December 2015 Best Times

8/20/2019 December 2015 Best Times

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Musician is all about the bass

Food bank director fights hunger

Helping young campers

Chocolate for charity

December 2015



December 2015 — 2

Bookshelf .................................................Page 3

Opinion ....................................................Page 4

Savvy Senior ............................................Page 5

Big Sky Birding .......................................Page 14

Calendar ...................................................Page 18

Volunteering .............................................Page 19

On the Menu ............................................1

Strange But True ......................................Page 22

INSIDE

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Weather device falls from skyPHILADELPHIA (AP) — The National Weather Service says

an instrument that fell from the sky, prompting a Philadelphiabomb squad response, weighed about a pound and had beenlaunched with a weather balloon about 165 miles away.

Mitchell Gaines, of the weather service in Mount Holly, New Jer-sey, says the instrument called a radiosonde took off from the agen-cy’s office in Sterling, Virginia. High winds carried it to Philadelphia.

Radiosondes are sent up by balloons, taking and transmitting mea-

surements to their home stations as they ascend. When the balloonreaches a certain altitude it pops, and the instrument floats to theground. It has a postage-paid mailbag inside so finders can return it.

Philly.com reports a bomb squad responded when the radio-sonde fell from the sky in northeast Philadelphia and struck avehicle.

Board wants pet DNA to track down poopersDESTIN, Fla. (AP) — Some Florida condo owners are steam-

ing after their homeowners association asked them to submit theirdog’s DNA in order to fine owners who don’t pick up after theirpets.

Harbor Landing residents said they received a letter last weekand some feel it’s an invasion of privacy. The letter asked resi-dents to register their dogs and cats with the association through aDNA test, citing a significant increase in the amount of animal

feces found throughout the property recently, including inside theelevators.

The News Herald reports pet owners would have to pay for theDNA test, registration fee and any potential cleanup fees.

Condo officials say it’s a voluntary process and that the mea-sure is only meant to help keep the property clean.

News Lite



December 2015 — 4

Holiday season can often have two sidesWe didn’t set out to do it, but this issue of MontanaBest Times contains stories from two opposite ends ofthe holiday spectrum.

On the one hand, there are upbeat articles about agroup in Miles City — the Range Riders Reps — sellingchocolate treats for a charitable cause (Page 6), and Help-ing Hands Food Bank Director Linda Conner’s work andcommunity involvement (Page 10), which includes spe-cial gift boxes during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Then, on the other hand, there is a story about how to

prevent seasonal depression (Page 17).Quite a contrast. And yet, the two ends of that spec-

trum so often come into play during the holiday season.While most celebrate the season with gladness, there aremany people who struggle this time of year — eitherfrom simple biological causes like the lack of light thatcan bring depression, as described in the Page 17 story;or from loneliness, broken relationships or difficulthealth circumstances, which can be felt more keenlywhen people around you are being festive at Thanksgiv-ing and Christmas.

There are more people dealing with that downside ofthe holidays than you might think.

So do something this Christmas season. If you knowof anyone who is not having the greatest Christmas,reach out to them in some way — a visit, a card, a phonecall. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Just a kind word forsomeone in pain goes a long way.

And that would truly be honoring the spirit of the sea-son.

– Dwight Harriman

Montana Best Times Editor

Dwight Harriman, Editor • Cheyenne Crooker, 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] • Subscription rate: $25/yr.

Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana

Opinion



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.

December 2015 — 5

How to Split Pills Safely Dear Savvy Senior,

Is pill splitting safe? I have several friends who cut their pills

in half in order to save money, but I have some concerns. What

can you tell me?

– Cautious Kim

Dear Kim,

Pill splitting — literally cutting them in half — has become apopular way to save on pharmaceutical costs but you need to talk

to your doctor or pharmacist first, because not all pills can besplit.

The reason pill splitting is such a money saver is because of aquirk in the way drugs are manufactured and priced. A pill that’stwice as strong as another may not be twice the price. In fact, it’susually about the same price. So, buying a double-strength doseand cutting it in half may allow you to get two months worth ofmedicine for the price of one. But is it safe? As long as your doc-tor agrees that splitting your pills is OK for you, you learn how todo it properly, and you split only pills that can be split, there’sreally no danger.

» Ask your doctor

If you’re interested in splitting your pills, talk to your doctor orpharmacist to find out if any of the medicines you use can besafely split. It’s also important to find out whether splitting themwill save you enough money to justify the hassle.

The pills that are easiest to split are those with a score downthe middle. However, not every pill that’s scored is meant to besplit. Pills that are most commonly split include:

• Cholesterol lowering drugs, like Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor,Pravachol and Zocor.

• Antidepressants, like Lexapro, Celexa, Serzone, Paxil andZoloft.

• High blood pressure medicines such as, Accupril, Zestril,Diovan, Avapro, Norvasc, Tenormin, Toprol and Cardura.

• Erectile dysfunction pills, like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

»Use a splitter Having the right equipment is very important too. Don’t use a

knife or scissors to cut your pills in half. It can cause you to splitthem unevenly resulting in two pieces with very different dosag-es, which can be dangerous. Purchase a proper pill cutter that hasa cover and a V-shaped pill grip that holds the pill securely inplace. You can find them at most pharmacies for $3 to $10.

For convenience, you might be tempted to split the whole bot-tle of pills at once. But it’s best to do the splitting on the day youtake the first half, and then take the other half on the second dayor whenever you are scheduled to take your next dose. That willhelp keep the drugs from deteriorating due to exposure to heat,moisture, or air. It will also help ensure that any deviation in thesize of one dose is compensated in the next. It’s also important toknow that pills are only safely split in half, and never into smallerportions such as into thirds or quarters.

»Don’t split these Some pills should never be split. Drugs that are time-released

or long-lasting and tablets that contain a combination of drugs

probably shouldn’t be split, because it’s difficult to ensure a prop-er amount of active ingredient in each half. Pills with a coating toprotect your stomach, and pills that crumble easily or irritate yourmouth shouldn’t be split either, along with chemotherapy drugs,anti-seizure medicines, birth control pills and capsules containingpowders or gels.

Again, your doctor or pharmacist will know which drugs canand cannot be split. If you’re taking a medicine that can be split,you’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor for twice thedosage you need. Then you can start splitting safely, and saving.

–––––Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443,

Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.



December 2015 — 6

Chocolate

for charity

MT Best Times photos by Steve Allison

On the cover: Pam Bovee, of Range Riders Reps, whipsup a chocolate treat for the Range Riders Reps’ fund-raising effort. Above: Bovee dumps peanuts into warmchocolate while creating a tasty delight for the RangeRiders Reps to sell.

By Amorette Allison

Montana Best Times

MILES CITY — The Range Riders Reps — the ladies auxil-iary to the Range Riders Museum members — have beenaround for 75 years, helping raise funds to support the muse-um. Many of those efforts have revolved around food.

The Reps most recent project, Chocolate Confectionary,which as been going on for the past several years, is no differ-ent.

The idea for Chocolate Confectionary came up at a meetingwhen longtime Reps member Bernice Criswell mentioned hav-ing a chocolate-only bake sale. Denise Hartse, another long-time member and former officer of the group, thought that wasa great idea. Hartse was involved with the committee puttingtogether Moonlight Madness, an October promotion for down-town.

Why not sell chocolate stuff at the Moonlight Madness?

So, they did. Very successfully.The next obvious question was: Why not sell chocolate stuff

at the Christmas Stroll?While the sale itself was successful, the weather was not

always inviting and the Reps, whose current members range inage mostly from early 50s to their early 90s, weren’t thatenthusiastic about sitting outside in sometimes bitterly coldweather.

Hartse, however, who was involved in lots of other organiza-tions and events, was dealing with Grounds for Change, anorganization that assists local children and families with heathand dental care, educational needs, mental health, social needsand with housing when residents are facing severe financial

hardship.In 2013, Grounds for Change sponsored a Festival of Trees

event in Miles City. Trees were donated and decorated byarea residents, businesses and organizations, then auctionedat an event held inside the Miles City Town and CountryClub.

Would the Reps be interested in being one of the vendors atthe inaugural event?

Hartse said the Reps “got in on the ground floor” with theFestival of Trees, selling chocolate items at a holiday eventheld inside — where it is warm.

So Chocolate Confectionary, which started as a vague sug-

gestion at a meeting has turned into a substantial fundraiser forthe Reps, who split their take with Grounds for a Change fromFestival of Trees sale.

Items include cakes, cookies, fudge, chocolate sauce, candyand anything that can be made with chocolate. Popular itemsinclude some of the following recipes.

Chocolate Secret Nut Clusters This extremely simple recipe can be one of the most versatile

since it only involves four ingredients, and three of them canvary.



December 2015 — 7

Pam Bovee stirs up a chocolate treat in her Miles Citykitchen.

Take one bag of chocolate chips. These can be semi-sweetor milk chocolate. Take a bag of flavored chips. These can becinnamon, peanut butter, mint or any of the available flavors.The bags should be similar in size but likely will not be identi-cal, since flavored chips are usually in bags that weigh 2 ounc-es or so less than bags of chocolate.

The traditional method involves melting the two types ofchips over a double boiler. Today, most cooks take advantageof the microwave. Dump the two bags of chips in a micro-wave-safe bowl and microwave until they are melted. Which-

ever method you use, take a stick of margarine and add it tothe chips to help them melt smoothly.

To the melted chocolate mix, add peanuts. Or cashews. Orany nut of your choice. Or pretzels or your favorite crispycereal. Mix the four ingredients together. Line cookie sheetswith wax paper and drop by tablespoonfuls on to the waxpaper.

In warm weather, the clusters have to be chilled in thefridge. Most Montana homes are cool enough in winter thatthey just need to be left out on the counter until they set. Over-night usually works.

Chocolate Secret Nut Clusters (the secret is the type of fla-vored chips you use; mix it up and keep friends guessing)

freeze well. Quick to make, tasty to eat and you can keepfriends guessing as to what the secret ingredient is.

Another embarrassingly simple recipe is:

Three-Ingredient Chocolate Sauce Put it in a fancy jar with a ribbon and don’t tell the recipi-

ents it involves only three ingredients.Ingredients• 3.5 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped finely• ¼ cup heavy cream• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractInstructions to prepare with a double boiler (preferred meth-

od):• Heat a medium saucepan with 2-3 inches of water over

medium-high heat. Place a metal bowl on top of the saucepanand add the chocolate, heavy cream and vanilla extract.

• As the water simmers and turns to steam, gently stir theingredients together as they melt. If it looks like the sauce isgetting too hot, remove the saucepan from the heat and allowthe sauce to continue melting over the residual steam. Theykey is to melt the chocolate slowly.

To prepare in the microwave:• Place the chocolate, heavy cream and vanilla in a micro-

wave safe dish.• Microwave for 1 minute on medium (50 percent) power.

Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth.

Notes:Feel free to substitute semi-sweet or milk chocolate in place

of the bittersweet chocolate. For a boozy twist, try swapping

out the vanilla for red wine, Chambord or Kahlua! This is alsoeasy to multiply.

If you prefer a more syrup-like sauce, this recipe is alsosimple:

Four-ingredient chocolate syrupTake 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1 2/3 cups white sugar, 1

1/4 cups water and 1 teaspoon vanilla. In a medium saucepanover medium heat, combine cocoa, sugar and water. Bring it to

a boil and let boil one minute. Remove from heat and stir invanilla.

While some recipes specify “Dutch process,” it doesn’tseem to make a difference. This is more like Hershey’s syrup.Some people add a few tablespoons of milk to make it thicker.Like the other chocolate recipe, it’s easy to substitute variousflavorings.

Or ... attend the Moonlight Madness or Festival of Trees inMiles City and pick up some other tasty examples of Choco-late Confectionary.

–––––

Reach Amorette F. Allison at [email protected] or

(406) 234-0450.



December 2015 — 8

By Charlie DenisonMontana Best Times

LEWISTOWN — “That guy knows a lot of songs.” Ask many musicians about Les LaFranier, 63, and that’s oftenthe first thing you’ll hear. Either that or “Les can sing, man” or “He’s a killer bass play-er.” All impressions are correct. Like a one-man jukebox, LaFranier can take nearly any requestthat comes his way, and he can read the emotions of any Montanacrowd. He reads the crowd and takes a song out of his arsenal based ontheir reaction to other songs. “Hey fellas, why don’t we play ‘Margaritaville’? Key of D.” I know this because I was on stage with Les playing guitar andsinging along at the Eagles Club in Lewistown recently. I’ve played in a few cover bands, but never with such a virtuo-

so of cover band culture. LaFranier is smooth, classy and profes-sional. Tactfully and gracefully, he’ll jump from a dance tune to asingalong. And when he sings Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” orKris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” hemight even make you cry.

South side star LaFranier grew up on the south side of Billings, where he start-ed learning guitar at age 12. “My uncles all played guitar,” LaFranier said. “They’d comeover and have jam sessions. It was always a good time. That’show it started.” He got hooked fast. “I didn’t plan on being a musician,” he said, “but the more Ipicked it up and figured things out, the more I fell in love withit. It was a release from everything. I couldn’t shake it. Stillcan’t.” There’s nothing he loves more, and it’s always been that way,especially once he started playing in bands at the age of 17. “I remember my first gig at the Standard Bar on Skid Row,” hesaid. “I got $50. That ain’t bad.” Playing with Davy Lave, LaFranier started getting to know theBillings scene well, playing regularly at the Elks, the Standard,

the Hay Loft and elsewhere.“First, we were Society’s Outcast, then we switched to Tender,

Love and Care,” LaFranier said of band name changes. TLC started playing the Hay Loft regularly, a place LaFranierwould often go to check out other bands.

All About the BassLes LaFranier: a homegrown Montana jukebox

Photo courtesy of Vicky McCray

Les LaFranier, far left, plays a show in Utica with the Charlie Denison Band in August. The other band members, from left,

are Steve Hughes, Charlie Denison, Nik Scebba and Chris Hildebrant.

Music keeps me young. It heals my soul and clears my mind.

I love it, and I’m thankful I’m still able to do it.– Les LaFranier



December 2015 — 9

That’s where he met lead guitar player Kevin Kemp in 1981. Hewas instantly blown away. “I ended up stealing him from his other band,” LaFranier said.“I asked him if he’d play with us, and I’m very thankful he did.We still play together to this day. He’s taught me so muchthrough the years, and we’ve had great times.” By this time, LaFranier had switched from guitar to bass afterbeing in a band with two guitar players for a few years. He enjoyedthe openness of it and providing the solid rhythm for the group. He does more than hold down the rhythm, however. He is not

afraid to do some slap bass and throw in some tasty grooves. Hedoes this without overplaying. Instead, he does it to enhance thesong and make the band better. When Kemp joined the band, TLC took off, opening for RareEarth, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Lacy J. Dalton, Jerry JeffWalker and others. “We really gained a following and had some real tight harmo-nies locked down,” LaFranier said. “It was around this time wedecided to hit the road. We wanted to break new ground.” Before embarking on their journey, Kemp and LaFranierchanged the name of their group to Mustache Pete, a name thatstill resonates around Montana today. “I remember Mustache Pete,” people tell Les at his shows to

this day. “You guys were great.” For 13 years, Kemp, LaFranier and an assorted list of drum-mers — including Sammy Paul Lozano and Scott Roberts —played the road, venturing through Wyoming, North Dakota, Ida-ho and all over Montana.

Finding a home One of Les’s favorite places to play was the Bar 19 in Lewis-town. “It was always packed, people were on the dance floor andmanagement treated us well,” Les said. “I also just really likedthe town. I used to tell Kevin, ‘You know, I think I’m going toretire here,’ but I never really thought I would.”

LaFranier said he always appreciated the beauty of centralMontana and always felt at home there. He also fell in love with a woman at the Bar19. Tired of the road, LaFranier settled down, got married and tooka job working for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway,sticking with it until he was eligible to retire after 15 years. But by no means did LaFranier even think about retiring frommusic. “I never will,” he said.

A true professional After decades of playing, the thrill is far from gone for LaFra-nier. At 63, he shows no signs of slowing down, even with diabe-

tes and a desire to get to bed earlier than he did in his rowdierdays.

Today, LaFranier is strictly about the music. The scene is notwhat it used to be for him, but the music remains his muse. He isespecially passionate about playing now after his wife passedaway in February last year from an incurable brain tumor. Theywere married 17 years. But instead of letting life get him down, LaFranier let’s themusic set him free. It releases his sorrow and brings him joy. “Music keeps me young,” LaFranier said. “It heals my soul andclears my mind. I love it, and I’m thankful I’m still able to do it.” LaFranier’s music is also a release for others, as people in theaudience — new fans and old fans — enjoy hearing him.

How could they not? He’s a natural, singing with passion and

playing bass with tenacity and flair. And he always delivers whatthe people want to hear.

“Let’s give them some Creedence,” Les said between songs atthe Eagles. “Lodi in G.” Les is on top of it: a leader, a listener and a heck of a player. “I’m all about the bass,” he joked. “No treble.” –––– Reach Charlie Denison at [email protected] or

(406) 535-3401.

Photo courtesy of Les LaFranie

Les LaFranier, right, with longtime friend and guitarist Kevin Kemp and drummer Sammy Paul Lozano is pictured in aMustache Pete band photo in 1994.



December 2015 — 10

By Levi Flinn

Montana Best Times

HARDIN – According to retired nurse Linda Conner, hun-ger is a growing problem in Big Horn County and needs tobe addressed.

For the last two years, Linda Conner has been working inHardin as director for the Helping Hands Food Bank. At age 61,Conner says she is just inspired to help people who need it most.

“We’re not just giving out food — we’re trying to help peoplefind the resources they need,” Conner said. “We’re always look-ing for new ways to work in the community.”

Keeping busy As director of Helping Hands Food Bank, Conner manages

three major food programs: the Emergency Food Box, the SeniorBox and the Holiday Box. These pro-grams help hungry senior citizens andfamilies that are in need of a meal.

Conner stays active, working with-in the local community to get wordout for the food need. She is respon-sible for recruiting and training foodbank volunteers as well as maintain-ing standards in practice so the facili-ty can remain a member of the Mon-tana State Food Network. The lasttime the Hardin food bank was sur-

veyed by MSFN, they received a 44out of 45 grade.Conner organizes community activ-

ities such as the Harvest Hoe-down,flea market, Fill A Chevy program, special gift boxes for Christ-mas and Thanksgiving, and the Easter bake sale. She also worksclosely with board members, organizations and local businessesto collect items and monthly donations.

“One of the nice things about this job is the variety of thingsyou get to do,” Conner said. “It’s not just the individual comingin that we’re helping. It’s the grandchildren or grandparentsbehind that person, too.”

Assistant Director Sam Laci joined the food bank in June 2014

after working more that 30 years for Hostess Brands.“Linda is great to work for,” Laci said. “She knows her job.”

By the numbers By being a member of the Montana State Food Network, the

Hardin food bank is granted monthly shipments of food at nocost.

“This program is great for networking,” Conner said, “but wedon’t get a lot of food from them.”

With the demand continuing to increase, the bank has takenresponsibility of buying most of thefood that is distributed to those whohave signed up. Conner estimates that85 percent of the emergency box foodis purchased by the food bank.

To offset the financial burden, Con-ner plans to arrange more fundraisingevents.

This year, the 12th annual HarvestHoe-down on Oct. 10 raised over$8,000. Conner hopes to find addi-tional sponsors like Town Pump, whowill match $10,000 if the food bankcan reach that amount of raised funds

“Food prices are high and peopleneed help,” she said, “and the gener-

osity of our community, I find very amazing.”In 2014, the food bank gave out 67,243 pounds from the

acquired 68,334 pounds of food and recorded 1,143.5 hours ofvolunteer work for the year. Conner and Laci are the only part-time employees; volunteers perform every other duty.

Conner plans to do more work that involves children andschools. A current option is the Backpack Program, which pro-vides students free food on weekends in addition to schooldays.

Photo by Levi Flinn

Helping Hands Food Bank Director Linda Conner laughs as shestands near shelves of food and soda at Helping Hands. Conner hasled the food bank in Hardin since October 2013.

We’re not just giving

out food — we’re

trying to help people find

the resources they need.

– Linda Conner, Helping HandsFood Bank Director

FIGHTING

HUNGER




Photo by Levi Flinn

Helping Hands Food Bank volunteer Nick Miller holds astack of canned peaches near a column of notes designatingportion sizes for the organization’s customers. In 2014, thefood bank gave out 67,243 pounds of food with 1,143.5 hoursof volunteer work.

Decades of service A native of Delaware, Conner discovered a government job

opening for a nurse at Indian Health Services in Crow Agency.She then moved west in 1980 and for a few years found a homein Dayton, Wyoming — a one-hour commute from Crow Agency.Sixteen years later in 1996, she purchased a home in Hardin —less than 15 minutes from Crow Agency — and has now lived inthe town for nearly 20 years.

After 30 years of service at IHS, in 2010, Conner retired from

being a nurse.Conner said she still wanted to do something that helped peo-

ple in need. In 2013, the opportunity to direct the food bankappeared after former Director Randy Schoppe stepped downand, Conner said, being “young, retired and ambitious,” she tookthe position.

Conner credits being a nurse in the local area for knowing theneeds of the community.

“From working here, I’ve got to know a lot more people,” shesaid.

Conner is a mother of two and a proud grandmother of a6-year-old granddaughter and an 8-year-old grandson. She plansto continue her work and help those who have the most trouble

with hunger. ––––– Reach Levi Flinn at [email protected] or (406)

665-1008.

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Mascot costume turns up unharmedCASTLETON, Vt. (AP) — A university in Vermont says the

costume for its green-caped Spartan mascot has been foundunharmed in the football stadium after it was reported miss-ing.

A spokesman for Castleton University says Sparty’s costumewas found during an inspection of Spartan Stadium.

The costume disappeared from the Student Government Asso-ciation offices between late September and the middle of Octo-ber.

The association bought the mascot for $1,700 last year toreplace one that was showing its wear.

University spokesman Jeff Weld said that the school suspectsthat “Sparty just needed a break” after entertaining more than6,000 people on homecoming weekend in late September.

Armed couple gets upper hand on burglar

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Albuquerque coupleturned the tables on a burglar caught loading their belongings intohis car.

Albuquerque police spokesman Tanner Tixier says officerswere called about a possible burglary.

What they found was a 70-year-old man and his 66-year-oldwife both pointing guns at 26-year-old Aaron Lujan.

Tixier says the husband observed Lujan putting a generator,power tools and other items of his into an SUV.

The man says he confronted Lujan but was ignored.The husband then grabbed his shotgun while his wife took a

handgun and both held Lujan at gunpoint until authorities arrived.No one was injured.

News Lite




By Eleanor GuerreroMontana Best Times

RED LODGE — Giving is not just for Christmas. Sometimesit is simply giving your own unique gifts to others whenever they

are in need.

“I started coming to the Billings Lions Club Charles Campbell

Children’s Camp in 1995,” said Barbara Leggate, 66, as shelooked around the vast playground of the Beartooth Mountains

spread out around the camp south of Red Lodge.

She comes to the summer camp in Montana from Colorado

every year.

Roots lead to involvement

Barbara got involved indirectly through her Scouting back-ground in Colorado, where she was a Girl Scout leader and areacoordinator.

She learned about the Charles Campbell Children’s Camp

through a friend — who later became her husband, Warren.

“Warren, invited me to go to camp,” Barbara said. “We had both been volunteers with Girl and Boy Scouts. When asked what

we did on vacation, we both said that we volunteered at and/or

led Scout camps.”

She and Warren are both retired and live in Louisville, Colora-do, when they aren’t working at the camp in Montana. They have

four children and five grandchildren.

Warren grew up in Billings. Like Barbara, his roots led to his

continuing connection with the camp — his father, Justy Barbara,was a Lions Club member in Billings as well as a Boy Scout

leader.

“As a youth, Warren and his family were involved as Lions

Club members at the (Charles Campbell Children’s) camp” Bar- bara said.

“In fact,” she explained, “they helped build some of the ‘new-

er’ cabins in the late 1950s.”

Helping kids with special needs “My first year at camp was great fun,” said Barbara. “The scen-

ery was awesome. I didn’t know what to expect with the kids

who had special needs. I soon found out that they are just kids.

They were having an awesome time at camp.”

Barbara was called “Jingles” so she would not be confused

with another volunteer named Barbara.

“I have a lanyard with 20 friendship bells on it that I wear atcamp,” Barbara explained. “Each friendship bell was from a dif-

ferent camp or unit event that I participated in.”

She literally made music as she walked.Barbara helped them play games, go fishing, swimming and

hiking and did camp crafts.

“Doing these activities involved adapting traditional camp

activities to meet the special needs of campers,” she said.For example, hiking involved pushing some of the campers in

wheelchairs up the trails.

“On one occasion, a camper said hiking was hard and I said,

‘Yes, but you got to ride in the wheelchair.”The youngster informed her the wheelchair did not have shock

GivingSenior finds

fulfillment helpingyoung campersin need

LovetheGiftof

Photo by Eleanor Guerrero

Barbara Leggate is a volunteer to special needs kids high inthe Beartooths.




Photo by Eleanor Guerrero

Barbara Leggate is pictured with a group of young campers at the Billings Lions Club Charles Campbell Children’s Camp.

absorbers, so she felt all the bumps,“That remark opened my eyes,” Barbara said.

When asked what motivated her she said, “Seeing the smiles

on the campers’ faces and seeing the fun they are having is what

makes volunteering at the camp wonderful.”The kids’ creativity at camp this year has surprised her.

“One camper could not use his hands, so he painted using a pen-

cil and brush in his mouth,” she said of a crafts time creating art

for an “Under the Sea” theme. “His artistic talent is impressive!”For another craft, they made “fish” out of plastic soda bottles

and then raced them in a rain gutter filled with water.“We worked at trying to figure out the right combination of

baking soda and vinegar to get them to move and stay upright,”Barbara said. “We had some engineers as counselors and staff, so

it was fun experimenting. One of the campers wanted to take his

fish back to his cabin and make modifications and run it the next

day.”Warren went fishing and swimming with campers.

“Since he is a fisherman, this was a great fit for him,” said Bar-

bara. “He helped get the fish off the hooks after the campers

caught the fish.”Barbara and Warren are the dishwashers for the camp — no

small task.

“That’s three meals a day of dishes, and all the pots and pansthat are used to create the meals,” Barbara said. “There is a com-mercial dishwasher that we use, but we have to get the dishes

loaded and ready to go. Although other younger staff volunteered

to help with the dishes, we feel this is something that we can con-

tribute, since pushing wheelchairs is getting harder for us to do.We leave that for the younger counselors and staff.”

Counselors are invaluable The camp is fortunate to have a lot of young volunteers to men-

tor their peers. Barbara said she enjoys them as well.“It is great fun to work with the younger volunteers from age

15 and up,” she said. “They bring a great deal of enthusiasm,

energy, ideas and fun to the camp. They are very helpful to the

campers.”She recognizes how invaluable they are to the campers.

“If it weren’t for them, there would be no camp,” Barbara not-

ed. “The cabin counselors work one on one with campers 24/7.

They provide the daily care for the campers.”One of the unique characteristics of this camp is the bonds

forged in the wilderness between the campers and their counsel-ors.

“Both counselors and staff develop relationships that continueafter camp and from year to year,” Barbara said.

The counselors are carefully trained.

“The staff is there to support and work with the younger volun-

teers,” she said.As a result, said Barbara, “Both the kids and the counselors

really grow from this experience. They develop confidence.”

Comforting kids Crucially, “the campers also feel like they belong and are not

different and can do things they couldn’t do at home,” she said.

“Just like any kids, going to camp, it’s scary the first time. Whatis going to happen? Will I be OK? Will I be homesick?”

She said there was a first-time camper who wanted to come but

was not too sure. His mother was not too sure, either — “It is

hard for parents to leave their child,” Barbara explained.

But he did come, and the counselors in his cabin welcomedhim, played with him and comforted him.

“ I made friends with him as well,” Barbara said. “By dinner he

See RSVP, Page 20




More short stories from “Lucky Feathers: Adventures and Experiences of a Yellowstone Ornithologist,” will be featured in forthcoming issues

of Montana Best Times. In the meantime, enjoy Montana birds! And the Best of Big Sky Birding to you!

Bird watching questions may be sent to Terry McEneaney by writing to 1215 Lolo St., Missoula, MT 59802; emailing [email protected]; or visiting

www.yellowstonewildlifeguides.com or www.ravenidiot.com. If questions are mailed, include a phone number at which you can be reached.

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) on a distributionmap also appears to be a local resident and non-migratory, eventhough it oftentimes is an altitudinal migrant with an “oscillating”twist. At low elevations, dippers can have as many as two nestingattempts/two broods per year and at higher elevations one nestingattempt/one brood per year. But once nesting is over, the majorityof dippers migrate up in elevation following fast-slowing streamswhen food is more available in July and August. And that is whyyou find dippers on high mountain alpine lakes in the summer. Asit gets colder and winter approaches, food resources diminish and

dippers are forced to migrate downstream. When terribly frigidlycold temperatures hit the mountains, dippers descend to fast mov-ing open waters with an abundance of submerged aquatic insects.Dippers essentially winter near these open bodies of water.

The Dusky Grouse, formerly called the Blue Grouse ( Den-

dragapus obscurus), on a range map is also depicted as a localresident and non-migratory, yet it is essentially a “reverse altitu-dinal migrant.” The Dusky Grouse can be found year-round andregularly on mountain ridges. In the summer, their diet is com-posed of insects, grubs and soft plant parts. In the winter, theirdiet changes to conifer nuts and grass/wildflower seed heads.When heavy, deep winter snows or snowstorms appear, theDusky Grouse does something unusual and frequents tree cano-

pies and becomes essentially arboreal. They can also migrate upin elevation to timberline and high, wind-exposed mountain ridg-es, to take advantage of wind-hardened ground and snow and/ortrees free of fresh snow, thus exposing conifer seeds/nuts, hencethe term “reverse altitudinal migrant.”

Lastly, most people are familiar with the White-tailed Ptarmi-gan ( Lagopus leucura). This is the smallest or most diminutive ofthe grouse species. This species is unique in that it is a brown andwhite color in the summer to blend into the fast-changing vegeta-tion colors of the alpine, and turns white in the winter to blend inwith the snow and ice. Just so you know, on a range map this birdis also considered a local resident and non-migratory and, by theway, is not found in Yellowstone National Park. Yet this bird is

found in the alpine meadows, snowfields and glaciers of therocky, high alpine regions of Glacier National Park and the Mis-sion Mountains of Montana.

This bird is in essence a “gradual minimal altitudinal migrant.”Surprisingly, instead of remaining in the high alpine snows/gla-ciers all winter, this bird species actually migrates downslope toslightly lower elevations in search of large tracts of exposed wil-low buds and/or deciduous trees/shrubs. It is in these exposedwillow bud stands above snow that ptarmigan are allowed to sur-vive and feed regularly in the winter. When the snows melt andthe alpine areas start to open up in June, the White-tailed Ptarmi-gan migrates upslope to feed on wildflower seed heads and alpineinsects, thus completing this very unusual bird migration cycle.

The next time you think of bird migration, hopefully you willrecall it can be a very difficult subject. However, it is my sinceredesire you will remember the complex details of this article andformulate a better understanding of altitudinal bird migration.

Shown are other examples of birds that practice altitudinal migration, from top: American Dipper, Dusky Grouse and Whitetailed Ptarmigan. Photos by Terry McEneaney




By Deke Farrow

The Modesto Bee/TNS

MODESTO, Calif. — For one genera-

tion that grew up in Modesto, the questionlong has been, “Where were you in ’62?”But for another, slightly younger group ofpeople, the more relevant query is, “Wereyou in movie heaven in ’77?”

That’s when Modesto native GeorgeLucas, at the time best known for hishometown-set, coming-of-age comedy,“American Graffiti,” released “Star Wars.”And that’s all it was called then: “StarWars.” The opening crawl didn’t featurethe subtitle “Episode IV: A New Hope.”That was added with the film’s April 1981

theatrical rerelease.No, to us teenagers who saw it at the

Briggsmore Theater on McHenry Avenuethat spring ... and summer, fall and winter,it was just a really cool sci-fi movie madeby a guy from Modesto. And the only“name” actors in it, Alec Guinness andPeter Cushing, weren’t even much knownto the young audience.

But what grabbed us — and never let go— was the opening scene of that huge stardestroyer pursuing a rebel blockade runnerabove the planet Tatooine. We’d neverseen anything like it. No one had.

The special effects blew us away, ofcourse. Heck, they reshaped the movieindustry. But we loved the story, too. Wefelt the heat of anger when Darth Vadermenaced Princess Leia (we were immedi-ately smitten with her, even two moviesbefore the famous metallic bikini) with theinterrogation droid, we shared Luke’s thrillwhen she gave him a kiss on the cheek“for luck,” and the sting he felt when HanSolo showed an interest in her. (We had noinkling Luke and Leia would turn out tobe the twin children of Darth Vader.)

When it was over, we wanted to watch itagain, immediately. Perhaps we did, asthose were the days you could sit in thetheater and simply wait for the movie tostart again, if it wasn’t sold out. Certainlywe made several repeat visits back to theone theater showing the movie, bringingalong friends and family members who wesimply could not believe hadn’t seen it yet.

Our rock ‘n’ roll record collections — inmy circle, that meant Kiss, Ted Nugent,Aerosmith, Elton John and the like —

grew to include what for many of us wasour first orchestral album: John Williams’stirring “Star Wars” score.

Needing more “Star Wars,” I bought the$1.95 paperback novel by Lucas, subtitled“From the Adventures of Luke Skywalk-er” and including several pages of colorphotos from the movie. I still have it. Still

have a Rolling Stone magazine fromAugust ‘77 with Luke, Leia, Han andChewie on the cover, too, because I neverthrow anything away.

My close friend and Beyer classmateNeil Meininger and I biked to a local mov-ie memorabilia shop — I believe the long-gone place was called Hollywood Collect-ibles — where for just $5 we bought the“Star Wars” movie poster. I immediatelyposted the 27-by-41-inch folded “onesheet” on my bedroom wall. It has thumb-tack holes and tape marks on the corners,

so I’m not sure which I used first.I finally framed it years ago, and overtime, it’s had a special spot in all the plac-es I lived, from off-campus dorm rooms toapartments to the homes my wife and chil-dren and I have shared.

I fell hard into the Lucas moneymakingmachine; the soundtrack, poster, a fewcomic books and T-shirts were just thestart. Until “Star Wars” and its sequels andprequels, I was ignorant of the existenceof anything called an “action figure.” Butthanks to Kenner and later Hasbro, I slow-

ly built armies of light- and dark-sidecharacters and vehicles.

Until a recent move, I didn’t even givemy two sons much say in how their bed-room was decorated: poster on the walls,spaceships hanging by fishing line fromthe ceiling, small and 12-inch action fig-ures on shelves on the walls. They’re good

boys, though, and I’d like to think they feltDad’s collection was a neat thing to have.

Now, in our new home, my sweet wifehas pretty much turned over the upstairsfamily room to my arrested-developmenttastes, so Luke, Darth, Leia, Obi-wan,Boba Fett, R2-D2, C-3PO and dozens ofothers are hanging out there.

That’s not to say she feels The Force.She couldn’t tell you a TIE fighter from anX-wing.

Recently, we were in a Kohl’s, and youcouldn’t swing a Jawa without hitting a

“Star Wars” display of toys, banks, alarmclocks, clothing, bedding and so muchmore. There were characters from theoriginal trilogy, the three prequels and thenewest release, “Episode VII –The ForceAwakens.”

After passing probably our fifth or sixthsuch array of merchandise, she said,“Wow, they have a lot of ‘Star Wars’stuff.” And then she added, and I kid younot, “Is there a movie coming out?”

There was a strong disturbance in TheForce.

A long time ago … a kid got swept into the‘Star Wars’ galaxy, never to emerge again

Photo by Joan Barnett Lee/Modesto Bee/TNS

Modesto Bee staff writer Deke Farrow is pictured at the Modesto Bee photo studiowith his Star Wars memorabilia, Nov. 5.




Prevention magazine/TNS

If your smile seems to be drooping along with the temps, it’sprobably not your imagination. Seasonal affective disorder(SAD), a reaction to reduced sunlight, affects up to 20 percent ofAmericans — and three quarters of those affected are women.Lethargy, overeating, and being bummed can spell disaster foryour health. But you can beat it. Here’s how:

n Take a sunny strollGo walking in a winter wonderland! Sunlight-drenched strolls

help clear your SAD symptoms by giving you a boost of vitaminD, which most of our bodies are craving (especially in grayweather). D deficiency has also been linked to an increase inheadaches in the fall and winter, say researchers in a Journal ofHeadache and Pain study.nShed some lightThe dark gloom of winter dampens your body’s production of

serotonin, a mood-regulating neurotransmitter. Rejuvenate your sero-tonin stores with a light box that features blue light-emitting diodes

(LEDs). They’re more stimulating and produce less glare than whitelight boxes. For a simpler fix, open up the blinds! Just make sureyou’re limiting your bright light exposure to the morning hours. Lotsof light late in the day can mess with your circadian sleep cycles.nBurn calories for warmthWe know it’s tempting, but resist the urge to hibernate until

spring. A study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center foundwomen moved the least in December, January, and February,burning 10 percent fewer calories than they do in summer. Exer-cise is an established blues-beater. So move your body more, andyour head (and heart) will thank you.nPump up your produceThe secret to happiness may be at the end of your fork. Com-

pared to people who eat few fruits and veggies, those who go bigon produce are less likely to be anxious or depressed, or to sufferfrom other mental disorders, according to one study of 80,000people. The more produce people ate, the happier they were.nConsider chamomileIf your mood needs to be soothed, consider a chamomile sup-

plement. A University of Pennsylvania study found chamomilesupplements significantly ease anxiety symptoms. (Just checkwith your doc before starting any new supplement.)nTry a festive hobbyGet excited about winter by taking up a seasonal hobby, says

psychologist Elizabeth R. Lombardo, PhD, author of the book “AHappy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness”. Havingsomething fun to look forward to will help elevate your moodduring the cold-weather doldrums.nLend a helping handLook for volunteer opportunities where you can make a differ-

ence, Dr. Lombardo suggests. Collect coats for the homeless,conduct a toy drive for needy children, or spend time volunteer-

ing at an animal shelter during the holiday rush. Philanthropicwork is a well-documented mood improver, she says.nSAD-proof your surroundingsYou may not be able to control the weather around you, but

you can control your own environment, says psychotherapistand wellness expert Jenny Giblin. Simple switches like paintingyour walls a brighter or lighter color, buying colorful office sup-plies, hanging cheerful or inspiring artwork, and changing thebackground of your computer to a beach scene can lift yourspirits.

––––For more great health tips, pick up a copy of Prevention maga-

zine, visit www.prevention.com, or follow us @PreventionMag.

How to preventseasonal depression

One way to combat seasonaldepression is by basking in alight box that features blueLEDs.Photo courtesy Fotolia/TNS




answer phones and questions, some paperand computer work. They will train.

- Your unique skills and interests areneeded, without making a long-term com-mitment, 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].

Musselshell, Golden Valley &Petroleum counties

- Central Grade School: Needs volunteertutors to encourage children with their read-ing skills in the America Reads program.Also volunteers needed to assist youngerstudents with lunch, clear tables and servefrom the salad bar.

- Food Bank: Distribute food commodi-ties to seniors and others in the community;help unload the truck as needed.

- Nursing Home: Piano players and sing-ers needed on Fridays to entertain residents,

also assistant needed in activities for resi-dents to enrich supported lifestyle.

- Senior Bus: Volunteers to pickup folkswho are unable to drive themselves.

- Senior Center: Volunteers are needed toprovide meals, clean up in the dining roomand/or keep records; meal provided.

- Tax aide: Assist low income individualsand senior citizens with tax filing. No expe-rience necessary, training is provided andbegins soon.

- RSVP offers maximum flexibility and

choice to its volunteers as it matches thepersonal interests and skills of older Ameri-cans with opportunities to serve their com-munities. You choose how and where toserve. Volunteering is an opportunity tolearn new skills, make friends and connectwith your community.

Contact: Shelley Halvorson, South Cen-tral MT RSVP, 315 1/2 Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup, MT 59072; phone (406) 323-1403; fax (406) 323-4403; email:

[email protected] ; Facebook:South Central MT RSVP.

Park County - Big Brothers Big Sisters: Mentor and

positive role models to a boy or girl needed,one hour a week.

- Fix-It-Brigade: Needs volunteers of allages and skill levels for 2 hour tasks, onyour schedule, to help seniors or veteranswith small home repairs and chores, such aschanging a light bulb, mending a fence,cleaning up a yard.

- Loaves and Fishes: Volunteers needed

to prepare dinner meal on Wednesdaynights.

- Main Streeter Thrift Store: Someonewho enjoys working with the public, greetcustomers, ring up purchases, label andhang clothes and accept donations. Volun-teer 4 hours a week and get 50 percent offyour purchases.

- Meals on Wheels: Always need substi-tute drivers to deliver meals to seniors intheir home.

- RSVP: Need compassionate compan-

ions to give caregivers a break in theirhome on a regular basis playing games,going out to lunch or just sitting and visit-ing with someone.

- RSVP: Has many one-time events,including mailings and fundraising eventsthat require volunteers. Your unique skillsand interests are needed, without making along-term commitment, in a variety of on-going and special one-time events.

- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to knitand crochet caps and scarves for each childat Head Start this winter, also as gifts forchildren of prenatal classes, and baby hatsand afghan’s for the hospital newborns;Sewers needed to make simple pillowcasesfor our soldiers overseas, Thursdays, 1-2p.m. at the Senior Center.

- Senior Center: Need volunteers, Tues-days, 1 p.m., to cut unsold clothing intorags to be sold for proceeds to the center.

- Seniors: You may qualify for $192-$600 a years for grocery and food assis-tance. Call Mary at 333-2537 or 333-2883.

- Stafford Animal Shelter: Kindhearted

volunteers needed to socialize cats and kit-tens, and to walk the dogs.- Transportation: Drivers needed to help

patients keep their doctor appointment inLivingston and Bozeman. Some gas reim-bursement may be provided.

- Yellowstone Gateway Museum: has aneed for help with the museum in generalfrom front desk to organizing items.

Contact: Deb Downs, Program Coordi-nator, 111 So. 2nd St., Livingston, MT59047; phone (406) 222-2281; email: [email protected].

Rent Based on Income, HUD 202 PRAC

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was fitting in and had big smiles. He was always eager to partici- pate and show me his latest creation. The smile on his face when

I saw him was wonderful.”

Some of her contribution is intangible.

“I comforted kids,” she said. “Sometimes it is just being therewith them, giving a simple hug, acknowledging a fear or concern,

encouraging them. Then it is redirecting them to another activity

and not dwelling on missing mom.”

She takes pride in her age and the unique gifts it enables her toshare.

“As an older volunteer, I can be the ‘grandma,’” she said.

Get involved Barbara encourages every senior to think about sharing their

time with those in need.

“I am 66 years young. I would highly recommend volunteer-

ing,” she said. “How often do we get to go to summer camp at

our age?”Barbara has spent her career working with young people.

“I graduated from Boulder High School and the University of

Colorado with a degree in Elementary Education,” she said. “I

continued my career in the Office of the Registrar at the Universi-ty of Colorado. I moved to the University of Colorado Law

School as the Law School Registrar and retired from that posi-

tion. I thoroughly enjoyed my career. I enjoyed the students and

getting to know them and help and encourage them.”She sees the camp as a natural fit for her, but said everyone has

something to give that kids need in the camp.

“There are many tasks to do, such as being the nurse or assist-

ing the nurse, doing dishes, helping with crafts, helping with food preparation, helping with fishing or hiking, and maybe leading

games or songs and skits at campfire. It can be for a day or for

the whole week.”

–––––

Reach Eleanor Guerrero at [email protected] or(406) 446-2222.

Gift of love, from Page 13




By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

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

What is the world’s

Q. Of the world’s deadly creatures,which should you fear the most?

A. Contrary to popular belief, sharks —though scary — killed only three peopleworldwide in 2014. Dogs, on the other

hand, kill more than 60,000 people a year,with rabid dogs being especial killers inAsia and Africa, according to the WorldHealth Organization and others, asreported in Time magazine. Deer can befatal when they run in front of motorvehicles, which they do at a rate of 100 ayear. Elephants take a human toll of nearly300 annually; crocodiles, 1,000; snakes,94,000.

Also making the list are mosquitoes,whose diseases kill an estimated 755,000every year. “Hoping to stop the spread ofdeadly diseases, scientists in Florida plan

to release millions of genetically modifiedmale mosquitoes engineered to keep theirpartners from producing offspring,” saysthe magazine. But “from car accidents tomurder, humans kill more humans eachyear than any animal does —approximately 1.6 million.”

Q. In our multi-cultural world, find-ing our way through the maze of “prop-er” table manners can at times betricky. Now imagine you’ve time trav-eled back to the past to attend a dinnerparty — in ancient Greece, ancientRome, Bedouin camps and others. Whatrules do you need to know?

A. Since in ancient Greece napkinshaven’t yet been invented, you should“wipe your greasy hands with a piece ofbread — called apomagdalia,” reportsMental Floss magazine. Then throw it onthe floor, along with any other scraps, forthe dogs. In ancient Rome, you’ll also beeating with your hands, but custom saysto “keep your pinkie and ring fingerclean.” And no need to search for a rest-

room since a chamber pot is provided atthe table.

At a Bedouin camp, before and aftereating rub your hands in the sand outsidethe tent. And “if bread falls to the floor,

call the five-second rule: Pick it up, kissit, raise it to your forehead.” Had enoughafter-dinner coffee? Merely shake thecup or your host will serve you more.

At a feast at a Viking village, be pre-pared for an embroidered white tableclothlaid, and since forks haven’t yet beenintroduced, a sharp knife for eating willsuffice. Be advised too that unless you’resick or old, passing on the drinking horn isconsidered rude.

Finally a few tips on meat-eating inmedieval France: Swear before carvinginto it, then toss the bones onto the floor,

watching where you throw them, ofcourse. And for a final bit of advice fromErasmus of Rotterdam: “If it is possibleto withdraw, [farting] should be donealone. But if not... let a cough hide thesound.

Q. From a New Scientist magazinereader: Are there flock-hunting birds ofprey comparable to land mammals likewolves and lions hunting in packs?

A. Actually, yes. Harris’s hawkstypically hunt in family groups of five orsix, ambushing prey by chasing it into agroup of waiting birds, answers magazinereader David Ridpath of Gloucestershire,UK. Being gregarious, the hawks are usedin falconry, breeding relatively easily incaptivity and learning to attack a variety ofgame.

Now another perspective: On her farmin Western Australia, Anna Butcherwitnessed wedge-tailed eagles working inpairs to stalk wild ducklings, andespecially at lambing time, she observedcrows standing apart from a ewe and

young lamb and quickly attacking if thetwo became separated. Also, dozens ofcrows “chased small mobs of ewes andyoung lambs in open paddocks, trying toseparate them and attacking any lambs tha

lag behind.” As Butcher wonders, “Is thiswhy a group is called ‘a murder ofcrows’”?

Q. Forget Einstein’s relativity, spe-cial or general. What did this cosmo-logical guru have to say that wouldlikely knock you for a loop? Do youhave TIME for this one?

A. Lovely lyricisms surround the mys-tical notion of time, such as Henry DavidThoreau’s “Time is but the stream I goa-fishing in. I drink at it; but while Idrink I see the sandy bottom and detect

how shallow it is. Its thin current slidesaway, but eternity remains.” But perhapsnothing is stranger than the words ofAlbert Einstein, who maintained that“time is just another dimension of theuniverse and that its passage is an illu-sion, suggesting that past, present andfuture coexist simultaneously,” says edi-tor-in-chief Stephen George of Discovermagazine. In essence, then, there is nodifference between the past and the futureas both are set in stone. Don’t even askwhat this notion does to birthdays, anni-versaries, deadlines?

As George quips, “If time is an illusion Isuppose that would mean that Einsteinreally didn’t come up with this idea 110years ago — he’s coming up with it at thesame time I’m writing about it, and at thesame time that George Ellis, a conscien-tious cosmologist, is disputing that self-same view of the universe.” Specifically,Ellis holds that it is dangerous to supposethat the future is set in stone because itrobs us of our free will and moral account-ability.

deadliest creature?



Crossword


Managing YourInsurance Moves

Article Series

R e a d M o r e a t d a r n i e l l e . c o m

I N S U R A N C E A G E N C YDARNIELLE

Transportation Network Companies-TNC’s

“Triggering Property Insurance Coverage—Maybe!”

Insuring the Boss

The Bakken and Workers’ Compensation Coverage

1320 28th Street WestBillings, MT 59101

call us: (406) 652-4180

visit us online: darnielle.com

By guest blogger Dennis P. Gambill, Insurance Litigation Consultant.

Across1 Musical group founded by

a Civil War vet11 Some email attachments

15 Symbol for the NFL'sBears

16 1970 Kinks hit17 School uniform part dat-

ing to the 1800s18 Presently19 Strip lighting20 Partly roasted treat21 Consequences of too

many blows22 Wing it24 Larger-than-life types26 Big name in investment

banking30 King of pop31 IRA components34 Complex pipes36 Pitch37 Civil Rights Memorial

architect38 Tahrir Square city39 1979 Pa. newsmaker40 Altar on high41 "Happening Now" airer43 Lotion letters44 Italian road

46 Peabody Essex Museumcity

48 Course outlines50 Seat of Greene County,

Ohio54 Long haul55 Do away with59 Low spots60 Taunt61 Like emus63 Positive assertion64 Ownership issue65 Red Rose66 Home safety

feature

Down

1 Lake __ Vista2 Didn't sit

around3 String holder4 __ elbow5 Tolkien mon-

ster6 Base figs.7 Where to get a

date8 Vigeland

Museum city9 Bit of wisdom

10 Predator known for itspiercing call

11 Certain metalworker12 Five-time 1960s Emmy-

winning actor13 Outdoor security item14 Literally, "without lines"23 Crotchety remark25 Atmosphere makeup27 Florida surfing mecca28 Fake29 Potato __

31 Museum visit, perhaps32 Traditional Cajun dish33 Warned, in a way35 Neighborhood

41 Rx overseer42 "I can remember when

the air was clean and __ wasdirty": George Burns

45 Ethylene, for one47 Legendary speller?49 Cry of domination51 Dark times abroad

52 Novelist Calvino53 Longtime Moore co-

star56 Completely lost57 Fantasy player's con-

cern58 Stumbles, say62 Bolted down

Q. “It ain’t just for fancy folks in top hats,” writes FosterKamer in Mental Floss magazine. But it costs $50-$70 for 50grams, or about $500-$700 per pound. What is it?

A. Caviar, or unfertilized salt-cured fish eggs from differentspecies of sturgeon. This “hoity-toity” stuff wasn’t always quitethe delicacy it is today, Foster says. Actually, caviar was aneveryday snack and an American export in the early 20th century,with the Hudson and Delaware Rivers two of the world’s biggest

caviar-producers. “As Josh Russ Tupper of New York’s iconicRuss & Daughters appetizing shop explains, ‘Salted caviar wasso prevalent, it was sitting on bars like peanuts.’ (Like peanuts,the salt helped encourage drinkers to keep drinking.)” Since mostcaviar is harvested by killing the fish, overfishing in the U.S.severely curtailed domestic supplies and made imported caviarmore expensive.

How expensive? According to the Food Republic website, “themost expensive caviar on record is from a 100-year-old fishAlmas caviar, from the eggs of 60 to 100-year-old Iranian beluga

sturgeon, clocking in at roughly $35,000 per kilo ($1,000/ounce).”

Q. While life without physical pain may sound ideal, in facit can be an even bigger pain. How so?

A. Consider the people whose sense of touch is disturbed sobadly that they feel no physical pain, a condition caused by amutation of the gene SCN9A, says David Linden in his book“Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart and Mind,” as reviewed byKatie Burke in American Scientist magazine. Often they don’tlive beyond their teen years, as cuts and scrapes go unnoticed andlead to serious infection.

“Even fatal injuries cannot be felt”: In one tragic case, a “fear-less” child trying to impress some friends jumped off a building,

got up and walked away. He died later that day from internalbleeding he could not feel.

A very different disorder of this genetic mutation “can result inpain-sensing neurons ‘like machine guns with a hair-trigger...’Even mild stimuli can initiate bouts of agonizing pain.” Thesesufferers, though, can live long, full lives, unlike their pain-freebrethren.



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50% off!

Good only from participating Miracle-Ear®locations. One coupon per purchase. Noother offers or discounts apply. Discountdoes not apply to prior sales. Offer valid onME-1 or ME-2 Solutions. Cannot combinewith any other offers. Cash value 1/20 cent.Offer expires 12/31/2015.

*ME200 not included **Hearing aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences vary depending on severity of hearingloss, accuracy of evaluation, proper t, and ability to adapt to amplication. Our hearing test and video otoscopic inspection are alwaysfree. Hearing test is an audiometric test to determine proper amplication needs only. These are not medical exams or diagnoses norare they intended to replace a physician’s care. If you suspect a medical problem, please seek treatment from your doctor.

December 2015 Best Times

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Transcript of December 2015 Best Times