406 Woman Business Vol. 7 No. 2 by 406 Woman

406 contents featured

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8. Lily Gladstone

406 Man

business

10. Jason Curtis USAF Thunderbirds

20. design - Tell Your Story 22. Retirement Jump Start Savings 24. Business Coaching Horses as Mentors

legal

26. Estate Planning - For Parents

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profile 14. Hilary Shaw – One Tough Cookie

16. Frontier Builders– A Life Well Lived 18. Eureka– You Found It

Published by Skirts Publishing six times a year

Health

30. Skincare Answers - Fat Fiction 32. Health Care Answers - PCOS 34. Dental - It will never happen to me! 36. Medication - Geriatric Pharmacy 38. Shots - Immunizations

art

42. Three Wonderful Evenings in Rio 44. New Chorale Conductor – Micah Hunter 46. Off Key Notes – Summer Songs

Non-Profit

50. Food CorpsGetting Schooled in the Garden

View current and past issues of 406 Woman at w w w . 4 0 6 W o m a n . c o m

54. Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center

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Lily Gladstone

Lily Gladstone By Brian D’Ambrosio

Surreal moments can be exciting, or motivating, or just plain funny. Lily Gladstone’s most surreal anecdote incorporates all three. Born and raised in Browning, the actress returned there last year to work on “Jimmy P.,” a film about a psychologically- puzzling Blackfeet World War II veteran, starring Benicio Del Toro. “That was incredibly surreal,” said Gladstone. “To be able to work on “Jimmy P.,” with such a strong script and a renowned director, and someone like Del Toro, that was amazing.”

Filmed in and around Browning, one of the opening scenes of “Jimmy P.” utilized the Browning train station. As Gladstone stood on the platform, preparing for her role as Sunshine First Raise, the Academy Award-winning Del Toro coolly sauntered around the corner.

Up to that point, the actor’s rough-hewn face and saggy eyes had been the stuff of pictures and videos. And her dreamlike interaction with the PuertoRican born star came with a slight twist of self-consciousness and humor. “I will never forget the moment filming at the Browning train station,” said Gladstone. “I remembered traveling out of there as a kid. And there I am getting the microphone put on, and my skirt was up. Embarrassing, right? Those hazel green eyes floored me. He said, ‘I’m Benicio.’ I said, ‘I know’.

As Del Toro gazed out at the mountainous geography, Gladstone indentified the tips and summits in the distance. She pointed out Red Crow Mountain in the Lewis and Clark Range – outlined like a horse saddle – and shared a family legend about Red Crow, her third-great grandfather. (She is of Native American/First Nations heritage, from the Amskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet), Kainaiwa (Blood) and Niimipoo (Nez Perce) nations.) 406

“It is named after one of my ancestors,” said Gladstone. “I told him about that. I told him that I grew

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Photo by Danielle Ford Photography up looking at that mountain. You can see One of the films is “Subterranea,” an adapit on film – over his left shoulder. That tation from British Progressive Rock band mountain was a bit of a focal point my IQ's album of the same name. whole life.” “It’s a psychological thriller,” said GladAfter their conversation ended, Del Toro stone. “My role is as Maya’s friend, Heathhugged Gladstone and said, “You are good, er, a blood analyst at a laboratory.” (Maya is played by Amber Rose Mason.) keep doing it.” “I said, ‘I hope to see you again.’ He nodded and smiled, and said, ‘you will.’”

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. And Gladstone is taking a singleday, single-step approach to it. Since graduating from the University of Montana in 2008 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, she has worked professionally on stages and screens around the United States. She is a company member with Living Voices, a touring educational theatre based in Seattle, WA. “Like anything, it is feast or famine,” said Gladstone. The feast seems to be hearty for Gladstone, who has roles in two films scheduled for release in 2014.

The other, “The Thin Line,” is an offbeat romantic comedy filmed in Whitefish, MT.

“Darla from ‘The Thin Line’ was one of the most fun roles I’ve had in a while,” said Gladstone. “In the script, she was very homely and unattractive. She is really Goth, confrontational, acidic, and loud, and she refuses to conform to her surroundings or bend. Darla is a trip. It’ll really show me in a different light. Shaving my hair into a mohawk, wearing gothic makeup, heavy jewelry - it was so much fun, and really gave me a chance to show a different side of myself as an actress - but I still got to keep a little of my vulnerability, which is usually what lands me a job.”

Darla allowed Gladstone to break new ground creatively, as well as circumnavigate the stereotypically stoic roles Native American actresses are commonly fed.

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Lily Gladstone

Photo by Tolan Harber and the "Lone Tree Bench" production.

“As natives, we know that we are mixed and diverse,” said Gladstone. “Most natives get pigeonholed, based on appearance first and talent second. But we are seeing more scripts written and filmed by natives.” “As natives, we know that we are mixed and diverse,” said Gladstone. “Most natives get pigeonholed, based on appearance first and talent second. But we are seeing more scripts written and filmed by natives.”

Native American Studies at UM. “There are some who are troubled by all of the scenes of alcoholism and poverty, and the abuses in Indian communities. But there is a reason stories like that are told so much.”

Gladstone is still gathering momentum from Gladstone works with a Native Ameriher performance in “Winter in the Blood,” a hallucinatory film centered around a Native can youth theatre program based American man whirling through reality and in Seattle called Red Eagle Soaring. fantasy in a small Montana town. Still, her connection to the land of her “Winter in the Blood relied so heavily on the childhood, the Blackfeet Reservation, Montana community,” said Gladstone, “so is everlasting, dominant. many locals, and so many people who have a strong connection with the legacy of the Her first eleven years were spent primarily novel. Montana has seven reservations and in Browning and East Glacier. Even though 12 tribal nations, and we have strong Native she moved to Seattle, her family maintains a American populations. It was such a labor of house in East Glacier. love, and people come out for that in Montana.” Instead of rattling off a litany of deep-seeded problems, Gladstone speaks affectionately The film is artfully made, with evocative cin- about her ancestral land, which she returns ematography of Montana’s High Line, and to occasionally. highly detailed production design. The score is striking, evocative and temperamental, and “The reputation of Browning depends on the performances bellow authenticity. who it is you talk to,” said Gladstone. “There are some incredibly ugly things that happen “The film has stirred a few different reac- but shouldn’t. But you have to look deeper tions,” said Gladstone, who also minored in into why things are the way they are. At the

foundation of my life, there is community and family. There is poverty, violence, substance abuse, and unemployment everywhere. But there is so much love in that community. What unites people there is a love of family, a love of land.”

It is never wise to assume that just because one is an entertainer that they are automatically a role model. But Gladstone understands she is a visible presence who young people look up to. She doesn’t shy away from putting herself in a position where a lot is expected. “I think that role modeling is part of being a young native person,” said Gladstone. “Youth recognize someone with vision and a good heart, and I want to teach youth that they are role models for the generation beneath them.”

With a future as large and beautiful as the heavens of her ancestors, Gladstone said that no matter where she lives or travels, her love begins at home. Her feet are moving, but her heart is stationary.

“I love my people,” said Gladstone. “What I do in life always points toward home and is done with home in mind.”

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Jason Curtis

406 “High Flying” Man Jason Curtis USAF Thunderbirds By Julie Laing Photos by SSgt Larry Reid, Jr.

United States Air Force Major Jason Curtis may just be the king of homecomings. Like many servicemen and women, he’s had a lot of experience with coming home: from training, from overseas tours, and thankfully, from battle. But when the 33-year-old fighter pilot returns this month to his native Kalispell as part of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, commonly called the Thunderbirds, it may be his biggest homecoming yet. And he gets to bring his jet. “The pressure’s on, right?” Curtis said with a laugh. “I don’t get to come back home too often, so...it’s always a special treat for me.” It’s also the fulfillment of a dream he’s been chasing since he was 4 years old and saw his first air show. The

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event returned to the Flathead Valley when he was 18, so he volunteered and got to shake hands with some of the U.S. Navy Blue Angel pilots who performed that year. This time, he’ll be the one shaking hands with many of the 30,000 people expected at the Mountain Madness Airshow over Labor Day weekend. Curtis performs as opposing solo pilot, Thunderbird No. 6, flying solo, in tandem with the lead solo pilot, with the diamond pilots, and in a delta formation created by all six aircraft. It gives him plenty of opportunity to show his maneuvering skills to his mom, his sister, and the extended family and friends he expects to come from as far as Billings for the event. Also present will be his wife Larissa (Marceau), a fellow Flathead High School graduate, and 2-yearold Aurora—in her own mini Thunderbird suit.

president of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and director of the air show. “Having [Curtis] still be on the team and having [the Thunderbirds] come to his hometown, I don’t think that happens very often. It is just so special that...he can come home and perform for his friends and family. That just creates more excitement in the show.” The homecoming almost didn’t happen. Kalispell was scheduled to host the event last year, but federal budget cuts grounded the Thunderbirds. Competition was fierce to hold on to a slot in the squadron’s schedule of almost 70 air shows this year.

Curtis said that in many ways, last year’s cancellation was a “blessing in disguise” for him and the team. It extended the Thunderbird officers’ assignment to 3 years, a first in Thunderbird history. And it’s given “The team is very excited to come up there,” Curtis Curtis an opportunity for promotion from captain said. “They’ve heard lots of amazing things about to major, as well as a chance to step up to the lead solo pilot position and to train his replacement as Montana, not just through me.” opposing solo, Captain Nick Eberling, next year. The return of Curtis and the other Thunderbirds is a happy homecoming for the city of Kalispell as well, It also gave him more time with his young daughter. which last hosted an air show in 2005 and hasn’t seen The Thunderbirds can spend 250 days on the road from mid-March through November, leaving them the Thunderbirds overhead since 1993. less family time than they typically get even in a “It’s a real special treat,” said Chris Parson, vice combat unit. When the 2013 air shows were canceled,

Above Photo: Jason Curtis inside the Thunderbird Hangar in Las Vegas, NV. Jason's official title on the Team is ‘Maj Jason Curtis, Thunderbird #6’.

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Jason Curtis

“The flying is a very, very small part of our job. The majority of our job is public outreach in other ways,” Curtis said. “It’s always been a thrill to get out there and communicate what we do as Thunderbirds. It may be [people’s] only glimpse not only of the military but of the Air Force.” Curtis was able to bring a couple of fellow squadron members home with him for a visit and introduce them to favorite haunts including Glacier National Park and the Flathead River’s North Fork. Still, the Thunderbirds remained busy, sharing their love of their work and military service with people around the country. Curtis said most of his time is spent not as a pilot but as a public speaker, visiting kids in schools, hospitals, and other settings. Last year, the team also built houses with Habitat for Humanity and worked with the Toys for Tots program. “The flying is a very, very small part of our job. The majority of our job is public outreach in other ways,” Curtis said. “It’s always been a thrill to get out there and communicate what we do as Thunderbirds.

It may be [people’s] only glimpse not only of the military but of the Air Force.” The bonus year has only made Curtis more excited to fly in Kalispell this month. He may not be able to hear the gasps of the audience, but he knows all eyes will be on him as he flies just a football-field length above the ground. Some of the maneuvers leave the jets a mere 18 inches apart, and the F-16s pass overhead at 550 mph or more. They’re flying just under the speed of sound, so each pass is accompanied by a deafening roar. Curtis said he spends “a lot of time in max afterburner, a lot of time inverted or upside down.... And then, when your head is looking the opposite direction, I’ll try to sneak up on you.” His love of his job rings clearly in his voice as he describes the performance’s formations, making each one sound more impressive than the last. “I get the best of all worlds,” he said after describing his solo and group maneuvers. “I couldn’t be more humbled that I get to be part of this team.”

At 33, Curtis is one of the youngest pilots to ever fly with the Thunderbirds, and he’s only the second Montanan to make the team. Both his father and grandfather were military pilots, which played a large role in his decision to major in aeronautical engineering and attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. “I never met my grandfather or my father,” he said. “I have seen pictures, have read books, and have learned a lot about them. And I’ve looked up to them as an example. That’s what I also hope to be. Not only with my family but with anyone who comes out to a show.” Like all Thunderbird pilots, Curtis came from a combat unit and expects to return to one after this tour ends in 2015. It’s a constant reminder that every maneuver he performs during the air shows has a more important purpose.

Above images from left to right: Jason Curtis flies one American Flag during every show. Afterwards, he gives it to someone in the crowd to say thanks for coming to see the Thunderbirds perform. This little girl received the flag at Cannon AFB, NM on 24 May 2014. The Thunderbirds performing a Delta Roll over Salt Lake City, UT on 28 Jun, 2014. Jason is the one on the upper left side of the picture.

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Jason Curtis

Preflight Party August 29, 5–9 p.m. Depot Park, Kalispell The Thunderbirds and other show performers will be on hand to sign autographs and souvenirs and to meet fans. The free party will feature local food vendors and a performance by Kalispell country singer Kayla Adams.

“When I was in Afghanistan, I was a

Mountain Madness Airshow August 30–31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Glacier International Airport, Kalispell Tickets run $15 to $25 and are available at the gate or online. For more information and ticket sales, visit www.montanaairshow.com.

combat fighter pilot at the top of my game. We were there to support troops on the ground that were usually surrounded by enemies who had a position of advantage. We were the last line of defense. When they called on us, they were in a bad way,” Curtis said. “When we’d come back in and land and all the dust kind of settled, sometimes we’d get phone calls or emails from people we supported that night, and literally they’d say, ‘I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for you.’ That meant everything to me.” When asked whether he had any reservations about returning to a combat unit, Curtis didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely not. We are there to serve. It’s not something that I take lightly by any means, but it is how I can contribute,” he said. “I would like my daughter to know that her dad can serve her family but can also serve her country at the same time.”

Julie Laing is a professional writer and editor. She can be reached at misslaing@yahoo.com. 406

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Top photo was taken from inside the cockpit of Thunderbird #3, Maj Caroline Jensen during the winter training season over Las Vegas, NV. The perspective is looking back at Jason during a maneuver called the “Delta Roll”. Bottom left photo of Jason’s daughter, Aurora, looking up and watching her Daddy hard at work! Bottom right photo of Jason Curtis and Kari Miller. She is an Army veteran and lost both her legs. She went on to compete in the Paralympics and won silver in Volleyball in the Beijing and London Olympic games. A true inspiration!

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Hilary Shaw

One Tough Cookie

By Jill Seigmund Photos by Daniel Seymour- Sharpe Eye Photography

It’s one tough cookie that survives a World War II holocaust camp, makes it across the Atlantic to become an American citizen… only to be drafted into the Korean War the very next week.

That

tough cookie is 89-year-old Roman Luftglas, grandfather of another tough cookie… Hilary Shaw, executive director of the Abbie Shelter in Kalispell. It takes a special blend of courage, passion and resolve to run a round-the-clock shelter for victims of domestic violence with only four full-time employees and a handful of dedicated volunteers. Hilary thanks her grandfather for supplying her with the grit required for the job. “The biggest thing he has taught me is the value of standing up for others,” she says. “My commitment to helping the underdog who needs a bigger investment from the community comes from him.”

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Grandpa Roman was only 14 when the Nazis marched into his hometown in Poland and demanded that all Jews turn over their valuables within 24 hours. Those who were suspected of withholding items from the Nazis were publicly hung. Eventually Roman’s entire family was shipped on cattle cars to Auschwitz where he saw his parents for the last time. If anyone deserves to be hopeless, it is surely this man. And

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yet, he is anything but hopeless. As a frequent speaker at schools and community meetings in Connecticut, Grandpa Roman’s message is this: “You are stronger than you think you are.”

ing household phrases like “man of the house”, “pants in the family”, and “boys will be boys” that contribute to the belief system perpetuating domestic violence.

Hilary believes that 1,000 is far lower than the actual number of victims in the Flathead Valley, based on studies that indicate one in four American women are victimized by domestic violence in their lifetime. Obviously there are some barriers to seeking help.

Hilary has been the executive director of the Abbie Shelter for the past three years. It’s rewarding, yet heart-heavy work, and she is learning how to take care of herself so that she can continue to take care of others. She and her husband Tim recently spent six weeks traveling through Bali, Sri Lanka and Malaysia on a motorbike. “I was gone for six weeks, and the shelter did not fall apart while I was away,” she smiles. Her board of directors and coworkers were supportive of her need for a break. “It’s important to get out in the world to change your perspective,” she says.

This is spot-on advice for victims of domestic violence who often believe there is no escaping their oppressive situations. It might surprise you to know that the Abbie Shelter serves over 1,000 women and children annually. Besides offering a safe haven for those in danger, the Abbie Shelter also provides free individual counseling for survivors of domestic violence and operates the 24/7 Violence Free Crisis Line.

One of those barriers, according to Hilary, is that many victims question whether they are really being abused because their partner hasn’t actually laid a hand on them. “You wouldn’t believe how many women come into the shelter who have been threatened with a loaded gun but never touched,” she says. According to Shaw, 98 percent of abusers are male. “Domestic violence is about entitlement. Abusers believe they should get what they want, when they want it,” she says. This paradigm is deeply engrained in our culture, she says, cit-

“One of the biggest reasons that abusers keep abusing is because they continue to get away with it,” says Hilary. “Our vision is to see a world without violence, but to achieve that, everyone has to be on board. And right now everyone is not on board.” Until the balance shifts, the Abbie Shelter and other domestic violence service providers will continue to be in a reactive rather than a preventive mode, she says.

Another part of her commitment to self-care has been her participation in Leading for Life, a yearlong program for executive directors of nonprofit organizations in the Flathead Valley. “I call it my ‘Executive Director support group,’” she laughs. “It has turned my executive directorship into a

sustainable career.” Organized by the Nonprofit Development Partnership, the Leading for Life program provides in-depth leadership training geared toward the unique challenges faced by nonprofit directors. Hilary and six other local executive directors recently completed the program, which was launched last winter. “Every month, I came away with something I could apply the next day to make my job easier,” she says. She highly recommends the educational programs and networking opportunities provided by the Nonprofit Development Partnership as essential to both employees and volunteers of nonprofit organizations. Many of the programs are free, including the monthly “brown bag” lunches that feature topics pertinent to nonprofits.

The 400-plus nonprofit organizations registered in Flathead County, including the Abbie Shelter, are providing essential services to our community. Whether it’s stopping domestic violence, protecting water quality or keeping the arts alive, Hilary urges everyone to get involved in an organization that speaks to their heart. Tough cookies like Hilary… and Grandpa Roman… are critical to achieving a better world, but they can’t do it alone. For more information about the Abbie Shelter, visit violencefreecrisisline.org. For more information about the Nonprofit Development Partnership, visit www.npdp.org.

Jill Seigmund is the entrepreneurship coordinator at Flathead Valley Community College, working under a U.S. Department of Labor grant. She can be reached at 756-3834 or jseigmund@fvcc.edu

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Frontier Builders

A Life Well Lived…

Built Around Building By Nancy Dewar Photos by Michala Berube

What fun to have an opportunity to sit down and meet Wally and Michelle Wilkinson, the owners of Whitefish-based Frontier Builders at Whitefish. While many people think that working in a family business could be difficult, that is so not the case with the Wilkinson’s! Frontier Builders is, indeed, a family affair that has its roots in what started as a high school love affair when Wally and Michelle began dating at the age of 17. They have been together and working together nearly ever since. 406

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Originally from Salinas, California, their move to Whitefish is a story that is similar to so many here in the Valley. Following a brief visit in the early 90’s, they immediately knew that this is where they wanted to live and raise a family. And 21 years later, they have built a wonderful family, lifestyle, business… and some incredibly beautiful buildings! Wally began in construction right after high school and actually worked with Michelle at the same company in those early years. They both had a passion for homes and building in their DNA. Following their move to Whitefish, they started a real estate company with a few partners which they ran for ten years until the housing market tanked in 2008. Like many other locals affected by this huge eco-

nomic set-back, the Wilkinson’s then tightened their belts and switched to frugal-mode to get by. Wally went back into construction in 2010 with Frontier Builders, which was owned by Eric Payne at that time. In June, 2013, the Wilkinson’s bought the company from Eric and are loving running their own business again. Upon entering their office, it was immediately obvious that Frontier Builders truly is a family affair. I was greeted by their five adorable and loving dogs ranging in size from mini to medium…all with big wags! Their sons Dillon and Tucker, and their daughter Meagan, have all worked for the company in different capacities over the years. Meagan once spent a summer as the roadside “flagger” on

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Frontier Builders

The most well-known commercial project done by Frontier is probably Casey’s Bar & Grill located in downtown Whitefish. With four-stories, great décor and a roof top deck with hard-to-beat views, it is a fabulous addition to the town.

a large commercial project. Additionally, Wally’s mother is the company’s warm and welcoming receptionist.

When asked about the pros and cons of running a family business, Wally said “The greatest thing is the trust factor. We have a lot of money flowing through each month, and Michelle handles the books. Not having to worry about what is going on in that arena is big with me.” Regarding downfalls, he stated that “By being together so much, we can get on each other’s nerves, though that is rare.” Frontier builds both high-end custom homes as well as commercial projects, with their work largely focused in the Valley. They currently have four residential projects in progress, one that will end up

ter. Fortunately, the owner of Casey’s had also purchased the empty lot across the street, so this made it easier for staging our crews, equipment and materials.” Frontier also built the relatively new and sleek corporate headquarters of Proof Research located in Columbia Falls. Frontier offers superb craftsmanship, attention to detail and their philosophy is “quality and budget are equally important and neither can be compromised.” It was interesting to me to learn that both Wally and Michelle love the building aspect of their profession but not the finishing décor details quite as much. “We like to leave that up to the home owners or the interior designers,” Wally said. They’ve collaborated extensively with Deena Brenden, owner of Piney Creek Interiors in Whitefish, as well as designers that their customers have used in the past.

The Wilkinson’s recently purchased a building on West Second Street in Whitefish and will be moving their offices to this new location as soon as renovations are complete. They run lean and mean with only four full-time staffers in the office. They employ approximately forty-five offsite employees and manage all aspects of their business in-house with the exception of payroll.

When not dealing with the endless details of home construction, Wally and Michelle enjoy their home on the river located between Whitefish and Kalispell. Their dogs do too; all avid swimmers who favor the pond that is also on the property! After 27 years of marriage, the Wilkinson’s are grateful to live in such a special place, have an amazing family and a family business built around their passion…building.

taking a total of four years from start to finish. This is a BIG project. In fact it is so big that Wally could not divulge the square footage, exact location and obviously not the owner! Of course, that piqued my curiosity even more, though to no avail on many more details. NDA’s are NDA’s! Frontier is also currently working on plans for some spec homes in Iron Horse. The most well-known commercial project done by Frontier is probably Casey’s Bar & Grill located in downtown Whitefish. With four-stories, great décor and a roof top deck with hard-tobeat views, it is a fabulous addition to the town. I wondered about the difficulty of tearing down an old structure and rebuilding in such tight downtown quarters. Wally said, “The biggest struggle with this project was the excavation. We had to dig fourteen feet down from the sidewalk and encountered two to three feet of wa 17

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eureka

Eureka…

YOU FOUND IT! Written by Tracy Mcintyre

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, tucked into the far corner of Northwest Montana is the Tobacco Valley, home of the vibrant community of Eureka. The Tobacco Valley, named by the explore David Thompson for the wild tobacco plants that once were plentiful in the valley, is the beautiful hidden gem of the Inland Northwest.

Though, Eureka is in the further is Northwest corner of Montana, it is in a central location within 1 hour from Fernie BC, and Whitefish, Montana; and within 4 hours to Calgary, Spokane, and Missoula. Eureka is the epitome of small town Montana with a idealistic main street harkening back to the a time where neighbors greeted each other and the whole town turns out for a high school football game.

Finding yourself in Eureka is a treat! There is a plethora of adventures waiting.

As dawn approaches in the Tobacco Valley early risers can find themselves experiencing some of the most majestic sunrises in the Pacific Northwest. With the serenity of the great outdoors, finding yourself sitting outside with a cup of Indian Creek Coffee, locally roasted in Eureka, brings ones’ core to realign with nature and tranquility can sweep over a person, reminding us to breath and take time to just enjoy all that life has to offer.

As a day comes to an end a “Walk along the Wildside” on the Eureka Riverwalk is a perfect way to get a start on what will be a great outdoor adventurous weekend. The Eureka Riverwalk, begins in the Historical Village, a quant village at the entrance of Eureka where buildings from across the ages are highlighted bringing the rich history of the Tobacco Valley to life. The Riverwalk itself has signage depicting the area’s wildlife and history and is an easy 2-mile looped trail made perfect for bicyclists and the whole family to enjoy. As with all outdoor activities in Eureka, it is recommended to keep dogs on leashes and to carry bear spray for it truly is a walk along the wildside and the Riverwalk can be the home of many of Montana’s wildlife.

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For an evening or two stay, Riverstone Family Lodge is a mixture of elegance and Montana rustic. With charming views and amazing small town hospitality Riverstone provides cabins that can be perfect for a couples getaway, girls long weekend, or as the base for an extended family vacation. The Montana Mountain West Guides operate out of Riverstone providing horseback riding, cattle drives, hunting A summer afternoon is a perfect day to stroll and fishing activities. With a great outdoor area for downtown Eureka and take in the shops while all types of events Riverstone Family Lodge is an stopping at Café Jax for an Old Fashion Malt. On ideal location for your stay in the Tobacco Valley. the east side of Main Street (Highway 93) is a true treasurer of an Art Gallery that rivals any gallery in The Tobacco Valley has all activities for all outdoor Montana. Elk Camp Art Gallery is a 1,600 plus sq. enthusiasts of all levels for all seasons. Hiking, foot gallery with over 28 Montana and Idaho artists biking, camping, fishing, boating, rock climbing, ranging from handcrafted western juniper furniture berry picking, scenic drives, wildlife and bird to photography seen in the National Geographic. watching, swimming, shopping, snowmobiling, ice Enjoy the artists’ work at www.elkcampart.com or skating, golfing, and so much more can be found call ahead (406.297.7640) to get your personalized in the Tobacco Valley. One of the first stops when arriving in Eureka is to stop by the local Forest art glass while visiting Eureka.

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Above photo by Tracy Mcintyre

Service station and pick up a map to help navigate you to all things in the area; plus always be prepared with plenty of food, snacks, clothing for all weather, bear spray, and basic first aid kits. A key area to visit is the North Fork Big Creek Falls! These falls are a short mile hike (up hill) through a dense forest where the age and wisdom of nature speaks to you. The falls themselves run year round, though during the spring when the snow is melting and the forest is coming alive with smells and sounds, is a favorite time to experience them. For golf lovers, Eureka is the place to be. With two of the best 18-hole courses in Montana and two 9-hole par three courses, Eureka is a perfect place to come and enjoy a round (or two or three!). Indian Springs Ranch is ideally located on Highway 93 just north of the Town of Eureka. It’s 18-hole Scottish Link style is both forgiving and challenging at the same time. Building a Lifestyle around the Eureka community and offering more than just golf with miles of walking trails, horseback riding, and minutes from many of the lakes including the 90 mile long Lake Koocanusa, Indian Springs Ranch is the ideal location to explore owning your own piece of this majestic Valley. The Wilderness Club features a Nick Faldo designed 18-hole course and just mere minutes from Eureka. The Tobacco Valley truly provides a reason to visit for every season. With community events, like the Summer Time Music Festival happening in June, to snowmobile rides in January, one is sure to find a visit to Eureka to be memorable. To learn more visit the Eureka Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.welcome2eureka.com.

Above photos by Danella Miller Photography

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TELL YOUR STORY BY: LISA SLAGLE

was surprised when Cindy Gerrity, publisher of 406 Woman, walked into my office and asked me to write an ongoing editorial about design and branding for their newest department in the magazine. In this new section titled Design, we are sharing tips about graphic design and branding for small business owners in Montana. Again, I was floored by this invitation, but also excited because branding is my passion, and as a small business owner in Montana, I know what it takes to create and run a business that gets noticed by the fine citizens of the 406. I guess I should start by introducing myself.

Hi. I’m Lisa Slagle, and I am the owner and creative director of Wheelie Creative, a design and creative agency in Whitefish. Wheelie Creative specializes in intelligently developing brands with story, design, and imagination. We design logos, build websites, and believe in helping businesses show their communities who they are, what they do, and why they do it. We like watching our clients succeed. Every business has a story. We specialize in using design to tell these stories.

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I love working with business owners in Montana. They are passionate, intelligent, and resilient.

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Entrepreneurs in Montana are amazing, and I’m lucky enough to get to build brands for incredibly talented, motivated, hilarious people every day--people who say “thank you” and “yes” a lot. They’re the best part of my job.

If there’s one thing I’ve leaned from working with entrepreneurs, it’s that every single company has a unique story that deserves to be built into its brand. Some people are running a family business that has been around for years while others are starting a company to sell a product they invented. Your brand is so much more than just a good logo and a stack of matching business cards. It’s everything that happens to your customers as they buy and use your products. It’s how your employees feel when they show up to work. It’s how you talk to potential clients. It’s your pictures on Instagram. It’s your reputation, both good and bad. Your brand is literally everything that involves your company and your customers. Brands are like people-- they grow, evolve, and have a story to tell. Your customers want to hear your story. They want what you specifically bring to your business-- your knowledge, your experiences, and your style. It’s what makes your company YOURS.

WAYS TO USE DESIGN & BRANDING TO TELL YOUR COMPANY’S STORY

1. KNOW WHO YOU ARE AS A COMPANY. Before I touch a design program in a project, I always have my clients fill out a worksheet to help us channel the direction to take. This worksheet is broken into two columns. One column titled “What We Are.” The other column titled “What We Are Not.” I have them fill it out with one word answers and short phrases. (I did this for my company and posted the results on the “About” page on my website. I encourage my clients to do this, too.) Next, we help our clients define goals and figure out how to use design to move their business forward. Through collaboration, we list your goals for right now and for the future. We figure out who

you really, really want to work with as your dream customer.

Then we look at these lists and determine some common threads and start working with imagery and fonts that will tie all of these ideals and goals together.

2. MAKE SURE ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ALIGN WITH WHO YOU ARE.

Everything you post on your company’s website and social media should work toward your goals and align with your company values. Everything. (Not just random pictures of kittens.) Before you post something, ask yourself, “What is the point of this, and how will it help me reach my short-term goal?” Long term?” If you can justify it, post your heart out. Be consistent with your fonts and colors. Consistency is the big secret to building a strong

brand, so be mindful of your colors, fonts, and imagery in everything you post.

3. BE A REAL PERSON.

One thing I keep discovering in all aspects of my life, is that people need people. We crave human interaction. We like identifying with others. We like inside jokes. We like feeling heard and cared for. Rock the fact that you’re human.

Even though you are in business to sell a product or service, at the end of the day, we are all just people. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Your customers will see your values and care about your experiences. They will be loyal to your company when you connect with them on a genuine level. You are your company’s story.

If you would like help with your company’s design and branding or just want to geek out with us about how cool Adobe programs are, please contact Lisa Slagle, Wheelie Creative, at www.wheeliecreative.com or stop by the office at 144 E. 2nd Street, #302 Whitefish, MT 59937.

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RETIREMENT

p u m S TARTI N G Y O U R

J RETIRE M E N T S A V I N G S

When is the best time to save for your retirement? When you graduate college? When you finally settle into your career? In your 30s? 40s? When your kids go to college? Written by Christine Weidow, CPA and Marija Berney, CPA with JCCS

No matter where you’re at in life, the answer is NOW! We’ve put together some easy tips and information to help jump start your retirement savings, or if you already have a little nest egg, how to give your savings that extra boost.

Reasons To Save Early:

1. Money makes money. Consider this: If at age 25 you started saving $5,500 a year, you would be on your way to having $1 million by age 65 (assuming 7% annual returns). At age 35, you would need to save almost twice that amount each year ($10,600) to get the same result. At 45 you would need to put away $24,400, and at 55 you would need a staggering $72,400 every year! Cumulative contributions that began at the age of 25 totaled just $220,000; at the age of 35, $318,000; at 45, $488,000; and at 55, $724,000. Lesson: start early and let your money grow itself !

Would you like to have $1,000,000 when you turn 65? At age…

25 35 45 55

Make annual contributions of…

$5,500 $10,600 $24,400 $72,400

Assuming 7% returns, you would have contributed a total of…

$220,000 $318,000 $488,000 $724,000

2. Free money. Several employers offer retirement plans with matching contributions. Take advantage of this – it’s free money! 3. Financial security = less stress. Having a safety net will improve your physical health as well as your financial health. 4. Tax savings. Most retirement plans have tax incentives attached. Continue reading for more detail.

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How Much Will You Need?

One of the most common estimates is 7090% of your current pre-retirement, pre-tax income, per year during retirement. That, however, is pretty conservative, assuming that your mortgage is paid off and your medical expenses are not expected to be higher than average.

Advantages: Contributions lower taxpayer’s AGI, potentially qualifying them for other tax incentives. Up to $10,000 in penalty-free withdrawals can cover first-time homebuyer expenses, but taxes are due on distributions.

Disadvantage: Low contribution limit. Roth IRA Who it’s for: Anyone with earned income, Most advisors recommend having $1 million younger than 70½, who expects to have a by the time you retire. The projected figure higher tax rate when they retire than they do for healthcare costs alone during retirement now. Roth IRAs provide no tax break for is estimated to be around $220,000. These contributions, but earnings and withdrawals numbers might be overwhelming at first. are generally tax-free. With Roth IRAs, you Luckily, there is the magic of compound in- avoid taxes when you take it out in retireterest to help you out here, with the simple ment. concept of starting to save as early as you can. Contribution: $5,500; $6,500 if age 50 or As far as how much you should save now, it older is generally advised you save 10-15% of you current pre-tax earnings. If that’s a stretch Withdrawals: Contributions can be withfor you right now, do what you can, but do drawn at any time, tax-free and penalty free. After five years and age 59½, all withdrawals something. are tax-free. Withdrawals are not required during account holder’s lifetime. Options for Individuals If you’re not covered by a company retirement plan, or if you find yourself needing to Advantage: After five years, up to $10,000 of save more than your plan allows, there are earnings can be withdrawn penalty-free to individual retirement account options that cover first-time homebuyer expenses. allow you to save on your own. Traditional IRA Who it’s for: Anyone with earned income, younger than 70½, who expects to have a lower tax rate when they plan to withdraw than they do now. Traditional IRA contributions are tax deductible on both state and federal tax returns for the year you make the contribution, while withdrawals in retirement are taxed at ordinary income tax rates. So with traditional IRAs, you avoid taxes when you put the money in. Compare to Roth IRAs below.

Options for Self-Employed Individuals

You might be a small business owner who has worked hard to get your business off the ground and are finally starting to see it make a profit. Your next step is to decide how to invest it. Should it be further expansion, paying down the loans, or splurging for that special treat or vacation for yourself ? As would any savvy businessperson, you want to spend that money with maximum benefit. With that in mind, why not invest in your own future, get a major break on taxes, Contribution: $5,500; $6,500 if age 50 or older and perhaps give your employees some incentives? Saving for retirement might not Withdrawals: Penalty free beginning at age always be at the forefront of your business 59½. Distributions must begin at age 70½. vision, but starting early and having the right

Effective Savings Strategies 1. Put Your Savings on Autopilot. Set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account each month, or have your employer direct deposit a portion of your paycheck into your savings. If you never see the money, you’ll be less tempted to spend it. 2. Spend Cash. You’ll feel the pain of handing over cash more than you will swiping your card.

retirement plan for your business is just as important a part of your overall financial plan as a sound business strategy.

that do not have any other retirement plan.

Contributions: Salary deferral limited to $12,000 for 2014 plus $2,500 if you are 50 or older. Funded by There are several options for small businesses when it tax-deductible employer contributions and pretax emcomes to retirement plans. Most of them offer tax-de- ployee contributions. The employer must provide an ferred growth and a potential to deduct employer con- annual contribution. tributions as a business expense. The best advantage of Withdrawals: Funds can be withdrawn penalty free afall the plans below is that they allow maximum con- ter age 59½, subject to current income tax rates. tributions that are generally greater than an individual IRA. Withdrawals are subject to current income tax Advantages: Allows for elective deferral and employer rates. If withdrawn before the age 59½ they are gener- matching, without complex plan administration. ally subject to a 10% penalty. Disadvantages: These plans are typically more costly SEP IRA - Simplified Employee Pension IRA and are subject to IRS penalties if employers don't keep up with contributions. The employer must Who it's for: One person businesses but can also be match each employee's contributions up to 3% of used if you have employees. their salary. Alternatively, the employer may make a 2% contribution to every employee irrespective of emContributions: Limited to 25% of net earnings from ployee contributions. self-employment to a maximum of $52,000 for 2014. Contributions are made by the employer only and are Individual 401k tax deductible as a business expense. Who it's for: Self-employed individuals or business owners with no employees other than a spouse. Withdrawals: Funds can be withdrawn penalty free after age 59½, subject to current income tax rates. Contributions: Salary deferral limited to $17,500 a Advantages: This is one of the easiest plans to set up and maintain. You are not required to make contributions and, if you do, they are not due until April 15th. This allows you to be flexible and contribute more in profitable years and less or nothing at all when cash is tight. Also, SEP IRA is the only type of plan that allows you to contribute the maximum amount to both an outside employer's 401(k) and your self-employment retirement plan. You could contribute up to $52,000 on your SEP IRA and up to the maximum allowable on your separate employer’s 401(k) (an additional $17,500). Contributions are not due until the due date or extended due date of the tax return.

year. You can make additional contributions of up to 25% of "earned income" from the business for a maximum contribution limit of $52,000 in 2014. Made by employee and employer (assuming the employee is the business owner or a spouse). Catch up contributions of up to $5,500 are available if you are age 50 or older. Withdrawals: Cannot take withdrawals from plan until a "trigger" event occurs, such as termination of service, death, disability, retirement or termination of the plan.

Advantages: Offers one of the more generous contribution limits. Since individual businesses owners are both employer and employee, the IRS allows them to Disadvantages: Employer must contribute the same make extra contributions up to 25% of the employee’s percentage to employee accounts each year he or she earnings. The Individual 401k has a Roth version, which is a good alternative for people who expect to contributes to his or her own account. be in a higher tax bracket in retirement. SIMPLE IRA - Savings Incentive Match Plan for Disadvantages: Individual 401(k)s are harder to find, Employees (SIMPLE) IRA cost more to maintain and incur more rules than SEP Who it's for: Businesses with 100 or fewer employees IRA.

3. Budget for Fun. Be realistic when planning your savings strategy and leave some room for fun.

4. Avoid Impulse Buys. Waiting 24 hours is a good rule-of-thumb when you have the urge to splurge. Sleep on it and decide tomorrow if it’s really something you can’t live without.

5. Entertain at Home. Have friends over instead of going out. After all, it’s the people, not the place that matters, right? And everyone will appreciate it when they check their bank balance the next morning. 6. Reward Yourself. Train yourself into good habits by rewarding yourself when you reach a goal.

7. Watch it Grow. Enjoy the satisfaction of counting your money and watching it grow.

This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only, it is not intended to act as professional advice. If you have additional questions, contact JCCS, PC in Whitefish at (406)862-2597 or Kalispell at (406)755-3681.

Horses as Mentors

for congruent leadership

Written by Susan B. Clarke

All leaders need to spend time with horses. Forget 360-degree feedback, go spend some time with a herd of horses and get some real feedback, real quick!

This might sound crazy, but horses really can teach a leader more in a day than most training programs can teach in months. Why?

Let’s Talk About Horses

Horses are prey animals. To survive, they need to be masters at picking up clues and reading the environment. They also live best in herds. They regularly relate to and communicate with each other, setting boundaries and dealing with various types of interactions while paying remarkably close attention to everything going on around them. In fact, horses are masters of emotional intelligence. They have to be, because they need to recognize danger and respond to it when it comes. This makes them excellent teachers and mirrors for us humans. Put a leader in a round pen with a horse and, quite quickly, the horse is going to become a big mirror for how congruent that leader is at building relationships and giving instructions.

called Leading From the Inside Out and focused on learning about leadership from horses.

I got nothing. The horse just stayed restless and very distant.

What’s Happening Inside? There was one problem: I was not a horse person. I loved watching them from afar, but I didn’t want Koelle started to coach me. She asked me, “What’s to get too close. going on inside? What are you thinking and feeling? What is your intention in connecting with However, on day one I found myself the first the horse?” person to volunteer to walk into the round pen with a horse and see what happened. The general After some lame attempts to answer intelligently, instruction was simply to establish a relationship I broke down, “Honestly, I’m scared silly of this with the horse. Sounds easy enough, right? horse.” I was looking at Koelle, almost in tears, hating myself for jumping in to the round pen As I headed down from my seat above first. the round pen, I began having second “I have no idea what I’m doing,” I said, “and, thoughts about my decision to jump frankly, I’m not even sure I’d be comfortable if that right in. Those doubts grew even stron- horse got any closer.” ger as I got closer to the pen door and At this point, I noticed muttering from the othheard the horse making quite a racket ers who were watching, but I was busy wrestling with my tears. Finally, I lost the battle and let a inside the pen. few tears run down my cheek. Suddenly, I felt the I panicked inside, but I wasn’t about to look scared breath of the horse on my neck. Wow, I really did or chicken out. It was time to muster up some not see that coming. courage and walk into that round pen. Unbeknownst to me, from the moment I started So I did what any good leader would do under pressure, I put on a happy, confident face and walked right in.

being honest and congruent about what was happening to me, the horse had started moving closer.

Over the next couple of days, I learned more about how amazing horses are as mirrors. The experiLet me just say, that horse got as far away from me ence was so profound that I found myself signing as possible. I tried looking calm and cool. I tired up for Koelle’s yearlong Equus Coaching Course. Leading From The Inside Out moving toward the horse and following all the I learned this lesson first hand a few years back recommended tips for making a connection: eyes Though I’m just starting to utilize horses in my when I arrived at a workshop run by Koelle Simp- down, curved movements, non-aggressive posture, coaching practice, I’m sold on the importance of congruence as it relates to leadership. son at a ranch in Phoenix. The workshop was visualizing the horse letting me get closer. 406

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leadership

What Does This Mean for Leaders? Like horses, people know when we’re being real and congruent. Great leadership comes when we’re willing and able to lead from the inside out. As leaders, we need to know what we think, feel, and want. This can be challenging at times. At the round pen that first day, I knew I wanted to jump in and get the most out of the workshop. However, what I was not willing to acknowledge or let myself own was that I was actually afraid of the horses. I wanted learn from the horse, but I didn’t want to seem scared. Both things were true. The horse figured that out in seconds. It took me a while longer! For a leader, it’s important to be able to step up and take charge of a situation, and doing that is great. But if, at that moment, we’re denying our inner fears or doubts, we won’t likely be as effective as a leader. This doesn’t mean we need to break down and cry (although there’s nothing wrong with showing a few tears). It does mean that we need to acknowledge and deal with our underlying emotions.

The Power of Acknowledging I’ve discovered the power of acknowledging what I feel. If I acknowledge, even to myself, that I’m a bit nervous around these powerful horses, then I can take a breath and allow my nervousness to simply be present along with my excitement. I settle a bit and clarity comes regarding what direction to go next. Plus, the horse doesn’t seem to mind at all. It’s the same way with people. When I acknowledge my feelings – fear, excitement, joy, sorrow, or hurt – even to myself, leadership becomes easier. When a leader acknowledges and owns their thoughts, feelings, and wants, the fidelity of their message becomes clearer because there’s congruence between the external words being spoken and the leader’s internal emotional landscape. Like horses, people feel that congruence. People feel safer around and are more loyal to leaders who are congruent. So if you want to know more about your own leadership skills, go spend some time with a horse! Susan Clarke is a coach who specializes in helping women leaders who are frustrated, resentful, and doing too much become better leaders, align their teams (and their lives), and create great collective results.

legal}

Planning

Estate Pl anning for Parents of Young Children By Kelly O’Brien, Attorney at Law

Last month I became the mother to a beautiful baby girl. My daughter joins her older brother, my husband, and myself to complete our family. With the birth of a new child comes a sense of hope and optimism for life, as well as a host of new things to worry about. As an estate planning attorney, one of the first things on my list was our estate plan. I made sure to review our estate plan to ensure it was updated to account for our daughter and that it accurately reflected our wishes for our children. This includes a review of who we have appointed to care for our children in the event of death of both of us as parents; who is responsible for managing assets for our children; and how to financially provide for our children. While parents of young children may be somewhat young as well, and do not consider themselves as having a large enough “estate” to require an estate plan, parents of minor children often have the largest concerns. Even a bit of simple estate planning will allow parents of young children to have some control over the care of their children in the event of untimely death, and the peace of mind that their children will be provided for in the proper manner. The basic estate planning considerations for parents of minor children include: -Who will take care of your children? -Who is responsible for managing assets for your children? -How to financially provide for your children? 406

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Choosing a Guardian for Minor Children Undoubtedly the biggest concern of parents of young children is who will take care of their children once they are gone. Determining the best individual(s) to act as a guardian for minor children can be difficult. However, for parents of young children, guardianship is the estate planning decision with the most potential impact. Consequently, every parent of minor children should consider who would raise their children if they were unable to do so. If you do not appoint a guardian for your children, in the event of death of both parents, the court will appoint a guardian for your children. The court is required to follow state law with regard to the priority of appointment of a guardian, rather than the specific individual(s) of your choosing. Most people would prefer to decide the guardian of their children themselves, rather than leave it to the court and state law to dictate this important deci-

sion. Therefore, it is important to take some time to consider a guardian for your children. I recommend starting the decision making process with a list of good potential candidates for the role of guardian. This list may include brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents or even family friends, basically anyone you can think of that may act as a guardian. Then, consider the most important factors for you in raising your children. Factors to consider include: philosophies about child rearing; relationship with your children; age and stamina; geographic location; social, political, religious and moral values; financial responsibility; lifestyle and availability and interest in acting as a guardian for your children. Once you have considered these factors, prioritize the factors that are the most important to you and determine which of the potential guardians possess the most similar qualities. Open discussion with your family members, in-

If you do not appoint a guardian for your children, in the event of death of both parents, the court will appoint a guardian for your children. The court is required to follow state law with regard to the priority of appointment of a guardian, rather than the specific individual(s) of your choosing

cluding your spouse, children and potential guardians is a key component in this process. Also, understand that circumstances may change as children get older, so it is a good idea to revisit the appointment of a guardian periodically to determine if it still remains a good fit. Once you have determined who would raise your children upon the death of both parents, then it is important to consider who is responsible for managing your estate and assets for the benefit of your children. Choosing a Trustee for Minor Children Who to appoint to manage assets for your children requires careful consideration of the nature and value of your assets, as well as your plan of distribution and the relationships between your family members. Family Members or Friends You may decide that a relative or close friend, or even your chosen guardian, is the appropriate individual to manage assets for your children. Appointing a family member such as one of your siblings or a close friend can be beneficial because they are familiar with your family dynamics, as well as your assets and your intentions. However, family members or friends often lack experience managing estate assets, financial investments, and methods for ongoing accounting of these assets. Professional Fiduciary or Financial Trustee As an alternative to your family members or close friends, you may choose to appoint an institutional trustee such as your bank's trust department, or professional fiduciary, to manage and invest your assets for the benefit of your children. One key advantage of a professional or institutional fiduciary is that they are not subject to the same family pressures and can provide neutral management. A professional fiduciary also has critical professional knowledge in working with wills and trusts, and managing and investing estate assets. However, a bank or trust company will charge a fee for its services, and are not necessarily familiar with your family dynamics. On the other hand, the impersonal aspect may be an advantage when it comes to providing neutral administration, especially with arguing family members.

Ultimately, you want to choose an individual or institution that is responsible, has the ability to follow through with large amounts of estate paperwork, an ability to work with all of your beneficiaries, and is willing to seek the advice of qualified professionals. In addition to choosing a guardian and trustee, also consider how your assets will be managed and distributed to your children; both the mechanism of distribution and the ages or events in which your children will receive a distribution. Planning the Distribution of your Estate In planning how and when your estate will be distributed to your children, the first decision is what specific mechanism you will use to manage and distribute your estate. You may decide that a simple will nominating a guardian and leaving all of your assets to your children outright, in equal shares is sufficient, or you may determine that a trust is more appropriate. Outright Distribution If you decide to make outright distributions to your children, you must consider the Montana Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA). Under to the Montana Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA), the assets are transferred to a custodian who holds and administers the property for the benefit of a minor. UTMA custodianship can be beneficial because any type of property can be transferred and the custodian does not have to post bond, or file accountings unless mandated by the court. However, under a UTMA custodianship property must be distributed completely at either age twenty-one or age eighteen years, depending on the circumstances. Many parents do not necessarily feel comfortable with their child receiving full control of assets at age eighteen or twenty-one and may want to consider other options. Outright distributions not only require consideration of the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act, but it provides for less over the distribution of your estate. With that in mind, you may determine that you do not want to leave your estate to your children outright. When providing distributions of your estate for â&#x20AC;Ż27

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Planning

your children, it often makes more sense to create a trust to manage the assets for your children, rather than provide for an outright distribution. Trusts A trust is a written agreement wherein a separate entity, the trust, holds title of property and assets and manages those assets on behalf of an individual. A trust is created by a grantor (also known as the “trustor” or “settlor”) and the assets of the trust are managed by a trustee for the benefit of the beneficiary. In general, the most commonly used trusts for children are testamentary trusts or revocable living trusts.

vocable Living Trust allows you to control exactly when and how your children receive assets. For example, you may direct that the trustee distribute 1/3 of the trust assets when a child reaches twenty-one; 1/3 when the child reaches thirty; and 1/3 at age thirty-five.

While Revocable Living Trusts can be beneficial estate planning tools, they are not necessarily advantageous for everyone. Revocable Living Trusts typically cost significantly more to create and administer than an estate plan with only a will. Moreover, Revocable Living Trusts require retitling of assets in the name of the trust, and additional administration by the grantor. Therefore, it is essential to review you assets, famTestamentary Trust ily situation, and personal preferthrough a Will ences with an estate planning atA testamentary trust is a trust that torney before deciding to create a is set out in a Last Will and Testa- Revocable Living Trust to benefit ment. A testamentary trust is only your children. effective upon the death of the grantor through the probate of his Consider Your Specific or her Last Will and Testament. Circumstances While testamentary trusts can be a simple and affordable mechanism, While these are the general isa probate of the estate is required sues to consider when providing before the trust can be funded for your young children in your and your children can receive any estate, it is important to also condistribution from the estate. Not sider your specific circumstances. only does this delay the distribu- If you have children from a prior tion of the assets because the as- marriage, or children with special sets must first go through the needs, then you will need to take probate process, but the probate some additional steps in planning process requires additional fees for their future. and expenses, which will reduce If you have young children, even the amount of assets available for some basic estate planning will provide you with control over the distribution to your children. care of your children and the peace of mind that your children will be Revocable Living Trust A Revocable Living Trust is a provided for, both personally and type of trust that is immediately financially, in the manner you see effective upon creation, but can fit. be amended or terminated at any point by the grantor during his or This article is intended for educaher lifetime. A Revocable Living tional and information purposes Trust offers much more flexibility only, it is not intended to act as in the distribution of assets than legal advice. outright distributions or testamentary trusts. If you have questions or would like additional information regarding Revocable Living Trusts do not have to go through the probate estate planning for minor children process, which permits distribu- contact Kelly O’Brien, Measure, tions to begin immediately, in a Sampsel, Sullivan & O’Brien, P.C. private manner without the ad- at (406) 752-6373 ditional costs and fees associated www.measurelaw.com with probate. Moreover, a Re406

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health}

skincare answers

Fat Fiction By Erin Blair, Licensed Esthetician + Certified Health Coach

Q: I generally have a lot of issues with my skin, even though I eat a healthy, low-fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. My skin is dry, red, and prone to breakouts. It looks inflamed most of the time. As I get older (I’m 51) I’m noticing very deep lines forming. I’m wondering why all this is going on, since I eat such a healthy diet? Maybe I’m using the wrong products for my skin?

While it may be true that you’re using the wrong products for your skin, I see another big clue in your question: LOW FAT. Believe it or not, ‘low-fat’ is not ‘healthy’. I realize this may come as a surprise, but we actually need a significant amount of fat in our diet!

The low-fat lie Seriously. The low-fat dietary theory, first promoted by nutrition researcher Nathan Pritikin in the 1950’s, has been proven dangerously flawed. After first advocating a no-fat diet, long-term research revealed a host of physiological issues including fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, mood disorders (especially depression), weight issues, and more. So Pritikin revised his recommendation, and the low-fat diet was born. Still a core dietary recommendation today, despite heaps of research showing this to be a dangerously flawed theory, the low-fat approach is not doing us any favors. Thankfully, many forward thinking doctors and dieticians recommend including more fat in a healthy diet, not less. We need fat to carry out important functions in the body. It’s required for healthy hormone production. It’s the cholesterol in our skin that makes vitamin D (actually a hormone, not a vitamin) out of sunshine. Fats build healthy cells, help us heal faster, and make antiinflammatories. They help us absorb minerals from other foods, and aid digestion. Our brains are approximately 60% cholesterol. Fats are required for healthy liver function, for utilizing proteins, and for absorbing fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. We actually need fat to burn fat. And the list goes on.

Due to the ‘success’ of the low-fat diet theory, healthy fatty acid deficiency is epidemic. A lack of fat in the diet leads to skin problems; musculoskeletal, endocrine and cardiovascular issues; allergies and depression.

Good vs. Bad?

Most people are familiar with the term ‘good fats’. We’ve heard that LDL cholesterol and saturated fat are ‘bad’. But research and time have shown this to be inaccurate. 406

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With the exception of soy, cottonseed and canola (which ARE bad and should be avoided in a healthy diet), the difference between good and bad fats lie in the way they’re processed, not in the nature of their source. Heat and processing can make a good fat go bad, as with hydrogenation. A diet high in sugar, including those from sweet fruits and carbohydrates, can create oxidized fats in the body that lead to unhealthy side effects such as clogged arteries. In that case you can blame the sugar, not the innocent fat! It’s about skin, and more So here you are, reading about all these other health issues in a column about skin. Why is that? In my consultations, I routinely see the results of fatty acid deficiency manifesting as skin problems. Our skin, like the rest of us, needs lots of healthy fats. We can’t treat our bodies as separate parts; it’s quite obviously all connected.

It’s also quite common for people to object to eating more fat, because of all the negatives they’ve learned about it. They say, ‘what about high cholesterol, what about heart disease?’ To help shed new light on the typical concerns about dietary fat, I’d like to share a compilation of answers provided by the Weston A. Price Foundation, advocates of traditional foods. I hope you find this helpful, and will consider the possibility that the story of a ‘healthy low-fat diet’ is a great work of fiction.

Erin Blair, Licensed Esthetician and Certified Health Coach, is the owner of Skin Therapy Studio, a place for total skin wellness. She takes a ‘whole person’ approach to difficult skin concerns. Visit SkinTherapyStudio. com for more information, or to submit questions for Skincare Answers.

Myths & Truths MYTH: People with high cholesterol are more prone to heart

attacks.

TRUTH: For elderly men and for women, high cholesterol is associated with longer lifespan. MYTH: Cholesterol & saturated fat clog arteries.

TRUTH: There is very little cholesterol or saturated fat in the arterial plaque or clogs. Most of the material is a calcium deposit and most of the fatty acids are unsaturated. MYTH: Saturated fat and cholesterol-rich foods will cause cholesterol levels to rise, making people more susceptible to heart disease.

TRUTH: Many studies show no relationship between diet and cholesterol levels; there is no evidence that saturated fat and cholesterol-rich food contribute to heart disease. As Americans have cut back on saturated fat and cholesterol-rich foods, rates of heart disease have gone up. MYTH: Cholesterol-lowering drugs have saved many lives.

TRUTH: In the two most recent trials, involving over 10,000 subjects, cholesterol-lowering did not result in any improvement in outcome.

Cholesterol Facts It’s produced by almost every cell It’s vital for cell membranes

It’s nature’s repair substance, repairing wounds, including tears/irritations in arteries

Many hormones are made of cholesterol, including those regulating mineral metabolism and blood sugar, reducing stress, and all sex hormones It’s vital to the function of brain and nervous system

It protects against depression, playing a role in seratonin, the “feel-good” chemical Bile salts needed for the digestion of fats are made from it

It’s the precursor of vitamin D, which is formed by the action of UV-B light on cholesterol in skin It’s a powerful antioxidant that protects us from cancer LDL-cholesterol helps fight infection

Sources and Further Information The Cholesterol Myths by Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases Grain Brain by David Perlmutter, MD The Queen of Fats by Susan Allport

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Answers

health care answers By Kimberley Forthofer, ARNP at Kalispell OBGYN

Is it normal to have abnormal periods?

It depends. It is normal to occasionally miss a period or have a lighter or heavier period, however, if periods are less than 21 days or greater than 35 days apart or if there are prolonged periods or no periods for 3-6 months this is considered abnormal. There are varied reasons for abnormal periods; however, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an increasingly prevalent cause of irregular bleeding and a leading cause of infertility. PCOS is estimated to affect 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 women and may affect as many as 5 million women.

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PCOS is a condition characterized by abnormal periods, cystic acne, oily skin, abnormal hair growth, and multiple cysts on the ovaries. PCOS is a result of excess androgens (male hormones…. yes women have these too!). Androgens are produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, our skin and fat tissue, as well as the liver. Insulin resistance

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is another major factor in the development of PCOS. Insulin resistance is the inability of the body’s cells to respond to insulin leading to excess amounts of glucose in the blood. Approximately, 80% of women diagnosed with PCOS are obese. This being said, there is increasing recognition of the disorder in women who are of normal weight. Independent of weight, the contributing factors of PCOS remains the same.

Why should I care if my cycles are irregular?

A: PCOS has been reported in individuals as young as 11, and though it does not seem important at that young an age, irregular periods can lead to infertility. Ovarian cysts can develop on the ovaries. Absence of periods can lead to thickening of the lining of the uterus called endometrial hyperplasia, which increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

Are there risk factors for the development of PCOS? There appears to be a genetic risk for the development of PCOS. Women diagnosed with PCOS often report a family history of a mother or sister with irregular periods or excessive hair growth. A family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a first-degree family member also appears to be a risk factor. Excessive weight gain often “unmasks” underlying PCOS.

Treatment is individualized In women who do not desire current pregnancy, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are an initial treatment. Birth control pills help to regulate menstrual cycles as well as protect the lining of the uterus from becoming thickened (remember that risk of endometrial cancer). Often women are reluctant to use OCPs because they have suffered through unwanted side effects of a pill in the past. There are multiple formulations of OCPs available, and often through discussing the side effects or concerns of side effects; we can find something

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For women who desire pregnancy, the treatment centers on stimulating ovulation and restoring ovulatory menstrual cycles. Ovulation is commonly stimulated with the use of medications, though surgical procedures are another possible intervention.

that will work for her. If OCPs are not an option there are alternatives, such as taking a medication that will assure she has at least 3-4 periods a year. For women who desire pregnancy, the treatment centers on stimulating ovulation and restoring ovulatory menstrual cycles. Ovulation is commonly stimulated with the use of medications, though surgical procedures are another possible intervention. Regardless of family planning needs, dietary modification and weight reduction are considered the first-line treatment for PCOS. Insulin resistance places a woman at risk for development of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Research has shown that a modest weight reduction of 5-10% is beneficial in lowering insulin resistance and helps to restore normal periods. One diet over another has not been found to have increased benefit in the treatment of PCOS; however, I often recommend a low glycemic index diet, as focusing on these types of foods has shown benefit in prediabetic and diabetic populations. A low glycemic diet is also easy to accommodate, as it does not rely on counting carbohydrates or the absolute ex-

Questions & Answers

clusion of certain foods. Some women will also benefit from the addition of medication to help lower blood glucose levels. It is predicted that as many as 70% of the cases of PCOS are undiagnosed. Not every woman who struggles with PCOS fits the “mold” making it a difficult disorder to recognize. Despite this, the cause of PCOS remains the same; excess androgens and insulin resistance. Weight loss and reducing insulin resistance through dietary modification can help women restore normal, ovulatory cycles and in turn decrease the often embarrassing cosmetic concerns of facial hair and cystic acne, and ultimately for many women improving her ability to achieve a healthy pregnancy. Kimberley Forthofer, ARNP Kimberley Forthofer, ARNP joined Kalispell OB/GYN in July of 2013. She was raised in Whitefish and returned to the Flathead Valley after working for 4 years as a primary care provider in Idaho. She offers a wide range of experience in primary care as well as women’s health and her clinical experience includes both acute and chronic care. She and her husband, Joe, have two children and have enjoyed getting back to the outdoor recreational opportunities that Montana offers.

health}Shock & Awe

It will never happen to me!

by Dr. John F. Miller DDS

Fear & Desire:

Psychologist so it’s about time I stuck to my field of expertise: The Mouth.

Much of human behavior is influenced by a combination of these two emotions. Action is initiated when the scales tip either towards fear or desire. We will take action to avoid a less-pleasant circumstance or to obtain a more-pleasant one if the available evidence suggests the unpleasant situation is indeed avoidable and the more agreeable situation is indeed obtainable. There is however, another lesser known emotion known as the “it will never happen to me” feeling. This occurs when the evidence is insufficient to tip-the-scales towards the more-pleasant or less-pleasant. Keep in mind that everyone’s scales have different sensitivity levels, and everyone has access to varying levels of evidence.

Emotions accurately describing how I would feel if I did happen to win the lottery (especially since I don’t play). These same emotions occur in the dental office all too often. The diseases that affect your mouth (e.g. cavities, gum disease, oral cancer) are often painless and symptom free until it’s too late. This is a blessing and a curse. On the one hand the patient isn’t experiencing any discomfort, but this lack of discomfort prevents the scales from tipping towards action. These oral diseases are also largely invisible to the naked eye, and they progress rather slowly.

For example, I have never played the lottery because I do not want to spend money on a potential prize “that will never happen to me.” Do I desire to win the lottery? I would be lying if I said no, but there isn’t enough evidence to tip my scales into action. Others drive at speeds in excess of the posted limits because “they will never be pulled over.” Do they fear being ticketed? A little I imagine, but not enough to abide by traffic laws. Now, I’m a Dentist and not a

It is estimated that 40% of the population does not visit the dentist on a regular basis. What is regular you might ask? Regular means that you receive a dental cleaning every 6-months with a set of dental x-rays at every other cleaning. Yes, your routine dental needs are based on the cycles of the moon. This 6-month interval has been a mainstay in dentistry for nearly a century and it continues to be suitable for most patients’ dental needs. However, contemporary

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Shock & Awe Disbelief:

dentistry focuses much more on prevention and this interval can be shortened if a patient is considered at a greater risk for disease. Shock and disbelief is rarely seen in patients who maintain a regular check-up and cleaning schedule with their dental office. As I mentioned before oral and dental disease progress slowly and can be intercepted and quite often prevented as a result of these regular visits. Let’s revisit dental decay and gum disease again and discuss what causes each: Dental Decay (aka caries, cavities): A few years back a children’s movie came out titled Wreck it Ralph. This movie was based on a character in a video game that played the “bad guy” who wrecked everything. There was a protagonist, Fix-it Felix Junior, however who uses a magic golden hammer to fix everything that Ralph manages to destroy. Now imagine that these two characters are battling it out in your mouth 24/7. If Ralph is winning the battle you will develop cavities, and if Felix gains the upper hand your teeth will remain healthy. Ralph has an

Smiling & Chewing} Dr. Miller's top five spots for both:

Moroldo's in Bigfork, Wasabi in Whitefish, East Shore Smokehouse at Finley Point, Base Camp Café in C. Falls & Laurie's Deli in C. Falls.

army of sugar and acid on his side while Felix is backed by saliva, toothpaste, good habits, and regular dental care. Whose side are you on? (For a more scientific analogy please refer to the 406 archives at http://issuu.com/406woman/docs/406_woman_vol6_no3.) Gum Disease (aka periodontitis): We live in the shadow of the great Glacier National Park. A glacier is formed when the amount of snow and ice that melted during the summer is less than the amount of snow and ice that accumulated during the winter. This results in a net gain of snow and ice, and these accumulations can be found in the areas that receive the least amount of direct sunlight. Now, imagine that food plaque on our teeth and under our gums are snow and ice, and our toothbrush and floss represent the sunshine. If our technique has flaws the sun isn’t going to shine as bright between our teeth and underneath our gums, and a net gain of plaque will accumulate. Your body will interpret this as a foreign object and initiate an immune response to remedy the situation. Ultimately, if left untreated (in the shadows), your body will consider your teeth foreign objects because they are covered by foreign plaque. At this stage the bone supporting your teeth will start to disappear, and this is largely irreversible. So let the sun shine in the shadows of your mouth and remember your Hygienist holds the power of the sun in her hand. If you have great brushing and flossing techniques and healthy nutritional habits by all means skip your 6 month cleaning and go once a year. You heard it from me. As dentists we really do have your best interests in mind and by keeping up your dental care we can prevent the comforting It Will Never Happen to Me feeling from becoming Shock and Disbelief.

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Medication

Geriatric Pharmacy Helps Seniors with their Special Medication Needs

By Harley Brotherton, PharmD

As the baby boomers age and retire, they will require increasing medical and pharmaceutical care. To help with the challenges of aging, geriatric pharmacy is an exciting sub-specialty focusing on the unique needs of the senior population as their bodies change in their response to medications. Geriatric pharmacists are trained to focus on the patient as a whole, which is especially important in this age group that usually comes with long histories of multiple chronic disease states and the many medications being used to treat them. It is important to first and foremost determine safety and overall effectiveness of any therapies being utilized. As we age, our body’s systems begin to decline and become less efficient, specifically our kidneys and livers, which effects how we respond to drugs and can set us up for more significant side effects or interactions. We also become more prone to develop chronic diseases that impact our overall health. If medications are not dosed appropriately given these unique circumstances, individuals are at a higher risk of falling, developing cognitive impairment, or experiencing other unwanted side effects.

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Pharmacists have long been involved with the geriatric population in the role of a consultant to Long Term Care Facilities (LTC). The Certified Geriatric Pharmacist credential has been available since the 1990’s and is now a recognized specialty by Medicare/Medicaid and many state boards of pharmacy throughout the US. This credential has embraced the LTC pharmacist role and is now expanding how pharmacists can aid in the treatment of patients in all different kinds of living situations. It is no secret that as we age, we become more resistant to change

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and the longer we can stay in a familiar environment, the better we live out our days.

The “Beers Criteria” is a nationally recognized list of medications, which are potentially harmful in the elderly population. This is seen as the “standard of care document” when evaluating a patient’s medication regimen. The most frequent problems encountered by the pharmacists are utilizing inappropriate medications (medications which are potentially harmful), therapy duplication, unnecessary medications (drugs used to treat side effects of other drugs), and improper dosing. Many subtle changes to a patient’s medication regimen (taking at a particular time of the day, or in combination with a type of food) can make a major difference on how well the patient tolerates the medication.

The geriatric specialty of medicine sees some of the most complicated cases when you consider the complexities of the disease states coupled with the social dynamics of this population. It also has the least amount of published data to demonstrate effective therapies. This is where the multidisciplinary approach is the most effective in treating the patient. Prescribed medications, as well as non-prescribed (overthe-counters or herbal) can present a high risk to seniors and can also present a high financial burden to them. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of treatment is to ensure right dose, right drug, right directions, right reason, and right price to maximize their therapy.

The Flathead Valley alone is projected to have a 228% increase in people over the age of 65 by the year 2030 according to the Census 2030

project. We all realize the natural beauty of our area, however another major attraction to the baby boomers is the wonderful access to medical care and specialties we have here. North Valley Hospital is leading the way for the Geriatric population. Currently, North Valley Geriatric Specialty Services is comprised of an Interdisciplinary Team of medical practitioners to care for the patient. The team is composed of a geriatrician, a certified geriatric pharmacist, a dietician, a physical therapist, and a social worker. The team works together to provide an all-encompassing care plan for the patient and their loved ones. Each role brings a unique perspective to the patient’s care plan, while creating a very positive collaboration that is then communicated to the patient’s primary care provider. For more information on North Valley Geriatric Specialty Services go to: www.NVGeriatrics.org. As we have continued to live longer, we are presented with many more chronic health problems, financial problems, and socio-economic issues. Our role, as geriatric pharmacists in treating seniors is crucial and arguably one of the most important and impactful role in our profession in the years to come.

Harley Brotherton earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Washington State University. He became board certified in geriatrics (CGP) in 2005. He has practiced in hospital pharmacy, longterm care consulting, ambulatory care in a geriatric setting, and is currently the Director of Pharmacy at North Valley Hospital. He is one of six certified geriatric pharmacists in the state of Montana.

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shots

Immunizations By Flathead Community Health Center

Believe it or not, it’s that time again; time to go back to school! While at school, children have a high potential of being exposed to many different diseases. Ensuring that your child is up-to-date on their immunizations is the best way to protect your child, other children, and the community from those unnecessary diseases. In an effort to keep children in schools healthy, the State of Montana requires children in school to be vaccinated against certain vaccine-preventable diseases before the first day of school. If you are unsure of the State requirements or if you have questions about vaccinations, now is the time to check with the Health Department or your physician so that you can beat the “Back to School Rush.” Required vaccinations needed for Kindergarten entry: 3 doses of Polio (IPV) and 1 dose of Polio must be given after the 4th birthday 4 doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP/DT/DTaP/Td) and 1 dose must be given after the 4th birthday 1 dose of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) given on or after the 1st birthday and a 2nd dose prior to entry of Kindergarten. Required vaccinations needed for 7th Grade entry: 1 dose of Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Td or Tdap) booster prior to 7th grade entry A dose of Tdap is preferred to provide protection against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. Tdap is not a requirement. 2 doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), if these doses have not been completed already

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Older children need vaccines, too! Everyone 6 months of age and older should receive an annual flu vaccination. It's important to know that flu can be serious, even for healthy young people, and can easily be spread to others. As children get older, there is a higher risk for catching certain diseases, such as meningococcal meningitis. Older children should receive vaccines for those diseases, as well. The recommended immunization schedule is regularly updated to include

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new vaccines and reflect current research. It may have changed since your child was first immunized. Specific vaccines, like HPV, which helps protect against certain cancers, are recommended to be given during the preteen (11-12) years. If your preteens or teens haven't already gotten their vaccines, they should get caught up as soon as possible. For other diseases, like whooping cough, the protection from vaccine doses received in childhood wears off over time. Teens—and adults, too—who have not gotten Tdap should consult with their physician or the Health Department to determine if a booster is needed.

If you have any questions regarding vaccinations or the recommended immunization schedule, please contact the Flathead City-County Health Department at 406-751-8110. Immunizations are available at the Flathead City-County Health Department Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:30 am - 11:30 am and 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm and Wednesday from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. The Health Department is closed to immunizations the 2nd Tuesday of each month in order to service our Columbia Falls and Whitefish clinics. The Health Department is in Columbia Falls and Whitefish the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Columbia Falls 9:00 am - 11:30 am, Columbia Falls Volunteer Ambulance Building, 31 7th Street West Whitefish 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Whitefish Community Center, 121 2nd Street No child will be denied vaccine due to inability to pay.

Going to the Sun Gallery presenting

Gallery Nights Rob Akey

August

is our local Whitefish Artist and voted Best of Whitefish for Art 2014! He is a master with color, subject and his painterly style of GNP, Whitefish and the surrounding area!

September

Michael Naranjo

is our Local Pastel and Oil Painter, from Kalispell, Montana. He is an accomplished Artist and his passion and love of the Wilderness and Montana outdoors is prevalent in his amazing works of art!

Mia Delode

Is a fourth generation rancher from central Montana. She is an accomplished painter, sculptor, and writer of the culture unique to western Living. Her paintings have won many awards including People's Choice and Juror's Choice!

Tim Wold

is our Whitefish Mini Oil Painter. His Mini Paintings depict the grandeur and beauty of Glacier National Park and the surrounding area! His style of paintings appeal to collectors all over the world!

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rio

Three Wonderful Evenings in Rio By Miriam Singer

Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim

Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim October 3rd, 4th and 5th In the late 50’s Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema Beach, with its white sand and fresh ocean breezes became the birthplace of bossa nova. Inspired musicians Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luis Bonfa, and Joao Gilberto played with the beat of the samba and slowed it down to make it more seductive. To that they added the lyrical influence of European classical music and the sophistication of American jazz. The poet Vinicius de Moraes wrote lyrics to fit the enchanting gentle music. “Bossa” was a slang word from Rio, used often in the 30’s to describe something done with originality, charm and flair. In the 50’s it came to refer to a trend or fashionable wave. Nova in Portuguese means ‘new.’ Bossa nova was a new wave, but it became so popular the world over, it was more like a tsunami.

Helio Alves

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Friday, October 3rd 7:30pm

This tribute band is modeled on the band on the original recording, with four Brazilians and an American saxophonist. Legendary tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton emerged in the 70’s carrying on the tradition of Ben Webster and Zoot Sims. He moved to New York City from Rhode Island, joined Benny Goodman’s band and backed singer Rosemary Clooney. Scott Hamilton’s tenor sax style is big and warm, and inclined to swing, like Stan Getz.

Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts

Bassist Nilson Matta also moved from Brazil in 1985. He’s performed with Joao Gilberto and Luis Bonfa. Matta also worked with Yo-Yo Ma who said, “Nilson is a virtuoso bass player.”

Purchase tickets at SingerandSimpson.com or Tix.com. For assistance please call 406-730-2817

Guitarist Romero Lubambo moved from Brazil to New York City in 1985. He tours with Dianne Reeves and has performed with Diana Krall, Herbie Mann and Wynton Marsalis.

Pianist Helio Alves came came to the US to study at the Berklee College of Music. In Boston, Flying into Rio today, the airport is named after he met trumpeter Claudio Roditi with whom Antonio Carlos Jobim. Jobim became known he’s recorded. He toured extensively with for his work, along with Gilberto and Bonfa Joe Henderson and was featured on his 1996 on the soundtrack for the 1959 movie “Black Grammy winning recording “Joe Henderson’s Orpheus” which won an Academy Award in Big Band.” In 2003, he was the pianist on Yo-Yo Ma’s Grammy winning releases. 1960. When the American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz visited Brazil, he fell in love with bossa nova. His 1964 Album “Getz/Gilberto” with João Gilberto on guitar, and most of the songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim was the product of a Brazilian quartet and an American sax player. It won the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year. The song, “Girl from Ipanema” won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. The song became an international hit, and the bossa nova became an international sensation.

Scott Hamilton, tenor saxophone/Romero Lubambo, guitar/Helio Alves, piano/Nilson Matta, bass/Duduka da Fonseca, drums

Drummer Duduka da Fonseca is the band member who has worked with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Jobim said, “Duduka is a fantastic drummer...I love the way he plays.” Duduka has also performed with Astrud Gilberto, Nancy Wilson, Slide Hampton and Kenny Barron. Come enjoy a celebration of the great Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and the thrilling bossa nova. Purchase tickets at SingerandSimpson.com.

526 Electric Avenue Tickets $25 - $27 - $29 - $32

Saturday, October 4th 7:30pm

Whitefish Performing Arts Center

600 East 2nd Street Tickets $25 - $27 - $29 - $32

Sunday, October 5th 7:30pm Whitefish Lake Restaurant

1200 US Hwy 93 North Tickets: $29

Thank you to the Steinway Piano Gallery of Spokane for providing pianos in Bigfork and at the Whitefish Lake Restaurant. These concerts are a benefit for the Steinway Fund. Sponsored by Don “K” Subaru of Whitefish and brought to you by Singer & Simpson Productions.

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall

one night only at Whitefish Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, November 18th, 7:30pm. Sponsored by Don “K” Subaru and brought to you by Singer & Simpson Productions. Tickets $39 - $42 - $46 - $49

Purchase tickets at SingerandSimpson.com or Tix.com. For assistance please call 406-730-2817

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music

New chorale conductor announced for the Glacier Chorale’s 32nd season

Micah Hunter

By Marti Ebbert Kurth

This summer the Glacier Symphony and Chorale welcomes Micah Hunter of Kalispell as its new Chorale Conductor for the 80-voice choir. Hunter was hired in July as the music organization enters its 32nd year and he is only the third person to fill that role. His predecessors have left Hunter with some big shoes to fill. Shauneen Garner, was the founding Chorale Director and led the choir for over 25 years. She retired eight years ago and was followed by James Stanard, who held the GSC post upon retiring from a long career as a university choral director. At age 30 Hunter is the youngest conductor to hold the position but with his excellent credentials and youthful enthusiasm the choir is certain to stay at the top of its musical game. Hunter’s position is part-time as the Glacier Chorale performs only three major choral concerts each year; a full chorale concert in November, a rendition of Messiah with a small orchestra in December and a combined full orchestra and chorale concert in March. In prior years the chorale has performed a widely varied repertoire ranging from light operas, such as “Pirates of Penzance,” to the monumental choral works of “Beethoven Symphony No. 9” and last season’s “Sea Symphony.” The Glacier Chorale also has a small chamber choir that Hunter will direct. Hunter and his wife Rachel are no strangers to the Glacier Chorale having sung with the group for the past two seasons. Because he’s used to being on the other side of the baton and is known by and comfortable with the singers, he hopes the transition will be easier for everyone. This season he hopes to include some of his favorite music such as modern choral compositions by composer Eric Whitacre and others. In the meantime, Micah will continue his full time job as Chorale Director of Kalispell’s Stillwater Christian School a post for which he was hired in August 2006, immediately upon graduation from Montana State University. At the school he is responsible for teaching choir students from kindergarten through high school in a range of topics from general music to chamber and concert choirs, to music theory, history and literature. Micah’s road to becoming a music teacher, and now a symphony choral conductor, started in the tiny town of Hot Springs, Montana where his family moved when he was five when his father became pastor of the Hot Springs Bible Church. His graduating class had 15 students and no 406

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formal music education program. But there was a bright note in the form of Susan Kretszchmar, a dedicated music teacher who encouraged the young Micah to pursue his dreams. “I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a teacher. It was between math, science or music, but by the end of 8th grade I knew it had to be music–not because Hot Springs had any kind of good music program, it was Mrs. Kretszchmar who really invested in me. When I began with the violin in 5th grade, she agreed to teach me after school and I kind of taught myself the instrument.” Upon graduating Micah was accepted at Montana State University and says he landed in college with nothing but a love for music. “I wasn’t really good enough to be a violin major and by that time I wanted to sing so I enrolled in Lowell Hickman’s voice studio for all four years. I really didn’t receive any formal music education until college.” A bass/baritone, Hunter sang with the college’s elite choir, The Montanan’s all four years and also helped with the University Chorus, did opera scenes and sang with the Inter-Mountain Opera Chorus. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2006 with highest honors and was lauded with awards for outstanding service to the University receiving an Alumni Award for Excellence. Since college he has been busy pursuing graduate degrees. “My graduate school experience has been very convoluted because I haven’t been willing to quit teaching to do it. So I combined online courses, summers and weekends to build my first masters degree.” He attended Pensacola Christian College in Florida, where he met his future wife, Rachel, also a music major.” Later he attended Boston University and completed his MA in Music Education from Canyon College of Idaho followed by a Doctorate of Sacred Music from the Theological Foundation, in Indiana. Currently he is working on a second degree a Master of Church Music in Choral Conducting, from Pensacola Theological Seminary. Now in his new role Hunter says he has a vision of where the Glacier Chorale can go. “One of those goals is to broaden the scope of choral literature. I want our programs to push the choir in terms of technique. I think audiences should be challenged when they listen and I think musicians should be challenged to be versatile and how they put their hearts into a variety of styles.” In his two short years singing with the GSC choir, Hunter has learned that the singers seem

to enjoy a more traditional style with slow to moderate tempos, chords that move together and sonorities that lock in. He would like to expand the chorale repertoire with works by Eric Whitacre, a young up-and-coming American composer. “Whitacre’s music will expose our singers to the textures they are used to but also harmonies that are going to be more difficult to wrap their ears around.” Hunter says his hope is that after a few seasons the Glacier Chorale audiences would come to a concert expecting to hear new things. “I want them to come in wondering what they’re going to hear, knowing that there is going to be some-

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thing to challenge them as well as some pieces that they are just going to love.” Micah also has some very clear thoughts about how the power of singing together can inspire and reconnect people. “Our western technology-driven culture with its cell phones and distractions has created incredibly shallow connections between people. A sense of being constantly connected but never deeply connected. I think young people today are especially in need of and desire, deep interactions with their humanity. Adults too. Music combats both those things. Music forces you to pause and focus your total efforts on one task. Particularly with singing you have to be willing and able to make yourself vulnerable with and around other people. There is no hiding behind Facebook or texting.” He believes that music helps people to realize their humanity in a unique way. “You will not sing meaningfully unless your whole person is committed to it. I can have great training and technique but it won’t be my best if my heart’s not in it. My personal challenge as a conductor is being in front of a choir and giving every person in the choir a reason to commit their whole person to the song,” he finishes.

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music

20 Great Summer songs (in no particular order):

“Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer” – Nat King Cole 1963

“Summertime Blues” – Eddie Cochran 1958 “Summer Breeze” – Seals & Crofts 1972 “School’s Out” – Alice Cooper 1972

“Saturday in the Park” – Chicago 1972 “Summer” – War 1976

“Dancing in the Street” - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas 1964 “Heat Wave” – Linda Ronstadt 1975

“ O ff K e y N o t e s ” By Bob Hamilton

“Roll out those lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer”… Ah summer! Hope you have been enjoying another great summer season here in the Flathead floating the rivers, playing golf, experiencing the great outdoors, picnicking and barbecuing , relaxing on a boat and attending our many great outdoor festivals and events. There is truly no season more beautiful and packed with activity than summertime in the Flathead Valley. “ Yes it’s summer, summertime is here…yes it’s summer, my time of year.” For many of us, musical memories and associations are more deeply rooted in our summer experiences than they are at any other time of the year with the possible exception of the holiday season. Why is that? Perhaps for many of us, summer symbolizes more of a carefree spirit and sense of freedom than other points on the calendar. Often, this sense and spirit is tied deeply to the summers of our youth.

“Ridin’ In My Car” – NRBQ 1977

“Summertime” – Sam Cooke 1957

“In the Summertime” - Mungo Jerry 1970 “Hot Fun in the Summertime” - Sly & the Family Stone 1969

“California Girls” - The Beach Boys 1965

“Summer in the City” - The Lovin’ Spoonful 1966 “Suddenly Last Summer” - The Motels 1983 “Rock Lobster” - The B-52’s 1979 “Vacation’ - The Go-Go’s 1984

“Summer Nights” - John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John 1979 “Summer of ‘69” - Bryan Adams 1985

“The Boys of Summer” - Don Henley 1985

I often think of my own summer experiences…… radio. The summers of 1975, ‘76 and ’77 brought us hits with heavy radio airplay by the likes of “School’s out for the summer….school’s out for such greats as Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Bos….EVER” sang a raging Alice Cooper in 1972 ton, Peter Frampton as well as many other classic through my transistor radio. As a thirteen year old rockers. Fortunately for me, these were my high listener, I realized for perhaps the first time that school years. I think I fell in love with one of aside from the obvious (yes school was indeed…. the lovely female lead singers of Fleetwood Mac OUT) summer is very special, very different and in the summer of 1976. Not with Stevie Nicks very free! “ Let’s go have some fun” became the like all my buddies did, but with Christine McVie mantra of each summer day. Go out early in the as she sang “Say You Love Me.” The song still day and play ball, swim, tease and secretly worship brings back summer memories of camping with the neighborhood girls, and don’t go home un- my friends and drinking beer as a still slightly til Mom calls as the sun is going down….unless underaged boy in Connecticut and believing that of course we needed something to eat or drink. I was truly getting away with something. “Take Sub sequent summers brought songs that were Me Out to the Ballgame” inspires summertime not lyrically about the summer itself, but came memories with my grandfather……going to ballto symbolize the summer season for me simply games as the diehard New York Mets fan that he because that is when they first appeared on the taught me to be and taking in sights, smells and 406

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sounds of the summertime game at Shea Stadium in New York. I still stand to sing the song at the top of my lungs to this day anytime I am at a ballpark…sometimes with a tear in my eye brought about by fond warm memories of summers past. Cherish your own summertime experiences and memories as they are integral parts of your life’s musical soundtrack. Most importantly, keep making these memories and creating your summer moments. If you are reading this as we approach the onset of autumn, be cognizant that the curtain does not close on summer as August ends. There are many great outdoor events to enjoy in the Flathead and throughout Montana in the weeks beyond. The last time I checked fall doesn’t begin officially until September 23, 2014. Plenty of summer to go!

Getting Schooled in the Garden by Jessica Manly, FoodCorps Service Member, Kalispell, Montana

School gardening can be tricky in Montana. We usually have just 100 prime growing days in the Flathead Valley, the bulk and bounty of which fall smack in the middle of summer break, when the last thing most students want to do is hang around the schoolyard.

As a FoodCorps service member in Kalispell Public Schools, my main mission is to connect kids with real food and to teach agricultural awareness through building and maintaining successful school gardens. Service members in California have it so easy…

Despite the inherent challenges of gardening with public school students in Hardiness Zone 5, District Five’s gardening program is growing like gangbusters. In the past several years, members of FoodCorps, AmeriCorps, and Montana Conservation Corps, as well as dedicated community members, Food Service Directors, and teachers, have led the construction of new school gardens at Elrod Elementary, Hedges Elementary, Flathead High School, Kalispell Middle School, Edgerton Elementary, and most recently, a garden at the new Kalispell Central Kitchen, where produce will eventually be harvested and prepared for school lunch service.

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Why all the attention on school gardens? Montana has a rich agricultural history; as recently as 1950, 70% of the food Montanans consumed was grown

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in state, and Native Americans traditionally consumed over 60 varieties of wild edible plants. The Victory Garden movement during WWII further encouraged a strong tradition of backyard gardening in the valley and a sense of self-sufficiency. Today, only about 5% of our diets are grown in the state of Montana, despite the fact that we are second in the nation in acreage used for agricultural production. The vast majority of our cash crops--lentils, wheat, sugar beets, and potatoes--are shipped out of state or out of the county. Luckily, the tide seem to be turning, as an increased interest in the local food movement has led to vibrant farm to school and farm to institution movements across the state (and country), as well as a revitalization of our state’s food processing and distribution infrastructure. Farming is suddenly hip, and young farmers seem eager to pick up the spades their grandparents, or great-grandparents, eagerly dropped in fatigue or frustration. I am certainly not encouraging everyone to quit their day job in order to grow all of their own food (and I will not even attempt to dive into the complex debate of specialization versus self-sufficiency), but there are undisputed rewards of participating in the process of growing food, even a pot of basil on the windowsill, and these rewards are ripest for young people immersed in a “fast food culture.”

If you already have a garden in your backyard, you certainly do not need me to tell you about the pleasures of a vine-ripened tomato, fragrant bunches of fresh basil, or the luxury of abundant leafy greens just outside your door. Cutting your grocery bill,

enjoying ultimate freshness and peak nutritional value in your food, and the satisfaction of seeing produce from seed to table are only some of the multitude of rewards of backyard gardening. And whether in a school gardens or helping out at home, encouraging your children (or grandchildren, or neighbor, or young friends) to join you in the garden can lead to a multitude of social, physical, environmental rewards for all.

Improved Academic Performance

The garden provides hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in any discipline; math, science, language arts, visual arts, nutrition. And it is also a place for learning to naturally occur for children that struggle with attention and engagement in a traditional classroom setting. The garden, even during unstructured summertime play, allows for exploration and connections to easily occur. Children may notice bees and butterflies buzzing about the squash blossoms and ask what they’re doing (perfect time for an explanation of pollination) or notice that plants in full sun grow more quickly than those in shade. You can keep garden journals with your children or lead impromptu scavenger hunts to invite careful observation and exploration. The garden is also a perfect place for imagination and play, pastimes that can be sorely missing when one is plugged into technology. Recent research has backed this up--garden time is not frivolous, rather regular garden education is correlated with higher standardized test scores (Klemmer, et.al. 2005). Environmental Awareness

Studies have shown time and again that spending time in the garden leads children to develop a

Students are more likely to try vegetables they have grown themselves and to ask for those vegetables at home, thus encouraging a healthier food culture in their families greater sense of environmental awareness and appreciation for natural resources. When children see for themselves how precious resources--water, soil, fresh air, sunlight, compost--are needed to produce their food, they gain an immediate sense of environmental awareness and responsibility, which has also been shown to continue into adulthood (Lohr, V.I. and C.H. Pearson-Mims. 2005.). Garden time is a great opportunity to explore soil composition, erosion, watersheds, pesticides, local food systems, invasive species, and other ecological issues with young people, and also an opportunity to educate yourself on these topics! Simply, gardening invites a healthy connection with nature. Increased interest in fresh fruits and veggies

I have heard many students, and even teachers, tell me that they do not like a particular fruit or vegetable (most often radishes) when I tell them we’ll be having a taste test in the garden. After some time spent watering, weeding, harvesting, and washing produce, however, there is a natural inclination for them to try the fruits of their labor. Though radishes may still not be a crowd favorite (poor radishes), I have watched many children warm up to the root’s peppery sweetness after a session in the garden. Studies have shown that “active learning in less structured, participatory spaces like gardens is more likely to transform children’s food attitudes and habits, and that school gardening, especially when combined with a healthy lunch program or nutritional education, encourages more healthful food choices” (Tampa Bay School Gardening Network). Plus, a raspberry picked from the bush, especially a bush you helped plant, tastes better than any other raspberry in the world. I don’t have a study to support this, but it’s an exclamation I’ve heard from most of the children who’ve tried one.

well. Students are more likely to try vegetables they have grown themselves and to ask for those vegetables at home, thus encouraging a healthier food culture in their families (Morris & Zidenberg-Cherr 2002).

School gardens are a vital and often underfunded component of a child’s education, and your support can make a tremendous difference in your community. Contact your local school for opportunities to join their school garden committee, volunteer to help start or maintain a school or community garden, or if you’re short on time, make a financial donation to Farm to School projects across the Flathead Valley through Farm Hands Nourish the Flathead’s Farm to School grant program, which has funded the Hedges Elementary School Garden, Flathead High School’s Growing a Better World Garden, and new school kitchen equipment for Somers Elementary School. To donate please visit www.flatheadfarmhands.org.

Would you like to support new

school garden projects in the Flathead Valley? Please visit www. nourishtheflathead.org to donate to Farm Hand’s Farm to School grant fund that goes directly to farm to school efforts in our area, or please visit www.foodcorps.org to donate to FoodCorps’ national effort to connect kids to real food so they can grow up healthy.

Ownership

School gardens also give children the powerful gifts of ownership and a sense of capability. I have watched many kids bring a family member to the school garden during the summer to show them “the pea plant that I planted myself” or “their” carrots. Helping things grow is powerful and empowering for kids, and adults as

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Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center Written by Kari Gabriel

It has been quite a busy summer for all of us at Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center! We have admitted more raptors this spring than anyone can remember in previous years, and many of them have been orphans, which is always a challenge. For those of you who don’t know who we are or what we do, we are a volunteer wildlife rehabilitation and education organization. We take in sick, injured and orphaned wildlife (mostly birds), and feed and care for them until they can be released back into the wild. Those that cannot be released become part of our education program or are transferred to another organizations’ education program. In order to do all of this, we need to have current state and federal wildlife rehabilitation and education permits. Beth Watne, our founder and director, has permits through both Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks, and the US Fish & Wildlife Services. Kari Gabriel, MWWRC communications director, also has a permit through Montana FWP, and works under Beth’s federal permits. All of the other MWWRC volunteers are subpermitted under both sets of permits. In order to even apply for these permits, a rehabilitator must be at least 18 years of age with a minimum of 100 hours of hands-on experience, gained over the course of at least one year, rehabilitating the types of birds you intend to rehabilitate (e.g., waterbirds, songbirds, raptors, etc.). We have to record each and every admit, including where it was found, by whom, and the outcome (released, placed in education program, or euthanized) and report back to both agencies. As with all government agencies, there is a lot of paperwork. 406

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Red Tail Hawk chicks rests in a large tree immediately after being released. Photo by Doug MacCarter.

All of us that volunteer with MWWRC, bring experiences from other wildlife rehabilitation and education organizations, and share that knowledge with each other. Some of us have extensive experience working with raptors, some have experience working with non bird species, and some have experience working with songbirds and waterfowl. All of us put together have more than 80 years of experience in handling the multitude of Montana native species that we take in on a regular basis. MWWRC was formally incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization in December 2013, so we will be able to report back in early 2015 how many birds have come through our organization this year. Due to changes in state laws, we can no longer rehabilitate certain mammals, including skunks, deer, raccoons, coyotes, fox, etc., so we mainly work with birds. Some of the highlights of our spring admits include the many orphans that we have taken in. Raising songbirds requires a lot of time – they need to be fed every 30 minutes from sunrise to sunset, just like they would be with Mom. Some of the foods we use include Exact baby bird formula, (human) baby food with meat, berries, vegetables, greens, bugs, live mealworms & maggots, dry kitten & puppy kibble, and the list goes on. Each species requires a specific diet. Some waterfowl requires live fish, so off to Petco we go for goldfish and minnows! We always receive tiny songbird orphans, including robins, warblers, waxwings, finches, sparrows, etc. We also have a lot of corvid orphans, so we have to be experts at raising magpies, jays, crows and ravens. They are very smart and LOUD!

the nest back in the tree, the parents abandoned them. We fed the little hummers every 20 to 30 minutes for 3 days, but they arrived in rough shape and didn’t survive. The majority of us that volunteer with MWWRC also work full time, so we have understanding employers that allow us to bring our “babies” to work with us and feed them throughout the day. We also recently admitted two baby nighthawks, once of which hatched in the pocket of the logger than found them and brought them to us! One died almost immediately, but as of the time of this writing, the other one is hanging in there. He is tiny and helpless and doesn’t even have his eyes open! We’ve also raised a dozen or so crows, ravens and magpies this season, and several squirrels. Squirrels require bottle feeding, just like a kitten or puppy that is orphaned. We have volunteers that prefer working with these little guys over the birds, and they may have babies from several different litters at one time. We had a group of six orphaned squirrels last year that were all released together and still live in the yard where they were released.

Our biggest challenge this year has been the abundance of orphaned raptors. It is rare for us to get in even one orphaned raptor, yet alone 17 in just one season! Many of you have seen and heard the coverage that we have received on taking in two orphaned Bald Eagle chicks. The Some of the most challenging babies admit- chicks and their nest tumbled out of their tree the ted this year included a pair of tiny humming- week of June 18th, when we received more than 3 bird orphans. We’ve never seen such a tiny baby inches of rain in a couple days. The nest became bird – they wouldn’t even register on the scale in waterlogged and fell down on the ground, where grams. These little guys and their nest fell out the miraculously unharmed chicks were found by of a tree on a patio in Columbia Falls. Despite a wonderful, caring crew of construction workers. the best efforts of the home owner to duct tape They did everything right – they looked for the

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parents, didn’t touch or disturb them, and called for help right away. The eaglets have been with us since June 20th and are thriving! Both chicks were freezing cold and hungry, and needed immediate intervention. After we warmed them up and fed them as much as they would eat, and the weather broke, we took them back to their nest site to see if the parents would come back and accept them. The construction crew rebuilt their nest on a platform up in the same tree and we put the chicks back in the reconstructed nest. The chicks begged for food and their parents, and we waited and waited, but the parents did not come back. The best option for every wild bird or animal is to be with their parents, so we tried this several times, each with the same result. They are now eating fish on their own, and have grown to adult size. They fly, sit on their perch and are afraid of people, which is the most important part. With all birds, it is important not to let them “imprint” on human beings, and it is very difficult to do. We housed them next to another eagle so they were able to observe her behavior and “talk” back and forth. Just this week, we received another Bald Eagle chick from a nest in Lakeside that has been on the ground and closely observed by the landowners for a week. The eagle parents were originally caring for the chick on the ground, along with a sibling still in the nest. At some point, the parents stopped caring for the grounded eaglet, so we picked it up and are caring for it at our facility. It came in at a mere 4 pounds, and should weigh twice that much. We will feed it as much as it will eat, as we did the other two, and then hopefully, house them all together. We aren’t out of the woods yet, as we need to teach them all to hunt and kill live prey, as well as, exercise them for their first flight! Young eagles typically spend 4-12 weeks in the nesting territory post-fledging, the time during which they learn to hunt and fly. We also received five Great Horned Owl chicks, three Red Tail Hawk Chicks, four American Kestrel Falcon chicks, and one Cooper’s Hawk chick in June and July. All of the Kestrels and two of the Red Tails were nest mates; all of the others were from different nests around the Valley. Bill Maitland found two of the Red Tail Chicks at the base of a tree with remnants of their destroyed nest during that same June storm that brought down the eagle chicks. Again, the

parents weren’t taking care of the chicks and we intervened. Bill was later able to release the hawks at their original nest site, and reports that they are still hanging around their original nest tree. Four of the owls survived, and were raised together, and all of the hawks and falcons also survived. We also had to be very careful with all of the young birds, so as not to let them imprint on us. We had to feed them sunrise to sunset and teach them how to hunt. This was the tricky part. Many of you know that we buy our “mousesicles” from a vendor, and then thaw them to feed our raptors. We are not in the rat and mouse ranching business, as that is an entirely different area that we don’t have the time and facilities for. Wild owls, hawks and some falcons hunt live rodents, so we had to find live rodents to teach with. We purchased rats from Petco at $4 each, but each owlet and hawk eats 4 -5 rats a day, and the Kestrels each eat one per day, so you can do the math and figure out how expensive this was. We did have a rodent breeder donate live rats to us a couple of times so that helped a great deal! The young hawks, owls and falcons all became “killing machines” and have been successfully released. The owls and the Red Tails were released in their family groups, on two different private properties west of Kalispell. We were able to do a soft release with the Kestrels at our facility, and all flew off like champs. We wish them all well! The Cooper’s Hawk will be ready for release soon, and the Eaglets will be with us a bit longer. We hope to release them at their original nest site. Check back in our next column, and we should have an update for you. You can also watch our website: www.wildwingsrecovery.org or monitor or facebook page for updates.

MWWRC Volunteer Profile:

Cindy Grossman, a native of California, has been involved with wildlife rehabilitation for 14 years. She began her wildlife avocation while a graduate student in Santa Barbara. There, she became a certified rehabilitator, specializing in small mammals, songbirds, and seabirds, and ultimately teaching and mentoring in various aspects of wildlife rehabilitation. Since moving to Montana, she has added raptors to the list and is now one of the volunteers who works handson with the rehabilitation of injured raptors at MWWRC. Particular interests include care of critically injured animals and the raising and release of orphaned wildlife. Cindy initially moved to Montana in 2006 to work as a clinical supervisor/therapist at the Montana Academy, a therapeutic boarding school in Marion. In 2012, she left the academy to begin a private practice in Kalispell, working primarily with teenagers and families. Cindy has her own menagerie of domestic pets – 2 standard poodles and one elusive elderly cat who have come to terms with sharing their space with the wildlife that comes into her home for intensive care. When not volunteering or working, Cindy is tinkering in her garden, finding secret swim holes, hiking local trails with her spoos (standard poodles), creating projects with her increasingly impressive collection of power tools, and becoming acquainted with the local microbrews.

Above photos from left to right: Red Tail Hawk chick admitted to MWWRC in June, after it's nest was blown down during a wind and rain storm. Photo by Kari Gabriel. Cindy Grossman and "Homer," Great Gray Owl. Photo by Sue Haugan.