100 for Thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving was another huge success on The North Fork. Two of us counted the number of folks attending, and we both counted exactly 100. Not a record, but certainly a full house. Main hosts were again Mr. and Mrs. Steve Berg who buy the turkeys and ham, decorate the Hall, set up the tables and recruit a dozen or more helpers.

This is quite a chore with three big turkeys and a ham, plus pounds and pounds of mashed potatoes, stuffing and gallons of gravy. Actually, everyone plays a part by bringing a side dish, salad, or dessert.

No way could I list everyone who worked alongside Steve and Christina to make this such a great community event. Bonny Ogle, and Mark Heaphy cooked two of the turkeys and Ray Brown did the ham. Joe Novak makes great gravy. Trish Walsh brings dozens of deviled eggs which are gone before the meal is served along with Becky Braunig’s stuffed peppers.

In addition there were an assortment of “horse’s ovaries,” a large assortment of pies and cookies and more salads and side dishes than I could count.

Plus, there were all of those great people. Mark Heaphy provided a heartfelt thanks for our blessings and there was recognition of folks who have participated in this event since it started in the ‘70s.

One of my memories was of a group from the air base in Great Falls that used to bring an elaborate salad bar, complete with an ice sculpture. Jon Elliot told me that was organized by longtime North Forker, Bob Grimaldi. No big surprise as Bob also started our annual food drive and the Coalition for Health and Safety to improve the North Fork Road. Bob now resides in the Columbia Falls area, having sold his North Fork property. Even so, I still consider him a North Forker and he always will be.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the end of the general hunting season. No real snow this year, but a higher than usual hunter success story.

About anyone who wanted a deer was successful and I know of at least three bull elk that were harvested.

I also have heard of one hunter shooting a deer on private property without permission. They were spotted by a private citizen who took pictures and called a game warden who was going to come up on Saturday. As of today [Nov. 28], it is unknown if a citation was issued

If a citation is issued the reporting party will be eligible for a reward from both the North Fork Patrol and the Landowners Association. Each of them offer up to a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of poachers.

Larry Wilson’s North fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.