Valley Views

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We went into town to the candy store. We rode on the pontoon to the sand bar. We stayed up late, way past our bedtimes, putting together puzzles and crafting at the kitchen table. We picked veggies from the garden and tasted them right there. We found apples that had fallen from the apple tree and make homemade apple crisp. We watched the eagle’s nest, caught fish, witnessed loons with babies on their back and saw snapping turtles hatch. It’s been a magical time. Nothing short of it. At least for me. I can’t speak for my grands; I hope they feel the same way.

After their first visit in June, I noticed the hallway mirror. It’s a full-length type, reaching from the floor to near the ceiling. At the bottom were numerous handprints, of the childhood variety. They’d obviously found themselves in the mirror and couldn’t help touching and leaving a visible reminder of their presence.

I remember a similar instance with our dog, Daisy, years ago, except instead of fingerprints on the mirror, she left nose prints on the window. After Daisy passed over her rainbow bridge, I noticed the nose prints, and for the longest time couldn’t bring myself to wash them away. It was like washing her away.

I feel the same about the handprints on the mirror. I know they are fleeting. I know these days of magic are short lived in the big scheme of things.

So, despite my orderly nature, I walk by those fingerprints every day and smile. I think maybe I should clean them, but know I won’t. At least not for awhile.

They are too close to precious memories. They serve as a representation of the squeals and giggles and marshmallows and freezies eaten this summer. They are a reminder that childhood is ephemeral. Handprints start out low on the mirror and rise higher and higher each year until they gradually disappear along with the stickiness and innocence of childhood.

So for now - for beyond now - I celebrate sticky. I celebrate the simple beauty of a visit to the candy store or picking tomatoes, pulling carrots, plucking zinnias from the garden or finding magic apples on the ground as seen through a child’s eyes.

It is nothing short of magic - much more for me than for them. I am the winner in this equation.

So I celebrate visits to the lake. Chaos and all. Fingerprints and all. Especially the fingerprints, the lessons they teach and the perspective they bring. I wouldn’t give them up for the world. And if you visit me next summer, they might well still be here.

And you’ll know why.

Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook. vj

Consider Azzopardi

Editor,

Shirley Azzopardi is a candidate for HD 93 which includes Ronan, Charlo, Arlee, Moise and parts of St. Ignatius.

We couldn’t ask for a better representative than Shirley. We are all tired of the politicians who really don’t listen to their constituents. They continue to preach about issues that don’t impact Montanans. They blame everyone else for the problems but won’t sit down and try to work out solutions.

Shirley listens, and the people are saying they want our kids to have a good public education and feel safe in their classrooms. Shirley, as a graduate of the University of Montana, taught special education in the St. Ignatius district for 28 years. She understands the importance of supporting the brightest student, as well as those that need more help.

We may not always have the money to do what we know needs to be done to support our public schools. Shirley is willing and able to work to find the funding for public education and spend it wisely so our future Montanans will have the best public education they can.

I hope you will seriously consider voting for Shirley Azzopardi in November. Our children and grandchildren are depending on it.

Gerry Browning Polson

We choose how to face challenges

Editor,

Our nation is presently going through a very present political crisis. This crisis is a clear example of the outworking of our human frailties. These frailties involve anger, attack, and blaming others for our own fears in life.

Our nation went through, and continues to go through, these human frailties with our former president Donald Trump. His presidency enlivened these human frailties in this country, and many brought them right out into action.

Let’s be clear and honest here: we each face life having to make choices on whether to face challenges with anger, attacking and blaming others for our problems, or with reason, sensible thoughts, positive actions, and taking personal responsibility for our problems.

That is life, and life is a classroom. We can either listen and learn from the demonstrations of anger, attack, and blame, or learn from teachers of sensible reasoning and take responsibility for our own problems.

This is my personal view on things right now.

Bob McClellan Missoula

Shirley Azzopardi for HD 93

Editor,

Shirley and John have two adult children who graduated from St. Ignatius, and during that time Shirley was using her University of Montana degree teaching special education in the St. Ignatius School District for 28 years. Teaching special education helped Shirley to make informed decisions and take into account the needs of all individuals. A few of the skills Shirley brings to HD 93 constituents are: 1. Cooperative problem solving 2. Listening skills 3. Educator skills 4. Giving a voice to Montanans who are not heard 5. A sincere heart to do what is right for all communities in Lake County

As a resident of Flathead Indian Reservation in Lake County, she recognizes CSKT has the authority for self-government and sovereignty granted through the Hellgate Treaty. Shirley will represent all races, religions, and political preference in HD 93.

One of Shirley’s many concerns she has is protecting Montana’s Constitution, which includes but is not limited to the right to privacy, government accountability, and limiting the power of politicians. Attend a Meet and Greet on Oct. 5 in Leon Hall, 5-7 p.m.

see page 12

from page 11

to learn more about Shirley and bring questions you may have for her.

Janette M Rosman Charlo

Support books

Editor,

“I read a book one day and my whole life was changed” (Orhan Pamuk).

Books open minds. They can lead to transformation and healing, allowing the reader to open up his world view to become more aware, tolerant, and compassionate.

Our own North Lake County Library hosted a wonderful fundraising evening in August, featuring local author, Mark Sullivan, who wrote “The Last Green Valley” and “Beneath a Scarlet Sky.” He spoke of his growing awareness of the greatness of America and how much it means to refugees. Bill Martel, a prominent character in “The Last Green Valley,” spoke of his family’s courage and perseverance in their long trek from Ukraine to escape the cruelty of both the Russian soldiers and the German Nazis during WWII. The Martels immigrated to Montana, where they are a well-known and respected family. Kudos to our library for hosting this event, adding funds to a needed renovation.

The Missoula Public Library recently received international recognition with the “Best Public Library of 2022 Award,” the first library in North America to receive this award. They are currently focusing on developing a strategic plan for the future based on equity, diversity and inclusion. Montanans should be extremely proud.

More good news: Banned Books Week is September 18-24. Its theme is, “Books unite us. Censorship divides us.” Celebrating the freedom to read, it seeks to support a free flow of ideas, even if controversial. A favorite high school read, “1984,” is the most frequently banned book. How Orwellian! Check out the list; as an educator, I am appalled. From July 2021-March 2022, 1586 books have been banned in 26 states. Should our freedom to read be suppressed? Should authoritarians be allowed to sanitize (censor) our history?

Join me in celebrating books, libraries, and the freedom to read anything. Fight censorship of books and history. If possible, donate to the Polson Library renovation. For as Walter Cronkite mused, “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”

Nancy Teggeman Polson

Shatterproof holds ‘Rise Up Against Addiction’ Walk

News and Photo from Laurine Wolf, Volunteer Ambassador, Shatterproof

HELENA — This fall, show your support for those in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD), still struggling with a SUD and honor those who have lost their lives to this disease by participating in the Montana Rise Up Against Addiction Walk. The event also aims to raise awareness for reducing the shame and stigma around substance use disorders. Shatterproof, a national organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis, will hold a Rise Up Against Addiction Montana walk on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Spring Meadow Lake State Park in Helena. You can register individually or as part of a team. You can also walk in your local community or show support by registering even if you are unable to participate in person.

The Helena Indian Alliance will be at the event providing information and training on harm reduction and distributing Naloxone (Narcan) to interested participants.

While the walk is a fundraiser for Shatterproof, registration is free. For more information or to register visit: https://bit.ly/3zFEVSz or contact Laurine Wolf, Shatterproof Volunteer Ambassador at 406-594-1203; wolfa1203@ outlook.com. Laurine is coordinating the walk in honor of her brother, Patrick Bannan. For more information about Shatterproof, visit: shatterproof.org

For 40 million adults living in America with a substance use disorder (SUD), the devastation caused by the disease can be crushing. According to recent federal data, an estimated 90,000 teens and adults in Montana have a SUD More than 90% of Montanans with alcohol and drug use disorders do not receive treatment. Drug overdoses in the United States have become the leading cause of injury death, increasing 56.5% between 2013 and 2019. More than 100 people die every year from drug overdose in Montana and more than 15,000 emergency department visits annually are attributable to substance use.

Illicit drug use disorder is the most stigmatized health condition in the world, with alcohol use disorder not far behind at fourth in the world. The stigma of addiction and associated discriminatory beliefs and practices have entrenched addiction as a public health issue. People with a SUD are forced to endure prejudice, social exclusion, and ongoing harm. These views erode self-worth, create social isolation, reduce access to care, and serve as an obstacle to recovery and success. This only exacerbates the problem by clouding the nation’s ability to coalesce around meaningful solutions, including treatment, equitable health care, harm reduction, and recovery supports and services.