April 2013 Montana Best Times

MONTANA

April 2013

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

Actor

Set builder Director
Trivia Night! The Compassionate Friends Bridge is big in small town

World Famous
Bucking Horse Sale
May 16, 17, 18 & 19, 2013

Miles City, Montana
JOIN US FOR HORSE RACING!!!
SUNDAY, MAY 12 • MOTHER'S DAY Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing, Fairgrounds...........................1 p.m.
MOM GETS IN FREE!! Range Riders Museum Breakfast………………………….6 a.m. Sheep Shearing Contest - AgriSports Center……9 a.m.-2 p.m. BHS Parade, Main Street..............................................9:30 a.m. BHS Trade Show, Fairgrounds.............................12 noon-7 p.m. BHS Pari-mutuel Horse Racing, Fairgrounds...........1 p.m. BHS Grand Entry, Fairgrounds......................................1:15 p.m. Bucking Horse Sale Featuring: Saddle Bronc, Bareback Riding & Wild Horse Race Street Dance, Main Street......................................8:30-1:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Steak Fry, Fairgrounds.........................................................5:30 p.m. Concert Night, Bandstand……......................................………5:30 p.m. Opening Band - The Copper Mountain Band………..........6:30 p.m. Jarrod Niemann in Concert.......................................................8 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

BHS Trade Show, Fairgrounds.........................................…4-9 p.m. Bucking Bull Sale……………………….......………………… 5:30 p.m. Mutton Bustin ……….......…………………………………….......6 p.m Wild Horse Race..................................................................7 p.m. Street Dance, Main Street............................................8:30-1:30 a.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 17

BHS Trade Show, Fairgrounds.......................................11-5 p.m. Matched Bronc Riding, Fairgrounds............................12:30 p.m. BHS Pari-mutuel Horse Racing, Fairgrounds........12 noon Wild Horse Race..............................................................6 p.m.
Partial Schedule of Events - Subject to Change

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Jerrod Niemann 8 p.m. Thurs. May 16, 2013

opper The C Band in Mounta

Website: buckinghorsesale.com

ADVANCED TICKETS 234-2890 • 874-BUCK
email: [email protected]
(No Coolers Allowed) Reserve seating on Saturday & Sunday

April 2013

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Opinion.....................................................Page 4 Savvy Senior.............................................Page 5 Bookshelf..................................................Page 9 Travel........................................................Page 14 Health........................................................Page 18

INSIDE

Volunteering..............................................Page 19 On the Menu.............................................Page 20 Calendar....................................................Page 21 Strange But True.......................................Page 22

News Lite
Treasure hunt prompts bomb scare
ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — A Utah bomb squad thought a package marked “Army” was suspicious, but it was just part of an elaborate plan by a guy trying to ask a girl to a dance. St. George police rushed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple after the package was placed near a gazebo. Surrounding streets were closed as a precaution. The investigation ended, however, when officers were told the package was part of a treasure hunt, and contained candy and a note asking a girl to a dance. the driver lost control afternoon on a driveway in an area where homes are arrayed on a steep hillside. The vehicle ended up on the roof of the next house down the hill. Riley says the driver reported he had a mechanical failure. The driver, his wife and the resident of the neighboring home were unharmed. A crane was brought in to lift the car from the roof, which had minor damage.

Thieves target Maine trees for sap

Car ends up on neighbor’s roof

GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California man’s car ended up on his neighbor’s roof in an unusual accident over the weekend. Glendale police Sgt. Sean Riley tells City News Service that

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Thieves are illegally tapping maple trees on private property in Maine and stealing sap that is used to make maple syrup. Forest Ranger Jeff Currier says the Maine Forest Service has gotten a dozen complaints from landowners finding taps in their trees with buckets or jugs underneath to collect the sap. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a gallon of Maine syrup has sold for about $50 a gallon on average at retail in recent years.

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April 2013 —3

13.NW New W Senior Montan 3.1.13 AD: KM 7.25x4. 4 color

Opinion

Every day when I come home from work in Livingston, I stop by my mailbox to see what’s in it. Anymore, I don’t know why I do. Twenty years ago, I might have found mostly warm letters or packages from friends and family, and a little junk mail. But today, about all I find is cold junk mail — advertising circulars, rants from politicians, bills, credit card applications (“You are already approved!!”) catalogs of all shapes and sizes, brochures pitching hearing aids and, with a prospective college student in our home, slick mailings from colleges and universities. Instead of warm reminders of my connection to friends and family, I get reminders of how much paper we waste, of how I’m getting older, and how much money we’ll have to spend when our kid goes to college. With the advent of Internet and all its many tentacles, it’s pretty obvious the U.S. Postal Service has been struggling — to the point it seems to be majoring in junk mail to make a profit. And

Can the good old U.S. Postal Service adapt?

this summer, to cut costs, it’s dropping Saturday deliveries. I’ve got news for folks longing for the good old Postal Service days: As electronic communication becomes even more pervasive, it’s going to get worse for the Post Office. Companies have even developed printers that can print some three-dimensional objects from the Internet, which could cut into the Postal Service package business even further. The Postal Service is trying to adapt, but it better kick adaptation to modern times into super-high gear if it wants to continue to exist. It’s done it before. It adapted from carrying mail by hand to the Pony Express; from the Pony Express to trains; and from trains to trucks and airplanes. Maybe it can do it again in this world of bits and bytes. For a venerable institution like the U.S. Postal Service, it would be nice to see it pull it off. — Dwight Harriman Montana Best Times editor
Frank Perea, Publisher Dwight Harriman, Editor Tom Parisella, Designer

P.O. Box 2000, 401 S. Main St., Livingston MT 59047 Tel. (406) 222-2000 or toll-free (800) 345-8412 • Fax: (406) 222-8580 E-mail: [email protected] • Web: montanabesttimes.com Subscription rate: $25/yr. Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana

April 2013

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Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated “Savvy Senior” information column, is a longtime advocate of senior issues. He has been featured in Time magazine; is author of “The Savvy Senior: The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and Finances for Senior Citizens”; and is a regular contributor to the NBC “Today” show.

Looking for Love and Companionship Online
Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about online dating for older people? My daughter has been urging me to give it a try, but at age 62, I’m a little hesitant. – Lonely Senior Dear Lonely, Dating sites have become enormously popular among the older generation in recent years. In fact, boomers and seniors make up about 20 percent of online daters today, and the numbers keep growing. Here’s what you should know.   MyPet.com for animal lovers, VeggieDate.org for vegetarians, JDate.com for Jewish singles, BlackPeopleMeet.com for African Americans, and ChristianMingle.com whose slogan is “Find God’s Match for You.” Or, check out AARP’s new dating website partner HowAboutWe.com.   Create a profile: When you join a dating site you’ll need to create a personality profile that reflects who you are including recent photos, hobbies, interests, favorite activities and more. If you need some help, sites like eFlirtExpert.com or VirtualDatingAssistants.com can write one for you for a fee.      Use caution: When you register with a dating site you remain anonymous. No one gets access to your full name, address, phone number or email until you decide to give it out. So be very prudent who you give your information to, and before meeting, chat on the phone a few times or video chat online, and when you do meet in person for the first time, meet in a public place or bring a friend along. If you want to be extra cautious, you can do a quick background check on your date for a few dollars at sites like valimate.com and mymatchchecker. com.   Don’t be naive: In an effort to get more responses, many people will exaggerate or flat out lie in their profiles, or post pictures that are 10 years old or 20 pounds lighter. So don’t believe everything you see or read.   Make an effort: A lot of times, people — especially women — sit back and let others come to them. Don’t be afraid to make the first move. When you find someone you like, send a short note that says, “I really enjoyed your profile. I think we have some things in common.” Keep it simple.   Don’t get discouraged: If you don’t get a response from someone, don’t let it bother you. Just move on. There are many others that will be interested in you and it only takes one person to make Internet dating worthwhile.   Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. April 2013 —5

»»Meeting online

If you’re interested in dating again or are just looking for a friend to spend time with, dating websites are an easy way to meet hundreds of new single people without ever having to leave home.   If you’re feeling hesitant, a good way to ease into it is to visit a few dating sites and look around. Most services allow you to check out their members at no cost or obligation. Then, if you like what you see, you can sign up (fees typically range between $15 and $60 per month, however some sites are free) and start emailing members you’re interested in or they can email you. Here are some other tips to help you get started.   Choose a site: With over 1,000 matchmaking sites on the Internet today, choosing can be a bit overwhelming. Depending on your preferences here are some popular options to look into.   If you don’t want to spend any money, free sites like PlentyofFish. com and OKCupid.com are good places to start, but beware that these sites have a lot of ads.   If you’re interested lots of choices, consider mainstream sites like Match.com and eHarmony.com which have huge memberships in all demographics.    Or, if you are looking to find a specific type of person, there are hundreds of niche sites like OurTime.com and SeniorPeopleMeet. com for those 50 and older, Alikewise.com for book lovers, Date-

Set builder ActorDirector
Theater lover is passionate about his craft

Above: Tim Williams, right, renovation project manager at Livingston’s Shane Center, checks out the work of volunteer set builder and designer Larry Raffety in the workshop behind the stage at the center, March 15. The two were working on the set design for the “The Sound of Music.” Cover: Williams stands in the workshop at the Shane Center.

MT Best Times photos by Shawn Raecke

By Rose Boyer Montana Best Times
LIVINGSTON — In a town like Livingston, with two community theaters, people are lucky to have the opportunity to dabble in the arts, auditioning for a play or helping to build a set every once in a while. What many first-time auditioners don’t realize, however, is that once some people get their first taste of theater, they might get hooked. Livingston native Tim Williams is one April 2013 —6

of those people. The 61-year old actor, director and setbuilder accidentally auditioned for a play in 1985, and the theater world hasn’t let go of him since.

Early fascination

Williams’ appetite for artistic expression was clear from a young age. The first time he saw Jon Gnagy’s “Learn to Draw” on TV — a popular but shortlived 1950s syndicated series of charcoal drawing demonstrations — young Wil-

liams was fascinated. Seeing a passion there, his mother ordered a big art set from the program with oil paints and watercolors, and Williams’ obsession with art began. Most local art at that time was western art, but Williams remembers learning about artists like Gauguin, Matisse and Picasso in his seventh-grade art class with teacher Jim Woodhull. Realizing “you don’t have to make art that represents cowboys and Indians” opened a new door in his creative life, Williams said.

Williams has been involved in producing more than 40 plays, and he is just as hooked on theater now as he was in the beginning.
Williams paints the set of the Shane Center’s production of “the Sound of Music,” March 15. But rather than pursue art as a career, Williams’ practical side led him to a job at the railroad. For 15 years after high school he worked the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift as an electrician in the shops. During this time, he yearned to do something more artistic but never had time, and soon he had a wife and son to support. theater, Williams said, is getting to collaborate with other artistic people. He has always gravitated towards other artists, he said. What defines an artistic type? “Not being concerned with worldly things or material things necessarily ... The artist or musician says, ‘The first thing I want to get is an instrument.’ You’re driven compulsively to that,” Williams said. Williams, who says he can’t imagine retiring, gets up every morning already planning what he is going to do. And he is proud of his work. “There is just this incredible creative supportive energy that is the Shane Center,” he said. Producing a play teaches everyone involved how to be a part of a group effort to tell a story. As a group, you set the audience up to step into another world, he said. Williams has been involved in producing more than 40 plays, and he is just as hooked on theater now as he was in the beginning. At the end of his most recent production, “Grapes of Wrath,” Williams chose not to take a bow with his cast even though he did make a few appearances in the play. Instead, he kept out of sight back stage and listened to the audience applaud. “It’s very rewarding,” he said. “I get all teary… but don’t tell anyone I told you that.” Rose Boyer can be reached at rboyer@ livingstonenterprise.com or (406) 2222000. April 2013

Actor, set builder, director

Cutting loose

Then, at 34 years old, he quit his railroad job.“I didn’t know where life was going,” he said. “ I just knew I was tired of that.” It wasn’t long before he found a job in construction, which allowed for more creative expression in his work and also gave him free time in the evenings so he could get involved at the Blue Slipper Theatre, a small community theater. He volunteered to help build a set for a production of “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” by Neil Simon. But the director, Mike Art, was short an actor, so Williams got roped into his first on stage experience. At first, acting didn’t come naturally. Williams felt self-conscious about being anyone other than himself. Then, one night in rehearsal, he started clowning around and suddenly decided to “just cut loose.” Art told him, “That was fabulous,” and he replied, “Oh, so that’s what you want me to do,” Williams recalled. “It got to be really a lot of fun from there,” Williams said.

Williams kept on acting in plays and working on sets at the Slipper. In 1986 he directed his first play, “Social Security” by Andrew Bergman. Why start directing when he had only recently begun acting? “I just wanted to make a play,” Williams said. “Nobody else wanted to do it.” He finally had an outlet for his compulsion to create. Williams went on to direct at least 20 plays at the Blue Slipper Theatre. Between 1998 and 2001, he served as the artistic director at the venue. After 2000, Williams also began working on sets and acting in musicals at what was then called the Firehouse 5 Theater. In 2009, when Crazy Mountain Productions decided to move their operation to the historic East Side School, which is now the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts, Williams was hired as renovation project manager. Combining his experience in construction with his passion for theater, Williams now works full time to convert the old school building into a center for the arts. He also designs and builds sets for all of the plays. And, of course, he still finds time to act and direct. This winter at Shane Center, he directed “Grapes of Wrath,” a play based on the book by John Steinbeck.

Artistic energy

One of the best things about working in

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How to watch TV ... without a TV
By Austin O’Connor AARP Media/MCT
From its infancy as a space-hogging console delivering grainy black-and-white images, through today’s razor-thin screens projecting high-definition video, the television — and the array of programming it delivers — has become a fixture in the American home. Now, however, you can watch almost everything on TV without a TV. And sometimes, with computers, tablets and smartphones, you can watch more than what’s on TV. This season, for example, Kevin Spacey’s “House of Cards” aired only on Netflix, not on any broadcast or cable network. Downsizing — perhaps from a large family home to a retirement condo — is one good reason to shed that big screen in favor of a computer monitor. But cost savings is the biggest benefit to ditching your TV — and for those living on a fixed income, keeping the entertainment budget in line is a plus. The average monthly bill for basic cable in the U.S. was $86 in 2011 and analysts say that will rise to nearly $200 by the end of this decade. Of course, to watch online you need a connection through an ISP or data provider. Monthly high-speed plans can be purchased for as little as $10 a month, depending on the speed and data you require. But many online viewing options are free, and even the fee-based options cost far less than a monthly cable bill. For the most part, it’s entertainment programming that is easy and cheap to get on computers and mobile devices. News and live sporting events are another matter. Channels such as CNN and ESPN — and many other cable networks, including premium channels such as HBO and Showtime — can be viewed online and on mobile only by cable subscribers. But for sports fans there are some a la carte options. Many leagues, including Major League Baseball and the NBA, offer subscription packages for online viewing all games during the season. These packages sound pricey — MLB.TV’s package, for example, is $129.99 per season. Still, that’s far less than seven months’ worth of cable bills. Here’s what’s available: nightly newscasts, morning shows, specials and lots of classic programming like “The A-Team” (at nbc.com) and “I Love Lucy” (at cbs.com).

HULU: Hulu.com is a joint venture between the broadcast networks (excluding CBS). Think of it as a viewing hub, offering network shows, plus content from a roster of cable channels including USA, AMC and the Turner channels. Hulu is trying original content as well, and has exclusive U.S. rights to several foreign hits such as Israel’s “Prisoners of War,” on which “Homeland” was based. A limited backlog of recently aired episodes of each show is available for free, but can be seen on a computer only, not mobile devices. The site has a pay option, Hulu Plus, explained below.

For a Fee

HULU PLUS: The pay version of Hulu costs $7.99 a month and offers access to a more expansive selection of series episodes (including full seasons of some shows). Subscribers can also watch all Hulu content on tablets and smartphones. NETFLIX: For $7.99 per month, subscribers can watch any of
the service’s streaming content on computers or mobile device. Netflix offers a growing inventory of TV shows, but, for now at least, its catalog of current shows only includes their past seasons. “House of Cards,” one of the first Netflix original series, may offer a glimpse at TV’s future. The show is available only on Netflix, and all 13 episodes of its first season were made available at once, catering to so-called binge viewers. In May, Netflix will use the same model for its revival of the comedy “Arrested Development.”

NETWORK WEBSITES: The four broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX — offer most of their shows for free on their websites. Some networks don’t offer the most recent episode for a short time after it airs, but, typically, from three to five recent episodes of each show are available, and you can watch on your laptop, tablet or smartphone. You’ll have to sit through a few ads — not as many as during a typical prime-time telecast — but you can watch just about any network show online, including
April 2013 —8

ITUNES AND GOOGLE PLAY: Both online portals offer just about everything on TV on an a la carte basis. You can buy, at about $2 per episode, individual episodes or full seasons of currently airing shows, plus a huge catalog of older programs. iTunes purchases can be viewed on a computer or iOS-compatible device; Google Play works on computers and Android devices. AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO: Amazon’s instant streaming

See TV, Page 13

Bookshelf

“Uncovering History: Archaeological Investigations at the Little Bighorn” By Douglas D. Scott University of Oklahoma Press - April 2013 Hardcover • $32.95 • 272 pages • 6” x 9” ISBN 978-0-8061-4350-7

By Montana Best Times Staff

Exploring a legendary battle site from the ground up
or care are just relics, curiosities that arouse romantic imagination, according to the release. When investigators recover these artifacts in a systematic manner, though, these items become a valuable source of clues for reconstructing battle events. In the book, author Douglas D. Scott describes how detailed analysis of specific detritus at the Little Bighorn — such as cartridge cases, fragments of camping equipment and clothing, and skeletal remains have allowed researchers to reconstruct and reinterpret the history of the conflict. In the process, he demonstrates how major advances in technology, such as metal detection and GPS, have expanded the capabilities of battlefield archaeologists to uncover new evidence and analyze it with greater accuracy. Through his broad survey of Little Bighorn archaeology across a span of 130 years, Scott expands our understanding of the battle, its protagonists, and the enduring legacy of the battlefield as a national memorial, the release says. Douglas D. Scott is retired as supervisory archaeologist, Midwest Archeological Center, National Park Service. Widely known as an expert on military archaeology, he is the author or co-author of numerous publications, including “Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn” and “They Died with Custer: Soldiers’ Bones from the Battle of the Little Bighorn.” April 2013 —9

While the world might have an endless fascination with the Titanic (see the travel piece on page 14 of this issue of Montana Best Times), Montanans have an enduring fascination with the Battle of the Little Bighorn. This book will feed that interest, but from the point of view of archaeology and science. Almost as soon as the last shot was fired in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the battlefield became an archaeological site, says a University of Oklahoma Press news release on a brandnew book by Douglas D. Scott it published just this month, “Uncovering History: Archaeological Investigations at the Little Bighorn.” For many years afterward, as fascination with the famed 1876 fight intensified, visitors to the area scavenged the many relics left behind. It took decades, however, before researchers began to tease information from the battle’s debris — and the new field of battlefield archaeology began to emerge. In “Uncovering History,” Scott, a renowned archaeologist, offers a comprehensive account of investigations at the Little Bighorn, from the earliest collecting efforts to early-20th-century findings. Artifacts found on a field of battle and removed without context

Trivia Night

50-plussers bring enviable team depth to knowledge competition

It really is good to have a mix of people — everyone knows one or two things other teammates may not.
– Sonja Woods, Miles City Public Library executive director
By Don Cogger Montana Best Times
the age gamut from early 20s to a few in their 80s, creating an eclectic mix of competitors eager to get the game under way. even if they don’t have a team — just register and join a team. Trivia questions are selected randomly the evening of competition. The winning team gets bragging rights for a year and a special gift from the library. What makes Trivia Night so popular, according to library Children’s Services Director Hannah Nash, is the appeal to all ages, especially the senior crowd. “Bragging rights is a big deal, of course,” Nash said. “But the library will also fork out a brick engraved with the team name and its members for the winning team.”

MILES CITY — Decked out in an Atlanta Braves baseball jersey, Sue Miles, a member of the Sports Fans team, readied herself for battle. Her husband Tim, sporting a Joe Namath New York Jets throwback jersey, sat to her left, keeping the mood light before game time officially began. Part of a 10-member team, the Miles represented the old guard, the individuals the rest of the team would turn to for difficult answers and sage advice. At neighboring tables, other teams ran

What it’s about

And what gathering could bring together such a variety of participants? The annual Trivia Night fundraiser for the Miles City Public Library, an event that has become one of the more popular fundraisers of the year for the MCPL. There is a $25 buy-in for each team member to get in on the event, and there is no limit to number of members per team. Individuals are encouraged to participate

Above: From left, Scott Elder, Norma Hall, Ross Hall and Ken Stein discuss their winning strategy during the sixth annual Trivia Night held at Miles City’s Town and Country Club, March 8. MT Best Times photo by Steve Allison April 2013 — 10

The secret to our success was our captain (Ross Hall). That’s his entertainment — reading books of facts.
– Dr. Ken Stein, team leader

“It really is a fun event,” Nash continued. “Everyone contributes — it really is a team sport. It really has become an event that is multigenerational. We have people that have teenagers on their teams, adults, seniors, everyone. It’s one of those things where your area of expertise can be very valuable.”

Older is better

This year’s event proved that to be the case, as teams with older members fared much better than their younger counterparts. The contest was won by a six-member team in their 50s headed by Dr. Ken Stein, a local chiropractor, who was in his second year as a competitor. The rest of his team included Scott Elder, Norma Hall, Ross Hall and Karla Elder and Diane Burke. “The secret to our success was our captain (Ross Hall). That’s his entertainment — reading books of facts. He has a bunch of useless knowledge in his head, and the ability to recall it fairly easily,” Stein laughed. “It’s fun to get together with friends and family members and just have a good time.” Library Executive Director Sonja Woods said she heard from several teams after the event expressing their desire for older members for the next incarnation. Woods called the event a qualified success, raising close to $1,600 for library projects. “It was a very successful evening, and everything went very well,” Woods said. “To raise that kind of money in just a few hours and with everyone having fun is just outstanding. Hopefully everyone left that night a little smarter.”

Above: Trivia Night announcer John Scheuering and Sonja Woods, of the Miles City Public Library, read questions for the sixth annual event. Below: Hannah Nash holds up a card as she and Katy Keith, to her right, talk to Sue Miles, right, during Trivia Night. MT Best Times photos by Steve Allison

‘A great time’

Woods was also pleased with the diversity of the different age groups that participated. “It really is good to have a mix of people — everyone knows one or two things other teammates may not,” she said. “I had some of the younger people mention they wanted to get some older people on their team next time around. And it’s true, when you have questions about old movie stars or the golden age of television, having someone on your team who lived through that era is a definite plus.” Joan Wilson, a member of this year’s runner-up team the Snarkknockers, has been participating in Trivia Night since its inception. Her team has won the event several times, including last year. “This event really is a whole lot of fun,” Wilson said. “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s just a great time. But it is very nice to win.” Wilson said team members have come and gone over the years, but a basic core of individuals always stays the same. She would encourage anyone interested in a great time with an educational component to put together a team for next year. “If you enjoy playing games, you will just have a wonderful time,” she said. “I’ve never heard of anyone who has gone to this event that hasn’t thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of the questions are out of nowhere, and you just have to guess. Sometimes you get them right, or you had the right answer, but changed it at the last minute. That’s what makes it challenging, when you have a few people with different answers and choosing the right one. We’re all ages, as you can see, from young kids to old ladies like me.” Don Cogger can be reached at [email protected] or (406) 234-0450. April 2013 — 11

The Compassionate Friends
By Doreen Heintz Montana Best Times
LEWISTOWN — It has been often said that parents shouldn’t bury their children, but according to the National Center for Child Death Review Policy and Practice, about 53,000 children die each year in the United States. That means that more than 100,000 parents face the unthinkable — the loss of a child. With that loss comes the reality that the

Group provides support after the death of a child
hopes, dreams and expectations they held for their son or daughter will never be realized. And yet life must go on. Many parents in central Montana have survived the loss of a son or daughter. In March 2010, five grieving mothers held a meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to organize a chapter of The Compassionate Friends in Lewistown. That first steering committee was made up of Shirley Densmore, Fran Allen, Donna Econom, Ann Phillips and Donna Dengel. Densmore died in 2011. According to its website, www.compassionatefriends.org, The Compassionate Friends has been supporting bereaved families after the death of a child for four decades. A network of 650 chapters are located throughout all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. “The Compassionate Friends is about transforming the pain of grief into the elixir of hope,” said Simon Stephens, founder of the Compassionate Friends, on the group’s website. “It takes the people out of the isolation society imposes on the bereaved and lets them express their grief naturally. With the shedding of tears, healing comes. And the newly bereaved get to see people who have survived and are learning to live and love again.”

How a chapter works

Fran Allen, left, and Donna Dengel are pictured in Lewistown’s Frank Day Park, recently. The two were part of the committee that launched Lewistown’s The Compassionate Friends. April 2013 — 12

Dengel and Allen, both original members of the Lewistown steering committee and continuing members of the Lewistown chapter of The Compassionate Friends, agree with Stephens’ assessment. “It’s a place where you can show your feelings,” said Dengel. “It is a safe place where other people will understand.” “Our meetings not only help us, but they also help others,” said Allen. “Everyone is at a different stage of the grieving process. It is a big help to tell someone that the pain they are experiencing will get better. It is a wonderful experience taking the steps to come back to life.” “Often these days, you bury a person and move on,” added Dengel. “But there

is still a grieving process that each person needs to move through. Compassionate Friends provide positive ways of going through the grieving process.” During the February meeting of the Lewistown chapter, attendees had the opportunity to make a valentine to the son or daughter they had lost. Using ideas from the book “Angel Catcher,” each person could insert into the valentine he or she made endings to lines like “I love you …,” “I loved when …,” “I loved the way we …,” and “This is what I am going to do to remember you …” “I kind of felt like a kindergartner making my valentine,” said Dengel. “While we were making our valentines, there was a lot of talking going on, and it wasn’t focused on yourself.” “We have a lot of laughter at our meetings,” added Allen, “as well as tears at times.” At each meeting, the chapter tries to focus on a topic. The steering committee meets to plan the sessions. They have had professional counselors speak. They have watched videos. Some of the programs for chapter members are “Know Me, Know My Child,” “Getting Through the Holiday,” “What’s in a Name,” and programs on suicide. They hold a Father’s Day breakfast and a Mother’s Day luncheon. Some community activities the local chapter has each year are “A Walk To Remember,” which takes place every TV, from Page 8

September on trails in Lewistown, and a touching candle-lighting ceremony each December. During the Chokecherry Festival held in Lewistown the first Saturday of September, the group has an informational booth. “We also do our only fundraiser of the year at the Chokecherry Festival,” said Dengel. “We do take donations in memory of a child. The funds we raise are used for outreach programs, such as a monthly newsletter.” Donna Econom, another member of the steering committee, does the newsletter, which is sent to 73 addresses each month.

We have a lot of laughter at our meetings, as well as tears at times.
– Fran Allen
more Compassionate Friends chapters start in Montana and are willing to help a community get started. It does not take much to get a chapter started through the national organization — there is just some paperwork involved as well as following some basic guidelines. Allen and Dengel said they are also willing to come to other Montana communities and talk about The Compassionate Friends. To learn more about The Compassionate Friends, contact Fran Allen at [email protected] or (406) 3742398; or Donna Dengel at [email protected] or (406) 535-3717. Doreen Heintz can be reached at [email protected] or (406) 535-3401.

Welcome to try it out

Both Dengel and Allen expressed that The Compassionate Friends is not for everybody. “The first meeting a person attends may not be easy,” said Allen. “A person does not have to talk, but may want to just listen.” “We welcome anyone to come and see if the group is for you,” added Dengel. Although the group in Lewistown meets the third Monday of each month except August at the St. Leo’s Parish, The Compassionate Friends is not religiously affiliated. “Ann and Shirley were able to find us the monthly meeting place at St. Leo’s,” said Dengel. Both Allen and Dengel hope to see

full seasons of a large inventory of shows. If you have Amazon’s Prime service, which offers free shipping on select orders for $79 a year or $7.99 per month, you also have access to a catalog of streaming content, including past seasons of hits like “Downton Abbey,” “Army Wives” and “Parenthood.” Amazon Instant can be watched on computers and mobile devices.

Coming Soon

AARP describes itself as a membership organization leading positive social change and delivering information, advocacy and service to people age 50 and older. News and information on health, money, politics, entertainment and more can be found at http://www.aarp.org.

AEREO: This buzzy start-up, which offers over-the-air broadcast networks to computer and mobile device users for a daily ($1) or monthly ($8) fee, has the potential to turn the TV broadcasting industry on its ear. For now it’s only offered in New York — and expansion is bogged down by a lawsuit from broadcasters. But it’s well-financed, and there are plans to add 22 more markets, including Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C., in 2013. REDBOX INSTANT BY VERIZON: The Netflix competitor is still testing, with a full launch slated for March. For $8 a month, you get access to more than 5,500 streaming movies on your computer or mobile device, plus four DVD rentals from Redbox kiosks (no TV required for those either; you can just pop them into your computer’s DVD player). As yet, TV shows aren’t offered, but for those who watch a lot of movies, it could fill a gap.

Great News for Seniors 62 yrs of Age & Older!
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April 2013

— 13

Travel
By Kathy Witt McClatchy-Tribune/MCT

Visit two incredible Titanic museums
The saga of Titanic has entranced people for a full century. Dozens of movies and TV shows have been made about or inspired by the doomed luxury liner. Countless books have been written covering every conceivable aspect of White Star Line’s “Unsinkable.” Is there anything left to say or see about this epic maritime fail? Of course there is. “She (Titanic) put people under her spell even before she set sail and that will continue for the next 100 years,” said Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction, located in Branson, Mo., and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. “Even today, it would be beyond the scope of any author of fiction stories to create a more interesting saga,” said Bruce M. Caplan, a leading Titanic expert and author of “The Sinking of the Titanic — 1912 Survivor Accounts.” “As the Titanic left Southampton on April 10, 1912, the three classes of passengers included the richest to the poorest. With all the nationalities and ethnic groups, the ship was a virtual United Nations.” For the spellbound legions of everything Titanic, the museum is a must-see. “As visitors exit the exhibits, their expressions tell it all,” said Caplan, who has met thousands of them during book signings. “They’re mesmerized and fascinated with their trip back into time.”

New exhibit honors children

In 2013 the museum marks “The Year of the Titanic Children,” the first-ever coordinated exhibits and events paying tribute to the 133 children aboard the ship (of the 2,208 passengers) and putting into context what they saw, heard and felt from the moment they boarded.

The Titanic is seen parked right on Pigeon Forge, Tennessee’s famous parkway. April 2013 — 14

Courtesy of the Titanic Museum Attraction/MCT

“The children aboard Titanic are often treated as little more than footnotes in history,” said John Joslyn, leader of the first private exploration dive to Titanic and co-owner of the museum. “The children’s stories are no less important or dramatic than those of the ship’s elite passengers.” The two museums will share artifacts and both will have plenty to keep visitors fascinated. For instance, on display in Branson is a thermos flask Arthur West gave to his wife after she and their children were put into a lifeboat. “Arthur returned to the cabin for a thermos of warm milk, and finding the lifeboat let down, he reached it by means of a rope ...” wrote Mrs. Ada West in her account. “... and with a farewell returned to the deck of the ship.” In Pigeon Forge visitors will find 8-year-old Marshall Drew’s souvenir ribbon hat band embroidered with “RMS Titanic.” Marshall was traveling in second class with his aunt and uncle and was rescued in Lifeboat 10.

A Titanic Event

From April 1 to 7 at the Pigeon Forge location (and going on through March 24 at the Branson location), Titanic Author’s Week will gather together for the first time a dozen worldrenowned authors of bestselling Titanic-themed books. These include Caplan and Daniel Allen Butler, an internationally recognized authority on maritime subjects, whose book, “The Other Side of the Night,” delves into what happened aboard the Carpathia and the Californian ships the night Titanic sank. Also present will be Lee W. Merideth, a Titanic historian who wrote “1912 Facts About Titanic” and an updated companion book, “Titanic Names: A Complete List of the Passengers and Crew.” International maritime history speaker and hard news reporter Ken Rossignol looks at the original newspaper coverage of the disaster in his book, “Titanic 1912 — The Original News Stories.” Other award-winning authors making an appearance include June Hall McCash, “A Titanic Love Story”; Yvonne Lehman, “Hearts That Survive”; Julie Hedgepeth Williams, “A Rare Titanic Family — The Caldwell Story of Survival”; and Allan Wolf, “The Watch That Ends the Night — Voices from the Titanic.” Underscoring the museum’s children’s theme will be an appearance by child author Luke Copas. The 12-year-old penned “Facts for Kids About the Titanic,” a children’s encyclopedia based on his own research, when he was 9 years old. KelloggJoslyn was so taken with the then-fourth grader’s talent she landed him a book deal. “Grown-ups and children alike are drawn to Titanic books,” said Kellogg-Joslyn, noting that the museum is one of the largest repositories of Titanic books anywhere. “Each book is a chronicle of faith, heroism, sacrifice and survival.” An outdoor book fair will be set up steps from the museum’s front doors and fans of all things Titanic will have a chance to meet the authors, buy their books and have them signed. Photos with the authors can be taken during book signings and Titanic book purchases will net the buyer discounted admittance to the museum.

Pictured is a replica of the Titanic’s grand staircase at the Titanic Museum Attraction. graphs in existence and the lone life jacket whose wearer’s identity is known. The artifacts, obtained from debris that surfaced after the sinking and from descendants of Titanic passengers, are shown in more than 20 galleries which stretch over two decks and contain exact replicas of the Grand Staircase, a first-class suite, a thirdclass cabin and the bridge. Touch an iceberg. Slip into a seat in a lifeboat. Dip your fingers into frigid 28-degree water. Experience a you-are-there moment at the gated and locked third class compartment whose occupants would have seen the stairway fill with rushing water. “When I talk to visitors after they’ve been through the Titanic Museum, they tell me they can imagine being there,” said author Ken Rossignol. “The water is so cold. They try to imagine what it would be like to be in that water or to hear the cries of anguish from those who were. “The story of Titanic is a story without end,” he added. “The ship had 705 survivors. They all had a story to tell and they did.”

Courtesy of the Titanic Museum Attraction/MCT

If you go

A marvel then and now

Visit Titanic Museum Attraction at www.TitanicAttraction.com or call 800-381-7670 for more details about “The Year of the Titanic Children” and other events being held in 2013. For Titanic Author’s Week in Pigeon Forge, April 1 to 7, tickets are not required for the book signing fair, but are needed for tours of the attraction. The tour is self-guided and you should plan a minimum of two hours — although you could easily spend four hours or more. Visitors receive a boarding pass bearing the name of a real Titanic passenger or crew member and, at tour’s end, learn their fate. Kathy Witt is a freelance writer and the author of “Atlanta, Georgia: A Photographic Portrait” and “The Secret of the Belles.” Visit Witt’s blog at www.TravelinTales.com or email at [email protected]. April 2013

The Titanic Museum Attraction is a sight to behold: shaped like the ship and measuring fully half the size of the original, it displays a carefully chosen 412 artifacts from an 1,800-piece permanent collection, including the largest collection of Titanic photo-

— 15

Bridge big in the small town of
is

Terry

Bridge card players take in an afternoon of playing at their weekly Thursday meeting at the Prairie Community Center in Terry, recently. Pictured clockwise from left at the table in the background are Lucille Covert, Jan Just, Ruth Lekse, Winnie Harmel; and at the table in the foreground, Darlane Pisk, Linda Strasheim, Linda Koehler and Dorcas Lee.

Story and photos by Kay Johnson Montana Best Times

TERRY — Ask any one of the bridge club ladies in this small town why they meet each week to participate in the intricate card game, and you’re likely to get similar answers. “It’s a fun way of communicating with your partner through numbers,” said 62-year-old Jan Just. “It’s just a challenge, I guess.”

Addictive game

Jan and her husband, Alan, began playing bridge early on in their marriage when two of their friends taught them the game. From there, the two were hooked. “We just started teaching anybody we met, who liked to play April 2013 — 16

cards, how to play bridge,” Jan recalled. At the time, the couple lived in North Dakota. After moving to Terry in 1976, the two continued the pastime. Their bridge playing tapered off when Jan took a full-time job outside of Terry in 2002, which required more traveling and time away from home. When Jan retired in 2010, she said she was thrilled to start playing again — even if it was only as a sub. Substitute players are called in to play when regular players can’t attend weekly meeting times. “I’m so happy I’m playing bridge again,” Jan said. “I love it!” Fellow bridge card player Linda Koehler, who has been playing since 1973, said it’s a game she can’t let go. “There’s always us diehards,” Linda said of the dozen or so women who have continued to meet each week throughout the fall and winter months.

Once you play bridge, you’re always addicted.
– Linda Koehler

Longtime bridge players Dorcas Lee and Linda Koehler rearrange their cards.

Linda considers herself a novice when juxtaposed alongside even longer-time players like 93-year-old Lucille Revell, who had continued to play up until spring of last year. “Once you play bridge, you’re always addicted,” Linda said.

Terry’s groups

At one point Terry’s bridge card clubs boasted couples, men’s and women’s groups. However, today’s numbers have dropped to only two clubs meeting each week, and both are entirely made up of women. One group meets each Thursday afternoon, while the other gathers Monday nights, a time slot that allows those players who haven’t reached retirement age to play as well. “The majority of us are over 70,” said longtime bridge player Ruth Lekse. Ruth began playing in the mid-70s during the time the bridge club was notably recognized as the “teachers club” due to the high numbers of instructors playing the game. “They had to teach me,” Ruth said. “It was scary at first, because it is played so differently.” Seen as a mixture between whist and pinochle, bridge can be a challenge to understand initially. “They were a good bunch,” Ruth recalled of the group who taught her to play. “They were good to me.”

cards to each player. The four suits are ranked — spade is highest, followed by hearts, diamonds and clubs. The ranking is used for bidding purposes only. All suits are equal, unless one suit has been named trump, meaning it beats all other suits. Ace is always highest, followed by King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6. 5, 4, 3 and 2.              The object of the game is to win tricks. A trick consists of four cards, one from each player. With 13 cards dealt to each player, there are 13 tricks to win. “You’re playing your hand plus your partner’s hand,” explained Ruth. “It’s a bridge between you and your partner.”             Linda describes the bidding as the most exciting part of the game. That’s the time allotted at the beginning where it is decided what suit is trump and who will lead. “The bidding is at least half the game. That’s really the fun time,” she said.

Most important: time together

How the game is played

The game of bridge has two components: the bidding and the play. Bridge is a partnership game, requiring four players, with each player sitting opposite of his or her partner. Played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards, one of the players deals 13

But beyond winning tricks and gaining the notable distinction of earning a “Grand Slam” — seven tricks in one game — the ladies agree it’s the time spent together that matters most. “It’s just a very fun night out,” Ruth said, noting the women’s conversations stays centered around each other’s families and activities. Jan agrees. “It’s a time to laugh with friends,” she said. “Everybody has such a great sense of humor. I think it’s the social thing that matters the most.” Kay Johnson can be reached at [email protected] or (406) 635-5513. April 2013 — 17

Health
MCT

3 ways to lower blood pressure naturally
pressure by as much as 20 percent, according to researchers. 3. Try tai chi. Research has found that doing 60 minutes of the gentle Chinese martial arts three times a week lowered study participants’ resting systolic blood pressure by 13 percent within three months. Subscribe to Prevention magazine or read more about smart ways to live well at www.prevention. com.

Here are a few easy ways you can lower blood pressure naturally, starting today. 1. Step it up. Take the stairs at work or add an extra loop to your walk. Adding 4,000 to 5,000 steps a day has been shown to drop blood pressure by an average of 11 points. 2. Lift weights. Include resistance training (try dumbbells or kettlebells) in your workout routine three times a week and you can lower your blood

By Landon Hall The Orange County Register/MCT

Yes, you need sunscreen ... all throughout the year

On the Saturday before Christmas, it rained at Disneyland. Although it was cloudy just about all day, anyone trekking about, even with time logged inside a log flume or trinket store, would have received a bounty of sunshine. Maybe not enough to suffer a red-as-Lightning-McQueen burn, but a sufficient amount to bring that puffy, dazed feeling that accompanies too much sun. It’s not just a folk tale that you can get burned on a cloudy day: It’s real. And people who spend any significant time outdoors any time of the year should remember to put on sunscreen and take other precautionary measures, even if the sky is hazy or overcast. Scientists have known for decades that clouds can have a counterintuitive effect on sunshine. Ultraviolet rays beam from the sun and land on the Earth’s surface, but clouds redirect them, refract them and generally bounce them around until they’re seemingly everywhere. This can make it more dangerous for your skin, not less — an effect called “cloud enhancement.” There are two kinds of ultraviolet light: UVA and UVB. UVA is a longer-wavelength, deeper-penetrating sun ray that doesn’t cause a burn but can still lead to skin cancer, as well as premature wrinkling and age spots. UVB is a shorter-wavelength ray that irritates the skin more immediately, leading to reddening and burning. Clouds block 70 percent to 90 percent of ultraviolet light, but not all. The thicker and darker the clouds, the less UV light comes through. A 2006 article in American Scientist said every study since 1964 had shown some degree of cloud enhancement. For instance, measurements taken at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii in the 1990s showed a 29.8-percent increase in UVB light, compared with levels measured on clear days. Of course, how well your skin handles the sun depends on how fair your skin is, as well as geographic factors: People who live closer to the equator get more sun exposure. Also, UV rays are most powerful at and around noontime; the time to avoid the sun is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The best advice for summertime also stands during winter: Use sunscreen, with an SPF of at least 15 (a max of 30 should be sufficient). Apply it 30 minutes before going outside. Shop for a product that is labeled “broad spectrum.” This means it protects against both UVB and UVA rays. Sun protection factor (SPF) only applies to UVB. “Even though clouds may block more than 50 percent of the UV rays, we just naturally don’t think about sun protection as much,” April 2013 — 18

Dr. Matt Goodman, a dermatologist in the Melanoma Program at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., wrote in an email. “And so, we leave our skin more exposed on a cloudy day, and this can result in a sunburn. “So, better to protect our skin whenever we are outdoors — sunny or not!” Online: Read more about new rules the FDA put in place to inform sun-worshipers better about sunscreens at http://1.usa.gov/ pmiWfx.

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RSVP
Gallatin County

Below is a list of volunteer openings available through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in communities across southern Montana. To learn more about RSVP, call (800) 424-8867 or TTY (800) 833-3722; or log on to www. seniorcorps.org. Volunteers needed to greet people for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1–5 p.m., through April 15; assist with tax preparation, (training will be provided), watch children while parents receive assistance. - Manhattan Senior Center Foot Clinic: Nurse or retired nurse volunteer needed for 1 day a month, 2 1/2 hours. - RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to quilt, knit, crochet and embroider hats for chemo patients, baby blankets and other handmade goods once a week (can work from home); accepting yarn donations. - Thrive Child Advancement Project (CAP): Seeking mentors to students in grades K-12, one hour commitment a week, training and support provided. - VA Montana Healthcare System: Volunteer DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Help needed to coordinate driver schedules to transport eligible veterans to and from the VA. - Your unique skills and interests are needed, without making a long-term commitment, in a variety of ongoing, special, onetime, one-shift events. Contact: Deb Downs, RSVP Program Coordinator, 807 N. Tracy, Bozeman, MT 59715; phone (406) 587-5444; fax (406) 582-8499; email: [email protected]. MT 59047; phone (406) 222-2281; email: [email protected].

- American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Program: Needs volunteer drivers to escort cancer patients to treatments. - American Prairie Reserve: Office Assistant (10-15 hours per week) needed to help maintain office filing and storage systems, organize office supplies, process and distribute mail and run errands to post office. - American Red Cross: Blood drive ambassador needed to welcome, greet, thank and provide overview for blood donors. Phone team volunteers needed to remind, recruit or thank blood donors, excellent customer service skills needed, training will be provided, flexible schedule. - Befrienders: Befriend a senior; visit on a regular weekly basis. - Big Brothers Big Sisters: Be a positive role model for only a few hours each week. - Bozeman and Belgrade Sacks Thrift Stores: Need volunteers to sort and price items, Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. - Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: Variety of opportunities to volunteer. - Bozeman Lodge: Volunteers are needed to help with Wii-Bowling on Mondays, 3 p.m.; Bingo on Saturdays 1:30 p.m.; and once a month on Saturdays, 3 p.m., for birthday parties. - Bozeman Senior Center Foot Clinic: Retired or nearly retired nurses are urgently needed, 2 days a month, either 4 or 8 hour shifts. - The Emerson Cultural Center: Volunteers needed for front office greeter/reception, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Gallatin County DUI Task Force: Administrative Aide needed to assist with office tasks and data entry, 1-2 hours/week. - HRDC Homemaker: Volunteers needed to help seniors with grocery shopping, meal and menu planning, and companionship, 2 hours a week, days and times are flexible; deliver commodities to seniors in their homes once a month - Habitat for Humanity Restore Belgrade: Volunteers needed for general help, sorting donations and assisting customers. - Heart of The Valley: Volunteers to play with and cuddle cats, do carpentry work, be an animal bank collector (asking local businesses to display an animal bank for donation collection) or birthday party leader. - Help Center Telecare: Volunteers needed 3-4 mornings a week 8:30-11 a.m. to make calls to homebound seniors, providing reassurance, check on safety and well-being, and access to up to date referral information to vulnerable individuals. - HRDC Road to Home VITA Program:

Fergus & Judith Basin counties

Park County

- The Food Pantry and Loaves and Fishes: Need help in a variety of ways, including cooking, serving, shelving or even gardening. - Livingston Baseball Association: Help with concessions needed, supervising youth at the grill. - The Main Street Thrift Store: Need help sorting, tagging, shelving and putting donated items on the shelves, hours are flexible, choose your own hours. - The Yellowstone Gateway Museum: Volunteers needed at the front desk to greet people and man the cash register. - Senior Center: Volunteer computer person needed for data entry and office work, flexible hours; also someone to play bright, cheerful piano music before lunch. - Stafford Animal Shelter: Needs volunteers to help ready puppies and kittens for adoption. - Various agencies are in need of your unique skills and interests in a variety of ongoing and one-time special events, including mailings; help with veterans, and at the hospital. Contact: Shannon Burke, RSVP Program Coordinator, 208 So. Main St., Livingston,

- America Reads program: Volunteers are needed to spend 30 minutes a week helping young people with their reading grades one through six to increase their reading skills. - Boys and Girls Club: Volunteers needed to assist staff with elementary children Monday-Friday on field trips and for food preparation in the kitchen. - Central Montana Senior Citizens Club: Volunteers to plan, organize, clean, repair and set up for events; help with Saturday senior dances, pinochle on Tuesday and Friday p.m. - CMMC Auxiliary: Volunteer at the help desk or in the gift shop, assist with blood drives and fund raising events to help fund the ER remodel, knit and crochet items, bake cookies. - Community Cupboard: Assist clients with selection of items, record keeping, unload delivery truck. - Council on Aging-Grubstakes: Regular volunteers and substitutes needed for home delivered meals, kitchen, hostess, foot clinic. - Disaster and Emergency Services: Volunteers to become involved in training and community education for emergency preparedness and response. - Friends of the Library: Volunteers to sort book donations, and prepare for and work the monthly sale. - Geyser/Raynesford, Hobson/Judith River and Moore Senior Centers: Volunteers to set up, serve, wash dishes, and clean up. - Heart of Montana Animal Shelter: Volunteers needed to help in the secondhand store. - Hospice of Central Montana: Volunteers needed in patient care, special events and fund raising activities, training April 16, 17. - Lewistown Art Center: Volunteers to help set up monthly shows, assist with special events, or work in the gift shop. - Lewistown Library: Volunteer to read to groups or individuals, dust and clean, take care of videos, copying and scanning. Assist with nursing home outreach monthly. - Lewistown nursing homes: Volunteers to play cards and games, visit with and read to residents, deliver mail and water plants, help with birthday parties and special events. - Red Cross: Local disaster planning and See RSVP, Page 20 April 2013 — 19

On The Menu
Breakfast? No way!
Winter months bring cabin fever. For many of us, snowcovered ground and cold temperatures limit the amount of exercise we get, unless we’re shoveling snow. April means digging in the garden, yard work and other forms of exercise, though. Jogging and biking are safer when streets are free of ice and snow. Now that we’re starting to burn calories again, enjoying a decadent meal wouldn’t be imprudent.

With Jim Durfey

This dish makes a great dinner and dessert combination

If you’re a fan of eating breakfast for supper, the recipe below is sure to please your palate. With a dish that features cream cheese, sugar, fruit, syrup, French toast and possibly ice cream, what’s not to like? Bacon or link sausages are great additions to this main course. If you serve this to your grandkids, they will think you must have graduated from the Culinary Institute of America.

Stuffed French Toast
Batter: 2 eggs 3/4 cup milk 1/3 cup sugar 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. vanilla extract French Toast: 2 tbsp. butter 4 pieces French bread or challah bread (braided egg bread), cut about 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick

Filling: 1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) cream cheese 1/4 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup banana slices 1/8 cup orange juice 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract Powdered sugar, optional Vanilla ice cream, optional Fresh berries, optional Mint sprigs, optional Combine all batter ingredients in large bowl. Mix well. Place bread pieces in batter for five minutes. Turn bread pieces over. Soak for five minutes more. Fold all filling ingredients - Council on Aging: Volunteer to help in the office and with fundraising, assist organizing bingo, cards and other events. - Dinner Theatre and Summer Drama Camp for Kids: Seeking a committee and help to plan and implement these events. - Food Bank: Distribute food commodities to seniors and others in need in the community. - Meals on Wheels Program: Deliver meals to the housebound in the community, just one day a week, an hour and a half, meal provided. - Nursing Home Activities Assistant: Help with crafts, games and other activities for residents. - School Lunch Program: Assist staff with serving and supervising during lunch period, meal provided. - Senior Center: Volunteers are needed to provide meals, clean up in the dining room and/or keep records, meal provided.

together in bowl until well incorporated but not completely smooth. Preheat oven to 350°. Heat large saute pan (one that can be transferred to the oven is ideal). Add butter. Place bread pieces in pan. Cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately four minutes. Remove from pan and let cool. Divide filling between two pieces of bread. Top with remaining two pieces of bread. Transfer French toast to oven and bake for eight to 10 minutes. Cut each French toast in half. Serve with maple syrup if desired, a large scoop of vanilla ice cream and fresh berries. A mint sprig makes the perfect decorative touch. - Senior Transportation: Volunteer needed to drive Senior Van to meals, fundraisers and appointments, one day a week or month, no special license needed, meal provided. - RSVP offers maximum flexibility and choice to its volunteers as it matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans with opportunities to serve their communities. You choose how and where to serve. Contact: Abbie Nichols, Volunteer Coordinator, South Central MT RSVP, 315 1/2 Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup, MT 59072; phone (406) 323-1403; fax (406) 3234403; email: [email protected].

RSVP, from Page 19
preparedness, response, and service to the Armed Forces. - Treasure Depot Thrift Store: Volunteers to cashier and sort donations, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. - RSVP: Needs volunteers to help with the implementation of a new program: My Neighbor In Need in Lewistown, also need volunteers to occasionally transport large items such as furniture, appliances, etc. - RSVP has a variety of volunteer positions open for on-call, ongoing events. Contact: RSVP Volunteer Coordinator Cheryll Tuss, 404 W. Broadway, Wells Fargo Bank building, (upstairs), Lewistown, MT 59457; phone (406) 535-0077; email: rsvplew@ midrivers.com.

Custer & Rosebud counties

Musselshell, Golden Valley & Petroleum counties
April 2013 — 20

- COPS (Citizens Offering Police Support): Members are needed - applications can be picked up at the RSVP Office. - Custer County Art and Heritage Center:

— Thursday, April 4 • MSU Spring Rodeo, through April 7, Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Bozeman • Montana Early Music Festival, through April 7, Cathedral of St. Helena, Helena — Friday, April 5 • PBR Nile, through March 7, MetraPark

— Wednesday, April 3 • Cycle Only Days, through April 18, West Yellowstone through Yellowstone Park

April 2013 Calendar
MSU campus, Bozeman — Saturday, April 13 • Stillwater Masonic Lodge Spring Flea Market/Swap Meet, through April 14, Stillwater Pavilion, 328 East 5th St., Columbus • Arbor Day Run for the Trees, 10 a.m., McCormick Park, Missoula — Friday, April 19 • Stillwater County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, through April 20, Stillwater Pavilion, Stillwater County’s Fairgrounds, Columbus — Saturday, April 20 • Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale: Season Finale, 7:30 p.m., Alberta Bair Theater, Billings • Judith Basin Back Country Horsemen and the Lewistown Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management Sharing Trails Saturday Expo, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Defensive Horsemanship Certification, 1:30-5:30 p.m., Livestock Pavilion, Fergus County Fairgrounds, Lewistown • Livingston Dance Club, country western dancing, American Legion, 112 N. B St., Livingston, 7-11 p.m. — Thursday, April 25 • Western Art Roundup and Quick Draw, Riverside Park, Miles City — Friday, April 26 • Annual MakoShika Quilt Festival, through April 27, EPEC Building, Glendive • Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival, through April 27, University Theater, Missoula

Arena, Billings • Annual Home and Garden Show and Sale, through April 7, Montana ExpoPark Four Seasons Arena, Great Falls

a.m.-1 p.m., Montana State UniversityBillings Library 148, Billings • 29th Annual Spring Art and Craft Show, Civic Center Grand Ballroom - Corner of Neil and Benton, Helena

— Saturday, April 6 • “Religion: Montana Minority Voices,” 9

— Saturday, April 27 • Baxter Black, 7:30 p.m., Civic Center, Big Timber • Annual Railroad Swap Meet, Depot Center, Livingston • 36th International Wildlife Film Festival, through May 4, Roxy Theater, Missoula — Sunday, April 28 • Peaks to Prairie Adventure Race, begin at — Friday, May 3
Bear Tooth Pass, Red Lodge

— Friday, April 12
• American Indian Council of MSU – Pow Wow, through April 13, Fieldhouse Arena,

• Magic City Singers - The Sun, Moon

and Stars, 7 p.m., Alberta Bair Theater, Billings

RSVP continued
Volunteer receptionists needed, varied shifts, days. - Custer County Commissioner: Up to three volunteers needed to take minutes at meetings. - Custer County Extension: Volunteer needed to scan documents, may be done in your home or at the Extension Office. - Forsyth Senior Center: Volunteer musicians needed. - Holy Rosary Health Care: Volunteers needed for front desk and gift shop. - Holy Rosary Hospice: Volunteers needed to help with hospice patients. - Miles City Soup Kitchen: Volunteers needed for receptionist, servers, and cooks assistant, shifts never more than 3 hours, work one day a month or more. - Range Riders Museum: Help needed April 1-Oct. 31, times and days of your choice. - ROCKS: Relief drivers needed, (must have CDL), pick up students at 3 p.m. daily and take to the building by the baseball field and possibly a few special field trips. - Spirit Riders: Members needed for funeral escort. - Ursuline Convent: Volunteers need for Thrift Store, Maintenance & Cleaning - VA-DAV: Urgent need for drivers needed to make trips to Billings with veterans for medical appointments. - VA Community Living Center: Volunteers needed to assist with activities for veterans. If you are interested in these or other volunteer opportunities please contact: Betty Vail, RSVP Director; 210 Winchester Ave. #225, MT 59301; phone (406) 234-0505; email: [email protected]

Montana Allergy & Asthma Specialists
• Specializes in pediatric and adult care • Evaluates patients with allergic nose and eye symptoms, asthma, sinus symptoms, eczema, hives, food allerg y, and insect allerg y • Testing and results in one day • Walk in Allergy Shot Clinic in Billings • Clinic appointments available in Billings, Miles City, Lewistown & Powell, WY

Dr. Tom Scarborough

Dawson County

If you have a need for or a special interest or desire to volunteer somewhere in the community, please contact: Patty Atwell, RSVP Director, P.O. Box 1324, Glendive, MT 59330; phone (406) 377-4716; email: rsvp@ midrivers.com.

Call for an Appointment Today
Billings: 406-237-5500 Toll Free: 800-308-3719
April 2013 — 21

not: r o t i e v Belie

Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at [email protected]

By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

Q. Wave your “plastic” in the right direction and you just put your latest purchase on your credit card, like millions of other consumers. How many millions?

1.5 billion credit cards in U.S. alone
largest eye of any land animal, reports “National Geographic” magazine. The flightless, long-and-strong legged bird stands seven-to-nine-feet tall and can run away from danger at 45 miles per hour for up to 30 minutes. But if cornered, it can deliver powerful and dangerous kicks with its two-toed feet and long, sharp claws that can kill a man and even a lion. Plus, one of the hen’s eggs can weigh as much as 24 chicken eggs. Finally, contrary to popular belief, ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand, notes “National Geographic.” Rather, at the sign of trouble, they will lie low and press their long necks to the ground to try to become less visible. “Their plumage blends well with sandy soil and, from a distance, gives the appearance that they have buried their heads in the sand.” Q. Feeling quite depressed, the guy tried to kill himself by overdosing on his meds. After taking 29 pills, he felt faint, his blood pressure plummeted and doctors had to administer intravenous fluids to stabilize him. Then what came next in this “grim tale”?

A. By one estimate, 1,500 million, or 1.5 billion credit cards are in use in the U.S. alone, says Susan Freinkel in “Plastic: A Toxic Love Story.” It was 1958 when American Express (AmEx) introduced the first plastic credit card, with money taking on a new kind of plasticity. Touted as better withstanding day-to-day use, these cards soon “were so commonplace the very word ‘plastic’ became synonymous with money.” And it’s not only the credit card. “Four out of five Americans own debit cards, and one in six has a prepaid card to buy gas, make phone calls, or use for general purposes,” Freinkel adds. Most of these are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and have been since the AmEx debut, because PVC “is easily processed, offers the right blend of rigidity and flexibility, and is durable enough to last the standard three-to-fiveyear term of a credit card.” According to a “New York Times” calculation, a stack of all the credit cards in use in the U.S. would reach more than 70 miles into space, or nearly the height of 13 Mount Everests. “Yet the ordinary erosion that might whittle down a mountain would scarcely dent that polymer peak, Freinkel says. “Even a single PVC card would persist for decades, if not centuries, and each year we toss away more than 75 million (75,000,000) of them.”

newfound comet C/2012 S1(ISON), says “New Scientist” magazine. Discovered by Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok of the International Scientific Optical Network in Russia on September 21, 2012, it was no more than a dot beyond Jupiter. But on November 28 or 29, 2013, the comet should skirt within 1.4 million kilometers (870,000 miles) of the sun, and according to “Astronomy Now,” it could become the brightest object in our night sky, possibly outshining the full moon. Now that would be a heavenly sight well worth waiting for! Q. With identical twins sharing the same DNA and similar environments, is there any way to tell them apart for forensic purposes?

Q. What superlative has the ostrich easily run away with? Which are a few of the runners-up? A. It can claim title to being “the world’s heaviest bird,” native to Africa and with males weighing up to 350 pounds, says “Science Illustrated” magazine. The other heavyweights (though all under 100 pounds) are the emu (up to 90 pounds) and the cassowary (75 pounds) of Australia, the Emperor penguin (65 pounds) of Antarctica, and the American rhea (55 pounds) of South America. More ostrich superlatives: It boasts the April 2013 — 22

A. On further investigation, doctors discovered his pills weren’t “real meds” but placebos designed to do him no harm. Once the patient learned the pills were inert, his symptoms vanished! This was an extreme case, said Elizabeth Svoboda in “Discover” magazine, but the so-called nocebo effect — “psychosomatic symptoms erroneously blamed on medication”— is quite common. In fact, one recent study in Munich found that in many clinical trials, “placebos produce fully half as many reported side effects as real drugs do.” The study’s author Winfried Hauser suggested that “this may stem in part from the warnings that physicians give patients before prescribing medications.” Much-needed warnings to be sure, but only if done in careful, measured ways, Svoboda concludes. Q. For you moon-gazers, what little extra sky gift just might present itself for your viewing pleasure next November 2013? A. Call it a “brand new sun-grazer,” or

A. Even the most sophisticated tests can’t do this, but highly-trained German shepherd police dogs have been able to register differences in the scents of identical twins, reported Czech researchers Ludvik Pinc et al. in the journal “PLoS ONE.” Scents from four sets of child twins — two identical and two fraternal — were collected on cotton squares and stored in glass jars, and scents from other children were added to the test samples. The dogs were presented a starting scent and then had to pick out the matching scent from a “lineup” of seven cotton squares. (The dog handlers were blind to the difference.) In a dozen experiments, each of ten animals made the correct choice every time. As the authors concluded, the dogs are “able to distinguish individual scents of identical twins despite they’re living in the same environment and eating the same food, and even if the scents are not presented simultaneously.” Q. Who gives more money to charity? Men or women? The rich or the poor? The old or the young? The religious or the non-religious?

A. Religious people tend to be the most giving because of their values and also their church attendance, which puts them in close social contact with many other givers, says researcher Pamala Wiepking at Rotterdam’s Erasmus University, the Netherlands, as told to Michael Bond in

“New Scientist” magazine. In fact, social interaction triggers most of the giving people do, with about 85 percent made in response to direct requests through a friend or the media, etc. People get to feeling obligated when asked and later want to live up to their word and reputation. It’s no surprise that women tend to be more generous, given their greater empathy and caring and strong sense of equality, whereas men are more inclined to give money to political parties. As for the influence of income, poorer people actually contribute a higher fraction of their income than do the wealthy, though it’s not that the latter are inherently less generous, Wiepking adds. Most people give similar amounts in similar situations and since the rich are not asked to give more often, there tends to

be equality of giving across all incomes. Finally, as we get older, we tend to give more but this tapers off beyond age 75, primarily because the truly aged rarely encounter situations where donations are requested. When asked how people can be persuaded to give more, Wiepking answered: “We need role models ... In the U.S. anyone who gives even a little is celebrated.” Q. Do left-handed target shooters need special guns? A. Many weapons can be fired effectively with either hand, including most revolvers, self-loading rifles and pistols, and shotguns, says George Washington University forensic scientist Walter F. Rowe. At most, the left-handed target shooter might have

special grips fitted. Other weapons, such as bolt-action military rifles, are generally designed for righthanders. Lefties learn to adapt--see Barry Pepper’s sharpshooter in “Saving Private Ryan” — or have these weapons modified. An overlooked problem for righties as well as lefties is “cross-dominance”--e.g., right-handed but left-eyed. To test dominance, aim a finger at an object, both eyes open. Then close one eye at a time. The eye for which the aim stays true is your dominant eye. Cross-dominant handgun shooters can simply tilt the head to accommodate, says gun expert Mark Duncan. Rifle and shotgun shooters sometimes change sides. Or sighting with dominant eye closed may work to some degree, but there are plenty of focusing pitfalls.

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Crossword

Across

1 Brought to ruin 10 “Appointment in Samarra” novelist 15 “Is this being broadcast?” 16 Baking apples 17 Succeeded, in a way 18 Hands it to the performer? 19 Award estab. by King George V 20 Jeu de mots 21 Water wheel component 22 Subterranean storage units, perhaps 24 “It’s __ turn” 27 Toot 28 “Keep dreaming” 29 Kin of -ian 30 Quest 31 Sports figures 33 High-scoring ball games 35 Trysting place 37 Like most light bulbs 40 Brewer Frederick 44 Ending with tele45 Slammer

46 Car registration datum 47 Dallas quarterback after Bledsoe 48 Spitting nails, so to speak 50 “__ chance!” 51 Stumped 53 Scent word 55 Org. with many schedules 56 “Born Yesterday” playwright 57 Contests with no ultimate winner, hopefully 60 Spitzer who succeeded Pataki as New York governor 61 Mac-based multimedia player 62 __ list 63 Up for it

4 Be light 5 Fills in 6 Bonds manager after Baker 7 Weasley with a crush on Harry Potter 8 Big night 9 Actress Susan 10 Seal threat 11 Counter order 12 Play about rival composers

13 Tuck into a new bed 14 Sets forth 21 Topping whose name means “please” 23 Inclined to believe 25 Engine hose 26 Reversal of policy 32 Promulgate 33 Haggadah-reading ritual 34 Metrosexual 36 Hardly enthusiastic

37 Buttered up 38 Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress,” e.g. 39 Cluj is its secondmost populous city 41 Del Toro of “Che” 42 Riviera city with an annual music festival 43 Plaited 49 Step down 50 “Designing Women” actress 52 Strep throat-treating docs 54 Moe who founded Folkways Records 57 EPA measure of concern to asthma sufferers 58 Head up 59 Source of rectangular lettuce?

Down

1 Filled Asian appetizers 2 Foreign Service Officer to the Middle East, say 3 Fictional Amelia who turns 50 in 2013

April 2013

— 23

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