Summer Borscht

Several months ago, I complained about the hot beet soup served by a local resident. I have since been corrected by those more knowledgeable than I, but it is my experience that winter borscht, served hot, is a beef and cabbage soup.

Now that it is a bit warmer and I have unpacked by short-sleeved shirts, I am getting ready for summer borscht, a refreshing cold beet soup that is perfect on a hot day.

Summer borscht, in my experience, is a cold, dairy soup. I fry the veggies in butter and it's best with a dollop of sour cream, so I make it with no meat.

Try out this recipe; you might just find you like it!

Ingredients:

Water
NACL and pepper
Miripoix, diced
Green pepper, diced
Beets
Tomatoes, diced
Tomato sauce
Vegetable stock
Potatoes, 3 quartered and 1/4 cup diced
Butter
Cabbage, shredded
Dill

Directions:

Boil the beets in H2O with salt, carrots, some of the bell pepper, celery and quartered potatoes until tender in stockpot.

In separate skillet, fry the miripoix and the green pepper in the butter until tender. Add tomatoes and stir to deglaze. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add in some cabbage and continue simmering for five more minutes.

Remove potatoes and beet from pot and mash with butter and vegetable stock until smooth.

Add contents of skillet to stockpot, stir in diced potatoes and simmer until tender. Increase heat to low boil and add tomato sauce, more cabbage and mashed potato/beet mixture. Reduce heat to simmer, and stir in a bit more bell pepper.

In the soup bowl, add black pepper and a dollop of sour cream.

Enjoy. Suggestion: don't wear a white shirt!

Tsar Vlad

I don't know much about Russia. However, I remain very interested in the land my family called home until the beginning of the 20th Century.

All this week, I have been reading eulogies and obits about former Russian President Boris Yeltsin. I am struck by the credit that these writers give him for opening Russia to democracy and pluralism.

I find these platitudes to be disingenuous. Yeltsin did try to open Russia, but his personal failings doomed the effort.

He handpicked Vladimir Putin to be his successor; if for no other reason than a promise that Putin gave Yeltsin to keep him out of the gulag. Putin quickly undid Yeltsin's reforms and began cementing in yet another Russian totalitarian regime.

Russia may not now resemble the former Soviet Union. However, every year that Putin remains in power it reminds me more and more of the czarist monarchy. Perhaps Russia is not ready for democracy. However, giving credit to a corrupt drunkard who sold his country's future in order to get away with his crimes seems inappropriate.

Guest Post: Lewin Calls for Consolidation of City, County

This weekend, I received an email from former City commission candidate Stuart Lewin. Stuart is a smart guy, and he has some wisdom. Although he and I disagree about a great many things, I have a great deal of respect for his viewpoints and judgements.

Stuart has asked me to post this idea on my blog. I am very glad to do so.

These are my ideas for a new and better government. What do you think? Do
you have any suggestions for improvement?

“Greater Cascade” (Great Falls/Cascade County) a idea revisited whose time
has now come:

1. Combine city/county like Butte/Silverbow and call the new government
entity “Greater Cascade” and give it home rule powers.

2. Give Current County areas (as set forth herein) at least one extra
commissioner so that county residents know that their voices will be heard
and their interests protected.

3. Have commissioners elected by wards they represent. Commissioners would
be non partisan. Commissioners to be elected for 6 year terms (after first
election all commissioners would draw straws for length of first term 2, 4
or 6 years – thereafter approximately 1/3 of commissioners would be elected
every 2 years)

4. Every two years the commissioners would select one of their number to be
their spokesperson and the official representative of the government at
events/ official functions etc. The spokespersons can be chosen for
additional two year terms. Because of the additional time required as
official representative of the government. The spokesperson shall receive a
salary of one and 1/2 times the regular commissioner’s salary

5. suggested wards (could be more or less): 1. Riverview/Blackeagle/westside
(to 10th Avenue South); 2. Northside; 3. south side; 4. river road (south of
10th Ave S)/Palised heights/Wilson Butte road; 5. FoxFarm/Floodroad; 6.
Cascade/Ulm (east to current city limits); 7. Sunriver/Fairfield Bench; 8.
Vaughn/east to current city limits; 9. North from Sky-line Drive (and west
of Ft Benton hwy) to county Boarder; 10. Belt/Highwood west to current city
limits; 11. Monarch/Neihart/Sand Colley/Centerville west to current city
limits;

6. Pay all commissioners a reasonable part-time salary. The initial salary
of commissioners shall be determined by taking the current salaries of city
and county commissioners and the mayor adding them together and dividing by
the number of new commissioners.

7. Hire one professional manager for new government,
combine planning staffs; manager to hire new planning director and staff and
other government workers.

8. develop a new all-over growth policy plan for our new government and new
zoning and other regulations in line with the all-over plan to provide for
enforceable county-wide: ‘smart growth’; ‘economic development’; protection
and balancing of ‘private property rights’ with the public’s right and
obligation to provide ‘a clean and healthful environment’ as provided for in
the Montana State Constitution; designating and protecting open space,
farm/ranch land, natural areas, historic and cultural areas, rivers, streams
and their natural corridors.

Advantages:
1.Reduce costs (by efficiency, reduction of duplication, hire good
professional staff)

2.Make government more responsive to local concerns (each commissioner would
be account able to his neighbors from his ward for their cotes and not by a
county-wide vote which allows certain groups to control all positions).

3.Provide for smart planning to accommodate anticipated growth (to avoid
mistakes of other Counties - egg Gallatin County)

4. Develop countywide policies which will avoid uncertainties for developers
and land owners

5.Move forward countywide with Missouri/sun River Corridor plan

6. Provide for public power and conservation plans

7. Provide an inventive for our best people to get involved in government at
all levels because they will feel part of a winning team where their ideas
and efforts can make a difference

8. Stop the duplication and bickering between city and county government.
One notable example when the County approve the Urquhart zoning change,
Commissioner Briggs said: “the city has an industrial park, we want one
too!”

Disadvantages (raised by others):

1. Change is often disconcerting most often for those in power – ANSWER:
tough its time for a change

2. Ward bosses may develop and corruption follow - ANSWER: we will need to
fight this locally and be vigilant.

3. As we grow in numbers and increase regulations to provide for consensus
in how we manage our lives, we may wish to return to simpler days and equate
our new lives with loss of freedom. ANSWER: In actual fact we are probably
more free in a different sense.

4. We studied this 10 years ago and rejected it because unlike Silverbow
county which has only one town (Butte), we have many towns. ANSWER: Butte
always had Anaconda and poor planning in Gallatin County has allowed
Belgrade to be overwhelmed.


I SUGGEST WE WORK TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT COUNTYWIDE AS A REFERENDUM THIS
ELECTION, WITH A TIME TABLE FOR BEGINNING THE NEW GOVERNMENT (SAY ELECTION
OF COMMISSIONERS AND BEGINNING OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT DURING THE NEXT
ELECTION CYCLE.) WE DO NOT NEED A NEW STUDY COMMISSION WHICH CAN BE
CONTROLLED BY CURRENT POLITICAL FACTIONS TO WASTE TIME AND PREVENT CHANGE.
LET US SEE IF THE PEOPLE AGREE THAT THIS CHANGE WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS AND
ACCEPTABLE

I have always suspected that we duplicate many efforts between the city and the county; specifically in areas of public safety and transportation. I voted for the city/county consolidation referendum when it was on the ballot 10 (or was it 12) years ago, and still think it a good idea.

I don't know that we need a ward system, as Stuart suggests. However, if consolidation were to happen, we need to make sure the the interests of, say, Neihart, are represented as are those of the various neighborhoods of Great Falls.

SoulTrain Israel Fair to Make Stop in Missoula

(Great Falls, April 22) – Can’t you just smell the frying falafel? A taste of Israel is coming to Missoula!

The Montana Association of Jewish Communities; Missoula’s Congregation Har Shalom and the University of Montana Hillel House have arranged for the Soultrain Israel Fair to make a stop in Missoula. The Fair, which will highlight Israeli culture through food, music, dance and crafts, will take place at Har Shalom’s new synagogue at 3035 S. Russell on Thursday, May 3 from 3 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Fair will bring a small part of Israel to Montana. Programming for the event is directed to adults, children and teenagers throughout the State. Participants will get to know Israeli culture, get information about Israel, taste Jewish and Israeli food, dance Israeli dances, listen to Israeli music. In addition to a mini Israeli bazaar, with vendors stocking Israeli products, there will be arts and crafts projects, fun games and Israeli films for both the young and old.

SoulTrain is an Israeli outreach group that began in the Pacific Northwest in 1999. They have since expanded their activities across the United State, Europe and Africa, dedicated to bring Jewish and Israeli culture to small communities throughout the world. The organization has brought many Israeli cultural figures to Montana over the years. It’s mission is to connect to smaller Jewish communities in order to offer them a direct connection to Israel. Come learn about Israeli culture at this fun-filled family event!

For more information, call Congregation Har Shalom at 406-549-9595.

Apparently, I am Going to be Judged More Harshly ...

And I am OK with that.

Yesterday was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. To commemorate those that perished and those that fought back, I helped to organize a service at the YWCA of Great Falls. I especially want to thank community leaders like Commissioner Beltrone, Mayor Stebbins and Chaplain McCain for taking part in the service.

The service was well attended and, I think, a very nice event. We certainly were able to both commemorate the fallen and raise awareness of current genocides, most specifically the crimes now happening daily in Darfur.

While we were setting up, a protester came by. A real-life protester at a HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL SERVICE. This guy, whom I will name Schmuckity McSchmuck henceforth on these pages, had a 15 foot pole on which he had a 3' square sign with "REPENT SINNERS" on one side and "ACCEPT JESUS" on the other. He spend about an hour standing in front of the Y reading out loud from the New Testament.

At one point, I went out to talk to Schmuckity. I invited him into the service, since we were talking about peace and I thought that the guy he was talking about also had something to say about peace. Schmuckity wasn't too interested in peace, apparently. He told me that us Jews were going to be judged more harshly for forsaking his savior.

Bizarre, no?

Anyway, despite Schmuckity, the service went very well. I especially want to thank the mayor for her gestures of support.

Great Job GFECSC Webmaster!

For the third year, I am coaching my son's Minibolt (soccer) team. My first practice with the new team (they voted on the name "Seahawks" -- I guess a few of them like the American Football) was this everning.

Anyway, I am not a soccer guru. For six year old soccer, my main focus is to make sure that a parent brings a team treat after each game.

For that reason, my kids have fun -- but the drilling of the soccer fundamentals might be a bit behind schedule.

This year, I was looking through the new website for the Electric City Soccer Club. Low and behold; lesson plans! Simple games/drills for the kids; and they actually learn something about the game.

Anyway, many thanks to the club and the the clubs webmaster for putting such useful information online. The boys had (and kicked) a ball!

Lower North Side Mapril Cleanup

Neighborhood Council 7 and the Northside Neighborhood Watch are getting together to organize the annual MAPRIL CLEAN UP for our neighborhood on April 28, 2007.

Please volunteer to help disadvantaged Northside neighbors and to clean streets, avenues and alleys between Central Avenue and 8th Avenue North from River Drive to 9th Street.

To participate, show up at the community rec center (800 2nd Avenue North) at 8 a.m. on April 28.

Coffee, donuts and a picnic lunch will be provided.

Do you like the Lower-Side One Way Streets?

Three posts in two days may spell the end of my hiatus, but only time will really tell.

Another lower North and South side issue has arisen about which I need input. A group of downtown business owners are advocating for Fifth and Sixth Streets (North of Tenth Avenue South) be reset as two-way, instead of one-way throughfares.

They say that their current configuration makes visiting downtown businesses more difficult. In addition, the existence of these one-way streets increases the speed of traffic through residential neighborhoods. I suspect that this is all true.

In addition, conversations with city staff confirm that these Streets just do not see the traffic that might justify their existence as one-way. They were reset as one way streets many years ago with the idea of relieving traffic off Ninth Street. That idea has not worked.

HOWEVER, resetting these streets as two-way would certainly increase traffic on Ninth. I remain very concerned about all the traffic on Ninth -- it remains a dangerous and poorly planned North-South throughfare. This idea might make the problem all the worse.

So, what do you think? Is it a good idea to reset 5th and 6th? Or is the idea all wet?

How About a Mural?

First, let me be clear. I am not off hiatus. When I have the urge to blog, I will be posting more regularly.

However, I am taking a break in my hiatus to make a proposal for our local concussion generator (the Skate Park). As any recent visitor knows, the graffiti there has gotten much worse. Some of it is offensive, obscene and racist.

My six year old son has decided that he wants to learn to skate, especially now that ski season is over. Therefore, I am spending much more time there. To be honest, a great deal of that graffiti raises questions I don't really want my son asking yet. One of which is whether it is OK to "color" on city property.

It appears that our city commission has decided that it isn't worth their time to police the graffiti regs at the skate park. To be honest, I can understand their reasoning. However, there has to be a middle ground.

We are an extremely artistic community. Why don't we make the entire skate park into not just a place for kids to congregate, but also into urban art?

The city should invite local artists to cover every last inch of concrete with art. It could even be made into an event (with a juried competition). Whaddya think?

Neighborhood Council 7 Meeting Agenda

AGENDA
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
DISTRICT 7
Monday, April 9, 2007
Gibson Room, Civic Center
6:30 p.m.



Please note: This agenda format allows citizens to speak on each issue prior to Council discussion. We encourage your participation. In the interest that all parties can be heard, please limit your comments.


CALL TO ORDER



OLD BUSINESS
Approval of March minutes


NEW BUSINESS
Council Boundary changes—Peggy Bourne
Mapril planning
Neighborhood Concerns


REPORTS
City Commission
Council of Councils
ACTION Team
Police Advisory Board


ADJOURN

Next Meeting – May 14, 2007 – Heisey Center, 6:30 p.m.

Tribune should be Ashamed at their Coal Plant Coverage

Don't get excited, I am not back from hiatus. However, today's Trib has spurred me to post.

I still really want to support the coal plant. In my opinion, this could be a great example of adding value of North-central Montana's natural resources here in North-central Montana. I like the idea of generating excess power and selling it out of State, instead of just mining the coal and shipping it out of State to be processed by "others".

However, the questions that GeeGuy has raised in recent weeks have given me substantial pause. As citizens of Great Falls (and therefore owners in Electric City Power, and by extension -- at least in theory -- SME), we have the right to know how our tax dollars are being used and we have the right to examine the business model of the Highwood Generating Station. I am offended (but not really surprised) that GeeGuy has been stonewalled in his attempt to get basic information about our commitments here.

If you didn't read it, there is a front page story today, leading into a full page of coverage on the Coal Plant on page 3A. The articles on the inside ask a series of questions on the coal plant, and quote replies gleaned from comments made by a series of public officials. The article was written by Richard Ecke, a man for whom I have a great deal of respect and who usually does a great job of investigative reporting.

Missing from these queries are most of GeeGuy's questions regarding the financing, feasibility, business model and taxpayer commitment. These questions need to be answered.

For whatever it is worth, I still think it possible that the Highwood Generating Station could be beneficial. However, the City, ECP and SME will have to put all of their cards on the table give us complete transparency for that conclusion to be really determinable.

Don't Look Here for Fresh Content

I thought that I should make some sort of note that I will continue to be on hiatus for a while longer. No inclination to write, lately.

I do, however, encourage you to read what Geeguy and Firefly are saying about the financial position of our proposed coal plant. They are raising some very cogent questions; ones that the city needs to answer.

Neighborhood Council 7 meeting agenda

AGENDA
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
DISTRICT 7
Monday, January 8, 2007
Heisey Memorial, 313 7th Street North
6:30 p.m.



Please note: This agenda format allows citizens to speak on each issue prior to Council discussion. We encourage your participation. In the interest that all parties can be heard, please limit your comments.


CALL TO ORDER


NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH


OLD BUSINESS
Approval of November minutes


NEW BUSINESS
Community Policing Officer’s report
B & B Loan building status
Nativity scenes at the Civic Center
Council of Councils topic suggestions
Neighborhood Concerns


REPORTS
City Commission meetings
Coordinator’s Report


ADJOURN

Next Meeting – February 12, 2006 – Civic Center, Gibson Room, 6:30 p.m.

Umm, I guess we get to choose?

I was intrigued by the story on Multiple Sclerosis featured on page one of today's Trib.

Apparently, Vitamin D may keep one from contracting MS. Where does one get Vitamin D? Sunlight.

Yes, the same sunlight that can cause skin cancer. The reason that so many people wear floppy hats and long-sleeved shirts at the beach.

If this study proves to be true, do we have to choose which we want, MS or Skin Cancer?

Remember Carl Sagan Today

Today is the 10th anniversary of Carl Sagan's death.

Sagan was one of the most important popularizers of science. His vision created a respect for the scientific process, reason and for nature in generations of children (and adults).

I miss this man. Today, we should remember him and his vision.

Why Does the City Erect Crèches on Municipal Property?

I have thought a long time about this post. I still don't know whether it is a good idea to write it or not. Quite frankly, I don't want my yarmulke nailed to the wall right next to Rabbi Bogomilsky's.

However, every time I pass by the crèche (manger scene) on the civic center steps or the one on flag hill, I get upset. By erecting these displays (or allowing them to be erected), the city is telling me that I really am not welcome here. Sure, I can live here; but just don't get too uppity.

I have no problem with the trees. For that matter, I can deal with (but am still unhappy with) the way that normal life grinds to a halt the day after Thanksgiving and only starts back up after January 1st. Truth be told, I think that the lights are pretty and I do like the smell of pine.

I also don't want to erect an "equivalent display." I neither need nor want to display a series of big, municipal chanukiot. The little menorah in my window is fine for me, thanks.

When it comes down to it, a crèche is just too much and just too in my face. It is overtly religious and Christian, and just does not belong on city property. If it does belong, why doesn't the city just put up a sign that says "Christians Only" at the gates of our town?

Bah, Humbug.

Labels???

You may have noticed labels cropping up on my blog posts over the last month or so. I switched over to blogger's new beta, and labels were the feature that swung me over.

Not all my posts are categorized (yet?). Especially the older ones. However, as time permits I hope to put labels on my golden oldies.

While you are at it, check out the "label roll" to the left.

We Need to Put Up or Shut Up

Let me be clear; Great Falls and Cascade county would be fools to allow any encroachment on Malmstrom's runway. Our future is tied to Malmstrom AFB. We need to give the Pentagon every assurance that we support the base.

If you think that they are not watching our local municipal decision here, you are crazy. Whether or not we allow any development in the runway's potential accident zone will send a message straight to Arlington about whether or not we support the Air Force here. We need to send a full throated vote of support.

If we don't, I suggest you look to places like Havre and Fort Benton. Because within a very few short years, Great Falls will very strongly resemble those places. If we are lucky, we will be as successful as Shelby.

Not that my 2¢ means much, but I will work to oppose any city, county or state politician that votes to allow encroachment. I work hard to not be a single-issue voter, but this one is too important for the future of our town.

HOWEVER, we need to put our money in place of our mouths. We could not, and should not, take away property owner's rights to their own property without fully reimbursing them. To do otherwise would be as bad as stealing these landowner's property.

Whatever the vehicle used (an easement, eminent domain, etc.), the city and/or the county needs to buy that land and lock it away from development for as long as it takes. What's more, we should pay whatever the appraised value of that land would be if they were allowed their development.

Borscht for Beginners

Today for lunch, I visited an establishment in downtown Great Falls that shall remain nameless. This establishment prepares a different soup of the day, each day.

I was delighted to see "Borscht" on the menu. For the benefit of those of you whose ancestors were not living in fear of the Tzar 110 years ago (Fiddler on the Roof most resembles a family history to the Weissmans), Borscht (or "soup" in Russian) is what I call Jewish soul food. Absolute heaven. Such a meal!

I, of course, inquired about the Borscht. I was informed that it was a vegetarian beet soup, served hot. The horror! Quite frankly, I had never heard anything so goyish since I first saw a blueberry bagel.

So, a lesson is in order. During the summer, borscht is a COLD vegetarian beet soup, best served with a cold slice of baked potato and sour cream. Summer borscht is simply not served in the Winter, and December in Montana qualifies as Winter.

December in Montana, however, is a perfect time for Winter Borscht. Winter Borscht is a hot cabbage and beef stew. No beets. Beets belong in Summer Borscht. I can't imagine anything worse than hot beet soup.

I will dig out a recipe in the next few days.

Dror Edar to Perform in Great Falls on December 14

Dror Eydar, a lecturer in Hebrew literature, Jewish thought, Jewish mysticism and Israeli politics at universities throughout Israel, will present an evening of chosen Israeli and Jewish songs in Great Falls on Thursday, December 14 at 7 p.m. at the Cozy Tea Hut, 200 Central Avenue.

Eydar's performance, called "Heaven and Earth: The Israel Experience" comes to Great Falls courtesy of the Israeli outreach group SoulTrain in cooperation with Aitz Chaim, the Great Falls Hebrew Association.