“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
2/1/12
CONSORTIUM
Everyone has a story (I would like to hear some of yours,) and this is my story about the Consortium. The Montana Performing Arts Consortium participants said they had the best time ever and were overwhelmingly complimentary about Fort Benton. The weather even cooperated although it was not as warm on Friday and Saturday as it was on Thursday, at least it did not snow. This morning, Sunday, it was so much like spring that they all departed very happy. The Okaidja and Shokoto group housed with us and they were a delightful trio. The leader was Okaidja, I told him that I could never remember his name, would it be o.k. if I called him O.K. and he replied o.k. They had never been to Fort Benton before nor had they been to a Consortium. They arrived early afternoon on Friday from Portland, after staying overnight in Missoula. I guided them from the Ag Center to our home. We went to lunch and I had planned to give them a tour of Fort Benton however, it did not materialize. They checked in at the Ag Center and I did not see them again until dinnertime. I saw all the Showcases on Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Elementary School. It was a zigzag day going from the Elementary, home until lunch at 11:30 at the Ag, back to the Elementary until 1:55, home again, back to the Elementary at 3:15 p.m., home again until dinner at the Ag at 7:00 p.m. The Jam Session, (the most fun of all,) began at 9:30 p.m. and I gave it up about 11:00 p.m. My guests came home about 11:30 p.m. and went right to bed. I climbed into bed about 1:00 a.m. and did not hear a sound of the Group leaving. They had planned to drive straight through to Portland unlike their stopover on the way here. They said they had to time of their lives and hoped to return on the next seasons C.C.P.A. schedule. It is all up to the committees now to work out those schedules in partnership with the other performing arts locations. It is a complicated process and it will be a few months before it is worked out. I looked forward to the Consortium for weeks and I was not disappointed. Each showcase was so good, that one wishes we could have them all perform their entire show at one of Chouteau County Performing Art programs next season. We must be satisfied with at least eight out of the seventeen that made the long journey to Fort Benton.
CHILI COOKOFF
There was a great time in the old town and a good time was had by all at the Pour House on Saturday afternoon. Ten participants hauled their crock-pots to the entry place and the show began. There were chili-cookers from Great Falls and the Hi-Line as well as from Fort Benton. The two women judges and the two men judges began the tasting. If you have ever been to a cook-off, you know that the entries are numbered and no one but the person who does the numbering know whose chili is whose. After tasting ten different chili samples, the judges came up with a winner. And the winner was, (open the envelope,) none other than Karen’s husband Pat. Now I have to say that Karen, understandably, did not want him to win. The contest was all above board and absolutely no one knew Pat made that particular chili. I am suggesting that Pat’s “Chili” go on their menu along with the sandwiches, pizza, and corn dogs. See Pat…I told you that once you become famous, everyone would want to enjoy the best of Fort Benton chili. Diane Jones won the Hula Hoop contest and that does not surprise me at all. I wonder if her prize was a bowl of chili. Other good news is that Karen said this would be an annual contest.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
I have tried several times to organize a Community Calendar. The River Press has also tried and does print a monthly organizational calendar. The calendar I would like to see would be a yearly all events. What brought this up again was last Saturday when there were three events going on the same day. They were the Consortium, the Chili Cook Off, and an EMT Training Session. I do not know how important it is to you…but all three of those events were something that I was or could have been involved. I had registered for the Consortium, I was asked to be a judge at the Chili Cook Off (and I like chili,) and I was asked to be a victim at the EMT Training Session. Obviously, I could only do one. If we had a yearly Community Calendar, perhaps we could avoid having two or three events on the same day. It seems to happen very often. Is there anyone in the River Press reading area who would volunteer and organize such a calendar? It would then be up to the community to call all events into a central location. I would like to see all organizations, businesses, Churches, City and County schedules, weddings, school events, and all other gatherings listed. Is this project just important to me? If you agree…give me a thumbs up. Actually, I do not want you to disagree. Think it over and let us see what we can come up with a solution.
SUNRISE/SUNSET
Here is a one-week timetable of my favorite project at this time.
DATE RISE SET
1/19/12 8:06 5:05
1/26/12 8:00 5:15
Minutes gained:
DATE GAIN
12/28 12 minutes
1/4 6 “
1/12 9 “
1/19 15 “
1/26 16 “
We gained almost an hour of “light” time in a month. I love it.
BIRTHDAY CARD
When this River Press is in your mailbox, you will only have 9 days to mail a birthday card to Effie Johnson for her 90th birthday. She is in the MRMC Nursing Home. Write it now while it is fresh in your mind. Put a note on the front, “To be opened on 2/10/12.” It should make her day.
SO LONG FOR NOW
It would not hurt to prepare for Valentine’s Day now. It is just a couple of weeks away and now not all the candy and gifts are picked over. Can you believe that it is February already and what happened to January? Even young people are commenting on how time flies. Just goes to show…enjoy every minutes of every day.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.
Showing posts with label performing arts consortium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label performing arts consortium. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
View From The Bridge 1/11/2012
“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1-11-12
LONGER DAYS
I am obsessed with the days getting longer. It is just my thing at this time but I have found many people who share my eagerness for longer days instead of longer nights. I could never live in Alaska during the winter but I would enjoy the summer. My one trip to Alaska was in June and I did not have a bit of trouble sleeping when it was light. I checked my new calendar and found that Daylight Savings Time begins on March 11th. That is only two months away. I have not heard from anyone about the pros and cons of the sunrise and sunset times. If you see me and like it…do thumbs up. If you do not…thumbs down. I promise we will not debate the subject but I just would like a general poll.
I found in checking last weeks River Press for these figures that I had Wednesday as the 29th instead of the 28th of December. No one noticed. So back to the days getting longer, I found that we gained another 7 minutes this past week. The sun rose at 8:13 a.m. on Wednesday December 28th and at 8:12 a.m. on January 4th. The sunset on the Wednesday December 28th was 4:40 p.m. and on January 4th it was 4:46 p.m. Now I am hooked on watching those times each week.
CONSORTIUM
Just a reminder to put Saturday January 28th on your calendar now, if you have not already done so. Plan to spend the day at the Fort Benton Elementary School Auditorium. If you enjoy music of all kinds and being entertained, then that day is for you. There will be more details available next week. The big attraction for this Consortium is that it is FREE. What a bargain. Each participant gets 12 minutes to showcase his or her act. It is just a small part of what is usually a 2-hour show presented by the Chouteau County Performing Arts Committee. There is a presentation almost once a month this season, including refreshments provided by the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs. You do not have to have a C.C.P.A. seasons ticket to attend the Consortium. It is a great way to be acquainted with the program. Another attraction, for me, is to see which acts I liked and which ones the committee invites to Fort Benton for the 2012-2013 season. See you there.
PETE
On Pete’s 70th birthday, he left his family and friends. He was a well-known and loved person in our community. As a teacher and coach, he will always be remembered. He had a ritual of meeting his friends every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at the Club House. It was called the “4:00 o’clock Club.”
There was a small Irish flag on the table this past Wednesday. Walleyne, his wife of 45 years, walked into the Club House and asked if they would like Pete to be there one more time. She had the urn with his ashes in tow. She felt it would be some kind of closure for his friends. I thought this a delightful story and Walleyne said that I could mention it in the View. This is typical of the Flanagan family. They have a true Irish sense of humor for every event of life. So long Pete, we will miss you.
PARAPROSDOKIAN
This is the last one on the list. “Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.” A definition is “A homesickness or longing for family and friends.” How true. With families living far apart as they are today, even far in Montana, it is not like the old days when you went across the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. Grandparents are living longer these days but are hardly in the position to entertain their families as many live on Social Security, are in retirement homes, and nursing homes. Perhaps nostalgia will encourage you to do more visiting and communication with your family and friends. Now, how did I get off on this tangent from one thought to another thought?
REMINDERS
Are you still saving and turning in the Labels for Education and the Campbell Soup labels for the Fort Benton Elementary School? Are you trying to recycle as much as you possible can? An idea that I saw on TV was to fill your plastic trash bags as full as you possibly can. If everyone could have one bag a week less, it would help lessen what goes in the landfills.
AROUND TOWN
Another day I really enjoy is when the Christmas lights are lit along Front Street. This year it was shortly before Thanksgiving. I had not noticed until tonight that the lights are not on. Couldn’t we leave those lights on a little longer…at least until the end of the month? If they are turned on the month before Christmas, why couldn’t they be on until a month after Christmas? I realize that it was a nice day when the decorations were taken down and I agree 100% with that. However, the other lights are left up year round and could be left on a little longer. It is very cheerful to have them on and we need all the cheer we can get. Please Santa…leave the lights on longer.
There are many meetings on schedule this week. Mark your particular meeting on your calendar so you do not miss it. Check your River Press Community Calendar and cut it out and place on your frig.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS
By Muncie
1-11-12
LONGER DAYS
I am obsessed with the days getting longer. It is just my thing at this time but I have found many people who share my eagerness for longer days instead of longer nights. I could never live in Alaska during the winter but I would enjoy the summer. My one trip to Alaska was in June and I did not have a bit of trouble sleeping when it was light. I checked my new calendar and found that Daylight Savings Time begins on March 11th. That is only two months away. I have not heard from anyone about the pros and cons of the sunrise and sunset times. If you see me and like it…do thumbs up. If you do not…thumbs down. I promise we will not debate the subject but I just would like a general poll.
I found in checking last weeks River Press for these figures that I had Wednesday as the 29th instead of the 28th of December. No one noticed. So back to the days getting longer, I found that we gained another 7 minutes this past week. The sun rose at 8:13 a.m. on Wednesday December 28th and at 8:12 a.m. on January 4th. The sunset on the Wednesday December 28th was 4:40 p.m. and on January 4th it was 4:46 p.m. Now I am hooked on watching those times each week.
CONSORTIUM
Just a reminder to put Saturday January 28th on your calendar now, if you have not already done so. Plan to spend the day at the Fort Benton Elementary School Auditorium. If you enjoy music of all kinds and being entertained, then that day is for you. There will be more details available next week. The big attraction for this Consortium is that it is FREE. What a bargain. Each participant gets 12 minutes to showcase his or her act. It is just a small part of what is usually a 2-hour show presented by the Chouteau County Performing Arts Committee. There is a presentation almost once a month this season, including refreshments provided by the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs. You do not have to have a C.C.P.A. seasons ticket to attend the Consortium. It is a great way to be acquainted with the program. Another attraction, for me, is to see which acts I liked and which ones the committee invites to Fort Benton for the 2012-2013 season. See you there.
PETE
On Pete’s 70th birthday, he left his family and friends. He was a well-known and loved person in our community. As a teacher and coach, he will always be remembered. He had a ritual of meeting his friends every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at the Club House. It was called the “4:00 o’clock Club.”
There was a small Irish flag on the table this past Wednesday. Walleyne, his wife of 45 years, walked into the Club House and asked if they would like Pete to be there one more time. She had the urn with his ashes in tow. She felt it would be some kind of closure for his friends. I thought this a delightful story and Walleyne said that I could mention it in the View. This is typical of the Flanagan family. They have a true Irish sense of humor for every event of life. So long Pete, we will miss you.
PARAPROSDOKIAN
This is the last one on the list. “Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.” A definition is “A homesickness or longing for family and friends.” How true. With families living far apart as they are today, even far in Montana, it is not like the old days when you went across the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. Grandparents are living longer these days but are hardly in the position to entertain their families as many live on Social Security, are in retirement homes, and nursing homes. Perhaps nostalgia will encourage you to do more visiting and communication with your family and friends. Now, how did I get off on this tangent from one thought to another thought?
REMINDERS
Are you still saving and turning in the Labels for Education and the Campbell Soup labels for the Fort Benton Elementary School? Are you trying to recycle as much as you possible can? An idea that I saw on TV was to fill your plastic trash bags as full as you possibly can. If everyone could have one bag a week less, it would help lessen what goes in the landfills.
AROUND TOWN
Another day I really enjoy is when the Christmas lights are lit along Front Street. This year it was shortly before Thanksgiving. I had not noticed until tonight that the lights are not on. Couldn’t we leave those lights on a little longer…at least until the end of the month? If they are turned on the month before Christmas, why couldn’t they be on until a month after Christmas? I realize that it was a nice day when the decorations were taken down and I agree 100% with that. However, the other lights are left up year round and could be left on a little longer. It is very cheerful to have them on and we need all the cheer we can get. Please Santa…leave the lights on longer.
There are many meetings on schedule this week. Mark your particular meeting on your calendar so you do not miss it. Check your River Press Community Calendar and cut it out and place on your frig.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
View From The Bridge 2/2/11
“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
2/2/11
PERFORMING ARTS CONSORTIUM
I was fortunate to attend the Consortium on January 29th at the Civic Center in Great Falls. Randy Morger, who is on the Chouteau County Performing Arts Board, transported me to Great Falls at 7:30 in the morning. It was a 13-hour day and I have never seen a day pass by so quickly.
There were 17 showcases and in the next few months, 6 of those will be chosen to perform here in Fort Benton for the next Chouteau County Performing Arts program for 2011 and 2012. Even if you do not like some of the performances that C.C.P.A. chooses, support it anyway. Seasons tickets are so reasonable for the quality of shows you will see. There are always descriptions of the artists in the River Press for you to know what kind of entertainment to expect. Say for instance that you only like Country music, or only Classical, or only Jazz/Blues. You can select the shows that you would like to see and still have a bargain if you have purchased a season ticket.
The next production is The Singing Sons of Beaches and they show cased here in Fort Benton last January when the Consortium was held here. If you are ready for an evening of hilarity, a laugh a minute, dancing and socializing, be at the Montana Agricultural Center on February 25th. It is also “Pub Night” and that is the most popular of the C.C.P.A. evenings.
Check out the front page of the Montana section of the Great Falls Tribune for Sunday the 30th to read our own Connie Jenkins interview about the Consortium. One of her comments was, “It’s such a privilege to get such professionals like that, (those we saw on Saturday,) to come to our small community.” The rest of the interview is equally as interesting. The article is a revelation to the behind the scenes’ planning that goes into the Arts program. Give them support, support and more support.
FAR AWAY PLACES
A few weeks ago, I asked how far away the River Press traveled. Joan Albers waved to me at the Golden Age Senior Center Pie Day and gave me the address of Joe Albers. He lives in Deerfield Beach, Florida and is a subscriber of our great River Press.
I checked out Deerfield Beach in my Atlas, (sounds like it belongs in Montana,) and found it is located just north of Fort Lauderdale. It is indeed a beach on the Atlantic side of Florida. It looks like a winner of how far the River Press goes and unless I hear differently, I am telling Joe that his winning prize is his name in this column. That ought to make his day. Does it Joe? Let me know.
VETERANS PHOTOS
I have not been able to put in my time at the Overholser Research Center for several weeks now due to family commitments. In the meantime, about a dozen more pictures have been turned in. In addition, several bios have been forthcoming.
It is not too late. I have received several phone calls asking if the project was still on going. Yes, it is. Photos will always be welcome as children and grandchildren of Veterans find them, perhaps hiding in an old photo book. There will always be room to hang pictures so keep them coming.
A few reminders I would like to repeat. I would like 5 x 7 black and white, or colored photo, a simple black 5 x 7 frame if possible, a bio of their service experience, your name, address and phone number. If you are mailing the photo and it is impossible to mail a frame…I have purchased about 75 frames (they are hard to come by,) at the $ Store. Do not hesitate because you do not have a frame.
This is a project of love. I am old enough to remember WWII very well. I remember the small sacrifices that we at home had to endure. We had food stamps; sugar, butter, and coffee were scarce. We recycled aluminum (including gum wrappers,) metal cans (we had to remove the labels, both ends and crush them,) and newspapers. We bought War Bond Stamps at school every Friday until we had enough money for a bond. Most of our friends had brothers and sisters in the Service. However, all of these small things were nothing compared to those who were doing the fighting. We were “The Greatest Generation,” and so proud of it. Always thank them because if it were not for them, you might be speaking another language.
RECYCLING
One of my Syntax Sinner’s Group, (alias Writers Group,) Dusty Kuehner forwarded the following to me this past week. “Recycling Facts & Tips. Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough to power the average American home for five months.” Makes you think doesn’t it.
In addition, this past week I unloaded metal cans, newspapers, magazines, and cardboard at Pacific Recycling in Great Falls. I found a couple of months ago that I could take all of these items there and they would unload them for me. I did not have to go looking for bins around town to dispose of them. I do not receive nor do I expect to, any money for these items. They do pay for aluminum but I donate mine elsewhere.
I did however find that they pay ½ a cent a lb. for newspaper. It was the first time they asked me if I wanted the money or did I want to donate it to a school. I do not know how much money I had coming but I donated it to the Fort Benton Elementary School. They take care of the bookwork. If you were dumping your papers at Sam’s Club or in front of Albertson’s on the By-Pass, it would be just as easy to take it to Pacific.
Since Pacific has never before asked me about money for newspapers I am wondering if newspapers have been paid for previously, discontinued, and brought back again. If anyone knows please let me know. Did newspaper bring a larger amount of cash at another time? Would this be a project for some organization to donate the cash for schools? Think about it.
LABELS FOR EDUCATION
I was given more information about these labels then I could put in this weeks “View.” Therefore, please look for another article titled Labels for Education. Read it carefully because there are some deadlines.
SO LONG FOR NOW
Remember how I told you last week to enjoy the warm weather. Unbelievable that we have about 5 to 6 inches of snow that fell today (Sunday) and it will be way below zero tonight and tomorrow night. A warming trend is promised for Wednesday if you consider 30 degrees a warming trend. Well, try to keep warm. Do not go outside unless it is an emergency.
God bless all those in the Service of our Country. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
By Muncie
2/2/11
PERFORMING ARTS CONSORTIUM
I was fortunate to attend the Consortium on January 29th at the Civic Center in Great Falls. Randy Morger, who is on the Chouteau County Performing Arts Board, transported me to Great Falls at 7:30 in the morning. It was a 13-hour day and I have never seen a day pass by so quickly.
There were 17 showcases and in the next few months, 6 of those will be chosen to perform here in Fort Benton for the next Chouteau County Performing Arts program for 2011 and 2012. Even if you do not like some of the performances that C.C.P.A. chooses, support it anyway. Seasons tickets are so reasonable for the quality of shows you will see. There are always descriptions of the artists in the River Press for you to know what kind of entertainment to expect. Say for instance that you only like Country music, or only Classical, or only Jazz/Blues. You can select the shows that you would like to see and still have a bargain if you have purchased a season ticket.
The next production is The Singing Sons of Beaches and they show cased here in Fort Benton last January when the Consortium was held here. If you are ready for an evening of hilarity, a laugh a minute, dancing and socializing, be at the Montana Agricultural Center on February 25th. It is also “Pub Night” and that is the most popular of the C.C.P.A. evenings.
Check out the front page of the Montana section of the Great Falls Tribune for Sunday the 30th to read our own Connie Jenkins interview about the Consortium. One of her comments was, “It’s such a privilege to get such professionals like that, (those we saw on Saturday,) to come to our small community.” The rest of the interview is equally as interesting. The article is a revelation to the behind the scenes’ planning that goes into the Arts program. Give them support, support and more support.
FAR AWAY PLACES
A few weeks ago, I asked how far away the River Press traveled. Joan Albers waved to me at the Golden Age Senior Center Pie Day and gave me the address of Joe Albers. He lives in Deerfield Beach, Florida and is a subscriber of our great River Press.
I checked out Deerfield Beach in my Atlas, (sounds like it belongs in Montana,) and found it is located just north of Fort Lauderdale. It is indeed a beach on the Atlantic side of Florida. It looks like a winner of how far the River Press goes and unless I hear differently, I am telling Joe that his winning prize is his name in this column. That ought to make his day. Does it Joe? Let me know.
VETERANS PHOTOS
I have not been able to put in my time at the Overholser Research Center for several weeks now due to family commitments. In the meantime, about a dozen more pictures have been turned in. In addition, several bios have been forthcoming.
It is not too late. I have received several phone calls asking if the project was still on going. Yes, it is. Photos will always be welcome as children and grandchildren of Veterans find them, perhaps hiding in an old photo book. There will always be room to hang pictures so keep them coming.
A few reminders I would like to repeat. I would like 5 x 7 black and white, or colored photo, a simple black 5 x 7 frame if possible, a bio of their service experience, your name, address and phone number. If you are mailing the photo and it is impossible to mail a frame…I have purchased about 75 frames (they are hard to come by,) at the $ Store. Do not hesitate because you do not have a frame.
This is a project of love. I am old enough to remember WWII very well. I remember the small sacrifices that we at home had to endure. We had food stamps; sugar, butter, and coffee were scarce. We recycled aluminum (including gum wrappers,) metal cans (we had to remove the labels, both ends and crush them,) and newspapers. We bought War Bond Stamps at school every Friday until we had enough money for a bond. Most of our friends had brothers and sisters in the Service. However, all of these small things were nothing compared to those who were doing the fighting. We were “The Greatest Generation,” and so proud of it. Always thank them because if it were not for them, you might be speaking another language.
RECYCLING
One of my Syntax Sinner’s Group, (alias Writers Group,) Dusty Kuehner forwarded the following to me this past week. “Recycling Facts & Tips. Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough to power the average American home for five months.” Makes you think doesn’t it.
In addition, this past week I unloaded metal cans, newspapers, magazines, and cardboard at Pacific Recycling in Great Falls. I found a couple of months ago that I could take all of these items there and they would unload them for me. I did not have to go looking for bins around town to dispose of them. I do not receive nor do I expect to, any money for these items. They do pay for aluminum but I donate mine elsewhere.
I did however find that they pay ½ a cent a lb. for newspaper. It was the first time they asked me if I wanted the money or did I want to donate it to a school. I do not know how much money I had coming but I donated it to the Fort Benton Elementary School. They take care of the bookwork. If you were dumping your papers at Sam’s Club or in front of Albertson’s on the By-Pass, it would be just as easy to take it to Pacific.
Since Pacific has never before asked me about money for newspapers I am wondering if newspapers have been paid for previously, discontinued, and brought back again. If anyone knows please let me know. Did newspaper bring a larger amount of cash at another time? Would this be a project for some organization to donate the cash for schools? Think about it.
LABELS FOR EDUCATION
I was given more information about these labels then I could put in this weeks “View.” Therefore, please look for another article titled Labels for Education. Read it carefully because there are some deadlines.
SO LONG FOR NOW
Remember how I told you last week to enjoy the warm weather. Unbelievable that we have about 5 to 6 inches of snow that fell today (Sunday) and it will be way below zero tonight and tomorrow night. A warming trend is promised for Wednesday if you consider 30 degrees a warming trend. Well, try to keep warm. Do not go outside unless it is an emergency.
God bless all those in the Service of our Country. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
View From The Bridge 2/3/2010
VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
2/3/10
WEB CAM
If you have not already gone to the internet to check, the WEB CAM is up and running. It went into effect on Friday of last week. It is installed back at the Benton Pharmacy Building and we appreciate Chris Halko for his participation in this project. He has always footed the bill for the cost of electricity. The new camera has a sharper picture than the old one and changes pictures every 3 seconds instead of the 10 seconds of the old camera.
If you have not been on the Fort Benton web site at http://www.fortbenton.com/, you are missing a great time. The Fort Benton attractions are the greatest. Photo montage videos with music, have been added in a couple areas and talk about toe tapping…you will. The Shep site, About Fort Benton site, and the Attractions, Museums and Historic site are all so well done. Once you try them, you will go back repeatedly. As was said before…after viewing them, how could the viewer not want to visit Fort Benton?
CONSORTIUM
Anticipation grew for many of us last week, awaiting the long planned Performing Arts Consortium. The performers and presenters arrived on Friday in time to check into their lodgings and for their dinner that evening.
On Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m., they gathered at the Ag Center for breakfast prepared by Fort Benton Woman’s Club. The first of six showcases began at 9:00 a.m. The auditorium was about three quarters full and about one quarter of those were local supporters.
The interesting part about attending this Consortium is the choices that are made for the six shows that are chosen for Chouteau County Performing Arts. Showcase I featured Presidio Brass, David Walburn, Robin Spielberg, Spencer Bohren and Singing Sons (I will not put the rest of their title as you may think it is a spelling error. Ask one of the Board Members and they will tell you the story behind their name) and Colin Ross. Of those six showcases, three have been to Fort Benton in the last few years. The Board tries to space shows so we do not have the same or similar ones every year.
There was a long lunch break and Showcase II began at 12:45. On the bill were Anke Summerhill, Kate MacLeod, Robbi K. & Friends, Cascade Quartet, Montana Skies and Pop Wagner. Only two of those presenters have been here before.
Showcase III began at 3:40 with Saxophobia, Tim Ryan, Drum Brothers, Chuck Suchy and finally Done Gone String Bank (a family group from the Yukon in Canada.) The Drum Brothers were the only group that had been here before.
At 6:00 p.m., a final visit at the performers booths at the Ag Center brought everyone involved to a dinner at 7:00 p.m. Chandee Bomgardner catered and drew raves from everyone for the meals that she served. Her business is a family affair and all the diners remarked on how well her children did their waitress and waiter chores. Her hubby was a big part of the services too.
After dinner, Arnie Fishbaugh was the speaker. Arnie is a Fort Bentonite who now resides in Helena and is the head of the Arts Council. She could not say enough about the way that Connie Jenkins and her Board of Directors handled the organization of the event from food, to lodgings, to scheduling, to having everything needed right at hand. The Board consists of Robert Boettcher, Ruth Carlstrom, Even Goldhahn, Wendy Kamm, Cynthia Lenington, Dottie Meehan, Randy Morger, Peggy Romano and Margie Schuler.
Arnie said that it was truly the best consortium they had ever had. All of the participants agreed and Fort Benton had never received so many compliments. They thought our town was beautiful and charming (as we always knew) and the people in the community were outstanding. We are going to have a few swelled heads around town for the next few weeks. Of course, we Bentonites boasted about every historical item that we lay claim to and it was easy to do.
I have been in Fort Benton for going on seventeen years (17) and I have had many wonderful days. Saturday the 30th was the most wonderful day I have ever had. It was awesome and a good time was had by all. (Lisa, are you paying attention?) I have to say again how lucky we are to be living in Fort Benton, the birthplace of Montana.
There were seventeen showcases (17) and six (6) had been here previously. Now, behind the scenes so to speak, comes the time for negotiating on Sunday morning. The Board has the difficult task of choosing the performers and partnering with other small towns for the best arrangements concerning scheduling and cost. However, the rest of us who attended have made our choices and have a great time comparing notes or opinions. When finally choices are made, in the not too distant future, we will see if our choices were the final choices.
CCPA
Wednesday evening, The Foothills Brass will be entertaining us at the Elementary School at 7:00 p.m. This group has been to Fort Benton before and they are fabulous. Have you used your season ticket yet to bring a one-time guest? We only have two more CCPA programs left for this season. Can you believe that? It seems as though we just went to the first one in October.
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FUND RAISER
It takes place next Friday the 5th, at the Golden Age Senior Center starting at 5:00 with a soup supper. The auction will begin at 6:30 and what an auction it will be. The chairs were scheduled to be in the window of the Benton Pharmacy on February 1st. It has been reported that last weekend there were two chairs in the window and one inside the store. When the description of the chair inside the store was described to me, it was hard to imagine. You have to see it to believe it. The chair sits on a box that has the same finish as the chair. Inside the box is a refrigerator and across the arms of the chair is a wine rack. It is one of a kind and it would be an awesome gift for someone or perhaps a gift for you.
Make an effort to be there and bring a friend. The Cancer Support Group does so much for cancer support…monetarily and supportively. Their work is so meaningful and the community needs to support them as well. If you love unusual artwork, this is the auction to be attending. See you there.
Now we move on into the month of February. It looks as though the weather, for this week at least, will be normal temperatures. Although we may get more snow and cold weather, it should be warming up to comfortable days and nights. You know what…I am sorry I wrote this. I am afraid I may have jinxed the whole deal. Well, we will just have to wait and see.
God bless America. That brings up another subject. There was a program on TV in the last couple of weeks, which talked about patriotism. A part of the program was about the American Flag. Four years ago, when we celebrated the Lewis and Clark Bi-Centennial, I urged all households in Fort Benton to install a flag holder and put the flag out every good weather day. We had a few homes that did and I would urge you to think about it again. It is the least we can do to remember our protectors overseas and those who have died to keep us free. I would like to see Fort Benton not only known as The Birthplace of Montana but as The Flag City.
By Muncie
2/3/10
WEB CAM
If you have not already gone to the internet to check, the WEB CAM is up and running. It went into effect on Friday of last week. It is installed back at the Benton Pharmacy Building and we appreciate Chris Halko for his participation in this project. He has always footed the bill for the cost of electricity. The new camera has a sharper picture than the old one and changes pictures every 3 seconds instead of the 10 seconds of the old camera.
If you have not been on the Fort Benton web site at http://www.fortbenton.com/, you are missing a great time. The Fort Benton attractions are the greatest. Photo montage videos with music, have been added in a couple areas and talk about toe tapping…you will. The Shep site, About Fort Benton site, and the Attractions, Museums and Historic site are all so well done. Once you try them, you will go back repeatedly. As was said before…after viewing them, how could the viewer not want to visit Fort Benton?
CONSORTIUM
Anticipation grew for many of us last week, awaiting the long planned Performing Arts Consortium. The performers and presenters arrived on Friday in time to check into their lodgings and for their dinner that evening.
On Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m., they gathered at the Ag Center for breakfast prepared by Fort Benton Woman’s Club. The first of six showcases began at 9:00 a.m. The auditorium was about three quarters full and about one quarter of those were local supporters.
The interesting part about attending this Consortium is the choices that are made for the six shows that are chosen for Chouteau County Performing Arts. Showcase I featured Presidio Brass, David Walburn, Robin Spielberg, Spencer Bohren and Singing Sons (I will not put the rest of their title as you may think it is a spelling error. Ask one of the Board Members and they will tell you the story behind their name) and Colin Ross. Of those six showcases, three have been to Fort Benton in the last few years. The Board tries to space shows so we do not have the same or similar ones every year.
There was a long lunch break and Showcase II began at 12:45. On the bill were Anke Summerhill, Kate MacLeod, Robbi K. & Friends, Cascade Quartet, Montana Skies and Pop Wagner. Only two of those presenters have been here before.
Showcase III began at 3:40 with Saxophobia, Tim Ryan, Drum Brothers, Chuck Suchy and finally Done Gone String Bank (a family group from the Yukon in Canada.) The Drum Brothers were the only group that had been here before.
At 6:00 p.m., a final visit at the performers booths at the Ag Center brought everyone involved to a dinner at 7:00 p.m. Chandee Bomgardner catered and drew raves from everyone for the meals that she served. Her business is a family affair and all the diners remarked on how well her children did their waitress and waiter chores. Her hubby was a big part of the services too.
After dinner, Arnie Fishbaugh was the speaker. Arnie is a Fort Bentonite who now resides in Helena and is the head of the Arts Council. She could not say enough about the way that Connie Jenkins and her Board of Directors handled the organization of the event from food, to lodgings, to scheduling, to having everything needed right at hand. The Board consists of Robert Boettcher, Ruth Carlstrom, Even Goldhahn, Wendy Kamm, Cynthia Lenington, Dottie Meehan, Randy Morger, Peggy Romano and Margie Schuler.
Arnie said that it was truly the best consortium they had ever had. All of the participants agreed and Fort Benton had never received so many compliments. They thought our town was beautiful and charming (as we always knew) and the people in the community were outstanding. We are going to have a few swelled heads around town for the next few weeks. Of course, we Bentonites boasted about every historical item that we lay claim to and it was easy to do.
I have been in Fort Benton for going on seventeen years (17) and I have had many wonderful days. Saturday the 30th was the most wonderful day I have ever had. It was awesome and a good time was had by all. (Lisa, are you paying attention?) I have to say again how lucky we are to be living in Fort Benton, the birthplace of Montana.
There were seventeen showcases (17) and six (6) had been here previously. Now, behind the scenes so to speak, comes the time for negotiating on Sunday morning. The Board has the difficult task of choosing the performers and partnering with other small towns for the best arrangements concerning scheduling and cost. However, the rest of us who attended have made our choices and have a great time comparing notes or opinions. When finally choices are made, in the not too distant future, we will see if our choices were the final choices.
CCPA
Wednesday evening, The Foothills Brass will be entertaining us at the Elementary School at 7:00 p.m. This group has been to Fort Benton before and they are fabulous. Have you used your season ticket yet to bring a one-time guest? We only have two more CCPA programs left for this season. Can you believe that? It seems as though we just went to the first one in October.
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FUND RAISER
It takes place next Friday the 5th, at the Golden Age Senior Center starting at 5:00 with a soup supper. The auction will begin at 6:30 and what an auction it will be. The chairs were scheduled to be in the window of the Benton Pharmacy on February 1st. It has been reported that last weekend there were two chairs in the window and one inside the store. When the description of the chair inside the store was described to me, it was hard to imagine. You have to see it to believe it. The chair sits on a box that has the same finish as the chair. Inside the box is a refrigerator and across the arms of the chair is a wine rack. It is one of a kind and it would be an awesome gift for someone or perhaps a gift for you.
Make an effort to be there and bring a friend. The Cancer Support Group does so much for cancer support…monetarily and supportively. Their work is so meaningful and the community needs to support them as well. If you love unusual artwork, this is the auction to be attending. See you there.
Now we move on into the month of February. It looks as though the weather, for this week at least, will be normal temperatures. Although we may get more snow and cold weather, it should be warming up to comfortable days and nights. You know what…I am sorry I wrote this. I am afraid I may have jinxed the whole deal. Well, we will just have to wait and see.
God bless America. That brings up another subject. There was a program on TV in the last couple of weeks, which talked about patriotism. A part of the program was about the American Flag. Four years ago, when we celebrated the Lewis and Clark Bi-Centennial, I urged all households in Fort Benton to install a flag holder and put the flag out every good weather day. We had a few homes that did and I would urge you to think about it again. It is the least we can do to remember our protectors overseas and those who have died to keep us free. I would like to see Fort Benton not only known as The Birthplace of Montana but as The Flag City.
Monday, January 25, 2010
View From The Bridge 1/27/10
“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1/27/10
WEB CAM
I am so enthused by the Web Cam project I cannot type fast enough. As close to the facts that I can recall, this is how it all came about. I received requests, e-mails, and phone calls asking for the Cam to be returned to the Benton Pharmacy Building. The problem? The Cam that was there was no longer in working condition. The camera on the hill was not adequate for the Levee. The only solution was to purchase a new one.
I was of a mind to ask the different organizations to donate toward the cause but since I was already asking them for money toward cottonwood trees along the Levee...that option did not seem feasible. I was scheduled to attend the C.I.A. meeting on Thursday evening but at the last minute, it was cancelled. They did not know when the next meeting would be. I then played my trump card and came up with four men who offered to cover the cost.
From Fort Benton, there were three donors, Steve Vielleux, Randy Morger, and Wally Morger. Don Beecher from CA had from the beginning of last week offered to chip in. It was the same with Steve who gave half the cost of the new CAM. Randy gave his donation as a birthday present for his brother Shane in CA who cannot start his morning without opening the Fort Benton Web site.
The biggest player in this game is Rodger Hankins (sorry I misspelled you name last week) because he is willing to install the new camera and maintain it. He has been doing this for fifteen years and he has agreed to continue with the installation and the maintenance. I certainly was not aware of that and I learned a great deal, about how the camera functions (more in next paragraph.) He said that the old camera which had been up for fifteen years, attracted thousands of viewers and tourists to the site. The new camera will also track the number of persons who log onto it. It will be very interesting to report on each month.
Several people asked if the camera could include the Old Bridge and the Old Firehouse Visitors Center as well as the Levee, the Shep Statue and the Grand Union. It cannot and the reason being the location of the sun. The sun shining into the lens of the camera could damage it. That would be especially true in the summer when the sun comes up in the southeast and it is at its hottest temperatures. I did not question what was involved with moving the camera to see the Old Bridge and Visitors Center but I wonder if it could be done in the winter when the sky is overcast. I will check that out.
By the time I picked up the check from the C.I.A. (the donors had made their deposits to that non-profit organization,) and took it to Rodger, he had already ordered the camera. It should be here on Tuesday (1/26), it should be up, and running as soon as Rodger can install it. Check the Fort Benton web site for the magic moment.
WEB SITE
You say you did not know Fort Benton had a web site or you did not know how to get into it. Go to http://www.fortbenton.com/. Click on Fort Benton The Birthplace of Montana. Scroll down to Enter Here. Now you have Fort Benton Montana Best Kept Secret and all the links are listed. If you want to spend an hour or so, click on all 21 links and learn everything you ever wanted to know about Fort Benton. The links are About Fort Benton, Attractions, Museums and Historic Sites, Businesses, Chouteau County, Come Live in Fort Benton, Community Services, Fort Benton Weather, Live Web Cam, Montana Weather, Search Tools, Accommodations, View from the Bridge, Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, Community Calendar, Fort Benton Schools, Landmark Wireless Accounts, Map It, Recreation and Special Events. Of course, my favorite is View from the Bridge but then I am prejudiced.
These sites are a wealth of information. The Fort Benton site even includes videos and they are awesome. I cannot imagine that anyone who has never been here would not want to travel here immediately. Visitors have traveled here as you can read by their comments.
The site on Fort Benton Schools should be of interest to you parents who have children in the schools. They have a calendar with all planned programs on it. If you are wondering if there is a sports, music program, or other events connected with the school…check out the site.
FORT BENTON WEATHER STATION
The next project planned is a new Weather Station. Rodger is working on it and I will have more information at a later date. I have been told and have no way of checking, that our weather readings come from Malstrom Air Force Base. Even now, it is a fasctinating site as it gives readings by the hour. Check it out…I am sure you will find it very interesting.
PERFORMING ARTS CONSORTIUM
It is not too late to make plans to spend Saturday the 30th at the Elementary School to see 17 great Showcases. Remember, there is no charge. You are very welcome and if you happen to see some of the performers around town…give them a big Fort Benton Welcome. Artists are very pleased when you greet and welcome them. The Cowboy Poets love to come to Fort Benton because of the friendliness of the people here in town. We would like the Showplace artists to have the same feeling about us. See you there.
CHOUTEAU COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS
Just another reminder that Foothills Brass will be performing on February 3rd. That is a Wednesday evening and you may not get the River Press in time that day to remind you to attend the show that evening. This is a toe tapping show so see you there.
CHAIR AUCTION
The same reminder about the Cancer Support Groups Soup Supper and Chair Auction on Friday the 5th of February. If you have “Cabin Fever”, next week offers you the opportunity to get out of the house for some fun evenings. The Cancer Support Group needs all the help they can get because they do so much for our fellow Bentonites who have cancer. Those cancer patients also need all the help they can get. Please make an effort to invite just one more person to attend with you as that would double the attendance. See you there.
JOEL OVERHOLSER RESEARCH CENTER
I have some exciting news about the machine that the Center has just acquired. There has always been a Micro Film machine at the Center where you can look for any River Press articles for years back. The problem is when you find your article (you have to know the approximate date) you have to manually copy. I did that very thing a few months ago when I did some research for an article.
I had not been to the Center for two months and went I returned for my one day a week volunteering, I found a new machine that will print the articles for you. For a very long time the Helena Historical Society was the only place that had a copy machine. Great Falls Library now has one but I do not know how long they have had it. Fort Benton is the only small town in the North Central area that can boast about having a printer.
I used it last week with Hank Armstrong’s expert help, to find an article from what we thought was January 1939. As it turned out, the search found it in December, 1938. We were able to print it out for a permanent record. The surprising thing was that Hank, as he was looking for my article, found another on the same page that was of interest to him. It is very fascinating and more so a plus for researchers. I invite you to come to the Center not only to do research on your families but also to see how this modern technology works for the Community and the Research Center. Come see us soon.
I have been urging readers of the River Press to come to the Center with their old pictures. They would be scanned and returned to you immediately. In all this time, no one has come at my request except a few weeks ago Madeline Ragland gave me a very old picture of the Court House. She does not know where it came from or how old it is. The trees are very small and I would judge it to be in the early 1900’s. The important thing is that she did get it to the Center so Hank could preserve it for those who in years to come will appreciate. Please come over soon and look up your family’s history or more importantly add to your family folder. “If you don’t know where you came from, you cannot know where you are going.”
SO LONG FOR NOW
Now that the cold weather is back, be very careful that you do not fall. Just stay put and enjoy a good book. Perhaps a little letter writing would fill your days. I received a hand written letter today and it was such a pleasant surprise. I am afraid though; letter writing is a long lost art.
God bless America.
By Muncie
1/27/10
WEB CAM
I am so enthused by the Web Cam project I cannot type fast enough. As close to the facts that I can recall, this is how it all came about. I received requests, e-mails, and phone calls asking for the Cam to be returned to the Benton Pharmacy Building. The problem? The Cam that was there was no longer in working condition. The camera on the hill was not adequate for the Levee. The only solution was to purchase a new one.
I was of a mind to ask the different organizations to donate toward the cause but since I was already asking them for money toward cottonwood trees along the Levee...that option did not seem feasible. I was scheduled to attend the C.I.A. meeting on Thursday evening but at the last minute, it was cancelled. They did not know when the next meeting would be. I then played my trump card and came up with four men who offered to cover the cost.
From Fort Benton, there were three donors, Steve Vielleux, Randy Morger, and Wally Morger. Don Beecher from CA had from the beginning of last week offered to chip in. It was the same with Steve who gave half the cost of the new CAM. Randy gave his donation as a birthday present for his brother Shane in CA who cannot start his morning without opening the Fort Benton Web site.
The biggest player in this game is Rodger Hankins (sorry I misspelled you name last week) because he is willing to install the new camera and maintain it. He has been doing this for fifteen years and he has agreed to continue with the installation and the maintenance. I certainly was not aware of that and I learned a great deal, about how the camera functions (more in next paragraph.) He said that the old camera which had been up for fifteen years, attracted thousands of viewers and tourists to the site. The new camera will also track the number of persons who log onto it. It will be very interesting to report on each month.
Several people asked if the camera could include the Old Bridge and the Old Firehouse Visitors Center as well as the Levee, the Shep Statue and the Grand Union. It cannot and the reason being the location of the sun. The sun shining into the lens of the camera could damage it. That would be especially true in the summer when the sun comes up in the southeast and it is at its hottest temperatures. I did not question what was involved with moving the camera to see the Old Bridge and Visitors Center but I wonder if it could be done in the winter when the sky is overcast. I will check that out.
By the time I picked up the check from the C.I.A. (the donors had made their deposits to that non-profit organization,) and took it to Rodger, he had already ordered the camera. It should be here on Tuesday (1/26), it should be up, and running as soon as Rodger can install it. Check the Fort Benton web site for the magic moment.
WEB SITE
You say you did not know Fort Benton had a web site or you did not know how to get into it. Go to http://www.fortbenton.com/. Click on Fort Benton The Birthplace of Montana. Scroll down to Enter Here. Now you have Fort Benton Montana Best Kept Secret and all the links are listed. If you want to spend an hour or so, click on all 21 links and learn everything you ever wanted to know about Fort Benton. The links are About Fort Benton, Attractions, Museums and Historic Sites, Businesses, Chouteau County, Come Live in Fort Benton, Community Services, Fort Benton Weather, Live Web Cam, Montana Weather, Search Tools, Accommodations, View from the Bridge, Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, Community Calendar, Fort Benton Schools, Landmark Wireless Accounts, Map It, Recreation and Special Events. Of course, my favorite is View from the Bridge but then I am prejudiced.
These sites are a wealth of information. The Fort Benton site even includes videos and they are awesome. I cannot imagine that anyone who has never been here would not want to travel here immediately. Visitors have traveled here as you can read by their comments.
The site on Fort Benton Schools should be of interest to you parents who have children in the schools. They have a calendar with all planned programs on it. If you are wondering if there is a sports, music program, or other events connected with the school…check out the site.
FORT BENTON WEATHER STATION
The next project planned is a new Weather Station. Rodger is working on it and I will have more information at a later date. I have been told and have no way of checking, that our weather readings come from Malstrom Air Force Base. Even now, it is a fasctinating site as it gives readings by the hour. Check it out…I am sure you will find it very interesting.
PERFORMING ARTS CONSORTIUM
It is not too late to make plans to spend Saturday the 30th at the Elementary School to see 17 great Showcases. Remember, there is no charge. You are very welcome and if you happen to see some of the performers around town…give them a big Fort Benton Welcome. Artists are very pleased when you greet and welcome them. The Cowboy Poets love to come to Fort Benton because of the friendliness of the people here in town. We would like the Showplace artists to have the same feeling about us. See you there.
CHOUTEAU COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS
Just another reminder that Foothills Brass will be performing on February 3rd. That is a Wednesday evening and you may not get the River Press in time that day to remind you to attend the show that evening. This is a toe tapping show so see you there.
CHAIR AUCTION
The same reminder about the Cancer Support Groups Soup Supper and Chair Auction on Friday the 5th of February. If you have “Cabin Fever”, next week offers you the opportunity to get out of the house for some fun evenings. The Cancer Support Group needs all the help they can get because they do so much for our fellow Bentonites who have cancer. Those cancer patients also need all the help they can get. Please make an effort to invite just one more person to attend with you as that would double the attendance. See you there.
JOEL OVERHOLSER RESEARCH CENTER
I have some exciting news about the machine that the Center has just acquired. There has always been a Micro Film machine at the Center where you can look for any River Press articles for years back. The problem is when you find your article (you have to know the approximate date) you have to manually copy. I did that very thing a few months ago when I did some research for an article.
I had not been to the Center for two months and went I returned for my one day a week volunteering, I found a new machine that will print the articles for you. For a very long time the Helena Historical Society was the only place that had a copy machine. Great Falls Library now has one but I do not know how long they have had it. Fort Benton is the only small town in the North Central area that can boast about having a printer.
I used it last week with Hank Armstrong’s expert help, to find an article from what we thought was January 1939. As it turned out, the search found it in December, 1938. We were able to print it out for a permanent record. The surprising thing was that Hank, as he was looking for my article, found another on the same page that was of interest to him. It is very fascinating and more so a plus for researchers. I invite you to come to the Center not only to do research on your families but also to see how this modern technology works for the Community and the Research Center. Come see us soon.
I have been urging readers of the River Press to come to the Center with their old pictures. They would be scanned and returned to you immediately. In all this time, no one has come at my request except a few weeks ago Madeline Ragland gave me a very old picture of the Court House. She does not know where it came from or how old it is. The trees are very small and I would judge it to be in the early 1900’s. The important thing is that she did get it to the Center so Hank could preserve it for those who in years to come will appreciate. Please come over soon and look up your family’s history or more importantly add to your family folder. “If you don’t know where you came from, you cannot know where you are going.”
SO LONG FOR NOW
Now that the cold weather is back, be very careful that you do not fall. Just stay put and enjoy a good book. Perhaps a little letter writing would fill your days. I received a hand written letter today and it was such a pleasant surprise. I am afraid though; letter writing is a long lost art.
God bless America.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
View From The Bridge 1/20/10
“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1-20-10
WEB CAM
To Web Cam or not to Web Cam…that is the question. What a great time I have had this past week trying to track down what happened to the camera that once had its home on the Benton Pharmacy Building. I had discovered a few weeks ago that the camera was no longer, where I thought it was, but it now resided up on the hill somewhere between the Shep burial ground and the Signal Point Golf Course in the TV Translator shack.
I had finally found the time to notify my adult children that I would wave to them via Web Cam at the Shep statue at a specific time. I check out the site and find I am looking at Fort Benton town from atop the hill and my kids could not possible see me by the Shep statue.
My second awareness was a letter to the Editor in last weeks River Press, from Sharon (Morrison) Manchester who resides in Las Vegas, NV. and basically would like to have the camera back at the Pharmacy Building. She and many others, as I was soon to find out.
I phoned Sharon and she was a wealth of information about how great the camera was in her life. She checked the site several times a day. She also said that she could watch the Summer Celebration Parades and her friends waved to her from the Shep Statue. (This opens up a whole avenue of the web cam site to those of you who live elsewhere or cannot make it to Front Street for the Parade but there is a trick to doing this.) Since it would cost a fortune and use all of the band width to have the video camera stream the scene live, you would have to click on Refresh and get a new picture every 30 seconds. Sharon could not make her 40th Class Reunion last June but her friends waved to her from their float. Who could ask for anything more?
Another story from Randy Morger in favor of the cam site was at the time he was still living in New Hampshire. One day he brought up the Fort Benton site to show some of his friends where his hometown was located. They were very skeptical so Randy said, “Watch this.” He phoned Roger Axtman at Fort Benton Realty and asked him to walk over to the Shep Statue and wave. Roger complied and the non-believers were amazed. Randy said, “And not only is that my home town, that is my first cousin.”
Still another very amusing story comes from Denny Allen. When he first moved to Fort Benton, after living in southern California for 36 years, he began his landscaping. He hauled loads of a good fertilizer from the Fairgrounds in his truck. His friends at T.R.W. were notified to direct their computers to the Fort Benton Web Cam and he drove up and down Front Street four times before they caught him on the street hauling manure.
You must be wondering what happened to the old camera. Well, it blew up, ceased to function, and in other words was no longer doing what it was supposed to do. Roger Hankins had another inexpensive camera that needed to be covered, unlike the other camera that was outside in all kinds of weather. The covered building up on the hill suited the purpose and there it is. He paid for, maintained the old camera for fifteen years, and is no longer able to accommodate the cost of a new camera.
I also did a survey in the last few days and this is what I found. I interviewed ten (10) people who used their computers for pleasure (is there such a thing when dealing with a computer.) Question: Do you access the Fort Benton web site? Two said occasionally, one said that three of her adult children did, and seven said they did. Question: Do you access the Web Cam? Five answered yes and five were no’s. Question: Did you know that the Web Cam was no longer on the Levee site? Two answered yes and eight answered no (or were told by another person.) Question: Would you like the Web Cam back in its’ original position? There were ten (10) yes answers.
Check the River Press next week for a possible solution to the Web Cam problem. There are a couple of people working on the project and if you have any ideas, pass them along.
CONSORTIUM
It will be just over a week, when you receive your River Press, which the other Performing Arts Board Members from other small communities and the Showcasing performers will arrive in town. Put January 30th on your calendar and spend the whole day enjoying the show. It begins at 9:00 a.m. but arrive at the Elementary School about 8:45 a.m. for the beginning of the program. The doors will be closed when it begins and if you are not in time, you will have to wait for that particular Showcase to end. They are about 15 minutes long and having been to a Consortium before; I know that the schedules are very strict for the performers. The timetable will be adhered to without deviation.
NEXT C.C.P.A.
Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the Fort Benton Elementary Auditorium for the Foothills Brass. This quintet covers every possible kind of music from contemporary classical, country/western, and ballet all in one show. They will keep your toes tapping and humming to some of your favorites like The Entertainer, Darktown Strutter’s Ball, and even Beatles tunes. Please invite everyone you know to attend this and the other C.C.P.A. presentations. This group is fabulous and you will enjoy a wonderful musical evening. Let’s pack that auditorium of all of the 397 seats (I know three are broken on the left side.) Is there someone out there who would like to take on the job of getting the seats repaired?
CANCER FUND RAISER
Two days after the C.C.P.A., February 5th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00, there will be the soup and chili supper followed by the Chairs of Caring Auction. Please make an effort to be there and learn how you can help your neighbors affected by cancer. I have heard through the grape vine that the Chairs of Caring (painted by local artists) are such treasures. If you are one of the lucky ones to bid on and get one of the chairs, you will be the winner in helping a worthy organization. Bring all of your friends. Make it a real community event.
MORE OF THE 1936 ICE FREEZE
This continues Wally’s story of the 1936 winter freeze. Early in March, there was a very unusual rainstorm. The weather had turned warm and the ice began to break up. The rainwater from the Shonkin and Highwood Mts. ran into the creeks and then into the Missouri. There were huge torrents of water rushing down and causing flooding. The ice was breaking up in sixty (60) ft. lengths and as the water brought them down the river, they would go up on end to a height of twenty-five (25) or thirty (30) feet. They would then crash back into the river causing huge waves. There was fear that the ice would demolish the Old Bridge and although some of the chunks did reach the bottom of the bridge, they did not do any damage. It was quite a remarkable sight and the sound of those crashing pillars is still remembered.
Well, that is quite enough to absorb for this week. Enjoy the warmer weather (don’t you love going out without a coat.) Remember our Troops overseas. When I was leaving my surgeon’s office (after final checkup and release,) I met two National Guardsmen. I thanked them for what they were doing and asked if they had yet been deployed. They said that they were getting prepared for their third time departure. I think of those two brave people every day and pray for their safe return. God bless America.
By Muncie
1-20-10
WEB CAM
To Web Cam or not to Web Cam…that is the question. What a great time I have had this past week trying to track down what happened to the camera that once had its home on the Benton Pharmacy Building. I had discovered a few weeks ago that the camera was no longer, where I thought it was, but it now resided up on the hill somewhere between the Shep burial ground and the Signal Point Golf Course in the TV Translator shack.
I had finally found the time to notify my adult children that I would wave to them via Web Cam at the Shep statue at a specific time. I check out the site and find I am looking at Fort Benton town from atop the hill and my kids could not possible see me by the Shep statue.
My second awareness was a letter to the Editor in last weeks River Press, from Sharon (Morrison) Manchester who resides in Las Vegas, NV. and basically would like to have the camera back at the Pharmacy Building. She and many others, as I was soon to find out.
I phoned Sharon and she was a wealth of information about how great the camera was in her life. She checked the site several times a day. She also said that she could watch the Summer Celebration Parades and her friends waved to her from the Shep Statue. (This opens up a whole avenue of the web cam site to those of you who live elsewhere or cannot make it to Front Street for the Parade but there is a trick to doing this.) Since it would cost a fortune and use all of the band width to have the video camera stream the scene live, you would have to click on Refresh and get a new picture every 30 seconds. Sharon could not make her 40th Class Reunion last June but her friends waved to her from their float. Who could ask for anything more?
Another story from Randy Morger in favor of the cam site was at the time he was still living in New Hampshire. One day he brought up the Fort Benton site to show some of his friends where his hometown was located. They were very skeptical so Randy said, “Watch this.” He phoned Roger Axtman at Fort Benton Realty and asked him to walk over to the Shep Statue and wave. Roger complied and the non-believers were amazed. Randy said, “And not only is that my home town, that is my first cousin.”
Still another very amusing story comes from Denny Allen. When he first moved to Fort Benton, after living in southern California for 36 years, he began his landscaping. He hauled loads of a good fertilizer from the Fairgrounds in his truck. His friends at T.R.W. were notified to direct their computers to the Fort Benton Web Cam and he drove up and down Front Street four times before they caught him on the street hauling manure.
You must be wondering what happened to the old camera. Well, it blew up, ceased to function, and in other words was no longer doing what it was supposed to do. Roger Hankins had another inexpensive camera that needed to be covered, unlike the other camera that was outside in all kinds of weather. The covered building up on the hill suited the purpose and there it is. He paid for, maintained the old camera for fifteen years, and is no longer able to accommodate the cost of a new camera.
I also did a survey in the last few days and this is what I found. I interviewed ten (10) people who used their computers for pleasure (is there such a thing when dealing with a computer.) Question: Do you access the Fort Benton web site? Two said occasionally, one said that three of her adult children did, and seven said they did. Question: Do you access the Web Cam? Five answered yes and five were no’s. Question: Did you know that the Web Cam was no longer on the Levee site? Two answered yes and eight answered no (or were told by another person.) Question: Would you like the Web Cam back in its’ original position? There were ten (10) yes answers.
Check the River Press next week for a possible solution to the Web Cam problem. There are a couple of people working on the project and if you have any ideas, pass them along.
CONSORTIUM
It will be just over a week, when you receive your River Press, which the other Performing Arts Board Members from other small communities and the Showcasing performers will arrive in town. Put January 30th on your calendar and spend the whole day enjoying the show. It begins at 9:00 a.m. but arrive at the Elementary School about 8:45 a.m. for the beginning of the program. The doors will be closed when it begins and if you are not in time, you will have to wait for that particular Showcase to end. They are about 15 minutes long and having been to a Consortium before; I know that the schedules are very strict for the performers. The timetable will be adhered to without deviation.
NEXT C.C.P.A.
Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the Fort Benton Elementary Auditorium for the Foothills Brass. This quintet covers every possible kind of music from contemporary classical, country/western, and ballet all in one show. They will keep your toes tapping and humming to some of your favorites like The Entertainer, Darktown Strutter’s Ball, and even Beatles tunes. Please invite everyone you know to attend this and the other C.C.P.A. presentations. This group is fabulous and you will enjoy a wonderful musical evening. Let’s pack that auditorium of all of the 397 seats (I know three are broken on the left side.) Is there someone out there who would like to take on the job of getting the seats repaired?
CANCER FUND RAISER
Two days after the C.C.P.A., February 5th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00, there will be the soup and chili supper followed by the Chairs of Caring Auction. Please make an effort to be there and learn how you can help your neighbors affected by cancer. I have heard through the grape vine that the Chairs of Caring (painted by local artists) are such treasures. If you are one of the lucky ones to bid on and get one of the chairs, you will be the winner in helping a worthy organization. Bring all of your friends. Make it a real community event.
MORE OF THE 1936 ICE FREEZE
This continues Wally’s story of the 1936 winter freeze. Early in March, there was a very unusual rainstorm. The weather had turned warm and the ice began to break up. The rainwater from the Shonkin and Highwood Mts. ran into the creeks and then into the Missouri. There were huge torrents of water rushing down and causing flooding. The ice was breaking up in sixty (60) ft. lengths and as the water brought them down the river, they would go up on end to a height of twenty-five (25) or thirty (30) feet. They would then crash back into the river causing huge waves. There was fear that the ice would demolish the Old Bridge and although some of the chunks did reach the bottom of the bridge, they did not do any damage. It was quite a remarkable sight and the sound of those crashing pillars is still remembered.
Well, that is quite enough to absorb for this week. Enjoy the warmer weather (don’t you love going out without a coat.) Remember our Troops overseas. When I was leaving my surgeon’s office (after final checkup and release,) I met two National Guardsmen. I thanked them for what they were doing and asked if they had yet been deployed. They said that they were getting prepared for their third time departure. I think of those two brave people every day and pray for their safe return. God bless America.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
View From The Bridge 1/13/2010
“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1-13-10
THE WEATHER AGAIN
Ho-hum! What else is there to write or talk about these days except the weather? It took the Chinook a while to get to Fort Benton but when it did, it came in like Gang Buster’s (only we seniors would know the term Gang Buster’s.) On Friday morning about 9:00 a.m., Kim Pimperton left her home in Carter at 17 degrees above zero. When she pulled up in front of the Mini-Mall, (my name for the Bumgarner’s building) the temperature was -17 below. On Saturday at 9:00 a.m., our thermometer registered 11 degrees. Two hours later, it was 44 degrees. There were many telephone conversations about that one. I am sure that you readers have temperature stories and I would like to hear about them.
I hear stories from my Sweetheart about the time in February of 1936 when the temperature never reached above -20 below zero for 10 days. The temperature during that particular day was above 50 degrees and the kids were running around without the benefit of coats, hats, or gloves. During the night the temperature fell so quickly that the Missouri River froze over as smooth as any ice skating rink could ever be. On the other side of the River, the ice was so clear that you could see fish swimming below 10 to 12 inches of ice.
That was the year that the Ice Houses in Fort Benton made out financially. They cut the blocks of clear ice from the River and stored it in sawdust for the following summer. It was a bonanza because that was the year of the Boat Race and those ice blocks were much in demand during the celebration.
Here are more stories about the fun that the kids had when the freeze was winding down, it warmed somewhat, and the wind began to blow. They not only had this beautiful ice skating pond but the sledding was great fun too. They usually sledded down to the bluffs by the Fairgrounds, would take their coats off, and use them as kites of a sort. They would sail down the river, under the Old Bridge and stop about where the Price Rite is now. With their endless energy and stamina, they would do this repeatedly. This freak of nature has never happened again as far as it is known. Can you picture it in your mind?
Another fun sport to do was skiing. Skis were purchased at the Palmer Hardware store or from the Sears or Wards catalogs. If you were lucky enough to have a pair of skis, you guarded them very carefully. If you broke your skis, it cost all of $5.00 to replace them. Skiing was done on Tank Hill or North Hill. There was, as there is today, a lot of competition amongst the boys. You were considered an expert if you could ski down North Hill. There were no fees, no ski lifts, and no experts to give lessons. Just another of those “Good Old Days” that the old folks talk about (often.) The old folks seem to remember a lot more snow in those days of the 30’s and 40’s.
PERFORMING ARTS CONSORTIUM
Even though the Consortium is a three day event, the public can only attend on Saturday, the 30th. That is just 2 ½ weeks away that gives you plenty of time to put it on your calendar and make plans to be at the Elementary School at 9:00 when the first showcase begins. You do not have to be there at 9:00 a.m. as you can come in any time during the day. My opinion is that when you hear them all, you can form your own opinions on those you would prefer to see a whole evening’s performance. It truly is a day of great entertainment and you deserve a day off occasionally. Hope to see you there. Oh, remember…there is no charge. What a bargain.
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW
Although this week (January 10th through the 16th) is filled with things to do and places to go, next weeks calendar has not yet been filled. There is not much going on and not much to report about. So, enjoy this warmer weather, keep busy, and keep smiling. In spite of the war, the economy, and the unpredictable weather, we have so many things of which to be thankful. Remember our Troops in your everyday thoughts and prayers. Let’s do everything in our power to keep God where He belongs.
By Muncie
1-13-10
THE WEATHER AGAIN
Ho-hum! What else is there to write or talk about these days except the weather? It took the Chinook a while to get to Fort Benton but when it did, it came in like Gang Buster’s (only we seniors would know the term Gang Buster’s.) On Friday morning about 9:00 a.m., Kim Pimperton left her home in Carter at 17 degrees above zero. When she pulled up in front of the Mini-Mall, (my name for the Bumgarner’s building) the temperature was -17 below. On Saturday at 9:00 a.m., our thermometer registered 11 degrees. Two hours later, it was 44 degrees. There were many telephone conversations about that one. I am sure that you readers have temperature stories and I would like to hear about them.
I hear stories from my Sweetheart about the time in February of 1936 when the temperature never reached above -20 below zero for 10 days. The temperature during that particular day was above 50 degrees and the kids were running around without the benefit of coats, hats, or gloves. During the night the temperature fell so quickly that the Missouri River froze over as smooth as any ice skating rink could ever be. On the other side of the River, the ice was so clear that you could see fish swimming below 10 to 12 inches of ice.
That was the year that the Ice Houses in Fort Benton made out financially. They cut the blocks of clear ice from the River and stored it in sawdust for the following summer. It was a bonanza because that was the year of the Boat Race and those ice blocks were much in demand during the celebration.
Here are more stories about the fun that the kids had when the freeze was winding down, it warmed somewhat, and the wind began to blow. They not only had this beautiful ice skating pond but the sledding was great fun too. They usually sledded down to the bluffs by the Fairgrounds, would take their coats off, and use them as kites of a sort. They would sail down the river, under the Old Bridge and stop about where the Price Rite is now. With their endless energy and stamina, they would do this repeatedly. This freak of nature has never happened again as far as it is known. Can you picture it in your mind?
Another fun sport to do was skiing. Skis were purchased at the Palmer Hardware store or from the Sears or Wards catalogs. If you were lucky enough to have a pair of skis, you guarded them very carefully. If you broke your skis, it cost all of $5.00 to replace them. Skiing was done on Tank Hill or North Hill. There was, as there is today, a lot of competition amongst the boys. You were considered an expert if you could ski down North Hill. There were no fees, no ski lifts, and no experts to give lessons. Just another of those “Good Old Days” that the old folks talk about (often.) The old folks seem to remember a lot more snow in those days of the 30’s and 40’s.
PERFORMING ARTS CONSORTIUM
Even though the Consortium is a three day event, the public can only attend on Saturday, the 30th. That is just 2 ½ weeks away that gives you plenty of time to put it on your calendar and make plans to be at the Elementary School at 9:00 when the first showcase begins. You do not have to be there at 9:00 a.m. as you can come in any time during the day. My opinion is that when you hear them all, you can form your own opinions on those you would prefer to see a whole evening’s performance. It truly is a day of great entertainment and you deserve a day off occasionally. Hope to see you there. Oh, remember…there is no charge. What a bargain.
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW
Although this week (January 10th through the 16th) is filled with things to do and places to go, next weeks calendar has not yet been filled. There is not much going on and not much to report about. So, enjoy this warmer weather, keep busy, and keep smiling. In spite of the war, the economy, and the unpredictable weather, we have so many things of which to be thankful. Remember our Troops in your everyday thoughts and prayers. Let’s do everything in our power to keep God where He belongs.
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