said there are nine chefs signed up. However, you do not have to be signed up. You can just show up with your crock-pot full of Chili. Good luck to everyone and I will report the winner in the February 1st edition of the River Press unless Tim beats me to it. He will probably have a picture. See you there.

C.C.P.A.
There were great reviews about last Wednesday’s Vigilante Theatre. It was a light hearted, humorous, and entertaining show about a brother and sister and their differences. If you had brothers or sisters, to compete with when you were growing up, you appreciated the story line much more. What amazes me is how the actors remember all those lines. They never seem to skip a beat. My amazement also comes from the fact that I honestly cannot remember my name half the time. I do have lots of company in that regard. Just join the Club. Back to the Vigilante Theatre, the Committee reported that Rhonda Smith and John Hosking, besides being great actors, they are delightful personalities. They had get-togethers with the Committee and the sponsors Karyn and Andre Giles of Montana Flour and Grain and Valerie Morger and Mark Pyrak of Fort Benton Realty. By the way, if you see any of the Committee or the Sponsors…be sure to thank them.

LIBRARY NEWS
The day after Valentine’s Day, there will be a Book and Bake Sale at the Library. If you never have been, you will have a “Book Heaven” experience in store for you. Since the last book sale back in June, there have been many books donated. They are piled everywhere. You can buy a bag of books for $1.00. That has to be the best bargain around town. Frankly, I am a collector of books and I have found so many of my favorite author’s right there at the Chouteau County Library Book Sale. In addition, if you do not have time to bake…this is your chance to get wonderful homemade baked goods. All the proceeds go toward supporting the Library. It seems as though their funds are cut every year and yet they offer such great programs for kids and adults. See you there.

PIE DAY
How quickly these months are rolling around. The Golden Age Senior Center said they missed our table last month. None of the eight or ten of us could attend and we surely missed our piece of pie and cup of coffee. The Bonilla’s took me to Helena for our grandson Grayson’s Christmas play. I do not know what the rest of the Gang was doing. They have to make their own excuses. It will be very enjoyable to have pie and coffee with the weather as cold as it is predicted. On top of that will be the snow. Mind you, I am not complaining. It is now only two months to spring. I think we all can handle that considering what we had during November and December. I actually was looking to see if my lilac trees were budding. See you there.

FEEDING THE BIRDS
This morning was very sad for me concerning the birds that visit my yard for breakfast. Three of the feeders were empty; I filled them, and returned to my watching area in a back bedroom while I ate my breakfast where I have a full view of the backyard. After a few minutes the usual flock, 20 to 30 birds, appeared and went into their usual routine. They are on the feeders and clean up the ground as well. They are there a few seconds and then in unison they fly into the lilac trees that are between the house and the feeders. They are there a few seconds and then return to the feeders. I do not know what kind of code they have, if they have a leader, or how they do that routine with such precise timing. The second time they returned to the lilac trees something happened and I could not believe my eyes. A large hawk flew into the trees and captured one of the little birds. It all happened so quickly. The hawk then flew a few feet away into a pine tree and soon disappeared. Not only did he disappear but also did the flock of breakfast guests. I have been watching for several hours but they have not returned nor do I think that they will. Perhaps when it gets colder tonight and tomorrow, they may be hungry enough to visit my yard again. I hope so as they give me so much pleasure.

MY OPINION
What is Great Falls waiting for concerning cell phone usage while driving? This is a no brainer. All other large cities in Montana have passed laws. Who says that government should not be dictating our every move? Some people have no sense when it comes to doing the right thing. They have to be forced. Compare it to the seat-belt law. It saves people lives. People who drive and talk/text on a cell phone are not paying attention to their driving. You have seen them. How much evidence do they want when a national study showed the figures? Cell phone users cause more deaths than drunk drivers do. Drunk drivers are penalized when they received a DUI. They are severely punished if they kill someone. Why would we not penalize someone talking on a cell phone and severely if they cause an accident. I urge you to call your senators and representatives and ask them to make the law for the whole state. It will save lives

PHOTO PROJECT
At last, we are wrapping up the photo portion of the project. However, it is not too late to bring pictures to the Research Center on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The photos will all be hung this week. The next step is to type up the biographies and autobiographies. I have set Memorial Day as a goal to have them finished and in a beautiful notebook purchased for that purpose. It will be on display at the Bluffs. Karla Ayers, who has been so helpful in placing the photos at the Sunrise Bluffs, is planning a reception. We have received many compliments on the display.

SO LONG FOR NOW
I think I have said enough for one day and all I have left is GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.

View From The Bridge 12/22/10

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
by Muncie
12/22/10

MERRY CHRISTMAS
I wish all of the readers of the “View” the most wonderful Christmas you have ever had. I wish that as you read the River Press on Wednesday or Thursday, everything went well with all your preparations. I wish that you heard from friends that you have not heard from for a long while and know that they are well and happy. I wish that amongst family and friends, there were much forgiveness and much love. I also wish that all these wonderful Christmas feelings last throughout the next year. My last wish is that there will be peace on earth and it will be soon. It cannot be soon enough for me and I know that you all feel that way.

All of our Christmas celebration get-togethers are over and this week before Christmas should be a quiet, reflective one. The weatherman said tonight (Sunday) that we would have a harder snowstorm starting at midnight until noon tomorrow (Monday) than we had a week ago. It is a little much but we should be used to it by now. I will say again that it is not even winter yet. That should keep us inside the house to finish the miscellaneous items of preparation for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

It is now Monday morning and it looks as though the area has about 6 in. of new snow. The sun is out and the wind is not blowing (yet.) That makes it seem warmer than the 13.5 that shows on our satellite weather station. Keep warm and cozy and you seniors do not go out unless you absolutely have to. Always let someone know where you are and where you are going. Please do not fall because you do not want to break a bone for the holidays. You want to be “home for the holidays.”

DECORATIONS
Have you had an opportunity to drive around town and see the Christmas decorations? The snow and ice may have prevented you from doing that, but if you can manage, take a ride in the evening and enjoy the decorations.

Aunt Dode Morger loved it when we would pick her up from the Sunrise Bluffs and drive her around town. We took her every other night and it is not as enjoyable without her because she would “ooh and awe” at every decorated house.

My favorite part of the decorations is the day the City Crew turns on the Christmas lights on Front Street. I watch out my kitchen window every late afternoon after Thanksgiving to catch the first lighting. The lights are usually left on for a few weeks after New Year’s and I know that the next time I see them it will be Summer Celebration. Will summertime June ever be here again?

The merchants on Front Street also do a great job of decorating. I wish it could be like that all year because it is so festive and cheerful.

FEEDING THE BIRDS
This summer I moved my birdfeeders from the lilac trees close to the house to the garden fence. The reason for moving them was that a black cat was visiting our yard for a dinner it might find and the birds passed the word around. The cat could jump from the deck railing into the lilac trees and catch a bird in midair. Moving the feeders result was that the cat (or cats) would not reach the birds. I was filling the feeder every other day. Now again, I have no birds. We see the cat almost every day in the yard and apparently has had a feast on some birds. The word went out again amongst the birds and they avoid my feeders.

I have two friends who also feed the birds and they said there has been no letup with filling their feeders. I am asking once again, please put a very loud bell around your cat’s neck. I know that helps to let those tiny birds know a cat is approaching.

Are you thinking that I should have better things to be concerned about then feeding the birds? Perhaps that is true; however, I did enjoy watching the birds in the lilac trees. Now that the feeders are near the garden, I cannot see them as well from the house. I can only tell if the birds have been around by checking the feeders. I filled them last Thursday and today (Sunday) one has not been touched. One of the feeders has about one third of the seed gone and another that is the smallest, is half-empty or half-full as you would have it. There is very little activity and I want my birds back.

BASKETBALL
We were only able to attend the games on Friday and Saturday evenings. We wish we could have attended the Big Sandy on Thursday game but could only read the final scores the first thing on Friday morning. There were very exciting outcomes of all the games and made for a very enjoyable evenings. The High School Band entertained us both evenings and the Cheerleaders were there on Saturday night. All did a great job.

FOOTBALL
I try not to talk about religion, politics, the Grizzlies, or the Bobcats in the area. However, I can talk about The Saints from Carroll University in Helena. I believe that every football fan in Montana was rootin’ for the Saints on Saturday. However, there may be some migrants from North Dakota who are loyal to their state team. They would have to muffle their cheers as they were overwhelming outnumbered.

Thankfully, we were able to watch the game, courtesy of our TV provider. It was a great game right down to the last few seconds and again Montana has a National Championship Team.

I have to admit that I have a stake in the Saints Football Team. I have a grandson, Bryan, who is a freshman at Carroll and was red-shirted this season along with all the other freshman football players. Because of his attachment to Carroll, I have become a “Saint.” I contributed to a fund and that is probably the only way I will ever become a “Saint.” Do we have any other Saints in Fort Benton? Let me know if you see me on the street.

SO LONG FOR NOW
Again, Merry Christmas to all of you. “May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmas’ be white.” (Actually, I think we have had enough of that white stuff to last for the next three years but after all is said and done, it is very beautiful as long as you do not have to go out in it.

Enjoy every minute of every day because these are the memory-making times that last forever.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.