Black Hills Bagels Blog

Last week I and three other Master Gardeners, including my friend, Pam hansen (she just finished the course) treked behind Mount Rushmore in search of the not so illusive Mountain Pine Beetle. The devestation this ugly black beetle causes can be seen all around the Black Hills. On top of Harney Peak, the Black Elk Wilderness and it’s now affecting the National Memorial — Mount Rushmore. Dr. John Ball a professor at South Dakota State University literally travels the world helping communities and countries figure out what’s bugging their trees! Or what’s killing them or what the best tree for planting would be. A brilliant man! Anyway he led the rest of us through mostly lush, untravelled areas behind the monument looking for this nasty bug which kills Ponderosa Pine trees –absolutely. There is not turning back once this beetle drills through the bark, mates and lays about 75 eggs that overwinter and grow and eat inside the tree. I will be doing an “In The Garden” segment Tuesday on KOTA TV at 5:30 on this bug. hope you tune in…blog me with questions, hopefully I have some answers. If you have Ponderosa Pines — you need to watch this story.
Debra

For a few thousand young people in the Black Hills, this is graduation day. Last night Jack and I attended a graduation party for two young men who will be walking in cap and gown today. What a journey they have had. One black and the other native american –one from reservation life in South Dakota. The other from street live in Los Angeles. Both have been fortunate enough to be placed with one of the most loving and caring couples we know. One of the young men was adopted by this couple a few years ago. It’s such a great story but too long to share here. The important thing is they made it!!!! They are getting their diploma and a while new and wonderful world is about to open up to them. One of them is already thinking about getting into law enforcement! It’s also graduation day for another wonderful young man — Ryan Hirsch. Ryan was fortunate enough to be born into a loving, hard working family – but his journey to this day has been equally remarkable. Ryan is not only a hard working student, involved in band and other activities, he has a great outlook on life . Ryan will also no doubt make great contributions as he goes through life. Wow…what doors will these young men pass through over the next 60 years!!!!!!
Congratulations to all our graduates in the Black Hills — you’ve learned and accomplished a lot but there is more to learn and a lot more to accomplish.
debra

Okay…maybe not great – but we have not had many beautiful weekends yet this year ! Nearly everyone who has come in this morning has been in a good mood – I think in large part because of the weather. It has also been a travelling weekend. Right away this morning we had visitors from Texas, Florida, Chicago and Newcastle!!!!! Saturday we had a family from Sacramento who wants to move here when he retires. He thanked us for our hospitality and said everyone in South Dakota has made he and his family feel welcome. Why am I never surprised to hear comments like that???? Because as a fourth generation South Dakotan I know we’re a gracious, giving bunch of folks! It’s nearly 2 and we’ll be closing shop at 3 and I hope to enjoy some of our great outdoors today too!!!!
By the way, I hope you have a lot of Great Sundays this year!!!!
debra

Saturday night, April 24th one of our own staff, Lauren Hahn along with 14 friends had their Prom Night Dinner here at BH Bagels. Decorations of Blue and Silver filled the front room and transformed our “western” motif into a “Night out on the Town”. A buffet style meal was enjoyed by the students along with music to help make this night more personal and special to each one there. It was a great time had by all!

What a day — after the Health Department Inspector left (they come every six months), I answered the phone. It was an AT & T Operator telling me that she was interpretting for a person on the other line who was was messaging her because he was hearing or speech impaired. She repeated verbatim what he typed — here’s how it went…
AT & T “My name is Dennis, I want to order 150 sandwiches for my mothers birthday. I will have a private courier pick them up April 23rd at 2 pm.”
Me “What kind of sandwiches – you can choose any assortment – turkey, ham, beef, chicken salad – we make everything to order.”
AT & T “Chicken Salad…how much will that be including tax?”
Me ” $1230.” ( I am reasonably suspicious but was giving the benefit of the doubt because he was after all….impaired).
At & T “Okay, I will put it on credit card. The private courier does no accept credit card so you will need to add $890. additional to the credit card and then send the $890 cash via Western Union to the Courier at the address will give you. What will the total amount on credit card be?”
Me “$2320.00″ (I know this is a scam but decide I need to get as much info as possible)
At & T “Okay…here is my MasterCard number xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Exp datexxxxx…do you understand you will have to wire $890 cash so the private courier will pick up the sandwiches?” “Also, I am hearing impaired so the only way you can communicate with me is through my email which is xxxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com”
Me “Yes”
At & T ” Run the credit card now while I am on the phone.”
Me ” Sorry, but the amount is too much to kay without an ID. I will need a picutre ID which you can fax to me while we wait on the phone.”
AT & T Operator says “ohhh…he hung up”
Me” Operator I need your ID and a phone number so I can call the police.”
AT & T “My C # is and the customer service number is 800xxxxxxxxbut you should know it’s against the law for AT & T to track and give out phone numbers…there is no way the police can get this number.”
Me “Operator surely you must realize this is a scam?”
AT & T Operator “It’s against policyand the law for me to say anything except to repeat exactly what the caller is telling me.”

So I called RCPD and two wonderful officers came by. I had typed the info for them. Several businesses have received calls like this…no one has been stung so far but the businesses hang up before they get any information that can be tracked.
What’s the solution? It’s costing businesses, taxpayers, individuals whose cards are being stolen and even the credit card companies a lot of money –love to hear your thoughts.
debra

“The Committee” held it’s monthly meeting Tuesday night. The Committee was formed nearly 22 years ago. I am a founding member – actually we are all founding members. It remains my favorite and most worthwhile committee. The meetings are generally 3 hours and usually over dinner. The food and beverages are always beyond gourmet. Ask Joan Martin for her Lemon Drop Martini recipe! The meetings are filled with the hot topics of the day. Sometimes we break into small two or three person groups but most of the discussion is while we are all gathered around a table enjoying the food and the evening. Everyone participates in the discussion and all views are acknowledged and appreciated . We’re like a high profile, PHD level Think Tank – except we are low profile and no one has a PHD. I think someone in our group has a Masters but I could be wrong.
The discussion always includes our family, work and community events and functions in which we are involved. A big portion of our meeting involves politics – local and national. The Committee members are well read, attend many meetings and forums and interact personally and professionally with all levels of government. (Okay…none of us personally knows the current President. ) Tuesday night’s political discussion centered around Rapid City Council and Mayor. We discussed the pros and cons of various decisions including the Downtown Destination DID, billboard moratorium and even council junkets. We made decisions and solved most problems including whether to buy a Kendall or a book! Julie Annicchiarico gives kudos to the library when it comes to downloading books for the computer. We set the date and place for our next meeting and were adjourned by 9:30. Perhaps families could take a que from The Committee…or maybe The Committee took a que from our own families growing up. I would love to hear from you –
debra

I really mean it — I hope you are having a wonderful and Blessed Easter with family and friends. We are closed today. one of four Holidays we are closed – we are open 361 days a year . I slept in till 5a.m. this morning. Jack and I went to Mass – it was practically standing room only and in a few minutes we head to a sister’s house for a big family dinner. This Easter our Niece Cydni and her friend Jericho are visiting from college. Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter Minnesota is a relatively small private college about 10 or so miles from Mankota. Cheryl and Cheree (twins) are making prime rib for dinner — should be interesting. The trick is time and temp. I’ll let you know how they do. I’ll take some good wine and great coffee just to be on the safe side.
debra

I stole that word from Jill Swank. She works at Noah’s Ark Vet Clinic on Mt. Rushmore Road. Jill is a long time actress. She and her husband were the execs at the Black Hills Playhouse for many years. Anyway, Jill is also a comic writer. At least her emails always make me smile and sometimes laugh out loud. Oh, she is also the Secretary for the Mount Rushmore Road Group so we converse through the internet often. Anyway, today was the day for taking down the Wilson Park Christmas Lights. I know, I know…but this was the day we got around to it. Jill calls it the delighting. She, Rose Stewart, Mary Roth and Sue Knutson were all on the committee. Hope you thought Wilson Park looked grand this year. First ever lighting. The committee promises even bigger things next year. Somehow it’s always a lot more fun to put up the lights than take them down. Thank goodness for six wonderful people today. We got them down in an hour and they are safely stored away thanks to Lisa Modrick’s garage. But as I’m thinking about todays delighting I am thinking next year we need to take them down in january (on a nice day ofcourse) and make it a really fun time – perhaps some hot chocolate, maybe a skating party. If you have any ideas let me know and I willl pass them on to the committee. Because quite frankly none of us enjoyed taking the lights down – but we had a ball putting them up.
debra

I wonder if I am the only one who does not like Daylight Savings Time. Yes, ofcourse it’s great in the summer when it’s still light outside at 9 oclock. But these first several weeks – till about May are torture for those of us who have to be to work at 4 or 5 a.m. It means we’re getting up IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! Right now it’s 6:45 am and pitch black – no sign of sunrise. Fortunately for me I have the day off to adjust. Larry, our baker who is even more reliable than the postman (remember through rain, sleet, snow or dark of night?) is always there early. He doesn’t mind the change in time. What a great guy! He is underpaid. Somebody needs to give him a raise.
debra

I have not watched the Oscars in several years…however, Jack and I were invited (actually we invited ourselves ) to Greg and Pam Hansen’s house. They have a huge HD tv! We dont! Anyway we had a fabulous meal and watched and commented on the outfits, the hair, and ofcourse the acceptance speeches. I discovered I am not as out of touch as I thought. I know and enjoy Sandra Bullock movies and have always liked Jeff Bridges. I like him even more after seeing him in “Crazy Heart”. Any musician who has been on the road can relate to that movie. As Jack and I watched the movie we smiled to ourselves and glanced at one another during the movie. You see Jack is a musician, has travelled with bands and by himself since he was 15. In the 60’s and 70’s teenage bands could play in bars. You know that song, “Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys” should be changed to musicians! It’s a tough life on the road whether you travel in a 1978 broken down pickup truck or a Prevost motorhome.
Fortunately for me and for Jack he completely turned his life around a year before he met me. And most of his musician friends that are still alive did the same – Jack still travels but instead of reaching for “A little help from his friends” he reaches for a higher power. And a caffeine free diet coke!
“Crazy Heart” focuses on the life of a musician but really it’s about Agony and Ecstacy and inner struggle. Too many of us succumb but Jeff Bridges character and Jack have overcome.
Go see the movie and tell me what you think?
Debra