You know winter is on the wane when you hear from snow birds, also known as winter visitors in Arizona, planning their annual breakfast in Mesa.
Yep, they are expecting 200 at the Golden Corral in Mesa for the Grand Forks gathering March 7.
Bob and Pat Wood and Carol Anderson are making arrangements. They say the weather has been beautiful -- as always -- this winter in Arizona.
Patience is the name of the game as the rest of us on the home front wait for signs of spring. Already, we notice the days are longer. And Xcel energy tells us the average temperature of 22 degrees on our bills for January was 17 degrees warmer than last year.
There are some bananas growing in Grand Forks -- inside at Park South. And both Red River and Central high schools have Snowballs on their calendars for tonight.
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Another weekend rolls round with Disney on Ice coming to The Ralph today and Saturday...and the Greater Grand Forks Symphony tuning up to present "A Russian Winter" Saturday evening in the Empire Arts Center...While North Country Fiddle and Community Dance is scheduled Saturday evening at the Eagles Club in East Grand Forks...And Bernie and Natasha's Bungalow Cabaret is the attraction at Fire Hall Theatre on Friday evening...Frozen Feat will be hosted Saturday in the Grand Forks Herald community room...And there's a "Fancy Nancy" tea party at East Grand Forks Campbell Library for children and families Sunday afternoon.
Ask Marilyn
Q. How did the Grand Forks Sugarbeaters do in their contest with the Bismarck Bombshells?
A. Well, things started out fairly well for the Sugarbeaters on Saturday night, but then things fell apart. The Bombshells won the Roller Derby bout in the Alerus Center 101-55.
Q. What can be done about that?
A. I guess the grown up girls on roller skates will have to practice harder. Their next bout is scheduled for May 19 in the Fido Purpur hockey rink. Their opponents will be the Grand Rapids/Iron Range Maidens.
Q. Was it a rough event?
A. Well, it was lively watching the packs of blockers, the pivots and the jammer. It was hard for a novice at the derby to understand what was going on because it was hard to pick up on the sound system. Anyway, there are two bouts of 30 minutes each to make up a game. I needed a bottle of aspirin after just watching the gals get knocked around.
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Q. Do you believe Grand Forks has more cats than dogs?
A. No. Of course, you don't see the cats lurking behind the curtains like you see dogs out walking their masters. Earlier this month, the city had issued 405 licenses for 2012 for dogs and 72 for cats.
Q. How much does it cost to license a cat or dog?
A. The fee is $5 for spayed or neutered and $17 if not. You go to the main floor of City Hall. And after March 1, there is a $1 per month late fee.
Q. Well, why bother anyway to get a license?
A. In the first place, it's the law. In the second place, it might be nice to have some help getting the pet back if it strays.
Cheerful persons of the week: Rebecca Johnson, Stephen Bott, Monica Musich
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
