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PLUS - FROM AMORÉ TO ANATOMY: MATTERS OF THE HEART MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 1
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4 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
FEATURES
FROM AMORÉ to Anatomy
58 Matters of the Heart By Kathleen Harris
63
When I Grow Up, I Wanna Be By Alan Muskett
the serious side of
march/april 2015
64
High Anxiety
By Allyn Hulteng
70
The Arc of Friendship By Michelle Williams
75
the serious side of fun By susan austin
84 Page 75
Every Move You Make By Terri Malucci
88
Wrestlemania
Montana’s High School Wrestling Tournament By Rob Rogers
96
The Heart of Winter By Jim Gransbery
99
Turkey Talk
By Brett French
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SOUTHERN COMFORT: DRINKS, FOOD & TRAVEL • CALEDONIAN PIPES & DRUMS • ERIC WARREN • MATTERS OF THE HEART
SOUTHERN COMFORT MARCH / APRIL 2015
EATS, DRINKS & BOURBON ST.
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ERIC WARREN HOLLYWOOD TAKE NOTE
PLUS - FROM AMORÉ TO ANATOMY: MATTERS OF THE HEART
MC61_FEB2015COV.indd 1
2/6/2015 3:14:49 PM
On the cover Concert at the Shrine Auditorium Photos by Casey Page
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 5
DEPARTMENTS
march/april 2015
RIVER TO RIMS
IN EVERY ISSUE
8
EDITOR’S LETTER b y ALLY n H u lt e n g
9
cONTRIBUTORS
106
SEEN AT THE SCENE
110
10 tHE LIST
FUN , FACINATING f INDS
12
PERSON OF INTEREST
14
GIVING BACK
16 18 20
E r i c Wa rre n
C a s t i ng f or Re c o v e ry
ARTIST LOFT
Ch a n c e R ob i n s on
ELEMENTS
Th e U lt i m at e M a s t e r S u i t e
MEDIA ROOM
b OOKS, MOVIES, MUSIC & WEB REVIEWS
DATEBOOK
114
SIGNATURE SECTION
LAST WORD
Why Magic City?
FINE LIVING
22
GREAT ESTATES
mONTANA PERSPECTIVES
39
LEGENDS
32
epicure
44
PHOTO JOURNAL
29
libations
49
i’M JUST SAYIN’
f rom c on c e p t t o c om p l e t i on
Th e C a l e d on i a n P i p e s & Dru m s of B i l l i ng s Love. Love. Love.
C a j u n c om f or t
S p i r i t s of t he S o u t h
armchair adventures with lewis and clark
TRAVELOGUE
52
the big easy
Welcome to new orleans
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.
march/april 2015 I VOLUME 13 I ISSUE 1 Michael GulledgE Publisher 657-1225
We Make We Make Your Your BankingeasY... Easy... Banking
e di t ori a l
Allyn Hulteng Editor-in-chief 657-1434 Bob Tamb0 Creative Director 657-1474 Brittany Cremer Senior Editor 657-1390 Brenda Maas Assistant Editor 657-1490 Evelyn Noennig community liason / assistant Editor 657-1226 pho togr a phy/ v ide ogr a ph y
Larry Mayer, James Woodcock, Casey Page, Bob Zellar, hannah potes A dv e r t ising
Dave Worstell Sales & Marketing Director 657-1352 Ryan Brosseau Classified & Online Manager 657-1340 Shelli Rae Scott SALES MANAGER 657-1202 LINSAY DUTY ADVERTISING COORDINATOR 657-1254 MO LUCAS Production/Traffic Artist 657-1204 C on tac t us: Mail: 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101 editor@magiccitymagazine.com F ind us onl ine at www.magiccitymagazine.com
So you have more time to do what you enjoy.
F ind us at va rious r ac k l oc at ions t hroughou t Bil l ings: Billings area Albertsons I Billings Airport I Billings Clinic Billings Gazette Communications I Billings Hardware I Curves for Women Evergreen IGA I Gainan’s I Good Earth Market Granite Fitness I Kmart I McDonald’s (select locations) neecee’s I Paxson's Flooring (Miles City) I Pita Pit Reese and Ray’s IGA (Laurel) I Sidney Airport I Stella’s St. Vincent Healthcare I The Y I Valley Federal Credit Union (Downtown location) Western Security Banks (Downtown location) I Williston Airport Yellowstone County Museum I Plus many other locations 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 Magazine is published five times a year by Billings Gazette Communications Copyright© 2015 Magic City Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written consent is prohibited.
Your brand of bank... big enough to help, small enough to care.
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 7
Brittany Cremer
The Good Life Did you log 40 hours at the office last week? Check again. If you tally all the hours you actually worked, it would likely be considerably more. In a 2014 survey by Gallup, full-time U.S. workers reported working an average of 47 hours each week. That’s nearly one full day more. Put another way, those extra hours adds up to nine additional work weeks over the course of a year. Hard to believe? Take a peek at your calendar. How many lunch meetings did you have? Conference calls? Webinars? Business trips? How about booking an early morning coffee meeting (because your regular calendar was, of course, full). Let’s not forget email, which you can conveniently address 24/7 thanks to the advent of mobile technology. Speaking of mobile, do you have your hands free device? That little gem lets you attend meetings as you drive, without being distracted by Montana’s legendary landscape. And we wonder why we’re so stressed…
All work and no play…
In her book, Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time, author Brigid Schulte explores in-depth the phenomenon she calls “the overwhelm.” Like many of us, before researching her book Schulte bought into the notion that the insane pace of her life was simply the way of the 21st Century. Her research, however, suggests something quite different. Schulte posits that since the 1980s there has been growing pressure to work longer and “more extreme” work hours, a move fueled at least in part by technology. As adaptive creatures, humans have embraced this new work ideal. Not only have we bought in, but Schulte says many now tie their self-worth and self-importance to being ultra-busy. But this shift comes with a cost.
8 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
As Schulte noted, we feel guilty about working so much, so we trade what little personal downtime remains to do even more for our kids – which adds to the “the overwhelm.” The problem isn’t work or caring for our kids. The problem is that too many of us aren’t taking the time to restore our own sense of wellbeing – and the toll is mounting.
Rediscovering ourselves
When is the last time you gave yourself permission to indulge in pure leisure? I don’t mean a rushed restaurant meal or obligatory family visit; I mean purposefully setting aside time to luxuriate in an activity that you love. Been a while? Here’s something you should know: Playtime isn’t just for children. Adults benefit greatly from regularly checking out of the rat race to relax and rejuvenate. They’re less stressed, more creative, feel an improved sense of vitality and have better relationships – all of which helps create a better work-life balance. Not sure where to begin? To get you started, inside this issue we gathered 25 ideas for getting away from the grind and engaging in unfettered fun. Look for them on page 75. Still hesitating? Think about this. You can flip through these pages and then set this magazine aside. A year from now nothing will have changed. Or, you can take back a few of those extra hours you work and reinvest them in your soul. The good life you want doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by choice – and yours is waiting.
Allyn Hulteng Editor-in-chief editor@magiccitymagazine.com
developed her communication skills early, once racking up a $174 bill calling 1-900-SANTA in an effort to unsuccessfully acquire Moonshoes™ and a pink corvette. Before becoming Senior Editor of Magic, she channeled her creativity and drive into a BA in print journalism from the University of Montana (Go Griz!) and a MS in Public Relations from MSUB—melding her two loves, writing and people.
Brenda Maas Whether she’s chasing down resources or one of her three sons, Brenda Maas sees each day as yet another story to tell. She has been writing and reporting since cut-and-paste was en vogue. Recently, she and husband, Brett, opened a local custom garment store as yet another new adventure. She now has a new venue for recording other people’s quotes.
Evelyn Noennig has spent most of her life in the Magic City. She's passionate about the community and the people who make Billings a great place to live, work and play. As Community Liaison for Magic, Evelyn will be engaged in discovering the individuals and their stories that make MAGIC distinctly local. You just never know where you may find her, volunteering, attending or coordinating an event for the library…she’s everywhere.
Bob tambo
attributes the longevity of his 30-year commercial art career to many novenas to the Blessed Virgin and is still amazed he gets paid for what he does. Though he daydreams of switching jobs with Anthony Bourdain and playing guitar with Jackson Browne, Bob would never trade spending time with his wife Kit and constantly pampering his two tiny canine children, Jack and Jill.
c ont r i b uto r s
Gary Robson is a lover of all things Scottish and emcee of most Billings-area Scottish events. He has written more than two dozen books, including the award winning Who Pooped in the Park? series and owns a bookstore and tea bar in Red Lodge.
Karen Kinser While loving the wizardry of words, Karen also loves travel because of that present-moment sense, which travel conveys so well, that each day is a gift to unwrap. Other passions include hiking, gardening, photography and entering recipe contests. Both she and her husband are fascinated with factory tours, literary landmarks and seeking restaurants mentioned in novels— just to see if they exist.
Lee Hulteng grew up in Billings and moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1986 where he worked as a visual journalist for the Grand Forks Herald until 1998. While there, the newspaper staff received a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service after the 1997 flood. He has lived in Maryland since 1998 where he worked as a senior illustrator for McClatchy/Tribune in Washington, DC until 2011. He still lives in Maryland where he now freelances and creates metal sculpture, along with restoring vintage motorcycles.
Rob Rogers’
spirit animal is Val Kilmer. He’s been writing news and features since he won a spot on his elementary school’s biweekly newspaper with an opinion piece on why “Magnum P.I.” needs to exist in the real world. He probably still believes everything he wrote in that piece. He lives in Billings with his wife and three daughters. Before staking his future on freelance writing and at-home parenting, he was the education reporter for The Billings Gazette.
Kathleen Harris
is the marketing director for Billings Catholic Schools, covering enrollment management, fundraising, public relations, website management and social media for the school system. Alongside a life devoted to her now college-aged children, she enjoys both writing and travel as the means to get to know a place, and exploring the food and wine of any given destination.
Brett French
is the Outdoors editor for The Billings Gazette, where he has worked for the past 15 years. A native Montanan, he grew up in Bozeman, graduated from the University of Montana with a journalism degree and has worked across the Northwest for a variety of publications during his 29-year career. He has hunted for 41 years.
Michelle Williams
is a seasoned content creator across digital, print and social channels in such diverse areas as travel, health care, technology and business. In her current role as strategy and business development director at A.D. Creative Group, Michelle is directly involved in client projects specific to strategic planning, research, content development, consumer trending and brand management.
KIDS’ COUTURE a nd GIFTS
502 North 30th Street
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 9
THE LIST
THE LIST
PERSON OF INTEREST
GIVING BACK
ARTIST LOFT
MEDIA ROOM
ELEMENTS
FUN, FASCINATING FINDS WE THINK ARE GREAT
Pledge allegiance No doubt. Home is where the heart is. Make your declaration with this solid wooden plaque. Available at Northern Boutique $33
No joe! Put the pot on to boil—it’s tea time! And it pays to be discerning. Based in Big Timber, Tumblewood Teas uses local producers whenever possible. Photo Courtesy of Tumblewood Teas. Available at Good Earth Market, Big Bear and tumblewoodteas.com $9-11 for tea $5-12 for honey
No pressure… …for an accurate reading if you have this blood pressure monitor from Omron. It is fully-automatic and clinicallyvalidated. So smart, it even tells if you have the cuff placed incorrectly. This is truly a life-saving device. Available online $329
Don’t be a chicken Grab this slate turkey call from Primos, and get your practice time in before spring turkey season begins. It is sure to put less wobble in your gobble. Available at Cabela’s $25-60
Behold the plaid Handcrafted using vintage, salvaged and sustainable materials, this one-of-a-kind cosmetic bag will show your true colors. Plus, it’s a Montana-made product, by eme. Available at Northern Boutique $34
10 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
2015 MKC AWD 5LFUJ32466
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A MONTh FOR 36-MONTh LEASE LiNCOLN AFS REd CARPET LEASE* *Cash due at signing includes $369 first month’s payment plus $3,649 down, acquisition fee in payment. Security deposit waived. Exclude taxes, title and license fees. Owner Loyalty or Conquest
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Bob Smith Lincoln, Inc.
2244 Central Ave Billings, MT 406-206-3700 BobSmithLincoln.com
1) With 100A Equipment Group. Not all buyers will qualify for Lincoln AFS Red Carpet Lease. Payments may vary; dealer determines price. Cash due at signing is after $1,000 Owner Loyalty (PGM #33261) which is available to customers who currently own or lease a 1995 or newer Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle OR $1,000 Competitive Conquest Bonus Cash (PGM #30055) which is available to customers who currently own or lease a 1995 or newer non-Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Motor Company car, SUV, or light duty truck. 2) Owner Loyalty and Competitive Conquest Bonus Cash are not compatible. $1,250 Owner Loyalty (PGM #33261) is available to customers who currently own or lease a 1995 or newer Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle. $1,250 Competitive Conquest Bonus Cash (PGM #30055) is available to customers who currently own or lease a 1995 or newer non-Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Motor Company car, SUV, or light duty truck. Not all buyers will qualify for Lincoln AFS financing. 0% APR financing for 60 months at $16.67 per month per $1,000 financed regardless of down payment (PGM #20299). 3) Program #20299: Not all buyers will qualify. Lincoln AFS limited-term APR financing. Not all Lincoln MKX models may qualify. $1,000 Owner Loyalty (PGM #33261) is available to customers who currently own or lease a 1995 or newer Ford Motor Co. vehicle. Owner Loyalty and Competitive Conquest offers are not compatible. For all offers, lessee responsible for excess wear and mileage over 31,500 miles at $0.20 per mile. Lessee has option to purchase vehicle at lease end at price negotiated with dealer at signing. Take new retail delivery from dealer stock by 3/31/15. See dealer for qualifications and complete details. Vehicle shown may have optional equipment not included in payment.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 11
PERSON OF INTEREST
BY BRIT TANY CREMER I PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASEY PAGE
ERIC WARREN filmmaker screenwriter
Dog-ear this article. It will make a fantastic conversation piece in five years when the name “Eric Warren” is attached to Oscar buzz—the self-proclaimed Montana “adventure-junkie-non-conformist” who refused to quit and continues to reinvent. Presumptuous? Maybe. But what makes Warren unique, and curiously catalyzes the possibility that this could very well become reality, is the fact that his abstract and analytical mind rival in aptitude. Warren possesses both the creative juice and purposeful resolve to succeed— proof positive that Montana pride runs deep, and so does its talent.
Cultivating creativity Talent rarely comes bundled in such a diverse package. Warren is a skillful filmmaker, screenwriter and photographer—each medium feeding off the next.
12 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
“I get to live my dream by telling stories,” Warren said, “and I’ve used several mediums to achieve that.” Able to write scripts, produce, film and edit, Warren is truly a one-manshow. His passion for film flourished while photographing Montana naturescapes during his formative years in Billings. After graduating from Senior High in 1994, Warren attended college in Powell to study photography then soon found himself enrolled at the University of Montana taking classes in creative writing. The mediums married, and his entrée into film was born.
“Fear is paralyzing, and people need to kick the habit of ‘can’t...’ ” Traveler’s heart An avid mountain biker and climber, Warren considers himself a student of the natural world. Travel, and the soulnourishing quality it provides, fueled his desire to begin his professional career as a travel writer. A move from Montana to Maine created new opportunities, and Warren soon found himself writing commissioned travel pieces, producing travel videos and mini-documentaries. “This was the breakout moment in my career,” he said. “I was so shocked to find out people would pay me to do what I loved.” A gig working for Matador Network, a global travel platform, served as Warren’s launchpad. Sunscreen, backpack and laptop in hand, Warren set out to explore the world.
Glory of the West Finances and life circumstances brought Warren back home to Billings, but it wasn’t the same city of his youth. “Things were less conservative, faster, with more of a sense of artistic vitality,” he said. “Billings had become more diverse.” To chase their dreams full-time (Warren’s wife is a budding novelist), the couple decided they would come back to their roots, live modestly and “take turns” working full-time while the other could concentrate on crafting art. “You know that old saying about how no good thing comes without sacrifice?” Warren said, “Yeah, it’s true, but it’s worth it. The reality is that if something is that important to you, you figure out a way to make it work.” Sometimes that means getting up at 4 or 5 in the morning to write or edit video before work, or drinking a pot of coffee to stay up until 3 a.m. to finish a project. “Fear is paralyzing, and people need to kick the habit of ‘can’t,’ ” he said.
Small screen revolution Whether it’s writing a novel or screenplay, or creating a film, short film or documentary, there is one unifying tie that binds all good work. “The story has to be there,” Warren said. “Some stories hook you in seconds, within words—other stories should never be told.” The genius is in knowing the difference. Much of Warren’s film work has been in the short film and documentary genres—mediums he suspects will continue to grow in popularity. “We are a generation of You-tubers, tech-savvy and timecrunched,” he said. “We watch so much from our phones and
don’t have time to watch two-hour movies on them.” One such short documentary that has been receiving a lot of national buzz is “Mixing Oil and Water,” a piece crafted by Warren that explores water quality in the oil-rich fracking zones of the Bakken. The film was produced for the Northern Plains Resource Council and premiered at the 2014 Magic City Shorts Film Festival. It was also an official selection of the 2015 Wild and Scenic Film Festival in California. “The feedback from the film has been really positive,” Warren said. “No one was expecting a short film to do what it did.”
Living words In addition to several pet products, Warren owns and operates his own film production, editing and screenwriting company called Life’s Fast Productions. Here, businesses can commission him to put together marketing pieces, short documentaries and such. “Some of my favorite work has been uncovering stories from regular Montana folks doing incredible things,” he said. A short film on Montana’s Art Mobile revealed the importance of reintegrating art class into Montana’s curriculum. Another documentary titled “Saving the Stockman” shares the curious story of how a small rural town in Montana depends on an annual 24-hour bike race to keep its only café open. Much of Warren’s work is done on-site, but he does lease space at Billings Community Studio to edit film—and don’t be surprised to see him with headphones in, typing ferociously on his laptop at a local coffee shop. “When I’m working, I typically listen to Tranquility with a Beat,” he said.
Who is Kaiser Söze? Warren said he draws creative inspiration from talents like Christopher Nolan (Inception and Memento) and Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects). “I’m very drawn to dynamic storytelling and movies with a cerebral edge,” he said. “Memento is in a genre all its own, but was ground-breaking when it was released—never to be duplicated.” So we know which directors Warren admires, but which acting talent catches his eye? Better yet, which one of these professional actors would play him in real life? “I’m a pretty average guy—maybe a Seth Green,” he laughed. “Or, maybe Joseph Gordon-Levitt—not because of his looks per se, but because he does it all: produce, writes, acts and directs. I can connect with that.”
Movies and more The breadth of Eric Warren’s work is diverse, but you can view samples of some of his latest projects by visiting his website at lifesfastfilms.com. • “Mixing Oil and Water”—an exploration into water quality in the oil-rich Bakken and ranchlands of eastern Montana. • “Art Mobile”—a look at the importance of the Montana Art Mobile and the services it provides to countless students without art programs. Funded by an NEA grant, the film reminds us that learning is comprised of far more than letters and numbers. • “Getting to Know Maine Beer Company” –an example of one of Warren’s marketing film pieces, showcasing the unique qualities and mission of two lawyers who gave it all up to brew beer. •Coming soon: a noir western (untitled) set in Coulson during the late 1800s. The protagonist arrives in Coulson to investigate his brother’s murder and uncovers gross conspiracy and railroad swindling.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 13
GIVING BACK
BY MARY PICKET T I PHOTOS COURTESY OF CASTING FOR RECOVERY
casting for recovery finding respite in a TROUT stream
The Pink Pookie, an imitation grasshopper invented in Livingston, is reputed to catch the “big ones” on Montana trout streams. The long-legged hopper is a success on dry land, too, as the mascot for Casting for Recovery’s Pink Pookie Gala each year. Money raised at this annual event sends 14 women, who are recovering from breast cancer, on a retreat to learn how to fly fish and to find solace in the company of other women who know what it’s like to be hit by a terrifying diagnosis. Most of the women have never fly fished. Some still are in cancer treatment. Some were treated years ago. Most women on CFR retreats across the country have never been to a support group before, said Alice Golden, who started the group in Montana in 2005. The Billings-based Montana-Trailhead Country program is now one of two CFR groups in Montana. The other is Glacier Country in western Montana. After breast cancer treatment, women may struggle with fear, guilt and depression. Some women on CFR retreats find they can share feelings with strangers that they may have trouble talking about with their families, Golden said. Fishing is inherently relaxing and soothing for anyone, but particularly so for those facing life-threatening challenges. Sur-
14 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
rounded by the sound of a rushing stream, the smell of sage on a river bank and stunning mountain scenery, fishing gives women a vacation from their worries. Fishing has therapeutic physical benefits, too. The repetitive motion of casting a fly rod is one way to address the buildup of fluid in the arm that some women experience after breast cancer surgery, Golden said. Open to women of all ages, the retreat is free and all equipment is provided for the weekend. Plenty of TLC comes along with the package. “As soon as I got there, I felt like a princess,” said Billings hairdresser Amira Harper about a CFR retreat she attended four years ago. “No, I felt like a queen,” she added. A catch of three “enormous” trout on the retreat also boosted her morale.
For more information on the 2015 retreat go to: castingforrecovery.org .
Casting for Recovery’s Pink Pookie Gala is Held Feb. 21 at the Holiday Inn Grand at 5:30 p.m. offering silent and live auctions, raffle and dinner. CFR participant Jeanne Ortiz, Billings Clinic endocrinologist, will speak. For more information or to buy tickets, call 697-1952 or email: aagolden@msn.com.
a student’s look inside Yellowjacket Nation
visit msubillings.edu/snapshots to see more
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 15
ARTIST LOFT
By donna healy I PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES WOODCOCK
Chance Robinson: THE LUCK OF THE DRAW
It’s a visual representation of the energy that flows through all things. The bison’s eyes, which look almost human, draw you in. All that chaos, and I let the eyes of the piece be the calm.
“I had all these ideas swimming in my head from Paleolithic art to yesterday’s art,” Robinson said. He came returned to Billings in 2014, reestablishing his studio in his parents’ barn. “The dream is to do this full time and give it my all, wanting to wake up every single day and make art,” said Robinson. He speaks with conviction, a level of maturity mingled with respect and gratitude. Scott Cox, who owns Rimrock Art and Frame, has seen RobinIt all started with a horse. son’s dedication. Although he’d always shown artistic talent, Chance Robinson had envisioned a “When I get emails at 2:30 in the morning career in astrophysics or medicine. Then, during his junior year of high school, from him, you know he painted his first horse, splotching paint on the concrete floor of his parents’ he’s passionate,” Cox converted barn. That painting, along with his wall murals for Central High, and said. “He’s at it fulltime plus.” Billings Catholic Schools’ Mayfair auction convinced him to become an artist. Robinson’s first paintings of horses were By the age of 19, Robinson’s donated artwork has already studies in lines and sweeping curves. From there, raised $85,000 for Billings’ charities. In 2013, his was the first stu- he ventured into dots, the simplest of all forms of dent artwork ever offered at Mayfair, the live auction fundraiser art-making and one intrinsic to aboriginal cultures. for Billings Catholic Schools. Two of his paintings hang in the As the dots grew longer, they turned into looping Billings Clinic, one in the cafeteria, and one in the Emergency threads. In his paintings of bison, the threads whirl Department’s lobby. in electric blues, reds and yellows set against earth During an intense semester at the Art Institute of Chicago, tones. Robinson painted several immense canvases for each critique, “It’s a visual representation of the energy that always pushing himself to do more. After hours spent on school flows through all things,” Robinson said. The work, he’d paint more pieces for a gallery. bison’s eyes, which look almost human, draw you in.
16 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
“All that chaos,” he said, “and I let the eyes of the piece be the calm.” Prompted by his Japanese roots, Robinson studied simplicity, using as little as possible to show as much as possible. How much could he remove from a face and still have a face? Studying Oriental brush masters led him to use daggershaped brushes for his ink drawings, introducing elements of calligraphy and serendipity. Robinson’s first name, “Chance,” came from the 1959 John Wayne movie Rio Bravo, in which Wayne plays a small town sheriff John T. Chance. “As I paint a line, the brush moves its own way. Essentially it’s up to chance,” he said. “I like that. There’s still an unknown. It has its own direction.” Not only did Chance Robinson gamble what speaks to him, he continues to live up to his name. “You take risks and see them through,” he said. “I like to take a risk, do something different and see where it goes.” Chance Robinson’s artwork can be seen at Rimrock Art & Frame or online atchanceart.net. Clockwise from top left: Flame Head . Return II, Teal Splice, Resolute.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 17
ELEMENT S
BY brenda ma a s I PHOTOGRAPHY BY CA SE Y PAGE
The Ultimate Master Suite Fabulous items, guaranteed to create sweet dreams Time for some Zzzzz’s Sleep the slumber of babes in this dreamy platform bed. The modern design remains soft with upholstered headboard and frame. Ahhh…
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No more Mt. Clothes Perhaps you can say the butler did it if you have this man’s valet? It’s the perfect addition to make him really want to avoid that pile on the floor.
Available at Amazon.com $50-250
18 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Top it off Few things add elegant romance to a room more easily than a chandelier. This is the crème-dele-crème of ambiance.
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259-3624 MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 19
MEDIA ROOM
BY BRITTANY CREMER Web-Ed
DriveScribe
Music
X (read as multiply) Ed Sheeran
Hands free, heads-up. Cellphone use is a significant factor in 26 percent of all driving accidents, according to the National Safety Council’s 2014 Injury Facts report. The Drive Scribe app reduces that risk by preventing you from texting and calling while driving—but then it morphs into something even cooler. The app turns your mobile phone into a personal safe driving coach, using your accelerator and GPS to record driving behavior, warning you of driving faults such as speeding and hard breaking. (Your Driver’s-Ed instructor would be so proud).
DVD
Sons of Anarchy Collector’s Seasons 1-7
America’s favorite bad boys have a boxed set—and you don’t need a vote around the table to decide if you should pick it up. Gemma, Jax and the whole crew deliver the dynamic story of SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original for the newbie Sons fans.) Violence, conspiracy and plenty of cigarette smoking hallmark the award-winning series, but at its core, it’s really a compelling family drama. Just keep your eyes peeled for Mr. Mayhem…
book Regional dialects and accents tend to disappear within the singing voice (remember the very un-British-sounding Beatles?). However, it is precisely that regional flair that distinguishes emerging British artist Ed Sheeran from others in his folk-meets-hip-hop genre. When the album was released last October, fans were immediately drawn to Sheeran’s feisty and dynamic “Don’t.” But every bad boy has a soft side. Sheeran bore his heart and has been swooning listeners with “Talking Out Loud,” which could quite possibly go down as the couple’s radio heartsong of 2015. The “we found love right where we are” hook will tug at your heart, while your eyes will be transfixed by the music video. (Watch it on YouTube). Sheeran took on the herculean task of learning to dance—that’s not a Dancing with the Stars double!
20 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
How to Be a Heroine: Or, What I’ve Learned from Reading too Much
By Samantha Ellis While debating literature’s greatest heroines with her best friend, 30-something playwright Samantha Ellis has a revelation—her whole life, she’s been trying to be Cathy Earnshaw of Wuthering Heights when she should have been trying to be Jane Eyre. With this discovery, she embarks on a retrospective look at the literary ladies. From early obsessions with the March sisters to her later idolization of Sylvia Plath, Ellis evaluates how her heroines stack up today. Just as she excavates the stories of her favorite characters, Ellis also shares a frank, often hilarious, account of her own life. Men, but especially women, will connect with this book’s honesty, humor and heart.
Looking to Remodel, but not sure where to start? design build remodel addition renovation redesign kitchen great room complete home basement interior exterior Let us put the pieces together for you! At Freyenhagen Construction, we make it our mission to provide you with a one-of-a-kind reDesign Experience. The entire process is carefully crafted to encourage your comfort and peace of mind. Our team of professionals is well-equipped to turn your unique vision into the harmonious space you have always wanted. From the initial design until the final sweep into the dust pan, we are there every step of the way to ensure you are simply delighted with the final product. Just sit back and relax as our team shapes your dream into reality.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 21
FIN E LI V ING
GR E A T E S T A T E S
by karen kinser photography by
hannah potes
22 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
from concept to completion Walk into Bobby Williams’ beautiful West End home, and you feel a sense of reverent awe. The foyer soars 25 feet, and the chandelier above glows from light streaming in through the clerestory window. Patterns of light anoint the opposite wall sporting elegant sconces. It’s a transient moment of beauty that serves as an introduction to the light and life throughout the rest of this two-story, contemporary-style home. Williams, owner of J.E. Williams Trucking in Billings, helped design and build this lovely estate in the early ‘90s. “I sketched it out on a napkin,” he said, and then worked with his architect, Larry Vigesaa, to finalize the design. With builder Monte Clark, he completed the home in 1994.
The all-brick exterior was an important feature also wanted four garages – but not all in a row – so he used the design process to separate them. Insets far-left: All of the bathrooms have custom fixtures and unique touches. Williams special-ordered this dolphin sink for one of his daughters. The granite countertops, faucet and mirror are also custom items. This copper weather vane atop the home is a testament to Williams’ love of copper. The vane itself has not been coated, so it has weathered to a lovely patina. The copper on this bay window was custom-made and is clear-coated, so it won’t turn oxidize with the weather. It glows in the late winter sun.
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FIN E LI V ING
GR E A T E S T A T E S
Commitment to quality
The first thing visitors notice about the home is that it’s all brick. “That’s very unusual in this part of the country,” said Williams. He ensured he got the exact bricks he wanted by hauling pallet-loads from Summit Brick Company in Colorado. Other facets of quality sparkling throughout the home include solid oak doors, spacious closets, custom fixtures and mirrors in each of the 4-1/2 baths, the recessed tray ceiling in the family room, granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms and the warm color palettes that complement the home’s spaciousness. Williams’ home office boasts a walllength, custom-built bookcase along with a stunning view through custom Pella windows. But it’s the dark faux walls that demand attention. “I wanted a leather look for the office,” he told faux artist Cindy Smith. She clearly delivered. Smith also created a similar faux look on the ceiling medallions over the dining room and kitchen tables, as well as lighter faux leather in the family room.
A case for copper
Williams freely admits that he loves the look of copper. “Even so,” he said, “I didn’t want to overdo it.”
Counterclockwise from top: The beautiful hardwood floors enhance the look and comfort of these two rooms. A custom mantle tops the remote-controlled gas fireplace, which was built from the same Colorado bricks that Williams hauled home for the exterior. Members of the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale once played here during The BSO&C’s Holiday Tour of Homes. Dining room: The triple French doors in the dining room lead out to the covered patio. Note the warm glow of the hardwood floors, the custom chandelier and the four-foot-long, blown-glass vase to the right of the door. Kitchen: The kitchen is equipped with new Viking appliances, including a professional double-oven (on the opposite wall), custom cabinets, a handhammered copper sink and granite countertops. The six burner range installed in the island includes a pop-up exhaust fan.
24 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
It’s your home, at last.
Once you find that perfect place to call home, the next important decision is the financing. So many mortgage options, so little time. We get that. Our goal is to partner with you to help guide you through the loan process and find the best financing to fit your needs. We’ve got the experience and mortgage products that will have you moving into your new home, at last. Call today, and put my knowledge to work for you.
KIMBERLY MACDONALD Mortgage Loan Originator 6 24th Street West Billings MT 59102 Direct: 406.655.1699 Cell: 406.861.0052 kimberly.macdonald@usbank.com NMLS#: 470804
usbank.com/mortgage
EQUAL HOUSING
Visit usbank.com to learn more about U.S. Bank products and services. Deposit Products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association, Member FDIC. Mortgage products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. ©2014 U.S. Bank Association. ©2014 U.S. Bank, Member FDIC.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 25
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26 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
So the home is embellished with the warm glow of custom-made copper accents. There’s a coppertopped bay window that catches the sun, copper dripedges that define the roof line and copper flashing on the fireplace. Even the dryer vent is copper, all clear-coated, so it won’t oxidize. Except the copper wind vane atop the house—the horse-and-buggy-themed feature was left uncoated, intentionally weathered to a green-ish patina. In the relaxing family room, there’s a handhammered copper sink with Top: The vaulted ceiling and skylights bring natural lighting the master bedroom and a sitting area. Center: The marble floors, quartz countertops, custom, double shower, European lighting sconces over the sink and ornate claw-foot tub all add to a sense of luxury and relaxation in the master bath. The center window of the custom-ordered octagonal window over the tub actually opens. Two spacious walk-in closets connect to the en suite. Right: The concern for details and custom items even extends to this faucet fixture – complete with a handheld shower head. Next page top: This dry cedar sauna on the second floor, near the master bedroom, is a favorite spot for Williams on a cold winter day. Bottom: The wet bar in the far right corner here has a hammered-copper sink and fixtures, along with a custommade granite countertop. One of Williams’ daughters loves horses, so he made it a point to add the artwork in this room.
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 27
FIN E LI V ING
GR E A T E S T A T E S
copper fixtures in the wet bar. This room is also enhanced with a sprinkling of whimsy with an antique, wall-mounted telephone, a 1950’s vintage Coca-Cola vending machine (it still works, if you have a dime) and chess set on a custom table in front of a window with expansive views. The chess pieces were hand-carved from camel bone. All this beauty, however, comes with a touch of the bittersweet, as Williams plans to move to Arizona to be closer to his daughters. So it may be time to get out another napkin and start sketching again. This beautiful covered patio is accessed through triple French doors that open from the dining room and is equipped with outdoor speakers. With a gas barbecue on the nearby exposed aggregate deck, this is the ideal spot for entertaining guests.
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28 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE 406-245-3788 • kennedysstainedglass.com
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Spirits of the
south
Few things are more reminiscent of the American South than sweet tea. But for those who prefer a more spirited beverage, check out these South-of-the-Mason-Dixon-Line favs that we found right here in the Magic City.
complied BY BRENDA MAAS
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 29
Mint Julep Trailhead Spirits
Lynchburg Lemonade Jake’s
In a silver julep cup (or highball glass if traditional cup is not available) add: 2 oz. of Highwood Chocolate Flavored Whiskey .5 oz. of mint simple syrup 1 cup of shaved ice Splash of water Stir and add remaining shaved ice to fill glass. Stir well again and garnish with mint sprig.
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1 oz. Jack Daniels .25 oz. Limoncello .25 oz. Triple Sec Splash of sweet and sour and topped with 7-up. Fill hurricane glass with ice. Add liquor, a splash of sweet-and-sour, then top with &-up. Stir and garnish with a lemon.
Hurricane Montana's Rib & Chop House 1 oz. white rum 1 oz. dark rum 10 oz. passion fruit juice (or fruit punch) Add all ingredients to a shaker and mix well. Place ice into hurricane glass and pour cocktail. Garnish with an orangecherry half-wheel.
Gulf Coast Martini
Georgia Gin Fizz
1.25 oz. Tito’s vodka .5 oz. Beefeater gin .5 Clamato juice .5 oz. olive juice Lemon wedge 3-4 dashes Tabasco (to taste) 1 jumbo cocktail shrimp
Commons 1882
Combine liquids in shaker full of ice, then squeeze and drop in fruit wedges; shake and strain into chilled martini glass that has salt-andpeppered rim.
Add the ingredients in a shaker with no ice and shake. Next, add ice, shake again, pour into glass and top off with soda water.
The Rex
Blacken jumbo shrimp in sauté pan and garnish drink along with olive and lime wheel.
1 egg white 1 oz. Monopolowa Gin 1 oz. peach liqueur Splash lemon juice Topped off with soda water
Spiced Apple Iced Tea Jake’s
1 oz. Bulleit Bourbon .25 oz. Apple Pucker .25 oz. Hot Damn .25 oz. fresh lemon juice .25 oz. simple syrup Top with iced tea In shaker, mix all alcohol. Fill brandy snifter with ice, add alcohol, top with iced tea and garnish with an apple slice.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 31
jambalaya 32 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Cajun Comfort From the bayous of Louisiana to Billings' Historic district southern-inspired entreés delight and satisfy
By brittany cremer Taste buds—warmed. Palate—tantalized. Stomach—satisfied. Crafted with special sleight of hand, Cajun cuisine delivers a welcomed taste bud teleportation from the typical meat-andpotato menu. It is flavorful, filling and a little bit sexy. Go ahead, take that sip of water. We’ll wait. With deep roots and intricate taste patterns, Cajun recipes have been passed down for generations—special ingredients too clandestine for culinary neophytes. Magic Magazine was fortunate enough to sit down with Kevin Carloss, chef and owner of Café Zydeco Cajun restaurant in Billings, to uncover some of the intrigue.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 33
“One of my favorite things about Cajun food is that a dash of this or splash of that makes your recipe different. Cajun food is filling, comforting and very versatile.” — Kevin Carloss, Owner, Café Zydeco
South in your mouth For Carloss, cooking is a family affair—and onepot meals are his specialty. One of 17 kids growing up in Abbeville, LA, Carloss often assisted his mom in the kitchen. “One of my favorite things about Cajun food is that a dash of this or splash of that makes your recipe different,” he said. “Cajun food is filling, comforting and very versatile.” Carloss features an expansive menu chock-full of southern delights like jambalaya, po’ boy sandwiches, gumbo and more. “When the weather cools in the south, we definitely refer to it as ‘gumbo weather,’” Carloss said. Fresh seafood, Andouille sausage and chicken are the heavyweights in Cajun cuisine, but they are almost always accompanied by rice, green pepper, onion, garlic and notes of cayenne pepper.
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Crawfish étouffée
Courtesy of Café Zydeco
¾ cup flour 1 ¼ pound of butter 1 green bell pepper 1 yellow onion 1 cup chopped celery 10 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/8 cup Spanish paprika 1/8 cup Fresh parsley 1 quart seafood stock (or chicken stock) Salt, pepper and cayenne to taste 2 pounds clean crawfish tail meat Splash of Worcestershire sauce Melt butter in cast iron pot. Add flour and cook at medium heat while whisking for about 15 minutes or until roux is the color of peanut butter. Add onion, garlic, celery, green pepper and cook for another 2 minutes. Add stock and cook while whisking until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add crawfish, Worcestershire and parsley. Simmer another 10 minutes or until the crawfish are hot. Add salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. Serve over rice. Feeds 4-6 people.
crawfish étouffée MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 35
fried oysters
Fried oysters Hot or not? The fusion of flavor in Cajun food can be spicy, but doesn’t have to be. “That’s probably the biggest misnomer about Cajun food is that it has to be burn-your-nostrils spicy,” Carloss said. “Cajun food is typically more flavorful than hot.” And the secret is literally in the sauce. “The best Cajun dishes share one thing in common—the right roux,” Carloss said. Roux, or a sauce-based mixture of butter (sometimes lard) and flour, thickens Cajun dishes to the right consistency. When the roux is perfected, the dish really sings.
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The grand finale Gumbo and jambalaya might be Carloss’ favorite entrées to prepare, but he’s also quite fond of a sweet exclamation point to the meal. Decadent desserts crafted from cream, butter and sugar perfectly offset the savory, salty notes in jambalaya and crawfish étouffée (which is French for smothered ). One of Carloss’ favorites is bread pudding covered in praline sauce. “It’s divine,” Carloss said. “It tastes like gourmet French toast and is the perfect ‘something sweet’ to balance out all the savory.”
bread pudding with praline sauce
Fast Fact: Cajun vs. Creole Food newbies might find themselves erroneously using the terms “Cajun” and “Creole” interchangeably. While many of the ingredients in Cajun and Creole dishes are similar, the real difference between the two styles is the people behind these famous cuisines. Creole traditionally refers to the “city cooking” of New Orleans, a sophisticated mélange of influences and ingredients from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. The Cajuns lived in rural communities west and south of New Orleans and typically ate what they could grow or catch. Still confused? Here’s a hint: Creole cooking typically incudes more tomatoes.
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A BEAUTI FUL NOISE the caledonian pipes
& drums of billings
by g a r y d . r obson
Bringing the mystery of Scotland's bagpipes to Montana's Magic City. The Caledonian Pipes & Drums of Billings in the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Billings. Photo by James Woodcock.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 39
One musical instrument has a dedicated word to describe its sound (“skirling”). One “instrument of war” caused a musician to be executed for treason just for playing it. One instrument is so iconic that it can call a specific country to mind with a single note. That instrument is the Scottish bagpipes. You don’t have to head for the Highlands to hear the skirling of the pipes, though. Although the sound of bagpipes echoing through Scotland’s misty moors in the gloaming is an experience you’ll never forget, you can hear that same sound much closer to home. The Caledonian Pipes & Drums of Billings practice every Wednesday night at Billings West High School and offer free lessons in piping and drumming to anyone who is interested. Despite being an icon of Scotland, the origin of this unique instrument may go back much farther. According to the Oxford History of Music, there is a bagpipe sculpture in the Middle East dating back some 3,000 years ago, suggesting the Roman Empire may have brought the pipes to Scotland. In 122 AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian had conquered much of the British Isles, but the Highlands of Scotland stopped him cold. Rather than continue the war, he built a 20-foot high ocean-to-ocean wall across Scotland to keep the Scots out of his empire. Modern Scots take pride in this, and Caledonia, the Latin name for the part of Scotland north of Hadrian’s wall, is now a romantic name for the whole country. This is why many pipe bands are called “Caledonians.” By the 18th century, bagpipes had become as much a symbol of Scotland as the kilt. The pipes weren’t actually banned by the English when they put down the Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland, as many believe. In reality, the Act of Proscription of 1747 banned Highlanders from owning or bearing weapons and from wearing “Highland clothes,” including tartans and kilts. But it did not mention bagpipes. However, a bagpiper named James Reid was captured with a group of Scottish warriors and tried for high treason that year. His defense was that he didn’t carry or use a weapon; all he did was play the pipes. The judge said that “a Highland regiment never marched without a piper...and therefore his bagpipe, in the eyes of the law, was an instrument of war.” Reid is the only man ever executed for playing the bagpipes. The Act of Proscription did drive many Scots from their country in what became known as the diaspora. Communities of displaced Scots cropped up all around the world. Many of the trappers and miners in early Montana were Scottish immigrants.
The Act of Proscription did drive many Scots from their country in what became known as the diaspora. Communities of displaced Scots cropped up all around the world. Many of the trappers and miners in early Montana were Scottish
immigrants.
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Clockwise from top: The Caledonian Pipes and Drums, circa 1920. Bill Flockhart is 2nd from left in the 2nd row—the short, blonde fellow with the low-cocked glengarry. Dr. Will Morrison, father of band benefactor, Dr. Jim Morrison, is the tall piper the far left with the huge balmoral. Photo, circa 1920. The Caledonian Pipes & Drums of Billings in the Festival of Nations Parade, Red Lodge, 1967. Anyone who can help identify others is invited to contact the Caledonian Pipes of Drums of Billings. The Caledonian Pipes & Drums of Billings in Festival of Nations Parade, Red Lodge, 1972. Gregg Robbe, J. Morrison, E. Adcock, Andi Sutton, Dick Porter, Dave Sanderson and Ted Freestone in Estes Park, Col., in 1987. All photos courtesy of the Caledonian Pipes and Drums of Billings.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 41
Coming to America
Bill Flockhart was one of the young men who left the shores of Caledonia in 1904 to seek a new life. He found work in the mines around Red Lodge and became a part of the burgeoning Scottish community. After a time, Flockhart became concerned that new generations were losing interest in bagpipes. He took it upon himself to rectify that situation and began teaching anyone willing to learn. In 1963, a group of Flockhart’s students formed the Caledonian Pipes & Drums of Billings. Oscar Thompson, one of his students, still plays with the band. “I got interested by listening to the pipes when I was in junior high school and going to the Festival of Nations in Red Lodge,” he said, “and ended up joining the band in the late ‘60s.” Thompson became pipe major (the musical director of the band) for a year or two by what he called an “unlucky draw.” “No, I never intended on being the pipe major. I have more fun just piping,” he said with a laugh. The band has had a number of pipe majors since. In 2003, Donell Small took over the position. Growth has been steady since that point, and the band now has 20 pipers, five pipe students and eight drummers. “I got involved with the Caledonians in 1984,” Small said. “I had wanted to learn to play for a long time, having two Scottish grandmothers, but never got around to it.” One day, he just walked into a music store and asked them how he could learn to play bagpipes. They had no idea where to get bagpipes, but guided him to pipe major Jim Morrison If you want to hire a (another of Flockhart’s students). Small showed up at the next piper for an event, the practice and has been there ever since.
A sense of occasion
The rest of the story
band can act as your clearinghouse, setting you up with the right person for the job. Call business manager Allen Anderson at 8396969 or visit billingsbagpipe.us for more information.
Bagpipes don’t exist in a vacuum, though. The band is, after all, the Caledonian Pipes & Drums. As much as the pipe major works behind the scenes to bring everything together, the drum major acts as the public face of the band, leading either with his drum or with an ornate baton known as the mace. “Some drum majors refer to themselves as the ‘eye candy’ or the ‘peacock’ of the band,” said the Caledonians’ current drum major, Lee Stadtmiller. He likens all-volunteer bands like the Billings Caledonians to herding cats. “This isn’t a well-organized military band. Sometimes I’ll start off leading and turn around to see nobody there.” For anyone interested in learning to play the bagpipes, the band offers an excellent opportunity. “Show up Wednesday night at practice and take the lessons,” Thompson advises. “It’s pretty tough to just start on your own. The band can get you off on the right foot and makes learning much easier.” Maureen Wallace, who has been a member for two years, concurs. “The band From top: Members of the BIllings and Miles City Caledonian Pipes was instrumental in keeping me focused and giving me goals to shoot for. I could and Drums perform at the opening ceremonies of the Yellowstone Highland Games and BillingShire Renaissance Faire at ZooMonpipe when I joined, but they made me a piper.” tana. Photo by Casey Page. Lee Stadtmiller leads member of the The costs can be somewhat daunting. A good set of new Highland pipes starts Billings Caledonian Pipes and Drums during practice. Photo by at about $1,300, and the outfit costs even more than that. But you can start out for Gazette Staff. Drummers await cue to acompany pipes. Photo by Casey Page. The group entertains a the Relay for Life. Photo by Bob much less. A high-quality practice instrument called a “chanter” costs less than Zellar. $100, and the band can loan other items to beginners.
42 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 43
"There's nothing you can know that isn't known Nothing you can see that isn't shown There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be. It's easy...." —from the song, "All You Need is Love" by John Lennon & Paul McCartney
LOve. love. love. Showing affection is often accompanied by hugging and kissing, it's the way we show how much we love one another. In the following pages, our staff photographers capture the essence of this human emotion that transcends age, race and gender. As the Beatles sang, "Love is all you need."
Evie Toews, 19 months, leans in to kiss her new baby brother, Liam. Photo by Casey Page.
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 45
Top: World War II veteran Mel Blanchard, 90, plants a kiss on his girlfriend Tori Marion, 63, after returning home from final Big Sky Honor Flight. Right: Kindergarten student Tailer Senn jumps up to hug Aalyah Morgan. Tailer's fourth grade class help raise more than $2000 to help pay for Aalyah's surgery. Photo by Hannah Potes. Next page top: Jymalee Olsen, 8, races onto the tarmac to hug her mom Becky. Photo by Gazette staff. Next page, bottom: Rocky Mountain College graduate Heather Jarrett gets a hug from her son Torston, 3. Photo by Casey Page.
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 47
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Arm Chair Adventures with Lewis & Clark
By Gene CollinG I Illustration by Lee hulteng the men were kept busy hunting buffalo, gathering wood, chopping their boats out of the ice and adding to their trade goods by making hatchets. They also tried to keep the peace between warring tribes. Lewis was the closest thing to a doctor on the expedition. On February 11, he assisted in the birth of a “fine boy” to Sacajawea, the teenage wife of a French Canadian fur trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau. The boy was given the name Jean-Baptiste and later the nickname, Pomp. Charbonneau appears to be a necessary burden to the captains. They desperately needed an interpreter, and Sacajawea was an added bonus because she was captured from the Shosones—a tribe that would be vital in supplying horses. Aside from being an interpreter, Charbonneau’s only other talent seems to have been cooking. Otherwise he was a bit of a lout and the cause of occasional vexation to the captains. While the men toiled at servile labors, the captains were busy preparing maps and collections of items that would be shipped back the President Jefferson in the spring. They also spent a great deal of time meeting with the Mandans and other local tribes collecting geographical information. Some of it was spot-on, some of it was wild speculation. They learned that a great river fall lie ahead of them, and they would have to cross the Rocky Mountains to get to the waters of the Columbia River system. Lewis and Clark also met with traders from Britain and France, impressing
The recent blasts of snow and cold have drawn me to the leather chair by the fireplace. When I passed my bookshelf, I pulled out one of my all-time favorite reads, The Journals of Lewis and Clark, edited by Bernard Devoto. It is the most tattered book in my collection; I can’t count the times I have read it. This time I decide to focus on February of 1805 and 1806. I am immediately absorbed into a narrative of a great adventure story. What kind of men could lead such an expedition and actually share the command—something unprecedented in military operations? One of the greatest attributes of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark was their ability to select the people that made up the Corps of Discovery. They chose from soldiers and civilians, looking for character, toughness and skills in hunting, carpentry and blacksmithing. By the time they reached the Mandan village in present day North Dakota, they had weeded out a couple miscreants and were left with a cohesive group that functioned like a welloiled machine. Even the most toilsome days ended with good cheer.
February 1805
The Corps was hunkered down in their winter quarters next to a village of the Mandan tribe. They had built a small fort out of cottonwood trees complete with fireplaces. Their quarters were not as comfortable as the wood and earth dwellings of the Mandans, but they served the purpose of providing shelter from the frigid temperatures. During the days
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 49
on them that the United States was now the governing power due to the Louisiana Purchase. As with all Indian tribes they encountered, Lewis gave a standard speech to the Mandans stating that they had “a new father,” namely the President of the United States, who could provide them with goods and protection if they were “obedient children.” Thomas Jefferson wanted to bind the Native Americans to the U.S. government and away from other foreign powers including France, Spain and Britain. Lewis and Clark also urged each tribe to establish peaceful relations with their enemies—an idea some Indians thought ludicrous since their whole system of leadership was based on exploits in battle. The Expedition, in many ways, signaled the start of a European influx that would alter the social landscape of the West forever. Unlike the nomadic tribes that followed the buffalo, the Mandans lived in permanent fortified villages and aside from hunting, subsisted on crops such as corn, beans and squash. Corn was the common trade item with the expedition, and Lewis had the foresight to include several iron grinding mills in his supplies, one of which he gave to the Mandans. They spent the rest of the winThe Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center ter in good harmony with the Immerse yourself in the history Mandans and on April 7, 1805, of the Corps of Discovery. The Lewis and Clark bid farewell. center features a permanent Lewis wrote in his journal: “We exhibit, a theater, an education are about to penetrate a country room for hands-on learning at least 2,000 miles in width on activities, plus a retail store. which the foot of civilized man has never trodden. The good or ill lewisandclarkfoundation.org it had in store for us was for ex4201 Giant Springs Road periment yet to determine.” Great Falls, MT
Learn more about the Corps of Discovery at:
Pompeys Pillar National Monument Visitor Center See where Captain William Clark carved his signature and the date into a sandstone cliff, the only physical evidence left by the Corps of Discovery. Stay and tour the Pompeys Pillar Visitor Center.
February 1806
What a difference one year makes. After a herculean struggle up the Missouri River, around the Great Falls, to the headwaters of the Missouri, up the Jefferson River, over Lemhi Pass, over the Bitterroot Mountains, down the Clearwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific Ocean, pompeyspillar.org the Corps of Discovery found Take Exit 23 off Interstate 94, approximately 30 miles east of themselves getting soaked on the Billings. Follow signs 0.5 mile Oregon coast. I know what that to the site. is like, but I wasn’t wearing buckskins. February was a month of mostly monotonous rain. Even though they had built snug quarters they called Fort Clatsop, only a handful of days were without rain. Their diet consisted mainly of “poor elk” with very little fat. On the February 25 they received a welcome reprieve from this diet. The Clatsops brought them a half bushel of what Lewis called herring, which were actually American smelt. Lewis preferred them cooked in the Indian style – “roasted on a wooden spit without any previous preparation whatever.” He declared them as good as any fish he had ever eaten.
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Several men were stationed at a “salt works” on the ocean some 15 miles from Fort Clatsop. They boiled sea water to extract the salt which made the poor elk more palatable. They supplemented the elk diet with occasional meals of dog which all but Clark came to relish—even though Lewis was accompanied by his faithful and sagacious Newfoundland dog named Seaman. Like the previous February, the captains stayed busy writing their journals and analyzing their journey. They dispelled the hopeful idea that there was an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean. They learned that there was a dramatic shortcut from Travelers Rest near present day Lolo, Mont. to the Great Falls of the Missouri. This route was only 187 miles versus the 700 miles they had travelled up the Jefferson River and back around to Travelers Rest. Lewis wrote lengthy descriptions of the botanical, zoological, anthropological and geographical features of the area. Clark produced probably the most valuable product of the expedition in his detailed maps, which proved to be remarkably accurate. Almost every day they were visited by local natives who were described as “loquacious” and very fond of smoking. From them, they learned the names of the European traders who visited the Columbia. The captains carried a letter of credit from President Jefferson to help them purchase trade goods in case a ship arrived, but their timing was bad as none arrived during their stay. The Corps was left with a meager supply for the return trip, which would prove to be a great burden. They found the local tribes to be amazingly talented wood workers and weavers. On February 22, they were visited by two Clatsop women who gave them custom-made hats of cedar, ornamented with bear grass. Lewis marveled at the workmanship and utility of the conic-shaped headwear. The canoes made by local tribes were also works of art. A replica at the Fort Clatsop museum amazed me with its craftsmanship. Like the previous February, Lewis tended to the medical needs of the party and the Indians. His two major techniques included bleeding and purging. The most egregious use of purging happened when the expedition had finally struggled over the Lolo Pass in the September of 1805 and met a friendly tribe of Nez Perce. They abruptly switched from an all meat diet to a cereal diet. This caused major gastrointestinal distress, which Lewis treated with an ominous sounding pill called “thunder clappers.” The pills were a powerful purgative; something that seemed like adding fuel to the fire. The expedition couldn’t leave soggy Fort Clatsop soon enough and in mid-March turned their canoes into the Columbia heading, for home. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but they did make it back home to St. Louis—the whole party intact. It was one of the greatest feats of leadership in history. Only one member of the expedition died along the way and that was from suspected appendicitis. Their story is hard to tell in modern ways. I have seen every documentary produced on the expedition, and it’s impossible to realistically recreate it. That’s why the journals are so interesting. The more you read, the more layers are exposed and the more there is to learn. I can’t help but fantasize about being part of the Expedition. But I realize that even in my farm-kid prime, I would not have had the right grit. Thus, I have to be content to settle into my comfortable home, and enjoy the armchair adventure. Gene Colling claims dual residency in both Billings and Missoula. He retired after a career with the U.S. Forest Service. For 25 of those years, he produced video programs including ones on such Billings area topics as the Beartooth Highway, Pryor Mountain wild horses, Lewis and Clark expedition, Hebgen Lake earthquake and Nez Perce Trail.
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE 123 South 27th Street Billings, MTI MARCH/APRIL 59101 2015 I 51
welcome to new orlean
By karen kinser Sometimes in mid-winter, we need to let the good times roll. And that means a trip to New Orleans. You’ll be charmed by history, music, food and people in this multi-sensual city. And you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a time warp with its European-inspired buildings, ferns spilling over filigreed balconies, streetcars, blues singers, paddlewheel steamboats and the gentle clop of horses’ hooves on cobblestone streets lit with flickering gas lanterns. Stir in
a measure of mysticism, a soupçon of soul and a portion of paranormal, and you’ve got a recipe fo an adventurous get-away in this cultural gumbo of a city.
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ans: THE CREScENT CITY
or
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HISTORY Nicknamed “The Big Easy,” New Orleans was established as a French trading camp in 1718 and was acquired by the U.S. in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. A major port, the city played a vital role in imports, exports and slave trading. Settlers with French, Creole, Spanish and African backgrounds mingled with Western European immigrants. This rich cultural history translates into 20 National Register Historic Districts, with homes that range from Creole cottages to townhouses to antebellum mansions. NEIGHBORHOODS The dozens of recognized neighborhoods each have a distinctive flair, with the most iconic being the French Quarter. Make your first stop here at Café du Monde and savor chicoryenhanced café au lait along with beignets. Outside you’ll be treated to a calliope concert from steamboats, a pop-up parade or streetmusician jazz. You’ll also find Preservation Hall, Jackson Square with 200 artists, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and six blocks of artisans and food at the historic French Market. Other notable neighborhoods include the Garden District, Algiers, Treme´ and the Warehouse/Arts District. TOURS Because The Big Easy is so large and diverse, it is best viewed via tours. And you have a smorgasbord selection including cemetery, ghost, underworld, voodoo, vampire, historical, literary, airboat and mule-drawn carriage tours. Don’t miss the elegance of days-gone-by with a tour to nearby antebellum plantations.
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Clockwise from top: The New Orleans skyline shimmers at dusk. Photo credit: Alex Demyan and NewOrleansOnline.com. St. Louis Cathedral (at night): The St. Louis Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the U.S. Located in Jackson Square, the three spires overlook a bronze statue of Andrew Jackson in the heart of old New Orleans. Photo credit: Alex Demyan and NewOrleansOnline.com. Few people think of New Orleans without considering the annual Mardi Gras celebration. Photo credit: NewOrleansOnline.com. New Orleans is infamous for its timeless architecture, especially in the French Quarter. Photo credit: Alex Demyan and NewOrleansOnline.com.
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ACTIVITIES New Orleans boasts enough activities to completely fill your days and nights. At the Audubon Nature Institute, you’ll find an amazing aquarium, zoo, butterfly garden, IMAX Theatre and golf course. You’ll learn about the area’s history and culture at more than 45 museums. Spend at least an afternoon at the National World War II Museum. If art feeds your soul, you’ll find nourishment at dozens of galleries and museums. MUSIC AND NIGHTLIFE As befits the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans strikes a high note at its 80 music clubs, where you’ll enjoy blues, jazz, funk, rock, folk and R&B. For even more wide-ranging music, plan a trip during one of the many musical festivals. Exciting nightlife abounds when you visit cabarets and casinos, cut a rug at a Cajun dance club or learn to jitterbug and Lindy Hop at the Spotted Cat Music Club. CUISINE Traditional foods of New Orleans reflect the melting-pot of its cultural history and blend the influences of its Western European, Caribbean, African and Native American heritages. Don’t miss the area’s gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée and red beans and rice. Then learn techniques to re-create these dishes at home at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Treat yourself to the Honey Child cocktail in the funky vibe of Victorian Muriel’s or the 25-cent lunch martinis at Commander’s Palace. ACCOMMODATIONS With lodging ranging from former bordellos to bed-and-breakfasts, elegant hotels, floating villa houseboats, historical mansions and plantations, cottages, and romantic boutique hotels, you have an overwhelming number of accommodations choices. GETTING THERE Multiple airlines fly from Billings to New Orleans, some with only one stop. RESOURCES Visit these websites for extensive planning information: neworleansonline.com, neworleanscvb. com, neworleans.com.
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Clockwise from top: Bourbon Street is a favorite party place for locals and tourists alike. Founded in 1791, the French Market remains reminiscent of European markets with a unique New Orleans flair. Photo credit: David Richmond and NewOrleansOnline.com; Sax Player on the Mississippi River; The Big Easy is synonymous with jazz and other street musicians. Photo credit: Alex Demyan and NewOrleansOnline. com; Don’t visit without taking advantage of the seafood boils. Photo credit: NewOrleansOnline. com; Boiled Crabs at Gazebo Café in the French Quarter: Outdoor crab boils are commonplace in this bustling city. Photo credit: Alex Demyan and NewOrleansOnline.com; Beignets and coffee are a popular New Orleans past-time. Photo credit: David Richmond and New OrleansOnline.com; All Aboard! Step back in history aboard the authentic Steamboat Natchez with a Mississippi River tour. Photo credit: NewOrleansOnline.com
Local Lexicon Antebellum – Latin for “before the war.” In New Orleans, it refers to the period before the Civil War.
Beignets (ben-yays) – Originating with
the Acadians, beignets were a fritter, often filled with fruit. Now they’re a square-shaped fried doughnut, sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Big Easy – One of the city’s many nicknames, describing its laid-back, easy-going nature. New Orleans is also known as the Crescent City, and NOLA is an abbreviation for it.
Cajun – Descendants of French Catholic exiles who were expelled from Acadia (Nova Scotia). Also used as an adjective for the language/dialect, music and food of this group of peoples.
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Chicory – The roasted and ground root of a
plant related to Belgian endive. It was added to extend and round out the flavor of coffee and creates a unique note in café au lait.
Creole – Loosely defined, it means “mixed race,” and speaks to the multi-culturalism of the area. Also describes the “pidgin” languages that developed, as well as types of food (a spicy sauce with tomatoes, peppers and onions). Étouffée (ay-too-fay) – A French term,
meaning “smothered,” which is a cooking technique for this Cajun and Creole dish. It’s made with seafood and served over rice.
Fat Tuesday – Or “Mardi Gras” in French. The Tuesday before Lent, when revelers feast on fatty foods (and lots of drinks) before fasting for six weeks. Gumbo – Basically, a stew over rice. It is believed the name came from Africans’ word for okra – kimgombo – which thickens (along with roux) the dish. Holy Trinitiy – Onions, bell peppers and celery, the basis of much Cajun and Creole cooking.
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Lagniappe (Lan-yap) – A little extra bonus (free appetizer or dessert, for example). Po’ Boys – A New Orleans-style submarine sandwich made with meat or seafood (shrimp and oyster po’ boys are very popular) and served on French-style bread. Muffuletta – Originating with the city’s Italian
immigrants, the muffuletta is a delectable sandwich made with olive spread, ham, provolone, mortadella, salami and mozzarella, inside Sicilian sesame bread.
Pralines (prah-leen) – A decadent confection with a fudgy consistency, made from brown sugar, butter and pecans. It originated with French settlers.
4 0 6 . 8 6 0.12 8 4
Roux (Roo)– The blend of flour and fat
stirred over a low flame until it reaches the color of dark caramel or chocolate. Used as a flavoring and thickener for gumbo. In Creole cuisine, a lighter or “blond” roux is often preferred.
Yat – A dialect that somewhat defines the New Orleans accent. Derived from “Where y’at?” meaning “How are you?” If you’ve ever chanted “Who Dat” in support of the New Orleans Saints, you’ve shared in the yat dialect.
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58 I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
To interventional cardiologist Dr. Robert Terry, M.D., the heart is the center of the universe. He says it with a smile, but he’s not really kidding, and it’s true – especially during February when signs and symbols of the heart are everywhere. The fist-sized organ that pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through more than 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body every day was considered by ancient philosophers as not only the source of emotion, but also the center of thought and indeed a person’s soul. The intricacies of the heart’s physiology and makeup weren’t fully understood for many years later. Even during the course of 25 years, Dr. Terry has seen an evolution in heart medicine. “When I began treating the heart in the late 1980s, a patient having a heart attack had a 50 percent chance of dying. Today, a patient can come in, have a stent put into a blocked artery through a vein, and be back to work in a week,” he said.
Matters of the Heart By K athleen Harris
Dr. Terry, who works for St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, has witnessed amazing changes in medical technology. Only three years ago, elderly, fragile and other high-risk patients with aortic stenosis, a disease that causes a narrowing of the heart valve, had no other options if open-heart surgery was deemed too great a risk. Today, an aortic valve can be inserted through a blood vein in the leg, threaded upward to the heart and inserted to replace the damaged valve. The heart continues to beat during the surgery, eliminating the need for a bypass heart and lung machine. Patients can have surgery one day and be out the next, while in years past high-risk patients faced certain death. In its first year offering this procedure, called transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, St. Vincent Healthcare has successfully treated more 60 high-risk patients.
Behold the power
In spite of the amazing advancements in medical technology, Dr. Terry is quick to point out that the most powerDr. Robert Terry, M.D ful tool in heart health care is St. Vincent Healthcare the human body. He encouragPhoto by James Woodcock es people to be tested and know their blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. Lifestyle choices such as a healthy diet, exercise, not smoking and being aware of potential genetic predisposition to heart disease can significantly decrease an individual’s risk of heart attack. “Exercising 30 minutes a day, five times a week reduces the chance of a heart attack by 50 percent,” he said. “We’re not always perfect, we don’t always eat right and we don’t always exercise, but throughout life the body is always giving us little wake-up calls to improve our lifestyle.” These signs, or wake-up calls, can include physical signs such
events for the he art
as shortness of breath, heart palpitations or fatigue, but can also be emotional in nature. A close friend’s illness, the death of a parent or the birth of a child can also impact a person’s lifestyle choices. “I’d like people to hear the wake-up calls, to become too healthy to need medicine, explained Dr. Terry. “Put me out of business! I want to be the Maytag repair man.”
Subtle signs
Dr. Deborah Angersbach, a naturopathic physician with Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic, says the body sends messages to the mind when it comes to health, and heart health in particular. “Stress, anxiety, depression – these are all viewed as mental or emotional issues, but they are often revealed in the body in a physical ailment,” said Dr. Angersbach. “So many of the problems we encounter occur because our bodies are out of balance.” To care for the heart, Dr. Angersbach notes that it’s important to look at the whole person—the physical, mental and emotional. According to the National Institutes for Health, signs that a patient is ‘out of balance’ are often evident long before a physical ailment manifests and forces a person to slow down and figure out what is wrong. Headaches, irritability, not being able to sleep, anxiety that seems to have no source and unusual weight gain or loss are all red flags. These symptoms may link to heart or other health problems if allowed to continue over a long period of time. Dr. Angersbach explains that in the process of determining whether or not these signs indicate a physical illness, a naturopathic physician seeks to treat the cause of the symptoms, rather than simply curing the symptoms. “We spend time asking what else is going on in a patient’s life,” Dr. Angersbach explained. Once a cause has been determined, Dr. Angersbach says that a variety of therapies may be prescribed, including nutritional counseling with a dietician, massage therapy, hydrotherapy, exercise therapy or lifestyle counseling.
“Nature can also provide a tremendous healing power. Food, air and water are all essential components of wellbeing. We try to identify and remove obstacles to the body’s natural processes for maintaining and restoring health.” According to Dr. Angersbach, when a specific medical condition has been diagnosed, naturopathic physicians work hand-in-hand with medical doctors, taking into consideration the results of medical testing, while also assessing an individual’s mental and emotional risk factors.
Small doses
Instead of being overwhelmed by making dozens of lifestyle changes simultaneously, Dr. Angersbach recommends taking it one step at a time. “Big impacts can happen with small changes – the little things do help.” In an article published by SoundMedicine.org, Dr. Bonnie J. Spring Ph.D. validates this claim and encourages Dr. Deborah Angersbach, people to incorporate small Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic changes over time to maxiPhoto by Bob Zellar mize health benefits. For example, someone who currently exercises 10 minutes a day should try to increase that to 30 minutes a day. For those who primarily eat meat and starch, start adding fruit and vegetables to the menu. She also suggests having pre-prepped vegetables and other healthy snacks readily available to help avoid reaching for chips and cookies. Having a ‘virtual trainer’ such as a FitBit and tracking daily exercise can help motivate people to stay on track. The point is to incorporate small changes into your lifestyle and make them stick.
Positive attitude, long life
Dr. Angersbach notes that emotional health has an impact as well. “Studies show that people with positive attitudes who frequently experience joy have better health,” she said. Research supports the idea that happier people are healthier people. A 2007 study completed by Laura Kubzansky, associate professor of society, human development and health at the Harvard School of Public Health, showed that “emotional vitality— a sense of enthusiasm, of February 21 CPR Saturday hopefulness, of engageClasses All Day ment in life, and the abilMetraPark Area ity to face life’s stresses May 7 with emotional balance— Go Red for Women appears to reduce the risk Luncheon of coronary heart disNorthern Hotel ease.” For more information on According to Kubzanany of these events, visit billingsgoredluncheon.ahaesky, optimism can cut the vents.org or email shawna. secker@heart.org. risk of coronary heart dis ease by as much as half.
According to the American Heart Association, introducing even just a few simple changes in your every day diet can improve heart health. Basic guidelines include eating meals prepared at home rather than fast food and avoiding foods with high levels of trans fat, salt or added sugars. Try these simple substitutions to get started:
Instead of:
Try this:
Sausage, bacon or processed meat Oatmeal or yogurt with fresh berries Processed cereal
Wholegrain breakfast cereal
Croissant or donut
Whole grain bagel
White bread, rice or pasta
Whole grain bread, rice or pasta
Baked potato with butter
Beans
Ramen noodles
Edamame
Pizza
Pita sandwich with chicken and spinach
Breaded chicken sandwich
Chicken salad sandwich with tomato
Chicken Alfredo
Spaghetti with tomato sauce
Potato chips
Popcorn, nuts or raisins
Nachos
Whole grain crackers with hummus
French fries
Guacamole and tortilla chips
Lettuce salad with ranch dressing
Spinach salad with vinaigrette
Cheeseburger
Skinless chicken breast sandwich
Soda
Flavored water or green tea
White wine
Red wine
Candy bar
Black coffee
12 Fascinating Facts about the Human Heart 1] The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000 times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times during a lifetime. 2] Though weighing only 11 ounces on average, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day. 3] Every day, the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back. 4] Because the heart has its own electrical impulse, it can continue to beat even when separated from the body, as long as it has an adequate supply of oxygen. 5] The heart pumps blood to almost all of the body’s 75 trillion cells. Only the corneas receive no blood supply. 6] Five percent of blood supplies the heart, 15-20 percent goes to the brain and central nervous system, and 22 percent goes to the kidneys. 7] Blood is actually a tissue. When the body is at rest, it takes only six seconds for the blood to go from the heart to the lungs and back, only eight seconds for it to go the brain and back, and only 16 seconds for it to reach the toes and travel all the way back to the heart. 8] Early Egyptians believed that the heart and
other major organs had wills of their own and would move around inside the body. 9] Plato theorized that reasoning originated with the brain, but that passions originated in the “fiery” heart. 10] Galen argued that the heart constantly produced blood. However, William Harvey’s (1578-1657) discovery of the circulation system in 1616 revealed that there was a finite amount of blood in the body and that it circulated in one direction. 11] In 1929, German surgeon Werner Forssmann (1904-1979) examined the inside of his own heart by threading a catheter into his arm vein and pushing it 20 inches and into his heart, inventing cardiac catheterization, a now common procedure. 12] On Dec. 3, 1967, Dr. Christiaan Barnard (19222001) of South Africa transplanted a human heart into the body of Louis Washansky. Although the recipient lived only 18 days, it is considered the first successful heart transplant. Source: facts.randomhistory.com/human-heart-facts.html
Can You Die from a Broken Heart? Many people believe that dying of a broken heart is the stuff of fiction – the tear jerking conclusion to a Nicholas Sparks novel. In reality, someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one is given a prescribed amount of time to mourn, and then encouraged to “buck up” and get back to living. However, according to a report compiled by doctors and researchers at Harvard Medical School, Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, or “broken heart syndrome,” is a very real medical condition. The condition was first noted by doctors in Japan, who called it “Takotsubo” because the enlarged section of the heart found in a person suffering from the disease resembled the shape of an octopus trap of the same name. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is defined in the Harvard report as “a weakening of the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber, usually as the result of severe emotional or physical stress, such as a sudden illness, the loss of a loved one, a serious accident, or a natural disaster such as an earthquake.’ The report notes that a surging of adrenaline that essentially shocks the heart likely causes the condition, and in rare cases, this shock to the heart can cause death.
A study completed by researchers at St. George’s University of London Medical School supports the notion that grief caused by a broken heart can increase a person’s risk of dying. Their research, published by JAMA Internal Medicine in 2014, found that for people between the ages of 60 and 89, the surviving partner’s chances of having a stroke or heart attack actually double in the 30 days following the death of a loved one. Other factors can also contribute. The University of London report concludes that grief, along with its adverse physiological responses, can also cause changes in blood clotting, blood pressure, stress hormone levels and heart rate control. In addition, grieving can cause people to forget to take their own prescribed preventative heart medications. Reducing the likelihood of experiencing brokenheart syndrome is accomplished by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly, eliminating other causes of stress and communicating with health care providers, family and loved ones to ensure needed support is available.
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Roger L Daniel Insurance 2047 Broadwater 406-252-3411 rdaniel@farmersagent.com MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 61
Know Your Numbers Do your heart a favor this month and have your physician conduct a comprehensive metabolic panel. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, regular cardiovascular testing should begin at age 20. Your doctor will discuss your blood test results with you, factoring in variables including existing conditions, like diabetes, lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, exercise and family history. Numbers outside of those listed below could be a warning sign for heart disease. (Numbers apply to adults age 20 and older.)
Blood Pressure Category Normal Prehypertension High blood pressure
Systolic (top #) Diastolic (bottom #) Less than 120 Less than 80 120–139 80–89 Stage 1 140–159 90–99 Stage 2 160+ 100 +
Blood Glucose (mg/dL)
HDL Cholesterol Level (mg/dL)
70 to 99 100 to 125 126 and above
Less than 40 40–59 60 and above
Normal Pre-diabetes Diabetes
Lipoprotein Panel (mg/dL) Total Cholesterol Level Less than 200 mg/dLDesirable 200–239 mg/dL Borderline high 240 mg/dL and above High
LDL Cholesterol Level (mg/dL) Less than 100 Optimal 100–129 Near optimal/above optimal 130–159 Borderline high 160–189 High 190 and above Very high
Major risk factor for heart disease The higher, the better Considered protective against heart disease
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Less than 18.6 – 24.9 Ideal Waistline of 35 inches or less for women, 40 inches for men 25 – 29.9 Overweight 30 and Higher Obese *Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute website
Top Five Eating Habits for a Healthy Heart By Alta Peila, RD, LN (Registered Dietician, Licensed Nutritionist), Billings Clinic
1] Develop a healthy relationship with food. Focus on nourishing your body versus labeling “good foods” and “bad foods.” Variety and portion control is key for all five food groups.
2] The less processed, the better. Anything boxed or bagged has an extra red flag as it is likely higher in sodium, fat and sugar plus is lower in good things like fiber, vitamins and minerals. The closer your food is to its natural state, the better. Keep to the store’s perimeter when you shop.
3] Eat at home. Rather than having a restaurant prepare your meals, try preparing meals from home. This allows you to control your ingredients, quantities and choices.
4] Read the ingredients label. If you’re looking for foods that are whole grains, avoid foods with “enriched” as the first ingredient. If you’re avoiding added sugar, limit foods that have sucrose/dextrose/fructose/ sugar in the first five ingredients.
5] Drink more water. Swap your juice, soda, energy drinks and lattes with water. Water hydrates and helps the body function better. Add fruit to water for a flavor enhancer.
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Don’t worry, be happy
In the crazy chaos of a complicated world that seems to be characterized by too many tasks and not enough time, being happy can seem like a tall order, but in his Buzzfeed blog, Jeremy Bender makes it look easy. He believes happiness can be achieved by following a few simple steps – write down what you’re grateful for each day, share what made you happy with family and loved ones, meditate, spend money on others, exercise, live in the moment, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, spend time outdoors, set achievable goals, listen to upbeat music, spend less time on Facebook, and smile.
when I grow up, i wanna be... By Dr. Alan Muskett I Illustration by lee hulteng
I had several stuffed bears as a child. One named Cinnamon Bear had a cool music box in his chest that made a light tinkling noise when the bear was moved. When the music box quit working, I cut the bear’s chest open and removed the box, which a kind jeweler then repaired. The box was replaced, and the wound sutured as neatly as one would expect from a 6-year-old. This procedure had two results. I earned a visit to a pediatrician, a different one, one who had no white coat or stethoscope, but seemed to just want to talk. He told my mother not to worry, I would either be a serial killer or a surgeon, but it was too early to tell. He suggested she keep an eye on the neighborhood pets. The other result was a career-making revelation. I learned that people actually had jobs where you could cut open not only bears, but people, and fix them. When I met Missoula’s first heart surgeon, who had a hot blonde girlfriend and a red Turbo Carrera, well, there you go. My entire focus, beginning in grade school and throughout my school days, was on becoming a surgeon. My eighth grade science fair project was on anti-arrhythmic drugs. Even the judges thought that insufferable. I’ve not regretted my decision. I wonder at times that if I had taken a similar dedication and intensity to Wall Street, I would have a 120-foot yacht in Ft. Lauderdale and a couple of brief stints in a minimum security facility (as opposed to four years of medical school and ten years of residency.) One thing I think the Wall Street guys struggle with is meaning. What am I doing with my life? Does my life matter? I suffer anxiety from bad outcomes, worry over the ever-present legal threats and struggle at times to keep my mouth shut. But I don’t wonder if what I do is meaningful. The most significant thing you can ever do in life is relieve the suffering of another person. So the explosion of health care education in Billings and the surrounding region pleases me. Rocky Mountain College now graduates 30 students a year in the Physician Assistant program. Montana State
University nursing students and University of Washington medical students are ubiquitous in local hospitals. We have naturopathic students and residents. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy—if it’s therapeutic, we have someone studying it. Local schools train surgical techs and CNAs. Rural areas (I guess that’s us) often struggle for primary care providers. Everyone wants to be an anesthesiologist in Seattle. So the development of the Family Practice Residency, and more recently the Internal Medicine Residency, in this area is highly significant. Most doctors tend to hang around the area where they trained, and many of our local primary care stars were trained here. You will probably notice, whether as a hospital patient or in the clinic, that you will be seeing more students. Be patient. If you have to tell the same story 36 times or get a little extra prodding, be cool. You are now in a big time medical center, which are all training facilities. The burgeoning medical education landscape here presents wonderful opportunities for your children and grandchildren. If you want to have the attention you deserve when you are dribbling applesauce down your bib in the nursing home, your offspring need good jobs to bring them home. All three of my children have chosen health careers, and although I don’t see them contributing to my yacht fund, I am proud of their choices. If you look at surveys evaluating communities or cities, medical care is always near the top of the list of concerns. Our area is moving to the big time with broader and more sophisticated care, (maybe more aggravation at times), and expanded opportunities for our youth. So if your little one starts carving up their stuffed animals, well, keep an eye on them. Who knows what could happen. Dr. Alan Muskett is a Montana native, born in Missoula with an English degree from Montana State. From 1991-2003 he practiced cardiac surgery in Billings, then retrained in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Since 2005 he has been with Billings Plastic Surgery. A contributor to The Billings Gazette, and author, he has written and lectured on health, healing and chain saws. His wife Pam, and three children are frequent targets of his irreverent view of medicine and life.
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High Anxiety
B Y ALLY N HULT E NG
By all appearances, Ashley* had every reason to be on top of the world. Happily married with two healthy kids, the young professional had just received a full-time job offer that gave her much more flexibility than her current position – including the coveted opportunity to work from home one day a week.
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“My husband works at a remote job site for two weeks and comes home for one week. With a 4-year-old and 9-month old, I thought the flexibility of the new job would greatly enhance my sense of work/life balance,” Ashley said. Still, the 27-year-old felt anxious. “I asked myself, ‘am I making the best choice for my family?’ I felt so much responsibility for everyone, and I also worried about how the decision would impact my career in the future,” she said. But these weren’t Ashley’s only worries. The young professional had been experiencing anxiety about many things. Though she had a tremendous support system of family and friends, trying to perform at a high level at work while caring for two small children and running the household chipped at her sense of equilibrium. Ashley’s growing angst became evident in phone calls with her husband. “I was trying to focus on 14 things all at once and couldn’t solve any of them,” Ashley said. “It was overwhelming, and exhausting – and my husband could hear the toll it was taking in my voice.”
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States affecting more than 40 million adults – or nearly 1 in 5. Though highly treatable, the ADAA reports only onethird of anxiety sufferers receive treatment.
*** Dr. Amy Schuett, MD, a psychiatrist and geriatric specialist with Billings Clinic, is all too familiar with stories like Ashley’s. As a physician, Dr. Schuett frequently sees people who are dealing with the effects of prolonged stress, which can lead to anxiety disorders. Sorting through the symptoms helps refine the diagnosis and treatment protocols. “People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) worry too much about things they don’t need to,” said Dr. Schuett. Over time, chronic worriers become increasingly tense. They report poor concentration, intense fatigue and may start snapping at others. Left unchecked, GAD can cascade into a major depression or lead to anxiety attacks. Different, yet still under the spectrum of anxiety disorders, is an anxiety or panic attack which strikes suddenly, seemingly out of the blue. “Symptoms of a panic attack include a sense of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea and sweating, all of which can mimic a heart attack making an accurate diagnosis imperative,” said Dr. Schuett.
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While the root cause of anxiety disorders is unknown, environmental stress likely plays a role. That isn’t to say all stress is bad. As Dr. Schuett pointed out, some anxiety and worry is necessary – it keeps people motivated and fuels our desire to perform. But for a large number of Americans, the stress of everyday living has gotten a firm grip on their psyche, leaving many profoundly debilitated.
Stress stigmatized
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States affecting more than 40 million adults – or nearly 1 in 5. Though highly treatable, the ADAA reports only onethird of anxiety sufferers receive treatment. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) states that one reason people may not seek help is because they may not realize they have an illness with known causes and effective treatments. Another reason noted by the APA may be the fear that family, friends or colleagues may disparage someone for seeking help. It was that fear of criticism that initially prevented Ashley from seeking treatment. As she tried to hold things together, the anxiety mounted. “I hate not feeling in control, and my life felt out of control,” Ashley said. Ashley’s husband took note and encouraged her to seek the help of a professional. “I realized I was looking for reassurance to ask someone for help – my husband gave me the courage to do that,” she said. To Ashley’s great relief, the conversation with the physician was easy and comfortable. Dr. Amy Schuett. Photo by Larry Mayer “There was an understanding of what I was going through. It was almost a confirmation that I wasn’t going crazy,” she said.
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Good medicine
According to Dr. Schuett, simply recognizing that your anxiety has reached an unhealthy level is an important first step. “Once you can put a label on what you’re experiencing, and identify triggers, you can start to address the problem,” Dr. Schuett said. The first line of defense is behavioral. “Humans are not great at managing our behavior,” said Dr. Schuett. “We tend not to exercise or eat healthy foods, and we watch too much TV and play too many video games.” Some people, she noted, turn to caffeine or alcohol to tame anxiety. “The problem with excessive alcohol usage is that you don’t sleep well, which makes you more fatigued causing increased anxiety the following day. It’s a downward cycle,” she said. Positive behavioral changes, including regular exercise, yoga, meditation and a healthconscious diet, can curb tension and bring relief. When behavior change is not enough, Dr. Schuett may prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which are a type of antidepressant. Commonly known as Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil or Celexa, SSRIs block the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which in turn helps boost a person’s mood. Occasionally, Dr. Schuett may also prescribe Xanax, Ativan or Klonopin, which be-
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Why so Stressed? Nearly 1 in 5 Americans is diagnosed with having an anxiety disorder that interferes with the ability to lead a normal life. This shocking statistic is no surprise to Dr. Amy Schuett, MD, a psychiatrist and geriatric specialist with Billings Clinic and expert on anxiety disorders. “No one ever gets a rest,” Dr. Schuett said. In a world where people are connected 24/7, the notion of “downtime” has become a thing of the past. “Before mobile phones you could go to the grocery store without an interruption,” she said. “Now if you leave your phone home, you feel panicky. And just try to finish one task without a phone call, email or text interruption.” Adding to the stress quotient is the expectation by others to always be “on” and performing at a high level. “As a society, we do not tolerate imperfection very well,” Dr. Schuett noted. The constant pressure to excel coupled with chronic demands have quickened the pace of life, making us lose our sense of
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control over a situation. “We’re constantly putting our body in a “fight or flight” mentality – anxiety develops from this,” said Dr. Schuett. Fortunately, Dr. Schuett says individuals can take steps to ease the frenetic pace, infusing a sense of calm and self-nurturing to their life.
• • •
Set a time limit on using your computer and other electronics (email, texting, surfing). Tell others you will not be instantly available (other than for emergencies) and stick to your guns. Take part in more outside activities without packing your mobile phone. Walking is one of the best exercises as it preserves your cognitive functioning. Even 20-30 minutes a day can provide measureable relief. Set time to be together with family and do low-key social activities. Play Scrabble, go for a leisurely drive in the country, stroll through the art museum or the zoo. Don’t have an agenda and keep the pace unhurried.
long to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. A type of tranquilizer, these medications work by slowing the movement of chemicals in the brain, effectively reducing nervous tension. Because benzodiazepines can be highly addictive, Dr. Schuett uses them for “short terms and in small amounts.” For most sufferers, medication doesn’t need to be a lifelong prescription. “Often patients use medication for a period of time – just until they get over the hump,” she said.
Assess and act
After meeting with her doctor, Ashley began a regime of regular exercise and yoga. She also made sure that she had time for herself and time with her husband on a regular basis. Medication prescribed by her physician helped “level out” her anxiety. A couple of months after making these changes, Ashley felt a tremendous improvement. Today, she is happily immersed in her new job and is growing professionally. “The hardest thing was to make the appointment,” she said. “But honestly, once there I got the help I needed to get my life back on track.” *Not her real name
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The Arc of Friendship By Michelle Williams
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“Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.” — William Shakespeare
T
The saying, “you can choose
your friends but you can’t choose your family” has rung true for gen-
erations. However, what were once markers of the family unit — race, age, parents, sexual orientation, marriage, children — have become much more fluid.
Mixed-race marriages, blended families, same-sex marriages, childless couples, grandparents raising kids, parents working two or three jobs, single parents: these realities of our current culture have profoundly changed the family dynamic. The result is the emergence of a new paradigm of the family unit, which in turn has increased the importance and actual value of friends.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 71
Friends, whatever shape and size, help us embrace love and sharing along with portant than friends or less of a priority than it once was. Family is still Think about it…Who do you call to celebrate a new promotion or to a primary — and primal — passion point for everyone. It’s through our talk about a bad break-up? Who are you closer to, emotionally and physi- relationships with family members that we experience the crucial human currencies of affection, love, respect and fun. In most cases, our cally? Is it your family or friends? family helped create the person we are today. Though Contributing to this paradigm shift are logistics. Over the structure of family may have shifted, our need for time, families have become more spread out geographically. all it provides is constant. Traveling uses both time and money – finite resources for Still, for a growing number of people, friends ofmost. ten take the nurturing place that blood relatives used Many don’t have the luxury of going on cross-county to hold in our lives. No longer just people with whom excursions to visit relatives multiple times a year. Instead, we socialize, our friends have become real members of they compromise by visiting families on set schedules and our tribe and a source of love, sharing and even healthen filling in holidays, birthdays and social engagements by ing when family falls short or is unavailable. spending time with friends. For others, the extended family has simply disconnected. Kindred spirits Friends fill the gap, often providing emotional support and Friends, whatever shape and size, help us embrace day-to-day assistance that would normally come from close love and sharing along with the sense of responsibility relatives. Nancy Thorson, for mutual wellbeing that comes with intimacy. Nancy Thorson, a licensed clinical social worker with LCSW, Billings Counseling Connection It should come as no surprise, then, that healthy Billings Counseling Connection, calls this “Functional Disfriendships at all ages are key to a happy, quality life. family.” The notion that “when family isn’t what we wish it would be, for whatever reason, friends can step in and become the family And because these friendships develop strength over time, they can withstand a lot of difficulty, work through distance and help push one we choose.” According to Thorson, this in no way implies that family is less im- another forward in our weakest moments.
Friends and fram-ly
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the sense of responsibility for mutual wellbeing that comes with intimacy. According to an article published by the Mayo Clinic, good friends are literally good for your health. Not only do they help in celebrating good times and providing support during the bad, they also: • • • • • • •
Prevent loneliness Give much needed companionship Increase a sense of belonging and purpose Boost happiness and reduce stress Improve self-confidence and self-worth Help cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of loved one Encourage change or avoidance of unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise
In addition, Thorson says that healthy friendships are critical to mental health, serving as a buffer against despair and loneliness – two of the main contributing factors to suicide. “Many friendships are made over common activity or a common life stage, and it’s these friendships that have a lifecycle,” Thorson said. “But once in a while, a very heartfelt connection happens. These tend to be the deepest, life-giving, sustaining friends who can affect big changes in people’s lives.”
People who are lonely and depressed may appear to have many friends because they participate in activities with others. “But what they’re missing is the soul-filling friendships that are pure magic,” Thorson said.
It’s contagious
Maintaining positive friendships may rank up there with healthy eating and exercise as necessary health investments since societal conditions can pass from person to person. For example, A 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a person’s chances of becoming obese increased by 57 percent when a friend became obese. Conversely, happiness loves company. Studies from Harvard Medical School and the University of California suggest that smiling can improve the mood of people by three degrees: the smiler, the people looking at the smile and their friends. Thus, one way to help aspirations become reality is to surrounded yourself with people who see the world in the same way and have similar goals.
Last best friends
Time, space and life circumstances often diminish the bond of friendship. In fact, according to friendship expert, Irene Levine,
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most friendships dissolve after seven years. But no need for tears. We have friends who comfort, friends who listen and friends who, well, just like to have fun. This is the natural progression of things—to bond and spark with people as we navigate life, continually growing, and usually, in different directions. But if we’re lucky, we manage to sustain a few friendships past the seven-year-itch mark. Statistically, these friendships will last a lifetime. Why? Hobbies change. So do priorities. But these friends likely share core values and beliefs—elements of our soul and psyche that remain static. For some, family naturally furnishes this bond—a love and support system unbroken by time, stress, and the occasional spat. For others, friendships fill that void—just an extended family member with a different last name.
Child’s play The unconscious drivers propelling kids to make new friends and grow as individuals are the same fundamental concepts that impact adults in work, family and casual interactions every day. Friendship is essential to how we become fully developed people, and sharing experiences is essential to friendship. When it comes to friends, Nancy Thorson, LCSW says, “Adults would do well to pay attention to what kids say.” Here, five youngsters from Elder Grove school share their top 5 rules:
From left, Sienna Wolfe, 8, Naomi LeFevre, 7, Isaac LeFevre, 11, Jessie LeFevre, 14, and Sydney Wolfe, 10. Photo by Casey Page
BE LOYAL: If your friend is not nice, she is not your friend. Be kind and safe. NEVER LIE: Friends always tell you the truth and never say horrible things. PAY ATTENTION: Friends listen to your ideas and notice when you change your hair. BE TRUSTWORTHY: Never talk behind your friends’ back or give away a secret. LAUGH: Joke back; laughing makes you live longer.
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the serious side of
When is the last time you had fun? You know – a real honest-to-goodness, joy-filled experience that made your whole being melt in the moment? Can’t remember? You’re not alone. While playtime is recognized as essential for children, too often adults put away the notion of taking time for fun as something frivolous. Work, family, finances and even world events bleed our time and attention, leaving little energy – or desire – to play. But playing has serious benefits. According to helpguide.org, being playful releases endorphins and relieves stress. It also improves brain function, stimulates creativity, improves relationships and keeps people feeling young and energetic. The greatest benefits, noted helpguide.org, are achieved when people do something together with others – away from computers, mobile phones and other electronic distractions. If you’re ready to rediscover the art of playing, we’ve got some suggestions to get you started. Grab your kids, your beloved, your bestie, or your entire bunko group and make a date with a good time – the smiles will be contagious.
BY SUSAN AUSTIN MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 75
Lace ‘em up: For a change of scenery, head to the outdoor skating rink in Red Lodge. Located on the north side of Beartooth Market at 201 N. Oakes Ave, the ice will have you re-living your hockey/figure skating daydreams in no time. Can’t get there until later? No problem, the rink is lit at night – perfect for a romantic ice dance followed by hand-holding in the warming hut.
Action adventure for adrenaline junkies
Lace ‘em up
Stay over: Lodging options abound in Red Lodge. Studio rooms, historic lodging and even cabin rentals are available. In the morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Cafe Regis. White and wild: Offering the only groomed cross-country ski trails in the area, the Red Lodge Nordic Center has more than 15 kilometers of easy-to-navigate terrain. Stunning mountain vistas coupled with winter wildlife viewing make this an incredible experience. Got aim? If indoor adventure is more your style, book a date at an indoor shooting range. Three Sights Indoor Range on Central Avenue offers a Friday date night special where couples shoot for the price of one. Cost is $10 plus ammo; rental firearms are available.
Got aim?
Bullseye: Perhaps the quiet aim of a bow and arrow hits the mark for you. Refine your skills at Superior Archery in Lockwood where you can have a half hour lesson with a pro for just $40. Afterward, stay to practice your technique on either the indoor or outdoor range for just $7 an hour.
Bullseye
White and wild
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Family-friendly for those with young ones in tow Double-dribble delight
Double-dribble delight: Since 1926, the Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining audiences with their exhibition-style basketball that combines incredible athletic skill with comedy. For a night of G-rated laughs and fun for the whole family, catch the worldfamous Globetrotters on March 1 at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. No batteries required: Let your kids discover games from days gone by at the annual Playapalooza. Put on by the Western Heritage Center, kids play marbles, Tiddlywinks, Old Maid, Hopscotch, Jacks and more in a
carnival-style environment where they can win prizes. Nix the video games in favor of engaging your youngsters on a trip down gamememory lane. Explore ecosystems: Go on a Nighthawk Adventure at the Montana Audubon Conservation Education Center. Every second Saturday from 6 – 8 p.m., you can join a group of nature enthusiasts exploring wildlife, raptors and their habitats. Upcoming events: March 14: Family scavenger hunt; April 11: Nocturnal Migration and S’mores; May 9: Amphibians and dirt cups. Cost is $5/per person, reservations required.
Creative capers for the artfully inspired Tour d’ art: Stroll downtown during ArtWalk, stopping in galleries to peruse creative and thought-provoking works from our region and beyond. Many galleries offer hors d’oeuvres and hot cider or wine to warm you up between stops. Afterward, share a decadent dessert at Walkers or The Rex. Don’t worry – you already worked off the calories.
NOVA Center for Performing Arts on March 21st. Tickets – $7; unrestrained hilarity – priceless.
Party with a view: Attend Jam at the YAM, a party with live music and cocktails held on ArtWalk Fridays at the Yellowstone Art Museum. Festivities run from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Members enjoy free admission along with a free drink; non-members pay just $6.
Channel your inner Ansel Adams How about a day enjoying great photography – yours? The YAM offers a one day landscape/ wildlife photography class on April 25, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The class starts at the museum before moving out into nature. Members pay $60 and $67 for non-members. Bring your own camera and learn how to compose a stunning photograph. Later, enlarge and frame one or two for yourself or give as a thoughtful gift.
Tried and true: Make a date to dine in one of the city’s fabulous downtown restaurants or brew pubs. Afterward, take in Venture Improv’s 20th Reunion at the
Craft concoctions: Visit Trailhead Spirits in the historic Depot complex on Montana Avenue for a different kind of artistry – like a Moscow Mule, Lemon Drop or Whiskey Sour. The gin, vodka and whiskey are distilled on-site. Tour d’ art
Craft concoctions
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Wild, wild west for those with country roots
Boot stompin’ fun: See Clint Black in concert at the Alberta Bair on March 4 in his “An Intimate Evening” tour stop. Or for a classical twist, attend the Billings Symphony’s “Gone Country” show on March 14. Local and guest performers will wow you with classic tunes, including songs by country legends Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline. Ladies only, please: The Wild Women of the West is a group of fabulous women who banded together over a dozen years ago to support the ongoing restoration and community enrichment efforts
of the historic Billings Depot. For a modest, annual tax-deductible donation, members enjoy monthly socials that, well, live up to their name. (Note: RSVP required 48 hours prior to events.) No bull: Re-define your idea of “tough enough” at the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Invitational held on April 17 – 19 at MetraPark. Watch as the world’s top bull riders take on the likes of Red Dragon, Trickster and Perfect Poison in their quest to become the next PBR champion. A variety of ticket prices get you as close to the action as you want.
Boot stompin’ fun
Ladies only, please
No bull
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 79
Weekend unwind for 8-to-5ers
Game on! Laughter, heckling and raucous challenges are all part of game night fun. Invite your favorite couples – or acquaintances you want to get to know better. Unleash Apples-to-Apples or “What Would You Do?” Table Topics for some revealing responses. Movie muse: When is the last time you took in a matinee? Skip the Saturday bustle and slip into the theater to take in a new release with a friend. Afterward, indulge in a sweet treat at Starbucks in Barnes & Noble Bookseller, where you
can rave or pan accordingly. Live action: Matinees aren’t just for film-goers. The Billings Studio Theater has Sunday matinees of classics such as Steel Magnolias and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Want more comedy? Catch Monkey Business for a barrel of laughs. Sacred Sunday: Re-kindle a family tradition by hosting Sunday Brunch. Invite friends and family, and have everyone – including youngsters – help with preparations. Ready-made Danishes
and pre-cut fruit complement your egg casserole and fresh-cooked sausages, making the meal easy and delicious. Don’t forget Fido: Dog owners rejoice! The High Sierra Dog Park in Billings Heights offers space for your furry family member to run wild. Leashed pets are welcome along many trails. For incredible views, choose Sword’s Park on the top of the Rims. Water hounds will love romping along the Yellowstone River at River Front Park. (Just be sure to avoid high water during spring runoff.)
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Out-of-the-ordinary for those who color outside the lines
Be the king pin
Travel back in time
Star struck:
Cut a rug
Star struck: There is nothing more romantic than stargazing. Stake your claim in a place with unobstructed views. Bring folding chairs, blankets, binoculars or a telescope, and sit back and enjoy the magnificence of the universe. Notable dates: February 22 with the conjunction of Venus and Mars; March 20 with a total solar eclipse; April 4 with a total lunar eclipse; April 22 - 23 and May 5 - 6 for meteor showers. Travel back in time: Whether you are new to Billings or are a long time resident, learn fascinating facts about the history of your hometown by joining one of the Western Heritage Center’s guided Hoof-It With a Historian walking tours. Cost is $10 and includes museum admission. Be the king pin: For the shear hilarity of it, go retro with “cosmic bowling” at Town & Country Bowling Lanes, Lounge and Café in Shepherd. When the black lights come on, everything including the lanes, pins, balls, shoes, carpet even the sitting areas glow in the dark. In between rolls, boogie to up-tempo tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s made more fun with fog and special-effect lighting. Cut a rug: Join the growing popularity of dancing by signing up to learn West Coast Swing. Held at Elysian Elementary School each Monday, the lessons are free and both couples and singles are welcome. Beginning lessons start at 7:15 p.m.; Beyond Basics at 8:30 p.m.
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By Terri Malucci Idle time envelops your senses while sitting at the coffee shop. Transfixed by your smartphone, you check email, an Amazon Prime order, schedule a doctor’s appointment and send a birthday Ecard to your friend in Chicago. You are a master multi-tasker. Or so it would seem‌ While relishing in your efficiency and time-saving tactics, a sexual predator has scoped you out. He knows you are left-handed, drive a black SUV, carry a purse too small to house a Taser and are oblivious to his gaze.
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Downtown Billings Police Officers Matt Linnick and Tony Nichols offer these tips:
Unfortunately, there’s no app to teach us to walk our world, fully aware. If you find yourself in a compromising situation, rest assured you won’t have time to Google “assault.” You may be a lightening speed, two-thumbed texter, but technology is no substitute for using common sense, alertness and instinct.
• Pick your head up and look
Heads down, thumbs up
Personal Safety
around. Ditch the ear buds; don’t walk with your head down texting. Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Make eye contact. If someone approaches you, don’t avert your eyes or look away. Maintain eye contact.
• Firmly tell an approaching stranger to GET BACK! Make your intentions
clear—do not apologize or use a gentle voice.
• Keep your distance. Walk around a person or group while watching them. If you feel even slightly uncomfortable or feel threatened, go to a safe public place like a business, restaurant or office. Or get to your car and lock your doors.
• Carry a flashlight. Use while walking from your vehicle to your destination.
• Before exiting your vehicle, look around to see if anyone is nearby.
Have all belongings gathered before you unlock and exit your car. If possible, walk with a buddy.
• Carry pepper spray. Look for the OC10 large-sized bottle of pepper spray. You don’t need a special permit to carry and officers recommend buying one that emits a “fog” versus a “stream). Note: it takes 60 seconds for the spray to take effect, so be prepared to defend yourself for 60 seconds.
• Consider purchasing a Taser. Cost is around $350 vs. $20 for pepper spray, but a Taser will drop a 350-pound person on contact. If you “Tase” someone, drop the Taser and run for help. Be sure to file a police report. You can submit the report to the Taser manufacturer and you will receive a new Taser free of charge. • Listen to your instincts. If a situation just doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.
• Do NOT hesitate to call 9-1-1. A seemingly innocuous situation can quickly turn into something more dangerous. Err on the side of caution.
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It’s human nature, as we become more and more dependent on instant information and sophisticated technology, to be less grounded in our physical world and more tunedin to our GPS systems, cell phones and mobile devices. “People have lost a bit of awareness of the world,” said Dennis Forleo, owner of Billings Chi-Tu Do and 6th degree black belt. “We think we are in touch, but we’re not. Generally we are reasonably safe, then technology robs us of our senses, our innate ability to respond. Ear buds take our hearing, texting takes our vision and attention.” You touch base to verify that your teen driver arrived safely after driving home on black ice. Text your BFF to say hello. You can open the garage door and start your car remotely. Just push a button, and voila! All this instantaneous activity leads to a false sense of efficiency. We mistakenly believe that we’re masters of multi-tasking and fasttracking. Yes, technological advancements are fantastic and amazing, a testimate to man’s supreme ability to move civilization forward at warp speed, but this shouldn’t be at the cost of compromising personal safety.
Forthright foresight
“People have lost a bit of awareness of the world, we think we are in touch, but we’re not. Generally we are reasonably safe, then technology robs us of our senses, our innate ability to respond. Ear buds take our hearing, texting takes our vision and attention.”
The city of Billings is growing rapidly as the largest urban center in a rural state. As such, the likelihood that you or someone you know will be the victim of a crime increases with the population growth. — “Concern for citizen public safety continues to grow along with our population,” said Billings Mayor Tom Haowner of Billings Chi-Tu Do nel in a recent city council meeting addressing the need to pass a future public safety mill levy. “Overall costs increase, so adjustments must be made to provide acceptable levels of service to our citizens.” With growth comes challenges. It is more critical than ever that citizens become self-advocates. Oftentimes, the importance of personal safety measures are known but disregarded until inconvenienced by an assault, robbery, bullying or accident. Be proactive and arm your inner self with the tools you’ll need to deal with a stressful confrontation or threatening incident before it happens. First, consider the connection between personal safety and self-awareness. Learn how your senses, physical body and confidence all work in concert to help increase safety.
Dennis Forleo
Empower, encourage, inspire
Dennis Forleo is passionate about teaching self-defense. But he’s quick to point out that you “don’t need a black belt in karate to defend yourself,” he said. It’s never too late to educate yourself, friends, family or co-workers, Forleo said. In fact, if you are pressed for time, Forleo teaches a 3 ½-hour class called FAST where participants learn about awareness, boundaries and assertive verbal skills for dealing with confrontations. These sessions train and empower people by showing them how to deal with the fear and adrenaline rush that naturally arises during stressful situations. Adrenaline slows our ability to think rationally and perform basic motor skills, causing panic and paralysis, Foreleo explained. In his classes, students of all ages learn to pay attention, breathe, focus and select a response to verbally deal with disturbances. Participants gain self-confidence and learn to ditch the “victim pos-
ture” that often signals to a criminal to forge ahead with plans to intimidate, hurt or steal from you, Forleo said.
Ever-aware
Bad guys test to see what they can get and will take it. Forleo, who has a degree in criminal justice, notes that “predators, bullies and bad guys have a passivity radar,” he said. “They sense passivity when they see someone who is not checked into their world. The person who isn’t paying attention isn’t going to put up a fight. They want what they want, quick and quiet.” Personal safety and self-awareness are life skills that should be taught at an early age. These are important lessons transferred from generation to generation, much as our values, good manners and religious training. Case in point, consider a career cop teaching his grandchildren to get a good description or license plate number of person who pings on their safety radar. Alertness and self-awareness will serve you well throughout Above: Dennis Forleo, in his your life, protecting you and those you love. Grand Ave dojo. But there’s no need to become paranoid and fearful. Left: Chief Rich St. John Simply take responsibility for yourself and help those around instructs a saftey class. you do the same. According to Chief Rich St. John of the Billings Police Department, victimized citizens call for help and when asked what happened, they oftentimes reply “I don’t know, it just came out of nowhere!” Generally, “it” didn’t come out of nowhere, St. John said. He urges parents to learn and practice personal awareness when it comes to safety and to share what that knowledge with their children. “Pay attention, keep your eyes and head up; be engaged in your world,” he said.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 87
Montana’s high school wrestling tournament: so big it creates its own folk heroes
by rob rogers
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It was February 2001, the first time Beau Malia circled the arena at MetraPark during the parade of athletes as a wrestler. He was a freshman at Skyview High and wholly unprepared for the moment. “The energy level is crazy,� he said. Caleb Bagnell of Frenchtown takes down Abi Gontarek of Laurel in the Class A 98-pound quarterfinal match at the state wrestling tournament last year. Photo by Casey Page.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 89
The arena was nearly full, almost 10,000 wrestling fans cheering and shouting and waiting for the tournament to begin. It dwarfed Malia’s last wrestling tournament, which had been the year before when he wrestled for Castle Rock Middle School. Stepping onto the floor that day was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. He walked away from the tournament that year with a state title and did the same thing for three consecutive years. Malia went on to wrestle in college, but the fanfare never quite matched the crowd at Metra. “It was awesome,” he said. Malia is now an assistant coach for Skyview. “I tell my kids, ‘It’s something you’ll never experience again in your life.’” The experience is something business leaders and high school sports officials point to when they talk about why the annual state high school wrestling tournament at MetraPark is such a big deal. “It’s the pageantry of the tournament,” said Bill Dutcher, general manager of MetraPark. Dutcher’s been involved with the wrestling tournament for more than three decades, and the competition has been the centerpiece of Metra’s winter event schedule for 20 years. Much of the tournament’s energy is generated by how the event is set up. Roughly 80 teams from 94 high schools compete. At any given time, 12 wrestling matches are happening on the floor of the arena, giving spectators a wild and raucous spectacle. “It can be electric,” said Brian Michelotti, assistant director for the Montana High School Association, which oversees all prep sports in the state. “You see people follow that buzz (from one spot on the floor to another)
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when something unexpected happens,” he said. The fans also love watching for first round upsets, something that’s easy to catch when all 12 matches are happening on the floor at the same time. “It’s quite an opportunity,” he said. And that’s what makes the wrestling tournament such a draw. The spectacle, the pageantry and the excitement bring out the entire state, which has become an economic boon for Billings. John Brewer, president and CEO of the Billings Chamber of Commerce, welcomes the tournament with open arms. “It’s important to us,” he said. “It’s important for the community.” Last year, the tournament sold 9,900 tickets and racked up 19,331 spins on the Metra’s turnstile counters. Brewer said that translates to about 11,000 attendees to the tournament. Families travel from every corner of the state to attend, staying in local hotels, eating out at local restaurants and shopping at the mall, downtown and in the big box stores. “I call it the pilgrimage to Billings,” Michelotti said with a laugh. “Our quality of life is impacted in a positive way,” Brewer said. In all, the chamber estimates the tournament injects just under $2 million into the Billings economy each February. “And it comes at a time of year when we’re not seeing other big events,” Brewer said. In fact, Montana’s high school wrestling tournament is so big it creates its own folk heroes. Wrestling official Ron Collins may not be a household name, but Collins’ signature move, the "Flying Pin," is known all across the state. Collins retired from officiating in 2011, but his enthusiastic
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Offered at both Billings locations for your convenience: Opposite page top: The state wrestling tournament garners upwards of 11,000 attendees each year. Photo by Casey Page. Top: Volunteers put down mats in preparation for the state wrestling tournament at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. Photo by Bob Zellar. Center: Wrestlers from around the state gather in the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark for the Parade of Athletes during the state wrestling tournament. Photo by James Woodcock. Above: Team banners line the balcony at the state wrestling tournament. Photo by Casey Page.
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and energetic performance in refereeing matches made him famous and beloved in high schools and wresters’ homes throughout Montana for decades. And it’s not just wrestlers and their families who show up for the tournament. Billings has its fair share of wrestling fans and high school sports enthusiasts who attend every year, Brewer said. They know they’re going to get a good show and have a great Last year, the time. Collins’ "Flying Pin" has been a big part of that. tournament For Billings businesses, the importance of the sold 9,900 event can’t be overstated. On Father’s Day 2010, a tickets and tornado ripped through Billings, tearing off much racked up of the roof at the Metra and severely damaging the 19,331 spins grounds around the arena. By the end of the year, on the Metra’s the MHSA had secured three locations in other turnstile parts of the state to hold the wrestling tournament counters. that while the Metra was under repair. translates to “It was a significant impact when it wasn’t about 11,000 here,” Brewer said. Michelotti was proud attendees of the communities that stepped up and felt like the to the tournament was staged successfully in the towns tournament. that hosted. “The camaraderie was still there,” he said. “But there was something missing.” The ability to house all weight classes and all matches under one roof at one time creates an adventurous, almost circus-like atmosphere that can’t be replicated when the events are split up. “That’s what was missing,” Michelotti said. “The action.” For Dutcher, general manager of the Metra, there’s more to that action than just the wrestling. “People think the tournament is 12 mats on the floor,” he said. “What makes it special is we have the huge auxiliary building.” It’s across the arena in the Montana Pavilion where those attending find the weigh-ins, the cheerleader routines and the coaches’ room. All of it, Dutcher said, adds to the spectacle. This tournament “is not a two-hour concert,” he said. “A lot of folks that come are here for 12 hours.” For that reason, comfort is a big deal. The coaches’ room is a
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Above: Layne Durfee of ChoteauAugusta, right, takes down Mason Melby of Baker in the Class B-C 182-pound final at the state wrestling tournament in 2014. Photo by Casey Page. Right: Skyview’s Matt Dillon celebrates his overtime win in the AA 182 pound championship match at the state wrestling tournament in 2014. Photo by Casey Page. Far right: Retired veteran referee Ron Collins, known for his signature move, the “Flying Pin,” was inducted into the MHSA’s Officials Association Hall of Fame last year. Photo by Gazette Staff.
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quiet space reserved for team staff that’s decked out with plush seating along with free food and drinks supplied by the Chamber. Dutcher likes to point out that the coaches, along with the volunteers, usually have the longest days at the tournament. It’s important for them to have a place to go. “We’re uniquely set up to do this,” he said. Collins, who officiated at more than three decades-worth of state wrestling tournaments, still talks about the pull of staging the entire event at the arena. He remembers fondly the feeling, the energy and excitement from the crowds and the athletes as he’d enter. “It’s like nothing else,” he said. His signature Flying Leap would always elicit huge cheers, but the move also took its toll on his 69-year-old body. He’s had surgery on his shoulder and had both hips replaced since retiring from the mat. For many of the wrestlers, competing in front of thousands of spectators is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Collins enjoyed watching athletes from smaller schools or communities walk into the arena for first time and hear the cheers of 10,000 people. “For some of those kids it’s a big deal,” he said. Collins was inducted into the MHSA’s Officials Association Hall of Fame last year and as such has considered returning to the tournament this year. He’d go as a spectator and it would be the first time coming back after retiring. “I enjoyed it,” he said. “It’s still the best show in town.”
Top: Colstrip’s Austin Blaede, right, helps Forsyth’s Brandon Weber celebrate his third state title after Weber defeated Blaede in the Class B-C 152-pound final at the state wrestling tournament in 2014. Above: State wrestling medals waiting to be awarded. Right: Joe Malchuski of Skyview, right, hugs Koby Reyes of Billings West after Reyes won a close mach in the Class AA 145-pound quarterfinal match at the state wrestling tournament in 2014. Photos by Casey Page.
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Your Health, Our Passion MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 95
The Heart of Winter
Mrs. Martin-Martin’s garage was a treasure tomb of winter artifacts. Her husband, long deceased, left a car-house full of “junk:” Wooden Nordic skis the size of small trees, ice skates with an elongated blade, a couple of rocks with handles on them, a homemade sled to carry ice fishing paraphernalia, an iron ice auger and a couple of pucks. 96 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
In the late ’50s – those days of “I-double- flattened cardboard box, putting one of the dog-dare-ya” – kids manufactured their own smaller mess-mates on it and pulling it down entertainment. Money was for food and cloth- the gully about 40 yards. Packed down and ing and gasoline, not for outfitting a junior frozen overnight, it was an ice chute to be ridhockey team. Winter games were cheap as ice, den. The object was to sit on the skis, hold on to the binding leathers like a bareback rider, and snow came free. Adversity met builds character. Throw in put the feet up on the skis and fly down the snot-freezing cold and it grinds a heart of re- gully. It worked well enough to break glasses solve: ignore the sting; be tough; the colder the and noses. No one recognized the speed skates. The better; no wimpin’ out. Winter in Montana, elongated blades mystiespecially west of the Divide, had fied, and the leather was a natural rhythm to it, arriving Adversity met fatigued, giving no supin late October and remaining port. The problem paruntil the end of March. Ice stayed tially remedied by taking frozen. builds character. leather straps from roller After many years of not putskates and binding them ting down a sheet of ice, Billings around the ankles. Not Parks and Recreation in the winThrow in snota very successful adapter of 2013-14 partially re-created tation, the next winter a skating rink at Veterans Park. Kris Kringle solved the For the current oblique of the sun, freezing cold problem with new hockthe city went whole hog. With the ey skates under the tree. wedge of Arctic air trending furThose made ice games ther west last winter, it helped the and it grinds a of “crack the whip” and completion of an outdoor rink at “bring’em back alive” last 13th and Poly, fit for would-be ice for hours despite the temdancers or Bobby Clarkes. The heart of resolve: peratures. glass-smooth surface invited closNo one knew what to eted skates out for a rejuvenating do with the stones, but the spin. The kids flocked to it… ignore the sting; auger and sled made their Shoveling snow was a quick way to the lake for catchpath to pocket change, and then ing trout through the ice. some. Corner sidewalks deep in be tough; the The pucks were prohibsnow were worth skipping school ited on the common rink, for. An aged widow, Mrs. Marbut late night sessions tin-Martin was the dowager emcolder the better; with homemade sticks press of the neighborhood. Each provided a rudimentary day she dressed as if receiving facsimile of the Canadian visiting royalty rather than the no wimpin’ out. national game. scruffians who cleared her walk …skaters of all ages for four-bits. At times, her rouge are bringing their speed, was thicker than the snow. Her hockey and figure skates to late husband was of the Scottish version of the line, most probably from Nova Veterans Park. After dark and weekends, many Scotia. That explained the 42-pound polished are skimming the surface kept smooth by rec granite stones used for frozen shuffleboard. department workers. Real winter showed up in Curling is now an Olympic sport. One of the 2014. What a treat for all—especially the kids. stones served perfectly as a doorstop in the Playing in the cold develops a character-worthy heart. house filled with “antiques.” When the contents of the garage were offered for rummaging, the scruffians hit the Jim Gransbery is a retired agricultural hoard. and political reporter of The Billings The Nordic skis of more than eight feet Gazette. Since 2008, he has spent were a prize – the bindings too large for any his time teaching, writing magazine articles for regional publications and kid’s boots, to say nothing of being unwieldy. working on short fiction. He also looks A gully behind an elementary school was after the well-being of his wife, Karen, turned into a bobsled run by taking a large, who has made the whole trip possible.
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Every thing you need to know about the smartest bird in the world.
BY BRETT FRENCH
Imagine you are a Labrador retriever. You have been bred for generations for one specific task – to hunt birds. The desire to find, flush and retrieve flows through every fiber of your body. Fetch is not a game, it is an addiction, a family affliction. Growing up you were trained to fetch pigeons before graduating to a real hunt for mountain grouse, then pheasant, ducks and eventually geese as you matured and the season evolved. MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 99
Then one day on the way to hunt with your master you see out the truck window the most magnificent bird ever – a wild turkey. It’s the biggest darn bird you have ever seen – almost prehistoric looking with its naked head, resembling some strange dinosaur. Excited, you try to jump through the closed truck window, then claw at the door, bark and whine. These days, Montanans and their dogs may be used to seeing wild turkeys along the highways and backroads of the state – there’s even a resident flock in Billings – but it wasn’t that long ago that the wild fowl were fairly rare.
Not from around here
That’s because wild turkeys are not native to Montana. The species now found here, the Merriam’s, was transplanted to the state. The first Merriam’s turkeys were trucked to Montana from Colorado in the 1930s, and later from Colorado and Wyoming in the 1950s. They were released in the Judith Mountains, the Long Pines near Ekalaka and finally in the forest close to Ashland. Since the establishment of these resident flocks, only their offspring have been used to increase the wild turkey population across the state. From those humble beginnings, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) estimates the birds’ population at around 135,000. “To a large extent, we’ve come to fill all of the vacant habitats,” said Rick Northrup of FWP. Montana’s increase in turkey numbers is a reflection of the nationwide jump in wild turkeys. That’s largely due to the efforts of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Since the group was founded in 1973, and following its Target 2000 initiative to restore and introduce wild turkeys to all suitable habitat, the birds’ numbers have grown from 1.3 million to more than 7 million in North America. Wild turkeys are now found in 49 states.
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A yellow lab peers from his seat in the truck as a group of wild turkeys cross through traffic on Virginia Lane above Poly Drive. Photo by James Woodcock. Broken eggs fill a wild turkey nest in a flower garden of a Billings home. Turkeys have become a common sight in Billings, taking their chicks for a walk on the MSU-B campus. Photos by Larry Mayer. Turkeys can also be seen roosting in downtown trees. Photo by Gazette staff.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 101
Hunt ’em up
In Montana the NWTF partnered with FWP to capture and plant the birds into suitable ponderosa pine-type habitats. The goal was to increase opportunity for turkey hunters – a sport that has attained an almost fanatical following among some hunters in the Midwest and South. As Montana’s turkey numbers have increased, that one-time eastern turkey hunting affliction has infected the state, reflected in a growing number of turkey hunting licenses being sold. Montana FWP shows turkey tags for residents climbing from around 7,400 in 1994 to 25,000 in 2014. “It’s been a fairly steady increase,” said Neal Whitney, of FWP’s license bureau. That high number of hunters – between 24,000 and 25,000 – has been maintained since 2007 and peaked in 2008 at more than 26,000 tags sold. Like many other states, Montana offers a split season for turkeys – one in the spring and another in the fall. In the spring hunters can only use shotguns or bows to take male turkeys (known as toms, or as jakes if they are young males), not hens. In the fall, wild turkey hunters are allowed to use rifles and can shoot toms or hens. The split seems to be popular. Back in 2006, an FWP survey showed that there were almost as many fall turkey hunters – 4,700 – as there were spring hunters – 5,600. “The fall season is a population management tool,” explained Collin Smith, a regional wildlife biologist for the NWTF.
The author, Brett French, had his first successful turkey hunt last spring. Hunters use a variety of tactics, including the use of decoys, calls and even stalking. Montana has two turkey seasons – one in the spring and one in the fall. Each season has different regulations. Photos by Brett French.
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The attraction for hunters is fooling a species that can be extremely wary – remember Benjamin Franklin thought wild turkeys should be the national bird, not the bald eagle. Because the birds have such acute hearing and vision, hunter camouflage and stealth is key to success. It’s also important that the hunter stay very still, because the birds will often bolt at the slightest movement. Locating the birds can be difficult on public land. Hunters will travel backroads and hike through the woods blowing crow, coyote and owl calls in hopes of spooking a turkey into what’s known as a “shock gobble.” Sometimes even slamming a car door can trigger the response. Another technique is to use binoculars to locate the birds strutting during the day. Once found, the hunter will ideally watch the birds fly into their nighttime roost tree, known as “putting them to bed.” By knowing this location, the hunter can return before dawn, possibly with a young gobbler decoy – known as a jake – or a hen decoy. Setting up close to, but not within sight of the roost tree, the hunter uses calls to imitate a lone hen looking for a little gobbler loving. With such a ruse a hunter can, ideally, call a fluffed up, strutting and gobbling tom within shotgun range – about 30 to 35 yards. In the fall, turkey hunting is more opportunistic. Rifle or archery hunters searching for deer or elk may sneak up on a flock and shoot a bird to provide some wild Thanksgiving fare.
Turkey flusher
The wildest wild turkey incident I ever witnessed occurred when I was pheasant hunting. I was walking in a brushy creek bottom when pheasants started rocketing overhead, flushed from the hill far above. I figured my black Lab was running amuck, so I hiked up the hill to rein him in. I found the dog on the opposite side of a sheep fence mirroring the mad dashes of a turkey as it ran up and down along the fence line. As the turkey ran through the tall grass, it kept flushing pheasants before it finally took wing and soared away. I can only imagine what was going through my dog’s mind.
Turkey trivia The scientific name for Merriam’s wild turkey is: Meleagris gallopavo merriami. They were named in 1900 in honor of C. Hart Merriam, the first chief of the U.S. Biological Survey. Of the other species of turkeys in North America, the most common is the Eastern wild turkey, followed by the Rio Grande. Merriam’s turkeys are native to New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. Adult males average 48 inches in length and 16.3 pounds in weight, while adult females average 34 inches in length and 9.3 pounds in weight. According to Realtree.com, Montana has the largest Merriam’s turkey population in the Rocky Mountain West. The state also leads the nation with close to 200 National Wild Turkey Federation Wild Turkey Record Book entries for this subspecies. Merriam’s lay their eggs from late-March to early-April and typically lay an average of 10 to 12 eggs. This process can take about two weeks since the hens will usually only lay one egg a day. Out of a clutch of 12 to 14 eggs, only seven or eight may hatch. In a good year of those hatched, only four to six will live until fall. Merriam’s wild turkeys eat chokecherries, bearberries, ponderosa pine seeds and grain like corn, oats and wheat. They also enjoy insects, such as grasshoppers, spiders and beetles. Montana FWP has a web page dedicated to information on hunting wild turkeys in Montana. It can be found at: http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/ planahunt/huntingGuides/ turkey/brochure.html
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After a successful hunt the work begins. Dipping the birds in hot water makes it easier to pluck out the turkey’s many feathers. Photo by Brett French.
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 I 105
SEEN SCENE AT THE
2
All That Jazz
1] Darren Rich, Darcy & Reid Garrett 2] Jim Gutenkauf, Lynn Marquardt, Benjamin Hochman, Cynthia & David Hummel 3] Serin Kwon & Rachel Weitz
3 6
Black Tie Blue Jeans
1 4
4] Bob & Pam Cerkovnik 5] Jim & Katie Shaver, Laura Hollister & Nich Pertuit 6] Scott Wickam 7] Jacob Gosman
5
The Nutcracker
8] Angela & Mariah Niddicombe 9] Megan, Bernie, Kelsey & Callie Steffan 10] Robin, Ethan, Elise & Amanda Hanel
The Montana Inspiration Series
11] Bruce Ryniker, Jake Fretwell & David North 12] Â Bruce Ryniker & Kevin Kooistra
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Montana Wilderness Association Series 13] Cameron Sapp, Bethany Schatzke, Doug Peacock & Cal Cumin
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Holiday Open House The Frame Hut & Gallery
14] Jill Young 15] Erin Rice & Brandon Mooer
The Kings’ Singers 16 17
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16] Bill & Janie Brown 17] Jeff & Shannon Behounek 18] Julian Gregory, Joan Heser & David Hurley 19] Marc, Lynn, Anita & Harold Robirds
Montana League of Cities and Towns Conference 18 20
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20 ] Pierre Martineau, Tom Hanel & Rick Norby 21] Angela Cimmino & Lt. Governor Angela McLean 22] David Nielsen, Jani McCall & Patrick Barkey 23] Montana Attorney General Tim Fox & Jani McCall 24] Denis Pitman
Warren Miller 25] Darius Morup, Kelly & Eli Timmons & Hayden Gall
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SEEN SCENE AT THE
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Warren Miller
26] Lexi & Bill Brandon 27] Tim Hedin & Matt Freeck
Winter Fair
28] April Holman (Super Woman), Jack Salveson (Captain America), Kadence Holman (Elsa), Rick Bonogofsky (Robin), Kelly Everitt (Harley Quinn), Bryan Holman (Thor) & Nacho Stanford (Bat Santa) 29] Kathie Riggs, John Beaudry, Terri Hogan & Wes Urbaniak 30] Matt & Teresa Sher 31] Robert Kramer & Melissa Burns 32] Merle Frank & Lea Jacobson 33] Kris Keup & Sally McIntosh
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Holiday Parade 34] Ziggy Ziegler & John Bollinger
Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale New Year’s Eve Bash
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35] Eve Hanan, Frederic & Jane Van Dyk 36] Randy & Cheryl Bentley, Bre Anna & Eric Fisher
Dennis DeYoung 37] Connie Meland, Jimmy Leahey, Dennis & Suzanne DeYoung & Christopher Buller 38] Lori & Doug Hardy 39] Mark & Corrina Kuntz, Monica & Don Lyman
Smokey Joe’s Café 40] Drew Galahan,
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Melanie Bock & Corby Skinner 41] Jack & Nancy Schmidt 42] Laura & Ken Schmid
Wynonna & the Big Noise 43] Brandi Peabody & Malori Dietrich 44] Phil & Sherlene Reno 45] Ron, Amy & Ava Yates 40
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Opening of Art Auction Exhibition Yellowstone Art Museum
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46] Nancy Standley & Becky Mitchell 47] Neil Jussila & Gregory Wilhelmi 48] Ossie Abrams & Tom Singer 49] Robin Earles & Steve Kuennen 50] YungBen Yelvington & Stephen Haraden
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company 51] Brad & Amantha Van Diviere 52] Catherine & Kayla Christensen 53] Sandra Zoldowski & Patricia King
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Photos by Alberta Bair Theater, Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, Angela Cimmino, Kevin Kooistra, Rocky Mountain College (specific name?), Helen Tolliver, Yellowstone Art Museum
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Playapalooza March 7 Western Heritage Center
February Until March 7 Exhibit: Art Auction 47 Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Until April 5 Radiance: Art from the Michael Ovitz Family Collection Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
February 21
February 22
Mike Caskey: Painting with Chalk Pastels Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Iration: Tales from the Sea The Babcock babcocktheater.com
SHA NA NA Sock Hop Fundraiser ACS at Shrine Auditorium 406-256-7156
Granger Smith
Jalan Crossland Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
Exhibition is ongoing
February 23 Twiddle Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
February 24 Big Sword Pub Station 1111presents.com
Until February 28 Steel Magnolias Billings Studio Theatre billingsstudiotheatre.com
February 25 Noon tours for Art Auction 47 Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
February 18 18th Annual Trivia Night ZONTA Club of Billings St. Bernard’s Church facebook.com/zontaclubbillings
February 19-21 MATE Show Home and Health Expo Montana Pavilion at MetraPark metrapark.com
The Pub Station 1111presents.com
The 4ONTHEFLOOR Pub Station 1111presents.com
Boundless Visions: Selections from the Permanent Collection Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Dedric Clark and the Social Animals Pub Station 1111presents.com
Marbles, Tiddlywinks and Old Maid—oh, my! Everyone is a kid again, at least for a day at the annual Playapalooza. Spend an affordable, prize-filled afternoon with the family, learning (or recalling) games from the days-ofold, all while supporting the education programs of the Western Heritage Center. Hopscotch, cowboy roping and jacks—it’s all there. Held carnival-style, all games and food are purchased with tickets, which are sold for .50 each or 22 for $10. You can’t beat this non-digital, budgetfriendly family outing. See ywhc.org for more information.
Billings Wolves Rimrock Auto Arena Montana Pavilion at MetraPark metrapark.com
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February 26 Memphis Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
Wines from Washington: Our Pacific Northwest Neighbor MSU Billings Student Union winefoodfestival.com
February 28
February 26-28 Eastern A Divisional Basketball Tournament
Hat Trick Gala
Rimrock Auto Arena MetraPark metrapark.com
February 26- March 6 RV & Boat Show Expo Center at MetraPark metrapark.com
February 27-March 1 Huff’s Antique Show & Sale Montana Pavilion at MetraPark metrapark.com
February 27-March 8 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe NOVA Center for the Performing Arts novabillings.org
Terpsichore Dance Company Babcock Theater terpsichoredance.com
Shrine Auditorium centennialicearena.net
March March 1 Unveiled Bridal Show Billings Depot billingsdepot.org Harlem Globetrotters Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
March 4 PintAid/Billings Family YMCA Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
Clint Black Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
March 5 Caladh Nua Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
March 5-7 Southern B Divisional
March 13-15 Spotlight Dance Cup
March 15 Billings Wolves
Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
Montana Pavilion at MetraPark metrapark.com
Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
March 12-28 Monkey Business
Home Free
Billings Studio Theatre billingsstudiotheatre.com
Historic Babcock Theater babcocktheater.com
March 6 Myke Bogan
March 14 St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Celtic Fair
March 18 James Otto’s Acoustic Storytellers Show
Pub Station 1111presents.com
Downtown Billings downtownbillings.com
Pub Station 1111presents.com
March 5 Machine Head Pub Station 1111presents.com
No Limits Monster Trucks
March 20 FAM at the YAM Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
March 6-8 Home Improvement Show Montana Pavilion & Expo Center MetraPark metrapark.com
A Wild Affair ZooMontana zoomontana.org
Friends of Bob & Tom Comedy Show Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
March 7 Playapalooza
March 22 The Shamrock Run Yellowstone Rimrunners runsignup.com
March 25 Summer Cannibals Pub Station 1111presents.com
Western Heritage Center ywhc.org
March 20-April 4 Communicating Doors
Dollar Days
NOVA Center for the Performing Arts novabillings.org
PintAid/Montana Audubon
March 21 Sweet Success
Rhone Rangers: Wines from Paso Robles
Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org Art Auction 47 Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Yellowstone Country Club dressforsuccess.org/billings
John Robers y Pan Blanco
Soul Brat
Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
March 11 Grandtheft Pub Station 1111presents.com
Whitewater Ramble Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
March 11-14 Big Sky Quilt Retreat and Show Shrine Auditorium
March 12-14 Boys State C Basketball Tournament Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com Art for Kids: Paint Your Land Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
From Russia with Love Alberta Bair Theater billingssymphony.com
Eggstravaganza
“Wined Up With Art”
ZooMontana zoomontana.org
Gone Country Alberta Bair Theater billingssymphony.com
Women of the Wild West Better to Gather Studio 656-7273
Two to Tango: O’Riley and Ziegler Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
Bad Math Band
March 19 Coral Creek
Black Otter District Scout Show
Pub Station 1111presents.com
Montana Pavilion at MetraPark metrapark.com
Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
Adventures in Music Day Various downtown locations billingssymphony.com
Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
MSU Billings Student Union winefoodfestival.com
March 27 Floyd D. Tunson: Son of Pop and Ride ‘Em: The Art of Will James Opening receptions Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
March 28 Women of Ireland Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
Rescued and Reclaimed Montana Pavilion at MetraPark metrapark.com
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 111
YWCA Salute April 17 at the Crowne Plaza For more than 30 years the YWCA’s Salute has celebrated the achievements of women who exemplify significant contributions to the community through their volunteer service or profession, and who demonstrate creativity, excellence and endurance. This year, for the first time, the YWCA will also honor an organization that demonstrates commitment to creating opportunities for women, plus an individual who has gone above and beyond in supporting and mentoring women. This is a “don’t miss” celebration for both men and women. The dinner begins at 5 p.m. See ywcabillings.org/events for more information.
Camelot Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
April 16 Rocco Deluca, Jonathon Wright aka J III, Old Man
Von Stomper
Pub Station 1111presents.com
Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
Grandview Park downtownbillings.com
April
Women of the Wild West 656-7273 .April 23
Aaron Watson
March 29 Purple 5K
April 21 Quarterly Social Event
PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational
Pub Station 1111presents.com
Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
Bella Vista film screening
April 17-26 Dinosaurs Before Dark
NOVA Center for the Performing Arts novabillings.org
Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
April 24 Paint ‘n’ Sip with Jon Lodge Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
April 1 Naïve Melodies Pub Station 1111presents.com
PintAid/Diabetes Tour de Cure Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
April 3 Jam at the YAM Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Scott Pemberton Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
Billings Wolves Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
April 4 Dollar Days Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
April 8 New Reb & Satsang Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
April 10-25 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Billings Studio Theatre billingsstudiotheatre.com
April 11 Wendy’s Free Day Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
112 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Recycled Percussion Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
Art for Kids: Remixstruments Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org.
1st Annual Relay for Life Dodgeball Tournament ACS at YMCA 406-256-7156 I Love Lucy Live on Stage! Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
April 18 Celebrate Spring Dinner Yellowstone Art Museum billingssymphony.com
April 25 BLM Archeology Day at the Will James Cabin Four Dances Natural Area & Pictograph Cave State Park artmuseum.org
MARKETPLACE Dave Shumway: Landscape/Wildlife Photography Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
April 26 Peaks to Prairie Adventure Race Red LodgeA peakstoprairie.org
Billings Wolves Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
May 8 Billings Wolves Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
May 8-23 Funny Money Billings Studio Theatre billingsstudiotheatre.co
May 9 Art for Kids: Story of the West
Call Sam Van Dyke for your Real Estate Needs!
Yellowstone Valley Brewing yellowstonevalleybrew.com
May 12 PintAid/Bike-Walk Montana
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Jam at the YAM Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Sing-a-Long-a Grease Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org
May 7 BLM Presentation on Will James Cabin Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Home Loan Consultant
www.billingsfcu.org
May 1 ArtWalk
May 2 Dollar Days
Sam Van Dyke
May 11-16 MSU-B Wine & Food Festival winefoodfestival.com
Purchasing • Refinancing g • Building • Remodelin ng •
Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
April 29 PintAid/Head Start
May
HOME LOAN SOLUTIONS
Call us for all your insurance needs! May 15 FAM at the YAM Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org
Agent is independent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana and offers its products only in the State of Montana.
Billings Office: Jessi Sawicki .
Billings Wolves Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark metrapark.com
May 16 Heritage Home Tours mossmansion.com
406-655-1711 . 2619 St. Johns Ave., Suite B
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including prep and college sports extras. billingsgazette.com/activate MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 113
What’s your “Magical” fun quotient? Take this quiz to find out if you are truly having enough fun.
1] When you “wanna PBR,” you want:
5] You head to the Pub Station:
A. An old-timey beer B. To attend the Professional Bull Riders’ Invitational C. A peanut butter on rye
A. To catch the Greyhound B. For musical entertainment C. Eat fish ‘n chips
2] Taking a Class IV ride means:
6] Two Moon Park is located:
A. A scary but exhilarating rapid-river ride B. You have a body-building chauffer C. Your bike seat has extra padding
A. In Billings Heights B. On Venus C. On the moon, silly
3] When you hear “Alberta Bair” you think of:
7] Dehler Park was built for:
A. The ship that brought your great-grandparents to America B. A Canadian bruin C. The historical, namesake theater in downtown Billings
8] You ride the Heritage Trail on a:
4] If you are going to The Rims, you are:
A. Casino-style gambling B. Daily strolls C. Minor-league baseball
A. Motor-scooter B. Horse-drawn covered wagon C. Bicycle, skates or board
A. Going to a fun rock concert B. Heading to the city park located atop the Yellowstone River Rimrocks C. Shopping for chrome for your tricked-out Chevy
9] If you “Jam at the YAM,” you: A. Rock-out and head-bang B. Make jelly by stomping fruit C. Listen to live music and tour the Yellowstone Art Museum
Your Score: 4-6 points:
Dudley Do-Little
7+ points
Fun-nomenal!
114 I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Answers:
Party Pooper 1 = B; 2 = A; 3 = C; 4 = B; 5 = B; 6 = A; 7 = C; 8 = C; 9 = C
1-3 points:
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MARCH/APRIL 2015 I 115 www.shiptonsbigr.com
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