‘Twas a tasty week

NORTHERN NEWS
by Maxine Deeter
As I mentioned in our last episode, we get folks who come to La Sal to hide out or be off the grid (literally in some cases). 
But we also get people moving into our village who come and hit the ground running with both feet and just become an active and integral part of the community.  One such family is the Beshoners.
They moved here a few years ago.  The family is headed by mom Amber.  She is involved in most aspects of La Sal life.  She is a first responder, involved with the Boy Scouts, the bus driver and janitor at La Sal Elementary, as well as being involved with most other school activities.  The family also includes teenagers Tyler and Sarah, as well as grandma Carmen. 
The Beshoner family recently reestablished a business in our town selling products from Allyson’s Pantry.  This has been done in the past but is more than welcomed back. 
Last Tuesday (the 10th) there was a taster’s evening at La Sal Elementary showcasing many of the products.  It was a great night for learning of new products and other folk’s favorites. 
To be honest, I think one thing that contributed to the evening’s success was that the ladies of La Sal just want an excuse for a social get-together.  It was a cold and snow night – just perfect for congregating with friends over some tasty soup and yummy sides and desserts. 
It contained all of the essential La Sal ingredients for a fun night:  food, fun and friends.
Manning the kitchen was La Sal Elementary’s Miss Joanie, whose kitchen it usually is.  She brought along an added bonus for the evening:  new friends. 
One is her newest neighbor from Three Step and her sister, who is living in Monticello with her husband.  He is the new pastor at the Christian Church in Blanding, a post recently held by Miss Joanie’s hubby, Pastor Mike.  They will now take over the Youth Ministry at the Church. 
It was a great evening.
As I’ve also mentioned before, Tyler Beshoner is working to earn funds to attend the next Boy Scout International Jamboree.  The first big fundraiser was last Saturday night at the Community Center. 
The main dish was a local favorite, Navajo Tacos.  Several other folks pitched in to help out with the evening making and frying the bread or furnishing some of the food. 
I was rather disappointed in the turnout, but hear fund-wise Tyler made enough for his first down payment on the Jamboree.  There will be more such events in the future so stay tuned. 
There was to be dancing after the eating, but tired, old folks packed up and went home, so no toe tapping took place.  However, it was a great evening (food, fun, friends).
Well, if you didn’t think it was winter yet, you would have changed your mind last Wednesday in Sierra La Sal.  We woke to about eight inches of snow on the ground, although it was hard to tell as the wind had blown much of the snow into drifts. 
In front of our garage door there was a four-foot drift.  It took awhile to dig out to just get to the buried snowplow blade so it could be attached to the four-wheeler and the snow plowing could begin.  Can you say “not prepared for winter yet” boys and girls!?
Our local UDOT guy received a call about 2 a.m. to crank up the big snowplow and get to work.  Having checked the conditions about 10 p.m. he doubted the 2 a.m. call until he looked out the window.  Yep, it was beginning to look a lot like winter. 
According to Channel Four’s Dan Pope (not on the weather porch in this case) the La Sal’s received two feet of snow that day, the most reported anywhere in the state.  Avalanche danger is high.
The snow in the valley contained approximately three quarters of an inch of moisture, bringing November’s total to an inch and seven tenths.  Hope it’ll be a good snow year.  As I write this Sunday night, it is again spitting snow and the weather forecast is for another big storm with lots of snow and wind. 
I was in Walmart last Friday and the poster said only 41 days ‘til Christmas.  What!?  I want to get through Thanksgiving first.   
Now, here is my commentary for the week:  There has been much ado about wishing folks “Happy Holidays” as opposed to “Merry Christmas”.  I dislike the commercialism of Christmas and taking Christ out of it in many ways.  But, Christmas is only one of the religious or spiritual holidays that occur around the same time of year. 
So, I want to put Christ back in Christmas, but I’d also like to wish all non-Christian folks happiness in their holidays as well.  Who cares what Starbucks put on their cups this year? 
Let’s all just be “Happy, Happy, Happy” or if you prefer “Merry, Merry, Merry”.  ‘Nuf said.