View From The Bridge 11/1/17

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Muncie
11/1/17

NOVEMBER MOON
This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.

So… get into those closets and drag out those winter coats, jackets, gloves and hats. Be sure and cover your heads as that will keep you warmer.

The full moon is on Saturday the 5th this month. I hope that we are able to see it. On that same Saturday night set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed. You can either go to bed an hour later or get an extra hour of sleep. Don’t forget because you don’t want to be late for Church.

I decided a few years ago that I have some clocks with batteries and are too difficult to change. I just do not change them any longer and have grown use to knowing that are an hour off. My electric weather stations, computer, and land/cell phones are changed for me…thank goodness. They are way too smart for me.

RECTORY TRAIL
I received an early morning phone call a week ago Monday to tell me that there was some activity at the end of the Rectory Trail. (Remember there has been no activity for 3 weeks.) When I drove to the site I asked for the Boss Man and was directed to one of the brothers of the company who own the moving company. He was very co-operative in talking with me and was very proud of the job they had accomplished.

On Tuesday morning I again received a call that the building was being moved over the excavation. I did not get there in time to see the final phase. I regret not seeing it as that was what it was all about for the final end of the trail. It was explained to me earlier just how that step would be done and an exciting time for my friend Judy who watched the whole show.

The Boss said that they would be moving the building into position and a local company would be doing the foundation. His job would be finished and they would be out of town on Friday.

They were a very pleasant crew and frequented our eating establishment every day.

So the Rectory sits up high again and I have no knowledge of when the foundation will be done. It is a waiting game for me and I check around the block from where I live on any further activity. I have a feeling that old house will be happy to be settled and having someone living in it.

And so the Rectory Trail has come to an end much more quickly than any other. I would like to think that my rendition of the move was some sort of a journal. Perhaps there is someone who has a better record and kept a journal. If so, I would like to read it. Let me know.

Thanks again to Rodger Fultz for saving an old building. On my wish list is that all of our old buildings can be saved. There isn’t much I can do about it, but I can still “Wish Upon A Star.”

SHEP
I have wanted to write and share about this subject since Summer Celebration. I went to the Golden Age Senior Center one day and when I found that there were no parking space on that side of Front St. I made a U-turn and parked right in front of Shep. I walked around the courtyard and I am still in awe of what I saw. I knew that the whole statue area had been redone because of cracks in the cement.

I was totally taken back when I examined the site. The Community Improvement Association did a fabulous job. I am not sure about materials but it looks as though those new kinds of boards that are used on porches and decks replaced the cement work. All the bricks were replaced in order and for some reason Shep looks larger to me. It is a magnificent structure and it is one of the most looked at since the anniversary year was celebrated this year. If you have not yet seen the Courtyard, stop by and enjoy.

Thank you C.I.A. for a most precious job ever about Shep. 

SPAGHETTI DINNER
Remember “Spaghetti with Mark and Betty “fund raiser on Friday the 3rd from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
Mark your December calendar about Chouteau County Country Christmas. It will take place on December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Loma Hall will have their dance on Friday evening, craft vendors, entertainment, and food on Saturday at the Montana Agricultural Center and the Christmas Concert on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at the Fort Benton Elementary School. There is so much more going on so check your River Press for the schedules. 

I love Country Christmas because everyone is in such a happy mood.  Holidays always are. I wish it would last from one Christmas to another. That spirit is such a lovely one. It’s all about family and friends.

Then we have New Year’s to deal with. The wonderings about what will happen in 2018 will be on our minds. I will follow good advice given me to “just go from day to day.” I have a framed counted cross stitch that says. “I wonder what it was that I worried about a year ago.” Do you remember?

CHARLIE RUSSELL
I had another OOPS when I reported about the premier showing of this film. I said that it was produced by Ken Burns and this was the oops. (Ken Robison, our local historian, was the one who caught this error.) PBS produced it and it is going to be shown on November 13th, 14th, and 15th. It is a 3 part film. Check your TV schedules for times. Don’t miss it.

FUND RAISERS
I would like to tell you about the three fund raisers that I attended last week but I am running late with this View and also have enough words for this week.

I am running late because I spent all day yesterday (Monday) with the CCPA show. That is on the agenda for next week too. Hope that I saw you at all of these events.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, PLLICE OFFIERS, FIREMEN, FIRE FIGHTERS, AND EMT’S.

View From The Bridge
By Muncie Morger
5-6-09

AROUND TOWN
Well, do you think that spring has finally arrived? Most of our family went “rock hunting” today (Sunday) and were greeted with a remarkable sight. Traveling out of town on the Chester road, the top ridges on the right were snow covered. On the way back from Loma, turning on the Airport entrance, we saw more snow on the Highwood’s than we remembered seeing all winter. It was a beautiful sight and as Murphy’s Law would have it, my camera broke last week.

Visitors have been walking up and down the Levee for several weeks (except Tuesday and Wednesday last). Traveling up or down Front Street there always seems to be people around Shep. That story is still alive and many Visitors come to Fort Benton (not knowing all the other attractions we have), just to visit the Shep Memorial and his burial place.

SUMMER CELEBRATION
If you have not heard any of what is happening at Summer Celebration here is a little scoop. The Celebration this coming June is going to feature the IRISH (if you are not Irish, and do not have even the smallest amount of Irish blood) then you are what are called “Want-A-Bees). There will be Irish music, Irish dancing, Irish t-shirts, and the dedication of the Meagher statue in front of the Baker House where he had his last meal. Be sure to talk it up with all your family and friends.

Video Courtesy of Fort Benton Chamber of Commerce

CEMENT BENCH & TABLE PROGRAM
If you have thought about or planned to purchase a cement bench or table to be placed this spring and summer, then give me a call this week. The order is ready to be called in but I will wait one more week as I have not mentioned a deadline before. Thinking about doing outdoor projects with the weather we have been having is like thinking of planting your garden or flowers. This coming week is going to be a perfect time to get plans rolling. Give me a call at 622-3217.

PAST EVENTS
To all the participants in last Saturdays performance of the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of Hansel and Gretel…bravo. You were all the best actors and actors and all the talk afterward was about the effort that you all put into the practices and the performance itself. We know that you had two hours of practice after school and how hard that must have been for the lst, 2nd, and 3rd graders. Please know that you brought a lot of pride and joy to the audience and especially to your parents and grandparents. We had a group of children sitting in front of us and it was a show in itself watching them. They were so excited and reacted to all the characters as they came on stage. What a great experience for everyone. We have never missed one of these performances and they get better and better each time the Theatre comes to Fort Benton. We will look forward to the next time.

UPCOMING EVENTS
On Tuesday, May 12, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ag Center in the Old Barn, will be featured Four Shillings Short. You will not only be entertained but you will see the recent renovation of another building in the Old Village.

On Thursday, May 14, at 7:30 at the Grand Union Hotel, Chouteau County Performing Arts will present Piatigorsky Foundations artists. Soprano Raquila Sheeran and Pianist David Shimoni are both alumni of Juilliard so you will hear the best of Classical Music.

Friends of the Library meet on Wednesday the 13th at 11:30 a.m. this month because it is the spring luncheon with Russell Rowland as the guest speaker.

Fort Benton Woman’s Club meets on Thursday the 14th at noon.

“Pie Day is Friday” the 15th at the Golden Age Senior Center at 10:00 a.m. until the pie is gone (I just made that up). I am not sure how long the pie is served but come with your friends for a social hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. It does not hurt a bit to see a lot of your friends after being house-bound so much this past winter.

On Saturday the 16th a group of thirty Antique Car owners from the Absarokee area are coming to Fort Benton for a special visit to the Museums and the Fort. They will also preview their automobiles at a yet undecided location for your pleasure. The autos are from 1933 to l953 vintage. Gosh, there never seem to be any autos from my birth-date. I guess, like myself, they cannot be restored.

OTHER NEWS
I did receive three stories from readers this past week and I am very elated to fill this column with interesting news. The first one was about Four Shillings Short, the second about the Antique Cars and the third was about the Dedman Foundation. A very faithful volunteer asked that I relate how the Dedman needs adoptive families immediately. They are over-run with animals and all those animals need to be feed and cared for. It must have something to do with the economy and needing to take care of self and family first. If you can see it in your heart and pocket book to take a trip to the Dedman, you are sure to find a small (or large) something to take care of and to love. Let us see how many takers they might get from this column. It is a desperate situation and so if you have even a one small thought about adopting…do it now. One more thought…a donation would be a tremendous help…do it now.

THE END
This week I have been thinking all week about “Don’t blink.” I am sure that you all understand that I mean if you blink it may be next week, next year or that time is up. Time goes so quickly and if you 20 and 30 years olds think it goes fast for you, wait until you are 60 and 70. You look back and think what I did with my life. I hope that you all did well and that you have no regrets. If you do then it is not too late to change them. (I did not really make all of this up…I read it in a book but thought I would pass it along.) Have a wonderful week.