May 2014 by Billings Gazette

SMALL TOWNS

AMAZING GRADS MEET 12 WHO WILL MAKE YOU STAND UP AND CHEER PLUS

YOU, INC. MAXIMIZE YOUR MARKETABILITY

BOUNTIFUL BACKYARD GARDEN-TO-TABLE FRESH SUMMER GREENS

THE MODERN FAMILY: CELEBRATING TRADITIONS OLD AND NEW

The

Gamma Knife is here!

Brain Surgery without Surgery

Illustration courtesy of Elekta

The only Gamma Knife in 5 states!

The Gamma Knife – the alternative to traditional brain surgery. Gamma Knife Perfexion® radiosurgery – now available at Billings Clinic – is the most advanced treatment available for brain cancers, as well as select functional disorders. There is no scalpel, no incision, and no general anesthesia. Most patients are treated during a single outpatient session and resume normal activities within a day or so. Treatment is coordinated by our highly-trained team of specialists and delivered using nearly 200 very small beams of radiation focused on a precise location, or target, within the brain – often reaching regions of the brain where traditional surgery may be too risky. The shape and dose of the radiation is optimized to hit only the target, without damaging surrounding tissue.

For more information, call (406) 255-8400 or 1-800-252-1246. billingsclinic.com/gammaknife

Billings Clinic Gamma Knife Team

2 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

(pictured L-R): Mark Piedra, MD, Neurosurgery; John Schallenkamp, MD, Radiation Oncology; Dennis Cheek, PhD, Medical Physics (not pictured): Eugen Dolan, MD, Neurosurgery; Miguel Lopez-Gonzalez, MD, Neurosurgery; Christopher Goulet, MD, Radiation Oncology; Michelle Proper, MD, Radiation Oncology; Christopher Veale, MS, Medical Physics

OYSTER PERPETUAL DAY-DATE

rolex

oyster perpetual and day-date are trademarks.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 3

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014 5K • 10K • 2 Mile Health Walk RRCA 5K Western Regional Championship Participants will each receive a free micromesh t-shirt. The race will finish at Dehler Park for the Montana Active Life Festival. Proceeds Benefit YMCA Strong Community Campaign and Billings Trails Development.

Thanks to our great partners in this important community event! Presenting Sponsors: St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation • Billings Gazette Communications

Major Sponsors:

Wells Fargo • Stillwater Mining Company • Underriner Motors • Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana • Intermountain Distributing • AMP – Athletic Medicine & Performance

TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.HEARTANDSOLERACE.ORG OR (406) 254-7426.

KOHL’S CARES®:

KIDS ON THE MOVE Kohl’s Cares and St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation have partnered to help Billings elementary students learn healthy, active habits. The year-round Kids on the Move program involves students at three Title 1 schools in Billings, and includes spring and fall running programs that lead to participation in two large community race events, a winter hip hop program, and health/fitness education. The 35th Annual Heart and Sole Run is followed by the Yellowstone Elementary School Cross Country race in October 2014, which continues to draw a record-breaking number of children each year. For more information, please visit www.svfoundation.org/kohls or call (406) 237-3600.

4 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

FEATURES

may/june 2014

Tour de Trails

the modern family

Get on your bikes and ride!

By Brenda Maas

One family. one farm five generations.

Celebrating traditions old and new We Ar

By julie green

We Are Family

Vintage Beauties

The American family is rapidly changing. Here’s how to make sure your treasured relationships thrive.

These aDVENTUROUS ladies are hitting the road and arriving in style

By Allyn Hulteng

By Jennifer A. Williams

Wild Horses of the Pryor Mountains

Reunited…And it Feels So Good

By Shelley Van Atta

Host the best family reunion EVER!

By Julie Green

Play Ball!

a LEAGUE OF OUR OWN

By Allyn Hulteng

BOUTNTY IN THE BACKYARD

By Nick Mann

12 Ways to Re-engage Your Inner Child

103

gET YOUR GREEN GOING

By Dayle Hayes

107

Amazing Grads

Small Towns, Epic Adventures

SMALL TOWNS

These teens will make you want to stand up and cheer!

By Brittany Cremer, Brenda Maas and Allyn Hulteng

117

YOU, Inc.

Branding yourself for success

SMALL TOWNS EPIC ADVENTURES • THE MODERN FAMILY • BOUNTIFUL BACKYARD • AMAZING GRADS

By Michelle Williams

7 destinations to discover

By Karen Kinser AMAZING GRADS MEET 12 WHO WILL MAKE YOU STAND UP AND CHEER PLUS

YOU, INC. MAXIMIZE YOUR MARKETABILITY

BOUNTIFUL BACKYARD GARDEN-TO-TABLE FRESH SUMMER GREENS

THE MODERN FAMILY: CELEBRATING TRADITIONS OLD AND NEW

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 5

DEPARTMENTS

may/june 2014

RIVER TO RIMS

IN E V E R Y I S S UE

EDITOR’S LETTER T he G i f t o f A d v e n t u re b y ALLY n H u lt e n g

cONTRIBUTORS

124

SEEN AT THE SCENE

The List

Gif t ide as for Moms, dads and Grads

Person of Interest 16 18 Giving Back D o ug D i e re nf i e l d

41st Annual Art in the Beartooths

20 ARTIST LOFT

De f e nd e r s o f B e a u t y Gre g J a h n & N a n c y H a lt e r

ELEMENTS

MEDIA ROOM

bOOK S, M O V IES, M USIC

127

DATEBOOK

bOO K S, M O V IES, M USIC & W E B RE V IE W S

130

SIGNATURE SECTION

LAST WORD

FINE LIV ING

GREAT ESTATES

Epicure

Libations

S u b t l e S o p h i s t i c at i on

Ho t D i gge t y

FUN, FACINATING f INDS

Why Magic City?

Montana Perspe c t ive s

4 5 Legends

W h at ’s i n a N a m e ? C ro w i nf l u e n c e s i n o u R ge ogr a p h i c l e x i c on

V irgini a Brya n

4 8 Photo JournaL

E nd of a n E r a —t he l a s t s e a s on at C obb F i e l d

52 A Mother’s View:

B l e s s i ng s m u lt i p l i e d

BRITTANY CRE MER

5 4 I’m Just Sayin’ t IES THAT B IND

gENE c OLLING

6 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

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.

MAY/JUNe 2014 I VOLUME 12 I ISSUE 2 Michael GulledgE Publisher 657-1225

We Make Your We Make Banking Your BankingeasY... Easy...

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 asistant Editor 657-1226 pho togr a phy/ v ide ogr a phy

Larry Mayer, James Woodcock, Casey Page, Bob Zellar, Lloyd Blunk 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 ack 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 Copper Colander Curves for Women I Evergreen IGA I Gainan’s I Good Earth Market Granite Fitness I Kmart I McDonald’s (select locations)neecee’s I Pita Pit Real Deals I 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© 2014 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.

BILLINGS 2900 Central Avenue Billings, Montana (406) 656-5148

HARDIN 835 N. Center Avenue Hardin, Montana (406) 665-2332

NMLS # 403407

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 7

The "B" Team

The Gift of Adventure Growing up, my parents had few opportunities to travel. Both were post-depression era babies, and vacations were not in the budget. Even when my father’s high school basketball team made it to the state championship in Laramie, Wyo., his parents could not justify the expense to drive 322 miles to root for their son. Instead, they listened to play-by-play action on the radio, cheering wildly when the underdogs from Ten Sleep up-ended every prediction to win decisively. After high school, my father enlisted in the air force and served for three years in Germany before going to law school. My mom left Billings to live on the west coast, eventually moving to Corpus Christi, Tex. It would be 10 years before they would meet on a chance encounter on the streets of Billings. When they did, it was “love at first sight,” (or so goes the family lore). After a brief courtship during which they discovered a mutual love of travel, they married. Little did the newlyweds know what adventures lay ahead.

Camp Calton

As kids, we grew up during the golden age of camping. It was the 1960s, and suburbanites armed with tents and trailers traveled in droves to enjoy the great outdoors. Our family was no exception. Nearly every weekend during the summer, my parents piled all five kids into their wood-paneled station wagon and headed for a campground. We didn’t have a trailer, but we had a car-top carrier filled to the gills. My dad is patient with many things, but packing isn’t one of them. In retrospect, it was amazing to see what all he could fit into that small box on top of the car. The 6-man, Ted Williams canvas tent came out first, followed by the Coleman stove, cooking pots and dishes, towels (the canvas tent leaked in the rain, and it always rained), inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags, assorted folding camp stools and fishing gear. With two toddlers in cloth diapers, mom made room in the back of the wagon for a weekend’s worth of clean diapers and a pail to haul back the dirties. Looking back, it seems more like an ordeal than a family outing, but my parents never saw it that way. “That was so much fun!” dad would say.

Adventure on wheels

In my teens, my parents purchased a motorhome, and the circumference of our travels expanded greatly. In the summer, we would head out for weeks at a time exploring the West on our way to visit family in LA. All seven family members plus at least one grandmother – sometimes both – and our two yipping dogs crammed together in a space as wide as a car and just 28-feet long. Behind us we towed a small-size pickup with two smaller motorcycles loaded in the back. Fearlessly, my father led the vacation charge. Every trip offered both excitement and drama. Once while touring the Redwoods we stopped to browse at a curio shop. I lost track of my older sister, so after a few more minutes I left to go back to the motorhome. I walked out the door in time to see the last half of the vehicle as it disappeared around a corner, down the highway leaving me behind. Thirty minutes later, my dad roared back into the parking lot giving me a furious look. It was the last time I missed his bus. Another time at my mother’s insistence we drove through Death Valley… in June. Arriving late at the campsite, we learned it was the one week of the year that the pool was closed for cleaning. The temperature that night cooled to 102 degrees. My father, knowing that if we broke down things might get dicey, decided we had seen enough. By 5 a.m. we were back on the road leaving unexplored the scenic drive from Furnace Creek to Badwater. To outsiders, our trips sound wild and chaotic, and they were. But stories of our motorhome adventures have become family classics.

“They were so much fun!” dad would say.

She coined the term, “writer's block.” Her Inbox shuts down regularly from an outpouring of fan mail. She once asked the “Grapes of Wrath” why they were so angry. “I don’t always write my own bio, but when I do, I lie through my teeth.” For the truth, find her on LinkedIn.

Brenda Maas Whether she’s chasing down resources, coordinating photos or one of her three sons, Brenda Maas sees each day as yet another story to tell. She has been reporting and writing since cut-andpaste was en vogue. And she loves to assign nicknames.

The lucky ones

The years passed. We all grew up and left home. Yet to this day, my parents continue their travels together, exploring places familiar and exotic. “We’re so lucky that we’ve been able to see and do so much,” my dad recently said. You know what, dad? We’re the lucky ones. You and mom took us so many places, introducing us to experiences we otherwise would never have had. Your love of adventure – and love for us – is an enduring gift that we now get to share with our children. Thanks mom and dad. You are so much fun!

Allyn Hulteng editor@magiccitymagazine.com

8 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Brittany Cremer

Bob tambo grew up in the

shadows of the Hollywood Sign and thought he would be the next Paul Newman or Rodney Dangerfield. Instead, he has been a commercial artist for 30 years. He has no Oscars or Emmys but has picked up a few awards in his career..and still gets no respect.

co n trib u tors

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.

Nick Mann grew up in Billings and began traveling the country at a young age with his family. He has lived in Boise, ID and Glasgow, Scotland, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Strategic Marketing from the University of Glasgow. He is passionate about travel and the benefits tourism can bring to a community. Nick is currently the Marketing Manager at Visit Southeast Montana and enjoys writing about the places he has traveled in his spare time.

Ready. Set. GRow!

Jennifer Williams is a relationship and emotional fitness coach with decades of experience helping organizations and people grow and thrive. In her passionate desire to help people transform their lives and relationships, Jennifer has studied the brain for more than 10 years, applying the discoveries of cutting-edge research in her work. Jennifer is the founder of Heartmanity. Her ultimate joy is being the mother of three grown children and married to her beloved husband for 33 years. To contact her go to Heartmanity.com.

Virginia Bryan is a freelance writer based in Billings. She is an MFA candidate in creative nonfiction at the University of New Orleans and chairs the High Plains Book Awards Committee, a project of Billings Public Library.

Karen Kinser

loves the wizardry of words. She 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, photographing 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.

Jim Gransbery is a retired agricultural and political reporter of The Billings Gazette. Since 2008, he has spent his time teaching, writing magazine articles for regional publications and working on short fiction. He also looks after the well-being of his wife, Karen, who has made the whole trip possible.

Julie Green’s life-long passion has always been writing, and she considers herself lucky that it is also her profession. She is the owner of Box 117 Creative, which offers freelance writing and marketing services for small to medium-sized businesses. A native of Cowley, Wyoming, Julie enjoys spending time with her husband Dave and their two children.

HEIGHTS GARDEN CENTER 810 Bench Blvd | 248-5029

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 9

I am not a stroke.

I am a volunteer and loyal friend.

There is life after a stroke. And St. Vincent Healthcareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rehabilitation center is here to help you get back to it. As the first certified Primary Stroke Center in the five-state region, we are dedicated to providing a high level of personalized care. Learn more about our commitment to neuroscience and about the St. Vincent Regional Neuroscience Center for Brain and Spine at svh.org.

10 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

THE LIST

PERSON OF INTEREST

GIVING BACK

ARTIST LOFT

MEDIA ROOM

ELEMENTS

A GIF T GUIDE FOR

MOMS,DADS & GRADS FUN, FASCINATING FINDS WE THINK ARE GREAT

for MOM The new black Turquoise is the season’s hottest color, and bling’s the thing. Mom is sure to get compliments—and plenty of use—from this show-stopping handbag. Available at Gypsy Wind $47

perfect mother's day ensemble Silver woven into the pale turquoise of this long cardigan make this ensemble perfect for the office or Mom’s weekend off. Sweater, lace shell, and necklace $35-80 Available at Gypsy Wind

Never out of style

One-of-a-kind For a gift that is as unique as Mom, try this handcrafted necklace and bracelet set. Made by Miles City artisans using vintage silverware, up-cycled vintage jewelry and found objects, each piece tells its own story—you just have to listen. Available at Girl Ran Away With The Spoon Prices vary

Chocolate is always en vogue, so take your pick—dark, milk, salty or extra sweet. These locally-made, fresh candies are melt-inyour-mouth bliss, translated into love. Available at SweetiePie’s Candies & Confections Prices vary

Night light If your Mom loves to relax on the deck in the evening, shed a little light on her with these colorful Mason jar-style luminaries. Simply add a tea light and viola! Available at Real Deals $10 each

More than a dirty job… Motherhood really IS the toughest job you’ll ever love. So show Mom in her (unfortunately) mostlikely-to-be-frequented place—the kitchen. This embroidered towel is so cute, she’ll forget she’s doing dishes…again. Available at Joy of Living

$17

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 11

A- LIST

MOMS, DADS & GRADS I PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARRY MAYER, CASEY PAGE AND BOB ZELLAR

for DAD At least it’s not a tie Dad’s a hot guy—but, he still may get chilled. So, give him this alpine climbing vest from Patagonia. Made of lightweight primaloft insulation with zipper side pockets, it’s perfect for a day at the ball game or for an extra layer without bulk. Available at Base Camp $149

Fix your slice Extend Dad’s golf season through the entire year with this giant hitting net and split hitting mat from Izzo. From driver to wedge, this huge 12-foot by 10-foot high net is better than any MLB catcher. Pair it with a split hitting mat that adjusts for various heights, lefties and righties, for an easy round at home. Available at Mitchell Golf Giant Hitting Net $180 Split mat $80 {photos courtesy of Izzo}

Carry on Driving mocs are back—and for a good reason. You simply cannot find a more comfortable shoe. Ariat crafts this classic with 4LR technology, including four-layer, cushioned footbed for comfort; lightweight stabilizing shank for support; and duratread outsole for maximum wear resistance. They will soon be as worn and loved as his baseball mitt. Available at Western Ranch Supply $89

12 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Thursday & Saturday 9:30am - 5:00pm

234 Moore Lane Billings, MT 59101

Play away! Who needs a kite? Dad can fly this Triumph R/C helicopter inside or out. Likely he will have so much fun, that he will run out of batteries, so buy extra. But be sure to take turns at the controls! Available at Radio Shack on Grand Avenue $70

CLASSES

Just hangin’ out Kate Stevens 406.861.1717

Chris Walter 406.698.3167

There’s no doubt—Dad deserves a day off. What better way to spend it than lounging in the Anti-gravity Suspension Chair from Northwest Territory. The chair’s revolutionary suspension and sturdy steel frame enables Dad to float the day away. Nap time! Available at Sears $65

Gift Certificates Available

out k c e Ch e new , th h, fun fres fabric! hip Your Official Elna Dealer

No more roaming Rover Dad is blissful when his best friend is near. The Invisible Fence makes that possible. Plus, it is installed by the pros— and that makes Dad happiest of all! Available at Invisible Fence of the Big Sky Prices vary

406-860-4529 2101 Grand Ave. Billings 4windsquilting.com

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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 13

A- LIST

MOMS, DADS & GRADS

for the GRAD Presto-chango! Skip the more permanent photo frame and give the grad a metallic photo easel. Scripted with “Shine brightly,” the message is fun and filled with love. Available at Joy of Living $20

Branded Your grad will forever remember the date. But make it even more fun with these real 2014 “brands.” Etch the date on a piece of wood, a stepping stone or even on banners for a creative mix. Available at Catherine Lane Interiors $12 each

Let’s ride! Two-wheeled transportation is often faster than four-wheeled, especially across college campuses. Give the grad a grand send-off with this road-mountain hybrid bike from Specialized. The brand’s reputation alone may outlast graduate school. Available at The Spoke Shop Starting at $400

Drink up! 406 forever! No matter where your graduate goes, she will forever carry Montana in her heart with these unique pieces. Available in a variety of colors or styles, even guys will like the leather wrist cuff. Available at Neecee’s $35 each

14 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Don’t leave home without it. This guy keeps the hot drinks, hot and the cold drinks, cold. Made by Hydro Flask with double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel, the bottle comes in a variety of colors, holds 18-ounces and is BPA-free. {Insert happy face here.} Available at Base Camp $24

CREATE THE LOOK YOU WANT

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ProBuild 542 Main St | 406.252.9395

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Cabinet Works 2495 Enterprise Ave | 406.655.8955

Quality Kitchens 1547 Main Street | 406.245.4144

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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 15

PERSON OF INTEREST

BY Brenda Ma as I Photo by Casey Page

Game On Receive by Giving “At one point it really got to me that there are kids out there in need of help. And why can’t I do it? Volunteering only costs me my time.”

Doug Dierenfield has been involved with youth and sports for a lifetime. He has served on the Midland Roundtable since 1986 and was inducted into the Montana Officials Association’s (MOA’s) Hall of Fame in 1989. Instead of backing off in his retirement, Dierenfield has taken on a more active role in projects that positively impact youth.

16 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

It’s a common-enough story. The uncommon evolved over time. Doug Dierenfield’s entire life has been intertwined with sports. As a young man, he played football, basketball and track for Huntley Project High School. As a college student he played football at Eastern Montana College (now Montana State University Billings). From there he moved into teaching and coaching, then sold real estate before becoming a businessman. He also ran the court evenings and weekends as a basketball official for 17 years. Today, at age 70, Dierenfield is retired, yet he continues to dedicate even more of his time to Montana athletes and youth. Behind the scenes

Dierenfield purchased Universal Trophy in 1986 and changed the name to Universal Awards. Shortly thereafter, he joined the highly-acclaimed Midland Roundtable—an organization formed in 1947 to foster “more and better sports.” Dierenfield

Beesstt Y YoouurrB

proposed starting a “Top 10 Track Meet.” “I know how these things work. You come up with an idea and they say, ‘Sure, do it.’ So I did,” he said. Dierenfield has been director of the interclass track competition since 1986. He also chairs the committee for the Midland Roundtable’s Montana-Wyoming basketball game—the oldest interstate basketball game in the country. “Midland Roundtable events cross classifications—it’s the best of the best, regardless of their school’s classification,” he noted. “These kids are competitors, and they want to compete against athletes who are better than them. This is the only time AA kids will play against kids from a class-C school. They absolutely love it.” Dierenfield also sits on the prestigious Athlete of the Year selection committee. “We study all the athletes; it’s a very subjective process,” he said.

Win or lose

Dierenfield appreciates athletes for their athleticism but feels it goes beyond that. It’s the proverbial life lessons for kids that keep him motivated, especially when it comes to individual sports like track, swimming and wrestling. “It’s just you up there on the starting block or at the line on the wrestling mat; there’s no one to pass you the ball, no one to block for you,” he noted. “It’s you and only you.” He also stressed that success is not defined by winning. “Sports are the greatest,” he explained. “Teamwork, dedication, hard work—it’s all part of it. But kids learn that hard work doesn’t always mean winning. It doesn’t in life, either. The emphasis is on success. If you put in the time and work hard, you give yourself a greater opportunity to be successful—to live your life the way you want.”

Something special

When the Montana Special Olympics came to Billings three years ago, organizers knew who had the skills to run a track meet. Dierenfield accepted the position, learned what he needed from prior organizers and went straight to MSUB’s Special Education Department for volunteers. “I’ve had many of the same kids volunteer for all three years,” he noted of the outstanding help from MSUB students. “The Special Olympic kids are so excited, so enthused to be there, competing. It’s like no other atmosphere that I’ve ever been around.”

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Giving even more

Since his retirement, Dierenfield is exploring other, more personal avenues on how to help kids. He assists weekly with the Backpack Lunch Program, which distributes nearly 300 weekend lunches to elementary kids, and the Teen Pantries, where middle and high school students can “shop” for food. In addition to serving on various committees at his home church of St. Pious X, Dierenfield recently started as a CASA volunteer and works with Tumbleweed youth. “At one point it really got to me that there are kids out there in need of help. And why can’t I do it?” he said. “Volunteering only costs me my time.” For Dierenfield, working with youth is not really “work.” “I do what I do because I love it. It’s a big part of my life and has been for a long time,” he said. “I would think that everybody owes a portion of their time to the betterment of the community, wherever they live. It’s free time, and we all have something to give.” When asked how many hours he spends volunteering, Dierenfield shrugged his shoulders and simply stated, “I just follow my heart.”

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on IFacebook! MAGIC CITYanytime MAGAZINE MAY 2014 I 17

GIVING BACK

BY ALLYN HULTENG I PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARBON COUNTY ARTS GUILD

41st Annual

Art in the Beartooths Carbon County Arts Guild signature summer event features fine art and fundraising beneath a canopy of stars While Red Lodge may be best known as a charming hamlet near a popular ski resort, the town is fast gaining notoriety as a venue for many enjoyable events throughout the year. At the top of that list is the annual Art in the Beartooths. Now in its 41st year, the well-orchestrated benefit is not only a patron favorite, but the event raises much needed awareness and money for the Carbon County Arts Guild (CCAG). “Our mission is to support and encourage all artists and art education for the benefit of the region,” said Deborah KlineSonderman, executive director.

Steeped in history

In 1973, a group of local artists wanted to put on events and have a place to show art. At the time, the local depot – abandoned and in poor condition – had been for sale for many years. Eventually, the Northern Pacific Railroad donated the depot to the Arts Guild to renovate and house the organization’s mission. “It’s still an historical site; we’re constantly improving and upgrading it to keep it in good condition,” said Kline-Sonderman. The fledging Guild quickly attracted the attention of local moms who wanted to engage their children in the arts. Classes for youngsters interested in music, art and performance found a home in the depot, and demand grew. Simultaneously, local artists finally had a venue for displaying their works and engaging with contemporaries using different mediums. As the popularity of the Guild grew, so did the demand for additional services.

Contemporary beneficiaries

Today, the Guild has more than 200 active members who apply to show their work in the main gallery. In addition, the Guild fosters a lively arts education program where artists travel to rural schools to teach during the school year. One of the most important endeavors of the Guild is to raise scholarship money for high school students who want to pursue post-secondary studies in the arts. “They may want to study art, music, dance or even graphic arts. We just want to help facilitate that experience,” said Kline-Sonderman.

18 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Having expanded to serve a broad geographic region including Red Lodge, Fishtail, Nye, Fromberg, Roberts and Absarokee, the Guild has become a beacon of artistic opportunity, reaching even more young people than ever before. “In 2013 we raised $3,900 just for scholarships at the annual Art in the Beartooths event. This year we hope to double that,” said Kline-Sonderman.

The 41st Annual Art in the Beartooths

Clockwise from top left: Live Auction Crowd; Harry Koyama; Susan Spero; John Potter and guest watch the live auction; Deborah Kline Sonderman with 2013 signature artist Carol Hagan; Kevin Redstar.

will take place at Lion’s Park (next to The Carbon County Arts Guild housed in the historic train station) in Red Lodge on Saturday, July 12, 2014. Attendance is free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that time, people can watch invited artists paint works, which will be auctioned during the evening affair, as they see the park being transformed for the signature event. At 4 p.m. the park closes to the public. Evening event ticket holders will mingle with the artists, enjoy a delightful dinner under the stars and bid on silent auction items located in the Guild. After dinner, the live auction will feature one-ofa-kind works by an array of talented artisans. Evening event tickets cost $50 and include hors d’oeuvres, a sumptuous summer supper and entrance to the silent and live actions. Always a highly-anticipated event, the benefit sells out quickly. Organizers expect this year will be no exception as only 250 tickets are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Carbon County Arts Guild at 406-446-1370.

41st Annual

July 12, 2014

Signature artists

KEVIN RED STAR SUSAN SPERO DAVID MCMASTERS Lions Park, Red Lodge

Masters and mentors

This year’s Art in the Beartooths event promises to bring an elite slate of artists, including signature artist Kevin Red Star. Now celebrating 50 years in the art realm, Red Star brings his unique artistry and story-telling to the event. In addition to Red Star, the event will feature Susan Spero and David McMasters. Previous signature artists will also be in attendance, including Carol Hagen, John Potter, Elliot Eaton, Harry Koyama and Ben Steele. “Having Kevin Red Star as our signature artist coincides with the release of a new book by Dan Gibson on his life and works,” said Kline-Sonderman. (See Media Room on page 26 for a review of Gibson’s book on Red Star.) The beautiful, full–color coffee table book by Dan Gibson, Kline-Sonderman notes, will be available for purchase at the July event. “This is just one more reason you will want to attend.”

For information and tickets, call (406) 446-1370 Sponsored by the

Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery www.carboncountydepotgallery.org

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 19

ARTIS T LOF T

BY jim gra nsbery I PHOTOS by l arry mayer

Defenders of Beauty: Greg Jahn & Nancy Halter “We do not give in to cynicism.” We don’t do irony. We are defenders of beauty and do not give in to despair.”

Greg Jahn and Nancy Halter have constructed an artist’s sanctuary. Within it, together and separately, they have perfected a sense of place that permits no limits on the mind’s creativity. An atmosphere of “improvisational permission,” allows each their own path, but results in ceramic collaborations – objects of beauty surrounded with an aura of positivism. “We do not give in to cynicism.” Jahn says. "We don’t do irony. We are defenders of beauty and do not give in to despair.” Because the couple has eliminated debt in their lives, they have purchased the freedom and luxury of time. That means “we don’t deal with galleries as to which direction to go,” he says. Their art is sold through their websites and personal appointments. “It is all risk-taking,” says Halter. A porcelain female figure – Precious Time is Slipping Away – demonstrates their philosophy of art and life. Included in a national publication, 500 Figures, it is an articulated figure with the gears and wheels of a clock imbedded in clay. Akin to the surrealistic work of Frieda Kahlo, the Mexican artist, Halter says her inspiration for the work comes from the Van Morrison lyrics:

Above: Nacy Halter and Greg Jahn in their studio.

20 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Precious time is slipping away. But you’re only king for a day. It doesn’t matter to which God you pray. Precious time is slipping away.

Always Timely

Clockwise from top left: Precious Time is Slipping Away, Mind Sight, Lady Face, Garage Chic and Work in Progress. All pieces by Greg Jahn and Nancy Halter.

The round – faced watch is a stylish update

Meditation and the cleansing of the mind fuels their creativity, the couple explains. Jahn, a yoga instructor and practitioner for 42 years, describes the meditation as a “clearing of space, an emptying that allows creativity to take place; an evolution that advances into novelty so there is no narrowing of style. This is not production pottery.” He begins each day with this prayer: I give thanks to the Universe that is now aware of itself, through me. I am that stardust. I dedicate this practice to enhancing the genius of Life’s design, born from Mother Earth. May I learn to better serve the future.

Continued on page 22

2814 2nd Ave N 259-3624 MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 21

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Top: A view of the artists' vegetable garden from Nancy's second floor studio. Far left: The kiln in Jahn's 1000-squarefoot clay studio. Left: Vegetables from the couple's garden. Photos courtesy of Greg Jahn and Nancy Halter.

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Altered Moments: Works with Found Photographs

Jane Waggoner Deschner showing April 30th through May 14th Artist Reception Friday May 9th 5pm

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22 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Halter for her part sees meditation as setting the tone. “I am not searching for what I am going to paint. There is no concrete formula.” By not buying into an identifying style, the couple avoids ending up “plagiarizing” themselves, a term a well-known Montana artist used to describe his own work, which was popular, but became demanded by the galleries because it was saleable. Their clay creations are porcelain because of its ability to enhance color. The collaborations display the visible spectrum. Jahn describes his work as a third-generation ceramist. “The legacy of clay in Montana is unique,” he says, beginning with Frances Senska who taught at Montana State University from 1946-1973. She helped her two most famous students, Peter Voulkos and Rudy Autio, found the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena. Jahn considers himself an heir to that tradition, too, he says, under Senska’s tutelage. Tucked away on a side street, the couple’s unassuming home – built in the 1950s – has been remodeled. Raising the roof another story gave Halter a painting studio infused with brightness from a sky light. The clay studio is a 1,000 square-foot building in the backyard. A 42-cubic foot, Alfred-style downdraft kiln, more than 45 years old, sits under a roof in the back yard. Between the house and the clay studio is a large garden of vegetables and flowers – another creation for tranquility and healthy living. For more information, see gregjahn-nancyhalter.com or NancyHalter.com.

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ELEMENT S

BY brenda ma a s I PHOTOGRAPHY BY L ARRY MAYER

Family Reunion Plan ahead for your big get-together with cousins from near and far. Glorified bunkhouse

Perfect for the overflow, this camper trailer sleeps six with ample closet space and an open layout—it’s like having a mini-hotel in your driveway. True to its iconic name, this Winnebago is a classic.

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I scream, you scream

You can’t have a summer gathering without ice cream. And what’s better than homemade on a hot summer day? The Cruisinart stainless steel ice cream maker does the hard work for you—just add the ingredients for your favorite flavor. Be sure to have the Zeroll ice cream scoop on hand, too. The heat conductive fluid inside the handle will make you the fastest scooper in the West!

Fits you to a "T"

Personalized T-shirts have never been so easy. Celebrate your peeps with a unique family reunion T-shirt. Print just one, or 100. No set-up or artwork fees—just bring your creativity to make your own.

Available at Big Frog Custom T-Shirts and More of Billings $15 and up

24 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Available at Swanky Fork Kitchen Shop Model ICE $80 Zeroll scoop $14

GAME ON!

For ages 1-99, bocce ball is the perfect move-about game for your family reunion. This set by Franklin in a padded carrying case includes eight 90-mm bocce balls and one 50-mm scoring jack. You can stretch your legs while talking smack in a little friendly competition with your cousins. No skills required for either.

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WARM MEMORIES

Commemorate the occasion with a customizable quilt that includes transferable family photos. Buy the kits to make your own or commission one for grandma and grandpa. This is truly a one-of-kind memory maker.

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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 25

MEDIA ROOM

BY BRITTANY CREMER

movie

NEBRASKA DIRECTED by alexander payne

MusiC

Copper Mountain Band Country Coming Out in Me

Country girls (and boys) listen up. Jeans and boots might be “far from fancy,” but to Jacque Jolene and her crew of Copper Mountain men, they represent the free-spirited country idyllic celebrated by the Troy, Montana-based band. Feelin’ a little country? Catch them live at this year’s Miles City Bucking Horse Sale on May 15, or pick up their newest album, “Country Coming Out in Me” on Amazon.com.

Book

Kevin Red Star

Written by Daniel Gibson, this striking coffee tablestyle book explores the life and art of famed artist, Kevin Red Star. Featuring reproductions of Red Star’s best works over his 50-year career, historic photos of Crow people and contemporary images of the artist, the book celebrates the humanity and reverence behind Red Star’s undeniable talent. Available at Amazon.com after June 1. It’s quirky. It’s familiar. It’s heartbreaking and uplifting. Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Dern (Woody) has won a million dollars—or at least he thinks so—and nothing is going to get in the way of traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska to claim his prize. Begrudgingly, Woody’s son David (Will Forte) joins him on his quest, and so begins the most quixotic road trip movie you’ll ever see. Shot in crisp black-and-white, “Nebraska” is both bleak and funny, its moments of grimness regularly offset by scenes of laugh-out-loud comedy. Portions of the movie were filmed in Billings, so be sure to add this one to your permanent collection.

26 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Web/Ed

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I'm at the library. Sure you are. Whether kids are at the movies, at a friend’s house, or across the world, they can check-in using iCurfew. The app sends geo coordinates via Google maps to parents, verifying real-time location via phone signal. The easy-toread map even includes pick-up directions for parents. No more staying out past bedtime. Available at iTunes store.

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 MAY 2014 I 27

Subtle Sophistication The attention to detail told us that the house was well-built,â&#x20AC;? noted the homeowner, pointing to features like the subway tiles; solid, inset doors with

28 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Does a house fit the owner, or does the homeowner fit the house? When considering this West End home, the answer is a resounding both! “I was out (bike) riding and I was immediately attracted to the color and exterior of the house,” the owner noted. “It was just a bit different than all the other houses out here.” Like many good relationships, the two parties met when they weren’t looking; this family wasn’t necessarily in the market. “The draw wasn’t anything specific, and it all happened so fast,” said the homeowner. “We walked in and just knew. Our realtor suggested that we look at other houses, but nothing compared.”

By Brenda Maas I Photos by James Woodcock

Traditional steeped with family

classic hardware; crown molding throughout; and the custom stair rail system.

Built in 2004 by Tieszen & Sons, the house is simple, yet not simplistic. It weaves classic features into a contemporary floor plan. The owners were especially drawn to the main living space, which includes two “bedroom wings” separated by the open kitchen/family room/dining areas. The bedroom and bath areas are private, yet all on the same level—perfect for the young family of four. “The layout of the house was everything,” the husband noted. “We can all be together, in visual sight of each other, even if we are not doing the same thing.” Yet, unexpected angles keep the home from being boxy, and unique features, like the horizontal pattern on the fireplace, set this home apart.

Above: The homeowners were attracted to the yellow house with the white picket fence because it was just a bit different than the norm. They also cited the mature and well-planned landscaping as exterior features they enjoy. Far left: The front porch and picket fence give the exterior of this West End family home a true Americana vibe. Left: The homeowners are eager to use their new deck space. “We love the outdoors, and this new deck will easily be the most-used space this summer,” he said. With easy access to trails, no backyard neighbors and an unobstructed view of the Rims, the new backyard deck and pergola complete the family’s home, inside and out.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 29

Lighten up

The windows are another favored feature. Most are taller than average and strategically placed in unique locations. For example, the family room corner windows, placed at a 90-degree angle, are not commonly seen in modern construction. Yet, the timeless design element is more than aesthetically pleasing. The light, airy atmosphere tends toward a Scandinavian style. “There’s so much natural light that we hardly turn on the lights during the day,” said the homeowner. “In fact, we use less power than we did in a house that was half the size.”

All tied up

The lower level is even more casual. The center area hosts a second, kid-friendly play space with a large exercise room off one end. The other end includes a guest bedroom, bath and a personalized fly-tying room. “My husband has always dreamed of having his own space, and the small, interior room was perfect,” the homeowner said of her husband’s hobby space.

30 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Top: The family room lies in the heart of the home. During the winter months, the homeowner noted, it’s his favorite spot to read or converse with his wife and children, citing the bright, airy feeling and location just off the kitchen. Above: Classic features, from swinging butler doors, to extra-tall, creamy-white, shaker cabinets, to the vintage-style light fixture, give the kitchen a homey, timeless feel. Modern appliances subtly do the hard work within the efficient triangular work space. Left: Situated in the center of the house, separating the family room from the dining room, the unique rail system provides both aesthetics and function.

Left: The breakfast nook creates a bright, cozy anchor, just steps from the kitchen. The adjacent door leads out to the new deck, including an outdoor dining space— an ideal second kitchen for the outdoors-y family. The corner windows mirror the family room windows on the opposite corner. Lower left: The large, contemporary light fixture anchors the dining area, just inside the front door, giving visitors a definitive, yet casual vibe immediately upon entering the home. It complements the custom iron, wood and cable railing, a centerpiece of the home. Below: Situated on its own “wing” for privacy, the master bedroom is simple yet sophisticated in both layout and design. Extra-tall windows, like the others throughout the house, bring the outdoors in, and a single door provides access directly from the master to the deck. Bottom: With the walk-in shower as a centerpiece divider, the master bath is almost perfectly symmetrical with his-and-hers vanities and closets. One side is anchored with an oval soaker tub, the other with the water closet. The checkered-pattern subway tiles continue the traditional feeling.

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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 31

The fly-tying room features a custom-designed credenza and desk with compartments for supplies, equipment and storage of the completed project. The desk itself has enough space for three friends to set up their vises for some serious work. “I enjoy tying flies almost as much as fishing; I often come home and bust out a few flies— it’s my stress reliever,” noted the homeowner. “I love that I have space for friends to work, too. They even have their own chairs.”

Outdoor oasis

door.

Top Left: The homeowners’ daughter’s room is fun and functional with a touch of whimsy in pieces like the chandelier. It’s the perfect place for playing make-believe and dreaming. Top: Fitness is an important part of the family’s lifestyle. When they cannot get outside to ride bikes or hike, they turn to this multifunctional area of the home. Left: The custombuilt fly-tying desk is a favored spot for the homeowner. With “stations” for two friends, he enjoys working in his “mini” man cave almost as much as using the flies he creates.

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Despite living in a fabulous house, the entire family prefers to spend time outdoors, from walks along the trail after dinner, to hiking and biking. So, an “outdoor room” seemed like a logical addition. The newly-completed deck and pergola gives the entire family more room to relax after their adventures. “We are outdoors so much, the new deck will be one of the most used spaces this summer,” the homeowner said. “We will live out there—it totally fits us.”

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Take out and call ahead seating 406-867-6773 Open 7 days a week 6 AM till 3 PM

G I G D E T TY O H

A sampling of Billingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most delicious and inventive hotdogs

G I G D E T TY O H Few things smell more like summer than a mouthwatering hotdog topped with all the fixings. While some of us might still opt for the traditional ketchup, mustard, relish version of our favorite frank, Billings restaurateurs have gone gourmet with creative extras sure to keep your tongue and taste buds wagging. Try one or all of our favorite picks for the best summertime hotdog.

By Brittany Cremer

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 35

The VIG: Smack Mac

Comfort food devoteesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;hang on to your forks. The Vig's marriage of mouthwatering macaroni and cheese (smothered in bacon bits) and a German sausage is a match made it epicurean heaven. Be sure to ask for extra napkins and a to-go box to carry out the rest of this filling, open-faced delight.

Kuckucksei: Quarter-pound bacon-wrapped hotdog

You have bacon. You have a quarter-pound hotdog. You have a mouthwatering entrĂŠe of gastronomical proportions. As the owner Kuckucksei, (pronounced coocooks-eye), a new Bavarian-inspired restaurant in Billings, Lewis Hufford and his Bavarian-born wife, Sylke, enjoy offering signature German dishes to their customers. The authenticity of the dishes pleases the palate and the ethos.

36 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

The Burger Dive: Mazatlan Dog Crafted with homemade guacamole, pico de gallo and chipotle mayo, the Mazatlan dog features an exciting infusion of flavor. The inspiration behind this fiesta-in-your-mouth hotdog came when owner Brad Halsten took a graduation trip to Mazatlan, Mexico and enjoyed similar dogs served by street vendors there. Halsten and his wife, Andi, decided to recreate it on their menu with bacon and extra cheese.

Überbrew: Bockwurst

Baked in the restaurant/ brewery’s signature beer, then grilled and served with your choice of caramelized onions or sauerkraut (or both), the Bockwurst is the best. Served on a from-scratch Grains of Montana bun, this delicious dog can be customized with curious mustard choices including traditional, spicy brown, sweet and hot.

Bernie’s — The Northern Dog Are you sweet on sauerkraut? If so, Bernie’s Northern Dog is just the entrèe for you. Pair it with traditional sides and toppings, and don’t forget to wash it down with one of Bernie’s sinfully-delicious milk shakes. The meal, service and environment evokes a cheerful “Happy Days” vibe. “Heeeeeeeeeeeey!”

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 37

Because Have a lot to Live for Cancer survivor Joanne Smith and granddaughter Renzie – Billings, Montana

Cancer Center If you or a loved one has cancer, you need a team of cancer experts who provides personalized care and collaboration. We will give you choices for the latest and most effective treatments following proven national standards for the most optimal care. • Our Symptom • 100+ research • 10 patient care Management Team trials are available navigators, addresses your side through our specialized by tumor effects, including national research and disease type, concerns about networks, including coordinate care and nutrition, pain or the National Cancer answer questions depression. Institute. along the way.

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38 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon With all the information and media attention currently devoted to facial plastic surgery and cosmetic enhancements, you may be wondering who to trust with your face. The best choice is a wellqualified physician. Dr. Matthew Wolpoe is double board certified in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and has extensive experience in numerous laser modalities. Dr. Wolpoe provides significant expertise in non-surgical procedures like Botox® injections and dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm®, Radiesse®, and Sculptra®, as well as surgical procedures such as facelifts, laser liposuction, brow and eyelid surgery, chin implants, and functional and cosmetic nose surgery.

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A Summertime Classic Try a new twist on an old-time favorite

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bY BRENDA MAAS i PhOTOS BY BOB ZELLAR

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 41

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NHRA NW Division Lucas Oil Regionals July 5 & 6 $10,000 Payout Race

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www.yellowstonedragstrip.com 42 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

The perfect float... The secret to frothy foam without the overflow is to pour the root beer in a tall glass first, then add a scoop of ice cream and let the carbonation work its magic. To get bigger foam, pour a little more root beer in the glass. Viola!

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what's in a name? Crow Influences in our Geographic Lexicon

By Virginia Bryan

hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in a name? Quite a bit if you live where we do.

In a time when there were no google maps and interstate highways, the Crow Indians had a verbal map they created from oral stories and physical characteristics of the landscape. Despite our reliance on technology, we still rely upon those centuries-old references. Many of the words we use for landmarks and towns have their origins in Crow oral histories and language.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 45

Apsáalooke I Iisaxpuatahchee I De’eshaashe I D

t’s not surprising that the Crow influence in our geographic lexicon is sub-

stantial. Crow Chief Sits in the Middle of the Land once drew a map of the vast territory claimed by the Crow. Using the analogy of poles that secure a tipi, he drew four points on the northern High Plains. On his map, the northernmost boundary of Crow territory was the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers near present day Fairview, Mont. His eastern boundary extended to the Black Hills of South Dakota and to the west, it stretched to the Three Forks of the Missouri River, east of present day Bozeman. The southernmost boundary was the Wind River of Wyoming.1

Absaroka is a derivation of Apsáalooke, likely traceable to a dialect used by the Crow bands near the first Crow Agency and the effort by English speaking residents to spell what they heard. Right: Crow leaders, Poor Elk, Sits in the Middle of the Land, Long Ears, Shows His Face and Old Onion in 1871 at the first Crow Agency. William Henry Jackson photo, Library of Congress.

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Substantial portions of the area mapped by Chief Sits in the Middle of the Land were recognized by the U.S. Government as Crow Country by The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851. While subsequent treaties and legislation reduced Crow holdings to an area south of present day Hardin, Mont., the language we use reminds us of our Crow roots.

Apsáalooke, Absaroka and Absarokee

They call themselves Apsáalooke (AppSAH-low-gay). Roughly translated, it means “children of the large-beaked bird.” Early Europeans, trying to translate what they understood, likely via sign language, dubbed them the “Crow.” The moniker stuck. So where did we get Absaroka and Absarokee? Tim McCleary, Ph.D., an expert in linguistics and Crow oral history, teaches Native Studies at Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency, Mont. According to McCleary, early contacts between the Crow and Englishspeaking residents occurred at the first Crow Agency near Livingston and the second Crow Agency near Absarokee.

In those years, there were three distinct dialects among various bands of Crow. In one dialect, the letter “l” could sound like an “r.” In another, the “g” may sound like a “k.” Absaroka is a derivation of Apsáalooke, likely traceable to a dialect used by the Crow bands near the first Crow Agency and the effort by English speaking residents to spell what they heard. In the 1800s, a U.S. Geological Survey attached the name to mountains on the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park, replacing an earlier designation, Yellowstone Range.1 When the Apsaroka-Beartooth Wilderness was created in 1978, the chosen name acknowledged that Crow Country once extended deep into Yellowstone National Park. Absarokee, the name for the picturesque town on the Stillwater River, is another variation of Apsáalooke. Like Absaroka, the word is a spelling effort by English speaking residents based upon the dialect spoken by the Crow people living near the second Crow Agency.

The Beartooth Mountains and Red Lodge

Conventional wisdom suggests the sole craggy rock formation, called the Bear’s Tooth, visible from atop the Beartooth Highway led to the entire range being called the Beartooths. According to McCleary, the Apsáalooke have always referred to the entire range as Daxpitcheeithe’ or the Bears’ teeth. Looking west today, we see jagged mountain tops etched against the horizon. To the Crow, they resembled rows of menacing bears’ teeth. Red Lodge, the charming town at the base of the Beartooth Highway leading into Yellowstone National Park, also gets its name from the Apsáalooke, although it recalls a tragic event.

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From left: The Big Horn River is named for the Big Horn ram, or Iisaxpuatahchee. Photo by Larry Mayer. Early contacts between the Crow and English-speaking residents occurred at the first Crow Agency near Livingston. Today, kiosks mark the site, crediting the area dialect for geographic names. Photo by James Woodcock. The exit to Crow Agency includes the town’s name in English and in Crow—a reminder of its deeply-rooted origins. Photo by Larry Mayer.

In their nomadic days, the Crow and the Shoshone were in constant conflict. Their traditional territories abutted one another in southern Montana and northern Wyoming. As the Crow grew stronger with access to horses and guns, they pushed the Shoshone further west and south. In an oral history recounted by Barney Old Coyote, Jr. and Henry Old Coyote,3 a Shoshone war leader named Splintered End sought to regain his tribe’s dominance in an area near present-day Red Lodge. In a surprise attack, Splintered End and his Shoshone warriors ambushed a band of Crow Indians and destroyed over 30 tipis. No Crow people survived. A red lodge belonging to the camp’s leader was one of two tipis left standing. Great mourning and sadness enveloped Crow Country as the devastating news spread. Thereafter, the Crow referred to the area as “Where the Red Lodge was Wiped Out.”

The Tongue and the Big Horn

The names for the Tongue River and the Big Horn River are direct translations from the Apsáalooke language. The Crow call the Tongue River De’eshaashe.4 The Big Horn River is Iisaxpu’atahcheeaashisee. Centuries ago, at the headwaters of the Tongue River, an Apsáalooke Medicine Man organized an unusually large Sun Dance. As many as 100 buffalo tongue were needed for the ritual. The river became known for the significant event that occurred there. De’eshe means “tongue.”

In Apsáalooke, the highly revered Big Horn ram is the one who “wears his horns like earrings” or Iisaxpuatahchee. The Little Big Horn College website5 recounts the oral history of a young boy thrown from a steep cliff in the Big Horn Mountains by his stepfather. The bereft family searched everywhere but could not find the youngster. They did not know that seven Big Horn rams saved the child from a deadly fall in to the canyon’s depths. The rams raised the boy and instructed him in their ways. When the boy returned to camp, he shared his knowledge. To honor Iisaxpuatahchee, the Big Horn River and Big Horn Mountains carry his name. In 1805, Francois Larocque noted seeing Big Horn sheep along the river’s banks.6 He included the Crow name for the river in his notes. Apsáalooke ritual, reverence, oral history, descriptive terms for powerful mountains, rivers and animals along with a mixture of anglicized Crow terms are at the root of many regional place names. Within the boundaries of traditional Crow Country, outlined centuries ago by Chief Sits in the Middle of the Land, the Crow language still tells us where we live. If it’s true that the language we use defines us, then we are all, in some way, Apsáalooke. 1. Bauerle, Phonecia. The Way of the Warrior: Stories of the Crow People. Lincoln: Univ. of Nebraska Press, 2003. 2. Haines, Aubrey L. Yellowstone Place Names: Mirrors of History. Niwot: University Press of Colorado Press, 1996, p. 8. 3. The Way of the Warrior, Bauerle, p. 40. 4. Medicine Horse, Mary Helen. A Dictionary of Everyday Crow. 5. About Us. Little Big Horn College. Web. 11 February 2014. 6. Aarstad, Rich, et .al. Montana Place Names: From Alzada to Zortman. Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2009, p. 22.

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48 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

End of an Era: The last season at Cobb field The year 2007 marked the end of a long legacy for one the best ballparks in America. Cobb Field was home to the Billings Mustangs since 1948, 6 and was a favorite, summer past time for baseball enthusiasts near and far. In this issue of Magic, we pay homage to the diamond and share some great images of the Mustangs' last season at Cobb Field.

To me, baseball has always been a reflection of life. Like life, it adjusts. It survives everything. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Willie Stargell,

Pittsburgh Pirates, 1962-1982 MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 49

The final home stand at Cobb Field was bittersweet, saying goodbye to an era of Billings baseball while welcoming the new. From the final flag ceremony, to digging up home base, Cobbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final moments were indeed glorious. But, true to the old adage, as much as things change, they remain the same. The crack of the bat, the rushing adrenaline of a play at the plate, even the smell of newly-cut grass laced with the aroma of frying hot dogsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;baseball remains an iconic American tradition. And to that, we salute!

50 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

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Blessings Multiplied By Brittany Cremer The evening before our first ultrasound, I told my husband I thought we were having twins. Without lifting his eyes from a Cabela’s catalog, he said, “Pshhhh, yeah right.” The following day, the sonographer was performing the ultrasound and said, “There—that’s your baby’s heartbeat…and that’s your other baby’s heartbeat.” Strangely, I didn’t flinch at the news. On some cosmic level, I’d already known. My husband, whose face was now as white as the technician’s lab coat, just kept saying “No way! No Way! Wow…no way!” Yes way, José.

The love handler

Two Arby’s roast beef sandwiches with an Oreo chaser—that would be my go-to meal for the next few weeks while I tried to beat down the eminent urge to vomit. After the morning sickness subsided, the second trimester was incredible, and the food cravings got more detailed: mini-cupcakes coupled with sloppy Joes and pineapple chunks paired with BBQ-flavored Corn Nuts. In truth, there was nothing I wouldn’t eat—and didn’t. Midnight cravings gave way to 2 and 3 a.m. sleep-walking pit stops. I even woke up one morning with a mouthful of mashed potatoes still pocketed away in my cheek. My twins needed to eat, I justified. And really, who’s going to tell a pregnant lady that she can’t bring a bag of Taco Bell into the movie theater? All told, I ended up gaining 81 pounds during my pregnancy. On the day I delivered, I looked like Violet Beauregarde from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the blueberry version) just before she’s wheeled out and squeezed.

The nuggets arrive

On October 17, 2011, my husband and I welcomed our identical twin boys (Cameron and Kellyn) into the world. Weighing 5 lb. 8 oz. and 6 lb. 8 oz., our little nuggets were perfect. (We can only assume Kellyn was a whole pound larger because he had better access to the Oreos.) But excitement and joy soon gave way to panic and fear. As a first-time mom, I was oblivious to the challenges that lay ahead—feedings every three hours, constant diaper changes, swaddling, rocking, checking every 15 minutes to make sure they were still breathing. I needed help. Like many moms of multiples, I armed myself with an outstanding support staff of unconditional love. My hands-on husband saved my sanity many times, as did my mom and sister who could tell when I was a heartbeat away from bursting into tears or eating an entire pan of lasagna with my bare hands. If I have any advice for moms of multiples it would be to pocket your pride and know when to ask for help, because you’re going to need it. True, having a tactical plan seems to diminish some of the rock-a-bye magic of it all, but

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Misconceptions about Multiples you’ll be appreciating the help when the sleep deprivation sets in. And it will—the effects of which are both terrifying and hilarious. When Cameron and Kellyn were about two weeks old, my breast pump started talking to me. Alarmed by my observation, I called my husband into the nursery and asked…"Do you hear that?” Quizzically, he turned his head and asked “What?” “That…the pump…it’s talking to me. It’s saying ‘group home…group home.’”

‘Mama big butt’ and beyond…

Now my boys are 2 ½, and I still wince when people ask if/ when we’re having more. I love my boys to pieces, but as any mother of twins will tell you, the first two years are tough. But pretty soon, they’re walking and talking and the two-a-day care starts paying back in dividends: twice the hugs, twice the kisses and twice the laugher. Kids say the darndest things, and when they’re working in tandem, the flurry of word salad is unending. I encourage all parents, especially those of twins, to keep a small notebook handy to jot down these gems of jest. One of my favorites came a few weeks ago when I was bending over to pick up a DVD. Kellyn poked me in my behind and said “mama big butt.” “Excuse me,” I said, ensuring I’d heard him correctly. And then he repeated it. Cameron is equally chatty. As mommy’s little helper, he likes to pick up his toys with great enthusiasm while pumping his arms yelling “worker bee, worker bee, worker bee.” You can’t make this stuff up.

A mother's love

I used to snarl and roll my eyes at friends who told me “Everything will change once you have kids.” Dear friends—please take this as my very public apology in saying (insert small eye roll) you were right. Being a mother of twins is the most important, fulfilling, difficult, rewarding thing I’ve done in my life. It has changed me at my core, forever altering my consciousness and improving my humanity. I’ve learned infinite patience, tenderness, levity and grace—all from two chubby-cheeked boys who are now in the middle of potty training and end up going more on the floor than in the toilet. Observing their sheer joy of simple discovery has ignited my inner child. Becoming a mom also makes me fully appreciate and understand the sacrifices my parents endured while raising three well-adjusted (yet incredibly cantankerous) kids. Mom, it is your enduring love, infinite patience and incredible resolve that I carry in my heart as I set out to raise my children. I feel twice blessed that you taught me to be both strong and tender at the same time. I hope I make you proud. To my mom, to your mom, to our neighbor’s mom—we thank you; we salute you; we love you. Happy Mother’s Day!

1. Identical twinning is an inherited trait. FALSE. While fraternal twinning can be an inherited characteristic, identical twinning is technically a genetic mutation for which there is no scientific explanation. So please don’t ask a mom of identical twins if it “runs in her family.” Knowing the long and drawn-out answer, she’ll likely just politely smile and say “no.” 2. Identical twins always look 100 percent alike. FALSE. A sure-fire way to peeve-off a mom of identical twins is to suggest that they don’t “look” identical. 3. All twins are born via C-section. FALSE. Depending on the pregnancy, health of the babies and mother, a vaginal delivery is definitely possible and safe. 4. It’s OK to ask a mom of multiples if she used fertility treatments to get pregnant. FALSE. Don’t go there…just don’t.

TANGERINE

5. If you have twins once, you’re twice as likely to have them again. TRUE. Gasp! For all you twin mommies out there, know this: once you have had a multiple pregnancy, you are significantly more likely to conceive—and deliver— twins again. Some estimates suggest that mothers of twins are four times more likely to have twins again than a woman who has never been pregnant, or who only had a singleton.

896 S. 29th Street W. (Located next to The Wave Auto Wash) Billings, MT 59102 • (406) 655-1000

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 53

The Tie That Binds By Gene Colling I illustration by Lee Hulteng

attendance at reunions has been sporadic. I have been to two reunions of my high school class – the 10th year and the 45th year. The 45th was far more enjoyable because the bravado had dissipated and was replaced by perspective. Reunions with my own family have also been widely spaced. Our parents died when we were young; my four siblings and I scattered and established careers and our own families. In recent years, however, we have tried to get together as often as we can. Sharing memories – good and bad – is an important part of being a family. As a child I lived on a small Iowa farm. Our extended family all lived within a 15-mile radius. Both of my parents came from large families with lots of kids, so there was always a swarm at every gathering. I fell in the middle of the pack, age-wise. The older cousins passed on a lot of knowledge – some constructive, some destructive. Usually how it worked was that the older ones decided on the game/mischief and the younger ones filled in as fodder. Since our big gatherings tended to be in the summertime, fireworks were often involved as was a host of other potential perils like mongrel dogs, feral cats, rusty and sharp scrap piles, mad hornets, BB guns, pitch forks, barb wire fences, tree houses, rope swings, stupid and dangerous farm animals and barn lofts. It seemed that every get-together included someone being rushed to the hospital. My main goal at these gatherings was to work my way up from the kids table to the “big people” table. When I finally got there, to my chagrin, the main topic of conversation was about the intricacies of family relations. A snippet of the conversation: "Wasn't she the second cousin, once removed from the Heidich girl that was in our third cousin Pearl's class?" My brain, already dulled by too much gravy, slumped into a stupor. To this day there are two topics that turn my brain to mush – income tax and family lineage. When we moved west into South Dakota, the family gatherings began to diminish. Many of my of my aunts and uncles teased that we were living in terra incognito, where they might be held up by road bandits. To

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them, there was a vast difference between 15 and 150 miles. That and no one had a car large enough to haul all the kids. When I moved to Montana, it might as well been the moon. This was an almost mythical place of frozen mountains and vast, barren distances. That’s what I thought; I can’t imagine what dangers my distant relatives envisioned. When I met my wife she soon took me to one of her family reunions. The gathering was held in a city park jammed with people. I was stunned to discover that they were all part of the same family group. It quickly became apparent that as a newcomer, I was undergoing intense scrutiny—not unlike an unidentified specimen in a petri dish. And then there was the blizzard of names and lineages that made a Rubik's cube seem simple. It took me years to untangle all the connections. Many (at least enough to fill a park) still live in close proximity to Billings. Outlying relatives travel every other year to the “big reunion” held in a church camp in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston. These week-long affairs are epic, and require organization on the level of the D-Day Invasion. Tasks and schedules are outlined and assigned. One day you may be on kitchen duty, another day, the craft organizer, entertainment director, treasurer, parking attendant or other duties as assigned. Reunions of this scale work when everyone is willing to give it up for the group. They also require a leader, someone who accepts the responsibility of handling the myriad of details and has the skills to manage people. My wife’s aunt, affectionately called "The Commander," has taken on this role and kept a steady hand at the helm for more than 30 years. For many years she also organized a family caravan of motorhomes that toured far flung places across North America. The travelers always made it home intact and content. Our military leaders could learn something from The Commander.

Full circle

As a child I was part of a large, close-knit family. As an adult I was adopted into another extended family group. I learned something from both. Reunions are worth what you are willing to invest in them. In this day and age, it’s nice to see that such a large family is still willing to make that investment. There is another important gathering coming up on my schedule. Next year is my 50th high school reunion. I think that those of us who attend that one will all come with perspective up the wazoo. Gene Colling claims dual residency in both Billings and Missoula. He recently 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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small towns

Destinations to Discover by karen kinser

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vIRGINIA CITY 210

FORT PECk 263

wEST yELLOWSTONE 233

LIVINGSTON 120

THERMOPOLIS 190

mILES CITY 144

whitefish 448

Get into Hot Water: Thermopolis, Wyoming Greek for “Hot City,” Thermopolis is principally known for the world’s largest mineral hot springs, which release more than three million gallons of geothermallyheated water per day. Containing more than 27 different minerals, these waters have long attracted visitors for their therapeutic properties. As a bonus, the cooling waters create colorful travertine terraces – “painted” by algae and wispy, rainbow-colored steam. Located at the northern end of the stunning Wind River Canyon, Thermopolis is also known as an exceptional outdoor playground. It’s surrounded by mountain ranges, with the 6,000-foot, volcano-shaped Roundtop Mountain towering above town. Boasting 235 sunny days per year, Thermopolis offers soothing hot spring experiences, as well as great museums, hiking, whitewater rafting, geologic history that’ll take you back millions of years and the most beautiful scenic drive in Wyoming – all served up with cordial cowboy conviviality.

Area Attractions Living under our gorgeous Big Sky, we’re often the envy of the rest of the world. But here’s a little secret the rest of the world doesn’t know: under our expansive skies, we’ve also got a supply of small towns that are faceted gems of activities and adventure. So get out there and unearth some treasures hidden in Montana and Wyoming’s most unassuming burgs. Photos courtesy of Montana office of tourism, Travel Wyoming, West yellowstone chamber of commerce and gazette staff.

Historic Downtown: Listed on the National

Register of Historic Places, the downtown was built between 1898 and 1923 and features Victorian buildings and Broadway Avenue – wide enough for teams of 16 horses.

< Hot Springs State Park: Enjoy comfort

and kitsch, along with silica and sulphur, at one of the three hot-spring fed pools, spas and water park facilities here.

Hot Springs County Museum & Historical Center: Learn the area’s history and view relics, photos, Indian artifacts and the original back bar from the “Hole in the Wall Saloon.”

Legion Town & Country Golf Course: Enjoy nine challenging holes at this public course, which offers views of mountain ranges, the Wind River Canyon and Hot Springs State Park.

< White Water Rafting: Navigate rapids with names like Screamin’ Lizard, Sphincter and Sharpnose Chute through, quite possibly, the most scenic canyon in the world. Wind River Canyon Drive: Rugged and scenic, this 10-mile long canyon will awe you with its billion-year-old rock walls that rise up to 2,400 feet.

<Wyoming Dinosaur Center and Dig Sites: Marvel at the 41-foot tall T-Rex, the 106-

foot Supersaurus and the only Archaeopteryx in North America.

Wyoming Whisky: Creating traditional

bourbon in an untraditional place, Wyoming Whisky makes its small-batch product in nearby Kirby using Wyoming water and grains.

< Legend Rock Petroglyphs: About 25 miles from Thermopolis, this site features 280 petroglyphs, some dating back 10,000 years. To plan your adventure, visit thermopolis.com.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 57

Water World: Fort Peck

Don’t miss out on some incredible wet ‘n’ wild fun this summer at the Fort Peck Reservoir. The largest body of water in Montana, this reservoir boasts more than 1,500 miles of unspoiled shoreline along its 134-mile length, it has the largest hydraulically-filled dam in the nation. Charted by Lewis and Clark in 1804, the area later emerged as a trading post (established by Colonel Campbell K. Peck) and then served as an Indian agency, before the dam construction became part of Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1933. More than 11,000 workers assisted the U.S. Army Corps in the dam’s seven-year construction, and many of the historical buildings still in the area were originally built to house these workers. Now, in addition to producing almost three million kilowatt hours of electricity per day, the dam and reservoir provide a remote recreational heaven in the northeast corner of our really big state.

Area Attractions <Fort Peck Powerhouses: Schedule a time at the Interpretive Center to tour these beautiful Art Deco structures. Fort Peck Summer Theatre: Enjoy professional-level entertainment in a historic movie theatre built for Corps of Engineers employees in the ‘30s

C.M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Enjoy hiking, camping and wildlife-viewing in more than a million acres at this spectacular refuge. Fort Peck Hotel: Step back into the 1930s and spend the night or enjoy a meal at this hotel, listed on the National Register of Historical Buildings.

<Fort Peck Reservoir: Explore this vast expanse of water with your own boat, or rent one (pontoon, fishing boat, or houseboat), for days of exploring, water-skiing, swimming and fishing for walleye, salmon, and paddlefish. Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum: Learn about the history of the dam and area, view a life-sized model of T-Rex and see the fish displays in two of the largest aquariums in the state. To plan your adventure, visit the Glasgow (the nearest town and best place for accommodations) at www.glasgowchamber.net.

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Personality Plus: Whitefish This small Western town in the glacier-carved Flathead Valley is often described in endearing terms – picturesque, quaint, cozy and charming – but no matter the descriptions, they all add up to a town with plenty of personality. In addition to its accessible charisma, Whitefish has clear mountain air, emerald peaks, alpine vistas and a wealth of wilderness. Like so many Montana towns, it was the introduction of the railroad (in 1904) that spurred its growth. In the late 1940s, construction of a ski resort fired up a burgeoning tourism industry, which flourishes to this day. Originally called Stumptown, the area later was renamed for its proximity to Whitefish Lake. It’s now a year-round resort community with a full menu of fun adventures during the summer, including everything from summer festivals to incredible outdoor recreation, great food (locals swear by the garlic burger at the Bulldog Saloon), shopping, entertainment or just relaxing at the beach at the lake.

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Area Attractions < Glacier National Park: Don’t miss the glaciers, lakes, hanging valleys, waterfalls and wildlife at this Crown of the Continent as you drive (or take a shuttle bus or tour on a vintage red bus) over the engineering marvel of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Whitefish Lake: Enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, beach-sitting and a sunset cruise on this seven-mile long lake.

< Whitefish Mountain Resort: Even

if you’re not staying here, you’ll want to confront your fears and foster fun on a zipline tour, a walk in the treetops, a challenge in the Aerial Adventure Park, a ride down the Alpine Slide, a gondola ride up the mountain or just take in tranquility at the spa.

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Golfing: Bring your clubs and enjoy one of the five courses in the area.

Hiking: You’ll find a lifetime of hiking

trails in Glacier, the Flathead National Forest, the million and a half acres of the nearby Bob Marshall Wilderness and at Hungry Horse Dam and Reservoir.

Whitefish Museum: Learn about

Hot Springs Convention Center Hot SPringS StAte PArk

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the history of the town at this restored Great Northern Depot.

Entertainment: You might be surprised to find Broadway-level productions in Whitefish at the Alpine Theatre Project and the Whitefish Theatre Company. Farmers Market: Immerse yourself in

the scenery while enjoying music and art, at the Tuesday evening Farmers Market.

<Shopping: Find Western and contempo-

rary clothing, artwork, jewelry, classic toys, craft beers, artisan chocolates, art, books, pottery and even vintage signs in the retail outlets and unique boutiques in Whitefish. To plan your adventure, visit www.explorewhitefish.com and www.glaciermt.com.

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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 59

Travel Back in Time: Virginia City Once a part of the 1860s gold rush and capital of the Montana Territory, Virginia City now serves as a time machine that will whisk you back to the era of gold rush fever and placer mining camps. During the peak gold stampede, more than 5,000 people (including Calamity Jane) lived in Virginia City, and another 5,000 staked claims in the area. When the population exploded, there was little law enforcement, and some took the law into their own hands, like the short-lived Montana Vigilantes. After the gold petered out, the area became a ghost town until the 1950s when the Bovey family began to purchase and restore the buildings. Now, most of the city is designated as a National Historic Landmark District and contains more than 100 historical buildings with period furnishings. Stroll the same boardwalks that miners and vigilantes haunted in the living history museum that is Virginia City.

Area Attractions Nevada City: Just a mile away, this town is also ripe with gold-mining history and home to the Nevada City Music Hall, which features the largest number of automated music machines in the country.

Unusual Tours: Ride the 30-gauge railroad,

rent a guided auto tour or take a ghost tour via stagecoach. Virginia City, or “VC” as it’s known by the locals, also an informative fire truck tour, an outdoor mining museum tour or explore on your own with a walking tour.

< Virginia City Players: Take in a show in this 19th century style opera house, one of the oldest continuously operating summer stock theaters in the country.

Brewery Follies: Tickle your funny bone with servings of satire, nonsense, foolishness and absurdity at this adult comedy cabaret in Montana’s first brewery.

Museums: Both the Thomas-Hickman Museum

and the J. Spencer Watkins museum will enhance your uderstanding of Virginia City’s heydays.

< Boot Hill Cemetery: Get an overview

of Virginia City from this cemetery hill, where outlaws, hanged by the Vigilantes, are buried.

Grand Victorian Ball for Peace 1865:

If you’re a history buff, plan your visit for August 15-17, and bring your period costumes from the 1860’s – or just be a spectator, and enjoy a Victorian high tea and melodrama. This annual event, which celebrates Virginia City’s history during the Civil War Era, features live music, dancing and patriotic dedications. To plan your adventure, visit Virginia City’s website at www.virginiacitymt.com.

60 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Paradise Found: Livingston Once a small trading post on the Yellowstone River, Livingston shares a history with, and owes its development to, the Northern Pacific Railroad. The town was named after the railroad’s director, Johnston Livingston, and was the original gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Visitors heading to the Park changed trains in Livingston and took the Park Branch Line – through the Paradise Valley – into Yellowstone. Once the part-time home of Calamity Jane and host to European royalty, Livingston is now a thriving Western small town that draws artists, writers, musicians, movie-makers and visitors from all over the world. Surrounded by three mountain ranges and a rushing river, Livingston is truly a little piece of paradise in Big Sky Country. Enjoy turn-of-the-century charm, historical buildings and western hospitality, as you explore all that the Livingston area has to offer.

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Area Attractions < Historic Walking Tours: With more than 400

buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, Livingston will delight you with its rich history and ornate facades on buildings (pick up a tour map at the Chamber of Commerce, and don’t miss the historic Mint Bar).

Art Galleries: With 14 galleries, you’ll be fascinated

by the wide array of artists with works in every medium, ranging from traditional western to modern whimsy.

Museums: Learn the rich history of Livingston and its railroad past at the Depot Center and the Yellowstone Gateway Museum.

Fishing:. Channel your inner Norman Maclean

in this sportsmen’s paradise of Blue Ribbon trout streams – with some carrying up to 3,000 fish per mile – in the Livingston/Paradise area. biking, bird watching, horseback riding, golfing and rock climbing.

< Whitewater Rafting: On a hot summer day, cool off with a whitewater rafting trip (most trips start in nearby Gardiner). < The Murray Hotel: Sleep in history at this hotel, which opened in 1904 and played host to Buffalo Bill, Calamity Jane, Will Rogers and the Queen of Denmark. Later, enjoy a meal at the 2nd Street Bistro, where Anthony Bourdain filmed a segment of his popular TV show. Shopping: There is a multitude of boutiques and antique shops offering fine jewelry, western wear, home furnishings, hats and more—the perfect souvenir station to commemorate your rustically-refined Montana vacation. Outdoor recreation: In addition to fishing, the area provides opportunities for hiking, biking, birding and more. To plan your adventure, visit www.livingstonchamber.com or golivingston.com.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 61

Cowboy Up! Miles City Founded in 1876, Miles City was once the livestock and horse-trading center of the country, and still retains its reputation as an historic cow town. Named after General Nelson A. Miles and located at the confluence of the Tongue and Yellowstone Rivers, the area is steeped in history, beginning with its early days as a flourishing trading site. After the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the influx of soldiers caused a population explosion and a need for businesses and services, including boarding houses, bordellos, saloons and dance halls. When the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1881, cattle could be transported from as far away as Texas, and Miles City cemented its position as a pre-eminent cattle town. It’s a place that loves its cowboys and loves to have fun. But don’t think that Miles City is just a one-trick pony kind of town. Embodying the spirit of the Old West, Miles City has a whole kit and caboodle of activities.

Area Attractions < Bucking Horse Sale (May 15-

17, 2014): Enjoy rodeo, horseraces,

cowboys (in nice-fittin’ jeans), a steak fry, parades, music, an artistic quick draw, street dancing and a whole lot of beer.

Range Riders Museum: Learn all

about the area’s history with displays that include a 150-year-old donut, all things cowboy (spurs, saddles, chaps, buggies, wagons and guns), and dioramas depicting early homesteader life.

WaterWorks Art Museum: Set in an old water plant, this museum and gallery feature a wide array of Western art with permanent and changing collections. Ursuline Convent: Built to teach

and board children from far-flung ranch families, this beautiful monument to past settlers is open for walk-in tours.

< Winery: Who knew you could grow grapes in the harsh climate of Eastern Montana? Stop at the Tongue River Winery (call Bob at 406-8531028 to schedule a tour and tasting) and try some of their local wines. Makoshika State Park: About an hour and a half away, you can visit Montana’s largest State Park, discover the history of dinosaurs in the area and hike through the other-worldly hoo-doo formations.

< Famous Waterin’ Holes: Step back in time to saloons and restaurants with a movie-set feel – The Montana Bar and Steakhouse, the Olive Hotel and the Hole in the Wall. To plan your adventure, click on the Visitor Information tab at milescitychamber.com.

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Gateway City: West Yellowstone Known affectionately as “West” to locals, this burg has been a gateway entrance to Yellowstone National Park since the early 1900s. Like so many other Western towns, it too owes its origin to the railroad and was founded in 1908 when the Oregon Short Line Railroad rolled into town. With a year-round population of about 1,200 hardy souls, West Yellowstone hosts over three and a half million visitors each year and is the most popular entrance into Yellowstone. Proximity to the Park makes West a great home base to explore this national treasure, but it’s also a super destination on its own. The area is rich in history and offers a full complement of outdoor adventures, a wide variety of lodging, shopping, great dining (try the tapas and paella at Café Madriz) and entertainment.

Area Attractions Yellowstone National Park: Get into this incredible 2.2-million-acre playground early to avoid long lines. Spend the day marveling at the geothermal features, lakes, waterfalls and bears, bison, eagles, moose and elk.

<Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center: View and learn all about raptors, grizzly bears, and gray wolves in their natural habitat. Yellowstone IMAX Theatre: Get an amazing and up-close overview of Yellowstone on this six-story high screen with stereo surround sound. Yellowstone Historic Center: Located in the historic Union Pacific De-

pot, this museum reflects the history of visitors and transportation to Yellowstone, with exhibits of stagecoaches, early motorized vehicles, trains and buses.

Historic Walking Tour: Pick up a map at the Chamber and follow the green bear paws on the sidewalk to visit the 21 historic sites in town.

Sleep in History: Spend a few nights (or stop by for a tour) at the Historic Madison Hotel, the oldest hotel in town (built in 1912), now updated with modern amenities. Entertainment: After a day of sight-seeing, nourish yourself at one of the 50+ restaurants (from casual to fine dining) and then enjoy top-notch entertainment from the actors at the Playmill Theatre.

<Madison River Canyon Earthquake Area: Learn about – and see – the effects of the 1959 earthquake in the area and visit Quake and Hebgen Lakes.

To plan your adventure, use the great resources at www.destinationyellowstone.com.

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SPECIAL SECTION: CELEBRATING

the modern family

TRADITIONS OLD & NEW

We Are Family By Jennifer A. Williams

The world is rapidly changing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and so is the American family. Yet at the core remains the desire to raise happy, well-balanced children nurtured by proud and engaged parents. With so many changes and challenges impacting modern families, how can we be assured our most treasured relationships not only survive, but thrive?

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 65

t’s no secret that the family in 2014 is radically different than it was 100, 50 or even 10 years ago. Once defined as a mom, dad, children plus extended family, the modern American family has morphed into almost every conceivable mix of individuals. Step-parents and step-siblings have become commonplace as have single-parent households.

Habits for Creating Meaningful Dialogue Ask open-ended questions that encourage dialogue Take time to get curious and ask thoughtful questions to start a dialogue and encourage awareness. What was that like for you? How did you feel when that happened? How will you handle that challenge? Or, when your child’s team wins a basketball or soccer game, ask your child, What were you most pleased about with your game? or What was your biggest challenge? How did you handle it? instead of just saying “Congrats!” When we highlight and solidify experiences, learning and personal strengths, we build confidence, quality communication and a sense of power.

Make quality time with your family a priority Nothing can ever replace your family’s time together. Quality time together binds us and defines us—and this does not mean spending a week in Disneyland or two weeks in the Bahamas. It does mean setting aside protected family time for a fun or meaningful activity, based on individual preferences and personalities. One family may ski together, another camp together, another play board games. And remember, quality time together does not need to cost anything.

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Moreover, families today are busier than ever. School work, sports, music lessons, religious classes and play dates fill the calendars of youngsters while parents spend more hours at work and on household chores while squeezing in time for their kids. Unrelenting schedules coupled with strained relationships can be a powerful incubator for family stress. Left unchecked, that stress can cause serious disruptions in our intimate relationships. At the same time, challenges are a natural part of life. Big or small, it is the strength, cohesiveness and love of our family that helps us weather life’s storms. And it is family, for better or for worse, that also lays the foundation of our communities. The importance of instituting and maintaining healthy family rituals cannot be overstated. After all, our family of origin lays the foundation of how we see the world and our place in it. Raising children to be happy, well-balanced, loving human beings is the goal of all parents. And successful parenting means tackling those forces that work to derail family unity.

Manage stress

Even those of us living here in the splendor of Big Sky Country will not benefit from our beautiful surroundings unless we take the time to appreciate them and allow them to nourish us. Stress cuts us off from satisfying nourishment. Brain research confirms that all humans need downtime to assimilate our experiences in order to grow and change. We need to pause and take time to be present, not rushing or agonizing, in order to prevent the negative effects of stress. We require slowing down, solitude and unhooking from life to gain perspective and gather meaning from our experiences. When individuals are stressed, we often operate in survival mode (fight, flight or freeze) or get stuck in endless loops in our emotional (limbic)

brain, reliving all the things that we “should have, could have” done or what didn’t go well or didn’t get done. As parents, when we’re stressed we tend to move into efficiency mode: Do your homework. Don’t forget to take out the garbage. Time for soccer. Time for dinner. Time for bed. When parents operate in “efficiency mode,” we miss the opportunity for meaningful exchanges that are critical for development, bonding and support. To break the cycle, we must make a conscious effort to slow down and be present for one another and for our children. One simple tactic is to accept what is. Many times, the real culprit causing our stress is not what is, but how we perceive the situation and our refusal to accept it. Denial, even in small doses, inhibits our natural ability to learn from our mistakes and prevents us from using our strengths to assist us. When we refuse to accept what is, we create a conflict in our minds and emotions that generates stress. So look at situations with your eyes wide open and accept what is. Feel your feelings fully, acknowledge your pain and then decide to take one small action toward its resolution. Another tactic is to take time for joy. When we feel joy or wonder, feel-good chemicals are released in our brain, which counter the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. When we make a habit of highlighting small pleasures in our life, we have just taken a wonder drug. Take, for example, a father whose favorite hobby is photography. He’s amazingly attentive to opportunities for joy—and he involves his children in exploring with him. Even though his job is highly stressful, this practice of savoring small pleasures renews him continually. Find your own opportunities to experience joy and share those moments with your children.

Manage technology

As a society, we are beginning to look at the effects of technology on children and family life. Tweens and teens readily admit to spending up to 5–7 hours a day on their mobile phones and computers, watching television or playing games on their gaming consoles. And it’s not uncommon for family members to be in separate rooms on some form of screen, passing time by surfing the Internet or combing social media. Technology in and of itself isn’t bad; it’s how we

It’s estimated that children today spend 40 percent less time with their parents than in the mid-1960s. Along with a huge decline in meaningful dialogue, technology has become a widespread babysitter and a third parent in many homes.

use technology that makes it either positive or destructive. The advances in communication technology have been a tremendous boon for families. Our teens can call when they need our help; our tots can “Skype” their grandparents a thousand miles away; we can text our spouse to let them know a flight is late. These are all great perks. But when technology turns into an obsession that alienates or excludes those we love, it becomes destructive. If we are more connected to technology than to each other, we cheat ourselves of fulfillment and endanger what we love most: our relationships and families. Technology is not going away, so it is up to parents to make wise, conscious decisions concerning its use. (See “Tips for Tech.”)

Commit to meaningful dialogue

In less than 50 years, we’ve shifted away from being a society with family as the center of activity, including plentiful and meaningful conversations. It’s estimated that children today spend 40 percent less time with their parents than in the mid1960s. Along with a huge decline in meaningful dialogue, technology has become a widespread babysitter and a third parent in many homes. The Information Age has inundated us with copious amounts of information without the time to make it relevant in our lives. As technology replaces true dialogue, we are no longer transmitting our values to our children. Emotional connection even between spouses can be sparse because we don’t have time to feel or process emotions, let alone share them in a meaningful way. The critical development and maturity of children/teens is dependent on meaningful dialogue and collaboration. Research has proven that dialogue and collaboration enrich clarity in perception, self-control, critical thinking, emotional modulation and ethical and moral development. Our connection to ourselves and to what is truly important—healthy families and our most cherished relationships—is being profoundly threatened and left with little or no time for introspection, rich conversation and understanding. When people are overwhelmed, they typically move to being more productive so they can check something off our very long list. However, families and relationships are anything but efficient. They require connection even when the situation may ask for energy, time and attention we don’t feel we have. Attentive listening is a necessary ingredient for meaningful dialogue. Children and adults alike feel unimportant when they become just another item to check off our list. We need to carve out quality time together, make conversation a priority and use our time in a way that cultivates meaning and closeness.

Start small, be consistent

Creating a nurturing environment doesn’t mean making sweeping changes to your family’s routine. Small daily doses of communication and connection can bring about monumental change. Making quality family time indispensable, taking time to savor happiness and expressing gratitude for small joys can be enormously fulfilling, creating a family haven and sense of belonging and renewal.

Tips for Tech: Having your technology and eating it, too! Use technology to stay connected! Snap a picture of a special family moment and text or email it to a grandparent. Text a sweet message to your spouse or a fun picture to your child. It’s especially great when pictures become part of a conversation.

Use technology to create closeness rather than separation. Instead of each family member spending time on their own devices in separate rooms, bring everyone together to play a video game or watch a movie everyone likes. If you’re going to watch a movie with your partner make it special: popcorn, dim lights, snuggling—the works.

Place reasonable limits on technology for a healthy balance. Being more conscious of the amount of time we spend on our phones, computers and other technology is the first step in finding a balance. When we do something over and over, it goes on cruise control. If you’re checking your email or social media sites in the evening while your partner or family is around, be conscious of limiting the time, and let them know you’ll shut it down in a few minutes to be with them. Then keep your word. It’s up to you to find the amount of screen time that matches your values and keeps your family connected in an enriching way.

Set up dedicated times without technology. One of the best things a family can do is set up specific times during the week to totally unplug and spend time together without distractions. This can be tricky at first, but when it’s done regularly families appreciate the uninterrupted time of being together.

Shut off phones during dinner, and never answer during this valuable time. One evening a week, turn off all technology and take that time to relax together without interruption. If you or your children play video games regularly, make sure that at least one night a week you play cards or board games or go for a walk together instead. You’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have together—and you’ll have time to actually talk, too.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 67

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SPECIAL SECTION: CELEBRATING

the modern family

TRADITIONS OLD & NEW

Reunited…And It Feels So Good Tips for planning the best family reunion By Julie Green As children, a family reunion generally meant a couple of days every year spent at Grandma’s house, hanging out with our cousins, staying up too late, eating a lot of food and occasionally hearing a few stories about great-great-grandpa-somebody we’d never met. Today, with more of us living across the country (and sometimes, across the globe) a family reunion can be an opportunity to reconnect with relatives we haven’t seen in years—or, ever.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 69

hile destination reunions such as family cruises have recently become vogue, there’s something to be said for keeping things a bit more simple, with get-togethers hosted at a central location where family members reside. If a reunion is in your future, here are our stress-free tips for making it enjoyable for family members of all ages. Divide & conquer You don’t have to do everything yourself, and getting everyone involved helps get them engaged. Consider creating a reunion committee, or at the very least delegate such things as: • Gathering contact information • Making reservations at the chosen location • Being in charge of specific activities, like games for the kids or a family video • Planning meals and making potluck • Serving as the event photographer or videographer

Easy eats Food can be one of the biggest challenges at family reunions, because it is affected by the length of the reunion, how many people you’re serving and where the reunion is located. Try these suggestions:

• If you’re in an area where restaurants are close by or where a number of family members live, just have lunch or dinner at the reunion; let individual families handle the others on their own • Take turns cooking meals, or focus on potluck-style dining with salads, main dishes, side dishes and desserts assigned • Baked potato bars, cold cut platters and buns, “walking tacos” or similar buffets feed a lot on a budget—and are usually easy to put together • Gourmet isn’t a requirement—grilling hot dogs and burgers or serving up sloppy joes is just fine at least once during the event • One must? Have a lot of ice on hand to keep beverages cool and foods at safe temperatures

Fun-a-palooza A family reunion isn’t a child’s birthday party, but it’s also not just for the geriatric set. Plan for things that will keep everyone (even teens) having fun. • If you’re OK with electronics, set up a gaming area with age-appropriate Wii and Playstation games; if not, set up board games, puzzles and plan for a raucous round of charades. • Let kids get to know more about the family with a “get to know you” scavenger hunt • Set up a coloring or craft station for little kids who may need some quiet play time • Have a space with adequate shaded seating to may just want to sit and chat • Ask guests in advance to bring family photos and any written stories or family history items; have a laptop and scanner available to get them into a digital format for easy sharing • Keep a video camera handy and ask older teens to interview some of the older family members to capture their life stories for sharing at future reunions • Schedule in some old-fashioned games, like potato sack races or Red Rover— and encourage everyone to join in • Have a dance night incorporating a mix of music, from the Beatles and The Boss to Beyonce, then get everyone on the floor to show off their coolest (or grimace-worthy) moves

Living social Facebook is a great way to reach out to relatives and keep them informed of the upcoming event. A few tips: • Set up a group page specifically for the family reunion, keeping it closed but allowing family members to extend invitations to join to relatives with whom you are not in contact • Check the page often (or have one of your kids do it) so that you can respond to questions quickly • Keep the site live after the reunion as a way of sending follow-up information, keeping in touch and planning future family events • Have an alternative plan for updating those who are not as social media-savvy

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SPECIAL SECTION: CELEBRATING

the modern family

TRADITIONS OLD & NEW

12 Ways

to Re-Engage your Inner Child By Allyn Hulteng

If you’re like most of us, work pressure, stress and your kid’s jam-packed calendar are taking the glow off summer. “What I wouldn’t give to be a kid again,” you think. Well – you can. Life is short. Dial back the years and rekindle your inner child with these timeless suggestions.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 73

5. Go bowling

1. Play Hooky It’s 75 degrees outside, and you can almost hear the blades of grass pop as they stretch high toward the warm, spring sun. Stop staring longingly out your office window and take the afternoon off. While we don’t condone feigning illness in order to press your toes into the lawn, there is something to be said for taking care of your mental health. (Besides, the brief re-charge will likely result in more energy to handle your Inbox when you return.)

2. Ride your bike

So, the last time you poked three fingers inside a 12-pound resin ball and skipped it down a shiny wood floor was… you probably can’t remember. Corny as it may seem, hucking a bowling ball down a narrow lane in hopes of hitting at least one white pin can be a terrific stress-releaser. If nothing else, you and your teammates can enjoy some muchneeded belly laughing commenting on one another’s raw technique (not to mention the too-cute specialty shoes.)

You’ve got one. It may be dusty, out-of-fashion and sporting a pair of flats, but that bicycle in the back of the garage is dying to take you out on the open road. (Remember, once you learn to peddle you never forget how.) Rinse it off, fill the tires and go. Feel the wind in your face and grin.

3. Take the plunge OK – when was the last time you jumped into the public swimming pool? We thought so. Don your swimsuit and plunk down the couple of bucks it costs to spend the afternoon at Rose Park Pool. Yes – you could bring the kids and all their friends, but that really defeats the purpose. Instead, spend a couple of hours reclining on your towel and soaking up sunshine while listening to the cacophony of happy voices.

4. Get outta town Remember Sunday drives with the parentals? There was a reason your mom and dad loaded the kids into the car and ambled aimlessly around the county. Yes – they were proud of their new, woodpaneled station wagon. And yes – the Sunday afternoon TV schedule was seriously limited back in the day. But unplugging from technology and plugging into the natural environment (even through the car window) is an elixir for the soul. (Tip: Nix the iPod, turn off your cell phone and leave DVDs at home.)

74 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

6. Watch a matinee There’s nothing like escaping inside a cool, dark theatre and running off for a couple of hours with an action-adventure hero. For an even better experience, grab your bestie or your spouse and enjoy a spontaneous date. (Don’t forget the Junior Mints.)

7. Go fish Hey – you live in Billings, Montana, mere minutes away from blue ribbon rivers. Grab a pole, get a license, pack some snacks and head toward your favorite fishing hole. No need to spend hundreds of dollars on fancy fly fishing gear or hours studying the map. Drive to Columbus, pull in to Itch-Ke-Pee Park, walk to the water and drop your line. Serenity made simple.

8. Eye in the sky Everyone from the NSA to Amazon has a drone – why shouldn’t you have one, too? Micro-technology allows you to pilot your own drone with a built-in 720p HD camera. Soar over trees and rooftops and stream amazing high-definition footage directly to your smart phone. Warning: you’ll be the most popular kid on the block!

9. Play outside Badminton. Jarts. Rack-the-Gack. Nothing says easy summer fun like backyard games. Gather your kids, friends or neighbors, grill some burgers and make an evening of it. Wanna up the ante? Bring out the super-soakers and challenge your kids to a water war. Excitement, laughter and squeals of delight guaranteed.

10. Play dress up Ladies – this one is for you. Block out an afternoon to go to a clothing store you typically do not frequent and spend a couple of hours trying on flirty outfits just for fun. Add jewelry, shoes, a handbag – the whole enchilada. Step outside your comfort zone and pick styles and colors you normally would not. To lessen the temptation for a spontaneous purchase, leave your wallet at home. If you do find an ensemble that’s simply irresistible, think it over for a day or two before shelling out the bucks.

11. Pull a prank Most people can appreciate a practical joke (as opposed to a mean joke). Think of a close friend or family member who sports a good sense of humor and devise a prank just for him or her. Do you know someone turning 39 years old? Host their 40th birthday party a year early. The better you know someone, the more opportunities you have to create a little fun. Just remember – paybacks can be expected.

12. Take Flight Remember flying wood and paper kites as a kid? Today’s speed foil kites take the experience to a whole new level. The Snapshot 2.5 (made by Prism) offers an exciting introduction to power kiting along with just enough power to drag the pilot along for a ride. Good fun and great exercise for kids of all ages.

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Left to Right: Brandy Dillon, H.I.S. , Jane Gilstrap, Doctor of Audiology Crystal Dvorak, Nina Rehder, Doctor of Audiology Douglas Rehder, Doctor of Audiology Tracy Hayden, Marina Nunez and Jacki Husicka.

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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 77

Swords Park Trail Approximately 9 miles Zoo Loop 11.6 miles (longer version)

Start at the intersection of Shiloh and Rimrock Roads and head down one of Billings’ newest trails. Continue south downhill to visit your furry or feathered friends at ZooMontana. The return trip is a greater climb than you may realize, so make a pit stop at Billings Best Yogurt or City Brew in Shiloh Crossing to fortify your crew for the final ascent. Finish via the Shiloh Road trail or head to the designated bike trail on 32nd Avenue West via Monad Road to make the longer loop.

Bike Safety & Etiquette ALWAYS wear a helmet—there’s no excuse. Many trails are multi-use, with traffic going both ways, so use caution and control your speed. Many people, especially walkers, may not hear a biker or inline skater from behind (or may be wearing headphones) so a loud “Passing on the Left” yell before you approach is a common and welcome courtesy. If you use the trails at night, have a light and wear reflective clothing. Bring, and use, your bike lock. Always use caution, especially if traveling city streets from one trail to another, because bikes rarely win over cars.

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Feel like you are at the pinnacle of the world—right here, atop Billings’ Rims. Park just west of the airport and bring your picnic lunch along—this trail is worth several stops. Start with a zippy ride through the tunnel under Airport Road (be sure to yell “Yee-haw” as you ride through) and continue on Chief Black Otter Trail, which overlooks the entire city. Visit Yellowstone Kelly’s grave and historic Boot Hill. Then, continue on and connect to the Aronson Avenue Trail and head up to the hill to frolic at The Oasis Waterpark. On the way back, stop for a quick peek into the Peter Yegen Jr. Yellowstone County Museum across Airport Road. Throughout the entire trip, stunning mountain views will be your constant companion.

Coulson Park to Heights 13 miles roundtrip

Park at Coulson Park off Garden Avenue and get your wheels turning with this quiet uphill ride. You will pedal adjacent to I-90 for part of the trip, then turn toward the river and advance under the interstate bridge and train trestle. Get your heart rate going with a vigorous uphill trek behind MetraPark, but the reward is at the top—stop at one of the assorted benches for a bird’s eye view of the Yellowstone River. Or, head offtrail for a quick lunch at McKenzie River Pizza in the Heights. The trail goes all the way to St. Mary’s Street, so you will get your exercise. And remember—it’s all downhill from there.

Riverfront Park Norm’s Island Mileage varies

As a destination trail, Riverfront Park has it all—miles and miles of multi-surfaced trails, Lake Josephine, the Yellowstone River, immense cottonwoods and ambling ducks. The park also offers picnic areas, seasonal rest rooms and an opportunity to drop a line. So, pack up the kids and the bikes, and head out. Cross west underneath South Billings Boulevard west, you’ll find several more loops on Norm’s Island (heads up—it’s doggie nirvana). Turn north to find tranquil walking trails and benches for pensive thought at the Montana Audubon Center.

For more information see: prpl.info/parks/trails.html bikenet.org MAP COURTESY OF BIKE NET

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 79

The original farmhouse has been in the Plath family for five generations: (Top, left to right) Frederick and Nina Plath, circa 1900; Art and Dorothy Plath in 1944; Tom and Roseanne Plath in 1973. Above: Heather and Greg Plath stand in front of the original house in 2010. Right Greg, Heather, son Jackson, Roseanne and Tom Plath represent the third, fourth and fifth Plath generations to work the same farmstead. The new farmhouse sits in the same location as the original, as per Heather and Greg, both for sentimental reasons and logistically, as related to Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farm work.

one family. one farm . F ive G enerations . Eighteen-month-old Jackson Plath stops briefly to pick up and

examine a pen that had just fallen to the floor. He shows it to his mother Heather, smiles, and then turns and begins to run back and forth between the living room and kitchen in his parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; home. His father Greg and grandfather Tom watch him from the dining room table, both smiling at the toddlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seemingly boundless energy. by julie green photography by james woodcock

Although Jackson doesn’t know it yet, the place that he will know as home has a unique story—one that spans far beyond those who watch him play. In fact, this place and this dark-headed boy represent five generations of hard work, sacrifice and love. At the turn of the past century, the Huntley Irrigation Project was initiated, ultimately leading to expanded settlement of the area by largely immigrant families seeking to realize their life-long dream of land ownership. Frederick Plath along with his wife Nina struck their claim on property not far from where the Shepherd schools now sit and began farming. “They started with 80 acres, building a house and a place to raise their children,” Tom Plath, who represents the third generation, says. “Their neighbors were the Holland family, who began farming on the property where we sit now. When the Hollands moved closer to Billings, my grandfather bought their acreage. Eventually, when they were older, my father, Arthur, and his brother, Fred, moved out of my grandparents’ home down into this house.” Aided by the advent of more modern planting and harvesting techniques, the Plath farm began to expand. While Fred stayed in Shepherd, however, Arthur chose to move to Phillipsburg, Mont., to begin a career as a hard-rock miner. He married his wife Dorothy and the couple had one son, Tom. “I became an electrical engineer and went to work for Hughes Aircraft,” Tom recalls. “I was in Germany for eight years.” It was there he met his wife, Roseanne, an American

82 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

who was also working abroad, but not before he made a decision that would be pivotal in their lives.

Meanwhile, back at the farm.

“In 1969 my Uncle Fred was having some health problems and was ready to sell his portion of the farm,” Tom explains. “I was single at that time; I was fortunate enough to have the resources to purchase it, and my parents moved in (this house).” Six years later, after living in California, Tom and Roseanne moved to Shepherd, purchasing a home nearby. In addition to managing the farm, Tom continued to consult with West Coast aircraft companies, while Roseanne became an X-ray technician with St. Vincent Healthcare. “I don’t remember my grandfather because he died when I was about 2,” says Tom and Roseanne’s son, Greg Plath. “But I remember my grandmother; she’d make us lunch every day. She was a good cook.” He also recalls big family parties out on the lawn during the summer. “My mom grew up in the Alkali Creek Valley and had 11 brothers and sisters,” Tom says. “On the 4th of July, we’d have a picnic with anywhere from 60 to 100 people.”

Coming home

After graduating from high school, Greg went to college in Butte, eventually becoming a mining engineer. He spent time in Tennessee, and then worked for several years for Stillwater Min-

Opposite page, top: The five-generation Plath family farm (Circa. 1919) and (opposite page below) the same farm today. Top left and center: The flooring in Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farm office and the stair treads were crafted by Freyenhagen Construction using wood salvaged from the original farmhouse. Left: Greg and Heather Plath re-purposed the metal cabinets from his grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen, using them in the new, hard-working mudroom. At top: All the knobs on this coat rack in the Plath home came from the original farmhouse. Tom and Greg Plath, father and son, reminisce about the previous Plath generations who farmed the same land. Young Jackson Plath is the fifth generation to be raised on the family farm and ranch near Shepherd.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 83

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84 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

ing Company. Though he enjoyed his work, he knew that he wanted to work for himself. He wanted to return to the land on which he’d grown up. Working together, the two generations of Plaths continued to expand their farm, which had grown to include a cattle operation as well. “Greg and I met online a few years ago,” says Heather Plath, who works as a nurse in Billings. “I always say we should be on one of those eHarmony commercials, because that’s exactly where we found each other. I was in Glendive and he was here.” “My dad used to say that I was shopping for a wife online,” Greg laughs. “But it worked for us.” After they married, the couple lived in the old farmhouse, finding ways to make it their own while always appreciating the silent reminders of family members who preceded them.

If walls could talk

“Greg told me that his Uncle Fred’s wife, Aunt Lydia, loved pink,” Heather says. “But I didn’t know just how much. The bathroom was pink, and there was a lot of pink wallpaper. One time I was cleaning walls and a piece of wallpaper peeled back—sure enough, there was pink underneath!” When the couple decided to renovate the house to better accommodate their needs, they turned to Jeremy Freyenhagen, owner of Freyenhagen Construction. As work began, however, it quickly became evident that the renovation needed to become a reconstruction due to a crumbling foundation, wiring issues and other safety concerns. “It was important to Greg that the home be built in the same place, both in honor of his family and because it was centrally located to the areas he worked,” Freyenhagen says. “He also wanted to maintain the farmhouse look and find ways to incorporate parts of the old house into the new construction. After hearing their family’s story, it was something that I felt privileged to help with.” Despite renovation challenges, Greg and

Heather were committed to retaining as much of the original home’s integrity as possible. “I wanted it to pay tribute to the people who’d built the house originally and to my family,” Greg says. “There is a sentimental feeling associated with it. Jeremy understood that and made some suggestions on how we could re-use wood from the original house to replicate some of the original features. He listened to what we wanted.”

What’s old, is new again

Though the construction was nearly seamless, life on the farm was as hectic as ever. “When we began building it was summer; I was three months pregnant and we were in a drought, so Greg was irrigating like crazy,” Heather says. “I was picking out colors and flooring, but he’d come down here whenever he could to help salvage wood.” The home, completed just a few weeks after son Jackson’s, birth, is a testament to the Plath’s’ commitment to maintaining the look and feel of the original farmhouse. The kitchen is large and open, with plenty of storage and windows that look out onto farmland. Knotty alder cabinets replace mid-century metal cabinets, which were up-cycled for use in the laundry and mudroom area. Baseboards and other trim work are made from reclaimed wood, blending seamlessly into the new wood floors, doors and cabinetry. A wide staircase leading up to the second level is also made of the salvaged wood, creating a beautiful transition to three modern bedrooms, made cozy with the addition of soft carpeting and plenty of windows. The master suite is spacious and quiet, the ideal spot for the couple and their son to relax after a long workday. “I love knowing that Jack is going to grow up here,” Heather says. “It’s how I was raised and how Greg was raised—we like living on a farm and ranch.” Smiling at his wife, Greg agrees. “This is home, this is what I know,” Greg says. “I’m very lucky to have this life.”

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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 85

Vintage Step back, anglers. Move aside, trail guides. A lively band of ad

86 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Beauties venturesome ladies is hitting the road and arriving in style.

By Allyn Hulteng I Photography by Casey Page MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 87

A caravan of colorful vintage trailers slowly winds its way along US Hwy 84, hugging Montana’s famed Madison River. Pulled by pickups, SUVs, vans and a lone VW Beetle, the procession causes heads to turn as people stop to watch the retro parade. The trailers – most of which were manufactured in the 1950s and 60s – were plucked from salvage yards or purchased from people who felt no affinity for the out-of-date aluminum vessels. Their new owners – all women – saw something else entirely. Each has lovingly restored her vintage camper, creating a oneof-a-kind themed interior complemented by a custom-painted exterior and branded with a unique name. “The trailers are sort of grown-up playhouses that each of the ladies takes on the road to adventure,” said Maurrie Sussman,

co-founder of a group known as Sisters on the Fly. Though the retro campers pique curiosity wherever they go, Sussman says the best part is what takes place outside the trailers. “We get women outdoors to have fun doing things they never thought they could do by themselves.”

Hooked on fishing

Maurrie Sussman and her sister, Becky Clarke, grew up in the 1960s in Lincoln City, Oregon. Their father, a Marine Corps colonel, was frequently gone leaving his wife Mazie at the family helm. A lover of all things outdoors, Mazie frequently took her daughters camping, teaching them how to pitch a tent, cast a line and cook over the campfire. It was the golden era of camping in America, and the threesome reveled in the experience. “My mom is the most spectacular woman that ever was,”

Membership in Sisters on the Fly is open to any woman wishing to make friends and experience outdoor adventure. Sisters and those who may be interested in joining are encouraged to log on to sistersonthefly.com for information about the organization, upcoming events and how to join.

Previous page: Kayli Offerle sits in front of her 1955 Rainbow trailer at a Sisters on the Fly event at Cabela’s in Billings on April 5. 2. Restored vintage trailers, including Kayli Offerle’s 1951 Rainbow, front, are displayed at a gathering at Cabela’s. 3. Fifties-style memorabilia and fly-fishing details in Kayli Offerle’s trailer. 4. A collection of 45 rmp records and other '50s-themed décor fill Kayli Offerle’s vintage trailer. Photos by Casey Page.

88 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Maurrie said. Maurrie and Becky eventually married and had their own kids. But the sisters never lost their passion for fishing and spending time together with their families in the great outdoors. In the late 1990s, Maurrie’s son, an outfitter based in Bozeman, persuaded Maurrie to trade her fishing pole for a fly rod. “It was just so much fun,” Maurrie said. “I called Becky and told her she needed to come to Montana and learn to fly fish, too.” The two sisters, along with Maurrie’s son, made ar-

Each member is assigned a sister number (founding sisters Maurrie and Becky are Sister #1 and Sister #2, and their mother, Mazie – who at age 95 shows no sign of slowing down – is Sister #4).

7 9

5. A caravan of vintage trailers embarks on a Sisters on the Fly adventure. 6. Co-founders of Sisters on the Fly Becky Clarke, Sister #2, and Maurrie Sussman, Sister #1, pose in front of one of Maurrie’s vintage trailers. 7. Mazie Morrison, mother of Maurrie Sussman and Becky Clarke and sister #4, is the matriarch behind the founding of Sisters on the Fly. Photos 5-7 by David Foxhaven & Audrey Hall 8. A variety of western items are on display in front of a vintage trailer owned by Devery Willis. 9. Visitors check out a display of vintage trailers at a Sisters on the Fly event.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 89

rangements to float the Madison River. While the threesome had a wonderful time, Maurrie made a keen observation. Girls fish different than men,” she said. “We don’t need to catch everything in the river; we’re just as happy sipping a glass of wine and enjoying the gorgeous scenery.”

The more the merrier

Maurrie and Becky began making regular trips to Montana to fly fish, and they invited their girlfriends to come along, too. Soon, friends of friends were contacting Maurrie asking how they could take part in the all-women adventures. In response to the demand, Maurrie organized the loosely-banded group of ladies, naming them “Sisters on the Fly.” Each member is assigned a sister number (founding sisters Maurrie and Becky are Sister #1 and Sister #2, and their mother, Mazie – who at age 95 shows no sign of slowing down – is Sister #4). While fly fishing trips remain a staple, Sisters on the Fly has expanded the list of activities to include “cowgirling” on a working ranch, ziplining, kayaking, shooting, hiking, horseback riding, skiing, golfing and of course, camping. “Our motto is, ‘We have more fun than anyone,’” said Maurrie. “And we really do.” The group also adheres to a short list of rules: No kids. No pets. No men. Be nice. “We want women to take a break from being mothers, wives and grandmothers,” said Maurrie. “The rules give

13 14 12 10. Joyce Barrett, right, and Jeanne Majusiak of Red Lodge stand in front of their trailer. 11.Devery Willis arranges items in her westernthemed trailer at the Sisters on the Fly gathering. 12. The interior of Devery Willis’ trailer features vintage photographs of cowgirls and horses. 13. Jean Schneider of Laurel stands in the door to her trailer named “Lima Jean,” which is decorated with a '60s vibe. 14. The interior of Jean Schneiders’ trailer also relects he 1960s with neon-colored flowers, peace signs, fabrics and colors from the era. 15. In keeping with the '60s theme, even Schneider’s propane tank boasts colorful flower-power decals. Photos by Casey Page.

90 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

us the right to enjoy ourselves without having to attend to others.”

Supportive sisters

Devery Willis of Laurel first heard about Sisters on the Fly in 1999. “I was living in Alaska and saw an article on the group in Country Living magazine,” Willis said. Intrigued by the women-only outdoor enthusiasts, Willis clipped the story hoping to one day move to a state where there was a group. That opportunity came when Willis’ husband accepted a job in Billings. For Willis, the connection to other women who enjoy camping, fishing and other outdoor events is a gift. And she is also proud of the organization’s strong support for Casting for Recovery, a non-profit organization that helps women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. “A portion of the money from each event is donated to Casting for Recovery, which is near and dear to all our hearts,” Willis said. A recent gathering of Sisters on the Fly members along with a display of their trailers held at Cabela’s in Billings kick-started the 2014 season. “It was a chance to get our trailers spruced up and look ahead to summer – and to raise money for Casting for Recovery,” Willis said.

BOOKS Girl Scouts with martinis

Author Irene Rawlings has written two books on the history, adventures and recipes of Sisters on the Fly.

Now numbering upwards of 4,000 with sisters in every state as well as Canada, England and Australia, members use the group’s website to post upcoming events or sign up to take part in one. It’s an organic system where any sister may create and lead a new event, or simply sign up to participate in one. This May, sisters from all over the country plan to gather to travel along the famed Route 66. Many will be towing their signature vintage trailers. “Wherever we go with our trailers, people say ‘Oh – I know who you are!’” said Maurrie. The uniquely restored retro campers have garnered a degree of fame, having been featured on national morning news programs and in multiple magazines including Oprah!, Sunset Magazine, Arizona Highways, Mountain Living, Trailer Life and Women’s Outdoors. Still, Maurrie notes, the real magic takes place when the ladies get together. “We have doctors and waitresses, truck drivers and moms who come on these adventures and forge lifelong friendships,” said Maurie. “It’s just really special. We think of ourselves as Girl Scouts with martinis.”

Sisters on the Fly, Caravans, Campfires and Tales from the Road

Cast-Iron Cooking with Sisters on the Fly Books are available at local bookstores and online. Photos by David Foxhaven & Audrey Hall

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wild horses

pryor mountains of the

The image is iconic. Thundering hooves hammer mounds of dusty soil while

Pryor Mountain Wild Mustangsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Unique Conformation and Colors The Pryor Mountain wild mustangs are descendants from the original Colonial Spanish horses brought to America by Cortez. These wild horses tend to be an average of 14 hands. Their distinctive faces feature

wild manes flow in the pr airie breezeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;rippling muscles

wide foreheads

fuel the charge.

tapering to a small

From centuries past to the present, nothing captures our collective hearts more than that of a wild horse herd stampeding with eloquent gr ace. In Big Sky Country, we are fortunate to observe the r aw beauty of wild horses still at work in our own backyard.

muzzle, with wide, expressive eyes and small ears that point slightly inward. They have narrow chests;

Mysterious in their countenance and unbridled beauty,

short, strong backs;

the Pryor Mountain wild horses remind us of the simple

distinct withers;

pleasures of roaming free and living unencumbered by

and a sloping croup

the tr appings of modern day life.

with a low-set tail. Although there are variations,

By Shelley Van Atta I Photogr aphy by casey page

this distinctive conformation is reflective of their Spanish Mustang

Kokopelli and Bakken, two Pryor Mountain wild horses, spar under the vast expanse of the Big Sky.

ancestors.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 93

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From plains to plateaus

In the 1960s, the Pryor Mountain wild horse herd was in danger of extinction. Where once vast herds of free-roaming horses in North America were estimated to be in the millions, they then numbered in the thousands. Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fierce defense of their Pryor Mountain wild horses attracted national attention. Through a series of victorious court battles waged by area citizens during the 1950s and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;60s, the herdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protection was won. In 1968, the first public wild horse range in the United States was formedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. In 1971, Congress further acknowledged their significance by denoting the Pryor Mountain wild horses as â&#x20AC;&#x153;living symbols of the historic and pioneering spirit of the West.â&#x20AC;? This legislation placed them under protection of U.S. law, designating special oversight by the Bureau of Land Management. Few today know that the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range established a groundbreaking precedent of protection for all wild horse herds in America.

Captivating creatures

From top: Herded by helicopter, a band of wild horses moves toward the corrals at the southern end of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range near Lovell, Wyo. Kokopelli crosses Highway 37 as a band of wild horses graze on a section of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range near the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Bakken nibbles at an itch as a band of wild horses graze nearby.

After being exclusively studied, the Pryor Mountain wild horse herd has been termed â&#x20AC;&#x153;horses with a heritageâ&#x20AC;? for their purity of history and genetics. Historians believe the Pryor Mountain Mustangs are descendants of the 15 horses brought by the Cortez expedition in the early 1500s

Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center

to Mexico and New Mexico. Through escape, trading and warring among Native Americans, the horses rapidly spread across the continent and are believed to have been brought to this area in the mid-1700s by American Indian tribes. Studies conducted in the 1990s confirmed that the Pryor Mountain wild horses are unique among North American wild horse herds. Their color and conformation (the horse’s body shape) verified the purity of the herd, consistent with the Spanish Mustang, a rare and endangered breed. Cortez once compared his mustangs as being only “second to God.”

If you are an adult with diabetes,

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Watch in wonder

After the U.S. Department of Interior designated the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Location: Just east Range as the country’s first public wild horse of Lovell, Wyo., on range, the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse AsHighway 14A; east sociation was formed in 1968 to call attention to the wild mustangs’ plight. of the Cal S. Taggart This group of advocates evolved over the Bighorn Canyon years, and, in 1998, incorporated into the National Recreation Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center, a Area Visitor Center. public, not-for-profit educational center and Phone: 307-548-9453 museum located just east of Lovell, Wyo. Summer hours (after The PMWMC is housed in a 30’ x 40’ log building located on 12 acres. Visitors will ofMemorial Day): ten find domesticated descendants of Pryor Monday-Saturday, Mountain wild horses on the property for from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. immediate viewing. It also offers educational resources, such as DVDs and field trips, as well as souvenirs and gifts. Visitors wishing to view the wild horses are asked to come to the PMWMC, first, where they will be provided with maps and directions to optimal viewing locations. Perhaps the most famous celebrity wild horse from the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range is Cloud, a palomino wild stallion whose life has been chronicled from birth by Emmy awardwinning filmmaker Ginger Kathrens; the documentary aired on PBS’ Nature series. The films, and three books written about Cloud, have imbued him into our imaginations as a living symbol of the pioneering spirit of the West. Due to the popularity of the films and books, Congress designated Cloud as the American West’s “Ambassador for Wild Horses” in 2011. The PMWMC plans to build a 16,000-square-foot building in the future, featuring both permanent and traveling exhibits, as well as a full multimedia center, library, classrooms and a second-level observation deck, providing an elevated view of the Pryor Mountains. A treasured symbol of grace and freedom for generations to come, the Pryor Mountain horses were saved from extinction by enthusiasts committed to preserving their majesty. Share their timeless beauty with your family during your next trek through the Pryor Mountains.

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96 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

March 31, 2014, Americans across the country celebrated

a tradition 138 years in the making.

Mustang Players who made it to the ”SHOW“

They flocked to ball parks, living rooms and sports bars. They ate hot dogs, peanuts and cracker jacks. And they cheered,

More than 100 Major League players have emerged from the Billings Mustangs baseball club, including notable players such as:

George Brett

Kansas City Royals

Adam Dunn

Chicago White Sox

Austin Kearns Miami Marlins

booed and wiggled

Ben Broussard

in their seats,

Keith Lockhart

just to watch their favorite team take the field on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day.

Texas Rangers

San Diego Padres

Aaron Boone Houston Astros

B.J. Ryan

Toronto Blue Jays

Carlos Fisher

Cincinnati Reds

Reggie Sanders Kansas City Royals

With that first pitch, spring officially arrived.

by nick mann

Little League pitcher Michael Fenton is one of approximately 5,000 boys and girls in Montana Little League District 1, which includes both baseball and softball, and is one of the nation’s oldest youth sport organizations.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 97

Baseball has greatly impacted American culture in numerous ways. In 1947, MLB’s Opening Day saw Jackie Robinson take the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. As the first African American player in the Majors his appearance struck a blow against racism across the globe. Over the decades, Opening Day has helped us find a momentary escape from war, world politics and natural disasters. For that one day, every fan experiences the American Dream—the idea that any player, any team has a chance to win it all. In baseball, hope springs eternal.

Take me out to the ball game

It’s hard to beat a balmy summer evening at Dehler Park in downtown Billings, where the Cincinnati Reds affiliate, the Billings Mustangs, play. For many, attending a game is an immersion of familiar sights and sounds, resonating the more carefree years of youth. The green grass of the outfield seems miniscule beneath the towering backdrop of the Rimrocks. The M-U-S-T-A-N-G chant echoes across the stands, moving from section to section. Fans take their eyes off the game long enough to answer the question, “What’s that spell?” or to pose for a picture with Homer, the Since 1948, Cobb Field was home to the Billings Mustangs, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, in addition to American Legion and MSU-Billings baseball teams. The aging stadium was replaced with a new field, Dehler Park, which retains the trademark Billings Rimrocks in the background beyond the outfield.

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Four Major League Players have emerged from Billings American Legion baseball alumni: Jeff Ballard Baltimore Orioles & Pittsburgh Pirates

Dave McNally Baltimore Orioles & Montreal Expos

Joe McIntosh San Diego Padres & Houston Astros

Les Rohr New York Mets

Mustang’s mascot. The crack of the bat and the umpire’s guttural call are as recognizable to fans as their own offspring. Baseball is entrenched as an evanescent summer tradition in Billings.

Root, root for the home team

Organized baseball first arrived in town long before the Mustangs, however. In 1928, the American Legion Baseball team “Billings #4” was formed. As the Magic City expanded, this team split, evolving into the Billings Royals and Billings Scarlets. Many young men dream for a chance to wear the elite jerseys. Although the legion team won just one state championship in its first 20 years, Billings Legion Baseball has become a state powerhouse. Over the past 66 years, the teams have earned a collective 39 state championships. Jeff Ballard, former Scarlet, MLB pitcher and president of Billings American Legion Baseball, notes that baseball and Billings have coincided on the roster for decades. “There’s no doubt that baseball is special here. It goes back to the 1950s and ‘60s, when the Royals were prominent nationally, winning three or four national championships,” he said. One of the biggest players from that era was Dave McNally; he went on to have a prominent major league career, playing all but one of 13 years for the Baltimore Orioles. “The Royals were good, and Dave expounded on that—he gave Billings a baseball identity,” he added. “Every kid in town wanted to be like him.”

Sand lot

Billings’ baseball is steeped generations deep and shows no signs of waning. Montana Little League District 1 encompasses divisions from Red Lodge, to Columbus, to Roundup, to Hardin. Merle Peifer, who has served as district administrator for nearly 35 years, notes that while some kids play travel baseball, the 11-12 age group numbers remain strong. “We see our number drop off right around age 13, but that’s true of all youth sports, not just baseball,” he said. “We consistently average about 4,500-5,000 kids each season with numbers following population trends.” One of the catalysts for baseball’s most recent resurgence in Billings took place in 2011 when the Billings Big Sky All Star Little League team won its regional tournament and advanced to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. To any youth baseball aficionado, Williamsport is mecca. And, for one, brief moment, Billings once again made national headlines.

Top: Rooting for the home team. Bottom: Autographing a program or baseball is an age-old, pre-game baseball tradition that is especially popular with kids.

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the West Regional team from California, this brief dose of limelight opened a lot of eyes in Billings according to Adam Hust, manager of the newly-opened Triple Play Academy and head coach of the Billings Scarlets. That same year, Hust helped lead the Scarlets to a state championship and a shot at making it to the American Legion World Series. Ultimately, the Scarlets lost to a team from Hawaii—an abrupt stop, just one game short of the championship. This result meant that in the same year, two very talented Billings teams were defeated on the national level by teams from warm-weather cities. At that time Hust, along with the entire Billings American Legion Baseball (BALB) organization, recognized the need for baseball players of every level in Billings to have a place to play during the long Montana winter. After a few early attempts at different locations around town, the Triple Play Academy finally found a home at the former Billings Gymnastics School building just off Central Avenue and officially opened in early 2014. The Triple Play Academy is not the only organization in Billings serving the needs of baseballstarved kids. This past January, the Hitters’ Club, which is co-owned by Greg Steffanich and Art LaGaly, hosted a camp for 40 pitchers and 40 catchers between the ages of 9-18, helping them to sharpen their skills and develop their competitiveness. “For more than 15 years we’ve been instilling confidence, consistency and composure in baseball and softball players—that’s our specialty,” said Steffanich, who pitched in the minors for two years. “I love baseball, and you can teach a lot to a kid through the game.” He goes on to explain his philosophical parallels between baseball and life: even though it’s a team game, you can still be alone, you can still be the one who makes the last out or strikes out looking; you still have to pick yourself, and your team, up and try again next inning. Therein, perhaps, stands the eternal attraction to baseball—there’s another strike, another, out, another game. If you work hard, you get another chance.

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The emergence of these new programs and facilities gives evidence to the fact that baseball is as important to the people of Billings now as it was when it first arrived nearly 90 years ago. As our town grows and becomes more diverse, we can count on the game of baseball to grow with it. But, no matter how much the game changes with big business, new rules and technology, there are two words that will undoubtedly stir the blood of our grandchildren just as much as they did our grandparents… Play ball!

For more information about Billings’ baseball organizations, see: billingsmustangs.com • billingsalbaseball.org • tripleplayacademy.org • Hitter’s Club: 651-5407

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Just because the Yellowstone Valley Farmers’ Market doesn’t open until mid-July doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy enjoy fresh spring greens in June.

Get Your Green Going

Dark, green leafy vegetables have always been at the top of nutrition lists, and now they are the darlings of the culinary world as well. The real beauty of kale, collards and Swiss chard is that they actually grow better in cold weather. These leafy greens and their more exotic cousins – like the Japanese greens mitsuba, mibuna and mizuna – can be planted four to six weeks before the last frost. That would be – now!

By Dayle Hayes, MS, RD MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 103

Five Easy Steps to a Springtime Salad There are countless varieties of leaf lettuces, spinach and kale, including organic, heirloom and dwarf. Start with one familiar green – baby spinach, for example – and something a bit more out-of-thebox, like Osaka Mustard greens.

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1. Select the seeds: Go to your usual seed source (online or garden store) and explore the options. There are countless varieties of leaf lettuces, spinach and kale, including organic, heirloom and dwarf. Start with one familiar green – baby spinach, for example – and something a bit more out-of-the-box, like Osaka Mustard greens.

2. Prepare the plot: Read the seed package for best location and soil conditions. Most of these greens do well with less light than a summer garden, but they like rich, loose soil. Mix in some homemade or purchased compost if you can.

3. Plant the greens: If you have children, this is a perfect way to enjoy family time. A basic tenet of kid nutrition is if they grow it, they will eat it. Let them dig around the dirt and plant their own seeds in whatever "messy" way they like.

4. Harvest tender leaves: You can pick your greens early and often – and there is no need to harvest a whole plant at once unless you need to thin a row. Pick outer layers, one at a time, giving inner leaves more time to grow.

5. Toss lightly: Steer away from heavy salad dressings. Delicate greens from the garden do best with light, refreshing dressings – and maybe a sprinkling of other veggies, like a few tender peas or slices of colorful (also easy to grow) radishes.

Online helper:

Need more in-depth advice? If you are a first-time gardener or new to greens, you may want to do a little bit of homework online before choosing and planting your salad garden. Montana State University Extension, at www.msuextension.org, has a treasure trove of yard and garden publications, including guides, fact sheets and weather data by county. When in doubt, you can always use your favorite search engine to learn about the differences between Lacinato and Red Russian Kale – or any other gardening question under the sun.

Dressing with a light touch When it comes to getting "dressed," gardenfresh greens benefit from a light touch. Citrus flavors always pair nicely with leafy salads – adding zest to dark greens without masking their natural deliciousness. My go-to dressing is frequently a version of this classic from a 2004 Cooking Light magazine. It holds up nicely and is perfect for chopped veggie salad as well.

Combine ingredients, whisking them together gently. Possible substitutions include red grapefruit juice for orange and lemon for lime, as well as rice or white wine vinegar. You can never go wrong with adding a teaspoon of minced garlic or shallots or a few drops of truffle oil.

More ways to use your greens When it comes to veggies, the experts agree: Enjoying 1/2 to 1 cup of nutrient-rich leafy greens every day is a super smart nutrition decision. Greens are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, plus they may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers.

Citrus Vinaigrette: 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 ½ teaspoons olive oil 2 teaspoons honey 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar ¼ teaspoon salt Freshly-ground black pepper

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Chop leafy greens into a stir-fry. Almost any vegetable works great in a stir-fry, especially when combined with thin slices of lean beef, pork, chicken or tofu. Chopped leafy greens, such as spinach, kale and various Chinese cabbages, are the perfect addition to stir-fried dishes. Since leafy veggies cook quickly at high heat, add them just before serving. Soups are another easy way to enjoy leafy green vegetables. Flavorful varieties, such as mustard greens, beet greens and kale, are especially good in bean and lentil soups. Greens also cook quickly in hot liquids, so chop them into medium-sized pieces and add 10 minutes before serving. A few greens can really jazz up canned soups as well. Roll leafy greens into a sandwich wrap. Start with a tortilla or pita bread. Choose some protein (tuna or chicken salad, sliced turkey, or roast beef, cheese, etc.). Then, add a layer of leafy greens. Baby spinach and arugula are great greens for wraps. They’re also really tasty on top of pizza (toss lightly with olive oil or lemon juice and serve). Steam or sauté leafy greens into a side dish. Fresh leafy greens can quickly be made into a delicious side for any meal. Steam and season with a little lemon juice; sauté with garlic or green onions; or microwave for 2 minutes and top with a little olive oil. For additional flavor, sprinkle lightly with cheese (feta, blue or gorgonzola) or chopped nuts (almonds, pecans or walnuts).

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The Class of 2014

This spring, approximately 2,000 area students will walk across the stage wearing their mortarboard cap and gown to receive their high school diplomas. It is a rite of passage into adulthood. For most, it is a small step in their grand plan.

For others, however, that little scroll of paper represents so much more. We share their stories here. You will know when to applaud.

b y b R I T TA N Y C R E M E R

a LLY N H U LT E N G

B R E N D A M AAS

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Not Your Average Joe

New tune

Briana Price Skyview High School By Allyn Hulteng i pHOTO BY lARRY mAYER

One of the gang

Joe Zimmer Senior High School By Brenda Maas

With her megawatt smile and sweet, effervescent personality, it’s hard to imagine Briana Price as anything but a bubbly 18-year-old who’s about to graduate. But Brianna’s story could easily have gone a very different, dark direction. “As a freshman, I wanted to fit in so bad,” Briana said. “I started hanging out with kids who were drinking and taking drugs. They told me that to fit in their group I had to, too.”

beforehand. Then it just hit me: I said ‘I can’t do this anymore,’ and I told my friend, ‘it’s either me or alcohol.’”

Photo by Bob Zellar

Pressure point

Above and beyond He has the

Dark descent Briana quickly spiraled down into a world filled with alcohol and marijuana. Her grades plummeted. “I didn’t care about school, I just wanted to party,” she said. By the end of her sophomore year, Briana was more than a year behind in credits, and her ability to graduate was almost unrecoverable.

School support

The music in her Before high school, Briana had

been a strong student. She is also an immensely talented musician. “My grandparents got me started taking piano lessons at age 8,” she said. “I also play the violin and guitar, take voice lessons and compose my own music.”

About face

Briana’s love of music led to a desire to become a music educator, but that dream was rapidly disappearing. The reality of her situation became clear at the end of her sophomore year. “I had basically blown off two years of high school and was really far behind,” she said. Briana recalls the day she made a 180-degree turnaround. “I was going to the fair with my friend, and we stopped by a party

Briana says most parents would be shocked at how easy it is to get drugs and alcohol in high school. “One phone call,” she said. “The kids all know who to go to.” And, she noted that peer pressure is as strong as it has ever has been. “They say, ‘hey – we’re good people, join us,’ but they’re really not.”

With the help of her orchestra teacher, Mr. Gilstrap, Briana entered the Options program at the Career Center. She also stopped partying and hanging around with kids who did. “I didn’t worry about losing friends. I figured if they really were my friends, they would help me.” Most of the old party group no longer speaks to Briana. “It makes me sad, but the old me is gone. That’s not who I am anymore.”

On to her dream

Sober for more than a year, Briana is still working to repair the trust that was broken with her mother and family. “It’s better, but I really hurt my mom. We still have a ways to go,” she said. And she had to work very hard to make up one and a half years of schoolwork in a single semester. But with graduation just a couple of weeks away, Briana is now joyfully focused on her future. “When I picked up my cap and gown, my mom and I just cried,” she said.

makings of the All-American Teen. Joe Zimmer is a three-sport, outstanding athlete. His photo is often on the front page of The Billings Gazette’s sports section. He maintains a high GPA, including honors classes. Many would love to dislike him—he makes it all look so easy. For the average Joe, that would be enough. But that’s not Joe Zimmer.

The little guys It is the things he

does both in and out of the arena that differentiates Joe. He notices when a fellow player seems down and verbally picks him up, singling him out for encouragement. He’s the first guy at practice, pumping up the others. He goes out of his way to make everyone, not just his teammates, feel equally valued. All that, while quietly focusing on his own goals, his own selfimprovement.

Living example “Joe is simply an exceptional human being,” shared Senior High Principal Dennis Holmes. “He goes out of his way to accept, encourage and motivate everyone.” Holmes shares this example: Matt Hanes is Senior’s football team manager—an often thankless job. But every day, Joe makes a point of greeting Matt and thanking him for bringing water, for doing tasks that are often taken for granted, for being part of the team. “That’s just the way Joe is—plain and simple,” said Holmes. High achiever Hard work and

dedication, the mantra of athletes everywhere, is not lost on Zimmer. “Sports create character and hold you accountable,” Joe says, “It teaches you what it means to be part of something that is bigger than yourself.” He wanted to be like the Torii Hunter, former outfielder for the Minnesota Twins. Yet, he says, “I’m not the most physically gifted kid out there; I’ve had to work to make myself a better athlete.”

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su mmer fun! More than a W“ When people

look at your team, they look at win and loss stats. But you can win by getting the most out of everything you do,” he says. “Sports have taught me to remember both the fun and the big mistakes, but I also remember when I took a risk and the good that resulted.”

Pursuing excellence Head Senior

football coach, Chris Murdoch credits Joe’s intensity for his outstanding performances in the classroom and on the field. “He’s so dang competitive,” said Murdoch. “There are not many who want to be excellent; they would rather sit back and just be average, but Joe pursues excellence.” Murdoch calls Joe a natural encourager, a servant and

strong believer in the power of ‘extra.’ “I get real intense,” Joe said. “Others see my passion, and I hope that encourages them. Part of the downfall of our society is that people are satisfied with what is and don’t go beyond that.”

Leaving a mark After graduation,

Joe will attend Whitman College and play his favorite sport, baseball while he decides on a final educational direction. Regardless where he goes, Joe is the type of person who believes in, and lives, the positive life for both himself and for others. “People have told me that I’m a leader, and I like that I can influence others,” said Joe. “To not help, to be alone, is an empty life.”

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world power

Daniel Nyiang Laurel High School By Allyn Hulteng photo by larry Mayer

Life in a war zone Daniel Nyiang was born in the village of Wau in Sudan. At the time, the country was in a prolonged civil war, and Daniel’s parents worried for the safety of their five sons. “Young boys were frequently kidnapped and trained to be children soldiers,” Daniel said. When he was 7 years old, Daniel’s family fled to Cairo, Egypt, to live with distant relatives. One year later they immigrated to the U.S.

core strength

Libby harris Billings Central Catholic High School By Allyn Hulteng i pHOTO BY lARRY mAYER

Full of promise By all appearances, Libby Harris has the world by the tail. Beautiful, with a dazzling smile and a confident manner, the petite young woman speaks excitedly about her plans to attend St. Thomas University in the fall. “My brother attends St. Olaf in Northfield, Minn., which isn’t too far away,” she said. Libby and her brother share a special bond. “Our parents divorced when we were young, and we grew very close through that experience.” Scholar and athlete An excellent student,

Libby’s parents also required their children take part in other school activities. “I tried a lot of different things. In the fifth grade I started playing soccer and just loved the sport,” Libby said. In her freshman year, Libby expanded her scholastic experience by participating in speech and debate. “I discovered that policy debate was one of my favorite things,” she said.

Life throws a curve ball

As a youngster, Libby was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition which causes the spine to curve. In 2012, she experienced a significant growth spurt over a period of just two months, which exacerbated the condition. “I could literally see the curve in my spine,” she said. “It was crooked and painful; I felt so self-conscious.”

Grim news

With her back worsening, Libby was forced to give up soccer. X-rays showed that the curve was too severe to be helped by a brace, but it hadn’t reached 45 degrees (which would have made Libby a candidate for surgery). Several months later, Libby visited a specialist in St. Louis. “By then my back had gotten even worse. The doctors recommended surgery,” Libby said. But surgery would come at a high price. “I was

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warned that it would be a very painful recovery, and I would have to give up all physical activities for at least a year,” she said. “And… I would shrink in height … a lot.”

Grit and determination

In October of her junior year, Libby underwent a seven-hour operation during which surgeons attached titanium rods along both sides of her spine, attempting to straighten it as much as possible. A 4.0 student, the procedure kept her out of school for four full weeks. “I was taking a very heavy course load, including AP biology and Spanish III. Between heavy pain medication and lost time, it was really hard to catch up and maintain my grades,” she recalled.

Supportive community While she was in St. Louis and after her return to Billings, Libby felt incredibly supported by her friends and the teachers at Central High. “Maya Arce, one of my best friends, organized a bunch of people to write letters to me in St. Louis,” she said. “That helped me realize just how many caring people I have in my life.” Wisdom earned Three months after

her surgery, Libby and her policy debate partner won the state competition. “It was such a great moment,” she said. She also caught up on all of her missed schoolwork and will graduate with a 3.96 GPA. “I grew from this experience,” she said. “When I was struggling with my self-confidence, I looked to surgery to fix the problem. What I learned was not to let a physical challenge or anything else take away from my self-worth.”

Far from home The Nyiang family settled in Spokane, Wash. where Daniel and his brothers started learning to speak, read and write English. “I speak four languages: Arabic, Dinka, Swahili and English,” Daniel said. “English is by far the most difficult to learn.” Finding roots When Daniel was a sophomore in high school, he followed his older brother to Laurel, Mont., so that the older sibling could help tutor Daniel in English. Shortly afterward, his brother decided to return to Spokane; Daniel opted to stay. By then, Daniel was enrolled in Laurel High School and playing on the basketball team. “I loved playing basketball. My coach, Pat Hansen, offered to let me stay with his family. I was really close friends with Seth Kraft, and eventually I moved in with the Kraft family,” said Daniel. Bounty from the earth

Lori and Brad Kraft, along with their kids Seth and Anna, introduced Daniel to life on a farm. Eager to learn, Daniel found himself enjoying the routine. “I learned to irrigate,

set water, and how to show pigs at the fair,” he said. One of the pigs Daniel sold at MontanaFair was purchased by a person who donated the pig back to Daniel to breed. “I ended up raising 11 piglets!” he laughed.

Higher ground Dealing with adversity is something Daniel knows all too well. “Egyptians are very disrespectful of people with darker skin. When we lived there we went to private school and we had to dress a certain way. The kids did not like us at all. We would get spat on; that’s just how it was,” Daniel recalls. That resilience would prove important when Daniel tore his ACL playing basketball and needed to sit out a season to heal. And it was invaluable the following year when he tore his other ACL requiring a second surgery. Eye on the prize

For Daniel, the immersion into American culture was also a lesson in the differences between how young people are raised. “I like America, but sometimes I see kids who are spoiled. My parents taught us to learn self-discipline and to do things on our own. Those lessons help you grow as a person,” he said.

Removing a barrier

Because of the complexity of the English language, Daniel struggled in the classroom. One of the teachers took note and took Daniel under her wing. “Miss Smith teaches English as a Second Language. She came to me and said, ‘Daniel, let’s set a goal and get you caught up on your credits and grades.’” Smith worked with Daniel daily, explaining, drilling and testing until Daniel could write and speak correctly. “Miss Smith is the reason I’m here, ready to graduate,” he said.

An appreciative soul

“I am so thankful for what everybody has done for me – the Thompsons, the Hansens and the Krafts plus all my teachers,” Daniel said. “What people have done is really, really big – I don’t know how to thank them, but I hope someday I can.”

Future focused

After graduation, Daniel hopes to study business in college, starting at a two-year school so he can play basketball and then transferring to a fouryear institution. “One day when I am older I would like to live in Sudan part of the time and in the U.S. part of the time,” he said. “But I will always come back to Laurel – this town has done so much for me.”

Ambassador for Tolerance

Tyler Starkweather sKYVIEW hIGH sCHOOL

By brittany Cremer i photo by JAMES WOODCOCK

Out of the darkness On April 17, 2010, Tyler Starkweather, a high school freshman, attempted suicide. Shouldering the stress, name calling and bullying for being openly gay in high school became too much. “The bullying really began in the 5th grade when I realized I was gay and started hearing derogatory terms and insults flying around during everyday conversations. People would say words like ‘fag’ and ‘that’s gay’ like it was nothing.” Small minds While attending a nearby

rural high school, Tyler was repeatedly told things like “you’re going to hell” and would get shouldered in the hallway. “I just wanted to feel normal and be accepted, but that wasn’t happening,” Tyler said. With just six weeks before the end of his freshman year, Tyler’s parents pulled him out of school and transferred him to Skyview High School.

Into the light “My sophomore year was a

bit hazy,” Tyler said. “I was still depressed and had a relapse with cutting. But the guidance counselor brought my parents in to formulate a recovery plan, and it probably saved my life.”

Change-maker By the end of Tyler’s sophomore year, he had overcome his battle with depression and began focusing his energies on causes near and dear to his heart. He started the

Gay-Straight Alliance at Skyview, which promotes tolerance, is actively involved in TAG, a teen advisory group at Billings Public Library and is a member of CAP, Exxon Mobil’s community advisory board in Billings. Tyler is also an advocate for the Out of the Darkness Walk, which raises awareness for suicide prevention.

A shining example “We are so fortunate to have had Tyler attend Skyview,” said principal Deb Black. “He has found his niche here and has shown us how to be more accepting and open to others.”

Sage advice To other youngsters dealing

with difficulty fitting in because of their sexual orientation or those battling depression, Tyler offers these words of wisdom: “Talk to someone—online, on the phone, a friend, a counselor—just make sure it’s someone you trust. When you get older, you’ll realize that you’re not stuck in a small classroom with a bully who calls you names just because you are different.”

Political passion In the fall, Tyler plans

to attend college at the University of Baltimore and study political science. “I’ve always wanted to work for the UN, and the University of Baltimore is close to Washington D.C.,” he said. Tyler wants to affect real change in the world and aspires to be “the first publically gay Republican politician.”

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 111

Graduating for Two

Tesha Williams Senior High school

By Brenda Maas i Photo by James Woodcock

Moving target Since 8th grade, Tesha Williams has attended four different schools. “I’ve had my share of obstacles,” noted the 18-year-old. “I moved a lot and lost credit.” Although she was raised mainly in Arizona, her mother re-located to Montana when Tesha was in middle school. “The reservations in Arizona are very different than the ones in Montana,” she noted. Falling down The transition was plagued

with difficulties. During her sophomore year in Lodge Grass, Tesha’s mother, who had fallen into a drug addiction, was sentenced to prison. Tesha found herself alone and pregnant. “I tried to make things work with his dad,” said Tesha of her son’s father. “He was abusive; I put up with it for about a year, but I lost all love and respect for him. I had to leave.”

Student + 1 High school is fraught with

obstacles for every student—classes, peers, extracurricular activities, jobs. But for a 15-year-old with a “little person” in tow, they can seem beyond scalable. Tesha attended Senior High and couch-surfed. “I lived off of friends; I felt like we had no place to go. But I had to do something for myself, for us.” Tesha found a landing spot, and the support she and son Armando needed, first with the YWCA’s Gateway House and then at Young Families Early Head Start in Billings. With guidance, she became more independent.

On her own The teachers and staff at

Senior High, Young Families counselors, her “house mother” at Harmony House, her extended family—they all influenced Tesha’s choices. “They believe in me here at Senior,” Tesha said. “I emancipated myself. It was hard to leave his dad, but it allowed me to be recognized as an adult, to be financially independent, to make my own decisions.”

Mentors and motivators Tesha cites

many women as mentors, starting with her mother, who has turned her own life around. She’s also credits teachers, counselors and her recruiter. “When I enlisted in the Army, I gained a whole new family. If I needed a ride to school, my teacher, Mrs. McCarthy would help me. Ms. Tesh, another teacher, took me out to dinner to celebrate when I returned to school.” The positives started stacking up and became contagious.

Graduation matters “I have a lot of

friends who have dropped out of school, mostly because they were pregnant,” Tesha noted of her quest to graduate. “Anyone can get a GED, but you have to earn your diploma. When my son gets older I want to show him my Senior High diploma. I want to be a person that my son can be proud to call Mom.”

Stay the course After graduation, Tesha will move back to Arizona and continue with the National Guard, completing her basic training. Once she and Armando are settled, she plans to continue her education. “I feel like God’s blessed me with tragedies and good things. I’ve had so many things try to knock me down, and I'm still here. I’m still going to graduate.”

Action hero

Ryder Gerberding Billings Central Catholic High School By Allyn Hulteng Photo by larry mayer

Enthusiasm incarnate

When Ryder Gerberding walks into the room, you know it. A lanky young man with tousled blond hair and riveting blue eyes, he is energy and enthusiasm incarnate. In conversation you quickly learn that Ryder is one of the most positive individuals you will ever meet. The fact that he is missing part of one arm and hand almost goes unnoticed – almost.

Under his own steam “I was born missing part of one arm,” Ryder shared. “My mom felt it was somehow her fault. It was very difficult for my dad, too.” When Ryder started crawling, his mom took him to the Shriner’s hospital where he was fitted with a prosthetic. “I would tear the thing off, toss it away and start crawling again as if saying, ‘I don’t need that.’ My mom said that was the moment she saw the light and knew I was going to be OK,” he said. A mother’s love

Ryder’s parents divorced when he was very young. His father moved to Wyoming, and Ryder stayed in Laurel with his mom and four siblings. “My mom has been the most inspirational, motivational person. She always told me ‘you can do it – nothing can get in your way,'" he said.

Hard knocks “Middle school was the roughest

time for me. Some of the bullies called me names like ‘chicken wing’ and worse,” said Ryder. The youngster steeled himself. “I told myself I can’t let them get to me, or mean people will beat me down the rest of my life. So I brushed it off and showed them that their taunts couldn’t do anything to me. Eventually they quit.”

Game on In second grade Ryder started playing basketball. “Basketball was my true love. It gave me the ability to show everyone what I’m really made of,” he said. Because other players naturally had more versatility, Ryder worked harder, and put in more hours to earn respect on the court. In the ninth grade Ryder transferred to Billings Central Catholic High School. “I felt I had a better shot at playing basketball at Central, and maybe a better social and academic experience,” Ryder said. Wing men “I didn’t know anyone at Central, and

for the first two weeks I felt like an outsider,” said Ryder. Four other freshman took note of the new

112 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Defying the Odds

Jadessa Maisel Senior High School By Brenda Maas Photo by James Woodcock

Survivor “She’s one who never should

have made it. But she did.” That’s what legal guardian, Misty Dawley, said of Jadessa Maisel, who will graduate from Billings Senior High in a couple of weeks. But it has been a long, thorny road.

Destructive childhood Fragmented home

student, and then they took action. “Ben Bruner, James Morgan, Alex Fitzgerald and Niko Cordero took me under their wing. We’ve been best friends ever since,” he added.

Life through the viewfinder “I definitely want to study

film,” Ryder said, noting that he wrote and produced his first film this year for one of his classes. “The film is about a struggling male who comes from an unsteady household and attempts to find his true inner self,” he said. “Actually, a lot of the story line reflects me in my childhood.”

Game plan Though Ryder is committed to going to college to pursue a degree in film, he is equally committed to financial security. “After graduation, I plan to move to Wyoming to work in the oil fields,” Ryder said. “It will give me a chance to avoid having huge student loan debt, and also reconnect with my dad. I think it’s the responsible thing to do.”

hardly defines Jadessa’s upbringing. “My entire life my parents were violent alcoholics,” Jadessa matter-of-factly said. She attended seven schools, including two in Great Falls. She bounced from mother to relative to step-dad. In her tweens, she left the house during parental rages; her mother reported her as a runaway. In later years Jadessa would couch-surf, sleeping at friends’ houses, even without their parents knowing.

Drifting “I never had a chance to make

friends, to bond, when I was younger,” she said of growing up with no roots. “By middle school, I was pretty reclusive and was part of the deviant crowd—they were more accepting of someone who was into self-harm.”

Her norm Drugs, alcohol, depression, parental abandonment, self-cutting—she experienced each, first-hand, by her junior year. When she was 16, Jadessa

overdosed on prescription pills as a means to escape her painful existence. She could have easily turned into a statistic, very easily could have fallen into the dark hole of society that has no bottom.

From the edge Yet it was, ironically, the suicidal death of her stepsister that pulled Jadessa from that indefinite void. “When she realized that what happened to her sister could have happened to her—she was almost there herself—that was a huge reality check,” noted Jadessa’s counselor, Pam Johnson. “Everything was going to shit— that’s when it happened,” Jadessa recalled of her wake-up call. “I knew her my whole life, and I should have been able to help her—my sister never got the chance I did.”

Motivation When she hit bottom

and reached out, help was there. A key element, according to Jadessa, was choosing to severe herself from her mother; she gained guidance in several mentors, including her new guardians, Misty and Floyd Dawley. “There are times when Jadessa would be at the school at 7 a.m. She knew this was a safe place,” Johnson said of the help available at Senior High and via Tumbleweed. “She is such a resilient young woman and when she walks across that stage to receive her diploma, it will mean so much.” “I told myself that I was going to prove everyone wrong,” Jadessa said. “I don’t want to play the blame game. You have to want something and not take the easy way out.”

Forged by fortitude

Through all of her challenges, Jadessa maintained her grades, including honors math, and her position in the school orchestra. She plans to attend Montana State University Billings to study psychology with goals of becoming a college professor in that discipline. “It’s perfect for her,” noted Johnson. “This is a young lady who has bounced around, on her own, with no family support (until recently) and pulled it together. She got herself here, and she’s looking at the next step. It doesn’t stop here.”

Good Medicine

Katie Bumgarner SKYVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

By brittany Cremer i photo by JAMES WOODCOCK

Early obstacles On a family trip to Great Falls, 8-year-old Katie Bumgarner suddenly began to experience dizziness, extreme thirst and frequent bathroom breaks. Doctors soon diagnosed Katie with diabetes, informing her that she would require the use of an insulin pump for the rest of her life. “I remember hearing the news and feeling terrified,” she said. This wouldn’t be the last time Katie would hear bad news from her doctor.

Exit, stage left When Katie was a junior in

high school, she mysteriously fell ill. Her stomach began to bloat, she felt constantly nauseous, dizzy and exhausted. Completing a full school day soon became impossible, and Katie had to drop to half days. In the midst of this, Katie was starring in the school musical and had no understudy. “I was so weak, so tired, but wasn’t about to let my friends down,” Katie said. “I still remember going on stage to do my parts then collapsing at the side of the stage into my mom’s arms. My mom literally held me up in between acts and nudged me back on stage when it was time to go back on.”

Searching for answers Unsure about what

was causing her illness, Katie saw a handful of specialists and was X-rayed, scoped and scanned for clues. Finally, a gastroenterologist diagnosed Katie with Eosoinophilic Esophagitis, a parasite that was basically causing the white blood cells in Katie’s throat to attack everything she tried to eat—denying her proper nutrition. A naturopathic doctor also discovered Katie was lactose intolerant and had Celiac disease. “In total, I take seven different pills three times a day in addition to

drops and vitamins,” she said.

A quick study Despite missing a significant portion of her junior and senior year due to illness, Katie’s grades remained exemplary. “Katie is a fighter,” said Skyview principal Deb Black. “Despite a number of medical issues, she works hard to be the best student, actress and musician she can be.” A mother’s love Katie credits her parents

and especially, her mom, for her strength and fortitude. “My mom is my role model,” Katie said. “She’s been through extensive surgeries, has chronic back pain, works fulltime as a teacher and never complains. She’s brought me more hope and strength than she’ll ever know.”

Mighty mindset Katie continues to manage her diabetes and other ongoing health issues, but said that setting small goals has allowed her to forge ahead. “There are days I wake up and don’t want to get out of bed, but then I tell myself ‘just make it through your first class.’ After I tackle that, I tell myself ‘just make it to noon.’ I do that for myself, one class at a time, one day at a time.” Encore! Encore! Katie’s future plans include

attending the University of Montana-Western in Dillon this fall to study music and theater. “I love to sing. My heart is in music, and their small campus and block scheduling fits my needs,” Katie said. Inspiring others who might be experiencing their own health difficulties is Katie’s ultimate goal. “The key is finding joy and hope in the things you can do, and do them well.”

Complete 180

Breanna Beddes West High School

By brittany Cremer photo by JAMES WOODCOCK

Mental toughness Perseverance takes physical form in Breanna Beddes. Formerly entrenched in an addiction to alcohol, Breanna never lost sight of her goal: to be the first person in her family to graduate high school. Living on her own since 17 and holding down a full-time job, Breanna shouldered the stress and responsibilities of adults twice her age. Still, her steely resolve and inner strength pushed her forward. A heartbeat away from being a dropout, this humble and hardworking young woman now has her sights set on college—and beyond. The turning point For Breanna, the first two years

of high school year were a flurry of parties and drinking with older friends. Truancy was becoming a problem, and the former middle school honor student soon found herself in jeopardy of dropping out. Breanna said. Her “ah-ha” moment came after she got called to the principal’s office after a weeklong bender. “I was in a scary place. I didn’t care about anything and felt nothing. That moment embarrassed me enough to wake up.” Realizing she was putting her future in serious jeopardy, Breanna made the choice to abstain from alcohol.

Alliance of self Revamping her life meant changing

friends, routines, even living arrangements. In addition to being a full-time student, Breanna works 30 to 35 hours a week, splits rent with a roommate, pays bills, cooks her own meals and recently purchased a new truck. “I completely depend on myself, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

114 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Persistent pupil To make up credit and time she’d lost her freshman and sophomore year, Breanna

Modern Day Warrior

Reed Tomochichi Lone Fight West High School

By brittany cremer i photo by JAMES WOODCOCK

Roots and wings Strength, infinite patience and wisdom manifest themselves in 18-yearold Reed Tomochichi Lone Fight, who struggled during his youth to ward of bullies and drug users on the Fort Washakie Indian Reservation in Wyoming. “The reservation was a crazy, chaotic place,” Reed said. “Drug and alcohol use were rampant, some kids would even smoke meth in the bathroom at school, and others would huff on the bus on the way to school. Some days you’d have to defend yourself just to not end up in the hospital. It was not a glamorous place.” Family bond Reed was fortunate in that his

family—strong and supportive—was always there to offer an ear or shoulder to lean on. “My parents and grandparents emphasized the importance of an education and gave me the tools to be a leader,” he said. “Too often people forget that to lead, you also need to listen.”

attended summer school and later entered West High’s Grad Point program, which meant extending her school day and taking extra classes. “I always knew Breanna was bright and capable,” said Kim Petersen, Breanna’s guidance counselor. “But there was something about her…something intangible that made me know she’d succeed.” Breanna credits Ms. Petersen with nudging her in the right direction and thanks her for taking a vested interest in her success. Ms. Petersen says the credit should rest squarely on Breanna’s shoulders because “her results were in actions, my motivation was only words.”

Culture clash Reed soon distinguished himself as one of the brightest students in his class on the reservation, but then his family pulled up stakes and moved to Bozeman his freshman year. With few cultural outreach programs available and a sizable curriculum disparity, Reed saw his grades sinking—quickly. “I went from being the top male student at Fort Washakie to seriously struggling with my classes. No one, but my family, was there to help me.” Rise above With a transcript filled with failing and below-average grades, it would have been easy for Reed to fold when his family moved to Billings during his junior year. Instead,

the resilient teen dug in. With the help of supportive teachers and staff at West High, Reed excelled academically and has even earned nine credits of college courses. “Giving up was never an option—my parents and siblings made sure of that.”

Change-maker Flourishing at West High, Reed spearheaded a school-sponsored Native American group, a concept that didn’t find any traction in Bozeman. He also serves on a statewide student advisory board, selected by State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Denise Juneau. The group focuses on solutions to lower student dropout rates. “I’m involved in activities that feed my mind and my soul.” Steadfast and spirited “Reed has the ability not only to overcome life’s challenges, but to turn them into learning experiences,” said Reed’s high school guidance counselor, Lori Townsend. “He makes the most of his opportunities and is continually looking for ways to improve himself as he prepares for the future.” This attitude fuels Reed’s outlook on life—to search your heart for what you want, surround yourself with positive support and never give up. Paying it forward A career in guidance counseling with an emphasis on psychology is on Reed’s radar. He will attend the University of Montana in the fall and is eager to use his enthusiasm and skills to help others. “After all I’ve been through, I want to give back and help people on the reservation,” Reed said. “I want to be that person who makes a difference.”

Walking the walk Breanna was able to support and motivate one of her younger siblings to hit the books and get serious about school. “When my younger brother was in middle school, he asked me ‘How did you do it?’” she said. “He later told me that if I wouldn’t have shown him, he never would have made it.” Breanna also participates as a student mentor in West High’s Academic Success program, designed for at-risk kids who find themselves in bad situations. “I show them that if they’re struggling or feeling like they can’t make it, things can get better. They have the power inside.” Cap and gown “My end goal has always been to

graduate,” Breanna said, “but I don’t feel like it’s something I should be praised for. It’s a test you need to complete, and I did it.” Just days away from graduation, Breanna is not only passing her classes, but she’s getting A’s and B’s. Ms. Petersen said that she is every bit as proud of Breanna as she is of her valedictorians. “In fact, I can truly say that in my seven years of doing this job, there are few students who have impressed me more. Now I have to say goodbye to her, and that will be hard.”

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 115

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”Br a nding“ Your self for

success It’s only a job if you treat it that way. The privilege to choose our work, control our decisions and create our own success is something worth cherishing. Today’s workplace is more flexible and full of possibilities than ever before. “Individuals now have the ability to really consider what they can do and create new options for their careers,” said Ann L. Clancey, Ph.D., president of Clancy Consultants, Inc. “It’s more of an entrepreneurial mindset; less fitting in and more defining your own place.

BY MICHELLE WILLI A MS MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 117

The key to this, however, is having a positive mindset and focusing on the

possibilities rather than the challenges. “How you think about your future impacts your success,” Clancey says. “If you don’t create a vision of where you want to be, you’ll stay in the exact place you are.” Personal brand=professional career

Regardless of age, position, industry or long-term goals, all of us need to understand and value the importance that our personal brand has on our professional careers. In an economy driven by connections, we know more people, have access to more resources and can leverage our skills at a higher level than ever before. This has made our attention spans incrementally shorter due to the overload of communication clutter. Meaning, in order to stand out from the crowd and attract the attention of hiring managers and recruiters, you need to need to be unique, creative and authentic. Are you one of a kind or one in a million? From this moment forward, you are now the CEO of your own company: YOU, Inc. And to be successful in this business, you must manage and develop your brand.

More than a feeling

A personal brand isn’t a logo. It’s a promise, an ex

pectation and a feeling people get when they see you, read about you or hear your name. This also includes the perception people have when they find you on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. From the coffee cup you carry to the tone of your voice, perspective employers will instantly make assumptions about your quality and value as a new hire. If you’re smart, you’re constantly developing your skills. Honing your abilities, paying attention to the world around you and figuring out how to distinguish yourself from others walking around in the positions you want. The challenge (and what people often forget to consider) is what it takes to create a distinctive role for YOU. Start by considering these questions: What makes you different? What do you do better than anyone else? What can you say about yourself that no one else can compete with? What is interesting or unique about how you achieve results?

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The most impactful statement of my career came from a former supervisor who said: “I work for myself, not the company.” I’m not implying that you use company resources solely for your personal benefit. What I’m proposing is a new way of thinking about growth and career advancement. After all, everything you do to grow YOU, Inc. still benefits the company you work for, the projects you lead and the customers you delight. As long as you’re delivering great results, it’s good for YOU and it’s great for the company. In any job, you have opportunities to learn, try new things, experience new ideas, meet new people and fail at new projects. Every bit of this is good and necessary to excel in the workforce. By learning, trying and failing, you gain priceless experience, knowledge and insight of which others may not have access. These are your assets. If you’re going to sell brand YOU,

After all, everything you do to grow YOU, Inc. still benefits the company you work for, the projects you lead and the customers you delight. As long as you’re delivering great results, it’s good for YOU and it’s great for the company.

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you need to promote what you do that adds value and what you can take credit for without competing with anyone else. Consider: What accomplishments can you brag about? What do people compliment you on? Why do colleagues, friends and clients come to you? Take a quick audit of what you’ve done over the past 12 months and catalogue your achievements. Use this to build your new resume. (See Resumes in 2014 on page 122)

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Living legacy Ten years from now, what do you want people to be saying about you? What do you want to be known for? Next, research and select businesses, industries, job positions and achievements that will take you from where you are now to where you want to be. Patricia Reuss, director of career services at MSU Billings recommends, “Draw a target with a bulls eye in the center. Place your most desired companies or job positions in the center and then work outward, placing your second- third-and forth-place companies or job positions in the respective rings.” This will help you organize your research and plan activities. Here are some ideas: LinkedIn: A great resource for networking with peers from your desired industry and mingling with decision-makers in the companies on your target list. Volunteer: Sign up for volunteer projects. This will help you develop skills missing to qualify for your ideal position and help you gain brand advocates, people who value your skills will promote YOU to others. Teach: Being considered an “expert” goes a long way and can increase your standing as a sought after professional. Freelance: Write a column in a local magazine, newspaper or industry publication. Good writing skills are critical as content marketing becomes ever more present in corporate marketing strategies. Network: Your contact list of friends, colleagues, clients and employers is the most important marketing vehicle you have. What they say about you is what the market will ultimately gauge as the value of your brand. As you plan the development path of your career, remember to include a steady

consumption of interesting, challenging and provocative projects that prove your ability to contribute to an organization’s long-term objectives. Businesses, like you, are trying to separate and distinguish themselves from their competition. You’re brand should demonstrate how you can help them achieve this. Extra mile The real value of YOU is your reputational power as an individual. Don’t be a “me too” employee. Butt in seat, smile on your face, you’ve probably got that part nailed. But we’ve moved beyond that now. Showing up on time and doing your job isn’t your job anymore. Your job is to delight, surprise and change the expectations of those you work with. Make them excited that you’re part of the team. Showing up is sufficient but will not sell brand YOU. If you want people to see YOU as a powerful brand, you must act like a credible leader. That means taking on tasks that others don’t want to do. Offering to help before you’re asked for help and looking for ways to fill holes in processes and improve efficiencies. Consider your assets and how you can leverage them to improve workflow. This is your opportunity to venture outside of your comfort zone, forget the ladders and tackle something new in order to build a brand that separates YOU from the competition. No Lie Trust and loyalty are concepts that are also in flux, but still remain major influences when it comes to job placement and your career. We trust people because they showed up when it wasn’t convenient, because they told the truth when it was easier to lie and because they kept a promise when they could have gotten away with breaking it. Every tough time and every pressured project is another opportunity to earn the trust. (Seth Godin, author and professional marketer) Keep in mind that no one talks about the boring, the predictable or the safe. The remarkable ones are those with new ideas, exciting experiences and intriguing thoughts because they challenge us to think beyond our thoughts and push us to embrace what is new. There is no single path to success, and there is no one right way to develop your brand. The only thing you need to do is be true. Be trusted. And start now. YOU are a brand. You are in charge of brand YOU.

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RESUMES IN 2014: O n e si z e d oes n ot fit a l l

Finding the right job is work, and anyone who tells you differently hasn’t truly embraced the concept. This is even more apparent now that job searches involve: Google, applicant tracking systems, online job boards, social media, video bios, networking and infographics. The bottom line is if you follow the traditional formats for writing a resume and submitting job applications, this will only ensure you blend in with thousands of others following the same, outdated methods. In fact, experts now say that applying to job postings should represent no more than 20% of your job search activity. This is because getting referred to a job is 5-10 times more effective than applying directly. When you submit your resume online, a human does not always read it. Resumes are typically scanned first by a computer looking for keywords associated to the company and job posting. If a match is identified it is then passed on to a person for review. The average resume review time has dropped to 6 seconds and recruiters won’t consider candidates who don’t connect with the employers’ problems. Always tailor your resume to fit the job in which you are applying. Think of your resume as a marketing brochure to promote brand YOU. Instead of a static list of titles and positions occupied, your marketing brochure should bring to life the skills you’ve mastered, the projects you’ve delivered and the accomplishments you can take credit for. Remember, once people make a decision about you or your resume, it’s almost impossible for you to persuade them that they were wrong. Take time to understand how a job search has changed, what employers are really looking for and get familiar with the new resources and techniques available for writing and submitting resumes. Here are some things to consider: JOB SEARCH

Research: There are tons of career resources available online and through colleges and local career counselors. Reach out to contacts in your social networks who may work in the field or for the company or target organization. Technology: Become comfortable navigating and working within new technology to research and interact with employers such as social media sites, Skype video conferencing, mobile applications, etc.

Mobile apps: 30 percent of the traffic on both Indeed and CareerBuilder is currently from phones and tablets. Millions of job seekers have downloaded job site apps on their phones, which makes perfect sense.

Interviews: Businesses are becoming more comfortable with video and online interviews to overcome time, travel and budget challenges. Candidates should also try to prepare for more group interviews, responding to a team of interviewers or being one of several candidates in the same session.

Social media: 92 percent of employers use social media in the hiring process. The content of your social profile forms an employer’s first impression before you even sit down for an interview. Use a picture that represents you as a professional, clean up your content and edit pictures accordingly.

Twitter: Recruiters on a low budget can post opportunities for free in this space. Respond with links to your online resumes, portfolios and

122 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

video bios. Twitter is also a good resource for news about companies, industries and tips for job hunting.

Writing samples: Companies are using writing exercises to evaluate candidates. Be prepared to supply past writing samples or complete a writing exercise during an interview. Thank you notes: These are most commonly sent by email, ideally within 24 hours of an interview. Candidates should reference key points from the interview and reiterate the value you would bring to the business. Network: Don’t ignore opportunities to build relationships with your peers and others in your industry via social networking and LinkedIn groups. Volunteer for organizations in your desired industry to gain experience and trusted contacts. RESUMES

Visuals: Resumes will become an aggregation of content, social media and visual graphics. Some already project less content but with more hyperlinks to social media profiles, video bios, alternative contact options, infographics and other online bio bits. Consider what’s appropriate for each new position and company.

LinkedIn: Your profile on this site should complement your resume, not look like a mirror image. It should be more personal, creative and engaging than a resume. Consider including multimedia presentations, projects and videos for a compre-

hensive view of your portfolio.

Accomplishments: Remove any bullet points that start with “Responsible for…” These statements only serve to lump you in with everyone else who possesses a similar background. Each bullet should say something about the challenge you faced, skills or tools you utilized, and what you did to achieve results. Cover letter: Keep it personalized and specific to the company you’re sending it to. Readers know when they receive a mass distribution of your resume and they are rarely impressed. Show you know something about the company and illustrate what you offer that’s unique. Experience: Employers no longer ask: “What is the applicant’s objective?” rather they ask: “How can the skills of this applicant help us achieve our objectives?” Be concise and communicate quantifiable success. The employer is looking for someone who can help them solve specific problems.

Job titles: Titles are changing and merging. If the job is for a marketing manager with a financial background and you applied because as the product engineer, you managed marketing activities and also possess a very strong financial background. The employer browsing your resume may misinterpret the word “engineer” for a technical background. Exchange titles for better descriptions of your achievements to avoid miscommunication and confusion.

Keywords: These are a must. Employ-

ers now use software that searches your resume for specific keywords related to your position. Match keywords in your resume to the job and company you’re applying for.

Resume length: Generally, if you have more than seven years experience, your resume should be two pages. Anything less should be presented on one page.

RESOURCES

Levo Resume, is a free app that enables consumers to generate a specialized, perfectly formatted resume with just a few clicks. The app grabs info from LinkedIn but expects that users will tailor each resume PDF they generate, perhaps even while making rounds at a networking event. Prezi.com: One of the most innovative resume options comes from Prezi (prezi.com) a presentation site that bills itself as a story-telling tool using visual graphics and fun, engaging zoom and fly capabilities. Users can send electronic “Prezumes” as links or a PDF. Google Search: Not everyone goes straight to the online job boards. Many candidates now start their job search on Google. Try it yourself. Go to Google and type in your current job position and city. Almost every time, the job site Indeed will show up high in the results. You should consider this as another resource to complement local classified ad listings, social media and networking.

A GREAT WAY TO START YOUR FATHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAY

june 14, 2014 billings, montana 5K 10K

2 mile health walk

Proceeds Benefit

micromesh T-shirt finish at dehler park montana active life festival (post race) RRCA 5K state championship free team category and picture registration and information

heartandsolerace.org 406.254.7426 Managed by Montana Amateur Sports

Presenting Sponsors Community Sponsors

Contributing Sponsors Major Sponsors

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 123

SEEN AT THE SCENE 3

Simply Elegant Yellowstone AIDS Project

1] 2] 3] 4] 5]

Don Chirstman & Jace Dyckman Lawrence Halvorsen & Regina Crawford Morgan Ditto & Allison Corbyn Robin & Mayor Tom Hanel, Senator Christine Kaufmann Matt Bushey & Theron Beck

1 2

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Bash: 50s Dance Party 6] 7]

Bev Gormley, Judy Johnson, Karin Smith & Lori Johnson Dr. John Burg & Pat Burg

Flat Stanley and the Symphony

8] Mason Davis and Flat Stanley (Tim Marrone) 9] Ben & Riley Fenton & Flat Stanley (Tim Marrone) 10] Sean, Corey, Jackson and Rain Cooper & Flat Stanley (Tim Marrone)

Hello, Dolly!

11] Sonja Hardiman, Ana Rubie, Taylor & Steve Hardiman 12] Ed & Mary Connors

124 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

The Miracle Worker

13] Logan Rodriquez & Wanda VerBeck 14] Ethan, David & Laura Kanes

International Guitar Night

13 16 17

15] Donald & Gail Sweatt 16] Steven & Gwayne Kramer 17] Morgan Krause & Josh Mellin

Comedy beCAUSE

18] Jeff Rosenberry & Julie Seedhouse 19] Rick & Judge Mary Jane Knisely, Bob & Laura Hopkins 20] Halli Borgfjord, Donna Huston & Joshua Florhaug

Brubeck Brothers Quartet’s Tribute to Dave Brubeck

21] Glenda & John Newman 22] Mike & Cheryl Tehle 23] Mary Thielen- Schneider & Joyce Pietz

22 23

West Side Story 24]

Rick Albert, Wendy Davis, Cassie Thompson, Emily Clouse & Julie Kanning

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 125

SEEN SCENE AT THE

West Side Story 25] Don & Linda Ecklund 26] Ed & Bobby Anner-Hughes

Pink Pookie Gala

27] Gayle Young, Sue Agnew, Pat Jaffray, Debbie Sundberg, Janice Wyles & Ann Rollins 28] Sharon Scharosch, Gayle Whittenberg & Karen Page

28 29

Auction 46 Yellowstone Art Museum

29] Robyn Peterson, Bob Durden & Kris Carpenter 30] Rob & Caroline Hunter, Catherine & Jeremiah Young 31] Lisa Berke, Penny Morgan & Jeff Berke 32] Nick Lamb, Robyn Peterson, 31 Linda Ewert & Gary Oakland

Cherish the Ladies 33] Bill & Sally Toner 34] Debbie & Donna Court

Rimrock Auto Group Grand Opening

35] Mitch Morgan 36] Patrick Pringle, Tammy Weisbeck, Jacob Clark, Doug Quast, Zachary Graber, Michael Freeman, Alex Walker, Theresa Baustian & Tony Woolery; front: Jeremy Stiff & Zachary Cardwell

126 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Photo credits: Alberta Bair Theater, Billings Symphony & Chorale, Brandon S. Templeton, Casting for Recovery Steering Committee, Justin Wutzke and Tina Raffael.

SpringFest June 7 Moss Mansion Museum For more than 25 years, the Moss Mansion Historic House Museum, rich in history and culture, has hosted SpringFest, celebrating the transition from spring into summer. The country-fair atmosphere features arts and craft vendors, food concessions, live entertainment and a kids’ corner with carnival-style games to entertain the young—all on the beautiful park-like grounds of Moss Mansion at 914 Division St., located in the heart of Billings.

May 15 Artistic Expressions with Loren Entz Western Heritage Center ywhc.org

International Museum Day – Free Admission Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

MAY

May 2-30 Artists’ Summer Kickoff Exhibition Red Lodge Clay Center redlodgeclaycenter.com

May 2-17 Chemical Imbalance Billings Studio Theatre billingsstudiotheatre.com

May 10 Montana Women’s Run Downtown Billings womensrun.org Diversity Dance – Imagine Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org

AKC Obedience /Rally Trials White Aspen Ranch yvkc.org

May 11 Mother’s Day – Specialty Tea Moss Mansion Museum mossmansion.com Rock Sirenz Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org

June 1

“Perspectives on Surrealism and Gender” by Dr. Patricia Vettel-Becker Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

The Exquisite Corpse and Other Surrealist Parlor Games Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

May 17 School of Classical Ballet – Steps on Stage

May 23

Kenny Rogers Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org

Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org

Fam at the YAM: Friday Family Fun Night Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

Food for Thought Billings Public Library billingslibraryfoundation.org

Three Horse Series

May 24-25

Super Barn at MetraPark metrapark.com

Heritage Home Tour

All-Breed Open and Arabian Horse Show Super Barn at MetraPark metrapark.com

Moss Mansion Museum mossmansion.com

May 25

MSU Billings Foundation Wine & Food Festival winefoodfestival.com

Montana Women’s Expo Montana’s Got Talent! Night on the Katwalk Montana Pavilion at MetraPark metrapark.com

May 14

May 18

Special Olympics Summer Games Opening Ceremonies Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark somt.org

Run for Heaven’s Sake Rimrock West Park kisses2heaven.com

May 12-17

JUNE

Get Outside Montana Kickoff Montana Audubon Center getoutsidemontana.com

May 22

May 10-11

June 5

Veterans/Armed Forces Day - Free Admission Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

May 31 Community Storytelling Partnership: West High Student Exhibit Western Heritage Center ywhc.org

Alive After 5 The Fieldhouse downtownbillings.com

June 6-27 Lichman & Adler Exhibition Red Lodge Clay Center redlodgeclaycenter.com

June 6-28 Shrek: The Musical Billings Studio Theatre billingsstudiotheatre.com

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 127

35th Annual Heart and Sole Run. June 14

Bring your entire family to the 34th annual Heart and Sole Run on Saturday, June 14—the perfect kick-off to Father’s Day weekend. The 5K, 10K and 2-mile health walk begin at St. Vincent Healthcare with staggered start times beginning at 8 a.m. At the race finish located at Dehler Park, St. Vincent Healthcare and Billings Gazette Communications will host the Montana Active Life Festival featuring interactive booths, kids’ events and family fun from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

June 6 Will James’ Birthday Free Admission Jam @ the YAM Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org Paint n Sip Visible Vault Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

June 7 Three Horse Series Super Barn at MetraPark metrapark.com SpringFest Moss Mansion Museum mossmansion.com

June 13-16 Jewel of the Big Sky Appaloosa Show Super Barn at MetraPark metrapark.com

Motor Carriers of Montana Truck Driving Championship Carnival Lot at MetraPark metrapark.com

Heart & Sole Run St. Vincent Healthcare heartandsolerace.org

(AKC) Eastern Montana Copper Circuit Cluster Conformation Show Montana Pavilion – MetraPark yvkc.org

YAM B-Day Bash Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

June 19

Rimview Dance Studio Dancers of Ahhhhhs Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org

June 12 Dr. Dorothy Moss Lecture Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org Purse-A-Palooza YWCA ywcabillings.org Alive After 5 Don Luis downtownbillings.com

128 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

Vintage Car Show Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

June 25 June 18-20

June 14

June 28

Alive After 5 The Depot downtownbillings.com

Artistic Designs with Patrick Zentz Western Heritage Center ywhc.org

Michael Jackson HIStory Thriller Alberta Bair Theater albertabairtheater.org

June 29 42nd Annual Free Symphony in the Park Pioneer Park billingssymphony.com

June 25-26 Energy Exposition Expo Center at MetraPark metrapark.com

June 26

JULY

July 3

Herb and Dorothy: 50 x 50 Film Screening Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

Alive After 5 Yellowstone Art Museum downtownbillings.com

Alive After 5 McCormick’s Café downtownbillings.com

Resident Exit Show Red Lodge Clay Center redlodgeclaycenter.com

Cigar Dinner on the Moss Lawn Moss Mansion Museum mossmansion.com

July 10

June 27

July 11

Library Summer Reading Program Moss Mansion Museum Lawn mossmansion.com

July 4-26

Alive After 5 Walker’s downtownbillings.com

Yellowstone County Relay for Life Billings West High School relayforlife.org

MARKETPLACE Amira Harper

July 12

July 24

Montana Brews & BBQs Chiesa Plaza at MetraPark metrapark.com

Alive After 5 Monte Carlo downtownbillings.com

Over 20 Years Experience Haircut • Coloring • Perm Straightening • Extensions

Call for appointment 406.860.8913

July 12 - 13

July 26

Summerfair Veteran’s Park artmuseum.org

The Dirty Dash MetraPark thedirtydash.com

July 17

July 31

Alive After 5 Tiny’s Tavern downtownbillings.com

Alive After 5 Brew Pub downtownbillings.com

July 18-20

Through August 24

Big Sky State Games Various locations bigskygames.org

Face to Face, Wall to Wall Exhibit Un/Conscious Bent: A Survey of Regional Surrealism Yellowstone Art Museum artmuseum.org

AKC Agility Trials White Aspen Ranch yvkc.org

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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 .

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®Registered Marks of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. ®LIVE SMART. LIVE HEALTHY HEALTHY. is a registered mark of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I MAY 2014 I 129

Summer By the Numbers 8

160

The number of pools, wading pools and spray parks in Billings. Quell the hot heat of the summer

The approximate number of calories in a Softie’s original vanilla cone—

sun by jumping in! Visit billingsparks.org for details.

each one of them delicious.

38 The number of home Mustangs baseball games

The number of Alive After Five events—

you can catch this summer at Dehler Park.

Thursdays after 5 p.m.starting June 5. Dance in the streets while sipping a cold one.

117

108

degrees

degrees.

The hottest day on record in Billings occurred July 14, 2002

Think that’s hot?

21 years.

How long Summer lasts on Uranus 130 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE

The hottest recorded temperature for the state of Montana occurred in Medicine Lake on July 5, 1937

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132 I MAY 2014 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE