MONTANA

April 2014

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

Church photographer

Heart of the home team Bar sketcher Crafting a future

Bookshelf..................................................Page 3 Opinion.....................................................Page 4 Savvy Senior.............................................Page 5 On the Menu.............................................Page 19

INSIDE

Volunteering..............................................Page 20 Calendar....................................................Page 21 Strange But True.......................................Page 22

News Lite
CPR instructor uses skills to save puppy
TALTY, Texas (AP) The first time a CPR instructor in Texas ever used her training on a living being turned out to be at home with a four-legged friend. It worked. Alicia Pederson of Talty said that applying her knowledge about breathing and compressions for humans saved her newborn puppy. Pederson learned CPR through the Dallas-based American Heart Association, where she holds an administrative job. Pedersons dog, Izzy, started having four puppies on March 1. One wasnt breathing or moving. Pederson says she turned to her emergency training, sucked mucous from the dogs airway mouth to snout and then used her thumb to do compressions. The puppy began breathing. Pederson says three of the pups will be given to friends. Shes keeping the resuscitated puppy named Miri as in miracle.

Ooops Maine mans gun turns out to be a tattoo

NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine (AP) Police armed with assault rifles descended on a Maine mans home after members of a tree removal crew hed told to clear off his property reported that he had a gun. Turns out the gun the tree crew had seen on Michael Smith of Norridgewock was just a life-sized tattoo of a handgun on his stomach. Smith, who works nights, was asleep when the tree crew contracted by a utility to trim branches near power lines, woke him up at about 10 a.m. He went outside shirtless and yelled at the workers to leave. When hes not wearing a shirt, the tattoo looks like a gun tucked into his waistband. Smith tells the Morning Sentinel the tattoo has never been a problem before. Police didnt charge him.

New West is Here for You.

newwestmedicare.com
888-873-8044 TTY 711 New West simplies the Medicare process so you can focus on whats important to you. Our knowledgeable local representatives offer straightforward information with personalized service. We will help you understand your options, contact us for more information or about a meeting in your area. New West Makes Medicare Simple.

New West Health Services is a PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in New West Medicare depends on contract renewal. Phone hours of operation 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The benet information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benets. For more information contact New West Medicare. Benets may change on January 1 of each year. H2701_NW#555A-09-2013 Accepted
April 2014 2

14-NW New W Senior Montan 3.6.14 AD: KM 1/2 pg 7.25x4. 4 color

Bookshelf
Custer and the 1873 Yellowstone Survey: A Documentary History Edited by M. John Lubetkin University of Oklahoma Press 2013 Hardcover 320 pages 6.125 x 9 $34.95 ISBN 978-0-87062-422-3

A different kind of Custer book

By Montana Best Times Staff
The interest in all things Custer has always been a constant in Montana. Comes now a Custer-related book with a documentary quality to satisfy the hardcore Montana history enthusiast, particularly those living between Billings and Glendive. The book, Custer and the 1873 Yellowstone Survey: A Documentary History, is not about the Battle of the Little Bighorn but on George Armstrongs Custers role in the Yellowstone Survey, which took place in 1873 three years before the battle. Progress on the nations second transcontinental railroad slowed in 1873, a news release from publisher University of Oklahoma says. The Northern Pacifics proposed middle the 250 miles between present-day Billings and Glendive had yet to be surveyed, and Sioux and Cheyenne opposed construction through the Yellowstone Valley, the heart of their hunting grounds. A previous surveying expedition along the Yellowstone River in 1872 had resulted in the death of a prominent member of the party, the near-death of the railroads chief engineer, the embarrassment of the U.S. Army, and a public relations and financial disaster for the Northern Pacific, according to the release. Such is the backdrop for Custer and the 1873 Yellowstone Survey, the story of the expedition told through documents selected and interpreted by historian John Lubetkin. The U.S. Army was determined to punish the Sioux, and the Northern Pacific desperately needed to complete its engineering work and resume construction. The expedition mounted in 1873 larger than all previous surveys combined included embedded newspaper correspondents and 1,600 infantry and cavalry, the latter led by Custer. Lubetkin has gathered firsthand accounts from the correspondents, diarists, and reporters who accompanied this important expedition, including that of news correspondent Samuel J. Barrows. Barrowss narrative written in a series of dispatches to the New York Tribune provides a comprehensive, often humorous description of events, and his proficiency with shorthand enabled him to capture quotations and dialogue with an authenticity unmatched by other writers on the survey, the release says. The expedition marched west from the Missouri River in mid-June of 1873 and, in three months, covered nearly 1,000 often grueling miles. Encompassing the

saga of transcontinental railroading, cultural conflict on the Northern Plains, and an array of important Native and AngloAmerican characters, Custer and the 1873 Yellowstone Survey will fascinate Custer fans and anyone interested in the history of the American West. Lubetkin is a retired cable television executive and the author of Jay Cookes Gamble: The Northern Pacific Railroad, the Sioux, and the Panic of 1873, winner of the Little Big Horn Associates John M. Carroll Award (Book of the Year) and a Spur Award for Best Historical Non-fiction from the Western Writers of America. Custer and the 1873 Yellowstone Survey is available from online booksellers, in bookstores, and directly from the University of Oklahoma Press (www.oupress. com). April 2014 3

Opinion

We baby boomers have all grown up listening to our parents or grandparents tell stories about the Great Depression, what it was like, and how they got through it. What will be the stories of days gone by we tell our own children? We wont have a Great Depression to regale them with. There was that wee bit of a housing bubble pop a while back and the resulting recession. But most of us stayed out of soup and bread lines. Nevertheless, with technology changing at a blinding speed, we will have tales to tell our kids about the things we didnt have that todays youngsters take for granted. When you think about it, its quite remarkable how much our world has changed even from when we were teens. So gather round kids, and let us tell you about the day when there were no Desktop computers. We did our homework in notebooks. Word processing took place in our heads. The smart kids did their math calculations on slide rulers (and the rest of us well, we stuck with the notebooks). Number crunching on a large scale was done by refrigerator-sized computers with punch cards and floppy disks the size of dinner plates. The day I saw my first Apple desktop computer, I was mesmerized. Internet. We looked up information in World Book Encyclopedia or Encyclopedia Britannica. These were books made out of paper. The information never got updated unless you spent $200 for a new set, which most of us couldnt afford, so we kept using the same set for decades. But still, you knew that a lot of the facts in the encyclopedias, like the date for the assassination of JFK, were never going to change anyway, so it worked fine. Facebook. Most information exchanges, bragging about ourselves, or putting other people down was done at school cafeteria tables or standing around talking, where people could see you. And if we had photos to share, we had to wait a couple weeks for our film to get developed. But that had an upside: We had lots of time to consider exactly what photos we wanted to share. Cell phones. You kids have smartphones now, so you might not even remember the old flip-top cell phones. We go way back even before that, when we used land line telephones and this cool software app called collect calls to
April 2014 4

What will be our tales of the old days?

talk to our folks when we were in college. And girlfriends and boyfriends broke up in person instead of sending a text message. TV remotes. I know it sounds incomprehensible, but we had to get off the couch and walk over to the TV to change the channel. The world before this piece of technology is

the one thing we dont look back on with nostalgia. The invention of the TV remote was the single most important development of the 20th century, right up there with the worldwide eradication of smallpox. It revolutionized our lives, giving us the freedom to change channels every two seconds. Unless you know what it was like to not be able to do that, youll never know the euphoric feeling of sheer emancipation the remote brought. So there you have it, kids. The way it was back in our day.

Dwight Harriman Montana Best Times Editor

MONTANA

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: montanabesttimes@livent.net Subscription rate: $25/yr. Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana
Dwight Harriman, Editor Tom Parisella, Designer

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

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.

How Reverse Mortgages Work in 2014

Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about reverse mortgages? I was considering one last year, but now I hear they are more difficult to get. Ready to Reverse Dear Ready, Thats correct. Tighter rules on reverse mortgages that have recently gone into affect have made them harder to get, especially for seniors with heavy debt problems. The reason the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) made these changes was to strengthen the product, which has suffered from a struggling housing market and a growing number of defaults by borrowers. Heres a rundown of how reverse mortgages now work in 2014. Overview:The basics are still the same. A reverse mortgage is a loan that allows senior homeowners to borrow money against the equity in their house. The loan doesnt have to be repaid until the homeowner dies, sells the house or moves out for at least 12 months. Its also important to know that with a reverse mortgage, you, not the bank, own the house, so youre still responsible for property taxes, insurance and repairs. Eligibility:To be eligible for a reverse mortgage you must be at least 62 years old, own your own home (or owe only a small balance) and currently be living there. You will also need to undergo a financial assessment to determine whether you can afford to make all the necessary tax and insurance payments over the projected life of the loan. Lenders will look at your sources of income, assets and credit history. Depending on your financial situation, you may be required to put part of your loan into an escrow account to pay future bills. If the financial assessment finds that you cannot pay your insurance and taxes and have enough cash left to live on, you will be denied. Loans:Nearly all reverse mortgages offered today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM), which are FHA insured and offered through private mortgage lenders and banks. HECMs also have home value limits that vary by county, but cannot exceed $625,500. Seehud.gov/ll/code/llslcrit.cfmfor a list of HUD approved lenders. Loan amounts:The amount you get through a reverse mortgage depends on your age, your homes value and the prevailing interest rates. Generally, the older you are, the more your house is worth, and the lower the interest rates are, the more you can borrow. A 70-year-old, for example, with a home worth $300,000 could borrow around $170,000 with a fixed-rate HECM. To calculate how much you can borrow, visitreversemortgage.org. Loan costs:Reverse mortgages have a number of upfront fees including a 2 percent lender origination fee for the first $200,000 of the homes value and 1 percent of the remaining value, with a cap of $6,000; a 0.5 percent initial mortgage insurance premium fee; along with an appraisal fee, closing costs and other miscellaneous expenses. Most fees can be deducted for the loan amount to reduce your out-of-pocket cost at closing. In addition, youll also have to pay an annual mortgage insurance premium of 1.25 percent of the loan amount. Payment options:You can receive the money in a lump sum, a line of credit, regular monthly checks or a combination of these. But in most cases, you cannot withdraw more than 60 percent of the loan during the first year. If you do, youll pay a 2.5 percent upfront insurance premium fee. Counseling:All borrowers are required to get face-toface or telephone counseling through a HUD approved independent counseling agency before taking out a reverse mortgage. Some agencies are awarded grants that enable them to offer counseling for free, but most charge around $125 to $250. To locate a counseling agency near you, visithud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/ hecmhome.cfmor call 800-569-4287. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visitSavvySenior.org. April 2014 5

Church photographer
By Denise Hartse Montana Best Times
MILES CITY When people retire, they usually spend time doing things theyve wanted to do but never had time for. Things like painting the house, cleaning, downsizing, taking trips and so on. When Sharon Moore settled down in Miles City and retired from her job at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation after 27 years, she did some of those things. Then, after she felt she had painted, landscaped and remodeled enough, Moore, 57, decided to pursue her true passion, photography specifically, taking photos of stained glass windows and churches in Miles City as a way of expressing beauty and faith, and preserving history as well. Moore grew up on a farm/ranch between Baker and Ekalaka and graduated from Baker High School. Following high school, she attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she majored in animal science with a second major in avian science. After college, she returned to Montana. She ended up working as a land use specialist and area manager with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. She dabbled in photography, shooting a photo here and there for her job and did some photo work at home. Moore found she enjoyed photography, but didnt have much time for it until she retired. While I was working, I was hardly ever home, she explained. I traveled around nine counties and was always out in the field. After she retired from state government, Moore took a job as photography stringer at the Miles City Star, shooting photos on weekends and when there were too many assignments for the regular photographer to cover. She has been working at the Star for a little over a year. April 2014 6

Womans photos of stained glass windows and churches preserve history, reect faith

Reconnecting with an old love

On the cover: Sharon Moore is pictured at the top of the Sacred Heart Church Catholic bell tower in Miles City. Photo by David Olguin Above: Shown is one of the windows in Miles Citys First United Methodist Church. The windows were purchased from Ford Brothers Glass Company of Minneapolis in 1912. They cost only $800 because they had been designed for a Catholic church in North Dakota but that church was unable to raise the funds for them.
Photo by Sharon Moore

During that time, she found her old passion for photography resurfacing. I finally had time to do it, she said, adding and digital is so affordable.

Photography and faith intersect

It was only a matter of time before

Moores interest in photography intersected with her faith. Moore said she has attended various churches over the years, from Catholic to Episcopal to Methodist, adding that there are Methodist ministers in her family. Her instruction with the Catholic Church led her to have an interest in early Christian teaching and history, she said. I have an interest not only in being a Christian, but an appreciation for those who were here before us who brought their faith from their homelands, and had the initiative and determination to erect a church so they would have a place to worship, she explained. Im still in amazement of what was done at the early part of the century and the craftsmanship that it involved. She added her faith is deeply held in the prairies of eastern Montana, where Ive seen and felt Gods presence in daily living and enjoyed watching the northern lights at night. Moore said that she likes to visit the various churches in the community and study the stained glass windows, both old and new. While the older windows illustrate traditional religious scenes, the modern stained glass uses color and form to evoke feelings.

Inspiration for the project

Her love of stained glass windows led her to finally start her photography project in December of 2013. On Christmas Eve, she attended four services in Miles City churches, appreciating the meaning of that special time of the year, and enjoying the beauty of the church buildings and their services. She decided to start her project of photographing local churches and stained glass windows the next Sunday. I put in a lot of hours in the last month and a half, said Moore. I like subdued tones, she said. I dont use a flash much when taking photos of the windows. In addition to the stained glass windows, her photos focus on the architecture of each church, including interesting effects not just religious ones and interesting details ... things you dont usually notice about the building, she smiled. This is the kind of project that gives focus to older churches. However, I went to other, newer churches. In fact, I went to every church and chapel in town. Among her photos are one of the Peace Pole at the United Christian Church in Miles City, architectural details including

Sharon Moore atop the Sacred Heart Church Catholic bell tower. like how they got the bells into the church towers without modern conveniences.

Photo by David Olguin

Seeing it through

Moore has collected the photos she took

Left: The Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Montana Avenue was designed by Miles City architect Brynjulf Rivenes and built by prolific contractor J. C. Boespflug in 1924 to replace an earlier 19th century wood frame church that stood on Main Street. The facade is covered with yellow Hebron brick, a very popular material in that period in Miles City. The church was designed to seat 420 on the main floor with another 100 in a balcony. Right: Shown is a window in the First Presbyterian Church, constructed in 1912-1916. The church windows came from Chicago and were installed in 1915. All of them were placed in memory of relatives of the congregation at the time the church was built. I was told the stained glass artist who rendered the windows in the chapel at Holy Rosary Healthcare (in Miles City) wanted to reflect eastern Montanas beauty and the prairie in a more abstract way, said Moore of the more modern stained glass windows in the chapel. the main stairs and railing at the Miles City Academy formerly the Ursuline Convent and the silhouette of a cross seen through a stained glass window at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. This is my own personal project, Moore said. I wanted to find out things, into three volumes. One volume is of her favorite churches in Miles City the First Presbyterian, First United Methodist and Episcopal. A second volume is of the Sacred Heart Parish, the Miles City Academy, the Holy Rosary Healthcare Chapel and the St. Vincent dePaul Store, all associated with the April 2014 7

Photos by Sharon Moore

Above: The Pine Hills School chapel was constructed in 1910 of fireproof concrete block. It was later used as a gymnasium and then a movie theater. It is now abandoned. Right: A window in Miles Citys First Baptist Church, which was built in mid- to late 1950s.

Photos by Sharon Moore

Catholic faith. The third is photographs of all the other churches in the community, with an image of the outside and a few of the inside of each church. It has, at times, been a real challenge, taking photographs of the stained glass and trying to have the light be just right, or find a day with bright blue skies to show the beauty of the church silhouetted against the sky, she said. She also has made CDs of the photos of each church, and has given every church a copy and the permission to use the photos in any way each congregation wishes. Moore made a DVD of each of the three volumes of photos she gathered and set the first two to music. She said she would like to make a fourth DVD of her favorite photos with music of the Lords Prayer in Aramaic, the ancient language that Jesus probably spoke the most. Pictured is the altar at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the oldest structure still in These photos help people see what the use as a church in Miles City. Constructed in 1885, the church was designed by churches look like, said Moore. They proByron Vreeland, Miles Citys first architect. Much of the woodwork inside was vide people with the opportunity to see what constructed with timbers salvaged from a wrecked steamboat. The altar and the the churches have available in the way of activities, concert space, tour possibilities and Bishops throne were constructed of black walnut by a carpenter from Fort Keogh known only as Mr. Hern. other venues. She has been working with the Miles City Public Library and the Miles City Area Chammation about each image. ber of Commerce to provide them with copies of the photo volI took the photos, she said. I hope that someone in each umes so they will have visual histories of the local churches for church will take the time to provide documentation of them and reference and research purposes. The Range Riders Museum also have them available to the public so everyone who has an interest can learn about the histories of Miles Citys various churches. will have a pared down album with photos. Moore said that she has taken more than 700 photos and has Denise Hartse may be reached at localife@midrivers.com or left room to label or provide historical data next to each picture. (406) 234-0450. She hopes church members will take the time to provide inforApril 2014 8

World Famous
Bucking Horse Sale
May 15, 16, 17 & 18, 2014

Miles City, Montana

JOIN US FOR HORSE RACING!!!
SUNDAY, MAY 11 MOTHER'S DAY Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing, Fairgrounds...........................1 p.m.
MOM GETS IN FREE!! Range Riders Museum Breakfast.6 a.m. Sheep Shearing Contest - AgriSports Center9 a.m.-2 p.m. BHS Parade, Main Street..............................................9:30 a.m. BHS Trade Show, Fairgrounds.............................12 noon-7 p.m. BHS Pari-mutuel Horse Racing, Fairgrounds...........1 p.m. BHS Grand Entry, Fairgrounds......................................1:15 p.m. Bucking Horse Sale Featuring: Saddle Bronc, Bareback Riding & Wild Horse Race Street Dance, Main Street......................................8:30-1:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Concert Night, Bandstand - Music Begins at 5:30 p.m. The Copper Mountain Band...............................................6:00 p.m. Outshyne..............................................................................7:10 p.m. Diamond Rio in Concert.......................................................8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 15

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

FRIDAY, MAY 16

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

SUNDAY, MAY 18

Diamond Rio 8:30 p.m. Thurs. May 15, 2014

opper The C Band in ta Moun

Website: buckinghorsesale.com

ADVANCED TICKETS 234-2890 874-BUCK

email: info@buckinghorsesale.com
(No Coolers Allowed) Reserve seating on Saturday & Sunday

April 2014

Addicted to live art

By Rose Brown Montana Best Times
the action and sketches. LIVINGSTON Artist Bob Newhall is a regular at some local bars. But beer-drinking and socializing arent really what draw him downtown on a Saturday night. Its my addiction to sit and draw people, Newhall said during a recent interview at his home. The 66-year-old self-diagnosed live-artaddict said he prefers to let everyone else do the carousing while he sits aside from

Artist loves hitting Livingston bars to sketch

Watching for sparks
Newhall, who draws lines with a special black crayon and then fills in with water colors or pastels, said he starts drawing when he sees a spark. He might choose to draw a musician, or perhaps a dancer, or a couple flirting at the bar. Its about capturing a moment of something a feel of something. A lot of what this is about for me is spontaneity, he explained. Sketching live music and nightlife is so right-brained for him that he doesnt even think about the composition of the page he just draws, Newhall said. If somebody interrupts his focus to chat, he usually cant get back into the same drawing, he said. And while hell stay at the bar for hours, hell usually order just one drink: a beer or whiskey.

Lively portraits

Newhall, a Montana native, recalled that

While sitting at the Murray Bar in Livingston, Bob Newhall applies water colors to a sketch he made of local band Strange Ways, in mid-March. April 2014 10

MT Best Times photos by Shawn Raecke

Newhall shows the progression of his drawing of the band Strange Ways from sketch to water color painting, at the Murray Bar in Livingston.

live art became a habit for him about 40 years ago when he started painting musicians in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1970s. He still has crates in his basement full of those first portraits: drummers, trombone players, flautists and various other jazz musicians, some of whom he can still remember listening to. One of Newhalls favorite sketches is one he did of bluegrass mandolinist David Grisman when he was performing in Paradise Valley. While he prefers drawing musicians who are jamming, like jazz groups and bluegrass bands, hell often draw whatever music scene is available. He has painted in a disco club. He has sketched rappers and karaoke singers. And he has even portrayed blackjack players, who he says are interesting because they never look like they are having fun. Depicting live musicians attracted him at first for two reasons, he said: the music gives rhythm to the drawing, and the musicians are active but generally stay in the same place. However, at this point in his art, Newhall said he no longer cares if the people in his drawings stay in place. Sometimes he starts drawing a dancers face, and she turns her back to him and he doesnt ever see her face again. I just keep going, and those (drawings) often have nothing to do with the person I started with, he said. Sometimes (people) pick up and leave completely, and then Im on my own, he added. Still, people recognize themselves and others in Newhalls paintings. The Bus Driver Tour, a band that frequently plays in Livingston, recently used Newhalls portraits of each band member to create a promotional poster. And, recently, newlyweds have started hiring Newhall to paint their wedding parties. Shown are samples of Newhalls sketches/water color paintings: Livingston musician Mike Devine, top, and an unnamed jazz singer, above.
Courtesy of Bob Newhall

From wine art to fine art

One night last summer, Newhall was sketching at The Murray Bar when a local drummer, who he also considers a friend, made April 2014 11

Newhall is reflected in a mirror as he sketches at the back of the dance floor at the Murray Bar in mid-March. on offer on a stack of finished paintings he had sitting on the table. Ill give you $1,000 for that pile of drawings, the drummer said. Newhall said he agreed, and was happy with the transaction. When he first started sketching and painting in bars, he used to give most of his art away, he said. He thought his bar art was less serious than his other art. But now he sees these portraits as finished products and wants to sell them and display them in galleries. Usually he sells an individual painting for $30 to $50.

Not just bars

Newhalls addiction to drawing motion is not confined to sketching and painting the live music scene. When he travels with his wife, Joan Kre-

sich, he often asks her to drive while he sits in the passenger seat and paints the passing landscape. And he often gets the urge to sketch and paint people he sees on TV, he said. In addition to live art, Newhall also paints landscapes with oil, makes metal

sculptures and designs custom studio furniture. Some of his work can be seen at his website at rjnewhall.com. Rose Brown may be reached at rbrown@ livent.net or (406) 222-2000.

INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE

ANOTHER STAR IS BORN

Proud to join the MorningStar Family
With leadership committed to excellence

See our Beautiful New Models

Call Today for a Tour & Complimentary Meal

MorningStarSeniorLiving.com

406 652 9303

12

406.652.9303

4001 Bell Avenue Billings MT l MorningStarSeniorLiving.com

April 2014

The heart of the home team

Herb Townsends passion for high school activities make him an MVP
LAUREL Over the past three-and-ahalf decades, Herb Townsend has become the face of Laurel High School. As the activities director for the Locomotives, most people might think Townsends job revolves strictly around the athletic departments. But think again. Townsend, 60, isnt only responsible for scheduling games and doing crowd control. He also schedules buses for field trips and sporting events, and utilizes school venues for everything from choir concerts to divisional and state tournaments.

By Ryan Minch Montana Best Times

My responsibilities are the athletic departments to speech and drama and everything in between, he said. There is no way to say what activities directors do from day to day. Townsend is in his 34th year with the district, and the last 20 have been spent as the activities director.

Getting his start

Townsend, a graduate of Baker High School and Eastern Montana College now Montana State University-Billings said he came to Laurel as a coincidence. He applied for a teaching position in the business department in the summer of 1980 and was

Herb Townsend stands in front of the Laurel High School trophy case, recently.

MT Best Times photo by Tom Latos

April 2014

13

Left: Herb Townsend, left, and Laurel School District Superintendent Tim Bronk watch the Lady Locomotives at the Class A State Basketball Tournament in Bozeman in mid-March. Right: Laurel fans cheer their team on during the tournament. subsequently hired. I saw the job opening in late July or the early part of August, Townsend said. And I thought, what the heck, so I applied. It ended up being a perfect match. Townsend spent his first 14 years in Laurel teaching accounting and keyboarding classes while also coaching girls basketball and track. He then took over the athletic director role from Jim Russell during the 1993-94 school year. When I found out the job was coming open, I was very excited about it, Townsend said. It was always a role I wanted to be in and do that type of work. In Townsends tenure as AD, the Locomotives athletic programs have thrived. But he will be the first to tell you it is a result of the coaches and the way those coaches interact with the LHS students. Since Townsend took over, the Locomotives have made a habit of ranking at the top of the Eastern A Division, winning dozens of conference titles and bringing home state championships in girls and boys basketball, football, softball, wrestling, volleyball and golf. Ive been very lucky to work with some great coaches and advisors of our programs, Townsend said. Theyve really made my job easier. During Townsends tenure, Laurel has seen just three boys basketball coaches and two football coaches. Each of the last two girls basketball coaches Townsend has hired have brought a state title back to the LHS trophy case. You have to hire the best people for the positions, he said. And then you need to give them the support they need to succeed. Townsend has also been a key part of numerous improvement projects for the school district, including the Laurel Sports Complex and the refinished basketball court at the high school. The Locomotives opened the complex in 2009 with the anticipation of hosting numerous events, such as state track and field meets. Those events now include the East-West Shrine Game that brings thousands of fans to the area, as well as the Special Olympics. And next month, the Laurel Sports Complex will be the home of the Laurel LocoExpress, an amateur football team in the 14 Rocky Mountain Football League. The sports complex is a one-in-a-million venue, Townsend said. We went into that project knowing the caliber of events we wanted to bring in, and the community supported it 100 percent.

Photos by Ryan Minch/courtesy of The Laurel Outlook

Work, family and future

A winning combination

Townsend is father of two LHS graduates Marcie and Eric and is married to Martha, a librarian at Laurels West Elementary School. The one great thing about this job is I was able to go watch my kids play their sports, no matter what, Townsend added. A lot of dads cant say that and miss a lot of things. I have been privileged to be able to do that myself. Townsend, who is also the districts transportation director, does admit an increased workload has started to take its toll. When I started, I wasnt putting in the hours I do now, he said. With the addition of sports like soccer which is one of my favorite sports to spectate and the transportation position, it adds to your day and it takes away from time with your family. However, Townsend, who spent the first four years of his career teaching in Terry and has put in nearly 40 years of service overall, still wasnt ready to delve into his future plans. After almost 40 years, its time to take a look back and think about it, thats for sure, Townsend said with a laugh. I havent made a decision one way or another, but its definitely being thought about and talked about. I bleed a lot of purple and gold and white, there is no question about that. I have had some unbelievable times with our coaches and advisors, and the community has been extremely supportive of all of our activities, including band music, speech and drama. The kids are amazing, Townsend concluded. One of the things I will miss when Im done is definitely the friendships I have developed and the students. That was one thing I was concerned about losing when I took this position, and fortunately for me they became better. One thing is certain: When Townsend does decide to call it quits, School District 7-70 will have a big desk to fill. Ryan Minch may be reached at sports@laureloutlook.com or (406) 628-4412, ext. 105.

April 2014

Being bored should never be in someones vocabulary

Marjorie Broderson

Crafting a future
89-year-old crocheter decided to make things happen
EDITORS NOTE: Eleanor Guerrero is the senior reporter for the Carbon County News, which, along with Montana Best Times, is part of the Yellowstone Newspapers group.

By Eleanor Guerrero Montana Best Times

RED LODGE It isnt often that you get a second chance. Marjorie Broderson feels shes had second, third and fourth chances. Shes 89 and still living life fully. One thing that helps her do that is her crocheting. Right after your article (about poverty in Red Lodge), she told me, I contacted that mother with the three boys featured. I told her hats were waiting for all three boys at BareTooth Cupboards.

Time for a change

Broderson is extremely independent, funny and full of gritty determination. Comfortably snug in her Red Lodge apartment, with regular visits from hospice, she reflected, I dont want any sympathy. I have a terminal illness and have been with hospice for a year. I outlived their original prognosis. I needed to do something! Something to benefit other people. She felt it was time for a change. Most of my life I let things happen, Broderson said. Most people do. I decided to make things happen. She embarked on a new mission: to crochet hats and scarves to help those in need. Her beautiful handmade items are free at the BareTooth Cupboards. Anyone can pick one up. No two are alike, so they wont meet themselves coming down the street, she joked. Broderson will be 90 on July 12. But my angels said I would live until 89, she said. She has many books about angel stories. Although her family lives elsewhere, she does not feel alone. She feels guided. There is a peaceful presence around her. This project was started in September, she said. My goal was to make 10 hats by the first of October. Instead, she made 20, with a total of 43 hats to date. Now I try to do two a week, and then I do scarves, she said. She just completed her 50th scarf and delivered it to the local food bank. About six months ago, I gave away all my yarn. Now that Ive started this project, people donate yarn. This Turkish yarn is wonderful, she marveled as she fingered the fabric and gradation of colors. Every one is an adventure! She held out a string.

Marjorie Broderson, pictured recently in her Red Lodge apartment, shows off her latest hat she crocheted for charity. Look at this! she said excitedly. Ive never seen such yarn died like this! It goes from one color, then theres a dab of a new color, then a little more. She remarked it was a metaphor for her life: You never know what its going to turn out to be. At 89, Broderson stays current on her yarns. It is so wonderful to work with these! she said. I have some gold and blue. I hear they are (Red Lodge High School Ram) team colors. Broderson has also come up with her own product label, which she sews onto every item. She showed it to me with a laugh. It read, The Happy Hooker. Broderson reads a lot. A favorite is Doreen Virtue, author of April 2014 15

MT Best Times photo by Eleanor Guerrero

peoples true life-angel stories. The rest are mostly Harlequins, she admitted. I didnt have a lot of romance in my life, she said. Broderson was born in Riggins, Idaho, to a farm family on the Big Salmon River. I was on a horse by 6, riding two miles to school with my brother, she said. From eight to 10 years, I would ride with him on my horse and deliver 25 quarts of our cows milk to houses each day before school. And Saturdays! To prevent the glass milk bottles from breaking, her mother cut strips from rubber inner tubes and inserted them over the bottles. Broderson was one of seven children from two fathers. She was the eldest child of her mother Margarets second marriage to a man who was a farmer. She has one stepbrother and one stepsister from the first marriage. My stepbrother was born six days after my mothers first husband died of influenza after World War I, she said. Living on a farm meant they always had food and a roof even during the Depression. Dad raised a big garden, mom canned 1,000 quarts of fruits and vegetables, she said. Her father hunted deer and raised livestock. But it wasnt an easy life. We would park our car across the river from the farm and would row to the car, she recalled. One winter during snowmelt, when they crossed, it was particularly bad.

We had such bad ice flow we had to dodge lots of ice and driftwood trees, she remembered.

Tough farm life

Moving on

Despite her large family she said, I always felt different. I told my stepbrother (to whom she felt closest), I thought Id been adopted. He affectionately responded, No, because wed take you back. Growing up, she could never shake the feeling. I was never told I love you by my mother, she blurted out. I was never hugged. At 17 she left home for Boise the nearest big city, she remarked and became a waitress. She married and had a daughter, who now lives in Memphis, Tenn. Broderson keeps in touch with her by phone and she proudly showed it off her new Tablet. Her first marriage ended and she remarried. However, after many years, I decided it wasnt working at one point and left, she said, an unusual move for a woman in those days. I went to Denver to live with my sister. I worked for the phone company. I loved that job. During her employment there, she handled every position up to supervisor. Broderson has a message for seniors: Take a leap and embrace change. It isnt just for me, she said. Being bored should never be in someones vocabulary. Theres no excuse. If youre bored, do something for someone else! Eleanor Guerrero may be reached at (406) 446-2222 or news@carboncountynews.com.

Hey, baby boomers, get a grip on your finances, that is

By Allan Roth AARP Media/MCT
Baby boomers are about to confront two grave threats to their financial future: a decline in the ability to handle our money, and a stubborn denial that the former is really happening. According to a study by Michael Finke and Sandra Huston of Texas Tech University and John Howe of the University of Missouri-Columbia, financial-acuity scores drop by about a percentage point every year after age 60. Troublingly, financial confidence increases. And the older we get, the bigger the gap between our perceived and actual skill levels. Fortunately, here are some things you can do to deal with this decline: Get moving. Many studies have found a link between physical exercise and improved cognitive processing. Exercise is free and good for both physical and mental health, says Laura Carstensen, director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. Buy a bigger safety net. Finke suggests a single-premium immediate annuity. You make an upfront payment and an insurance company sends you a fixed amount monthly for the rest of your life. This protects you from your own mistakes, he says. Get help. Though it can be difficult to discuss financial issues with family members or even close friends, they can be useful sounding boards. A good financial adviser can also help. Make sure the adviser is willing to tell you the total fees you are paying as well as the risks. Consider a trust. Specifically, a revocable living trust with an incapacity clause. That gives control of your assets to a trustee in the event that you make a disastrous financial choice, such as suddenly deciding to give most of your net worth to an unfamiliar charity. Keep it simple. The best financial solutions tend to be clear and simple. You can get one low-cost index fund from Vanguard, Fidelity or Charles Schwab that owns practically every stock in the world. These funds manage risk for you by buying stocks in down markets and selling after surges. Your fees should be under 0.25 percent annually (meaning youd pay under $2.50 for each $1,000 invested).

Great News for Seniors 62 yrs of Age & Older!

COMFORTABLE & AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS Accepting Applications for Independent Seniors

Call (406) 248-9117 1439 Main Street Billings, MT

Rent Based on Income, HUD 202 PRAC Live On-Site Community Administrator Free Laundry On-Site Parking Mailboxes on Premises Electric, Gas, Water, Sewer, & Trash Included in Rent Community Room Available for Social Gatherings & Meetings

April 2014

16

More people living to

100

Centenarian Leon Fenstemacher is pictured in his room at KentRidge at Golden Pond in Kent, Ohio. Behind him is a world map with pins marking the dozens of locations he and his wife, Annabelle, visited before her death at age 97.

Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT

By Kim Hone-McMahan Akron Beacon Journal/MCT

mark spokeswoman Jaci Twidwell.

Celebrating a 100th birthday is still a relatively rare occurrence in this country. But with advances in medicine and the sheer volume of aging baby boomers, the number of folks who reach centenarian status is expected to increase massively. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there were 53,564 centenarians or older living nationally in 2010. But by 2050, that number is predicted to swell to 600,000 or more. Theres definitely a trend in aging. ... Weve seen it as well. Theres more centenarians, said Matt Reed, senior vice president of the Akron (Ohio) Area Agency on Aging in Green, Ohio. Though finding a birthday card for someone turning 100 can be a challenge, American Greetings has been making cards for new centenarians for five years. Hallmark has been doing it even longer. I get more calls about these (cards) because people finally have someone turning 100 years old in their lives, said Hall-

Keep mind, body moving

What is it like to live that long? We chatted with two centenarians living at KentRidge at Golden Pond, an assisted living facility in Portage County, Ohio. When asked if he ever thought he would live to be 100, Leon Fenstemacher shrugged his shoulders. Its in his genes, he said, noting that his great-grandmother lived to celebrate her 103rd birthday. Hanging on the wall inside his room is a map with pins marking dozens of locations around the world that he and his wife visited. Traveling was something Leon enjoyed with Annabelle, who lived to 97. They were married more than seven decades. When it comes to reaching the century mark, women definitely have the men beat. Census numbers show that for every 100 women who become centenarians, there are only 20 men with that distinction. That makes Fenstemacher somewhat of an anomaly. April 2014 17

The retired CEO of the former Cleveland Trust bank and lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves is entertained by keeping track of the football team at Ohio State University, his alma mater. Fenstemacher takes his age in stride. You should see the woman in here whos 103, he said. You wont believe it. To see for ourselves, we found Mary Denny in room 103, sitting in her easy chair turning a rosary in the palm of her left hand. With her right, she pointed to her neck. Everything is good from here up, she said, laughing. And though its hard to tell, she said the upholstery has worn out on the rest of her body. When asked if she expected to live to 103, Denny chuckled. Heck no. When I was 50, I thought I was old. As in Fenstemachers, longevity runs in her family. Older siblings lived into their 90s, she explained. Denny, who pointed out that she still has her real teeth, was married to her late sweetheart, Russell, until his passing in 1995. She recommends that those lucky enough to have their faculties in old age need to keep their minds engaged. I watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! Sometimes I win a lot of money sitting right here in my chair, she quipped. Denny, a homemaker who spent much of her life caring for others, knows shes fortunate. Reed, of the Agency on Aging, noted that of those 85 or older, 50 percent are likely to have some type of memory impairment. And with that comes the challenge for caregivers to find whats best for their loved ones to have a quality life in their golden years. Like Fenstemacher, Denny enjoys watching sports. She played forward on her high school basketball team for five years. Boy, Im telling ya, those Cleveland teams ... I dont know whats the matter, she said, shaking her head. No, yes, I do know when they get someone good, they sell them. To the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, Denny suggests that they exercise if they want to live to be 100 or older: Even if that means you have to sit in your wheelchair and shuffle your feet to get around.

Reed noted that the boomer generation is significantly different from their parents. Everything from expectations, to the way that boomers use services versus the way that the generation before them used services, he explained. I think that boomers are much more savvy when it comes to managing services (such as long-term care). That kind of customer service mindset came up with the boomers. And so, choice has molded the way boomers interact with products and services. For instance, when boomers parents didnt agree with a physicians findings, they often kept it to themselves. Boomers are not afraid to be assertive and ask questions, Reed said.

Looking forward

I think it will be really exciting to see what aging looks like in 30 years, said Reed. But we really need to start concentrating now on building structures that are going to support productive and healthy aging. Hauser believes that by the time boomers hit 100, a whole new model of public transportation should be in place. It needs to be safe and convenient and get you where you need to go with minimal effort. Dont think the younger generations will want us old folks trying to drive at our age. But why not? After all, we are baby boomers and we are used to doing what we want, Hauser added. Maybe if we are lucky we can re-create a 100s version of the 1960s with good (albeit classic) rock and roll, flower power and the love generation. Guess we would call ourselves the hairless hippies and our theme song will be The Whos We wont get fooled again.

Quality of life

Montana Allergy & Asthma Specialists

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

Dr. Tom Scarborough

But do baby boomers want to live to be 100? Emphatically no, but 85 or 90 would be nice, offered boomer Michael Tew, 66, who watched his father suffer from dementia before he died at the age of 91. I watched a reasonably vibrant man lose both his mind and then his body. Life is about quality, not quantity. If I have quality to make my own decisions, then life is good. When that passes, I will only be a burden on those around me, he added. Bill Hauser also said if hes destined to reach 100, he wants to do it with a decent mind and body. Im 65, so 100 is only 35 years from now, Hauser said. I think it would be great to see what life will be like in 2048 (when he would be 100) and how it has so dramatically changed over the past century. I would love to see where we are at as far as health care, politics and how we treat each other. Are our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren doing a better job than we did? Will anyone still write things down or will everything be spoken into a smartphone or gadget? Will we still call everyone dude? April 2014 18

Call for an Appointment Today

Billings: 406-237-5500 Toll Free: 800-308-3719

On The Menu

With Jim Durfey

Knock the socks off their taste buds this Easter

Was a crawfish dish one of the featured items at your last Easter dinner? Probably not. Thats too bad, because crawfish should grace every Easter table. Crawfish also spelled crayfish are freshwater crustaceans that resemble tiny lobsters. They thrive in the warm climates of the Southeast. They also have the moniker crawdads, by the way. Crawfish make for very healthy eating. They contain fatty acids that are potent antioxidants. They are also low in saturated fats compared to most meat and dairy products. Because they are low on the food chain, they are also low in contaminants that are a concern with many fish. They are prolific in the Southeast and theyre very tasty. Thats why they are a staple in Cajun cooking. Relatives in Louisiana introduced me to the delectable creatures. While there are crayfish in the rivers and streams of the Big Sky state, their size and numbers dont allow a crayfish hunter to harvest enough of them to make a feast feasible. Is your Best Times recipe contributor suggesting you travel to Louisiana to obtain crayfish? A phone call to the two supermarkets in Livingston proves its not necessary to travel any further than the grocery stores in Montana to find crawfish. Both the meat departments at Albertsons and Town and Country Foods can order in frozen, cooked crawfish. Depending on the season, fresh crawfish can be obtained by the latter store. While a little planning ahead is necessary, the extra effort is well worthwhile. Incidentally, crawfish are responsible for my one-upping some fly-fishing friends of mine on the Madison River many years ago. They had all fished the Madison on many occasions. I had never wet a line in the Madison, so I was a rookie that day. I asked an experienced local fly fisherman for his advice regarding the best fly selection. He suggested I tie some crawfish imitations because the trout feed on the crustaceans pretty heavily in that river at that time of the year. The pattern I found in one of my fly-tying books called for blue and brown wool yarn. When the flies were tied, they werent the most beautiful creations in my fly box, thats for sure. My friends and I launched two drift boats. I was one of the anglers who had the privilege of fishing first. We would all take turns at the oars. When I removed one of my ugly crawfish flies and tied it on the end of my tippet, the other guys couldnt contain their hoots and laughter. Several of my fly-fishing companions said Id never catch a trout on something that hideous. When a decent-sized rainbow took the fly on my first cast, one of the fellows in my boat was amazed. He told me I had found the stupidest fish in the river. I wouldnt catch any more fish with that fly, he claimed. When I caught another nice rainbow on my second cast, I forced my companions to hold their tongues. Although I never had a hit on a crawfish fly during the rest of the long days fishing trip, I proved that trout, at certain times, like crawfish just as much as my Louisiana relatives. Incidentally, the word crawfish is pronounced two different ways. Practically everyone south of Mason Dixon Line pronounces the word as it appears crawfish while some Northerners say crayfish. One of the most popular crawfish dishes is crawfish etouffee. If youre lucky enough to find fresh crawfish, you should use the fat from them in the dish. That makes the flavor of the star of the dish more prominent. But even without the added flavor the fat provides, this dish is sure to win you fans if you serve it this Easter. Melt butter and fat (if available) in large saute pan. Season crawfish tails with Creole seasoning and paprika. Add tails to saute pan. Saute three minutes. Remove tails and set aside. Add onion, green bell pepper and celery to saute pan. Saute until crisp tender, about six minutes. Add garlic. Saute one more minute. Return tails to pan. Add two cups water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir occasionally. Cook rice in remaining three cups water. Put crawfish dish in serving bowl. Sprinkle chopped green onions and/or parsley over crawfish dish. Have guests serve themselves rice, then etouffee on top of rice. Have Creole seasoning on dining table. Serves four to six. April 2014 19

Crawfish Etouffee

1 lb. crawfish, peeled, tails and fat 1 stick butter 1 small onion, diced 1/2 green bell pepper, diced 1 rib celery, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp. paprika 1 tsp. Creole seasoning 5 c. water, divided Green onions and or parsley, chopped (optional) 1 1/2 c. uncooked white rice

RSVP
Gallatin County

Below is a list of volunteer openings available through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in communities across southern Montana. To learn more about RSVP, call (800) 424-8867 or TTY (800) 833-3722; or log on to www. seniorcorps.org. - Heart of The Valley: Compassionate volunteers especially needed to love, play with and cuddle cats, do carpentry work, be an animal bank collector (asking local businesses to display an animal bank for donation collection) or birthday party leader. - Help Center Telecare: Volunteers needed 3-4 mornings a week 8:30-11 a.m. to make calls to homebound seniors, providing reassurance, check on safety and well-being, and access to up-to-date referral information to vulnerable individuals. - Hyalite Elementary Reading with Friends: Needs volunteers Monday-Friday, 8-8:30 a.m., to listen to a child read. - Museum of the Rockies: Variety of opportunities available. - RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to quilt, knit, crochet and embroider hats for chemo patients, baby blankets and other handmade goods once a week (can work from home). Handcrafters are in need of 3-ply sports yarn, and baby yarn. - Senior Nutrition Volunteers:Volunteers needed to help seniors with grocery shopping, meal and menu planning, and companionship, 1-2 hours a week, days and times are flexible. - Warming Center: Needs a volunteer weekday mornings of your choosing at a local laundromat to help with center linens. - Your unique skills and interests are needed, without making a long-term commitment, in a variety of ongoing, special, one-time events. Contact: Deb Downs, RSVP Program Coordinator, 807 N. Tracy, Bozeman, MT 59715; phone (406) 587-5444; fax (406) 582-8499; email: debdowns@rsvpmt.org.***** Coordinator, 206 So. Main St., Livingston, MT 59047; phone (406) 222-2281; email: livingston@rsvpmt.org.

- American Cancer Society-Road to Recovery: Drivers needed for patients receiving treatments from their home to the hospital. - American Red Cross Blood Drive: Two volunteer opportunities available: an ambassador needed to welcome, greet, thank and provide overview for blood donors; and phone team volunteers needed to remind, recruit or thank blood donors. Excellent customer service skills needed, training will be provided, flexible schedule. - Befrienders: Befriend a senior; visit on a regular weekly basis. - Belgrade Senior Center: Meals on Wheels needs regular and substitute drivers, MondayFriday, to deliver meals 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 on any day, Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. - Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: Volunteers needed for the information desks, 8 a.m.noon, noon- 4 p.m., variety of other positions need filled as well. - Bozeman Senior Center Foot Clinic: Retired or nearly retired nurses are urgently needed, 2 days a month, either 4- or 8-hour shifts. - Child Care Connections: Front desk help needed Thursdays, noon-1 p.m., to greet clients, answer phones and general reception duties. - Childrens Museum of Bozeman - Welcome desk volunteer (s) needed for 2-hour shifts, Mondays-Saturdays. - The Emerson Cultural Center:Volunteers needed for front office, greeter/reception, Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Galavan: Volunteer drivers needed Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. CDL required and Galavan will assist you in obtaining one. - Gallatin County 911 Communications: Office help needed 1 1/2-2 hours one day a week on your schedule. - Gallatin County Election Office: Seeking judges for the June 3 and Nov. 4 elections. ($8 per hour) Training provided. - Gallatin Valley Food Bank: Volunteers needed to deliver commodities to seniors in their homes once a month. Deliveries in Belgrade are especially needed. - Governors Conference on Aging: Will need volunteers on May 8-9 at the Holiday Inn. - HRDE VITA: Providing free tax service, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 1-4 p.m., Community Cafe on No. 7th Ave. and by appointment in Livingston at 11 South 2nd St. - HRDC: Office Support/Assistant needed ten hours a week, days negotiable. - Habitat for Humanity Restore: Belgrade store needs volunteers for general help, sorting donations and assisting customers. April 2014 20

Fergus & Judith Basin counties

- America Reads Program: Needs volunteers, especially in the rural schools, to help student improve their reading skills. - Community Cupboard: Needs volunteers to help any week mornings as well as with deliveries. - Council on Aging: Needs volunteers to help at the Community Center with Grub Steaks and other various programs. - Head Start and grade schools: Volunteers needed to assist students. - Library and Art Center: Volunteer help always appreciated. - ROWL (Recycle Our Waste Lewistown): Recruiting volunteers for the 3rd Saturday of the month to help with greeting, traffic directing, sorting, baling and loading recyclables working to keep plastic wastes from our landfills. - Treasure Depot: Needs volunteers at their thrift stores. - Always have various needs for your skills and volunteer services in our community. Contact: RSVP Volunteer Coordinator, 404 W. Broadway, Wells Fargo Bank building, (upstairs), Lewistown, MT 59457; phone (406) 535-0077; email: rsvplew@midrivers. com.

Musselshell, Golden Valley & Petroleum counties

Park County

- Big Brother-Big Sister: Volunteers needed to mentor a child, do fun and interesting things with in our area. - Loaves and Fishes and Food Pantry: Need volunteers for gardening and other new projects. - Mainstreeter Thrift Shop: Need volunteers to help sort, tag and shelve donated items. Choose your own hours. - Park County Senior Center: Volunteers needed in a variety of ways in new activities and services. - Stafford Animal Shelter: Always in need of loving volunteers to care for animals waiting for adoption, pet and play with the cats and play and walk with the dogs. - Yellowstone Gateway Museum: Volunteers needed with ongoing projects preparing for summer visitors, help at the front desk, and man the cash register. Flexible times. - Various agencies including the Senior Center, hospital, prenatal classes, and veterans are in need of your unique skills in a variety of ongoing and one-time special events. Contact: Shannon Burke, RSVP Program

- Food Bank: Distribute food commodities to seniors and others in the community; help unload the truck as needed. - Meals on Wheels Program: Deliver meals to the housebound in the community, just one day a week, an hour and a half, meal provided. - Nursing Home: Assist with activities for residents to enrich supported lifestyle. - Roundup School Lunches: Help clean tables and serve the kids during lunch. - Senior Center: Volunteers are needed to provide meals, clean up in the dining room and/or keep records; meal provided. - RSVP offers maximum flexibility and choice to its volunteers as it matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans with opportunities to serve their communities. You choose how and where to serve. Volunteering is an opportunity to learn new skills, make friends and connect with your community. Contact: Volunteer Coordinator, South Central MT RSVP, 315 1/2 Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup, MT 59072; phone (406) 323-1403; fax (406) 323-4403; email: rdprsvp2@midrivers.com; Facebook: South Central MT RSVP. See RSVP, Page 21

 Friday, April 4

April 2014 Calendar

 Saturday, April 19
Junior Ranger Day, Grant-Kohrs Ranch, Deer Lodge Livingston Dance Club, country western dancing, 7-11 p.m., American Legion, 112 N. B St., Livingston,

PBR Nile Invitational, through April 6, MetraPark Arena, Billings Federation of Fly Fishers Museum, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Livingston Yellowstone Gateway Museum, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Livingston

 Sunday, April 20  Friday, April 25

 Thursday, April 3  Friday, April 4

Southeastern Montana Fiddlers, 2-5 p.m., Range Riders Museums Pioneer Memorial Hall, Miles City 2nd Annual Montana Brewers Spring Festival, Montana Pavilion Metra Park, Billings David Thompson Black Powder Shoot and Rendezvous, through April 27, Eureka Springfest Family Night and Auction, Sacred Heart School gym, Miles City

MSU Spring Rodeo, through April 6, Brick Breeden Field House, Bozeman St. Marys Fish Fry, 4:30 p.m., St. Marys School auditorium, Livingston

 Saturday, April 5

30th Annual Spring Art and Craft Show, Helena Civic Center, Helena United In Light Draft Horse Sanctuary Open House, 10 a.m., Paradise Valley, Livingston

 Saturday, April 26 Stillwater Masonic Lodge Spring Craft and Antique Sale,

 Sunday, April 6

Timber  Friday, April 11 American Indian Council of MSU Pow-Wow, through April 12, MSU Fieldhouse Arena, Bozeman Spring Fling Home Arts and Crafts Show, through April 12, Eastern Plains Events Center, Glendive  Saturday, April 12 Big Timber Crazy Mountain Productions Salute to Service Men and Women, Big Timber Fairgrounds, Big Timber Yellowstone River Clean-up, 8 a.m., Civic Center, Livingston WaterWorks Art Museum Benefit Dinner, Miles City 37th International Wildlife Film Festival, through April 19, downtown Missoula and Caras Park, Missoula  Sunday, April 13 150th Birthday of the Civil War Doughnut, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Range Riders Museum, Miles City Film Festival, Shane Lalani Center for the Arts, Livingston  Friday, April 18 Stillwater County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, through April 19, Pavilion Stillwater Fairgrounds, Columbus
RSVP, from Page 20

District 4 Fiddlers Dance and Jam, 1-5 p.m., Thirsty Turtle in Big

 Sunday, April 27 Annual Makoshika quilt Festival, through April 29, EPEC building, Glendive District 4 Fiddlers Dance and Jam, 1-5 p.m., Shriners Auditorium,
Ice Breaker 5M, 3M, 1M Road Race, Civic Center to Gibson Park, Great Falls Peaks to Prairie Adventure Race, Beartooth Pass, Red Lodge

Fifth annual Sweet Grass Arts and Crafts Spring Fling, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Big Timber Civic Center, Big Timber Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale: Season Finale, Alberta Bair Theater, Billings Annual Railroad Swap Meet, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Depot Center, Livingston Miles City Spring Expo and Boy Scout Show with Pinewood Derby, Exhibition Hall, Eastern Montana Fairgrounds, Miles City Springfest Banquet with Silent and Live Auctions, Park Place, Miles City

through April 27, Stillwater Pavilion, 328 E. Fifth St., Columbus

Billings

 Saturday, May 3 Fifth Annual Sweet Grass Community Health and Wellness Fair, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Civic Center, Big Timber Western MontanaSpring Classic Motocross Race, through May 4, Old Blue Creek Road, Billings Western Montana Wood Carvers Show, through May 4, Missoula County Fairgrounds, Missoula

Custer & Rosebud counties

- Clinic Ambassador: New volunteer position starting soon. - Custer County Food Bank: Volunteers needed for food distribution Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. - Historic Miles City Academy: Volunteers needed to assist in thrift store with sorting and cleaning donated merchandise. - Holy Rosary Health Care: Volunteers needed Mondays and Thursdays in the gift shop. - Kircher School: Volunteer needed for lunch delivery from Miles City to the school. Free lunch and mileage is reimbursed. - Miles City CLC: Urgently need volunteers to assist with veteran activities. - Miles City Historic Preservation Office: Seeking a volunteer to help with clerical duties.

- Spirit Riders: Volunteer to assist with traffic control at funerals. - St. Vincent DePaul: Volunteers to assist in thrift store with sorting, pricing, cashier and stocking. - WaterWorks Art Museum: Volunteer receptionists needed, 2 hour shifts Tuesdays-Sundays. To volunteer, contact: Betty Vail, RSVP Director; 210 Winchester Ave. #225, MT 59301; phone (406) 234-0505; email: rsvp05@midrivers.com.

Dawson County

- Senior shut-ins: Volunteers needed to deliver monthly commodities, once a month, to elderly, flexible schedule. - To volunteer, contact: Patty Atwell, RSVP Director, P.O. Box 1324, Glendive, MT 59330; phone (406) 377-4716; email: rsvp@midrivers. com. April 2014

21

Tomatoes, fruit, and the

Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@cs.com

By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

U.S. Supreme Court

those high-stakes matches? A. Dont worry about your face at all, since thats not whats likely to betray your hand, says Bruce Bower in Science News magazine. When test subjects viewed video clips of the faces and upper bodies of opponents, they couldnt correctly predict whether the other players held good or bad cards. In other words, the poker faces of experienced players gave away nothing. Quite surprisingly, however, professional poker players arm movements enabled untrained observers to decode poker-hand quality, reported Tufts University graduate student Michael Slepian. What seemed to be the give-away for good cards was smooth arm movement when players pushed chips forward to make bets. Bluffers, on the other hand, seemed to move their arms somewhat awkwardly. Generally, the way people move hints at what theyre thinking, remarked cognitive neuroscientist James Kilner of University College London. In one of his studies, confident marble players moved more quickly, and observers of such actions interpreted this speed as signalling greater confidence. In a larger study of college students, those with some poker experience did best at telling weak from strong hands by using players arm movements as the tip-off. Q. Most of us probably take toothbrushes and toothpaste (oral dentifrice) pretty much for granted. But have you ever wondered when they got their start and what they were first made out of?

Q. What did the U.S. Supreme Court have to say about the next fruit youll be eating?

A. That it wont be a tomato because by a 1893 ruling, tomatoes are vegetables, say Amanda Green and Matt Soniak in Mental Floss magazine. When Congress instituted a 10 percent tariff on vegetable imports in 1883, produce merchants were peeved. One New York family, particularly enraged over taxes on a shipment of tomatoes, initiated a lawsuit that ended up before the Supreme Court. It ruled against the family, concluding that while tomatoes are technically fruits, they are served more at dinner than as dessert like other fruits. The message was clear. Legally tomatoes are vegetables a designation that drives botanists crazy. But this decision isnt going anywhere: The best we can hope for is that everyone handles the situation as gracefully as Arkansas has. The south Arkansas vine ripe pink tomato is both the states official fruit and official vegetable. Q. In the beginning April 1993 there was 1. By the end of the year, there were 500, and today there are roughly 670,000,000 of them some fanciful, some serious, some minimalist; you may even have one or two of your own. What are they?

plummeted and everybody could afford one. (Some early ones were so expensive they were shared by the entire family.) The first toothpaste was made out of ox hooves, myrrh, eggshells or pumice mixed together and rubbed on with a finger. Early dentifrice French for toothpaste came in a round block that users just scraped with a toothbrush; dentifrice usually was flavorless but Queen Victoria, fascinated with teeth, liked hers cherry flavored. Dr. Sheffields Creme Dentifrice became the first to appear in tubes in 1892. When Dr. Sheffields son was studying in Paris, he watched artists painting with tubes of paint and had the flash of inspiration ... Q. Students, what college major should you choose? You might want to hide this from your liberal arts parents.

A. Did you guess websites? Actually, the worlds first website by the particlephysics lab CERN was dreadfully boring, just a straightforward presentation of information, but it was available royaltyfree, says Mental Floss magazine. The site shared basic technical information about how to code a web page and how to search for information on the web ... and also provided instructions for building sites.... In addition to the mothership website CERN, WebMD, Urban Dictionary and Match.com are among what the magazine terms The 25 Most Powerful Websites. Q. Do you have a skillful enough poker face to help get you through April 2014 22

A. Toothbrush #1 was likely a twig or finger but the first real toothbrush was by businessman William Addis in 1780, made of horsehair and bone, says Holly Oldfield in The Secret Museum: Some Treasures Are Too Precious to Display. During World War I, troops were issued toothbrushes, and once they learned these were not for cleaning their boots, many took them home to show their families. Soon the idea caught on, prices

A. If doing what you love is important, major in what you want even as you learn as much as possible about foreign languages and technology, suggest Amanda Green and Matt Soniak in 25 of Your Most Pressing Questions Answered, as reported in Mental Floss magazine. However, for earning top dollars right after graduation, aim low, i.e., below Earths surface. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, an average $84,000 a year goes to grads with jobs in mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction. If you dont dig digging, any kind of engineering degree can unearth big rewards: petroleum engineering, followed by computer engineering, chemical engineering, computer science and aerospace engineering. Now break out that slide rule and start shopping for a Bentley! Q. Studying the enigma of the cheetah hunting in the wild, scientists used electronic collars, accelerometers, GPS modules, a Structure and Motion Laboratory and more. What were their findings?

A. Headed by biomechanicist Alan Wilson

of Londons Royal Veterinary College, the group discovered that the cats hunting success may have as much to do with its remarkable ability to brake sharply and to pivot as its rocket-like acceleration in catching its zigzagging prey, says Josie Garthwaite in Discover magazine. Whereas Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt powers up using 25 watts per kilogram, the cheetah uses 100 watts, firing up its heavily muscled legs by accelerating 6.7 mph in a single stride, aided by rigid paws and blunt claws acting like cleats. Actually, a wild cheetah neednt go all out but more like a moderate 33 mph for only a second or two. Rapid deceleration, or slowdown, of about 9 mph in a single stride allows it to corner darting prey.

A cheetah on the hunt may execute six or seven turns in just a few hundred feet, helped by its three-foot-long tail. Then in mid gallop, it hooks its claws into the preys rump to yank it off balance and then suffocates the victim by biting the neck. Sums up Garthwaite, Roughly one-quarter of 367 hunts recorded in Botswana ended in capture of prey usually impala. Q. When you brake your car on an icy road, the goal is to stay on a straight path with no spinout, so its best not to have the wheels lock. But if its going to happen, which should you choose to have locked: front or rear? A. Surprisingly, with the front wheels

locked, the car will keep going straight ahead, says Mark Levi in Why Cats Land on Their Feet, and 76 Other Physical Paradoxes and Puzzles. By contrast, if the rear wheels lock, the car will turn around and travel with back end forward until it stops (assuming the steering wheel is kept fixed). Think of it another way: An arrows stabilizing feathers keep its tail from sideslipping, just as with front wheels locked, a cars rolling rear wheels act to keep it going straight. At a late hour one snowy night, I tried this experiment in my car on an empty snowcovered parking lot. By locking the rear wheels (using the parking brake), I could easily turn the car 180 degrees.

Ask me about the This auto and home insurance is designed exclusively for AARP members and is now available through your local Hartford AARP independent agent! Call Today for your FREE, no-obligation quote: Auto & Home Now available in your area! 406-652-4180 InsuranceProgram KAYE DUNCAN, DARNIELLE INSURANCE AGENCY from The Hartford.
1320 28th St WPO Box 21300Billings, MT 59104 www.darnielle.com

The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. In Washington, the Program is underwritten by Trumbull Insurance Company. AARP and its affiliates are not insurance agencies or carriers and do not employ or endorse insurance agents, brokers, representatives or advisors. The program is provided by The Hartford, not AARP or its affiliates. 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 is required for Program eligibility in most states. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings 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

Crossword

Across

1 Lunch To-Go maker 9 Espresso feature 14 Inherit 15 Boring tool 16 A vacation often involves one 17 State birds of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin 18 Tony Soprano, for one 19 Navajo relative 20 Super Smash Bros. Brawl console 21 Pole, for one 23 Party person 24 Building owner, often 28 Air travelers concern 31 Real time news source 34 Many a Saudi 35 Quickly cooked cut 36 Seawater evaporation site 37 Brand no one wants

41 Time of existence 42 __ chance! 45 Poppycock 46 Prevails in 49 Listing 53 Ocean floor dwellers 54 Payback 55 Like some angels 56 Slow-cooking method involving plastic bags 57 Circular 58 Not entirely

Houston 11 Spensers The Faerie Queene, for one 12 Its arrival is often celebrated in ritual 13 11th-century Benedictine philosopher 15 Crosses 22 Pribilof Islands native 25 Action movie staple

26 Cop (to) 27 Shepherd memorably rescued during WWI 29 F neighbor 30 Japanese hands-on healing practice 32 Pair with 33 Reg. symbols 34 Without a peep 35 Like love potions 36 Shorten, in a way

Down

1 Rough writers output 2 Multimetallic Canadian coin 3 Guarneri relatives 4 Insta- relative 5 Cultural group 6 Words before a subject 7 Arouses 8 One-named Tevye portrayer 9 Frame in a photo lab 10 2000s sitcom set in

38 Cooking crust 39 One-celled organisms 40 Trumans U.K. counterpart 43 Tibia neighbors 44 Used to hold food 47 Only 48 Many an SNL performer 50 Color slightly darker than electric blue 51 Work (out) 52 To travel is to __: Hans Christian Andersen

April 2014

23

with your current hearing aids?

MORE OPTIONS MORE CLARITY MORE DISCRETION MORE CONTROL MORE TECHNOLOGY

NOT HAPPY

Miracle-Ear with ClearVation

GIVES YOU MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. MORE FREE $2000

up to

AUDIBILITY in even the most challenging situations PERSONALIZATION with the ability to learn & remember your individual hearing preferences CONVENIENCE with mini MEBluConnect wireless technology FEATURES at affordable prices

a Miracle-Ear hearing solution when you trade in your current hearing aids

OFF

mini MEBluConnect

Enjoy special savings on Miracle-Ear hearing aids when you trade in your current hearing aids. Depending on the age and condition of your hearing aids, you could receive up to $2000 in trade-in value! Visit your Miracle-Ear Center to find out what your current hearing aids are worth in trade. Please present this ad at a participating Miracle-Ear location to take advantage of our trade-in offer. Not valid with any other discount or offer. Does not apply to prior purchases.
Offer expires 04/30/14.

Go Wireless! Stay Connected!

Offer valid with purchase of ME-1 wireless hearing solutions (pair). No other offers or discounts apply. Offer cannot be combined and does not apply to prior sales. See participating Miracle-Ear representatives for details.
Offer expires 04/30/14.

OFFERS VALID FOR A LIMITED TIME! COME IN TODAY TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL TRADE UP OFFER!
BILLINGS OFFICE 1527 14th St. West Billings, MT 59102 406-259-7983 SERVICE CENTERS Glendive Wolf Point 800-340-3720 BOZEMAN OFFICE 702 N. 19th Ave. Suite 1-C Bozeman, MT 59718 406-586-5841 MILES CITY OFFICE 18 N. 8th Street Suite #8 Miles City, MT 59301 800-340-3720

Steven Howell NBC-HIS National Board Certified in Hearing Instruments Science 28 years Experience in the Hearing Aid Industry
*If you are not completely satisfied, the aids may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory condition. Fitting fees may apply. See store for details. Hearing aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences vary depending on severity of hearing loss, accuracy of evaluation, proper fit and ability to adapt to amplification. 2014 Miracle-Ear, Inc. 15333ROPA/FP4C