A Winter Storm Watch has been issued by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
AREAS AFFECTED : CASCADE COUNTY BELOW 5000FT; JUDITH BASIN COUNTY AND JUDITH GAP; FERGUS COUNTY BELOW 4500FT; GATES OF THE MOUNTAINS
* WHAT … Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 5 and
10 inches possible.
* WHERE … Gates of the Mountains, Cascade County below 5000ft,
Fergus County below 4500ft, and Judith Basin County and Judith Gap.
* WHEN … From Saturday morning through Sunday evening.
* IMPACTS … Travel could be very difficult.
Our Weather Alerts and Warnings (like this Winter Storm Watch) are provided by WillyWeather and show at the top of our pages every time an alert is issued.
Formed in 1990, their first concert under the name of Fiddler’s Green was at the Newcomer-Festival in Erlangen in November that same year.
Their debut album entitled “Fiddler’s Green” was released in 1992 and featured both live and studio tracks, some traditional and some original material.
It was released on their own label, Deaf Shepherd Recordings. The band had been signed to a major label, but chose to go back to being independent. The band members themselves refer to their music as Irish Speedfolk, as opposed to Folk rock or Irish folk.
Meet Fiddler’s Green:
Ralf “Albi” Albers: vocals, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, banjo
Pat Prziwara: vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, banjo
Tobias Heindl: violin, vocals
Stefan Klug: accordion, bodhran
Rainer Schulz: bass
Frank Jooss: drums, percussion
Galway Ireland:
Galway is a city in the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway.
It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the fifth most populous city on the island of Ireland and the fourth most populous in the Republic of Ireland, with a population at the 2022 census of 85,910.
Located near an earlier settlement, Galway grew around a fortification built by the King of Connacht in 1124.
A municipal charter in 1484 allowed citizens of the by then walled city to form a council and mayoralty.
Controlled largely by a group of merchant families, the Tribes of Galway, the city grew into a trading port.
Following a period of decline, as of the 21st century, Galway is a tourist destination known for festivals and events including the Galway International Arts Festival.
In 2018, Galway was named the European Region of Gastronomy. The city was the European Capital of Culture for 2020, alongside Rijeka, Croatia.
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Help to support Fiddler’s Green – 30 packages for 30 years – Go to the crowdfunding packages: http://fiddlers.de
The Galway Girl is the cover version of a modern classic by Steve Earle.
Seems that every year the city of Great Falls picks a street and totally renews all of it, or portions of it in order to comply with ADA standards.
Street repair activities include those streets without sidewalks and failed roadbeds: they get somewhat of a priority as bit by bit, they get replaced and rebuilt.
7th Ave NW looking east from 14th St NW
Another of these next steps is the 7th Ave NW project — this year the project includes the blocks from 14th St NW to 12th St NW on 7th Ave NW.
Some sections along this stretch have a few sidewalks already, but their length is only just the total width of a particular lot and that’s about it.
What’s really going to be sort of nice with regard to upgrading this next section of 7th Ave NW is that this is one of the main streets for the city transit bus route.
Since there is no sidewalk or ADA ramps on the east corner of 7th Ave NW and 14th St NW, riders have to stand on the grass to wait for the bus. Wheelchair access is all but impossible at this stop.
Soon, with the upgrades completed, the entirety of the 7th Ave NW and 14th St NW intersection will have ADA compliant sidewalks on all 4 corners (only two of the corners on the west side of the intersection are currently completed).
7th Ave NW looking west from 14th St NW
The entire length of 7th Ave NW will be nearly totally rebuilt (during this most recent street repair) after this next section is finished. Currently, everything on 7th Ave NW is finished all the way west to Watson Coulee Road from the west corner 14th St NW.
City will only have 3 more blocks left to do after this most latest upgrade to 7th Ave NW. All that will be left are the 3 blocks between 12th St NW and 9th St NW. 9th St NW will be totally rebuilt in 2025.
Hopefully, in the future, the city of Great Falls will begin the reconstruction of the total length of 8th Ave NW and maybe team up with MDT to install sidewalks along the by-pass from at least Watson Coulee Road to 9th St NW. I know that stuff like this takes time as I’m sure that money (or the lack of it) plays a huge roll in what gets done and when.
Here’s a classic Old Fashioned Banana Pudding recipe that’s rich, creamy, and layered with vanilla wafers, fresh bananas, and homemade custard. This Southern-style dessert is perfect for gatherings and evokes nostalgia with its comforting flavors.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk (NOT skim)
4 or 5 ripe bananas, sliced thin (cover with plastic wrap or sprinkle with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown)
1 box vanilla wafers
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tbsp Butter (not margarine)
4 Egg yolks (Large eggs or better)
Meringue:
4 egg whites, room temperature
5 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Line the bottom of a 9×9-inch pan with a layer of vanilla wafers.
Combine sugar, flour and salt in a bowl, and mix well.
Set aside.
In a heavy saucepan, beat the egg yolks well.
Over medium heat, add the flour mixture to the egg yolks, alternately with the milk and vanilla, stirring constantly.
Bring to a gentle boil and, when the mixture begins to thicken, add the butter, continuing to stir.
Keep boiling and stirring until mixture reaches a nice pudding consistency.
Make sure you don’t scorch the pudding.
Remove from heat.
Place a layer of banana slices on top of the vanilla wafers.
Pour half of the pudding over the banana layer.
Put down another layer of vanilla wafers, another layer of banana slices, and cover with the remaining pudding.
Beat the egg whites at high speed until they form soft peaks.
Add the cream of tartar.
At high speed, gradually add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff peaks form.
Fold the vanilla into the meringue, and spread the meringue over the pudding, sealing it at the sides of the dish.
Bake until meringue browns, 12 to 15 minutes.
Tips:
Bananas: Use ripe but firm bananas to avoid mushiness. Toss slices in a little lemon juice to prevent browning if assembling ahead.
Wafers: Nilla Wafers are traditional, but generic brands work fine. Crush a few wafers for a crumb topping if desired.
Custard Texture: Stir constantly to avoid lumps. If custard curdles, strain through a fine mesh sieve.
Make Ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours in advance; add whipped cream just before serving to keep it fresh.
Storage: Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended as bananas and custard may become watery.
Variations: Add a layer of crushed pineapple or a drizzle of caramel for a twist. For a lighter version, use instant vanilla pudding mix (2 small boxes, prepared per package instructions).
Why It’s Classic:
This recipe skips shortcuts like instant pudding for a rich, homemade custard that pairs perfectly with the soft wafers and fresh bananas, delivering authentic Southern comfort.
Enjoy your Old Fashioned Banana Pudding! If you want a quicker version using instant pudding, a gluten-free option, or tips for perfect meringue, let me know in the comments below.
The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2024 hunting, fishing and conservation licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1.
Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B licenses, elk B licenses, antelope B licenses, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey – can be made beginning March 1.
A new online feature this year is the option for applicants to reapply for the same offerings as last year with just a simple click, eliminating the need to search through previous applications.
Hunters and anglers can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website beginning at 5 a.m. on March 1; click on “Buy and Apply.” Most FWP offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Click here to watch a video tutorial for Montana residents on how to buy and apply for licenses and permits online. Click here to watch a video tutorial for nonresidents on how to buy and apply for licenses and permits online.
The licensing call center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 1 through April 1; after April 1, the hours will return to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The call center can be reached at 406-444-2950.
This year FWP produced clearer information for hunters on bonus points and how they are used. Remember:
A bonus point is an extra chance for a hunter to draw a license or permit in a Montana drawing.
Preference points are used only for drawing Nonresident Combination Licenses. Preference points move you ahead in line for the drawing. If you are a Montana resident, preference points don’t apply to you.
Hunters and anglers can also take advantage of the MyFWP mobile app. The app holds and displays licenses, permits and E-Tags, which can be downloaded and used in the field without cell service. To create a My FWP account, visit the MyFWP login page.
Tips and reminders
Don’t wait until the last day to apply.
If you’re applying for a special license or permit, you will need to have a valid email address.
Make sure to doublecheck the regulations before applying. Some permit/licenses have changed.
Everyone 12 and older needs a Conservation License to access most state lands, including fishing access sites, wildlife management areas and wildlife habitat protection areas (WHPA). Montana State Parks do not require a Conservation License.
A separate and rotating moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat SuperTag lottery for resident hunters will be conducted annually. Montana residents will receive one free chance in the lottery for every General Elk or General Deer License purchased.
