montana best times december 2014

8/10/2019 Montana Best Times December 2014

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The Hollywood Christmas of 69Sausage maker

Familys Christmas tree a city favorite

Christmas in a jar

December 2014


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December 2014 2

Savvy Senior ............................................Page 3Opinion ....................................................Page 4Bookshelf .................................................Page 5Volunteering .............................................Page 19

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

INSIDE

News LiteCuban couple keeps exotic rodents as pets

BAINOA, Cuba (AP) Some people keep guinea pigs orhamsters as pets.

But in Cuba, where a larger, more exotic rodent runs wild, AnaPedraza and her husband prefer the hutia.

With a rope-like tail and long front teeth, the hutia looks like agiant rat, only cuter, some would say. They live in Cuba and otherCaribbean islands where they are sometimes hunted for food.

But Pedraza and her husband, Rafael Lopez, say they onlywant to protect and take care of the animals, which measure near-

ly a foot long (about 30 centimeters), with the largest ones weigh-ing in bigger than a small dog.

The couple began collecting hutias about five years ago whenthey found one languishing on a roadside and named her Congui.They found her a mate and now have more than a half-dozenhutias in their home about 25 miles east of the capital, Havana.

Congui and her brood like to drink sweetened coffee and

munch on crackers and vegetables. Her son Pancho enjoys anoccasional nip of rum.

Police: Facebook posts of stolen guns spur aALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A New Mexico man is facing

charges after police say he posted Facebook photos of stolen gunsfrom an unsolved burglary.

KOB-TV reports that Christopher Banegas recently was arrest-ed and charged in connection with the September 2013 heist at anAlbuquerque home.

Police say they lacked any leads until the victim recently sawpictures of his stolen guns on Banegas Facebook page.The two had been friends, and the victim tells police he didnt

check Banegas Facebook page because he didnt suspect him.Banegas is facing charges of aggravated burglary, larceny of a

firearm, and tampering with evidence. It isnt known if he had anattorney.


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Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some easier ways that I can get help

with my Social Security questions? When I call their toll-freehelp line I get put on hold forever, and the wait time at mylocal Social Security office is over two hours.

Approaching 62

Dear Approaching, Its unfortunate, but the past few years the Social Security

Administration has made some major budget and staff cutsthat have greatly increased their phone service and fieldoffice wait times for their customers. With that said, heresan alternative option and some tips that can help make youraccess to Social Security a little faster and easier.

Online services With the evolution of the Social Security website, the

quickest and most convenient way to work with SocialSecurity these days is to do it yourself online. Depending

on what you need, most tasks can be done at SocialSecuri-ty.gov like getting your Social Security statement, estimat-ing your future benefits, applying for retirement or disabili-ty benefits, signing up for direct deposit, replacing a Medi-care card and much more. See a complete list of what youcan do online at ssa.gov/onlineservices.

You can also get information and answers to most of yourSocial Security questions at faq.ssa.gov if youre patientenough to read through the information yourself. But, if you need more help than their website offers, you

can always call Social Securitys toll-free service line at

800-772-1213 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and7 p.m. and ask your question over the phone, or make ascheduled appointment with your local field office. Toreduce your wait time, avoid calling during their rush hourtimes, which are the first week of the month, and dailyfrom about 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Need advice? If youre seeking advice on when you should start taking

your Social Security benefits, you need to know that whileSocial Security employees do provide information on howthe system works under different circumstances, they arent

allowed to give case-specific advice on when you shouldstart drawing your benefits. If you want help with this, youll need to turn to some of

the free or fee-based Social Security tools that are availableonline through private financial service companies orAARP. Depending on the service, these tools take into account

the different rules and claiming strategies that can affectyour benefits, and some of them can crunch hundreds ofcalculations to compare your benefits under various scenar-ios and different ages to help you figure out the best time tostart claiming. Some of the best free tools are AARPs Social Security

Calculator (aarp.org/socialsecuritybenefits); SSAnalyzewhich is offered by Bedrock Capital Management (bed-

rockcapital.com/ssanalyze); and Analyze Now (analyze-now.com click on Computer Programs) which offers aFree Strategic Social Security Planner but requiresMicrosoft Excel to use it. Or, if you dont mind spending a little money, there are

higher-level services you can use like Maximize My SocialSecurity (maximizemysocialsecurity.com), which charges$40 for their report, and takes into account the thousands ofdifferent factors and combinations to help you maximizeyour benefits. And Social Security Solutions (socialsecuritysolutions.

com, 866-762-7526), which offers several levels of service(ranging between $20 and $250) including their $125Advised plan that runs multiple calculations and compar-isons, recommends a best course of action in a detailedreport, and gives you a one-on-one session with a SocialSecurity specialist over the phone to discuss the report andask questions.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated SavvySenior information column, is a longtimeadvocate of senior issues. He has been featured inTime magazine; is author of The Savvy Senior:The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family andFinances for Senior Citizens; and is a regularcontributor to the NBC Today show.

December 2014 3

Convenient Ways to Get Help withyour Social Security Questions


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Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... at least that wasthe intention of this issue of Montana Best Times, in case youhadnt noticed.

The December edition features Holy Rosary Healthcaresannual Holiday Jar Sale fundraiser on Page 6, a former stunt-mans recollections of a Hollywood Christmas party on Page 8,a familys Christmas tree that the whole town of Lewistownturns out to see on Page 12, a feature on Santa Claus, Indiana,

on Page 14, and recipes for holiday plum pudding and hot toddyon Page 20.While they all have the holiday season in common, two of the

features stand out as having a strong Christmas connection the Christmas in a jar story on Page 6 and the Burton familyChristmas tree a favorite in Lewistown on Page 12.

The Christmas in a jar story relates to a fundraiser for HolyRosary Healthcare in Miles City. On its website, Holy Rosarydescribes its mission thus: We reveal and foster Gods healinglove by improving the health of the people and communities weserve, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.

A hospital with such a mission deserves support, especially

at this time of year as we reflect on the real meaning of Christ-mas.

And the Burton family Christmas tree, whose lights areenjoyed by the entire community of Lewistown, is a nicereminder that Christmas is a time to share our gifts and our lovewith our fellow man.

Merry Christmas, Best Times readers, and the best to you andyours this holiday season.

Dwight Harriman Montana Best Times Editor

December 2014 4

Opinion

December stories look a lot like Christmas

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better M O N T A N A

Dwight Harriman, Editor Tom Parisella, Designer

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


5/24

By Montana Best Times Staff

There are lots of books out there giving adviceon retirement. But The Couples RetirementPuzzle: 10 Must-Have Conversations for Creatingan Amazing New Life Together, is unique in thatit focuses on retirement as a couple.

Retirement can be the best time of your life, butfor couples, theres far more to it than cashing inyour 401(k), says a news release from Source-books about the book. The most important assetyou have during your retirement is each other, yet many couplesarent sure where to begin or what to consider as they prepare forretired life.

The Couples Retirement Puzzle reveals 10 key conversa-tions couples should tackle before retirement to ensure a reward-ing second half of life together, the release says, including:

Do we have enough money to support the lifestyle we want? Should we retire simultaneously or separately? Do we stay put or explore new frontiers? Whats the best way to stay healthy and fit after 50? How do we meet new friends and create new interests out-

side of work now? How will we balance time together and time apart?Filled with smart and practical advice, engaging anecdotes, and

helpful exercises, The Couples Retirement Puzzle will guideyou and your partner to a fulfilling retirement you can enjoy andcelebrate together.

Roberta Taylor is a psychotherapist, life/relationship coach, andspeaker. She is a member of the American Society on Aging, andgives speeches on retirement issues across the country.

Dorian Mitzner, Ph.D., is a therapist, consultant, and executivecoach. She is a contributing author to 65 Things to Do WhenYou Retire, Remarkable and Real! and Making Marriage aSuccess.

Bookshelf

December 2014 5

The Couples RetirementPuzzle: 10 Must-Have

Conversations for Creating anAmazing New Life Together By Roberta K. Taylor, RNCS,MEd, and Dorian Mintzer,MSW, Ph.D. Sourcebooks August 2014 Paperback $14.99 318 pages ISBN: 9781402295904

And now ...a retir ementbook forcouples


6/24

By Marla PrellMontana Best Times

MILES CITY Gifts in a jar likethose layered cookie or soup mixes have been around for quite some time, butthey seem to be gaining in popularity

again. Evidence of that is the wildly popu-lar Holy Rosary Healthcares annual Holi-day Jar Sale fundraiser in Miles City.

The workers in the therapy departmentput together hundreds of glass jars full ofeverything from ice cream toppings todrink mixes to meal starters. Some areready to eat, while others require adding

one or more ingredients and cooking.Everyone seems to have a favorite

the dark chocolate peanut butter moltencake is a front-runner but many shop-pers select several varieties to give as giftsor to keep for themselves.

Holy Rosarys jar sale is in late Novem-ber, but the ladies spend several weeks inOctober and November putting togetherthe mixes for the event. They do it on agrand scale probably well over 500 jarsthis year but its a simple yet thoughtfulgift anyone can include in their holidayplanning.

Given from the heart Its not hard to see why the jars appeal

to many people.It seems more traditional and homey,

said Marj Anderson, who works inHRHs therapy department. Theyre fun

to look at, theyre pretty, and you can usethem as a decoration if you never makethem.

Its something easy but homemade, orgiven from the heart, Anderson said.

In previous years, Anderson has given jars to the mail carrier and others as atoken of appreciation. The next season,

December 2014 6

Fundraiser taps into food gift popularity

On the cover: Rhonda Erlenbusch, from left, Laci Donnelly and Nicole Smith start seeing the fruits of their labors as filled gift jars begin filling the space where ingredients were once piled high. Above: Nicole Smith, left, and Jessica Carter add finishingtouches to completed jars with a bright Christmas-themed cloth covering over the jars lids. MT Best Times photos by Steve Allison

Its something easy but homemade ... given from the heart. Marj Anderson

Christmas in a jar


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some have asked her eagerly, What do weget this year?

People around here have been anticipat-ing and waiting for the jar sale, she said.

Of course, in-house sales help a lot.Its been great; weve had other man-

agers from other departments, and theyllbuy enough for every employee in theirdepartment, Anderson said.

Gift jars just seem to fit the bill if peopleare looking to give something unique anda little more personal.

Easy to get started It wasnt hard for the therapy group to

get started.We had several books in and we started

picking out recipes we thought would befun to do, and we went from there,Anderson said.

Sometimes they even vote on favoriterecipes.

Books on gifts in a jar arent hard tofind, especially during the holidays, andthe Internet has a wealth of recipes andideas if you search for gifts in a jar orfood gifts.

The hospital gets a lot of recycled anddonated canning jars from the community,along with generous donations of bakingingredients or funds from local businesses.Proceeds from the sale benefit local peoplewith various medical needs, so its nothard to find support.

Sampling the goods The ladies learned that making the reci-

pes first on their own was a good idea.Recipes with dry beans, for example, canbe challenging. In one recipe, in particular,

the beans were still too firm even after therecommended soaking time.

We try to experiment and do our owncooking instructions, Anderson said.

Some recipes make for more colorful jars, with multi-colored layers and inter-esting textures.

But Anderson said looks can also bedeceiving.

Cornflakes and coconut, it doesnt lookreal appealing, but its awesome.

Some recipes they have tried but notliked as well, so its a process of elimina-tion.

Teas are a big hit, like Russian tea,she said.

The soups and skillet dishes nearlycomplete, quick meals are also verypopular. Some require simply adding ham-burger and liquids.

Other factors the group considers whenpicking recipes are ease of preparation andthe amount of ingredients required.

Organized chaos For the therapy department employees,

getting a system down is important.Our biggest thing is organization,

Anderson said. You want to make sureyou have everything, all your ingredientslaid out and sitting in front of you beforeyou start.

Running to the store for more ingredi-ents just isnt practical.

It is kind of mind boggling, especiallyon a scale of 500 jars, she said. Youmight have four 25-pound bags of sugar.

They sanitize all their jars ahead oftime, and gather measuring cups andspoons, funnels (for pouring flour and oth-

er ingredients into the jar) and anythingelse they might need.

Make notes on things that worked andthings that didnt, Anderson suggests, andbe sure to save the recipes that are popular.

We just get together and pick a nightonce a week for four weeks now to puttogether jars of whatever we have ingredi-ents on tap, Anderson said.

They also manage to turn their charita-ble activity into social time, includinggrandkids and other family members whoeither help out or play cards.

Something for everyone What recipes made the cut this year?

Some are returning favorites, and othersare interesting additions.

Besides those already mentioned, thereare:

Ice cream toppings, including peanutbutter, hot fudge and crackle topping

White chocolate lemon cookies, pea-nut butter scotchies

Brownies Fruit teas, spiced cider, mocha and

mint cocoa, toffee coffee Beef barley, chicken noodle and pasta

tortilla soup, Cajun rice dish Christmas pancakes Cakes in a coffee mug Lasagna skillet, beef stroganoff Sugar scrubs for hands or feet

Other helpful hints A quick scan of several books and Inter-

net sites offers several other tips on pre-paring gift jars:

December 2014 7

Rhonda Erlenbusch makes a quick count of the completed jars a closeup of themis shown above so the group will know how much work they have left.

SeeChristmas in a jar, Page 1


8/24

By Eleanor GuerreroMontana Best Times

RED LODGE Bill Brace Williamsled an interesting career, dividing his timebetween Red Lodge and Hollywood overthe decades, doing everything from stuntsto acting to make a living.

I even took Montana hay from local

farmers to sell to California race horseowners for years! he said with a grin.

Williams is a big, charismatic man withwhite hair and deep blue eyes. At 83, he isstill as full of energy as youd expect for aformer physical performer. His careerincluded standing in for Anthony Quinnand Andy Griffith, and he played a sheriffwith Dennis Quaid in a movie shot aroundLivingston called, Everything that Rises(1998).

Williams got to know old Hollywood,

was tapped to work as assistant to a majoragent and has many stories to tell. For thisholiday season, he shared some memories,especially about a big Christmas party in1969.

I used to work for Freddy Fields, whofounded Creative Management Associates(CMA) in Hollywood, Williams said.My office was just across from his at thevery top of a new building hed justbought that year, 1969, for $7 million. Ihad the job of making sure everything gotdone for the years big Christmas party.

Willliams said things were just begin-ning in rock and roll but they had none ofthose stars at the party.

It was old-time glamour and celebri-ties, he said.

Although Fields invited the big nameshe represented to the party SteveMcQueen, Barbara Stanwyck, Sidney

Poitier theydid not show.

As an aside, Williams mentioned, Theylater formed their own film productioncompany, First Artist Productions.

But Williams did recall meeting at theparty a friendly fellow, just making it intothe movies, a relative unknown namedTom Selleck.

He took people by surprise. He wasextremely outgoing, going around shakingeverybodys hand, said Williams. Helooked a lot younger and slimmer then, ofcourse, very trim.

Fields first secretary was Sue Mengers,who became a very famous agent to thestars.

She was friends with Bette Midler, whowas not famous at the time, Williamssaid.

But, he said, Mengers was very funny

December 2014 8

A former stuntman recalls big party with lots of stars

MT Best Times photo by Eleanor GuerreroFormer Hollywood stuntman and actor Bill Brace Williams is pictured in Red Lodge with a portable sports utility rack heinvented called CarryMe123.

Hollywood ChristmasThe

69of


9/24

Ring flushed by kid returned to familyUNION CITY, Calif. (AP) Sanitation workers have returned

an heirloom diamond and sapphire ring to a San Francisco BayArea family whose 3-year-old son flushed it down the toilet.

After several attempts, Union Sanitary District crews found thering, about a month and a half after it disappeared from Munazzarand Mehvish Tapals home in Union City.

Wastewater Collection Supervisor Shawn Nesgis tells KTVU-TV that the ring traveled about a third of a mile.

Crews flushed the sewer lines and discovered the ring aftervacuuming up debris. Nesgis equated the discovery to finding aneedle in a haystack.

The Tapals say the rings return was a miracle. Munazzar Tapalestimates the ring has been in his family for 60 years.

Mom, daughter return home with new babFORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) A Florida mother and daughter

who gave birth at the same hospital on the same day have

returned home with their new babies together.Heather Penticoff, 40, and her 20-year-old daughter DestineeMartin discovered they were pregnant the same day. Each gavebirth in Fort Myers.

Penticoffs daughter Madeline was born first and Martins sonDamien was born almost three hours later, making Penticoffsgrandson roughly the same age as her newborn daughter.

They all returned to their Lee County home, with Damienacross the hall from Madeline.

Martin tells WZVN-TV that she wasnt thrilled initially whenher mother announced her pregnancy. But she says the sharedexperience turned out a lot nicer than if it wouldnt have wentthat way.

herself. When she became an agent andpeople were questioning this new role forwomen, she blurted out, What do you

think, Im the office hooker? Williamsrecalled.But getting back to the party, Williams

said everything had to be first class.The Christmas party was catered by

Wolfgang Puck. He wasnt famous then,either, but was trying to make an impres-sion. He had lots of great shrimp, Wil-liams said.

There were lots of big shrimp cocktailsand various shrimp dishes and chateaubri-and, a fine steak dish.

Although our gathering was small, theyate lavishly, Williams said.

Williams ran around all evening.One of my jobs was to provide the

(gourmet) coffees, which were just becom-ing a thing 300 carafes, and the bestchampagne, $100 a bottle. We had an openbar, he recalled.

They had all kinds of pies and cakes fordessert.

There were coconut cream pies, pecanpies and apple, he said. Of course, you

had your chocolate cake!Burl Ives provided the entertainment at

the party. Ives was a great guy, Williams

said.Security was tight at the downstairsentrance.Later, parties were moved toBeverly Hills, Williams remembered.Fields bought a restaurant The Bistro on Rodeo Drive. There was an upstairsA Room and a downstairs B Room.

Stars that frequented The Bistro includ-ed Natalie Wood and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Years later, Wolfgang Puck bought theproperty and opened Spago.

Although Williams never met Wood orGabor, he did meet Frank Sinatra and KirkDouglas.

Fields brother Shelly Fields was afamous bandleader in the 30s, he noted.He convinced Freddy to become anagent. (Freddys) first actor client wasKirk (Douglas), fresh out of the Navy. Hewas very outgoing and quick to smile, butyou didnt push him. If you butted inwhile he was talking or wouldnt stop talk-ing in order to meet him, he would turnand walk away.

When asked what Sinatra was like, helaughed.

He didnt come to you you went to

him at his house in Palm Springs! hereplied.He met Sinatra only once and by

chance.I was standing in a line to get into The

Sands, where he was performing. He camedown the line shaking a few hands and forsome reason he picked me. He said about10 words like, How are you doing, andhe was gone.

Williams said Sinatra couldnt havestopped to chat.

If he did, the crowd would get so big!he noted.

Williams will be doing his own walkdown the line, of sorts, when he returnsto attend the Christmas Stroll in RedLodge.

I will always be a part of Red Lodge,he said.

Eleanor Guerrero may be reached [email protected] or (406)446-2222.

December 2014 9

Although our gathering was small, they ate lavishly. Bill Brace Williams

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News Lite


10/24

December 2014 10

MT Best Times photos by Jason StuartAdam Gartner holds packaged sausages hes made summer sausage in his left hand and pork sausage in his right in hisgarage in Glendive, where he makes and smokes his meats.

Glendive man is a pro at making, smoking tastymeatsSausage maker


11/24

By Jason StuartRanger-Review Staff Writer

GLENDIVE You might say sausage making is in AdamGartners blood.

Gartner, 70, a retired U.S. Postal Service worker who nowserves as a Dawson County commissioner, has been making sau-sage every year since he was a kid, and he continues to keep alivewhat is by his account an old family tradition.

My dad told me stories about doing it when he was a boy on

the farm, Gartner said.

A family traditionGartners family moved to Dawson County from North Dakota

in the 1950s, bringing their sausage making tradition with them.The family made only one type of sausage summer sausage using venison from the deer and antelope they hunted.

The fact that the Gartner family used only the meat from gamethey killed during the hunting season made their sausage makingenterprise a one-time seasonal event.

Wed only do it once a year, and that was usually in Decem-ber, Gartner said.

Between himself, his father and his siblings, the family couldharvest enough big game to make an incredible amount of sum-mer sausage in their huge smokehouse, Gartner said.

At one time I remember we had 900 pounds of summer sau-sage (in the smokehouse), he said.

Branching out When his father died, Gartner moved the old family smoke-

house to his home to carry on the tradition, though not without alearning curve.

I had a lot of trial and error, because my dad did it all bysight, Gartner said of his early efforts.

With some aid from a recipe book which Gartner said isnow so worn the binding has come undone and pages are fallingout he honed his sausage making skills.

He also started branching out from just making summer sau-sage and began working with meats besides wild game to createdifferent types of sausages, as well as making different productslike pepper sticks and jerky.

Recently, Gartner built himself a new smokehouse. He con-structed the smoker out of an old stand-up cooler from the BeerJug, a popular Glendive bar and eatery. Although he doesntsmoke as much meat as he used to, he estimates the new smokercould hold about 400 pounds of summer sausage.

So what does he do with all that sausage?I eat it, Gartner said. And I make a lot for my friends.Gartner is using his new smokehouse as an opportunity to

branch out even further.With this new smoker, Ive done some baby back ribs, and

Ive tried other things, he said.Another new product he plans to smoke is something his father

used to do. Although the family made summer sausage only dur-ing the winter, Gartner said his dad smoked a lot of fish in thesummertime, though its something hes never done.

Thats going to change however, since Gartner said somefriends gave him some fish they caught this past summer.

Im going to try some fish, he said.

Tried and true When it comes to smoking meats, Gartner said he is open to

trying pretty much anything, although he said he does have anaffinity for pork.

However, when it comes to making summer sausage, Gartnerhas stuck to the old family recipe, using only venison to make it.

Its a tradition he and his siblings, nephews and nieces havekept alive.We still get together with my sisters and family once a year,

usually in January, and have a sausage weekend, Gartner said. Ilike doing it. Ive always liked doing it.

And as far as he is concerned, theres no topping that old Gart-ner family summer sausage recipe.

I always like to taste other peoples sausage, and theres someI really like, Gartner said. Except the summer sausage. I likethe taste of ours best.

Reach Jason Stuart at [email protected] or (406)377-3303.

December 2014 11

Gartner shows the new smoker he recently built from an oldbeer cooler. The smoker can hold about 400 pounds of sum-mer sausage.

So what does he do with all thatsausage? I eat it, Gartner said.

And I make a lot for my friends.


12/24

December 2014 12

Photo by Jacques Rutten/courtesy of Lewistown News-ArgusThe Burton family Christmas tree is pictured in Lewistown several years ago. Every year at Thanksgiving, Burton familymembers head to Lewistown to help decorate the tree with lights. Last year, the tree carried 1,050 lights.

Burton family C HRISTMAS TREE a favorite in Lewistown


13/24

By Doreen HeintzMontana Best Times

LEWISTOWN The town of Lewistown is aglow with lightscome the Christmas season. One will see families driving up anddown the streets enjoying the lights and other Christmas decorationson many of the homes.

One of the most popular sights is a large Christmas tree that sits inthe yard at the corner of Water and Second streets. The tree belongsto 84-year-old Maxine Burton.

When we planted the tree in the 60s, it only stood a foot high,said Maxine. We actually planted three trees, but this is the only onethat survived thank goodness, because this one takes up most ofthe yard.

For many years, Maxine had the tree trimmed each year, but now,at over 25 feet high, it is too tall to trim.

Home for the decorating The reason the tree is so popular in Lewistown is each year Max-

ines three grown children Sam Burton Jr., Susan Spurgeon andSherry Cramer come home at Thanksgiving time to decorate itwith lights. Each year they add more lights to the tree. In 2007, thetree was lit with 900, and in 2013, Maxines three children put 1,050

lights on it.At one point it took four different circuits to run all the lights,Maxine said. But two years ago, Dick Butler helped Sam run elec-tricity to the tree. Now there are three outlets under the tree. My chil-dren were worried I might fall tripping over cords when I had to plugthem in the garage. Now, I just have to step out onto the patio andflip a couple of switches. It sure has simplified my life.

The strings of lights are all numbered, so when they are put awayafter the Christmas season, Maxines children put them in the sameorder for the following Christmas.

Strings of lights with no fuses have to be used at the top of thetree.

They string out all the lights on the floor of the garage to makesure all the bulbs are working, added Maxine. Sam is very pickywhen it comes to the bulbs, as he never wants two bulbs of the samecolor beside each other.

Several years ago, Sam found a fiberglass pole that reached to 30feet. He used the pole to place each light on the tree that was higherthan he could reach.

He places each light, while his two sisters hold the lights, andthey go around and around the tree, said Maxine. Last year, Samwas able to borrow a bucket truck to put the lights at the very top ofthe tree.

In the summer of 1999, a tornado blew through Lewistown. Manytrees were uprooted by the wind, but Maxine said her Christmas treewas unscathed.

The tornado took out my flowering crab tree and about 20 feet offthe blue spruce tree, which were by my driveway to the garage, butdid nothing to the Christmas tree, she said.

A way to celebrate Christmas Asked why her children continue to decorate the tree each year,

Maxine, a widow for 23 years, explained, We have always had atree, and my family always comes home for the holidays. We begandecorating the tree in the 1970s, and it has just continued.

I never ask them if we are going to decorate the tree this year;they just go out and start stringing the lights in the garage when theyare here for Thanksgiving. One year my two daughters did the deco-

rating all by themselves as Sam was not able to come home for theholidays.Maxine sees the tree lighting as a way for her family to celebrate

the Christmas season. Although she has four living grandchildrenand three great-grandchildren, it is her three children who still domost of the decorating.

My oldest grandson Chris helped one year, said Maxine. Hecame in and told me, Grandma, that is a lot of work. It does take awhole day to get all the lights on the tree.

Sadly, Chris lost his life in an avalanche four years ago.He died doing what he loved best, being in the mountains, Max-

ine said.It really amazes me there has never been any vandalism to the

tree over the many years, Maxine added. I know people reallyenjoy it, but I dont think they realize how much work it is eachyear.

The Christmas tree holds a special bond for Maxine and her fami-ly, as well at for the Lewistown community. Maxine remarked shesees people driving by each evening after she has turned on the lightsat about 5 p.m.

It does make my electric bill go up about $50 for the month ofDecember, but I think it is worth it, she concluded.

Reach Doreen Heintz at [email protected] or (406)535-3401.

December 2014 13

Photo courtesy of Maxine BurtonSam Burton uses a bucket truck to decorate the top of theChristmas tree in 2013.


14/24

By Kathy WittKathyWitt.com/TNS

Anyplace that celebrates Christmas year-round isalready in an advanced state of magical; during theChristmas season, however, it is nothing short ofspectacular.

Santa Claus, Indiana, has been famous for itsChristmas connection since 1856 when the townsfirst post office was established. Home to the worldsonly post office bearing the Santa Claus name, plus

Santas Candy Castle, Santa Claus Museum and Vil-lage, the circa 1935 22-foot-tall Santa Statue dedi-cated to the children of the world, Santas Lodge,the Santa Claus Christmas Store and more, its likehaving the North Pole right smack at Americascrossroads.

On Dec. 5, this tiny town located in southwesternIndiana shifts into high holiday gear with a knock-your-socks-off Christmas celebration. Chock-full offamily events and activities, the merriment takesplace over the three weekends leading up to the BigDay.

Visit Kringle Place Shopping Center to see Santas

Great Big LED Tree of Lights rising above the shoproofline. Illuminated from 5 to 10 p.m., it comes tolife on the top of each hour with a patterned lightshow choreographed to Christmas music. Completeyour shopping list at the shops at Kringle Place,including the Evergreen Boutique; the Holly TreeChristmas Shop, which will host face painting andwood-carving demonstrations; Kringle Haus Werk-statt, home of handmade artisan gifts and the Mon-key Hollow Winery; and Santa Claus ChristmasStore, where families can participate in gingerbreadhouse decorating and childrens Christmas crafts not to mention visit with Santa.

Highlights of this years Christmas Celebrationinclude the International Fruitcake Eating Champi-onship at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the SantaClaus American Legion; the Run Run Rudolph 5Kthrough Lake Rudolphs Santa Claus Land of Lights,at 4 p.m. on Dec. 6; and the Story of Santa Claus atthe Santa Claus Museum and Village. For this, alocal storyteller will bring to life Clement C.Moores beloved classic poem, A Visit from St.Nicholas, in an interactive performance. Christmascarols, music and more will accompany the presenta-tion which will also reveal how the town of SantaClaus got its name scheduled for 2 p.m. on Dec. 6

December 2014 14

Photo courtesy Spencer County Visitors Bureau/TNSA Santa Claus statue stands in front of the post office in Santa Claus,Indiana.

Santa Claus, Indiana makes for themost wonderful time of the year

Travel


15/24

and 11 a.m. on Dec. 20.Other events include Christmas Crafts

at the Courthouse in Rockport on Dec. 6,the Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show atSantas Lodge on Dec. 13 and the Festivalof Lights at Christmas Lake Village onDec. 13 and 20. Other activities includecarriage rides and chestnut roasting, pluswriting letters to Santa, chatting with anelf, catching a holiday theatre productionand having Christmas Dinner with Santa.

The entire town and surrounding countyput its holiday muscle into the celebra-tion, including the shops, lodgings,churches, court house, high school andgolf course. Activities spill over fromSanta Claus into downtown Rockport andnearby Lincoln City for a full-on holidayextravaganza that has become a Christmastradition for many families, and its theonly place in the country and the world where you can experience it.

If you goFor more information, visit www.Santa-

ClausInd.org, email [email protected] or call 888-444-9252 or 812-937-4199. Because there is so much to see anddo during the three-weekend Santa ClausChristmas Celebration, you will need alist (and checking it twice isnt a badidea). You can download a copy of theEvent Guide here.

There are plenty of choices for over-nighting in the area. Stay immersed in theNorth Pole theme with a stay at LakeRudolph Campground and RV Resort,NorthStar Vacation Rentals, Santas Cot-

tages, Santas Lodge or Silent Night Vaca-tion and Golf Rentals. All are located inthe town of Santa Claus. Other nearbylodging includes bed and breakfast innsand familiar brand name hotels.

Weekend lodging specials are availableat Lake Rudolph Campground & RVResort, Santas Cottages, Santas Lodge,Motel 6, and Rockport Comfort Inn &Suites. See what the deals are here. Ifyoure planning to visit the Santa ClausChristmas Store, download a coupon for$5 off a $25 purchase here.

Adventure guide todont-miss moments

Write a free letter to Santa at the origi-nal Santa Claus Post Office, which annu-ally receives over 400,000 pieces of mailin December. (All letters received byDecember 20 will get a reply with theSanta Claus postmark.) You can alsostamp your holiday mail with this uniquepostmark before mailing. Each yearbrings an original postmark design by alocal high school student as part of anannual contest.

Get tickets for Lincoln AmphitheatrePresents: Scrooges Christmas, at theHeritage Hills High School Auditorium,located in nearby Lincoln City, Indiana.Written and directed by Ken Jones,award-winning playwright and screen-writer and Northern Kentucky Universi-tys playwright-in-residence, it is adaptedfrom Charles Dickens classic tale, AChristmas Carol. Two shows are present-ed on both Dec. 6 and Dec. 13; three

shows are presented on Dec. 20. Experience Chestnuts Roasting on an

Open Fire at Santas Candy Castle, eve-nings on Dec. 6, 13 and 20. Originallybuilt in 1935, this red brick castle with allthe fairytale trimmings is also home to theNorth Pole Network, an interactive com-puter lab for kids that allows them to chatwith an elf, give Santa their Christmaswish list and, ahem, find out if theyre onSantas Good List and therefore eligible toreceive an official Good List Certificate.

Join the crowd at 1 p.m. on Saturday,Dec. 13, for the annual Santa ClausChristmas Parade. This tiny town of lessthan 2,500 residents has but one parade ayear and this is it, with all the holidaypomp and circumstance you might expectand Santas grand entrance.

Visit the Santa Claus Land of Lights atthe Lake Rudolph Campground and RVResort to follow the Shining Story ofRudolph. This 1.2-mile-long drive-through an LED light display is the onlyshow of its kind in North America that

tells a story in lights and storyboards.Every vehicle receives a free photo withRudolph. It is open each night of the San-ta Claus Christmas Celebration.

EDITORS NOTE: Author, travel andlifestyle writer, and travel goods expertKathy Witt feels you should never get tothe end of your bucket list; theres just toomuch to see and do in the world. She canbe reached at [email protected] orKathyWitt.com.

December 2014 15

Photos courtesy Spencer County Visitors Bureau/TNS Above: Talk to an elf from the North Pole or enjoy roasted

chestnuts at the Santas Candy Castle in Santa Claus, Indiana. Right: Santa Claus Land of Lights at the Lake Rudolph

Campground and RV Resort is a cherished event during theChristmas Celebration in the town of Santa Claus.


16/24

By Allison SteeleThe Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Betty and David Hasiuks trip to Alaska was not for thefainthearted, he says. The planes kept getting smaller andsmaller.

As David and Betty Hasiuk rode through the clouds in a smallairplane delivering mail to a remote Alaskan wilderness, thecouple realized the adventure was one of their most unusual.

The plane was the only way to reach Wrangell-St. EliasNational Park, which had been among the few national parksthat the retired couple had not yet visited. When the plane land-ed, they saw a handful of local residents waiting on the tiny run-way for letters and packages.

The journey to Wrangell-St. Elias, a 13-million-acre park big-ger than Switzerland, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity evenfor the Hasiuks, who have spent the last decade exploring all 58

of the countrys national parks. With their visit to Alaska, theycrossed off the final three on the list.

People collect different things. This is what we chose to do,said Betty Hasiuk, 68. You see America, and you see who weare as Americans. A lot of people are not even aware that theseparks are out there. To us, its an opportunity to learn about whowe are as a country.

Hasiuk, a retired schoolteacher, and her husband, a former

stockbroker, have been married for 46 years. But they did notcome up with the idea for their National Parks project until2003, when they were in Yellowstone National Park in Wyo-ming and happened to see a passport book in which visitorscould collect stamps from different national parks.

They pledged to get to each of the countrys national parksbefore David Hasiuk turned 70 a goal they accomplishedwith almost a year to spare.

December 2014 16

Above: David and Betty Hasiuk look over some of the national park maps theyve collected on their travels.Photo by Ron Tarver/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Couple have explored all 58of the countrys NATIONAL PARKS


17/24

The journeys have involved meticulousplanning, particularly when it came to theparks in far-flung areas. They visitedsome in clusters, most notably in 2010,when a six-week cross-country road triptook them more than 900 miles betweenthe Grand Canyon, the Tetons, Oregons

Crater Lake, and parks in Utah. Theiradult daughter has joined them on severaltrips as well.

Pressed to pick a favorite, the coupleoffer their top four: Yellowstone, theGrand Canyon, Yosemite in California,and the Kenai Fjords in Alaska, where, inaddition to glaciers and wilderness, theysaw whales, seals, puffins, and morewildlife.

They have collected a menagerie ofwooden animals as mementos, as well as

T-shirts, artwork, and books that tell thelocal histories of the parks.

The Hasiuks know they are not theonly two people who have traveled toeach park, but they have never met any-one else who has done it. Thats partlybecause, as Betty Hasiuk said, some of

the trips may not appeal to the averagevacationer. Though they have stayed innice hotels and primitive ones, many ofthe places they have visited have no tele-visions or cellphone reception. In mostareas, there is no nightlife.

They have never added up the cost oftheir travels, but the trips have rangedfrom car rides with picnic lunches to, inthe case of the last Alaska trip, 12 flights(purchased with help from their manyfrequent-flier miles).

Its not for the fainthearted, DavidHasiuk said. The planes kept gettingsmaller and smaller.

The last Alaska trip also took place at atime when the sun is in the sky almostround the clock. Over the course of theirentire two-week trip, they never saw it set

or rise, and had to draw thick curtainsover the windows as they slept.With 58 items crossed off the list, the

Hasiuks are still deciding on their nexttravel goal. But they have already identi-fied a few National Parks where theyneed to return because, they said, theynever got their book stamped.

We have to go back to Hawaii, BettyHasiuk said, laughing. Also, the VirginIslands. We didnt plan it that way, butthats where we have to go.

December 2014 17

Above left and right: The Hasiukslook at the national park pass-

port stamps and maps they havecollected after visiting all of the

nations 58 national parks.

Right: Shown is a photo of Davidand Betty Hasiuk taken at Bettles

lodge in Alaska the night theyfinished visiting the last of all 58national parks. It is surrounded

by items they have collected fromparks on their travels.

Photo by Ron Tarver/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS


18/24

Be sure to use the size of jar that therecipe specifies.

Make one jar first to see how theingredients will fit the space.

Make your own tags with instructionson how to prepare the mix or use a tem-plate from a book or website.

If covering the jar with fabric, you can

use a small salad plate to draw a circle onthe fabric large enough to leave somefringe below the lid.

Another decorative covering is a color-ful cupcake liner or tissue paper placedsimilar to fabric liners.

If you dont have a funnel to sift ingre-dients into jars, a rolled coffee filter maydo the trick.

To keep flour off the sides of the jar, you can shape waxed paper into acone long enough to reach near the bot-tom.

In general, layering finer ingredients

below coarser ingredients should keepthings from settling too much.

You can cut small circles of waxedpaper to put between layers, if you like.

You can use a small flat-bottomedglass to pat down ingredients as you layerthem.

For dry layers consisting of multiple

ingredients, blend them well. You may want to make sure a jar recip-

ient doesnt have a gluten or other foodallergy, since many mixes contain flour ornuts.

To add a more decorative touch, attacha mixing spoon, measuring spoons, hotpad, cookie cutter or other accessory to thelid with some ribbon or raffia. Dont for-get to attach the recipe or a personalizedgift tag!

Reach Marla Prell at mceditor@midriv-

ers.com or (406) 234-0450.

December 2014 18

Christmas in a jar, from Page 7

Above: Soup jars are on tap next as Nicole Smith and Heidi Brown begin filling the next group of jars.

Cozy up to the fire(without having to stoke it)

Sip something warm(without having to brew it)

Meet a friend (without leaving home)

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CALL TODAY for a Tour& Complimentary Lunch


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December 2014 19

Gallatin County - American Cancer Society-Road to

Recovery: Drivers needed for patientsreceiving treatments from their home to thehospital - American Red Cross Blood Drive: Two

volunteer opportunities available: an ambas-sador needed to welcome, greet, thank andprovide overview for blood donors; andphone team volunteers needed to remind,recruit or thank blood donors. Excellent cus-tomer service skills needed, training will beprovided, flexible schedule.

- Befrienders: Befriend a senior; visit on aregular weekly basis. - Belgrade Senior Center: Meals on

Wheels needs regular and substitute drivers,before noon, Monday-Friday, to delivermeals to seniors. - Big Brothers Big Sisters: Be a positive

role model for only a few hours each week.- Bozeman and Belgrade Sacks Thrift

Stores: Need volunteers 2-3-hour shifts onany day, Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.- Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: Volunteers

needed for the information desks in the Atri-um and the Perk, 8 a.m.-noon, noon- 4 p.m.- Bozeman Senior Center Foot Clinic:

Retired or nearly retired nurses are urgentlyneeded, two days a month, either 4- or8-hour shifts.- Community Caf: Volunteer needed, 2-3

hours at the beginning and end of the month,to enter computer data into Excel spread-sheets.- Galavan: Volunteer drivers needed Mon-day-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. CDL required and

Galavan will assist you in obtaining one.Also volunteers are needed to make remindercalls and confirm rides for the following day.- Gallatin Rest Home: Volunteers wanted

for visiting the residents, sharing yourknowledge of a craft, playing cards or read-ing to a resident.- Gallatin Valley Food Bank: Volunteers

needed to deliver commodities to seniors intheir homes once a month. Deliveries in Bel-grade are especially needed.- HRDC Housing Department Ready to

Rent: Offering a comprehensive curriculumfor families and individuals who have rentalbarriers such as lack of poor rental history,property upkeep, renter responsibilities,landlord/tenant communication and financialpriorities. Call or email Kate at 585-4856 [email protected] for more informa-tion.- HRDC Vita Program: Volunteer Income

Tax Assistance Program: Volunteers neededto help with paperwork beginning at the endof January, training provided.- Habitat for Humanity Restore: Belgrade

store needs volunteers for general help, sort-

ing donations and assisting customers.- Heart of The Valley: Compassionate vol-

unteers especially needed to love, play withand cuddle cats.- Help Center: Computer literate volunteer

interested in entering data into a social ser-vices database. Also volunteers needed tomake phone calls to different agencies/pro-grams to make sure database is up to dateand make safety calls to home boundseniors.- Jessie Wilber Gallery at The Emerson:

Volunteers needed on Wednesdays, Thurs-days, and Fridays to greet people at the maindesk, answer questions and keep track thenumber of visitors.- Museum of the Rockies: Variety of oppor-

tunities available such as helping in the giftshop and more.- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to quilt,

knit, crochet and embroider hats for chemopatients, baby blankets and other handmadegoods once a week (can work from home).- Three Forks Food Bank: Volunteer needed

on Mondays and/or Thursdays to help withadministrative duties, including answerphones and questions, some paper and com-puter work. They will train.- WWAMI Interview Participation: Letting

a medical student interview you to practicegood communication skills and learn how togather information about a patient.- Warming Center: Volunteers are needed

for overnight shifts at the center, training isprovided.

- Your unique skills and interests are need-ed, without making a long-term commit-ment, in a variety of ongoing, special, one-time events.

Contact: Debi Casagranda, RSVP Pro-gram Coordinator, 807 N. Tracy, Bozeman,

MT 59715; phone (406) 587-5444; fax (406)582-8499; email:[email protected].

Park County - Big Brothers Big Sisters: Mentor and pos-

itive role model to a boy or girl, one hour aweek. Also needed is a Community ProgramMentor, who matches children and adults tofind that perfect fit for both.- City of Livingston: Needs volunteers to

help with mailings and other work stationsthat require standing and walking.- Fix-It-Brigade: Needs volunteers of all

skill levels for two-hour tasks on your sched-ule to help seniors or veterans with smallhome repairs, such as changing a light bulb,shoveling snow, or weatherization.- Links for Learning: Help needed with 1st-

5th graders, one hour a week on Tuesday orWednesday, after school, with reading,homework, or playing games.- Livingston Health and Rehab: Activity

volunteers needed weekends for bingo call-ers and movie showings, Monday throughFriday, 9-11 a.m.; for coffee and reading thelocal news, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7 p.m.movie night.- Loaves and Fishes and/or Food Pantry:

Many volunteer opportunities available.- RSVP: Volunteers to give people rides to

doctor or other appointments.- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to knit and

crochet caps and scarves for each child atHead Start, also as gifts for children of prena-tal classes, Thursdays at 1 p.m. at the SeniorCenter. Also needed: donated fabric (a yardor more pieces) for projects for prenatal nurs-ing classes which include nursing capes andbaby care packages for new mothers.- Senior Center Main Streeter Thrift Store:

Someone who enjoys working with the pub-lic. Come help greet customers, ring up pur-chases, tag and hang clothes and acceptdonations.- Shane Center: Friendly volunteers needed

to greet, answer questions and show peoplearound the center on Tuesdays and Fridays.Also a need for volunteers to research theold East Side School building, collecting sto-ries and finding pictures of past teachers,students and the building itself.- Stafford Animal Shelter: Volunteers need-

ed to play with the cats and kittens, and towalk the dogs.- Yellowstone Gateway Museum: Volun-

teers needed for a variety of exciting proj-ects.- Various other agencies are in need of your

unique skills and help in a variety of ongoingand one-time special events, including helpwith mailings needed.

Contact: Deb Downs, Program Coordina-tor, 206 So. Main St., Livingston, MT 59047;

phone (406) 222-8181; email: [email protected]

Fergus & Judith Basin counties- Boys and Girls Club and Local School:

Need volunteers to serve as tutors.- Community Cupboard (Food Bank): vol-

unteers are needed to help any week morn-ings as well as with deliveries. - Council on Aging: volunteers needed to

assist at the Senior Center (Grub Steaks) andwith home delivered meals and senior trans-portation. - Library and Art Center: Volunteer help

always appreciated.- ROWL (Recycle Our Waste Lewistown):

Recruiting volunteers for the third Saturdayof the month to help sorting, baling andloading recyclables.

- Treasure Depot: thrift store needs volun-teers to sort, hang clothes and put other items

SeeRSVP , Page 2

Below is a list of volunteer openings available through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) incommunities across southern Montana. To learn more about RSVP, call (800) 424-8867 or TTY (800) 833-3722;or log on to www. seniorcorps.org.

RSVP


20/24

When I was making my rounds as an advertising repre-sentative for The Livingston Enterprise several yearsago, I stopped at a local grocery store to pick up its adcopy. The store owner was busy taking an order from alocal church. A member of the congregation was readingfrom a list of ingredients for the plum pudding churchmembers sell annually during the holidays.

She mentioned our, sugar, raisins, suet and manyother ingredients. When she nished, she hadnt men-tioned plums.

When I pointed out the omission to her, the reply was,Plum pudding doesnt have any plums in it.

Your Best Times recipe contributor was shocked. Plumpudding without any dried plums? That was not kosher.

There had to be a recipe for plum pudding that actu-ally contained dried plums. I made it my mission to ndone.

A relative gave me a recipe book for Christmas thatsame year. The author was Jeff Smith, who hosted acooking show on TV many years ago. The plum pud-

ding recipe it contained called forchopped dried plums (prunes).

With that recipe as a guide, Imade legitimate plum puddingevery year for the holidays. My sonand I were particularly fond of thedessert.

You can use the recipe and serveit to relatives and dinner guests sothey wont have to eat counterfeitplum pudding this year.

The recipe below is taken fromthat cookbook.

When cold air is nipping at yournose, a hot toddy is a very warmand satisfying cocktail. Its also a very simple drink thatdoesnt require a college degree in mixology. With yourfavorite tea bag, the cocktail can be avored just aboutany way youd like. Try a hot toddy when Jack Frost paysyou a visit.

On The Menu With Jim Durfey

December 2014 20

Plum Pudding1/4 c. butter (1 stick), at room temperature1 c. sugar6 eggs1/2 c. chopped citron1 1/2 c. pitted prunes, chopped1/2 c. dark raisins1 c. pecans, coarsely chopped1/2 c. all-purpose flour1 1/2 c. fine bread crumbs1 tsp. ground cinnamon1 tsp. ground nutmeg1/2 tsp. ground allspiceWhipped cream, for garnish

Cream butter and sugar together in electric mixer. Beat ineggs, one at a time. Combine citron, prunes, raisins, andpecans in another bowl. Add flour to fruit-nut mixture andtoss. Add to egg mixture along with bread crumbs,

cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Blend for one minute.Grease and flour souffle dish, about 4 by 7. Pour batterinto pan and bake at 350 for 50 to 55 minutes, or untilnicely browned. Serve warm by spooning out, or cool andcut into pieces. Garnish with whipped cream. Makes eightservings.

Hot Toddy1 1/2 oz. brandy, whiskey, or rum1 tbsp. honey1/4 lemon1 c. hot water1 tea bag

Coat bottom of mug or Irish coffee glass with honey. Addliquor and juice of a lemon quarter. On the side, heat waterin tea kettle and add tea bag to make hot tea. Pour steamingtea into mug and stir.

Counterfeit plum pudding? Not this year!

Iowa woman locked upafter shes locked out of home

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Police say an Iowa woman who waslocked out of her apartment has been locked up after officers whohelped her regain entry found pot plants and drug paraphernaliainside. Iowa City police say 19-year-old Jailin Turner is charged withpossession of a controlled substance and other crimes. Its unclear

whether she has an attorney. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the officers were sent toinvestigate a report early Friday morning about a woman yellingand banging on an apartment window. She told them shed lost herkeys. The officers said in the complaint that when firefighters brokeinto the apartment, two bongs were in plain view.

Officials also said they found a scale, potted marijuana plantsand grow lights.

News Lite


21/24

Tuesday, December 2

Holiday Market Room ,Tuesdays-Saturdays, through Dec. 24, Lewistown

Thursday, December 4

Retired and Seniors VolunteerProgram Holiday Open House , Miles City

Friday, December 5

Christmas Stroll , 5:30-8 p.m.,downtown Dillon

Christmas Stroll , 5:30-8 p.m.,around Miles City

Barn Players , Inc., A Fairy TaleChristmas Carol family play anddessert bar, through Dec. 6, doorsopen 7:30 p.m., production begins8 p.m., Eagles Lodge RainbowRoom, Miles City

Christmas Stroll , through Dec.6, 6-9 p.m., Red Lodge

Saturday December 6

North Pole Adventure , CharlieRussell Chew Choo, Saturdays,through Dec. 20, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Lewistown

Sunday, December 7

Monarch-Neihart Communityand Senior Center all you caneat breakfast , 8-11 a.m., Neihart

Christmas to Remember , 11a.m.-6:30 p.m., Laurel

Friday, December 12

Festival of Trees, 4 p.m., Townand Country Club, Miles City

Winter Art Walk , 6-8 p.m.,downtown Bozeman

Saturday, December 13

Ice Sculpting Contest , 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Butte

Holiday Candlelight Tours ofLewis and Clark Caverns , 10a.m.-2:45 p.m., Whitehall

Winter Wonderland , 1-5 p.m.,Belle Prairie Road, Glendive

Crazy Mountain MuseumChristmas Open House , 1-5

p.m., Big Timber

Billings Symphony: HolidayTour of Homes , 7:30 p.m.,Billings

Sunday, December 14

Crazy Mountain MuseumChristmas Open House , 1-5 p.m., Big Timber

Christmas Bird Count , 3 p.m.,West Yellowstone

Thursday, December 18

Rodeo Run Sled Dog Races ,through Dec. 20, West Yellowst


Holiday Candlelight Tours ofLewis and Clark Caverns ,through Dec. 22, 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m., Whitehall


Billings Symphony: HolidaySpectacular , 7 p.m., Alberta BaiTheater, Billings

Sunday, December 21


Southeastern Montana Fiddlers 2-5 p.m., Range Riders Museum Miles City

Wednesday, December 24

Christmas Eve TorchlightParade and Services , 5:30-9 p.m., Big Sky


Ice Skating at Bannack StatePark , through Feb. 28, Dillon

Holiday Candlelight Tours ofLewis and Clark Caverns , 10a.m.-2:45 p.m., Whitehall

Wednesday, December 31

Billings Symphony , Orchestraand Chorale, Beatles Tribute:Classical Mystery Tour, 8 p.m., Albe rta Bair Theater, Billings

December 2014 21

December 2014 CalendarRSVP, from Page 19 on display for sale. - Always have various needs

for your skills and volunteer ser-vices in our community.

Contact: RSVP VolunteerCoordinator, 404 W. Broadway,Wells Fargo Bank building,(upstairs), Lewistown, MT59457; phone (406) 535-0077;email: [email protected].

Musselshell, GoldenValley & Petroleumcounties - America Reads: Tutor stu-

dents in the important skill ofreading. Other tutoring is inter-twined with this program. - Food Bank: Distribute food

commodities to seniors and oth-ers in the community; helpunload the truck as needed. - Meals on Wheels Program:

Deliver meals to the house-bound in the community, justone day a week, an hour and ahalf, meal provided. - Nursing Home: Piano play-

ers and singers needed on Fri-days to entertain residents,also assistant needed in activi-ties for residents to enrich sup-ported lifestyle.- School Lunch Program: Help

serve and supervise children inthe lunch room, meal provided. - Senior Bus: Volunteers to

pickup folks whom are unableto drive themselves. - Senior Center: Volunteers are

needed to provide meals, cleanup in the dining room and/orkeep records; meal provided. - RSVP offers maximum flex-

ibility and choice to its volun-teers as it matches the personalinterests and skills of olderAmericans with opportunities toserve their communities. Youchoose how and where to serve.Volunteering is an opportunityto learn new skills, make friendsand connect with your commu-nity.

Contact: Amanda Turley,South Central MT RSVP, 3151/2 Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup,

MT 59072; phone (406) 323-1403; fax (406) 323-4403;email: [email protected] ; Facebook: South Central

MT RSVP.

Custer & Rosebudcounties - Clinic Ambassador: Need

volunteer to greet patients andvisitors, providing directionsand more.- City of Miles City and Mon-

tana Dept. of Military Affairs:Clerical assistance needed.- Custer County Food Bank:

Volunteers needed for food dis-tribution Tuesdays, Wednesdaysand Thursdays.- Custer County Network

Against Domestic Violence:Crisis line volunteer needed. - Historic Miles City Acade-

my: Volunteers needed to assistin thrift store and maintenance.- Holy Rosary Health Care:

Volunteer receptionists neededat the front desk.- Kircher School: Volunteer to

deliver lunches from Miles Cityto school, 2-3 times per week,lunch provided and mileagepaid. - St. Vincent DePaul: Volun-

teers to assist in several differentcapacities. - WaterWorks Art Museum:

Volunteer receptionists needed,2 hour shifts Tuesdays-Sundays.

If you are interested in theseor other volunteer opportunities please contact: Betty Vail, RSVP Director; 210 Winchester Ave.#225, MT 59301; phone (406)234-0505; email: [email protected].

Dawson County - Local Farm to Table Store:

Someone to help in and duringstore hours, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.- RSVP Program: Looking to

establish Telephone Reassur-ance program entailing volun-teers (needed) calling shut-inson a regular basis to check ontheir welfare. If you have a need for or a spe-cial interest or desire to volun-teer somewhere in the commu-nity, please contact: Patty

Atwell, RSVP Director, 604Grant, Glendive, MT 59330;

phone (406) 377-4716; email:[email protected].


22/24

Q. Whats up when an oceanic dolphinengages in the activity of logging?

A. Inactivity is a better word for it. Here adolphin rests on the surface of the water,looking a lot like a floating log, as reportedin National Geographics UltimateBodypedia, by Christina Wilsdon, et al.Dolphins are air-breathing mammals thatneed to keep drawing in air as they sleep, soevery few minutes, they need to re-awakenand return to the surface. Their way ofdoing this is to sleep only one side of theirbrain at a time; the other side is just awake

enough to remember to come up for air veryregularly and to keep an eye out for danger.Most other ocean mammals also engage inthis half-brain sleeping.

Q. A number of recent studies invarious countries have found that high-school students perform better whenschool starting times are pushed back to8:30 a.m. or later. Why?

A. Biological research shows thatcircadian rhythms shift during the teenyears, pushing boys and girls to stay up laterat night and sleep later into the morning,

reports Mark Fischetti in ScientificAmerican magazine. Driven by melatoninin the brain, this shift starts around age 13and gradually increases until it peaks at ages17-19. Delaying high-school starting timeso that teens can get closer to their optimaleight or nine hours of sleep had dramaticeffects: grades improved on average by aquarter letter, attendance increased,depression rates decreased and car crashesdeclined. The common arguments againstlater starting time that they interfere withafter-school activities or part-time jobs are not supported by data. Even the busissue can be resolved by bussing youngchildren first and teens last, since theyounger ones are more awake and ready tolearn early in the morning.

Says education researcher KylaWahlstrom, Once these school districtschange, they dont want to go back.

Q. In an emergency, could you receivea blood transfusion from the family dogor some other animal?

A. Not on your life. As you know, blood

types and compatibility are critical issues. Itwas 1901 when Karl Landsteiner discoveredblood types A, B and O, says VeroniqueGreenwood in Discover magazine. Todaythere are fully 33 typing systems recognizedby the International Society of BloodTransfusion, with names like Lutheran,Duffy, Hh/Bombay and Ok. Blood typesrefer to the different molecules on thesurface of red blood cells, which ifmismatched can trigger a fatal immunereaction.

Interestingly, blood types are not uniqueto humans; dogs have more than a dozen.Before blood types were discovered, doctorsexperimented with transfusions betweenhumans and animals, with disastrous results.In 1667, physician Jean-Baptiste Denistwice infused a man with calfs blood,attempting to cure his mental illness, butafter a larger second transfusion, he beganvomiting and passing black urine. With thethird transfusion, the man died. Denis wastried for murder but was acquitted whenevidence pointed to the patient having beenpoisoned with arsenic. As historian HollyTucker wrote in her book Blood Work:

Other doctors had orchestrated thepoisoning, fearing the procedure wasmorally dangerous, and wanting to makesure Denis failed before he started a trend.

Q. What does a car sound like, andwho cares?

A. Make that a new car, and plenty ofpeople care, especially those in the marketfor one and those eager to make a sale.Manufacturers are well aware of howconsumers take a rather extensiveautomotive sounding, says Pam FrostGorder in New Scientist magazine. Givethat door a slam! Does it issue a pleasingthunk? When safety legislation insisted onextra metal in doors, a tinny sound resulted,requiring some adjustment in the weight ofother door components such as door locksand hinge design, to achieve a cleanslamming sound.

Also, tap on the dashboard. As many asone out of four would-be buyers in one studyactually did so as they looked over a car,meaning the acoustics of the glovecompartment might become a selling or

killing feature. Finally, fiddle with thewindows. Experiments suggest that toconvey high-quality, electric windowsshould sound quiet and dull and have astable motor speed when opened or closed. Itseems we prefer our windows to be boring.

Q. The bright red bumper sticker onthe car ahead of you reads, If this stickeris blue, then you are driving too fast.Physicists get the joke. Do you?

A. First, a quick lesson on the Dopplereffect: When a fire truck races on past, thesiren comes toward you at one pitch, then

the pitch drops noticeably as it goes by, saysJohn Henshaw in an (equation) for everyoccasion = 52 formulas + (why) theymatter. The Doppler effect also works withlight waves, with the color of anapproaching object appearing bluer (higherpitch) and one moving away appearingredder (lower pitch). But the speed oflight (186,000 miles per second) is so muchlarger than the speed of a car that the colorshifts are entirely negligible. Indeed, to shifta red bumper sticker all the way to blue, youwould have to approach the car in front ofyou at about 60 percent the speed of light, or112,000 miles per second! Hence the joke.

The radar guns used by police to measurevehicle speeds rely on the Doppler effect.They emit microwaves that bounce off thecar and back again, where their frequency ismeasured. The change in frequency(pitch) from the transmitted to thereflected microwaves reveals the speed ofthe target. Though these changes are tiny,they have been accurately measured formany years: Police first used this type oftechnology against speeding cars in theUnited States in 1954. Christian Johann

Doppler would have been proud.Q. What does the University of

California, Berkeley, Wellness Lettermean when it cautions, Stay well! Betterrespect a hericane as much as ahimicane? Dont let such stormy, ifnominal, sexism blow you away.

A. According to the Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences, peopletend to perceive female-named storms asless of a threat and thus become moresusceptible to their deadly consequences,

December 2014 22

By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at [email protected]

What is a dolphin doing when its logging ?


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the newsletter reports. When researcherslooked at 92 strong hurricanes that hit theU.S. between 1950-2012, they found thatthose with more feminine names were dead-lier, and further calculated that changingthe more masculine name of a severe hurri-cane to a more feminine one could almosttriple the death toll a hazardous form ofimplicit sexism.

It appears that female storms stereo-typed as weak and passive are not tak-en as seriously as their strong and aggres-sive male counterparts, resulting in less pre-paredness. Perhaps its time to switch tounisex names for hurricanes like Ariel,Brett, Cassidy, Dylan, Randy and Terry, thenewsletter suggests. Or as one radio showhost quipped, at least give female hurricanes

foreboding nicknames, like TiffanytheDevourer of Worlds.

Q. Cat lovers, you probably alreadyknow that cats are solitary hunters ofsmall prey, unlike large-game pack-hunt-ing dogs. But can you cite some lesserknown catty curiosities?

A. Did you think of these? Since cats hunteven when not hungry, they consume barely

a quarter of their prey, while most are simplyleft in situ, or brought back as gifts forlucky cat owners, says Gemma Tarlach inDiscover magazine. As typical low-lighthunters, cats have evolved enormous eyes,with outdoor cats tending toward being far-sighted, indoor cats nearsighted. Still, eventhough cats cant focus well up close, they

can rely on their whiskers and excellentsense of smell to complete most tasks. Theirsense of taste, however, is limited, cats beingone of the few mammals that lack tastereceptors for sweetness, perhaps becausethey need meat, not sweets. Cats are obli-gate carnivores that get their energy fromprotein rather than carbohydrates.

Says Tarlach, Well soon have a com-plete genetic image of cats, since recentlythe 99 Lives Cat Whole Genome SequenceInitiative began collecting DNA samplesfrom cats worldwide. The resulting data-base will be used to research both felinediseases and some human ailments, includ-ing diabetes, which affect cats similarly and for which we share risk factors such as asedentary lifestyle.

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The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its af liates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. In Washington, the Program is underwrittenby Trumbull Insurance Company. AARP and its af liates are not insurance agencies or carriers and do not employ or endorse insurance agents, brokers, representatives or advisors. The program is provided by TheHartford, not AARP or its af liates. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays a royalty fee to AARP for the use of AARPs intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership isrequired for Program eligibility in most states. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. Speci c features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordancewith state lings and applicable law. The premiums quoted by an authorized agent for any Program policy include the additional costs associated with the advice and counsel that your authorized agent provides. 107995

Across 1 Jewelers concerns9 Coke product15 Passed16 Top Hat dancer17 How Dickens novelswere first published18 Is wild about19 Backwash creator20 Montreal Canadiensall-time leading pointscorer22 Toon shopkeeper23 Signals ones pres-ence, in a way25 Highly visible septet27 Year in Clement VIIIspapacy28 Piquancy29 Silly sorts30 Jump back into thefray32 Clingy husk33 Paper fatteners34 Flips38 Hot air ballooningwatchdog: Abbr.39 Almond confection

40 About 1% of theEarths atmosphere43 Engine once known as

Live Search44 Abbey section45 Gig at the brig47 Your alternative, attimes48 Taper off 49 1974 top ten hit forCarole King51 Kenyan export53 Green Giant morsel55 Dietary practice57 Efface58 Sea along the Balkanpeninsula59 Letter closing60 Buoys up

Down1 Underwhelming2 She played PrincipalMcGee in Grease3 View providers4 Prefix with athlete5 Right-leaning type?:Abbr.6 Bourbon Street city,

informally7 Drivers can be seen inthem

8 Broad view9 Mountebank10 Five-time A.L. homerun champ11 A BMOC may have abig one12 Colorful cover-up13 Brunch order14 Guarantee

21 Whisking target24 Miss badly26 Blofelds cat, in Bond

films27 Picture of health?28 Im off!31 Baryshnikov move32 Wimbledon five-peat-er34 Largest moon of Jupi-ter35 Fondness

36 Submits, as an exampaper37 Topeka-to-Peoria dir.

39 Bar __40 Handout from a chair41 40th anniversary sym-bols42 Unintelligible talk43 Sawyer of old comics46 Antiques Roadshowexpert47 Booth warning sign50 Onetime capital of theMughal Empire52 Pacers and Ramblers54 Bk. of the Torah56 Baseballs Ryan Zim-merman or Jordan Zim-mermann, briefly

Crossword

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montana best times december 2014

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