Changing all the Rules Also Inside... Summer Unplugged Trading virtual fun for the real deal
Adventures in Camping Great getaways close to home
Oh Canada!
Exploring our northern neighbor
MAGIC I july 2011 I 1
Look What’s New In Plastic Surgery – SlimLipo ! TM
The only one of it’s kind in our region. SlimLipo™ from Palomar removes the fat while tightening the skin. It uses a new laser technology that provides a less invasive procedure for fat reduction than traditional liposuction. Using a special patented laser wavelength administered through several tiny incisions, this procedure gently melts fat for removal from your face and neck – with smaller scars, less bleeding, less post-treatment healing and shorter recovery time.
Dr. Matthew Wolpoe, double board certified in Facial Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery and in Ear, Nose, and Throat (Otolaryngology), is specially trained in SlimLipo™.
For more information or to make an appointment for a consultation, call 238-2500, ext. 4653 or 1-800-332-7156 Pre-Treatment
13 Days Post-Treatment
www.billingsclinic.com/facialplastics 2 I july 2011 I MAGIC
SHILOH CROSSING
NOW OPEN!
903 Shiloh Crossing Blvd 281-8414
MAGIC I july 2011 I 3
4 I july 2011 I MAGIC
JULY 2011
Cover Stories
64 The Boomer Boom
by Dan Carter
67 Meet The Boomers
by Katherine Berman
73 Reflections
by Katherine Berman
52
MAGIC • BILLINGS’ CITY MAGAZINE SINCE 2003
Independence Rock: America’s Most Famous Mile Marker
by Jim Gransbery
56
BABY BOOMERS • CANADA • CAMPING • VETERANS • PULITZER
Changing all the Rules
JULY 2011
Also Inside... Summer Unplugged Trading virtual fun for the real deal
Adventures in Camping Great getaways close to home
Oh Canada!
Exploring our northern neighbor
On the Cover
Peace symbol with lapel buttons. Photo by Hemera Technologies
Historic Trails Interpretive Center
75
Not Forgotten
78
by Jim Gransbery
Volunteers of America Veteran Program by Dick Wesnick
Capture the Moment:
The Pulitzer Prize Photographs by Anna Paige
82
83
86
by Julie Green
Separating Billings folklore and fact from fibs and fiction by Brittany Cremer
91
Mom! I’m bored!
Tall Tales
by Craig Lancaster
Summer Unplugged
Wag the Blackberry
Family-Friendly Camping
Adventures
by Allyn Hulteng
MAGIC I july 2011 I 5
JULY 2011
12
The List: Fun, fascinating finds ............................................................11 Profile: Lisa Harmon ....................................................................................12 Giving Back: Billings Head Start........................................................14 Artist Loft: Pat Ritter..................................................................................16 Featured Block: Chic Shiloh Crossing.........................................18 Elements: Wet n’ Wild, Water toys for grownups..........................20 Media Room: Reads, tunes DVDs and technology................22
16
SIGNATURE SECTION
33
Fine Living
Great Estates: The Wright Dream.................................24 Libations: Cool off with a spicy drink..............................33
Epicure: Beguiled by brunch...................................................34 From the Earth:
Montana’s Berry Tasty Treats ............................................................
24
36
44
Travelogue
Beyond Billings: Calgary and Banff........................44 Western Weekender:
48
3 Eateries worth the trip..........................................................................
Montana Perspectives
60
Legends:
38 I’m Just Sayin’: Forever Young .....................................58 Photojournal: Keep on Truckin’.....................................60
58
The Billings Gazette celebrates 125 years......................................
In every issue
Editor’s letter: Keep the Faith...................................................................8 Contributors......................................................................................................9 Seen at the Scene....................................................................................93 DateBook..........................................................................................................95 Last Word: Boomers by the Numbers.............................................98
6 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Why Magic City?
In the early 1880s, immigrants and adventurers came in droves to seek their livelihood on the verdant land along the Yellowstone River. The hastily constructed tents and log cabins made it appear as if Billings materialized overnight – thus earning the name “The Magic City.” Today, as the largest city in Montana, Billings proudly retains its ‘Magic City’ moniker. As for Magic City magazine, we promise to continue our mission to uncover all that is unique and wonderful and changing in this great community ... and we guarantee a few surprises along the way.
july 2011
•
Michael Gulledge
VOLUME 9
•
FREEDOM ISSUE 3
Publisher 657-1225
Editorial
from TOBACCO
for yourself, for your family, for your life
Allyn Hulteng Editor 657-1434 Bob Tambo Creative Director 657-1474 Brittany Cremer Senior Editor 657-1390 Dina Brophy Assistant Editor 657-1490 Evelyn Noennig Assistant Editor 657-1226
Larry Mayer, David Grubbs, James Woodcock, Casey Page, Bob Zellar, Paul Ruhter Photographers
Kyle Rickhoff, Preston Stahley
Online Web Designers
Advertising
Dave Worstell Sales & Marketing Director 657-1352 Ryan Brosseau Classified & Online Manager 657-1340 Bonnie Ramage Sales Manager 657-1202 Linsay Duty Advertising Coordinator 657-1254 Nadine Bittner Lead Graphic Artist 657-1286 MAGIC Advisory Board
Jim Duncan, Brian M. Johnson, Denice Johnson, Nicki Larson, Susan Riplett Contact us: Mail: 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101 editor@magiccitymagazine.com Find us online at our newly redesigned website www.magiccitymagazine.com Find us at various rack locations throughout Billings, including area Albertson’s, Borders Books, Music & Cafe, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Hastings Books, Music & Video, Holiday Stationstores and Gainan’s. Subscriptions are available at the annual subscription rate of $29 (5 Issues). Single copy rate $4.95. Mail subscription requests and changes to address above, ATTN: Circulation Magic City is published five times a year by Billings Gazette Communications Copyright© 2011 Magic City Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written consent is prohibited. Correction In the May 2011 issue of Magic Magazine, the article titled “Fashion for a Cause” contained an error in the caption to the accompanying photo. In that caption, Sam Merchant was incorrectly identified as having autism. In fact, Sam Merchant is not autistic. We are deeply sorry for this error and we apologize to Sam and the Merchant family. In the same article several names were misspelled. The correct spellings are: Paula Kitzenberg, Chelle Feist, and Easter SealsGoodwill (ESGW). Also, Kelly Melius, not Paula Kitzenberg, oversees the PLAY program. We apologize for these errors.
123 South 27th Street • Billings, MT
406.247.3200
www.riverstonehealth.org
MAGIC I july 2011I 7 Department of Public Health & Human Services
FROM THE EDITOR
this issue
Keep the Faith “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I didn’t know your generation was so cool!” I looked up to see my colleague, Brittany, standing in the doorway clutching a stack of proofs she had just finished reading. It was the first draft of the Baby Boomer feature we had been working on for this issue of Magic. “Really,” she continued, “to me, events in the ‘60s and ‘70s were just recent history. It never occurred to me that Boomers didn’t just witness dramatic social change, they made it happen.”
Fast forward
Years passed. Boomers transitioned from youthful activists to adults with families of their own. Many joined the ranks of corporate America and began to enjoy a standard of living unseen in the history of the world. Their rising wealth did not go unnoticed. Marketers of every kind plied their goods and services to these affluent consumers – and Boomers bought in. It was an easy trade – a little idealism for a shot at the American dream. But somewhere along the way, the dream became a frenzied state of consumption. More stuff. Bigger stuff. Generation gap Stuff we can’t really afford. Brittany’s observation made me Luxury became the new standard as the chuckle, but it also gave me pause. Didn’t Photo by David Grubbs merits of sacrifice and service were kicked to everybody realize the profound impact the curb. It wasn’t until the spiraling column young Boomers had on long-accepted social constructs and how their actions continue to echo in contem- of self-indulgence finally imploded that Boomers and everyone else stopped to take a long, hard look around. porary society? Obviously not. Smart, well-educated and barely 30 years old, my associate sim- Back to the future ply saw her Boomer parents as hard-working 8-to-5’ers who volun- Americans, by our nature, are big on blame, and in the afterteered to coach youth sports. Hardly the stuff of revolutionaries. math of the Great Recession, Boomers are an easy target. Already, some sociological pundits have weighed in on their legacy and declared it to be woefully lacking. Forbes magazine recently printed Flashback The 1960s represented a tumultuous period in American his- the results of a survey in which 42% of respondents said the Baby tory. The nation was riddled with controversial social issues, includ- Boomer legacy would be consumerism and self-indulgence, while ing the call for racial equality, women’s liberation and the relaxation just 27% said changing values and ending a war. of social mores. On the international front, our involvement in the Well, if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s not over ‘til it’s over. Vietnam War was growing increasingly unpopular, fueling political Anyone positing that Boomers are has-beens had better be ready for a reality check, because the Boomers I know are just hitting their polarization and a distrust of the establishment. At the center of these events were some 76 million post-World stride. These people proved once before they could rewrite the rules War II babies who were coming of age. Unlike generations before, and change the world. I’m betting they’re ready to do so again. these so called Baby Boomers had been raised in era of relative affluence. They were educated. They were idealistic. They felt empowered. As a cohort, Boomers took action and ushered in an era of tolerance, equality and individual choice. It was a social revolution that forever changed the face of Americana. editor@magiccitymagazine.com
8 I july 2011 I MAGIC
contributors
Darby Ask is a fulltime professional photographer out of Bozeman, Mont., where she graduated with a BFA in photography. Darby is busy behind the camera during the warm months, but as soon as the snow flies you can find her at Bridger Bowl adding snowboard coaching and guiding to her professional activities. Whether you want to know about a photo or playing in the snow, just ask Darby. After all, her last name is Ask. darbyask.com
Dan Carter Born and raised in the Gallatin
Valley, Dan found his journalistic roots at the University of Montana. After graduating, he worked at weekly and small daily papers in Montana and Oregon before returning to Billings. He worked at The Billings Gazette for 14 years and now works in government relations and publications at MSU Billings.
Katherine Berman Originally from Boston, Katherine spent the last few years after college as an editor and freelance novelist. In addition to writing, Katherine enjoys adventuring with her boyfriend, spending time with friends and talking to her family back East. Despite Katherine’s lack of the notorious Boston accent, she would like to reassure citizens of Billings that yes, she is really from Massachusetts.
Jim Gransbery is the retired agricultural and political reporter at The Billings Gazette. Since 2008, he has spent his time teaching, writing magazine articles for Montana publications and working on short fiction. He also looks after the well-being of his wife, Karen, who has made the whole trip possible. Anna Paige is a freelance journalist specializing in lifestyle, music and pop culture features. As an avid supporter of music and culture in the West, Anna pens music features for a variety of publications and maintains “Magic City Kitsch,” a weblog on the Billings music scene. She also operates Pen and Paige, a freelance writing company. Contact her at www.penandpaige.com. KIDS’ COUTURE & GIFTS Featuring stylish brands:
Dick Wesnick spent 35 years as a journalist, includ-
ing 20 years as editor of The Billings Gazette. He has written for such magazines as “American Angler,” “Flyfisherman” and “Trout,” and he has edited nearly two dozen books on Montana, Wyoming and Wisconsin. When he isn’t playing golf, he and his wife, Elaine, care for rescued greyhounds and love to travel.
Petunia Pickle Bottom, Little Giraffe, Oopsy Daisy, Mimi & Maggie, One Kid, Wes & Willy, and more!
502 N 30TH STREET Photos: Jana Graham Photography
MAGIC I july 2011 I 9
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THE HEALING POWER OF EXCELLENCE.
10 I july 2011 I MAGIC
JULY / AUGUST 2011
Fun, fascinating finds we think are great.
On the Road Again... with a Very Large Band
Ahhh ... E ‘delizioso! Indulge in cold, creamy gelato, ice cream’s Italian cousin. Gelato differs from ice cream in that it is lower in butterfat and is not infused with as much air, creating a smooth, dense texture. Paciugo (2695 King Ave.W.) and
Iconic, country music singer/songwriter Willie Nelson will perform with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band at Amend Park on August 3. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets: $49, www.ticketfly.com or 877-435-9849
Rockin’ riverwear The Columbia® Bahama™ fishing shirt is fully ventilated and features two fly-box pockets on the chest with hook-and-loop closures, a build-in rod holder, utility loop and tool holder, and has a UPF rating of 30. Cabela’s - $45
Montico’s (3839 Grand Ave.)
INSIDE YELLOWSTONE It’s like your own Personal Guide Your personal tour guide for $.99 Download this brand new app and enhance your outdoor explorations. The Inside Yellowstone National Park app will act as your personal tour guide, providing you with the latest Park news, photos and videos. Discover trails around geysers, rivers, streams and mountains and learn about the Park’s wildlife. Download at
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iTunes or the Android app store.
MAGIC I july 2011 I 11
By Anna Paige • Photography by Casey Page
Lisa Harmon: Downtown Billings Maven
Lisa Harmon’s path to Downtown Billings began with a cookie. The Executive Director of the Downtown Billings Association and the Business Improvement District, Harmon relocated her family and her cookie business to Billings 18 years ago. “When I moved the company to Billings, I found this was an amazing community to do business in,” Harmon said. “There is a strong small business mentality and initiative here.” Harmon’s cookies – a healthy treat free of additives and preservatives – were created as a response to her mother being diagnosed with cancer. Given no more than six months to live, Harmon’s mother lived four years beyond her diagnosis, a result, Harmon believes, of healthy eating. “It was pretty amazing. We tried to live as naturally as possible and took that into our home,” she said. Harmon was advised to market and sell her cookies, and, “like a crazy person,” she did. Harmon’s cookie business soon took off, and her two sisters joined in the venture. After her mother passed away, Harmon moved west with her husband and two children, bringing the cookie business with her. Her sisters followed shortly after, and together they ran Montana Moon Cookies from Billings for 10 years. “We had a wonderful journey together,” Harmon said. “We were trying to educate people about eating and healthy choices and how it could impact their health. We weren’t preachy or anything, but we sold really good cookies. People would tell us their stories of health and wellness; it was a real honor.” Harmon’s venture into the entrepreneurial world gave her hands-on experience in running a small business. “That is where I understood the power of business,” she said. Harmon is a woman of many hats. In 2005 she stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Billings Improvement District, and two years later into the Executive Director role of Downtown Billings when the positions were merged. Harmon is also on the mayor’s committee on homelessness, and she represents Billings as a board member on the International Downtown Association, where she serves as the membership chair. “Downtowns, we’re all pretty much the same. There are 65 Business Improvement Districts in New York. Guess what they deal with? Trash, cleaning, safety. We all deal with the same things.” Harmon has overseen downtown Billings for six years and has presided over its recent growth, from streetscapes to planters to the growth in business. “It is a really exciting time to be in the position that I am in,” Harmon said.
12 I july 2011 I MAGIC
A merging of roles: There is a lot going on in downtown Bill-
ings. For me to be the director of both, I see the movement of both. The delivery of our service is more efficient, we have more members than we ever have, and I think it is because we are more responsive to the needs of property owners and businesses.
Socially conscious: I’ve brought a little of my personality to
the position. I always say I’m a frustrated Peace Corps volunteer. Wherever I go, I’ll always have a heart for service. I don’t know how a downtown cannot be engaged in issues of diversity and urbanism.
Forward movement: Even though we’re a city of 100,000, our trade area is half-a-million people. People come here searching for that urban center. I want downtown to be clean, safe and vibrant. If our locals are starting to dig our downtown, then our visitors and guests will want to be there as well. What the future holds: I don’t have that long-range plan
mapped out, but I still have a lot to do here. I am so lucky that I get to serve in this job. Every day is different in downtown Billings, and that is such a joy for me.
As local experts, we know how to help you buy or sell your home.
Maya Burton 591-0106
Karen Frank 698-0152
Lindy Schmitt 690-9513
The Larsen Team
Sheila Larsen 672-1130
Larry Larsen 672-7884
Phil Cox 670-4782
Michelle Anderson 208-7128
Cal Northam 696-1606
Rhonda Grimm 661-7186
Mimi Parkes 698-6980
Gail Ball 690-0955
Pat schindele 591-2551
The Patterson Team
Stephanie Patterson 321-0759
Dan Patterson 321-4182
406-254-1550 1550 Poly Drive Billings, MT 59102
www.floberg.com
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter MAGIC I july 2011 I 13
By Laura Tode • Photography by David Grubbs
Billings Head Start Giving youngsters a leg-up on life
This past spring, a sunny corner of the playground at
North Park Head Start was transformed by tiny hands as students at the school planted seedlings they started in their classrooms. Some of the children will go on to kindergarten next fall. Others will return for a second year and help with the harvest. The children’s garden is part of a series of lessons that started about six weeks earlier with the children listening to their teachers read books about peppers, seeds and farming. At the center of Head Start’s preschool curriculum is a focus on early academic intervention for children who come from low-income families, said Kathy Kelker, the executive director of Head Start in Billings.
Serving our smallest citizens
In this area, some 360 students are served by Head Start. All of them come from homes where parents live below the federal poverty level, making less than a combined $22,000 a year. For the most part, Head Start is funded through a federal grant, which covers about 80 percent of operating costs, Kelker said, but the additional 20 percent must be raised locally for the grant to be awarded from one year to the next. This year, Head Start supporters need to raise some $760,000. Several projects are underway including sales of a cookbook, and a carnival was held at the end of the school year. In September, Kathy Kelker, executive director organizers are launching the inaugural Masquerade Ball, which will be held at the Crowne Plaza. The donations will ensure that services will continue at Head Start locations in Billings, Lockwood, Laurel, Joliet, Red Lodge and Hardin.
Fostering our future One of the earliest indicators of academic success is vocabulary, Kelker said. Children from low-income backgrounds usually have less exposure to vocabulary and come to Head Start knowing fewer words than their peers. A strong focus on literacy at Head Start helps the students increase vocabulary and prepare for reading in kindergarten. Students are tested when they enter and when they leave, and teachers see an average 40 percent gain in vocabulary during the course of the year, Kelker said. “We know in reading especially that struggling children make progress after they get to school, but they don’t make nearly the same progress as their well-prepared peers,” she added. In addition to vocabulary and literacy, Head Start students learn
14 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Above: Volunteer Morgan Dugi, 13, works with Eldon Wilson, 8, at Billings Head Start. Right: The lush garden planted by children at Head Start.
basic addition and subtraction, as well as important social skills and health, safety and nutrition. A private grant helped to pay for a music teacher last year, and an ongoing partnership with the Yellowstone Art Museum provides the children with exposure to the arts, Kelker said. Head Start places a high emphasis on parental involvement as well, and parents frequently volunteer in the classrooms. Additional volunteers help with special events, and through business partnerships, some employees take an Masquerade Ball hour off of work to read to the children at Head Start.
A growing need Kelker said that although Head Start serves more than 360 children a year, there are many more who qualify, especially with the downturn in the economy and an increase in unemployment in Billings and the surrounding areas. Some 150 children were turned away last fall, Kelker said. While some communities have funded additional Head Start classrooms through grants and donations, long-term expansion of the Head Start program can only come through an act of Congress and an increase in federal funding, she added.
Mark your calendars for Head Start’s inaugural Masquerade Ball on the easy-to-remember date, 9-10-11. The event, held at the Crowne Plaza, starts at 6 p.m. and includes dinner and live and silent auctions followed by dancing. Masks are required; should you arrive without one, a mask will be provided at the door. Tickets cost $50 per person or $375 to reserve a table for eight. Business sponsors are welcome at various rates, which include promotion and a table. Donations of cash, gift certificates, merchandise and professional services are still needed for the live and silent auctions. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Billings Head Start office at 245-7233.
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MAGIC I july 2011 I 15
By Dina Brophy • Photography by James Woodcock
Pat Ritter Wearable art
Appreciation for intangible gifts we receive as children like – tradition and wisdom imparted – often elude us until much later in life. Such is the case for fiber artist, Pat Ritter. “Twenty years ago I was filling out an assessment form that asked about the influences in my life,” Ritter said. “I thought of my grandmother. I used to sit on her lap in the rocking chair as she crocheted; she bought me my first sewing machine, a little, hand-cranked Singer that I used to make doll clothes. It wasn’t
Pat Ritter works on a deconstructed screen print scarf.
until then that I realized how much of an influence she’d been in instilling a life-long love of fiber.”
Ritter creates vibrant, exciting scarves using several different techniques. She is an innovator in the methods used to make her stunning pieces of wearable art, though she quite humbly eschews that title. To drape one of her scarves around your neck almost feels like an injustice – it’s tempting to display them in your home for a shock of color and a tactile feast. Ritter makes scarves using four primary techniques. Self-taught in the centuries-old craft, Ritter’s crocheted scarves go far beyond the typical. She adds “things,” as she calls them – some abstract and some that resemble flowers – to hang from the scarf, adding playful interest. She also creates exquisite, textural scarves using a method called nuno felting, a felting technique of bonding loose wool fibers into a sheer, openweave fabric, such as silk chiffon or gauze. Another technique used by Ritter is Shibori, a Japanese method of dyeing fabric using 14 different stitching, tying and folding techniques to create what in the West would be called tie-dying, albeit intricate, artful tie-dying. Ritter also uses a process called deconstructed screen printing to fashion unique, multi-dimensional graphic designs on silk scarves.
How did you get started in creating your wearable art? I started out weaving on a loom, and while I enjoyed it, I began getting frustrated with its structure. There was never anything serendipitous in the outcome. I got interested in designing and dying fabric because it’s a process of constant surprises. I was also encouraged by a clothing rep from LA whom I’d had a
16 I july 2011 I MAGIC
relationship with from my days of owning Cactus Rose (2001 – 2007). She saw a design I’d made when I was just fooling around with Shibori, and she urged me in that direction. She’s now a clothing designer, and she incorporates many of my fabric pieces into her garments.
Is there an element of your designs that you deem most essential? It’s color. Absolutely, color. Can you imagine life without it? It’s such an integral part of my life. I love to wear colorful clothes, and I have to temper myself in my house so I don’t have a different color on every wall. It’s my passion.
“Fabric gets into your blood. I can’t imagine my life without it.”
Where do you find inspiration for your color choices? I get much of my color inspiration from nature. I may see a shade of color in a flower petal, or a layer of rocks, or the color of a dog’s or cat’s coat that I want to duplicate. That’s why I mix my own dyes, so I have that flexibility. Sometimes it turns out and sometimes it’s something completely different, but it’s still wonderful.
1.
2.
3.
1] Deconstructed screen printed scarf 2] Crocheted scarves 3] Shibori scarves
Have you had any formal training in the various techniques you use? I took a Shibori class in Whidbey Island, Wash., but other than that, I’m self-taught. Once I get a grasp on the technique and its basics, that’s when “what if” comes into play. There’s always something different I want to try next time.
Of the various methods you use, do you have a favorite? I love the Shibori. The process takes hours and hours to tie and fold each tiny design, then I use a syringe to inject the dye right where I want it…over and over again. Even though it’s very intricate and controlled, the outcome is always a surprise until I untie it.
Do you foresee yourself ever retiring from fiber? I worry about my hands giving out (from arthritis), but fabric gets into your blood. I can’t imagine my life without it.
YOUR CITY. Y YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR UNIVERSITY. Y More Magic City students have discovered the incredible in their home town. It’s time you discovered MSU Billings ! Visit www.msubillings.edu Call 406.657.2888 MAGIC I july 2011 I 17
loh R d.
By Allyn Hulteng
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Rd.
If you haven’t ventured to West Billings lately, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. New restaurants, retailers and specialty service providers are sprouting up in one of the city’s hottest developments. Take a drive – or better yet – ride your bike along one of several trails linking to Shiloh Crossing and discover this hip retail destination.
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King
Ave W.
Blvd ssing h Cro
Specialty shops, eateries & entertainment
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S. Sh iloh
Chic Shiloh Crossing
Ave W
Shilo
King
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1. Montana Cycling and Ski offers a large selection of bicycle and ski gear plus full rental services. The store’s knowledgeable staff can expertly outfit any level of rider or skier, and the service department can repair or service any make or model of bicycle, ski or snowboard. Did we mention the store’s über cool factor? 2. Candy Town USA lays claim to being the largest candy store and
old-fashioned soda fountain in Montana. The store offers hard-to-find and nostalgic candies, promising not only to satisfy your sweet tooth, but also take you on a trip down Memory Lane!
3. City Brew Homegrown in Billings, City Brew has become synonymous with a premier coffee experience. Their slogan, “coffee without compromise,” is a promise, and the delightfully friendly staff make it easy to become a regular.
4. Vincent Arts & Photography is owned and run by Andrew and
Becky Vincent who both studied photography at Brigham Young University. The talented couple pride themselves on providing clients with superior images and excellent customer service.
5. Purl Yarn Boutique is a full-service knitting and crochet shop. The store
features an enormous selection of yarns, needles, hooks and notions as well as books and patterns in a range of prices. Purl is a destination for young people and busy professionals who are seeking a creative outlet. New to knitting? Purl offers small-sized, engaging classes to get you started.
Photo by Larry Mayer
Montana Cycling and Ski Oreck Clean Home Center
Goldsmith Gallery Jewelers 18 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Purl Yarn Boutique
6. China Bistro Savor the taste of the Far East on Billings’ West End. China Bistro, one of the city’s newest Asian cuisine restaurants, serves authentic Chinese dishes as well as American offerings. Beer and wine are also available.
7. Billings Best Yogurt As temperatures climb, head over to Billings Best Yogurt for a cooling dish of frozen yogurt. Personalize this tasty treat by adding one or more toppings of your choosing. Delicious!
8. Accessories Unplugged Find everything you need for your cell phone or mobile device at Accessories Unplugged.
9. Belleza Boutique offers a suite of amazing beauty products
including Bare Minerals, Stila, theBalm, Smashbox and more. Check back often as new lines are arriving.
10. Oreck Clean Home Center At the Oreck Clean Home Center, you’ll find everything you need to get your home cleaner and healthier than ever. In addition to their famous vacuums, you’ll find air purifiers, floor cleaning machines, industrial strength cleaning products and much more. Oreck also has trained professionals to help solve all of your cleaning problems.
11. Huntington Learning Center helps students ages 5 to 17 achieve remarkable improvements in their grades, test scores and self-esteem. The success of Huntington’s program lies in the one-to-one attention given to every child and the expertise of the caring, certified teachers. 12. Goldsmith Gallery Jewelers recently opened a new store on
Billings’ West End. The beautiful and spacious interior provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for shoppers to experience. Owners Scott and Kelly Wickam, along with their knowledgeable staff, offer top-quality jewelry lines as well as custom-created pieces and in-house repairs.
TIRED OF BACK OR NECK PAIN? Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Evaluation for Pain Management • Re-evaluating the Problem • Offering Technically Advanced Solutions • Minimal Access, Maximal Gain
13. McDonalds Digital menu boards, free WiFi, flat screen TVs, computerized training stations and mechanized soda dispensers – this is not your daddy’s McDonalds. In response to an evolving clientele, local restaurateur Patrick Newbury adopted a minimalist, contemporary design scheme for his newest store. But not to worry – your menu favorites aren’t going anywhere.
14. Opening soon, Straw Hat Pizza brings “Genuine California Pizza” to the Rockies. Known for its layered, flaky crust, fresh toppings and light sauce, this mouth-watering pizza harkens back to the original store that opened in 1959 in San Leandro, Calif.
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Glastron Bowrider
Wet ‘n Wild
Water toys for grownups
The poster child of the Glastron family, the GT205 displays prodigious performance, handling and styling the second it hits the water. This 20-footer features a huge, comfortable bow with room to stretch out, an expansive bench seat and walk-thru transom gate. Montana Honda & Marine, $34,000
Sassy Sunglasses This twist on the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer from the Icons line features black on white retro images. Very chic. Vision Optical, $219
Vera Bradley’s signature design comes alive in her eye-catching Yellow Bird design on these fashionable lightweight shades. Vision Optical, $199
Floating Cooler The Intex® Mega Chill floating cooler features six convenient cup holders to complement a 16-quart cooler that will keep up to 24 cans of your favorite summertime beverage ice-cold. Shipton’s Big R, $12
Water Launcher The 36” barrel of the Stream Machine from Water Sports, LLC will allow you to reach the water from the side of your boat, dock or raft to launch and attack up to 70 feet away. Better get two – only one is just not fair. (ages 5 and up) Shipton’s Big R, $20
20 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Wakeboard Whether the water is choppy or like butter, the District wakeboard by Ronix, created for the everyday rider, will soon have you in the air doing flips and tricks with the big dogs. Scheels, $450
Women’s Swimsuit The Aquarius Maxback from TYR showcases XtraLife LYCRA® for a long-lasting fit that resists chlorine five to 10 times longer than traditional spandex swimwear. Scheels, $55
Men’s Board Shorts The Phantom60 Galaxy shorts by Hurley lend a cool vibe to comfortable board shorts styled with a back-zip pocket. Scheels, $62
2814 2nd Ave N 259-3624 MAGIC I july 2011 I 21
By Brittany Cremer
MUSIC
Mission Mountain Wood Band - Reboot 2011 Mission Mountain Wood Band
Reboot, Mission Mountain Wood Band’s latest release, takes listeners back to their countryfolk roots with 11 original songs showcasing their musical prowess.
Take five talented Montana musicians who can all sing lead, the Treasure State and a following of fans from Missoula to Fort Peck and you have the perfect recipe for an album representing an eclectic mix of Bluegrass, Country, Folk and a pinch of Jimmy Buffet. The Mission Mountain Wood Band has been together for close to 40 years, playing in Montana and nationwide. In their formative years, newcomer comedians Steve Martin and Jay Leno used to open for them. Later, the group opened for bands like the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers and the Doobie Brothers. Reboot, Mission Mountain Wood Band’s latest release, takes listeners back to their country-folk roots with 11 original songs showcasing their musical prowess. Christian Johnson’s Bluegrass mandolin stylings complement the incendiary guitar and percussion work of Steve Riddle, Rob Quist and Greg Reichenberg. Each band member takes turns singing lead, reminiscent of singers like Jimmy Buffet, Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard. A Montana and Missoula favorite, the “Stockman’s Bar” track leave listeners giggling, wanting more from the light-hearted quintet. The last track on the CD, “Heart of Gold,” hearkens back to the band’s rock-based roots with searing lead guitar solos. Reboot will surely become a classic for fans and new listeners alike. The precise musicianship, whimsical lyrics and diverse mix of Bluegrass, Folk and classical Country will have you toe-tapping and singing along with the first listen. Mission Mountain Wood Band’s CDs are available at all the concert sites as well as Rockin’ Rudy’s in Missoula, www.rockinrudys.com
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Movie/DVD
Woodstock Diary 1969, Unrated
Famed filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker has created The Woodstock Diary – a fascinating glimpse into the creation of the greatest music festival of all time. This DVD chronicles three days that defined a generation with more than three hours of fly-on-the-wall documentary footage about the creation of the festival as well as footage filmed on-site at the actual event. Live performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, Johnny Winter, Joe Cocker, Country Joe and the Fish, Crosby, Stills and Nash highlight the nostalgic reel.
Web Ed
Docs.google.com Is your suite of usernames and passwords so vast that you frequently password protect YOURSELF from your most important accounts? Quit punching in random options and log on to docs.google.com and save all your usernames and passwords in one safe, secure location. This way, all you have to remember is one password— now write it down.
Book
The Oregon Trail, An American Saga
This book by David Dar provides a remarkable account of life on the Oregon Trail. Based on diaries kept by people who traveled the trail, the book features maps, drawings and personal accounts of life on the trail plus insights into how Native Americans perceived the migration. Experience the dusty, sagebrush-trodden steps of the trail through Dar’s tale, and be sure to read a related story about the Oregon Trail on page 52 in this issue of Magic.
Amazing Shiloh SHOPPING Great CROSSING DINING MAGIC I july 2011 I 23
FINE LIVING
great estates
Craftsman comfort with a view
T he WRIG H
H T DREAM
By Julie Green • Photography by Darby Ask
Finding the perfect home can be a painstaking process. Just ask Wayne and Pam Ask. MAGIC I july 2011 I 25
FINE LIVING
great estates
The couple had been on a quest literally for years to find exactly what they wanted. Each weekend, they loaded their children, Evan and Darby, into the car and drove for hours looking for a property that would meet everything on their wish list. The effort began to feel futile. Then one night, Wayne saw lights twinkling high on a southeast hillside. The family decided to investigate the following weekend. What they found was exactly what they’d been hoping for: a spacious home with stunning views, nestled among the trees on an 80-acre, private parcel of land. Wayne and Pam instantly fell in love with the natural cedar siding, exposed beam construction and multi-level, Frank Lloyd Wrightinspired design. “This was our house. We just knew it,” said Pam. It took the couple more than a year – and multiple sales of the property – before the Asks were finally able to move into the house. That was in 1996. In the 15 years since, the Asks have been hard at work transforming the timbered lodge-like property into the home of their dreams.
Stately craftsman From the outside, the home appears to be somewhat formidable. Perched high above the Yellowstone Valley, the only access to the home is a private, narrow gravel road that winds tightly around several steep coulees until reaching the plateau above. There, an expanse of Ponderosa Pines extends in every direction, neatly trimmed to mitigate fire danger. Trimmed grass, free of natural debris and rock, makes the forest appear almost storybook-like. Rounding the last corner, the Ask home comes into view. Tucked into the lot, the home does not dominate the landscape, yet the incredible viewscape is preserved through enormous banks of windows and a large deck that wraps the entire home. Top: The wrap-around deck features a gazebo, hot tub and stunning views of the valley below. Right: A built-in fire pit is surrounded by comfortable chairs, creating a warm gathering place on cool summer evenings. Far right: The dining room offers a spectacular view of the Yellowstone Valley. On the table is a bronze by Mike Capser titled “Silent Approach.”
26 I july 2011 I MAGIC
“On a clear day, we can see almost to Red Lodge. and we’re up above it, it almost feels like we’re
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MAGIC I july 2011 I 27
FINE LIVING
28 I july 2011 I MAGIC
great estates
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Stepping inside, the home exudes rustic refinement. Vaulted ceilings add an element of spaciousness, while the exposed rafters and massive cross beams bring scale to the great room. Walls of windows allow abundant natural light to flood the interior, adding to the warm, welcoming feel.
Renaissance transformation One of the first changes made by Pam and Wayne was to tear out a powder room located immediately off the front door and replace it with an oversized, interior planter. Downstairs, the couple also converted a family room into a bedroom for Darby. Evan’s room was a bigger problem. Left: One of the first changes made by Pam and Wayne was to tear out a powder room located immediately off the front entry and replace it with an oversized interior planter. Above: A bronze titled “Appeal to the Spirit” by Cyrus Dallin sits on a coffee table in the living room. Behind, four bronzes by Fredric Remington flank the fireplace, and a painting titled “Ben Bear Below” by Glen S. Hopkinson hangs over the mantel. [Continued on page 30]
MAGIC I july 2011 I 29
FINE LIVING
great estates
The architect who originally designed the home was a devotee of Frank Lloyd Wright, who did not believe in large bedrooms,” Pam said. “At first, Evan essentially lived in two bedrooms because they were both so small. Eventually we took down the wall between them and made it into one space.” But it was the addition of a new kitchen five years ago that made the most impact. The Asks hired Bill Tieszen, of Tieszen & Sons, Inc., to be the general contractor. “Our initial intent was to add space that stayed true to the original architecture,” Tieszen said. “We did not want it to look like an addition.” According to Tieszen, the beam structure was a huge factor in augmenting this transition. “When the walls were removed to connect the new space with the old, it was electric.” Ultimately, nearly 400 additional square feet were added to the house. The original slate flooring was removed and beautiful Brazilian cherry hardwood was installed throughout the kitchen, dining room and new family room. In the center of the kitchen, a multi-tiered island topped with gleaming black granite houses a cook top and provides a comfortable seating area. Although the space includes ample storage and work surface, the Asks were careful about making the most of natural light and their amazing views. “We can see the whole city from here,” Pam noted, “and we can have views of five mountain ranges. On a clear day, we can see almost to Red Lodge. Then when fog comes in across the city, and we’re up above it, it almost feels like we’re in heaven.”
Top: According to Bill Tieszen, replicating the exposed beams found throughout the rest of the house was key in ensuring a seamless transition between the new kitchen and the existing rooms. Bottom: The family room provides a warm gathering place for friends as well as a place to display several of Wayne’s prized bronzes.
30 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Sometimes, Simple Is Better.
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Resources: Bill Tieszen - kitchen addition design and construction Mike Southworth - siding and decks Reiley Kelley - fire pit concrete Alan Brester Masonry - fire pit rock wall Gainans Heights Greenhouse - botanical design Mike Capser - interior art and life-sized elk bronze McCall Leisure - hot tub and Homecrest furnishings on deck Montana Wood Floors - wood floors Vinton Construction Inc., Custom Log Home Builders – basement remodel
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FINE LIVING
Cool Off with a Spicy Drink By Stella Fong • Photo by David Grubbs
Ahhhh…. Warm summer evenings spent in the company of friends and family, sharing savory fare and cooling cocktails … with hot peppers? Local bar masters are serving up some unusual, herb and hot pepper-infused beverages. Offer these creative concoctions at your next gathering – or be inspired to create one of your own.
libations
Tarragon Gin and Tonic
Minty Mandarin Ghost Alan Sparboe, executive chef The Granary The basis for this beverage is house-made, pepper-infused orange vodka. Sparboe uses one bottle of Mandarin Vodka and two small, dried ghost peppers, split. Known as a ghost chili or ghost pepper in the United States, the Bhut Jolokia or Naga Jolokia is the hottest naturally grown pepper – nearly 200 times hotter than the jalapeño pepper. Soak the peppers in the vodka for up to 3 hours – any longer and the vodka becomes extremely hot. “The flavor is reminiscent of tropical fruit with a spicy kick that makes you want more,” Sparboe says. 2 ounces ghost pepperinfused Absolut Mandarin Vodka 1 ounce Cointreau 1 ounce Triple Sec 1 ounce simple syrup 6 ounces pineapple juice 4 mint sprigs, broken apart, extra sprigs for garnish Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, Cointreau, Triple Sec, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and mint. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled high ball glass. Garnish with mint leaves. Serves 1
Tom Nelson Thomas Nelson Catering Tom loves this “quickie” drink as a relaxing sip after a long day. 2 ½ ounces Hendrick’s Gin 2 finely-chopped tarragon sprigs, extra sprigs for garnish 4 ounces chilled tonic water Cucumber wedge, for garnish Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin and tarragon. Shake well and strain into ice-filled glass. Garnish with tarragon sprigs and cucumber wedge. Serves 1
Spicy Summer Cooler Reid Pyburn, bartender The Rex 1 part crushed dried red chili pepper 1 part crushed dried shiso or basil leaves 1 part crushed dried oregano leaves ½ part garlic salt Cucumber wedge 2 ounces Effen Cucumber Vodka 2 ounces Hendrick’s Gin Olive juice, to taste Olive stuffed with blue cheese
Mix together chili pepper, herb leaves and garlic salt. Pour into a shallow dish. Wet rim of martini glass with cucumber and dip into herb mixture. Fill cocktail shaker with ice, vodka and gin. Shake well and strain into glass. Add olive juice to taste and garnish with olive. Serves 1
Stella Fong divides her time between Billings and Big Sky where she writes, cooks and teaches. Recently she received a Robert Parker Scholarship for continuing studies at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.
Photo by David Grubbs
FINE LIVING
epicure
Eggs Florentine Ingredients:
Beguiled by Brunch Simple, savory brunch delights
Vegetable oil cooking spray 4 thin slices prosciutto 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 5 cups (5 ounces) baby spinach 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
A portmanteau of breakfast and lunch, brunch is the celebrated hybrid meal beloved by late risers and gourmet foodies alike. But brunch doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious. Try
3/4 cup heavy cream 2/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
pairing this delectable, yet simple recipe with your favorite
Freshly-ground black pepper
cocktail or freshly-brewed cup of joe for a palate-pleasing
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
experience.
4 eggs, at room temperature 2 beefsteak tomatoes, trimmed and cut into 1-inch thick slices Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the prosciutto in a single layer on the baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray and bake until crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely, then crumble into small pieces. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spinach and nutmeg and cook until the spinach has wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. To a small saucepan with 3 inches of water, add 1 tablespoon salt and the lemon juice. Bring water to a simmer over medium heat. Crack an egg in a small bowl, taking care not to break the yolk, and slowly slide into the water. Cook for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes until the white has set. Using a slotted spoon, remove the egg from the water and drain on paper towels. To serve, place a tomato slice on each salad plate and season with salt and pepper. Spoon 1/4 of the spinach sauce over the tomato slice. Top with a egg and sprinkle with the crumbled prosciutto.
Recommended Brunch Beverages: To enliven the senses: City Brew’s Zimzilla coffee blend To sweeten your sipping: Mimosas with freshly-squeezed OJ To heartily and happily quench: Bloody Mary’s with all the trimmings
34 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Steaks, Seafood, Pastas, and More...
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MAGIC I july 2011 I 35
FINE LIVING
from the earth
a
b
c
For Montana locavores, the wild summer berries of our beloved mountains
are the crown jewels of local foods. With their brilliant colors, intense sweetness and nutrient richness, Montana berries have all the benefits of those exotic super fruits from faraway jungles – without the excessive carbon footprint necessary to transport them here. And then, there is the joy of berry picking. Buying berries in a supermarket pales in comparison to the delights of a sunny afternoon in a wild berry patch.
36 I july 2011 I MAGIC
By Dayle Hayes
For more details on Montana edible berries and other plants, visit the online guide at www.montana.plant-life.org. Each presented species has its own page with pictures, a full description and, where applicable, information about edibility, medicinal and poisonous properties.
d
a Chokecherries are, by far, the most
common and abundant wild berries in our part of the world.
In the kitchen: Huckleberries can be used in any berry recipe – that is, if you can resist eating them in the wild. They are especially delicious in pancakes and also on top of ice cream.
Where to find them: Chokecherries grow as shrubs and small trees, in grasslands, along roads and on stream banks in lower mountains and up into the Ponderosa pine forests.
c Wild Red Raspberries are a personal favorite among the berries of the Montana wilderness.
Healing properties: The value of chokecherries was well known to native peoples and European settlers. In fact, they were the most commonly consumed wild fruit in the northern plains and Rockies. For the Blackfeet and Cheyenne tribes, chokecherries were so central to the food economy that they were known simply as “berries.” The bark of the root was also used to ward off colds, fever and stomach problems. However, care should be taken with chokecherry leaves and other plant parts, including pits, since they contain prussic acid (a cyanide compound), which can be toxic to humans, horses and cattle. In the kitchen: Chokecherries make wonderful preserves, jelly and syrup, as well as wine. The amount of sugar and tartness of chokecherries can vary significantly from to season to season, plant to plant and even batch to batch. With chokecherries you never know whether you’ll end up with syrup or jelly. Both of them are delicious on top of pancakes, waffles or ice cream. Chokecherries can also be dried and made into flavorful fruit leathers.
b Huckleberries are the best known of Montana’s edible wild fruits. Unlike their botanical cousins blueberries and cranberries, huckleberries have never been domesticated. Their color ranges from deep crimson to eggplant purple, while their pungent flavor (and odor) are among the strongest in the berry world. Where to find them: Huckleberries grow best at higher elevations on sunny slopes. They ripen in late July through August, depending on the weather and rainfall. Since bears – brown, black and grizzly – are adept at finding the very best berry patches, it’s smart to be on the lookout and avoid picking berries in the early morning or late afternoon. Healing properties: For centuries, Native Americans used huckleberries as both food and medicine. As some have discovered for themselves, ripe huckleberries can have a strong laxative effect, while huckleberry juice is said to heal bleeding gums and mouth sores. Since huckleberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, this may be true. The latest research into blueberries also shows that this family of fruits may contain the same disease-fighting polyphenols as those found in red wine.
Crreating eatiing ngg
Beautiful Landscapes one yard at a time
Where to find them: After the 1996 fire at East Rosebud Lake, wild raspberries flourished in the newly-burnt areas. Their rapid re-growth was a reassuring sign that the hillsides would return to their previous glory. They have – and we have had some spectacular raspberry years, sometimes with enough berries to make a pie or cobbler after feeding our faces along the trail. Healing properties: Like the other berries, wild raspberries were extensively used by Native American tribes, as a medicine, food and ingredient for pemmican, a type of early-American beef jerky and fruit roll-up combination. Not surprisingly, pemmican with berries was highly prized and used mostly for weddings and other ceremonial purposes. The leaves and roots were prized for their anti-inflammatory, decongestant and stimulant properties, and were thought to have agents that promoted healing for diseases of the eye and labor contractions in pregnant women. In the kitchen: If you do get any wild raspberries home, they can be used in any way that you would use their cultivated cousins. Their delicate flavor is perfect sprinkled on a salad of baby greens, especially baby spinach. Nutritionally, they are an excellent source of both vitamin C and fiber. They also contain 10 times more antioxidants than broccoli or tomatoes, including some unique compounds that are not found in any other produce items.
d Wild Strawberries are sweet, succulent small, delicate versions of their garden cousins. They ripen earlier in the summer (late June–early July) than other berries, but can be easy to miss when hiding under their wedge-shaped leaves.
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Where to find them: Often the best way to spot wild strawberries is by their creeping runners. Strawberries grow almost anywhere, including forests, fields, forest edges, trailsides, roadsides and streamsides. In the kitchen: If you can get to the elusive wild strawberries before the forest creatures do, they are scrumptious eaten immediately – especially when they have been warmed by the summer sun. If somehow you hit the berry jackpot and have enough to take home, they are wonderful sprinkled on fruit salad, mixed with other berries as a dessert or put on top of ice cream.
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MAGIC I july 2011 I 37
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
legend s
125 years later...
Still the Source Billings’ iconic newspaper celebrates its 125th year of
bringing journalistic excellence and community service to the region. From its humble beginnings as a one-sheet flyer to providing news in print, online and via mobile technology, this small-town paper has evolved into Montana’s media giant .
BY GAIL HEIN
Photo by Larry Mayer
Right : Circa 1895, The Gazette was located on the corner of Montana Avenue and North 27th Street. Above: The latest addition is The Gazette’s distribution and insert division, completed in 2006.
The Gazette by the Numbers
1 publisher 2 states covered – Montana and Wyoming 3+ people on average read each copy 3 - story-high press prints 3 editions every day: Local, State and Wyoming 4 - color photo process 5 ways to get news: print, online, billingsgazette.com, mobile, podcasts and video
6 full-time photographers 7- days-a-week operations 21 reporters 24 - hours-a-day activity 200+ employees 450 carriers and bundle haulers 55,000 visitors log onto billingsgazette.com each day 38,000 daily copies 46,000 on Sunday MAGIC I july 2011 I 39
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
legend s
America was a happening land in 1885. The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor; the first appendectomy was performed in Iowa; Good Housekeeping Magazine began to appear on parlor tables; and the burgeoning Northern Pacific Railroad settlement known as Billings, Montana Territory, welcomed The Billings Gazette. One more thing – the building housing the Gazette Publishing Company burned down a few hours after opening for business.
1.
Despite the inferno, the first edition of The Billings Gazette hit the streets on May 3, 1885. It was a single-sheet newspaper with printing on one side, which was typical of the era. Printing processes had not changed much since German businessman Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the late 1400s. Rising from the ashes, The Billings Gazette spent the next 125 years becoming the largest newspaper in Montana and northern Wyoming. Geographically speaking, it is also one of the most widely distributed newspapers in the nation. Four hundred fifty independent carriers and bundle haulers deliver to 120 towns over a 105,000 square-mile area.
Goodbye Gutenberg The invention of the telegraph in 1844 had already transformed print media by transmitting information in minutes. In the next 150 4.
2. 3.
1] Circa 1895, the large building on the corner of Montana Avenue and North 27th Street was a bank and later became the home of The Billings Gazette. 2] For a time, The Gazette Journal was housed in the Odd Fellows Hall on North 27th. The site is now a parking garage. 3] Pressmen work on the newspaper’s three-story press. 4] Early in The Gazette’s history, printers had to hand select individual letters from cases of type to set lines of printing.
40 I july 2011 I MAGIC
“I am excited about new opportunities with digital solutions including online, mobile and eReader devices. I think it is a terrific time to be in the communication business.� —Michael Gulledge Publisher, Billings Gazette
years, information-sharing methods underwent an almost unimaginable mutation to today’s digital and laser printing technology and up-to-the-minute Internet news via the ‘device’ in your pocket. “I was accepted at the Gazette as an apprentice machinist in 1963,� recalls Lloyd Lorash, who spent nearly four decades with the paper. “A high school education plus aptitude tests were required to enter the program.� The Gazette building then stood at North 27th and Montana Avenue. By the time Lorash retired in 2000, his job was called System Support Technician. The learning curve was about as high as Mount Everest for transitioning from hot metal Linotype – meaning quite literally one line of type at a time – as Lorash was first trained (this process was left behind when the Gazette moved to its new building in 1968), to offset printing and then the leap to computerized, digitized methods in use today. “Overwhelming,� he emphasized. “Absolutely overwhelming for all of us.� He called the software of the day “experimental, patchy and primitive.� In retirement, he admires the hyper-efficiency of Windows 7 on his home computers, commenting wryly, “If only we’d had this back then!�
Getting the lead out In the face of competition from radio and television, efforts to increase readership included extraordinarily creative approaches. Publisher George D. Remington (1976 – 1985) laughingly remembers Circulation Manager Rollie Harris, who discovered there was value in used batteries. “Harris would take them in trade for subscriptions and sell the lead to recoup the cost,� Remington said. When farmers griped that a month’s Gazette cost as much as a bushel of wheat, the promotion manager offered to swap. “Soon the front entrance to the Gazette was constricted to a narrow tunnel lined with bags of wheat,� Remington chuckled. “We
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Smart Toys for Smart Kids MAGIC I july 2011 I 41
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
legend s
the “window on the world” he found in the news business. In a February, 2009 interview for Magic Magazine, he described to this Parade of characters writer the saddest story he ever submitted: “The world is full of unforgettable people and it a plane crash in the Beartooth Mountains seems that the newspaper office was an attraction,” near Red Lodge where seven New Yorkers mused Ruth McAtee, circulation office supervisor, perished. Working with a local shortwave 1963-1988. “Lucky was one of them – a street radio operator, Bragg patched through to vendor.” Large, jovial, gruff-voiced Lucky would pick the rescuers on the scene. Picked up by the up his daily papers right off the press. “Then he headed Associated Press, his coverage garnered a to my desk to pay with a handful of coins and have a For decades Bragg was Pulitzer Prize nomination. Engaged with life visit. On his way out he chatted with all the employees,” one of the city’s most to the very end, Bragg passed away in April, she continued. recognizable figures, 2009 at the age of 90. “Then there was the Lady of the Evening who defined by his trademark Publisher Mike Gulledge embraces the worked our street. She would use our office window for beard and mustache, past with a journalistic eye boldly trained on a mirror, push up her breasts and smile. She was never dashing wardrobe and the far off future, and radiates optimism. around in the winter. Our boss told us not to laugh at limitless curiosity. “The Billings Gazette has been delivering Emmy, since she had a better paying job than we did. information to customers for 125 years, He didn’t see any of us going south for the winter,” and I am thrilled about the opportunity McAtee reminisced. to continue our mission of being the leading local news provider in the region. Our stories and advertising are read and viewed by more people Addison Bragg: Gazette icon/Billings icon The Billings Gazette hired Addison Bragg in 1950, printing his than ever before. I am looking forward to continuing to improve the submissions of hard news, features and edgy pieces for the next 56 years. Billings Gazette print version and excited about new opportunities with “His Bragg about Billings developed into Bragg about everywhere and digital solutions including online, mobile and eReader devices. I think it is everything…”. (George D. Remington, publisher, The Billings Gazette, a terrific time to be in the communication business,” he affirmed. Expect The Billings Gazette to land on your doorstep, splash across 1985) For decades Bragg was one of the city’s most recognizable figures, defined by his trademark beard and mustache, dashing wardrobe and your computer screen, scroll over your mobile device(s) and soon glide across your iPad, always putting the “Extra!” into the “Read all about it!” limitless curiosity. Wordmeister Bragg’s chronicles were studded with gratitude for for a good many tomorrows. sold it to a local grain elevator.”
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42 I july 2011 I MAGIC
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I N
A
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Quality of Life By Karen Powers, The Goodman Group
Bringing in supportive services or having family provide care is a choice people make so they can stay at home for as long as possible. Often, people cope way too long at home – and pay a price that becomes an emotional, spiritual and physical toll on the caregiver as well as the cared for. Resentments may build and erode relationships; quality of life diminishes as the world of a home bound person can become very small and isolated. Quality of life at age 89 is different than our 40’s, 60’s or even 70’s. As we age, our energy reserves are not what they used to be; late night parties, watching the grandkids for the weekend, gardening, keeping house, or even fixing a simple meal starts to lose their appeal because it takes so much out of us. But, needing extended care services beyond what can be provided at home does not have to equate to loss. There may be limitations on what you can do – but we know the desire is still there! Our care structure and Life Enrichment focus is based on quality of life: a sense of purpose, participation, stimulation and feeling loved and significant amongst family and friends. At any one community we have 100-200 people taking on the responsibility of care and generating quality of life. How can one caregiver visit a day compete with that? There is a nutritious meal on the table, you can garden when you feel like it, enjoy Happy Hour, actor’s theater, church fellowship, veteran’s clubs, and family and friend visits… how can being home alone compete with that? However, in our communities, we accept that we are not the first choice over staying at home. One day, the benefits of choosing a better quality of life will outweigh the benefit of keeping someone at home. When you realize that, you’ll be making the right choice.
See this article and more resources and news on montanasenior.wordpress.com
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MAGIC I july 2011 I 43
TRAVELOGUE
beyond billings
OH calgary and banff
CANADA! A trip to the Canadian Rockies is a sojourn into
superlatives. Before you go, you may find yourself scoffing at phrases tossed about to describe this area – the world’s finest scenic drive, the world’s most spectacular journey or the world’s best national park – because we’ve got some wonderful world-class scenery right here in Montana. But, immersed in the midst of Canada’s fantastic vistas, brilliant skies, emerald-turquoise waters, pristine mountain lakes, majestic rivers and waterfalls, ancient glaciers, wildlife and wildflowers, mountains that fade off into the misty distance, painterly alpine sunrises and sunsets, and incredible icefields, you just might find yourself agreeing with some of these superlatives. It’s the kind of scenery that makes you rub your eyes and look again – just to see if it’s really real.
BY KAREN KINSER
Left: Banff Avenue with Cascade Mountain rising from the valley floor in the background.
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TRAVELOGUE
beyond billings 1.
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Calgary At about 540 miles from Billings, Calgary would make a great first stop on your Canadian journey. Spend the night in one of this vibrant city’s luxurious accommodations and do some sightseeing the next day. Try the Calgary Zoo, a trip to Chinatown, a visit to one of Calgary’s many art galleries and museums, or tour through the Heritage Park Historical Village. Also known as “Nashville of the North,” Calgary offers many venues for two-steppin’ to some great country music. And, if you happen to visit between July 8 and 17 this year, you could attend some of the extravaganza of the Calgary Stampede.
Banff National Park About 90 minutes away from Calgary, via the Trans-Canada Highway, is the wonderland of Banff – Canada’s oldest national park. It encompasses more than 2,500 square miles, hosts four million visitors annually and is a designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site for its incredible scenery. The Park traces its history to 1883 when Canadian Pacific Railway workers discovered hot springs, and these became the foundation for the Park’s establishment in 1885. The Canadian Pacific Railway continued to chart the early course for both the town of Banff and the Park, as the railway
The YAM is proud to display an an assortment of historical works in Splash of Paint, Flash of Steel: Selections from the Collection of William I. Koch On display for a short time... See for yourself before it’s too late!
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was instrumental in building luxury hotels and attracting tourists to fill them.
Banff and Lake Louise
The town of Banff, within the Park, is a charming mountain community that provides a warm welcome to tourists from all over the world, many of whom choose Banff as their home base to explore the Park. Accommodations range from campgrounds to condos and hostels to hotels, including the incredible Fairmont Banff Springs resort that was designed after a Scottish Baronial Castle and features golfing, a spa, and world-class cuisine along with the world-class views. The town of Banff also
4.
rent a canoe and paddle across) for spectacular views of the lake and the Chateau from the western end of the lake. Several other trails in the area include hikes to Lake Agnes Teahouse or the Teahouse at the Plain of Six Glaciers (tea and light meals are served at each), Little Beehive, and Big Beehive. About a 15-minute 1] Calgary is a popular destination for winter sports, ecotourism and home of drive from Lake Louise, the world-renowned Calgary Stampede. 2] The drive to the Columbia Icefield has been rated one of the world’s great scenic highways. 3] The glaciers at the you’ll find the incredhead of the valley grind up limestone into a fine silt that gives the lake its blue ible Moraine Lake – an color. 4] The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a historical and posh resort. almost luminescent turquoise color – within the Valley of the Ten features a vibrant arts and culture scene with Peaks, where sightseeing, photography, hiking galleries, museums and a summer arts festival and canoeing are all available. Be sure and stop that includes more than 200 events throughout at the Johnston Canyon (between Banff and the summer. A wide array of dining and shopLake Louise) for an amazing hike to two main ping tempts visitors to Banff, along with acwaterfalls – with lots of smaller gushing ones in tivities that include walking tours, carriage and between – and all connected by those beautiful trail rides, a soothing soak at Banff Upper Hot turquoise-colored stream waters. Other stunSprings or even a gondola ride to the summit of ning stops and hikes to consider include Lake Sulphur Mountain for spectacular vistas. Minnewanka, Vermillion Lakes, the trails on The village of Lake Louise is a lovely alpine Tunnel Mountain and a scenic drive through hamlet, within in the Park, that offers lodging, the Bow Valley Parkway. restaurants and shopping, and also makes a Be sure to make time for driving the specgreat home base. But even if you’re not plantacular Icefields Parkway – rated by National ning on staying there, the Lake Louise area is Geographic as one of the world’s great scenic a must-see stop. The lake itself is fed by glacial highways – to the Columbia Icefield. Mountain meltwater which results in emerald and aquagoats, sheep and caribou are often seen along marine hues that shimmer in a bowl beneath this route, along with vistas of river valleys, glacial-clad mountains. Another incredible Athabasca Falls, hiking trails, glaciers and the and historic hotel – the Chateau Lake Loumilky-turquoise beauty of Peyto Lake. Stop at ise – towers on the eastern shore of the Lake. the Columbia Icefield Interpretive Centre to Like the Fairmont Banff Springs resort, this learn more about the Athabasca Glacier, arChateau was built by the Canadian Pacific range for a tour on an Ice Explorer or with a Railway to encourage tourism and continues guide, walk across the Glacier, have a meal or its encouragement with amenities such as a spend the night. spa and health club and a variety of restaurants Waterton Glacier Getting There that feature such items International Peace as local Alberta beef, Park From Billings, head north on Route seared guinea hen and In 1931, the Rotary Clubs of Al87 to Great Falls. Then take I-15 Mediterranean vegberta and Montana proposed the into Alberta, Canada. Continue into etable ravioli. You can formation of this joint Park by Lethbridge. From Lethbridge, head even enjoy an afternoon uniting Waterton Lakes and Glawest to Fort McLeod and then turn of an authentic British cier Parks, to promote peace and north on AB-2 to Calgary. From tea along with dazzling goodwill between nations. A trip Calgary, take the Trans-Canada views. into this stunning area of canHighway directly to Banff (it’s about
Must-see stops and hikes While at Lake Louise, be sure and take the easy shoreline tour (or
85 miles). If you plan to visit Waterton-Glacier on your return, take Highway 93/95 out of Banff, which will take you to Waterton. There are also regular flights from Billings to Calgary (though none are non-stop).
yons, mountains, wildlife, grasslands and prairie – along with a visit to the world-renowned Prince of Wales Hotel – would make a fine ending to an incredible trip.
A Shining Example of Quality
MAGIC I july 2011 I 47
TRAVELOGUE
western weekender
Eateries With the convenience of modern-day life, it seems that dinner can be found around every corner. But for the epicurious, there are several lesser-known locales worth the drive for a sampling of something special, savory and surprising. By Virginia Bryan
The Edgar Bar Aims to Please
My sister, Barb, and I thought we’d have no trouble getting a table at the Edgar Bar early on a Friday night, but the waitress looked worried when we asked for a table for two. We both laughed at the sign reading “This is not a fat-free eating establishment.” We were seated near the antique bar alongside the front window, under a tattered Tombstone Pizza sign. Barb leaned over to a man she knew at the next table. “Hey! What brings you to Edgar?” Getting there: “The food,” he replied. He To get to the Edgar wasn’t kidding. Bar, take Highway 312 The Helzer family bought out of Laurel and turn the Edgar Bar about a decade ago; south on Highway they’ve have made it their mission 310. Turn left off the to serve good food and Coors beer highway at the Edgar to the farmers and ranchers of the sign. The Edgar Bar Clark’s Fork Valley. is on the left, just past “We all live in the houses the post office. If you surrounding the bar,” joked see a pasture full of Morgan Helzer, one of three cattle on the right, daughters in the family venture. you’ve gone too far.
Succulent steaks, laid-back levity at Edgar Bar. Photo by Paul Ruhter.
“We like working together as a family.” Barb and I passed on the gizzard appetizers and ordered the evening special, a sirloin and jumbo prawn combination. Wearing an “I Know Where the Hell Edgar Is!” T-shirt, our server asked if we wanted fries, hash browns or baked potato. “Are the fries homemade?” Barb asked. “If you want them to be,” said the server, likely one of the Helzer sisters. Clearly the Edgar Bar aims to please. “Fries, of course,” Barb said. Barb liked the whole grain bread loaf with whipped butter as we waited for our salads. There were no variations from the
Worth the Trip quintessential Montana steakhouse salad: iceberg lettuce, a peel of carrot for color and two rings of a red onion. Brenda Helzer makes the tangy, chunky bleu cheese dressing in big batches and customers often leave with pints in hand. One sirloin was plenty for the two of us and we each got a prawn, cooked in the Edgar’s special batter and ample homemade fries. But it was the red cocktail sauce with the horseradish kick that stole the show. We dipped our well-trimmed medium rare steak, the fries and the prawns in the sauce. By the time we left, all but two of the tables were full and the bar was lined with cowboy hats and baseball caps. Beer flowed freely. The street out front was lined with Yellowstone and Carbon County and Cody, Wyo. cars. A newly-built patio on the west side of the premises promises to be a summer hot spot.
Nostalgia on a Platter at the Airport Inn Back in the days before McDonalds, Wendy’s and Subway, Miles City lacked a place where families could go for a night out. Then Tom Pettigrew bought a pizzeria on the hill going to the airport. Tom, a WWII tail gunner, loved all things aviation. He used his extensive collection of WWI and WWII memorabilia, including model airplanes and pictures, to decorate the café. He added burgers, fries, onion rings and his own original creation, steak fries, to the menu. “Dad kept it casual. He wanted fresh menu ingredients and finger food,” said Peggy Hill, who’s continued the family business about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. She’s stayed true to her father’s vision. “He came up with the idea for a family platter, heaped with deep Getting there: fried shrimp, chicken and steak, onion Take I-90, 139 miles rings and French fries, carrots and to the first exit into celery.” Family platters are served Miles City from on large aluminum pizza pans. “My Billings. Go past brothers and sisters and I peeled a lot the giant cow on of potatoes and onions while we were the right and cross growing up.” the Tongue River. Tom had a good idea. He kept Turn left on 7th it simple and focused on the social Avenue and follow atmosphere. the road up the hill. My family and I visited the Airport Turn left at the fullInn on Mother’s Day. Tables were sized airplane on filled with families, many multithe light pole. generational. It struck me as the kind
Airport Inn’s family finger steak platter. Photo by Patricia Ryan.
of place with strong emotional memories that keeps families coming back. While kids are occupied in a game room, adults visit across tables. Young dinner guests get an ice cream cone, on the house, after every meal. Our server was exceptionally pleasant. She greeted me with a “Happy Mother’s Day!” I liked her instantly. Our salads weren’t fussy – simple iceberg lettuce served on Styrofoam plates. Utensils were plastic. Even in the drizzle of mid-May, the place had a festive, picniclike atmosphere. My son, Wyatt, ordered a burger. Peggy told me ground round is made daily, as are the French fries, onion rings and other specialty items. Wyatt, the family burger aficionado, pronounced his burger good, but he liked the homemade fries the best. Dan liked the onion ring batter. The combination pizza we ordered wasn’t over-loaded; ingredients were fresh and served on a thin, crispy crust. My dinner was half-price because it was Mother’s Day. A back room for larger parties is called the “briefing room.” In pilot parlance, it’s where pilots file flight plans, get weather information and talk to others about traffic and weather patterns. I’d guess that not much happens in Miles City that doesn’t get filtered through the “briefing room.” Tom’s friends and family acquaintances still bring in aviation memorabilia to add to the décor, replacing much of what was lost in a tragic 1992 fire. The parking lot was full of vehicles from Garfield, Valley, Powder River and surrounding Montana counties. I’d
MAGIC I july 2011 I 49
TRAVELOGUE
western weekender
happily go back to the Airport Inn for a beer and pizza in early summer to sit on the patio and gaze at the green prairie and the Yellowstone River.
Keep on Grilling at the Cowboy Bar Captivating company at the Cowboy Bar. Photo by Paul Ruhter.
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The next stop on my Magic eateries tour was the Cowboy Bar and Supper Club in Fishtail, located on a sharp corner of Highway 419 that arcs like the tail of a trout pulled from the Rosebud River. “Is this the place where Wyatt ate the clam chowder?” asked my daughter, Ellie, when we pulled into the parking lot. Several years ago, we’d come down from a week-long camping trip at Horseman Flats campground above the Stillwater Mine. Wyatt was about 5 years old; his capacity for the Cowboy’s clam chowder seemed endless. Nothing stimulates an appetite like mountain air, narrow, rocky switchbacks and an encounter with a campground bear. The Cowboy is a popular stop for hikers, rafters, fisherman and locals. The Cowboy’s provenance extends back to the early 20th century when a hotel and eating establishment hosted visitors to Getting there: the Stillwater Valley. Prohibition Take I-90 west to closed its doors for a time and Columbus…43 miles a fire in 1980 burned it to the to Exit 408. Follow the ground. Undeterred, the Cowboy signs out of Columbus keeps on grilling. to Absarokee and then In the dining room, cedar head to Fishtail, where plank walls are adorned the West Rosebud with local artwork. Red and Valley opens in front white checked tablecloths are of you. The Cowboy is illuminated by horseshoe-shaped on the right, before the wall lamps. Vestiges of Easter, fishtail turn. Watch for pastel paper lanterns, bird houses, the pickups. butterflies and white lights remained on a half wall that separated tables. Ellie and I were at the Cowboy for an early lunch. She had the – you guessed it – homemade fries. They were as good as the ones at the Airport Inn and the Edgar Bar. We heard the potatoes crackle when they hit the hot fryer soon after our server turned in our order. I had the cowboy stew and steak bites. The cowboy stew was a tasty mix of fresh celery, tomato, onion, potato, carrot, ground beef, red and pinto beans. Served all weekend, it is the Cowboy’s most popular homemade soup. Clam chowder runs a close second. My steak bites were grilled to perfection. A generous pile of steak, about the size of cheese squares you’d find on a buffet table, they sizzled in juice on the vintage metal and black steak plate. The server didn’t ask me how I wanted them cooked. They just know. The Cowboy Bar, like the Edgar, serves only certified Angus beef. Its bacon burger was among the top five in the 2008 Magic magazine “cheeseburgers in paradise” competition.
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MAGIC I july 2011 I 51
Rising out of the prairie like a huge creature from th e anci ent sea , Independence Rock was a mile-marker for thousands of emigrants seeking religious freedom, free land or a more prosperous way of life in the two decades before the Civil War. The granite natural monument signaled to the pioneers their journey was approaching half way; a few days later crossing South Pass, they could then seek their destiny in Oregon, California or the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Camping at the rock by the Fourth of July was reason for celebration and meant the trip could be completed before snow storms blocked their way through the mountainous passes.
by jim gransbery Painting: “Wagon Train at Independence Rock� by William Henry Jackson
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Courtesy of the National Park Service.
Independence Rock rises 128 feet above the Sweetwater River. It is 1,900 feet long and 700 feet wide. A path of almost a mile circumnavigates the granite mass.
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1.
2.
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1] Independence Rock (Courtesy of James Krumm, Casper College) 2] Hundreds of names remain on Independence Rock where pioneers recorded their journey west. (Courtesy of James Krumm, Casper College) 3] An annual re-enactment takes place to commemorate the pioneers’ journey west. 4] Historic trail at South Pass,Wyo. (Photos 3
3.
and 4 courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management.)
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Pillars of promise Approximately 53 miles southwest of
Casper, Wyo., Independence Rock became the graffiti wall for the emigration road that began at various jump-off points on the Missouri River, converged at Fort Kearny in Nebraska, followed the Platte and North Platte Rivers to Fort Caspar (c.q.), then across South Pass to the dispersion point of Parting of the Ways near present day Farson, Wyo. The convergent path was “the first great American superhighway,” said Alex Rose, an interpreter at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper. An estimated 40,000-50,000 trekkers left their names on the rock, most of them written in axle grease which time and elements erased. Yet, hundreds of names remain, chiseled into the granite like a tombstone which it became for those who perished – many from cholera – on the trail. Before the construction of ferries and a bridge, emigrants approaching Fort Caspar on the south side of the North Platte River faced a daunting challenge: ford the river, more than 800 feet of stream, with livestock, covered
wagon and families. “Geography forced everyone to cross the river,” Rose said. “South Pass was the key to western migration as the Rocky Mountains were a wall to the West, especially the Northwest.” South Pass, mile 914 on the Oregon Trail, is a broad, level and gradual climb to 7,550 feet. It was first crossed by a white man, Robert Stuart, in 1812. The Crow Indians showed him the way. When the great migrations began in 1841, it became the most traveled route as some 500,000 men, women and children crossed its summit.
History abounds Economic depression in 1837 and 1841 was an incentive to move, but the desire by the U.S. government to settle the Northwest before the British made the land free to whoever would work it. Gold discovered in 1848 in California would draw the fortune seekers, while flight from religious persecution was the motive for the Mormons. The trails were part and parcel of the Manifest Destiny of the United States to inhabit the continent, but “it was catastrophic to Native Americans,” Rose said. “It destroyed an indigenous culture.” Independence Rock rises 128 feet above
the Sweetwater River. It is 1,900 feet long and 700 feet wide. A path of Center,” she said. Erin and husband, Alex, came to Casper about three and a almost a mile circumnavigates the granite mass. It was named by fur half years ago to guide visitors through the history of the region. Spending a weekend in Casper and exploring the two historical trappers who camped there on the Fourth of July 1824. To make Independence Rock, travelers had to cross the North facilities plus a drive out to Independence Rock can be a mini-vacation Platte at present-day Casper, Wyo. The Mormons built a ferry there in and a historical education for adults and children alike. The museum June 1847. The Fort Caspar Museum on the south bank has a full-sized is open daily through the summer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. replica of the original ferry; it carried only the wagons, livestock had to swim the stream. In the fall/winter of 1859/60, Louis An estimated The Trails Guinard built a bridge and trading post at the site. The bridge was 1,000 feet long and 17-feet40,000-50,000 California Trail (1841-1868) wide. Twenty-eight log cribs, built at low From 1849 to mid-1850s it carried 250,000 migrants trekkers left infected with “gold fever” to California. It follows water, filled with rock and gravel, supported the same path through Wyoming as the Oregon and the structure. Remains of the cribs are visible their names on Mormon Trails. today from the reconstructed section of the the rock, most of Oregon Trail (1843-1868) bridge. It stretched 1,932 miles from Independence, Mo. to The Platte Bridge Station became a one them written in Oregon City in the Willamette Valley. Its tracks are company military post in 1862. It was later visible and accessible. axle grease the site of Fort Caspar, named after Lt. Caspar Mormon Pioneer Trail (1846-1868) Collins, who was killed in battle with Sioux, which time and Running 1,297 miles, the trail links Nauvoo, Il. to Salt Cheyenne and Arapaho in July 1865. Lake City. The Wyoming stretch was covered in 1847 elements erased. In 1936, Fort Caspar was reconstructed on by Brigham Young leading 148 people and 72 wagons from the Missouri River to Salt Lake. original foundation sites using sketches made Yet, hundreds of by Lt. Collins. The museum opened in 1983, Pony Express Trail (1860-1861) names remain, and offers exhibits on the prehistory, Indian The legendary mail route lasted 18 months until the first transcontinental telegraph was completed in cultures, the emigrant trails and the local chiseled into the October 1861 ending the need for the Pony Express. history of the Casper area, explained Erin The Guinard trading post was a relay station. granite. Rose, curator of education. “It is complementary to the Interpretive
Thanks Lisa, from your friends and coworkers, for your talent, energy and enthusiasm
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n o m r a H
Executive Director Downtown Billings Alliance Board of Directors International Downtown Association Immediate Past Chair and Board Member of the Mayor’s Committee on Homelessness Leadership Team, Billings Police Department Crime Prevention Leadership Council MSU-B Urban Institute Ad Hoc Committee Leadership Team, College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning, Montana State University Honors and Awards: Livable Communities Award 2008, State of Montana, American Institute of Architects 2008 Recipient, Merit Award, Leadership and Management of the Framework Plan, IDA
MAGIC I july 2011 I 55
Historic Trails Interpretive Center
Experience the Journey BY JIM GRANSBERY
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Sharing the experiences of pioneers as they crossed the Great Plains toward the lush valleys of the West presents a stark contrast to the age of hitech. They did not carry cell phones or iPads. They carried their courage and hope for a better life. Their wagon wheels carved ruts in the prairie – a visible reminder more than 160 years later.
One of the neglected benefits of living in the
West is that its history is right out the front door. One can touch it. The artifacts of the emigration that populated North America’s western lands are proximate and enlightening.
What was it like to pull a Mormon handcart
of 160 pounds hundreds of miles to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake? How scary was it to cross the swollen North Platte River in a covered wagon before ferries or bridges? What did one take: a decision between wants and needs?
Much of the history of the West is enshrouded
in myth created by pulp fiction, movies and television. But factual accounts by participants relate an authentic drama. The role of historians is to accurately relay those stories. In that vein “we are gleaning the truth from the myth,” says Alex Rose, interpreter for the Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyo., that provides a hands-on, interactive arcade. It is not Disneyland, but a weekend in Wyoming’s heartland is educational and fun. One can experience the migration along the historic trails of the Mormons seeking religious freedom, pioneers looking for free land or gold, or the route of the Pony Express. Sitting on the bluff above the city’s north side, the center, operated by the Bureau of Land
I am more than just a haircut...
Management, has seven interactive, hands-on galleries that illustrate those journeys between 1840 and 1869. The transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869, put an end to the treks of the wagon trains. The trails were essentially the paths that Native Americans used for thousands of years. They became known as the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. They converged on Fort Caspar
I am family. I am loved.
where crossing the North Platte River from its south bank to the north put them on an easier route to Independence Rock and South Pass. National HIstoric Interpretive Center is at 1501 N. Poplar St. in Casper, Wyo. Take I-25 to exit 189. The Center is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through late September. For more information go to www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/ NHGTIC or call 307-261-7788.
MAGIC I julyAvailable 2011 I 57 Appointments Now
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
i’m just saying
forever young
By Gene Colling
If hair color is an indicator, I am part of the graying of Montana. The bell curve of war babies has now become the gray wave, and it will be interesting to see how we all ride it out. When you are in the middle of a vast herd it’s hard to get a perspective about what this aging population really means. I don’t know if I’m part of the problem, or part of the solution. What I do know is that the concept of aging has changed dramatically in my lifetime. I couldn’t imagine my farmer father coming home from a grueling day in the fields and going out for a five-mile run. Work was exercise for him and many in his generation. There was no energy or purpose for exercise. They just kept working and one day, they just stopped. There was no time to develop hobbies or interests to fall back on, so many did not enjoy their golden years as much as they could have. There were far fewer options available for filling those days after retirement than there are now. Most people that I have known in my working life had office jobs. Exercise became something you did after work. Even though some of the more strenuous activities like running and mountain climbing have tapered off to hiking, golf and bicycling, my contemporary friends and I are still moving. In health clubs, on golf courses, along walking trails, in the back country and just about every place where Some things you want take along, some you leave behind. There are plenty of things that I’m happy to leave behind from my youth. I don’t know if I’m part of the problem, or part of Things like 5 a.m. farm chores, an unheated the solution. What I do know is that the concept of bedroom, 90-pound alfalfa bales, mucking aging has changed dramatically in my lifetime. out the hog barn, grain chaff, getting stuck in the mud and cantankerous machinery. But there are things that I want to take with me from my parents’ generation like the art of exercise is possible you will see gray hairs. Living in Montana we have conversation, a work ethic, curiosity, frugality, a sense of humor and the advantage of the tremendous landscapes that transform exercise living an outdoor life. into an experience. There are also valuable things to learn from the generation Since mind and body are connected, just about every retired or behind us. My kids keep me up-to-date on modern culture and semi-retired person I know has intellectual outlets. It may be returning music, although some of the tunes make my head turn around. to an early interest or delving into something new. Several of my coffee We do share a common bond with some music; Bob Dylan is group pals have become devoted bird watchers, another has taken up one. I titled this column “Forever Young,” from a song that Dylan wood carving, and another has become a skilled photographer. I am wrote for his children. It seems like a good anthem for all of us inspired by the curiosity of my 4-year-old grandson, and have been who are part of the gray wave. It always makes me feel good when refreshing my knowledge of the natural world to keep up with the Dylan has another birthday, which he did recently, his 70th. If he barrage of questions as we hike together. can still be out there, and still vital and relevant, then there is hope As each generation rolls along, it carries up its own unique baggage. for the rest of us.
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MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
photo journal
Keep on Tru 60 I july 2011 I MAGIC
“People today are still living off the table scraps of the sixties. They are still being passed aroundthe music and the ideas.” — Bob Dylan, 1992
uckin’ Photography by James Woodcock
Formed in the 1970s, Montana’s own Mission Mountain Wood Band continues to keep the music and ideas of an era gone-by alive through their concerts. Here, award-winning Gazette photographer, James Woodcock, captures those moments in these telling images of people who lived the era and others who wish they had.
Left: Fans rock out at a Mission Mountain Wood Band outdoor concert in 2010. Above: The band circa 1970.
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MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
photo journal
Top: The band on stage in moonlight. Left center row: Drummer Greg Reichenberg brushes on Christian Johnson’s banjo. Center row right: “1970s” fan dropped-out. Above left: Teen hippie wanna-be’s Right: The “idea” still lives today.
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Above: From ‘67 to 2011 - rock on!
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the boomer
boom by dan carter
a ‘60s glossary Sputnik 1: Launched by Russia, Sputnik 1 was the first unmanned satellite to successfully orbit the earth. The success of this launch propelled the U.S. into a race to be the first to have men land on the moon.
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Woodstock: A threeday music festival that took place from Aug. 15 – 18, 1969 at a dairy farm near Bethel, N.Y. Billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music,” the festival drew nearly half a million people and remains one of the most iconic events of the ‘60s.
Broken Family: A term used to refer to a family in which the parents are divorced. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the phrase carried a derogatory connotation which reflected society’s general disapproval of divorce.
Freedom Land, New York: A U.S. history-themed amusement park with attractions, shopping and restaurants that opened in New York City on June 19, 1960. The venture did not generate a profit, and was subsequently closed at the end of the 1964 season.
Women’s Liberation: By the 1960s, a movement called “Feminism” or “Women’s Liberation” took root. Supporters called for equal pay for equal work, equal rights under the law and the freedom to choose whether or not to have children. In 1966, the National Organization for Woman (NOW) was created with the purpose of bringing equality for all women. The group, along with others, was integral in pressing for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which stated that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.” The amendment died in 1982 because it had not been ratified by enough states.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: An American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 by James Earl Ray. Following his assassination, riots broke out in more than 100 cities across the U.S. intensifying racial tensions.
t some point in the next decade, the “Last Best Place” will have distinctly grayer highlights. And it has nothing to do with weather. Census and demographic projections show Montana is on its way to becoming the fourth oldest state in the nation as current residents live longer, younger residents leave the nest to explore career options and newcomers are nearer retirement age than child-bearing age. If those projections hold true, the largest segment of Montana’s demographic pool could easily become the Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964. That generation cut their teeth during the Eisenhower ’50s; took in some sex, drugs, rock ’n’ roll and activism during the Johnson and Nixon administrations; made their mark on the economy during the Reagan years; pined for a new Camelot when they elected Clinton; and are now keeping a watchful eye on Social Security and Medicare in an current era of economic uncertainty. If the various and complex demographic layers of the state were a football team, the Baby Boomers would be the quarterback, accustomed to making all the big plays, calling audibles and not taking “no” for an answer. They don’t like being called “seniors” because
President John F. Kennedy: At age 43, John F. Kennedy is the youngest man to have been elected to the office of President of the United States. In his inaugural address he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens, famously saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Watergate Scandal:
The Draft: On Dec. 1,
A political scandal during the 1970s resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Effects of the scandal eventually led to the resignation of the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, on Aug. 9, 1974, the only resignation of any U.S. President.
1969, the Selective Service System conducted two lotteries to determine the order of call to military service in the Vietnam War for men born during 1950. Draft lotteries were conducted again in 1970 (for those born in 1951) and 1971 to 1975 (for 1952 to 1956 births).
Vietnam War: A Cold War era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on April 1975. U.S. involvement in the war, casualties and reports of American military abuses polarized the nation and led to high-profile anti-war protests.
many continue their work and professional careers. They don’t like being called “retirees” because they are as busy now as they ever were in recreational activities, travel and politics. But in terms of numbers, the Baby Boomers are a force to be reckoned with.
A generation multiplied Roughly 7,000 Americans each day reach the age of 65, that longunderstood milestone where retirement is on the horizon and childrearing is in the rear-view mirror. Current projections rank Montana as fourth in the nation in percentage of “mature adults.” In Yellowstone County in 2000, there were 17,243 individuals age 65
Streaking: The act of running nude through a public place. Company Man: Slang for someone who works for one company his or her entire career. Draft Dodger: A derogatory term that refers to someone who avoids mandatory military service by hiding or by leaving the country.
Freedom Riders:
Swinging Sixties: So named because of the fall or relaxation of some social taboos especially relating to sexism and racism that occurred during this time.
The Cold War: The continuing state of political conflict, military tension and economic competition between the Communist World, primarily Russia, and the Western world, primarily the United States.
Radarrange: In 1947, Raytheon demonstrated the world’s first microwave oven calling it a “Radarrange.” It cost between $2,000 and $3,000. In 1965, Raytheon acquired Amana, and two years later the first countertop version was introduced, which cost just under $500.
Civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States to test the U.S. Supreme Court decision that outlawed racial segregation.
Source: Wikipedia
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and over. Most recent estimates for census data show that there were 20,325 people in that age category in 2009. That represents an 18 percent increase compared to a 12 percent increase in the county’s total population during that same time frame. Currently the mature population makes up about 14 percent of the county’s population, but projections show that number will increase to nearly 23 percent. In at least four counties in Eastern Montana, it is expected that the over65 group will encompass nearly a quarter of the population by 2030. While those changes won’t happen all at once, it will require shifts in how many entities do business, from social service entities to health care. Workforce gaps will need to be filled. Financial plans will be modified. Housing, recreation and meal provisions will need to be made. Kathy Smith, a human resources representative at St. Vincent Healthcare, said the hospital knows there will be a certain number of retirements among its 2,100 employees in the coming years, and the hospital is planning as best as it can. “We know there are retirements coming, but not always certain when those will be,” she said. From nurses to respiratory therapists to physical therapists, there will be certain areas where specific health care specialties are needed, she said. Just as important, she said, is the amount of training needed to address the needs of an older demographic of patients. “The patient population is tending to get older,” Smith said. “We also tend to see more acute patients. They are sicker when they come to see us.”
Prime of life For many in the social services arena, the Boomer boom is no real surprise. Bea Ann Melichar, the executive director of the Yellowstone County Council on Aging, said the agency has been focused on the population growth of mature Montanans for about 15 years. Passage of two county-wide senior mill levies helped provide for some stable funding amid fears of falling federal and state support for key services such as Meals on Wheels and senior transportation. Unlike the relative few years that people spend negotiating childhood, angling through teen angst, and working in various jobs, the mature years have the potential to be the longest segment of a person’s life. “Once you hit 60 years old, you potentially have 20, 30 or 40 more years of life,” Melichar said. “That’s potentially the largest segment of
your life.” And while some people — whether through genetics or life events — are “old” when they become 65, many mature adults enjoy work, recreation and volunteer activities into their 80s. “Anybody who thinks they can pigeonhole people in that stage of life is wrong,” she said. A case in point is evident in the evolution of senior centers and community centers in the county. The Billings Community Center in the central part of the city was once home to a handful of pool tables, where it was thought elderly residents would relax over a game of pool. Today, those pool tables are gone and have been replaced with some exercise equipment and Wii remotes for more active lifestyles. “People just don’t want to play anymore,” Melichar said.
Change makers The Yellowstone County Council on Aging uses a combination of federal, state, county and donated funds to provide nearly 12,000 meals a year to people throughout the county and countless rides to individuals with no alternative transportation in Billings, Laurel and the eastern part of the county. In 2004, the agency opened its resource center, a one-stop center where seniors, adults with disabilities and their families can access services and get a full range of information on Medicare as they begin to plan for retirement. The demand for the workshops and one-on-one counseling services will likely grow, Melichar said. “The demand and provision of all those services will depend on the funds available,” she said. A generation that is used to getting what it wants will place demands on many areas, even though they might have planned well for them. Some financial planners say the Boomers, who were very well taken care of when they were growing up and marketed to when they were working, are ill prepared as they enter retirement. There is a feeling of entitlement, said one local financial expert that the Boomer generation cannot seem to shake. And the result will be more demand on a smaller population to pay for expected services. While the Boomers might be more demanding, Melichar said she hopes the Boomer generation again taps into their passion to make change. Their desire and insights to make a difference can impact others through volunteering. “I hope we can harness that energy and get it back so they can once again change the world,” she said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a Baby Boomer is defined as one of the approximately 76 million individuals born between 1946 – 1964. Demographically, they represent the single largest generation in American history. Through the decades, these people have wielded enormous influence socially, politically and economically, and they questioned conventional values in a way their forbearers never did. Baby Boomers witnessed many pivotal moments of the 20th century: The assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963,
by katherine berman The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Vietnam War era, Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon in 1969, the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974. They were kids and teenagers when the Beatles scandalously declared, “I want to hold your hand,” and hundreds of thousands joined together at Woodstock for a three-day long music festival which became an iconic cultural event.
More than any other, this generation has been the subject of thousands of studies filling reams of paper with statistics, projections and conclusions. But who, exactly, are these people?
Four Billings couples sat down to share their personal stories of growing up as Boomers, expressing what they think distinguishes this generation from those before or since. MAGIC I july 2011 I 67
steve and julie gordon teve and Julie Gordon, originally from Newton, Conn., have only been on the Billings scene for a few years, but are already entranced with the splendor of the West and the warm, welcoming nature of the community. Steve is a minister at Mayflower Church, and Julie volunteers in the community and is currently a board member of the Yellowstone Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Though the pair represent different sides of the Boomer spectrum, Steve is in the middle of the group while Julie is on the younger end, they share a profound dedication to improving the world … using a little old-fashioned Boomer grit. Why do you think this generation is different from all others? Julie: I think it’s a generation that really pushed the envelope and
broke a lot of social conventions and rules. Steve: Really, it was a period of time of trying to bring about racial and religious equality. The civil rights movement and its outcome are a strong part of who we are as well. And it started in the ‘50s and ‘60s. A lot of people began to feel very strongly about making changes that they hoped would bring unity and understanding. Ideas that had previously been accepted by a large number of people would not be tolerated in the Baby Boomer generation. Movers, shakers and boot-quakers Steve: As the Baby Boomer generation came along, a lot of conventions
were broken – whether it was racial injustice or women’s rights. And music, hairstyles, clothes! People were able to open up more in terms of how they dressed, how they wore their hair, the music they listened to. I think there was a strong movement toward new kinds of
creativity, even in the arts and writing. All of it was just blossoming into something new. Julie: That’s what I meant about breaking barriers and opening up those social rules. I think we were the first generation to do that, and now the things that are accepted as norm are the things that we were quaking in our boots to tell our parents about. The way we were Steve: I remember being a kid and going to a place in New York City
called Freedom Land, and there were racially segregated bathrooms. Yes, in Freedom Land. I was flabbergasted. It was in the ‘50s. I was probably 10-11 years old. Freedom Land was celebrating Americana, American freedom, you know, the Davy Crocket hats and the frontier presence. I also remember the attitudes of the people I cared for and loved who, when Martin Luther King became a public figure advocating for civil rights, were critical of him. People I knew were saying things that made me very uncomfortable at the time … that I found very hurtful.
By the time he got to Woodstock … Steve: When we got to Woodstock the fence was down and hundreds of
thousands of people were there. You were just a part of this experience and yeah, there were people skinny-dipping over there, and there was mud and rain coming down, and people were getting high and passing wine around. I was not imbibing in those things, and I remember this guy coming down and sitting next to me and saying, “Like you’re not even high, man!” And I remember saying something like, “I’m getting into it naturally, man!” He replied, “That’s so cool!” I can remember hearing Santana and Richie Havens open up, and you went away with this feeling that something extraordinary had happened. That it had brought together all this revolutionary mentality. It was about peace. It was all about peace. It was love and care, and I think that people thought while they were there, that the world was being transformed … that it was going to be this thing that moved out. And so Boomers became the peace generation. That was the core of it. So to be part of that was a really memorable thing. Julie: Some friends of ours asked, “Did you go?” And I said, “Well, I wanted to, but my mother said, ‘No 8-year-old of mine is going to Woodstock.’” Social calling Steve: For us, it’s important and certainly a part of my job and
part of what we do through the church to find a very inclusive community that welcomes everyone. There are a lot of people in this community who do care about things like service and social justice, and we’ve been very pleased to find them. We’re part of a larger group of people who really act on behalf of others. They inspire us, and we can give our little part to whatever can be accomplished. There are a lot of opportunities in Billings to do that if you’re looking for it. Julie: We both have a strong belief that giving back is really important to the community and to the world. We’ve both had really blessed lives. I feel lucky to be at a point in my life where I can spend my time working to raise awareness for organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Heifer International. Homelessness and hunger are epidemic in this country and throughout the world. Steve:… She also writes a lot of letters to public officials about Julie & Steve Gordon. Photo by Casey Page.
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animal rights and conservation. Modern love Steve: I just love who we are together. I love how we approach
life together, how we share ideas – the give and take. We share in everything we do. We’re a real team. We’re fortunate to have found each other and to have that base of love and loyalty to each other that feels so very strong. To be able to sit and read together and share our ideas. To be out there together. We feel good about who we are as we enter into the community and as we support each other’s ideas and the things we do. Julie: I think we have found a good balance between our love for service, helping out in the community and having fun enjoying life together as a couple and with our friends.
birthday, so I wrote him as a kid, “We both have our birthdays on May 29,” and he wrote back! His assassination was pivotal for anyone in the ‘60s old enough to comprehend it. In the ‘70s, President Nixon’s resignation was a big deal.
The Race for Space Dan: I was working in Yellowstone Park that year. Woodstock and
n the mid-70s, a young lady embarked on an unusual career path for a woman at the time: hitting the tradeshow circuit to sell a newfangled contraption called a radarrange that could cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner in under two hours. It was at one of these conventions that Debbie met Dan, who at the time was selling construction equipment. The couple hit it off over hours of small talk and nuked appetizers. The Singers married in 1979 and have lived in Billings since where they share a love of family, community involvement and an affinity for the great outdoors.
the moon landing occurred around the same time – August 1969. I was pumping gas in Yellowstone, which was just an organized riot. We were all kids working at the Park. Everybody was 18 to 22 years old, probably. It was wild! We lived in a dormitory in the Park. The TV reception was so bad you could hardly watch the moon landing. That was the only thing that I watched the whole summer, but it was all static-y, terrible reception on the black and white TV. Dan: I remember when I was a little guy running into the backyard to see Sputnik going over. You could watch it in the sky. Right after Sputnik launched, President Kennedy publicly announced that America had to beat the Russians to the moon in the next 10 years, which we did. Debbie: There was a real goal set – something to be achieved by the nation. And then there was the Vietnam War. There was so much controversy, although I don’t think you saw the protests around here the way you did in other parts of the country. Debbie: I was in college during 1973-77. By then, the Vietnam War was winding down, and the biggest thing on campus was streaking. I remember kids streaking through the library at the University of Montana, which was underground several floors, so they had to run upstairs just to get out. I think security would catch them as they tried to go outside. Dan: A friend of mine streaked through a big lecture hall underground. He ran up the stairs, outside and – this was winter in Bozeman – hit the ice, fell and skidded for about 20 feet. He ended up with real diaper rash problems.
You say rabbit, I say elephant
Regular size me
Dan: I think what sets the Baby Boomers apart is the sheer number
Debbie: You didn’t see the emphasis on staying healthy when we were
debbie and dan singer
of us. That’s the first time there’s ever been such a huge jump in the population. Debbie: They used to call it, “the elephant going through the python.” Dan: I think it’s the rabbit. Debbie: No, I heard elephant. Well, maybe you heard rabbit. But the idea was that in the python, there’d be a big hump in the middle. You heard rabbit. I heard elephant, anyway. Dan: You can’t put an elephant in a python. Debbie: Well, it was just the idea.
growing up. But I think people were more physical, so you didn’t have
Moments in time Debbie: A benchmark for people in our era is the question, “Where were you when John F. Kennedy was shot?” Most people our age can instantly recall the moment. I know exactly where I was. I can describe it. Dan: I was in 7th grade. I remember exactly the minute that I heard about it. Debbie: And I happened to be sick, home from school, and the news came on TV, and I was like, “Whoa!” Dan: Everybody loved Kennedy. He was really charismatic. Debbie: I wrote him [President Kennedy] a letter. We shared a Debbie & Dan Singer. Photo by James Woodcock.
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to worry so much about the consumption of calories. Our parents would send us outside at 8 a.m. in the summer and say, “Have at it. Maybe come back for lunch, otherwise we’ll see you at five!” And we would spend the entire day playing and jumping and running. Kids were just more physically active. Dan: When I was really young, there was only one television station and programming didn’t come on until 4:30 in the afternoon. There wasn’t much to watch, so you went outside and played. Now I’m always teasing my son about playing his video games, “You’re really building up those muscles.” Debbie: We didn’t have all the processed foods, either. Even portions and the size of plates have changed. A luncheon plate today used to be a dinner plate. Dinner plates today are huge! Maybe it was related to budgets, but you didn’t have the mass consumption of food. And when it came to meat for dinner, it stretched a long ways. Hamburger was used a lot in the ‘60s. You didn’t have fast food, you didn’t have steaks that often, and you didn’t go out. Dan: You had to be more conservative with your spending, because usually the wife wouldn’t work outside the home. So you wouldn’t have as much disposable income. Debbie: You can see the trend in business development mirrors the family habits, too. How many house cleaning services are here in Billings? There are quite a few. You wouldn’t have had house cleaning services in the ‘60s or ‘70s. Dan: When dishwashers were getting kind of popular, I said to my dad, “We should get a dishwasher.” And he was like, “That’s what I’ve got four kids for. Why would I need a dishwasher?”
A disappearing act
their mid-80s and beyond. So by retiring early, you’re really retiring early. You’ve got a lot of years ahead of you – what will you do? I don’t think people are meant to sit around and do nothing. I think you’re meant to go out there and fight the battles every day. Unless you really hate your job, why would you want to retire? A lot of people I know who retired early kind of vegetate. Well, I’d just as soon wear out than rest out.
susan and david otey
avid Otey’s career in broadcast engineering anchored him, his wife Susan and their kids in Denver, Colo. for years. Susan spent her early career years as a teacher for visually impaired students until she felt a calling to attend Iliff School of Theology. Four years ago, when Susan was appointed to a church here in Billings, the family relocated. David, breaking the mold of previous generations, left a long-standing career to start his own company as a communications consultant and motivational speaker. The boom of a Boomer Susan: I would self-identify as progressive clergy. We are very proud
of the fact that our church just became a reconciling church, which
Debbie: Getting young people today interested in trades-type jobs – plumbers, electricians, linemen – is really hard. We see it in the utility industry, so does anybody who uses labor. Today, everyone thinks they’re going to make a living doing something on the computer and that they don’t have to physically work. I was out at the Colstrip plants recently and they said about half of their workforce is going to retire in the next three years. That’s about 200 people out of 400. How do you replace these electricians or boiler-men? With so many leaving, where’s the supply coming in? How do you even get people interested in trades? Part of it might even be over-promotion of four-year versus two-year programs. The thing about things Debbie: An emerging trend that will soon affect our economy – and
I’m hearing this more and more from analysts – is the Baby Boomer attitude toward “stuff.” Boomers consumed a lot of stuff. Now many of us are saying, “OK, I want to get rid of all this stuff. I don’t need all this stuff.” As Boomers downsize their homes and stop buying things the way they used to, it will actually affect markets. The U.S. will no longer be the consumer market it once was. People are still buying stuff, but the big markets are overseas. Dan: We’re such a huge group. All of a sudden, the smaller generation behind us can’t make up the difference in consumer spending. There’s this mass of people that isn’t being replaced, and it’s going to hurt sales. People I know, they don’t want a big, multi-level house anymore. They want a house that’s low maintenance. Everything starts wearing out as you get older, and you don’t want to climb a lot of stairs every day.
Retire from what? Dan: When I was a kid, I think the average life-expectancy age was
like 68 or something. Now, it’s not uncommon for people to live to
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Susan & David Otey. Photo by Bob Zellar.
means even though our book of discipline says that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, our church has said, “Now we are open to everyone. No matter what your sexual orientation is.”
A change in life, a change in attitude Susan: Very little is the same as our parents’ generation. If you think about it, families are no longer the same. Workplaces are shifting radically … the church is shifting radically. David: I’d be hesitant to say that families are really that much different. Even when you look at a family structure that appears to be a traditional family structure, I don’t think you can always predict what comes with that necessarily. Growing up, there might have been a divorce in the community that seemed out of the clear blue sky. I realized that what appeared to be a stable, healthy, traditional family household might have some deep fault lines running through it. Today, I think perhaps we’re more aware of the differences between families and are more comfortable talking about them. Susan: That could be, because we’re much more open these days about divorce and fractures in families and naming stepchildren. David: But I don’t hear people younger than us speaking of a family in which a divorce has taken place in the pejorative sense as a broken home the way my generation would have described.
Entitlement or necessity? Susan: When I grew up, we had one car and my mom got the car and
she took my father to work, ran us kids around and picked my father up. She wasn’t working outside the home. Is having multiple cars today an entitlement or is it a necessity? Certain things, food, wine, eating out – we sense more of an entitlement kind of attitude. “Well, I’m busy, I can’t possibly cook dinner.” I think it’s a little bit harder to figure out the logistics of how to have a two-career household with one car. David: Historically, each generation has looked forward to its children being more prosperous, having a higher standard of living, than they did. I think that perhaps there’s a feeling of discouragement now among people our age that might not happen. My parents remember the Depression as a childhood memory, and that sense of being thrifty, being conservative in your spending is a characteristic of the parents and grandparents of Baby Boomers, who raised their kids to expect better times. There’s a lot of anxiety in society today over the questions of whether that expectation will continue. With all the privileges our children have become accustomed to, will they be able to prosper as we have?
youngest person in the room. Is there anyone else coming into this field? Are there going to be any broadcast engineers soon? But I also realized that I felt a lot more freedom than perhaps some of the others did to say, “This is what I do, and this is what I’m doing right now, but it’s not who I am.” It’s a model I’m actually picking up by looking at some of the people my age and younger. I think I identify now with people younger than I am in that respect. My career, my occupation is not my identity. It’s not what I’m locked into.
Retro rituals Susan: Some of the cultural things that you think, “Oh, that would
never happen again,” are making a comeback. Like neighborhood block parties and carpooling – things we did years ago. Maybe not for economic reasons, but for ecological reasons or reasons of community, and realizing that in the last 20 years we’ve begun to lose that sense of community … and how do we get it back?
ed hughes and bobby anner-hughes ommunity theatre is a great way to get to know people. For Dickinson, N.D. newcomer and Pittsburgh native, Ed Hughes, it was also a great way to meet his wife, Bobby Anner. For more than 20 years, Ed and Bobby have lived in Billings where Ed works for the Bureau of Land Management
Company men madness David: Our parents’ generation tended to see more of a company
man mentality – the expectation that you choose a career, find a company to work for and you stay with that company until you get the gold watch and the retirement plan. That was so much a part of their identity. That expectation is going away. There are certainly still opportunities out there for that, but I don’t look to that as being the model that is particularly compelling for me. Susan: And the flip side – the freedom to remake yourself into an independent business person – has emerged from those of us who are no longer tied to the company. David: Most of the people I know professionally in my field of broadcast engineering have been my age and older. In meetings all over the country, I look around and say, “Hmm. I’m the youngest person in the room.” Here I was in my forties, and wow, I’m the
Bobby Anner-Hughes & Ed Hughes. Photo by Bob Zellar.
MAGIC I july 2011 I 71
and Bobby, once a high school teacher, practices law. At Ed’s insistence, Bobby goes by Bobby Anner-Hughes. As she puts it with a wry smile, “I’m so liberated, I have a hyphenated name because my husband wanted me to.” The window for a draft Bobby: I was on the tail end of being a Baby Boomer, graduating from high school in 1975. So while I was alive during all the protests and changes of the ‘60s, I was really watching it unfold from afar. My high school class was probably the very last class that ever worried about a draft. Ed: And I was in the first draft. I had just started college, and depending on your lottery number, you could decide whether you wanted to confirm it or not. My number was 97. I remember that because I wore one of those army jackets from the Army and Navy store, and I got tape and I put my number on the back of my jacket. You could get a deferment if you went to school or for medical reasons or if you got married – which a lot of people did. Bobby: You found a lot of interesting guys that way … Ed: Well, desperate guys. I don’t know exactly whose idea it was, but in order to let people plan their lives a little better the Selective Service instituted a lottery system to draft young men into military service. The numbers were actually picked on television the way you pick the Powerball numbers. Bobby: Like the football draft. Everybody would sit around their TVs and watch the lottery. If you didn’t want to be part of the draft, you’d have to be a draft dodger and go to Canada. There were a few ways to get around it – go to college, get married, be a child of a congressperson, join the National Guard – but most young men really didn’t have a choice. You were going one way or another. Or be female, because then you weren’t going at all.
Then and now Bobby: During Vietnam, we would get into arguments with my
father, who served in the navy, all the time when we sat down to dinner at night. The first thing that was on the news every night was the death toll in the Vietnam War. It was the first thing they told you – how many American soldiers had died. Now, tell me how many American soldiers died in Afghanistan last week? We don’t hear that. When the caskets would come home [from Vietnam] you would watch them come off those planes day after day after day. And of course at the time everything came off onto the tarmac. Relatives and protesters would be waiting at the airport. And I’m sure that Vietnam vets thought, Oh my god—there’s no place for me here in the United States anymore, because these people hate me. Emotions were running high. The end of Vietnam was a scattered, scary time. Everybody wanted out. Ed: Inflation was rampent, the economy was in the pits, New York City was on the verge of bankruptcy, the ‘70s weren’t happy times at all. Bobby: Hey, we got married in the ‘70s!
Rioting in the streets, tell me where were you?
Bobby: I grew up in Dickinson, N.D., so when it came to people of
color – anybody of color – there were very few people around there. But, in the rest of the country it was pretty wild. People who are racist are just going to be horrid no matter what time period you live in. Others like the Freedom Riders who traveled down South to support desegregation… I mean wow. Talk about taking your life in your hands. It’s hard to believe people would do that. That was spooky to watch them do that on television from thousands of miles away.
Breaking boundaries Ed: The intercity Catholic schools and universities were some of the
first to integrate. They were the first to have blacks in their schools and on their basketball teams. The Catholic Church was where the immigrants first went. They came over, and they were discriminated against, so they went to the Catholic Church and belonged to the parish. The Catholic Church was always in the frontline of social justice. The Catholic Church that you see today is much less tolerant than the one I grew up with. Bobby: When I grew up the church was about tolerance and kindness. Ed: Back then, most of the priests had come over from Ireland, and they knew about discrimination, and so they had a more tolerant outlook. Jewish people too, I’ve known a number of them over the years, and they’re a much more tolerant culture.
Before Mario Brothers Bobby: My father was a techno geek. He loved anything, any gadget. So when we were kids we had the original Pong game. Oh my God, we were like the neighborhood envy. The original Pong game is like a gray screen with a white line down the middle of it, and you get one little line to move back and forth and the other person with the other controller gets a little line to move back and forth, and then there’s this white dot that you can touch that goes back and forth. Ed: Like ping pong or tennis on a computer. Bobby: And we had it! We were like the coolest people ever!
Administrative assistants’ assistance Ed: The standards of work quality have been lowered. People can
hardly put together a sentence. It’s atrocious. They rely on spell-check, and they don’t read it, and even when they do, they don’t realize there are mistakes. Things will get through spell-check that are completely different words. Bobby: In some ways it is a reflection of the women’s movement. When I was growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, girls who were straight “A” students, like my mom, were encouraged to become secretaries. Employers enjoyed having really bright women working for them that produced incredible work. Now those same straight “A” students head to college and graduate school, becoming attorneys instead of working for attorneys. Me for example. And by the way, I’ve been very fortunate to have fabulous assistants. Women are now able to rise to their full potential in any career path they choose – it’s a game changer in that way.
Ed: The other seminal event was when Martin Luther King was
assassinated in 1968. Riots erupted in more than 100 cities. Pittsburgh didn’t have the destruction that a lot of the other cities had, but I remember it distinctly. I was going back to college – I’d been home for the weekend – and as we were driving down the road there was just a line of National Guard armored vehicles, a whole convoy of them headed into the city, cording off areas because of the rioting that they were afraid was going to take place. It was a volatile situation, and you didn’t know what was going to happen.
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a Baby Boomer is defined as one of the approximately 79 million individuals born between 1946 – 1964. Demographically, they represent the single largest generation in American history. Through the decades, these people have wielded
1.
enormous influence socially, politically and economically, and they questioned conventional values in a way their forbearers never did.
2.
Baby Boomers witnessed many
pivotal moments of the 20th century: The assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963,
by katherine berman The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Vietnam War era, Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon in 1969, the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974. They were kids and teenagers when the Beatles scandalously declared, “I want to hold
3.
your hand,” and hundreds of thousands joined together at Woodstock for a three-day long music festival which became an iconic cultural event. More than any other, this generation has been the subject of thousands of studies filling reams of paper with statistics, projections and conclusions. But who, exactly, are these people?
4.
Four Billings couples sat down to share their personal stories of growing up as Boomers, expressing what they think distinguishes this generation from those before or since. MAGIC I july 2011 I 67
Many thanks to our Boomer couples for providing personal photos for this article. 1. Dan and Debbie Singer 2. Julie and Steve Gordon 3. Ed Hughes and Bobby Anner-Hughes 4. Susan and David Otey
On women … Julie: I think our generation is well-known for the rise of women in
society to a more equal but not completely equal place, yet.
Susan: The women’s movement affected me more because of my
mother’s involvement in really pushing for women’s rights. She did a lot of work legislatively, lobbying and such, saying “Women deserve equal pay,” among other things. Interestingly, she didn’t have a profession or career until her own children were in high school, because you just didn’t do that. Bobby: What’s changed most for me is the evolution of women as a vital part of society. When I think back to when I was growing up and what women were expected to do then versus now, there has been a big transition. Women went from staying home to going to work and killing themselves at work to now, more of a “you get your choice.” You decide what to do and you’ve got a spouse who is going to help you raise your children and be a part of that.
On parents and sacrifice … Dan: Our parents had nothing. They were kids with full-time jobs who
worked really hard just to survive. A lot of my dad’s brothers quit school by 8th or 9th grade so they could get a job and help feed the family. That work ethic was passed on to us. My dad’s thing was, ‘Oh, you want that? Go get a job.’ So that’s what we did. Bobby: Neither Ed’s nor my own parents went to college. Neither Ed’s
dad nor my dad finished high school. My dad quit after his sophomore year and joined the navy. The thing both our dads had in common is that they were insistent that their kids get an education. That meant the world to them. When I graduated from college, I was the first grandchild to graduate from a four-year college. Ed: You look at those WWII veterans that raised us, and they came back and built communities. When I look around today there seems to be this attitude that “My kids aren’t in school anymore, so let somebody else pay for public education.” With the previous generation, if something had to be done, you just shut up and got it done. I’m not saying that Billings is necessarily like that … we decided to raise our kids here for a reason. But as you go around the country you see a decline in that community attitude – there are still pockets of it – but it’s not what it used to be.
On kids today … Susan: I think most Baby Boomers fall into a cause-and-effect pattern of thinking. There’s a rational explanation, there’s a reason, we can understand it, we can describe it. The 20, 30 and 40-something people in my congregation are much more concerned about the relationships that they have than they are about defining what’s right or wrong, or what’s the truth. Boomers tend to be much more objective and younger generations much more subjective. It’s very interesting because I can listen to two generations having the same conversation and they’re saying the same thing, but they think they’re disagreeing because of the language that they use. The Boomers say, “It’s objective, you can name it, you can see it, you
MAGIC I july 2011 I 73
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On technology … Dan: When I made a long distance phone call,
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can state it.” The younger generation says, “No, it’s kind of what you feel. It’s how you experience it.” I see that as a really huge shift. Debbie: Today, young people at work want to know why they’re doing something, how does this impact the bigger cause, what’s the purpose. When I was younger, you just did what you were told. Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, work wasn’t a participation sport. Bobby: I was a high school teacher for a while before I became an attorney, and what I can tell you about being a high school teacher is it always gave me a lot of optimism about the future. I think it’s real easy to sit back and look at bad examples of young people that we get in society and say, “We’re just doomed.” Well, that’s what everybody’s said for generations and generations. But when I was a teacher, the majority of kids were good people. Now when I look at our kids, I’m always amazed at my children. I’m shocked at my children. My children are braver than I ever was, they are far more confident than I ever was at their age, and they’re doing well. We’re very proud of our kids.
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my mother just watched over that like, “It costs us money when you’re on the phone.” When cell phones first got popular and someone told me that I could have a cell phone in Billings, and I could go to Cincinnati, and you could call me with a local number and it would ring in Cincinnati, I thought, You gotta be kidding me—that’s amazing! Practically every day I say, “What a time we live in.” You talk to your kids and you bring up something and no one knows the answer, the next thing you know, they look it up on their phone and go, “That’s the answer right there!” All this instant knowledge—it’s amazing. Julie: It’s so fast now … because of the speed at which technology is changing, you don’t really have an option to just sort of sit back and learn it slowly. If you are out of the game for six months to a year, you’re way behind. Bobby: And if I couldn’t Skype or ichat with my kids, I don’t know what I would do. I get to see them, and my parents have Skype!”
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On Facebook … Dan: The other day, I started telling my son
something and he said, “This doesn’t have to do with you on Facebook, does it?” I said, “No, it doesn’t.” He said, “OK, I’ll listen.”
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Susan: I love Facebook! I find it to be a fabulous way to keep in touch with people that it’s really not a huge priority in my life to pick up the phone and say ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ But to know, oh, this is what they’re doing. They’re moving … they’ve got a new job. I think Facebook is fabulous. Bobby: My daughter and I were laughing about how when she goes to her 10-year reunion, it’s not going to be a surprise. When I went to my 10-year reunion, it was a surprise, what people looked like, what they were doing and how many kids they had.
If you could go back in time and tell yourself something at the age of 20, what would it be? Steve: Trust who you are. Trust those things
in you, those best qualities that you sense. Sometimes you wonder … do you have the confidence to be who you are, and what you want to say, and what you want to stand up for. Hold on to that, because that’s a good thing. And it’s a quality that you don’t have to apologize for. Julie: Spend more time learning about who you are, what you love and don’t love, what your passions are, and who you are as a person before you jump into relationships with other people. Don’t change yourself to be who they want you to be. David: If I could go back in time and see my 20-year-old self, I’d say, “Loosen up!” Susan: I’d say, “It’s really not that important.” I sweated over a lot of stuff back then that was really so unimportant. Debbie: I think I could have looked for opportunities where I could have been more of a risk-taker. Not that we haven’t been risk takers – I think a lot of Baby Boomers were risk-takers. But sometimes you think, Eh, I could have taken a few more risks. Tried some different avenues. See how it works out. And tried to figure out what I should have invested in. Bobby: Just enjoy it. It’s fleeting, it’s fast, it’s furious. People don’t take the time to realize how great it is. We all want to focus on the negative things in life, and there are so many wonderful things. There just are … around the corner all the time. (To her husband, Ed) You would say, buy Apple.
NOT They are all veterans who have served their country honorably in times of peace and in times of war. They all have something else in common: They are “displaced” Americans – homeless, without jobs and often without family connections. BY DICK WESNICK
They can be seen on the streets of every city in America, including Billings, Mont. By some official estimates, there are upwards of 131,000 veterans who live in homeless anonymity in one of the richest nations in the world. Here, and in other caring communities, there are hands that reach out to our homeless vets and offer a warm bed, medical care, mental health treatment and job training. The hope is that these vets will once again find themselves being understood and welcomed back into our society.
Hand up, not hand out Independence Hall has been described as one of the best kept secrets in Billings. The spacious, rambling red brick building at 710 Lake Elmo Dr., proudly flying both the American and Montana flags, exudes an aura of welcome. But most of those who pass through its doors are military veterans who seek shelter and help in regaining a foothold on lives that seemingly were lost somewhere along the way. Here, in Independence Hall, is the Billings headquarters for Volunteers of America and its far-reaching Veterans Services Programs. As described by Bill Holder, director of Veterans Services, Volunteers of America offers veterans “a hand up, not a hand out.” Holder continued, “They have to jump through hoops, one of which is to find jobs.” But at each step along the way, as the veterans strive to make that transition back to what most people describe as “normal lives,” the staff at VOA provides guidance, encouragement and training in a safe and secure environment. The program provides housing for up to 20 veterans at a time who have been homeless for any number of reasons. “We offer transitional housing for veterans who have been displaced,” Holder added. “They can stay here for several months if necessary, but they want to get out and get on with their lives. Many of the veterans have considerable skills they earned in the military.” And those skills can be honed and refined, enabling the vets to become part of the workforce and establish – or re-establish – homes outside of Independence Hall.
Everyday outreach One such veteran is Joey Finister, a Navy veteran of both Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He first came to Independence Hall in April 2010, left when he found a job, but returned last November after getting laid off. Finister enrolled in the Upward Bound program at Montana State University Billings, which helps prepare veterans for secondary education. He began classes at MSU in Bozeman on May 15, hoping to study earth science. The road to college has not been easy. It was potholed with frustration and rejection. Originally from Arkansas, Finister has lived in Montana for seven years. He worked as a carpet cleaner and, as he puts it, “I’m 41 years old and always had a job.” But a series of unfortunate events put him out on the street. “I put in over 300 applications through (Montana) Job Service. I never had a call,” he said. Finister and other veterans interviewed said employers take one look at an application that lists a homeless shelter as an address and reject it out of hand. Finding comfort at Independence Hall has been appreciated. “This is a good place to come because it’s a place to stay, we have food, training … but I want my freedom,” Finister said. “This place has been really good for me.” Tom Wohl served in the Marine Corps Reserve and on active duty in the Army. After becoming homeless, he found shelter at Independence Hall, starting in May 2010. “I got myself a job and an address, and then I signed up to go the (MSUB) College of Technology. The rest is history.”
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Top: Tom Wohl, Vietnam Veteran. Center: Living area of the center. Above: Exterior of Independence Hall. Photos by Casey Page.
He is training to be a carpenter through a veterans program. And, complying with Volunteers of America rules, works in community service. In his case, it’s at Family Services. A.J. Helget spent 13 or 14 years as a homeless veteran, wandering from his home state of Minnesota to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and elsewhere. He served in the Army from 1976 to 1979. He had worked years ago as a welder. Now he works as a dishwasher at a Billings restaurant. And his “home” is Independence Hall. “I’ve been here since New Year’s Eve 2010,” Helget said. He expects he’ll be there for some time to come. But he isn’t living on the street. Nick Little, Volunteers of America’s director of community development, describes the program as “taking care of veterans. This is solving the problem of displaced veterans.” Holder noted, “We see people from all over the country. They end
up on the streets for a variety of reasons. We require them to get tied in with Job Services and with MSUB’s Upward Bound program,” which provides training for veterans planning to advance to college. Funding for the Veterans Service Programs are shared between a grant per diem offered by the VA and a Department of Labor initiative called the Homeless Vets Reintegration Program, Holder added. The Volunteers of America held an open house for Veterans Day and “packed them in,” Holder said. “There is tremendous support in Montana for vets. And this state has the highest per capita number of veterans in the nation.” They also are involved in the annual “Stand Down” event where homeless veterans can get
hot meals, haircuts, flu shots and other things they might need, including meeting with service providers. Cody Jackson, the organization’s grant per diem services coordinator, said staff members meet with veterans at Independence Hall once a week to review their goals and accomplishments. He is especially proud of the success stories. “One vet was a mechanic by trade. He got a job with a business near Bozeman that provided him with a house, free utilities and good pay. Another rekindled a relationship with his mom whom he hadn’t met with in 15 years,” Jackson. Jackson and the staff of VOA continue to reinforce the importance of saying “thank you” to our displaced veterans through their work and continued outreach.
The Wall That Heals
In a quiet and somber atmosphere, a “wall” with the names of more than 58,000 men and women who died in Vietnam will be on display in Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark Aug. 18 through Aug. 21. “The Wall That Heals” is a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is a half-scale version of the actual memorial. It stretches 250 feet in length, and is constructed of powder-coated aluminum, supported on an aluminum frame, and is made up of 24 individual panels, each containing six columns of names. In all, it contains 58,249 names of servicemen and women who died in the Vietnam War. The wall carries the same inscription as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington: “In honor of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam War. The names of those who gave their lives and those who remain missing are inscribed in the order that they were taken from us.” The wall is carried to host cities in a semi-trailer which, when emptied, becomes a museum with information about the war and computers to help locate the names of veterans whose names are on the wall.
The exhibit will be inside Rimrock Auto Arena and will be open to the public 24 hours a day, free of charge. It will be staffed and guarded by volunteers. It is being brought to Billings by, and is sponsored by, the United Veterans Council. George Blackard, the organization’s past commander, said people from veterans organizations throughout the area have shown an interest in volunteering for duty over those four days and nights. Blackard said the setting will be away from the hubbub of MontanaFair, which will be going on elsewhere on the Metra complex, Aug. 12 to 20. “We want a quiet, somber atmosphere,” Blackard said. The exhibit will be open throughout the night because there may be people who, for emotional reasons, may not want to go there during the busy hours of the day. The exhibit also will include names of Vietnam service members who are considered missing in action as well as information about the war in Southeast Asia. Sandra Hawke, director of sales and marketing for MetraPark, said, “The local Veterans Council approached us a year ago and asked if we would host (the wall). We were planning on having it last year during the fair. But we all know what happened last year.” “What happened” was a tornado that ripped apart Rimrock Auto Arena and disrupted activities at MetraPark for nearly a year. Hawke said the Veterans Council is picking up all expenses relating to the exhibit. “They want people to have the experience of seeing it,” she added. There will be no admission charges or any fees for visitors.
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“It is combination of who we are, what we will be and what we can be. There are people who still remember the 40s, and then you go into the 50s and Korea, and of course into civil rights. It is very emotional, because we forget, and it also shows how great we really are.”
The Pulitzer Prize Photographs By Anna Paige Behind their lens, they watch the world unfold. Their images document an instant of time, recording humanity’s tales. Stories of anguish and triumph, of the impoverished and defenseless, the fearless and the frustrated – stories which otherwise would have been untold. Arguably the most iconic photographs of all time, the works of the Pulitzer Prize recipients will be on display at the Yellowstone Art Museum, starting in August. The exhibit, titled “Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs,” is the most comprehensive traveling display of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs, featuring works by Pulitzer recipients from 1942 to present. Each image vividly captures the best and worst of humanity – the stories of who we are forever imbedded in the grains and pixels.
Left: 2002 Pulitzer Prize; Steve Ludlum, Courtesy: The New York Times Above: 1996 Pulitzer Prize; Charles Porter IV, Courtesy: Charles Porter IV
— Cyma Rubin, Curator Images of honor Newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer established journalism’s highest honor, the Pulitzer, in 1917. The Pulitzer Prize for distinguished newspaper photography was established in 1942, and a second prize was added in 1968 for feature photography. To receive the Pulitzer, photographs must first be published in an American newspaper, though subject matter may have a global scope. From the raising of an American flag at Iwo Jima to the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald to attack on the World Trade Center, a total of 160 works (including all 118 Pulitzer-winning photos through 2011) will be displayed in the exhibit. “They’re very dramatic,” said exhibit curator and producer Cyma Rubin of the large-scale prints. “You get close to the work and can really see what happened.” Accompanying text tells the story behind each photograph. Rubin, president of New York’s Business of Entertainment, Inc., began researching Pulitzer photographs in 1994. “Some things you just take for granted. I guess everyone assumed there was an archive, but there wasn’t,” she said. Rubin’s research took her to Columbia University, where she discovered a sparse archive of photographs in a closet. For the next four years she collected negatives of photographs and interviews with photographers and their families. The first exhibition of Pulitzer photographs opened in 1998 in Tokyo, and traveled to Korea in 1999. The Pulitzer board took notice of the exhibit and Cyma Rubin invited Rubin to bring the exhibit to the U.S. She partnered with the Newseum in Washington, D.C., to bring the exhibit stateside, and it has been traveling the country ever since. During this time, Rubin also created a documentary called “Moment of Impact: Stories of the Pulitzer Prize Photographs,” for which she won an Emmy. According to Rubin, more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. have seen the exhibit, and this past June she returned to Korea, where 300,000 people visited the display. “It was unbelievable,” Rubin said. “It is a major piece of American history, and I’m happy that it happened.”
MAGIC I july 2011 I 79
Bringing brilliance to Billings Robin Peterson, executive director of the Yellowstone Art Museum, describes the exhibition as being very important. Large in scale and size, the exhibit will occupy all of the museum’s temporary exhibition galleries both upstairs and down, the only exception being one small gallery. “It’s wonderful that we have the opportunity to present this exhibition,” Peterson said. “Such opportunities are rare for us, and the significance of the exhibition, both aesthetically and historically, warrants the ‘real estate’ we’re committing to it.” Michael Gulledge, vice president of publishing for Lee Enterprises Inc. and publisher of Billings Gazette Communications, was Large in scale one of the driving forces behind bringing the and size, the exhibition to Billings. exhibit will Gulledge first saw the photographic display in occupy all of 2009 at the University of the museum’s Montana. “Each photograph temporary tells a story, and I am how long you exhibition amazed can view each photo and galleries both gain an understanding the emotion of the upstairs and of participants,” Gulledge down. said. “Viewing the exhibit was an incredible experience for me.” Gulledge contacted Rubin to host the exhibit in Billings in conjunction with the Gazette’s 125th anniversary celebration. The newspaper kicked off its 125th year in May 2010, and the Pulitzer exhibit is the finale of the organization’s yearlong celebration. “I was impressed with exhibit and thought the display of award-winning photographs would be a nice event for our 125th anniversary,” Gulledge said.
Information
“Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer Prize
Photographs” opens to the public on August 5 and will be on display at the Yellowstone Art Museum through December 9. An opening reception takes place August 11.
Admission to the display is $6 for adults,
$12 for a family (max. two adults and three
Moments immortalized
children). Children and student admission is
Rubin said of working with such iconic images, “I love all of them. They are part of my life.” She’s often asked which work is her favorite, and she responds, “It’s like asking a mother who has two children which is her favorite. I would go to my grave before I’d say. They all represent something different. As well, they represent a certain time in a photographer’s life.” Rubin emphasizes the exhibit is about the photographers. “Without them, you don’t have those moments recorded. They are out there risking their lives every day.”
$3, and seniors cost $4.
Children are welcome to visit the
exhibition, but discretion is advised due to graphic images. “I expect if we do post an advisory note, it will relate more to scenes of death and violence than to nudity,” Robin Peterson said. “There’s no question that many of these images will be direct, visceral lessons in history and world events.”
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Top: 1945 Pulitzer Prize; Joe Rosenthal, Courtesy: Associated Press Above left: 1949 Pulitzer Prize; Art Fein, New York Herald Tribune, Courtesy: Art Fein Estate Above center: 1964 Pulitzer Prize; Robert H. Jackson, Dallas Times Herald, Courtesy: Robert H. Jackson Above: 1974 Pulitzer Prize; Salva Veder, Courtesy: The Associated Press
And she appreciates the timelessness each image represents. “They never change,” Rubin said. “It’s not like a moving image that flips by you. That energy is forever.” In a historical context, the photographs depict how far we’ve come as a society and how we’ve survived, Rubin said. “It shows development, and it shows we are willing to move forward.” For the public, strong emotions arise when viewing an exhibition of this magnitude, and Rubin said boxes of tissue are placed throughout the exhibit. “It is combination of who we are, what we will be, what we can be,” Rubin said. “There are people who still remember the 40s, and then you go into the 50s and Korea, and of course into civil rights. It is very emotional, because we forget, and it also shows how great we really are.”
1985 Pulitzer Prize; Hal Stoelze, Courtesy: The Orange County Register
Pulitzer Exhibit Preview Event
The Billings Gazette will host a
staff photographers throughout Montana.
previewing event for “Capture the
Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs”
of “Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer
on Monday, Aug. 8. The event includes a
Prize Photographs,” will also speak at the
dinner and silent auction with proceeds
preview event.
to benefit the Parmly Billings Library
Foundation’s capital campaign to build a
last two years as president of the Library
new facility.
Foundation, said proceeds from the event
will go toward the goal of raising $5
As part of the evening, Pulitzer
Prize-winning photographer Robert H.
Cyma Rubin, curator and producer
Evelyn Noennig, who served for the
million for the new facility.
“This event will touch people in
the community and help raise some additional dollars for the campaign,” Noennig said.
Call, text or email me today! It’s my pleasure to serve you.
According to Noennig, the
library provides highly utilized services for the community that go beyond book lending, including
Lauren Bond
Realtor “Moving You Forward”
www.WelcomeHomeBillings.com
(460)699.0200
Internet and computer usage, a variety of educational classes and meeting space. “Each day, more than Photo by James Woodcock
1,200 people go through our library,”
Jackson, who shot the iconic photo of the
said Noennig. Since 1990, library usage
murder of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack
has increased 157 percent, as compared
Ruby, will speak on his experiences as a
to Yellowstone County’s population
photographer and Pulitzer Prize winner.
growth of 26 percent.
Jackson is donating a signed copy
of his photograph to be auctioned at
“It’s like taking a step back in time to some
the event. The auction will also include
of the most critical moments in our history.
framed photographs from Lee Enterprises’
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Specializing in:
Residential Homes & Land New Construction Investment Properties
Of the Pulitzer exhibit, Noennig said,
MAGIC I july 2011 I 81
wag the blackberry by craig lancaster
Let me suggest at the outset that we cozy up to this doozy of a 21st-century term: “persistent connectivity.” If you haven’t heard it, or lived it, count yourself among the lucky and cherish these last few days of life as the rest of us once knew it.
My wife and I have burned entire evenings in silence, both checking our own devices and leaving our dogs to curse their lack of opposable thumbs.
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It’s a self-explanatory term, but in the interest of being blunt, let’s give it a direct definition: We have gadgets, but they own us. We can check our e-mail, update our Facebook status, tweet our lives away in 140-character bursts, send all our friends – and our friends’ friends – a photo, all with a simple handheld device. Oh, yeah, we can also make phone calls; purportedly, that’s the primary reason these handheld devices exist, not that you’d know it from the way they’re used. Simply put, persistent connectivity means we’re never out of touch, and that fact is changing our lives in some profound ways. Now, lest you sense that this screed is heading into Andy Rooneyesque, it-wasbetter-back-in-my-day territory, fear not. For one thing, this is my day. I’m out there tweeting and texting and updating Facebook with the rest of you. To the extent that our gadgets are tools, they bring remarkable efficiency to our lives. Instant communication, being able to compare prices with a few clicks, looking up an old friend, finding a way from here to there – these are good and worthy things, and no one who used to pay a long-distance phone bill or keep a glove box full of maps is likely to long for days gone by. And yet, we can love our smartphone and mourn some of its unfortunate byproducts. I once sat through a job interview at lunch where the hiring manager kept his head down, focused on the BlackBerry he was operating under the table. (I didn’t take the job.) My wife and I have burned entire evenings in silence, both checking our own devices and leaving our dogs to curse their lack of opposable thumbs. I’ve lost close friends I
cultivated through Facebook who didn’t know me – the meatspace me – well enough to understand my particular sense of humor. And while you could argue that I wouldn’t have been friends with those folks at all if not for social networking, that really doesn’t salve the sting of losing touch with someone important. A few weeks ago, in New York, I heard author Jennifer 8. Lee talk about her own struggles with persistent connectivity, a story that will be told in her forthcoming book, “Can I Hear Me Now?” She has suffered real loss in her ultra-wired reality: a boyfriend who broke up with her when he sensed that she expressed herself better in an electronic box than she could face to face, with him. And now, her central questions are compelling: “How do you connect in a world full of connectivity? If we never learn to be alone, will we always be lonely?” A while back, on the Humanities Montana discussion board, I rather forcefully stated that “being better connected has made me a deeper thinker, someone who’s more culturally aware and better-informed than I was previously.” Having given the issue more thought, I’m no longer so stridently certain. While I can cite instances of that being true, I can just as easily recall all the ways in which the online life flattens people out and makes them two-dimensional, occasions when I said things online that I’d never say face to face (if you’re oh so clever, Facebook can be an intoxicating – and dangerous – place), moments when I was all too eager to correct someone who was wrong on the Internet. If I’m truly honest with myself, the benefits and the debits amount to a wash except when I’m able to exercise some self-discipline. A nice, long walk outside should help. And right now is as good a time as any. Craig Lancaster is the copy desk chief at The Gazette. He is the author of two novels: “600 Hours of Edward,” a 2010 High Plains Book Award winner, and “The Summer Son.” Please see his website, www.craiglancaster.com.
“Mom! I’m bored!” If there’s one phrase that can set a parent’s teeth on edge, that’s it. After all, school’s out, the sun is shining and we live in a city that’s always got something happening. But before you give in and let the kids boost your electricity bill and drive your blood pressure higher by plugging in every blaring, beeping and brain-numbing device available, check out this list of great things to do this summer. BY JULIE GREEN MAGIC I july 2011 I 83
Grab Your Bike Did you know that Billings has 36 miles of bike trails? Whether you’re looking to sail along a paved path or get dusty on a gravel one, take the whole family for a bike ride. Bikenet.org has great printable maps for you to use as a starting point. Take a Hike Trails aren’t just for riding; put on your walking shoes, fill up your water bottle and head out for a hike. Prpl.info has a complete list of trails to choose from and also includes information about where you can take your four-legged hiking buddy with you. Catch Some Air Goofy-foot or regular? Whichever you are, the Billings Skate Park (27th Street and 1st Ave. North) is calling your name. Get your skateboard, helmet and pads and head down for some ride time. Photo by Larry Mayer
Take Me Out to The Ballgame Cheer on the Mustangs – Billings’ own minor league baseball team – as they hit ‘em out of the park…Dehler Park, that is. To see who’s playing and when, log on to billingsmustangs.org. Or why not give American Legion ball a try? Printable schedules are available at billingsbaseball.org. Make a Racket Even if you’ve never formally learned to play the game, tennis is a fun way to burn off steam and get some exercise. Photo by Bob Zellar Castle Rock, Central, Lillis, North, Pioneer, Rose and South Parks all have tennis courts for public use. Want to take lessons? Visit billingstennis.org for details.
Park Hopping The city is full of parks; in fact, there are more than 40 of them. Why not head out for some exploration to find the one you like best? Billings Parks and Recreation’s website (prpl.info) has a searchable database of all city parks, and you can select one based on the type of activities you enjoy. Make a Splash If you’re ready to take a dip, head to South Park or Rose Park, where kids under 6 swim free. Wading pools are also available in Pioneer and Hawthorne Parks. Spray grounds provide a kidfriendly outing, too. There are four in the City; located in North, Terry, Hiland and Castlerock Parks. For pricing and hours, visit prpl.info. Life’s a Beach We may be far from the ocean, but you can still enjoy time at the beach. Lake Photo by James Woodcock Elmo is perfect for canoeing, kayaking and swimming. Pet lovers will enjoy the fenced, 200-sq.-ft. dog park on the west end of the reservoir.
84 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Grab a Paddle Never learned how to canoe or kayak? There’s no better time to learn. They’re just two of the classes offered by Billings Parks & Recreation this summer. Best of all, they provide all of the gear! Register online at prpl.info. Photo by Gazette Staff
Dive In Would you like to see what exists in an underwater world? Well, if you’re 10 or older, you can. Adventure Scuba on Grand Avenue (divemontana.com) can give you all the information you need to get started. Walkabouts Nestled at the bottom of the Rims, Billings is surrounded by beautiful country. There’s never been a better time to learn more about it. Whether you’re interested in Wednesday night walkabouts, early morning bird watching or strolls across the prairie under a full moon, the Rim Country Land Institute has the perfect opportunity for you at Cove Canyon Grasslands. Learn more and sign up at rimcountry.org. Find Some Cache While you’re out and about, why not add some treasure hunting to your list? Geocaching is a fun way to get out, exercise…and get rewarded. You will need a GPS device or use a downloadable app for your smartphone. A great place to start is geocaching.com, and be sure to join the Billings geocaching community at groups.yahoo.com/group/bgcg/ for more local news and information. Waymarking Unfamiliar with the term? Well, it’s kind of like geocaching, but rather than looking for treasures, you look for interesting locations. For instance, have you ever heard of H.M. “Muggins” Taylor? Have you seen the statue of Gandalf? Or have you ever met “Speedy?” Join waymarking.com and see how many unique sites you can discover right here in Billings. A Day at the Museum(s) When’s the last time you spent a day at the museum? Billings has a lot of them to choose from; in addition to the Yellowstone Art Museum, you’ll find unique artwork and historical pieces at the Western Heritage Center, Moss Mansion, Museum of Women’s History, Legacy Doll Museum and the Peter Yegen Yellowstone County Museum near the airport.
Photo by Larry Mayer
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Visit our new store at 111 S. 24th St. West 656-2815 • MON - FRI 10 - 8 • SAT 10-5 SUN Closed Photo by Larry Mayer
MAGIC I july 2011 I 85
Photo courtesy of
tall tales
Western Heritage Center
Separating Billings folklore and fact from fibs and fiction BY BRITTANY CREMER arnest exaggeration was born in Billings, cultivated by a culture of Big Sky and bigger tales. And as listeners, beguiled by the bluff, we bite. Hook, line and sinker, we swallow big fish stories we know to be false. Lost in a tale’s implausible magic, we follow along in desperate hope that there’s a shred of truth to the saga. And most of the time, we get taken—a pointed finger and an unnerving “gotcha!” later, we lick our gullibility wounds and head back to reality where the stories end in periods instead of exclamation points, and happily ever after looks more like a scene from “Roseanne” than from “Cinderella.” But sometimes, something marvelous happens. Sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction. And when this happens, our skept-o-meter is knocked all willy-nilly. Billings brims with such curiosities—some true, some heinously false. See if you can weed out the facts from the fibs. We dare you. (Make that a double-dog dare.)
86 I july 2011 I MAGIC
1. Take me out to the ballgame
5. Dream weaver
T/F: Present-day Cobb Field in Billings was named after the inventor of the Cobb salad.
T/F: Famed Chief Plenty Coups almost sleepwalked himself to death.
Answer: Strangely enough, TRUE
Robert H. Cobb, proprietor of the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, was the inventor of the savory salad most of us have come to love as the Cobb salad. Born in Billings, Cobb never forgot his hometown roots and teamed up with local proprietor, Archie Cochrane, to negotiate the lease of the field and inception of the ball club. The season opened at Cobb Field on April 27, 1948.
Answer: TRUE
T/F: Billings is named as a destination point in the Johnny Cash jingle, “I’ve Been Everywhere.”
Dreaming that he was chasing a dog, Crow Indian Chief Plenty Coups (while sleepwalking) crawled out the window of the Eagle Hotel on Montana Avenue to the roof of the adjoining building and fell. The fall broke his right leg between the knee and the hip, but the Chief made it out of the ordeal alive.
Answer: FALSE
Source: Kevin Kooistra, Community Historian Western Heritage Center
But Billings is listed as a destination spot in a lesser-known version by a Montana-based trio of singers named The Singing Sons of Beaches. The tongue-and-cheek trio follows the same ditty, but names only cities in Montana. “I’ve been to Montana, man, I’ve been to Montana, man, I’ve been all around this state my friend, I’ve seen the mountains grand. From the Badlands, to the wheat lands, I’ve been to Montan’” …you get the idea.
Photo courtesy of Western Heritage Center.
Source: Kevin Kooistra, Community Historian Western Heritage Center
2. I’ve been everywhere, man. I’ve been everywhere
6. Huge hoppers
Source: www.singingsobs.com
3.What’s in a name? T/F: In the 1930s, the name “Ammalapashkuua,” was synonymous with Billings.
T/F: Billings auto mechanic, Glenn Muggins, was credited with capturing the world’s largest grasshopper on May17, 1946.Weighing in at 38.8 pounds, the record still stands today.
Loosely translated into “place where we cut wood,” the Yellowstone River bottom was a favorite camp and salubrious spot of plentiful wood, water and game for the Crow.
6. Answer: So FALSE Although, interestingly enough, there have been prehistoric grasshoppers recovered from glaciers in the Beartooth Mountains near Billings.
Source: “Billings, the City and the People”
Source: Kevin Kooistra, Community Historian Western Heritage Center
Answer: TRUE
Photo courtesy of Western Heritage Center.
4. Put him on ice T/F: Billings icon and trailblazer,Yellowstone Kelly, died in 1928 but wasn’t buried until six months later. Answer: TRUE
After spending time all over the country, it was Kelly’s last wish to be buried in Montana. After all of the appropriate paperwork was filed, his body was shipped to Billings where it remained in a mortuary on ice for six months before being laid to rest in Boothill Cemetery. Source: Kevin Kooistra, Community Historian Western Heritage Center Photo courtesy of Western Heritage Center.
7. Pretty in pink T/F: Billings and the surrounding areas are one of the few locales around the world capable of generating pink snow. Answer: TRUE
…And it’s not caused by bloodshed, either. Known as “The Land of Pink Snow,” there is an area of the Beartooth Mountains that generates a rare, pink algae unique to climates like ours, emitting the blushing tint. Source: Kevin Kooistra, Community Historian Western Heritage Center
MAGIC I july 2011 I 87
8. Eat your liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti
“Answers for Living When Life is Limited”
T/F: Billings trapper and frontiersman, Liver Eatin’ Johnson, received his nickname after a fellow poker player insulted him, calling him “lily-livered.” To show his outrage, Johnson stabbed the man, cut out his liver, and took a bite out of it right at the poker table. Answer: Ewwww...FALSE
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The true story isn’t quite as sensational. Considered a delicacy at the time, Johnson devoured the heart and liver of a steer immediately after the animal was butchered at a fair in Billings. Source: “Full Circle: A Celebration of Billings” Photo courtesy of Western Heritage Center.
9. City of Billings keys Lady Bird T/F: After a visit to Billings in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson’s wife, Lady Bird, was awarded the ceremonial key to the city of Billings and was then asked to return it. Answer: TRUE
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Billings Mayor Willard Fraser presented Lady Bird Johnson with a ceremonial key to the city on Aug. 14, 1964. The problem: the key was to be returned after the ceremony. The first lady never learned it wasn’t hers to keep. The Associated Press picked up the story about how the city wanted the key returned. A week after the ceremony, a decision had been made in Billings that the first lady could keep the key. The Billings Gazette ran a headline saying, “Okay, Lady Bird, You Can Have It!” Mayor Fraser stated “Mrs. Johnson is a gracious lady and the city will be gracious, too.” In the future, the mayor said he would like to be able to hand out tiny keys to any visitor of note. Source: The LBJ Library - Citation No. 5078; Billings Gazette, August 21, 1964. Photo courtesy of Western Heritage Center.
10. Infant incubation
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T/F: Dr. Charles Chapple Jr. (son of Billings Chapple Drug proprietor, Charles Chapple Sr.) revolutionized the infant care market in 1938 by inventing an incubation apparatus for premature babies that was temperaturecontrolled. Answer: TRUE
Billings Bozeman Butte Helena
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From the nurses’ standpoint, this model was easier to manipulate than previous incubators. The mechanism was automatic and comprised of two compartments, one above the other. The upper contained the baby, the lower housed the working unit. The invention, which seems antiquated today, was truly a marvel and achievement for the time. Source: Kevin Kooistra, Community Historian, Western Heritage Center.
www.rockymountainhospice.com 88 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Photo courtesy of Western Heritage Center.
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Pristine Montana Gem: Emerald Lake, Beartooth Mountains
90 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Tent – check. Sleeping bags – check. Coleman stove, lantern, cooler – check, check, check. There’s nothing quite like sitting around a crackling campfire beneath a canopy of stars and telling scary ghost stories. Add marshmallows on a pointy stick and you’ve got the makings for fun, family memories. This summer, grab the kids and rediscover the great outdoors – it’s easier than you think.
By Allyn Hulteng
Lounging Lakeside
Rock Creek Respite
Emerald Lake Campground,
M-K Campground, Southwest of Red Lodge, Mont.
Beartooth Ranger District
Discover: At an elevation of 7,300,
Discover: Aptly named, the
brilliant green and blue hues of this serene mountain lake provide a stunning backdrop. Though motorized boating is prohibited, anglers can fish from canoes, float tubes or from shore. Day hikers will enjoy the wilderness trail to Mystic Lake, approximately 3 miles. Heartier hikers can continue their journey deep into the Beartooth Wilderness Area.
Location: From Fishtail, Mont.,
travel 1 mile west on NT-419, 6 miles southwest on County Road 425 (West Rosebud Road), then 12 miles south of Forest Road 2072.
Services:
✓ Campground ✓ RV sites ✓ Drinking water ✓ Restrooms
Activities:
✓ Fishing ✓ Picnicking ✓ Hiking/Backpacking ✓ Wildlife viewing
this high-altitude campground sits in the shadow of the Beartooth Scenic Byway. Anglers seasoned and new will appreciate the proximity to Rock Creek and Greenough Lake, both brimming with rainbow trout. For a spectacular day hike, take the Parkside National Recreational Trail, which loops 3 miles from Parkside to M-K Campground along Rock Creek.
Location: Eleven miles southwest of Red Lodge, Mont., on US 212, then 4 miles southwest on Forest Road 2421.
Services:
✓ Campground ✓ RV sites ✓ Drinking water ✓ Restrooms
Activities:
✓ Fishing ✓ Hiking/Backpacking ✓ Scenic driving
MAGIC I july 2011 I 91
Caves and Crinoids
Pampered Campers
Sage Creek Campground, Pryor Mountains
Billings KOA – The World’s First KOA
Discover: Unlike most mountain
Discover: If your idea of “roughing it” includes hot showers and a heated swimming pool, look no further than the Billings KOA. Located in a park-like setting along the Yellowstone River, KOA offers tenting, RV sites and even Kamping Kabins for those who want a little more creature comfort. The kids can enjoy swimming, shooting hoops or a round of miniature golf while mom and dad relax. Forget something important? No problem – the wellstocked convenience store has you covered.
ranges in Montana, the Pryor Mountains were never glaciated, thus many of the paleontological features remain. Visitors can easily spot the fossilized remains of tiny marine creatures on the ground, including crinoids and brachiopods. The area is also riddled with caves. The most wellknown is nearby Big Ice Cave, roughly 11 miles east on Forest Road 23085. Cave exploring is allowed from June through October, but a permit from the Forest Service or BLM is required.
Location: From Bridger, Mont., drive
south 3 miles on US 310, 22 miles southeast on the Pryor Mountain Road and 1 mile east on Forest Road 2050. High-clearance vehicles recommended.
Services:
✓ Campground ✓ RV sites ✓ Restrooms Activities:
✓ Spelunking ✓ Fishing ✓ Hiking/Backpacking ✓ Picnicking ✓ Wildlife viewing
Location: 547 Garden Ave., Billings Reservations: (800) 562-8546; Information: (406) 252-3104 Email: info@billingskoa.com
Services:
✓ Convenience store
and Gift shop
✓ Family-style restrooms ✓ Laundry facilities ✓ Pistol Pete’s
Outdoor BBQ featuring hot breakfasts and BBQ dinners
Activities:
✓ Outdoor heated
swimming pool
✓ Hot tub ✓ Game room ✓ Basketball court ✓ Miniature golf ✓ 2 playgrounds ✓ Bike rentals
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92 I july 2011 I MAGIC
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1.
2.
Montana State University Billings Foundation’s Wine & Food Festival
3.
1] Yvette Olson, Barb Seeley,
Sue Rydquist
2] Cara and Mike Schaer 3] Jillian and Gregory Miller 4] David Orser and Ossie
Abrams
5] Val Jeffries and Allen Powers 6] Steve and Anne Stinson 7] Jon and Kathy Pierce 8] Joni and Al Koelzer
4. 5.
6. 7.
8.
Photos courtesy of MSU Billings Foundation, Heritage Center, Rimrock Opera, Billings Symphony and Brian Wagner
MAGIC I july 2011 I 93
9.
Western Heritage Center – Gallery Opening of Montana Masters 9] Conrad Burns, Ben Steele, Phylis Burns
Artwalk 10] Donna Forbes and Dennis
Kern
10.
Tosca
11.
11] Kiel Klaphake and Cassandra
Norville
Billings Symphony 60th Anniversary Season Finale 12] Mary Ladas, Georgette
Nicholson, Emily Nicholson,
Alexandra Gregory
13] Colleen Weichman, Todd 12. 13.
Sherman, Michael Sample,
Anne Harrigan, Garrick
Ohlsson
Alive After 5 14] Dani Whittmeyer, Tina
Hirschkorn, Peggy Lawson,
Melissa Hernandez
15] Skip Heimbichner and
Sandy Bettise
16] Jordan Hennessy 14. 16. 15.
94 I july 2011 I MAGIC
July 15-17
August 27 Genealogy Fair Are you interested in researching your ancestral roots? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in collaboration with the Yellowstone Genealogical Society will host a Genealogy Fair on Aug. 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Ave. D Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 1711 6th St. W. In addition to teaching basic genealogy research, information booths will be available about scrapbooking and preserving family memories, family reunions, traditions and journaling, as well as meal ideas for bringing the family together over dinner. The Fair is open to the public and free of charge. For more details, contact Kari Jorden at 698-3502.
July July 6
Summer Reading Program “You are Here” (6-12 grades) Parmly Billings Library 3rd floor, 2 p.m.
July 7
Summer Reading Program “One World, Many Stories” (0-5 grades) Parmly Billings Library 3rd floor, 10:30 a.m. Alive After 5 Tiny’s Tavern Featuring Black Velvet Undercover 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m. St. John’s Summer Concert Series Featuring Dave Oltrogge & Friends St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 7 p.m.
July 8
Children’s Crafts Parmly Billings Library 3rd floor, 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. Yellowstone Relay for Life American Cancer Society Billings West High School 256-7150 yellowstonecountyrelay.org 7 p.m.
Montana After Dark Featuring Clumsy Lovers with the Sons of Billings McCormick Stage at McCormick Café 8 p.m.
July 9
Montana Brews & BBQs MetraPark Chiesa Plaza 256-2400 or metrapark.com 3 - 11 p.m.
July 11
St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation’s Marynell Heringer Women’s Golf Tournament Laurel Golf Course 8 a.m.
July 12
Ray Price in concert Alberta Bair Theater 256-6052 albertabairtheater.org 7:30 p.m. Stone Temple Pilots Rimrock Auto Arena 256-2400 or metrapark.com 8 p.m.
July 13
Summer Reading Program “You are Here” (6-12 grades) Parmly Billings Library 3rd floor, 2 p.m.
July 14
Summer Reading Program “One World, Many Stories” (0-5 grades) Parmly Billings Library 3rd floor, 10:30 a.m. Alive After 5 The Rex Featuring Jared Stewart 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m. St. John’s Summer Concert Series Featuring Johnny Rodgers Band Campus of St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 7 p.m.
July 14 – 17
Crazy Days Downtown Billings 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
July 15
Montana After Dark Featuring The Sons of Billings and The Kemmicks McCormick Stage at McCormick Café 8 p.m.
Big Sky State Games Various locations and times 254-7426 bigskygames.org
July 16 & 17
Summerfair Veterans Park 256-6804, x239 artmuseum.org 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
July 16 – October 1 Yellowstone Valley Farmers’ Market Downtown Billings 855-1299 8:30 a.m. - noon
July 19
Montana Shakespeare in the Park “Much Ado About Nothing” Pioneer Park, 994-1220 6:30 p.m.
July 20
Montana Shakespeare in the Park “The Merchant of Venice” Pioneer Park, 994-1220 6:30 p.m. Summer Reading Program “You are Here” (6-12 grades) Parmly Billings Library 3rd floor, 2 p.m.
July 21
Summer Reading Program “One World, Many Stories” (0-5 grades) Parmly Billings Library 3rd floor, 10:30 a.m. Alive After 5 Walkers Featuring South Park Line Soul Reunion 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m. St. John’s Summer Concert Series Featuring Midlife Chryslers Campus of St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 7 p.m.
July 22
Montana After Dark Featuring The Sons of Billings with Terpischore Dance Troupe McCormick Stage at McCormick Café 8 p.m.
MAGIC I july 2011 I 95
July 23
All Original Car Show North Park 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ronnie Dunn Rimrock Auto Arena 256-2400 or metrapark.com 7 p.m.
July 23 – 24 Viva La Fiesta South Park 248-6412
July 28
Alive After 5 Monte Carlo Casino Featuring 7th Avenue Band 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m. St. John’s Summer Concert Series Featuring StoryHill Campus of St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 7 p.m.
July 29
Montana After Dark Featuring Cure for the Common with The Sons of Billings McCormick Stage at McCormick Café 8 p.m.
July 23-24
Clark Days Pompeys Pillar National Monument 875-2400 or pompeyspillar.org Check website for event times
August
August 14
Downtown Night at the Mustangs Dehler Park 7:05 p.m.
Alive After 5 The Rock Pile Featuring Big Caboose 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m.
August 3
August 12-20
Magic City Blues South Park 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
August 1
Willie Nelson & Lyle Lovett Amend Park www.ticketfly.com or 877-435-9849 Gate: 5:30 p.m. Show: 7 p.m.
MontanaFair All facilities at MetraPark 256-2400 or metrapark.com
August 4
Three Days Grace with My Darkest Days Rimrock Auto Arena 256-2400 or metrapark.com 7 p.m.
Alive After 5 Pug Mahon’s Irish Pub Featuring Peach Pickers 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m. St. John’s Summer Concert Series Featuring Big Caboose Campus of St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 7 p.m.
Mötley Crüe and New York Dolls Rimrock Auto Arena 256-2400 or metrapark.com 8 p.m.
August 11
96 I july 2011 I MAGIC
Magic City Blues Featuring Davina and the Vagabonds Campus of St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 7 p.m.
August 18-20
Yellowstone River Roundup PRCA Rodeo Rimrock Auto Arena 256-2400 or metrapark.com 7 p.m.
August 19
Eagle Mount Happy Caddy Cup Briarwood Country Club 245-4390 or eaglemount.us
First Friday Late shopping hours downtown 5 – 8 p.m.
August 9
Supercross Grandstands at MetraPark 256-2400 or metrapark.com 6 p.m.
Alive After 5 – Family Fun Night Downtown Billings Featuring the Midlife Chryslers 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m.
Artwalk Downtown Billings 5 – 9 p.m.
Montana After Dark Featuring The Sons of Billings with The Forestry McCormick Stage at McCormick Café 8 p.m.
August 16
August 18
Alice Cooper in concert Alberta Bair Theater 256-6052 or albertabairtheater.org 8 p.m.
Stanley Tools PBR Invitational Rimrock Auto Arena 5:50 p.m. 256-2400 or metrapark.com
Ron White Alberta Bair Theater 256-6052 albertabairtheater.org 7:30 p.m.
Magic City Blues Montana Ave. 6 p.m. – midnight
August 5
August 5-7
July 29
August 12
Eddie Money and 38 Special Rimrock Auto Arena 256-2400 or metrapark.com 7 p.m.
August 25
Alive After 5 Surfer Joe’s Featuring D’Tective 294-5060 or aliveafter5.com 5 - 8 p.m.
August 27 August 13
NAMI-Billings Bike Ride Molt Community Center namibillingsride.org 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Magic City Soul Run 3K and 5K routes Starts and ends at South Park 8 a.m. Day of Destruction Grandstands at MetraPark 256-2400 or metrapark.com 2 p.m. Magic City Blues South Park, 11:30 – 6 p.m. Montana Ave., 6 p.m. – midnight Dierks Bentley and Jason Jones Rimrock Auto Arena 256-2400 or metrapark.com 7 p.m.
Billings Clinic Classic Alberta Bair Theater 5:30 p.m.
August 29 - 31
Blue Man Group Alberta Bair Theater 256-6052 or albertabairtheater.org 5:30 p.m.
September September 2
First Friday Late shopping hours downtown 5 – 8 p.m.
September 2 – 3
Burn the Point Classic Car Parade & Car Show 248-9295 or burnthepoint.com Check website for event times
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LAST WORD
by dina brophy
Boomers by the Numbers From gray to great
In 1964, more than
1/3 of the population
was comprised of
Boomers under 19
years old. (Source: bbhq.com)
Compared to those in the 24-34 age bracket,
Boomers
aged 55-64
more on
for every retiree.
80
at home.
three workers for every one retiree.
by Boomers.
spend 113% wine consumed
(Source: PrimeTime Women, Marti Barletti)
At the end of World War II, there were
44workers
paying Social Security taxes
Now the ratio is
(Source: abcnews.go.com)
% of all
leisure travel
can be accounted for (Source: boomersweb.net)
1in4 Boomers
has a second home. (Source: Lifetwo.com)
98 I july 2011 I MAGIC
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