The Bee publishes letters from readers across the Gallatin Valley. Letters are edited for length, never for truth, because we wouldn’t know where to start.
The North 19th traffic rhythm
I’ve noticed folks getting quite agitated about the traffic flow between here and Bozeman. People are honking and weaving, which seems counterproductive. If you simply drive fifteen miles per hour under the limit, you find that you hit every single red light along the corridor. This allows for a very consistent, predictable experience where everyone is stopped together for at least three minutes at a time. It’s actually a great opportunity to finish a podcast or look at the mountains without the stress of forward motion. We should embrace the pause instead of fighting the grid. It’s what the road clearly wants us to do.
— Gary Huckleberry, Belgrade
Changes at the Co-op
I am writing regarding the recent reorganization of the bulk spice aisle. I have been shopping at the Co-op since 1998, and I’ve always appreciated the scent of cardamom upon entry. Recently, the cumin was moved to the end cap near the artisanal soap. While I understand that businesses must evolve to serve our growing population, it is disorienting to reach for oregano and find nutritional yeast instead. I find myself standing in the aisle for quite a while, which makes it difficult for the younger people in large hats to get past me. I hope we can return to the previous system for the sake of muscle memory.
— Susan Weatherby, Bozeman
My neighbor’s new yard sculpture
My neighbor recently installed a twelve-foot-tall metal elk sculpture in his front yard. It is very realistic, especially at dusk when the shadows stretch across the driveway. The problem is that the local deer population has been gathering around it for three days, waiting for it to move or offer them food. My morning commute is now delayed by twenty minutes because I have to navigate around a dozen confused animals who think they’ve found a new herd leader. It is a lovely piece of art, but I do wish he had chosen a subject that didn’t confuse the local wildlife so thoroughly.
— Dirk Sterling, Big Sky