Missoula Valley June 2015 by City Lifestyle

Missoula Valley JUNE 2015

MissoulaValleyLifestyle.com

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A Montana

BOB WARD’S: 98 YEARS AND COUNTING BARBARA MORRISON: A ‘NAÏVE’ APPROACH TO ART LIFE AT THE EQUATOR: KIELY FAMILY EXPLORES ECUADOR

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Editor’s Letter

Two Is Better Than One “I

’m in love,” my mother proclaimed. “With whom?" I asked. (Even as a 15-year-old I was concerned with the correct use of who and whom.) "Dan." The idea of having a step-father never upset me. My dad is awesome so I wasn't concerned with a replacement dad. In fact, the reality of sizing up a step-father provided me with the best excuse in the world to be a brat. Dan might say otherwise, but most of my efforts to terrorize him failed. They were pathetic really. Dan turned out to be just what I never knew I always wanted: a Dan. A Dan is the guy who says “I do” not just to your mother but also to her children. I used to tell people that I was going to have salt-and-pepper hair just like Dan until I connected the dots quite late in life that he and I don’t share any genetic coding. I was saying this six months after he and my mother met. Dan used to take me to the Elephant Room in Austin, Texas, when I was 16 to listen to jazz. He never got upset when I crashed his MGB into his Mustang, which I later lost control of in a turn at the Texas World Speedway at car racing school. In fact, he walked up to the accident with a wide smile, proud that I’d had my first spin-out. For a year, he drove 45 minutes each way every day to take me and my brother to and from school. He never complained. He bit his tongue when my brother and I would drink all his caffeine-free Diet Cokes. A Dan has no problem telling it like it is and isn’t interested in being liked. Turns out, bratty teenagers and lost 20-somethings respond well to discipline and boundaries. Dan has always been concerned with what’s best for me, even if that has meant delivering the tough news. No coddling. No sugar-coating. Just the truth. A Dan is the guy you want for a step-parent. People have often said that we look alike (maybe), that it’s endearing I’m named after him (nope), that he’s a great dad (true). Not once, even when I’ve been upset at him, have I ever corrected them unless they realized the misunderstanding on their own. When it does require clarification, I tell them this: “I have a dad and a Dan.” Happy Father's Day to the Dads and Dans out there.

JUNE 2015 publisher Michael Tucker | MTucker@LifestylePubs.com

editor Danielle M. Antonetti | DAntonetti@lifestylepubs.com

contributing writers Pamela Dunn-Parrish, Brianna Randall, Austin Schempp, Susie Wall,

contributing photographers Pamela Dunn-Parrish

Published monthly, subscriptions are: 1 year for $22 or 2 years for $39. Visit MissoulaValleyLifestyle.com

Danielle M. Antonetti, Editor dantonetti@lifestylepubs.com by Community ™

MissoulaValleyLifestyle.com ON THE COVER Fly-fishing and Montana are synonymous. Brent Parrish casts his fly out over the Blackfoot River. PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAMELA DUNN-PARRISH 4 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

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P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Missoula Valley Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Missoula Valley’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Missoula Valley Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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June 2015 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

June 2015

Departments 8

Good Times

Around Town

Artist’s Palette

Giving Back

Lifestyle Calendar

Parting Thoughts

12 Barbara Morrison

Local artist takes a ‘naïve’ approach to art.

16 Life at the Equator

The Kiely family explores Ecuador.

20 Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors

Bob Ward’s celebrates 98 years in business.

20 Lifestyle Publications

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Good Times

Sussex School's 29th Annual Ecothon

Students from the Sussex School perform community service around Missoula while earning pledges for educational spring field trips during the school's 29th Annual Ecothon. PHOTOGRAPHYÂ BY JOELLEN SHANNON AND KEN MILLER

8 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

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Around Town everywhere contribute to a cure. The foundation was built upon the principle that you are never too young to make a difference in the lives of others. For more information and to sign up to host a lemonade stand, visit AlexsLemonade.org/lemonadedays.

'RIDES' FOR CAMP MAK-A-DREAM Western Montana car clubs are joining together in a fundraising effort for Camp Mak-A-Dream. They’ve restored a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda and are selling 1,000 raffle tickets at $50 each. Net proceeds from the tickets all go to Camp Mak-A-Dream. The winner of the car will be drawn at the Showin’ Off for Camp Mak-A-Dream Car Show on Sunday, July 19, at Fort Missoula. It’s all part of the “Rides in The Rockies Weekend,” which includes a Mopar party at Paradise Falls Restaurant on Friday and Saturday's third annual “Mopars at the Fort” car show and the Rock 'n' Roll Saturday Night featuring the Tom Cats at Fort Missoula. For raffle tickets and more information, contact Camp Mak-A-Dream at 406.549.5987.

ALEX’S LEMONADE DAYS RETURNS Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all children with cancer, invites volunteers across the country to take a stand against childhood cancer when Alex’s Lemonade Days returns June 12-14. ALSF’s National Lemonade Days began in 2004 when Alex Scott set her sights on raising $1 million to fight childhood cancer, including hers. Alex invited volunteers to join her in hosting lemonade stands to help achieve her goal: $1 and one lemonade stand at a time. Through the help of these volunteers, Alex would reach her goal before losing her life to cancer in August of that year. Each June, the weekend before Father’s Day, supporters 10 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

MISSOULA AUTISM AWARENESS DAY PUZZLE RUN/WALK Slash, the Mauler hockey team's mascot, and UM's mascot Monte will join Zoo Town's Mayor John Engen to kick off the Missoula Autism Awareness Day Puzzle Run/Walk at the UM Oval on Saturday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. There will be a free kids carnival, informational booths on autism, other fun activities, and items available for raffle. To register or learn more, search "Missoula Autism Awareness Day 2015" on Facebook.com or email MissoulaAutismAwareness@ Outlook.com. The event benefits the Dalton Hunter Autism Foundation, which works to enhance the lives of Montana children and adults diagnosed with autism. This is accomplished through fundraising and volunteer activities as a way to promote communication and cooperation between families and the Missoula community. The foundation develops, maintains and supports programs and events that provide assistance through small grants to struggling families in the autism community for goods or services they may not be able to afford, pomote awareness in the community in a fun manner, provide a contact for resources in Montana for newly diagnosed children with autism, and advocate for autism services in Montana which are currently limited.

GREAT AMERICAN CAMPOUT KICKS OFF JUNE 27 Camp for a cause and help wildlife stay wild. The National Wildlife Federation’s widely popular nationwide Great American Campout is celebrating its 10th year of connecting people with the great outdoors so that they will form a deeper desire to protect wildlife and wild places. Nick Offerman, star of NBC’s Parks & Recreation series, serves as official celebrity spokesperson in promotional online and print ads for the cause which kicks off Saturday, June 27 and runs through Labor Day.

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“Of course it’s great,” says Offerman. “It’s camping, and it’s American.” To participate, National Wildlife Federation asks people of all ages to make an online pledge to camp anywhere—from a forest to their own backyards—at least once this summer and provides all the information needed, including a directory of hosted Great American Campout locations, tips on what to bring, lists of campout activities and recipes and more. Campers are encouraged to take #Campies (camping selfies) and submit them to NWF’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to share their experiences and create an extended community of participants year-round. For more information, and to register, please go to NWF.org/Campout.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! At Missoula Valley Lifestyle our goal is to share the best that our community has to offer as well as news about our neighbors. Do you have wedding or engagement news to share? Do you know an outstanding educator or student we should spotlight? Is there a great new restaurant in town that everyone needs to know about? Please let us know so we can share it with our neighbors in an upcoming issue. You can reach our team at DAntonetti@LifestylePubs.com.

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Artist’s Palette

Barbara Morrison ILLUSORY NAÏVETÉ ARTICLE PAMELA DUNN-PARRISH PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

he big sky of Montana wasn’t the only thing to surround Barbara Morrison as a child. “My father, Robert, was a fantastic art teacher and taught at Rocky Mountain College in Billings,” she says of her first instructor. “While my mom wouldn’t have considered herself an ‘artist,’ she was. She was a master at spinning, knitting and dying textiles.” In fact, her mother Berta was deemed “a living treasure of Montana” in 1998 by the Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners. The desire to create didn’t stop with Barbara, however. Her family is chock-full of creative souls. One brother works as a ceramic artist and another, who passed away a few years ago, worked as an administrator at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and was a talented actor, she says. A daughter is a painter and textile artist. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO MISSOULA?

I came to Missoula in 1987 to pursue an endorsement as an art teacher, but that got pushed aside when I remarried and had two more children. With four children, I had to organize my time well so that I could make art, but I think a lot of the ideas and creativity in my work can be traced to my enjoyment of kids—our house was always pretty messy but we had lots of fun! DESCRIBE YOUR ART:

My work falls into the category of Naïve art (also spelled Naif ). My paintings are based on things I like: stories, dreams, daily life, seasons, weather,

places I’ve been. I use bright f lat colors. Most of my paintings are done in gouache, an opaque watercolor medium, similar to tempera paint. Although the lack of perspective makes the paintings seem simple, a closer look will show that I use layers of meaning and lots of detail: ants and beetles or bones buried under the earth, people hidden in houses, etc. My sculptures and dolls also come from the folk art tradition and have been inspired by different ethnic art from all over the world. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I think the thing that usually gets an idea started for a painting is color: for example, if I see a new combination of colors or unusual colors in a landscape. Another huge source of inspiration for me is reading. I love the library! Between 2008 and 2010 my husband Jim Taylor and I lived in Beijing and traveled extensively around China. I was greatly influenced by Chinese culture, history, and crafts, and I enjoyed learning Chinese, although I CONTINUED >

12 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

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Artist’s Palette

(CONTINUED)

haven’t been very good at following through with that. I was lucky to have time to go to some classes in Beijing about different historical art forms and crafts that are quickly disappearing as China rapidly becomes modern. I love Chinese folk art in particular for its simplicity and craftsmanship, which you can see even in day-to-day objects, and I really love the flat colorful designs. Since then we have had several shorter stints in the south of Vietnam and in Hungary, and both places are fascinating sources of inspiration and ideas. I’m also inspired by mythology, spirituality and art which can have layers and layers of meaning. I think art is a form of communication about such things as nature, stories, animals, seasons, dreams and things difficult to say in words. Art uses a syntax of image and color and line to express them. I have always made things, both for fun and to express myself. I am surprised by what my soul reveals. WHERE DID YOU STUDY ART?

My Bachelor of Arts degree is in English literature—Anglo-Saxon literature! So not useful but fun!—from the University of New Mexico. I actually never got an art degree. I learned so much from my father growing up that I just keep building on those lessons and experiences. WHERE CAN PEOPLE VIEW YOUR ART?

My art can be seen and purchased at the gallery at Montana Art and Framing, 709 Ronan Street in Missoula; on my website, MorrisonDesigns.com; and Morrison Designs on Etsy.com. There is a link on my site to my Facebook page, also called Morrison Designs, which has lots of images of my work. WHEN IS YOUR NEXT SHOW?

My next show will be June 12-14 at the 11th annual Montana Professional Artists Association Show in Hamilton.

14 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

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Kielys in

Ecuador A Missoula family navigates life at the equator

ARTICLE BRIANNA RANDALL PHOTOGRAPHY KIELY FAMILY

iant lemon ants and caimans are the new norm for young Missoulians Hayden and Evelyn Kiely. So is sitting in a classroom all day surrounded by rapid-fire Spanish. These two are about to return home from a five-month-long adventure in Ecuador with their parents, Kay and Daniel. After a decade of dreaming about an international trip abroad and a full year of planning, the Kielys left in January to live, work and volunteer in Cuenca, an Ecuadorian city at the lofty elevation of 8,500 feet. In between their daily cultural immersion, the family is avidly exploring all corners of this ecologically diverse country, from dense jungles and snow-swept mountaintops to the tips of volcanoes and the shores of the Galapagos Islands. The family's recent adventures include canoe rides through the Amazon jungle, watching shamans at work in indigenous villages, and hiking up to a glacier on Cotopaxi Volcano, the second highest active volcano in the world at 19,347 feet. “My dad and I made it all the way to the glacier, which was over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. It was really hard to breathe that high,” Hayden, 12, says. Evelyn, 9, remembers one particular jungle walk in the Amazon: “I was petting a wild monkey when it turned around and slapped me!” Both kids also picked up some helpful hints from locals during their travels. “Did you know you can rub termites on you as bug repellent? Or eat them, if you're hungry,” Evelyn shares. Unfortunately, tips on termites aren’t the only thing the kids picked up— Hayden, Evelyn and Kay all contracted giardia and four other parasites within the first month of living in Cuenca from produce purchased at their local outdoor mercado. Luckily, Ecuador's health care system fixed them right up, and for only $2 apiece. Now they soak all fruits and veggies in grapefruit seed extract before cooking or eating them. Living at such a high elevation also comes with its share of headaches—literally. “I've had day-long headaches, even when I drink tons of water,” Kay reports. And CONTINUED >

June 2015 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

ECUADOR (CONTINUED)

transitioning from safe, small-town Missoula to a medium-sized Latin American city where theft is rampant requires the family to stay on their toes during daily walks to school or on errands. However, despite the typical curveballs that come with any trip to a different country, both Daniel and Kay agree that the trip has been muy tranquilo overall. “It's such a pivotal experience for our family,” says Kay. As for the nuts and bolts of setting up a family trip abroad, Daniel says that“traveling with kids adds a whole different layer. The Kielys chose Cuenca after exploring several possible places to live in South America. Cuenca made the most sense for several reasons: The water is clean enough to drink, the city is walkable for a family without a car, the school schedule is the same as Missoula's, and Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar. They worked with a study abroad 18 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

program called El Nomad, which allowed them to integrate quickly by helping the Kielys with everything from finding an apartment and volunteer opportunities to setting up weekly cultural classes and mapping out their excursions around the country. “We've been talking about setting up a forum back in Missoula to help others plan and undertake living abroad with kids,” says Daniel. Hayden and Evelyn were well-prepared for their bilingual experience abroad, since both of them have attended the Missoula International School (MIS) since the age of three. Even if the language isn't new, the kids have had to adjust to plenty of other differences in Ecuador. “There's a lot of poverty here,” says Evelyn. “And lots of pollution, too.” She has plenty of first-hand stories related to poverty from the family's twice-weekly volunteer work at a local community center. Hayden had an even bigger transition than his sister. As an eighth grader in Ecuador, he's in high school, which is a very different environment from the small, familiar classrooms at MIS. "It was hard at first to adjust to all of the cultural differences, like standing up and saying buenos días when a professor(a) enters the room. My school is not used to having foreigners, so they expected me to just know what to do."

Kay and Daniel list three reasons behind their decision to relocate abroad for a half-year: to see other cultures, to ensure Spanish is “sealed in the kids' brains,” and to spend more time together as a family. Daniel points out that they were fortunate that his role with Merrill Lynch allows him to work remotely and that MIS encourages its students to take a trip like this. “We have no social obligations here, so we're constantly on the go absorbing the culture together,” Kay explains. When they reflect upon their imminent return home, each Kiely has a unique response. Evelyn compassion, care & comfort. thinks she could live a long time in Ecuador, but only if she could import all of her Missoula friends, famiYou’ll find all three in big supply ly and pets. "It’s definitely been eye-opening to learn here at The Springs at Missoula. how the other half of the world lives, but I am super excited to return to my friends and the best school and teachers on this planet." Kay laughs about how they are now pros at successfully navigating “disgusting” foreign bathrooms. “I love the culture here, but I'll definitely be happy to flush toilet independenT Living • ASSiSTed Living • MeMorY CAre paper again when I get back!” 3710 American Way • Missoula, MT • 406-273-0101 Daniel stresses how pivotal the trip has been for each of them individually and as a family. “Once we had a change of place, we also had a change Missoula in Lifestyle Mag ad_2.indd 2 3/25/15 perspective,” he says. “We aren't sure exactly how we'll feel when we come back, but we all agree that we'll be glad we made the trip.”

June 2015 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

9:42 AM

The sporting goods store on Higgins

DID YOU KNOW?

Bob Ward's former location on Brooks and South

20 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

Bob Ward earned a national reputation as a trainer of hunting dogs, won a national rifle marksmanship competition at 66, and according to an article that appeared in Ripleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Believe it or Not bagged a black bear with a bow and arrow when he was in his 70s.

ORIGINS

Bob Ward's

Sports & Outdoors:

98 and Counting

Bob Ward's celebrates 98 years in the great outdoors

ARTICLE SUSIE WALL | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

ustomers walking into Missoula’s Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors are greeted by a rack of T-shirts proclaiming “Life is Good.” You can say that again. This Montana-owned and family-run operation is celebrating its 98th anniversary in 2015, and in that time, it has become Montana’s largest and oldest sporting goods store and an essential part of Zoo Town’s outdoor community.

The story of Bob Ward’s began in 1900 when the original Bob Ward arrived in Missoula from his home in Minnesota at age 15. Ward was stricken with gold fever, and he was bound for Klondike riches. Unfortunately, his money ran out in Missoula and he accepted the goodwill of a family friend, John Roland, who offered him a job at his jewelry store where Ward hoped to make enough to continue on his journey. But like many folks who come to Missoula, Ward found himself still here years later and by 1917 he had married and opened his own watch shop. The watch shop was a success but his love of the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, led him to other ventures and he began offering his services as a gunsmith and manufacturer of fishing tackle, most notably his much sought-after “Ward Wobbler.” Ward’s combination of jeweler and outfitter filled a need in Missoula and his enthusiasm for and service to his customers created a loyal following, especially among Missoula’s outdoor community. Ryan Corwin, advertising manager for Bob Ward’s, is quick to express the pride current employees of the operation feel about the store’s founder despite the passage of time. “Bob trained wire-haired griffons as hunting dogs, made jewelry, tied flies, was a gunsmith and, at the end of the day, was a father to eight children at home,” he says. “His energy and attitude that a man can and should be all he can be has carried on in the legacy that is the modern Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors.” Robert C. Ward passed away in 1985 at the age of 100 but his sons had been working to keep the store a thriving operation long before that. “From the beginning,” says Corwin, “there has always been a Ward at the helm of the good ship Bob Ward’s. Over the years several Ward children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles and cousins have worked at one store or another.” Ward’s oldest son, Irvine, led the store into the world of sporting goods retail after returning from World War II. Not to be outdone, Irvine's son, Keith, added four other stores and today Bob Ward’s can be found in Bozeman, Butte, Hamilton and Helena in addition to the flagship store in Missoula where Keith currently serves as chairman of the board. Keith's son, Chad, Bob Ward’s great-grandson, is a buyer and company president. It is safe to say the store’s namesake would be proud of what he and four generations of the Ward family have accomplished in 98 years. Bob Ward’s has been voted “Best Hunting Department,” “Best Ski Department” and “Best Sporting Goods Store” by the residents of Missoula. They offer one of the largest footwear departments in the state and rival the “big box” stores in brand selection. The range of merchandise is staggering from kayaks to skis to tennis rackets and binoculars. Around 70 knowledgeable staff members guide customers to the perfect gear at each of the larger stores with upward of 40 employees at the smaller stores. CONTINUED >

June 2015 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

98 AND COUNTING

(CONTINUED)

(G)LOCAL REACH

The Ward family takes great pride in the fact that the money spent at Bob Ward’s stays in Montana. “Whenever possible we source Montana-made products in our stores and online,” Corwin says. The North Face and Oakley can be found under the same roof as Bozeman’s Oboz footwear and Missoula’s onXmaps. Corwin believes the dedication of the customers and the loyalty to a local company that Montanans feel are what separates Bob Ward’s from “big box” sporting goods stores. Those dedicated customers keep returning to tap the knowledge of Bob Ward’s experts in firearms and fishing. Close ties have been developed with local gunsmiths and fishing tackle manufacturers that result in being able to provide customers with the exact product to fit their needs. Bob Ward surrounded by his sons The pictures covering the “trophy walls” are the best evidence for this. There are no “the one that got away” stories among the photos lining the entrance to Bob Ward’s. They act as proof that the relationship between staff and customer is essential to assure victory along the rivers and in the mountains of Big Sky Country. Bob Ward’s could have easily rested on its retail success but instead Chad has moved the store into the world of e-commerce with the launching of BobWards.com extending the company’s reach to a national, even global, level. Customers can buy camouflage golf bags, bouldering crash pads and fulfill their wildest paintball dreams with the click of a mouse and still get the personal customer service they would find if they were shaking the Bob Ward's children all lined up hand of an employee. But Corwin is quick to point out that the strict attention to the Montana stores will never wane. “We won’t ever forget our roots and that’s why our main focus is on our local stores,” he says. “We could have grown into a nationwide chain or sold out to a major retailer ,but Bob Ward’s has always been about serving the local community instead of following the national trend.” The values that guarantee Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors’ success in 2015 look very similar to the values held dear to Robert C. Ward in 1917—it’s the employees who long for the outdoors as much as their customers, the strong desire to serve the needs of each person who walks through the door, and the unfailing commitment to cater to the local outdoor community. For the 98-year legacy of Bob Ward, life is most certainly good.

Corwin believes the dedication of the customers and the loyalty to a local company that Montanans feel are what separates Bob Ward’s from “big box” sporting goods stores.

22 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

Bob Ward’s oldest son Irvine assists a customer with his outdoor gear needs

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Feeding Hungry AniMeals NON-PROFIT FEEDS OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS IN NEED

ARTICLE AUSTIN SCHEMPP PHOTOGRAPHY PAMELA DUNN-PARRISH

ight years ago, Karyn Moltzen received a call that changed her life. A man from Missoula Animal Control asked her if she could take in eight cats that were at-risk of being euthanized for lack of space at the facility. Moltzen couldn’t refuse; she had helped Animal Control before by fostering three cats and 18 kittens. This time she ended up accepting 25 cats, and AniMeals, a no-kill adoption center and food bank for cats and dogs, was born. “I started out by just being a food bank and helping (other shelters) out so they wouldn’t have to spend money on food,” Moltzen says. “They could spend it on medical or the lights, the power, just keeping themselves going.” Today, the Missoula-based nonprofit has a number of programs to serve animals— and owners—in need. AniMeals provides food for animal shelters, rescue groups, homebound and disabled pet owners, and even supplies food for caretakers of feral cat colonies. At the shelter, AniMeals houses abandoned cats, spays and neuters them, and fixes any medical issues they may have. “We take the cats that no one else will take,” says Moltzen. “We take the cats that are broken, nurse them back to health, whatever it takes, and put them up for adoption and look for good homes for them. “A lot of places won’t do that because it costs a lot of money to fix a catastrophic injury or a kitty that is old and systems are starting to shut down.” The shelter, located at 1700 Rankin St., can only house cats, Moltzen says, because the building isn’t equipped with the proper drainage system needed for dogs. But AniMeals still provides food to homeless dogs and dog rescue shelters. “We don’t house dogs, but we feed so many homeless dogs,” Moltzen says. “We feed more dogs than cats probably with the rescues that we support.” Hether Sheppard, who runs Sheppard Rescue, an affiliate of AniMeals, is one of the shelters that receives food from AniMeals for the dogs, cats and bunnies she cares for. Sheppard says without the support of AniMeals, she couldn’t run her shelter. “If I can’t get a dog into the vet or I don’t have the money right away they help me with the costs,” Sheppard says. “And they help me mentally. If I get overwhelmed or stressed then I come here and say, ‘help.’” CONTINUED >

24 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

Top Priority Pre-Sale Home Improvements It may seem counterintuitive to put decorator touches on a home you’ve decided to sell, but “staging” your home-fixing it up and decorating it so it will appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers-pays real dividends. According to the Concord, California-based International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP), even in the 2007 market slowdown the average professionally staged home sold within 32 days, compared to 160 days for comparable non-staged homes. In fact, 93 percent sold within one month. And the best part? On average, they sold for an increase of 3 to 10 percent. INDOORS Paint: Freshen walls by painting them in a neutral hue. Upgrade lighting: Replace out-of-date fixtures and use 100-watt bulbs to brighten the home for showings. Renovate the kitchen and/or baths: Replace stained countertops, old faucets, unfashionable lighting and damaged floors with neutral choices. Cabinetry in an outdated finish can be inexpensively re-faced. In the kitchen, even entry-level stainless-steel appliances will give your kitchen a high-end look. Cut clutter: Don’t overstuff your rooms. Pack away your knickknacks and limit furniture to the basics, storing side tables, loveseats, small bookcases and oversized toys out of sight. OUTDOORS Repaint: If your porch, front door or siding needs painting, take care of it. Re-roof: While it can be a big-ticket item, if you’re due for re-roofing, it’s better for you to have it done now than expect potential buyers to take on the hassle-many will simply pass on your house instead. Cut clutter: Get rid of any outdoor knickknacks like leftover holiday decorations, novelty yard ornaments or signs. The only outdoor accessory your front yard needs is tidy landscaping and lighting. Freshen the porch Replace an out-of-date mailbox, street number and porch light. Flank the front steps or front door with a pair of large urns with seasonal plants, for a pretty look. Source: American Home Shield “Get Ready to Take the Stage” Tune in! Missoula Real Estate Today Saturdays @ 8am, Sundays @ 10am

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Giving Back

(CONTINUED)

PROGRAMS

AniMeals’ main focus and program is providing food to animals in need. The organization tries to cover the entire state of Montana with people from around the state transporting food. But AniMeals has several other programs. Families who have been evacuated from their homes because of an emergency such as a fire or flood can receive assistance in feeding their pets from the “Families in Crisis” program. For those with pets that need veterinary care but can’t afford the costs, the “Honey Fund” helps cover costs or, in extreme cases, there is a “critical care fund” for animals that need emergency treatment. The “Homebound/Disabled Program” finds a home for pets with an elderly or disabled person, giving them company they may not otherwise have.

Pacific Recycling and Steel, located at 206 Latimer St., also benefits AniMeals. Moltzen says even little efforts are huge to AniMeals and the impact of their work is easily noticeable. “It’s the most important work I’ve ever done,” Moltzen says. “It’s the most rewarding. When you look at these little faces that would be dead if it weren’t for you, there’s nothing you can compare it with. The gratitude is never ending.”

VOLUNTEERS

Moltzen says AniMeals, which operates on about a half-million-dollar budget each year, couldn’t exist without the support of volunteers and donors. Applications are available for those who want to volunteer and tasks include petting cats, helping with daily chores such as cleaning, and working events. For people with busy schedules, AniMeals accepts donations either at the shelter or on its website, AniMeals.com. Recycling at

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Lifestyle Calendar

June

JUNE 1 - 30

JENEESE HILTON: RAVEN REVIEWING MODERN MISSOULA ART MUSEUM

St. Ignatius artist Jeneese Hilton deftly captures light and color, form and content. The themes of her paintings are richly layered, drawing from myth, history, literature and spirituality, the personal and the communal. Imagery from her own Blackfeet tradition recurs, with creatures suggestive of Native American animism and sacredness. Exhibition continues through August 22 in the Lynda M. Frost Contemporary American Indian Art Gallery. Visit MissoulaArtMusuem.org for more information.

ums, retail stores, and coffee shops and very often involves wine and food, musical performances, poetry readings, dance, gallery lectures, and more. Visit MissoulaCultural.org for additional information.

JUNE 5 CELTIC WOMAN ADAMS CENTER

This stage production celebrates the Emerald Isle's Celtic heritage through a presentation of traditional Irish anthems, pop standards and original music by Emmy-nominated music producer, David Downes. Visit UMT.edu/griztix to buy tickets.

JUNE 12 SPECTRUM'S 2ND ANNUAL BIG NIGHT FUNDRAISER SPECTRUM DOWNTOWN

JUNE 3 OUT TO LUNCH CARAS PARK

Out to Lunch is a weekly performing arts festival at Caras Park on the Clark Fork River, featuring musicians and more than 20 varied food vendors. Enjoy Montana's longest running festival every Wednesday in June, July and August from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. No pets allowed under pavilion during event due to health code regulations. Dogs can enjoy the grassy areas of the park on a leash!

JUNE 4 DOWNTOWN TONIGHT CARAS PARK

Downtown ToNight, the Zoo's favorite music and food festival, happens every Thursday night all summer long from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Caras Park. To commemorate 15 years, two additional dates have been added in Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;15 dates for 15 years. Free. No pets allowed under pavilion during event due to health code regulations. Dogs can enjoy the grassy areas of the park on a leash.

JUNE 5 FIRST FRIDAY MISSOULA

First Friday Gallery Night takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. Event includes art openings in galleries, muse28 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

Celebrate science, community, and giving at spectrUM's 2nd annual Big Night. Each ticket sold sponsors a membership for a family served by the Missoula Food Bank. All proceeds support the Science For All Scholarship Fund, ensuring thousands of low-income Montana children access to spectrUM annually. There will be a dinner featuring local cuisine, a live auction, a photo booth, and more. Visit Spectrum.UMT.edu for more information or call 406.728.STEM (7896) to get tickets.

JUNE 14 SYMPHONY SOIREE AND 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION MISSOULA

Come out to support the Zoo's symphony-loving community at the 3rd annual Symphony Soiree. There will be a red carpet arrival, a fivecourse gourmet dinner with paired wines, and live musical performances by members of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit MissoulaSymphony.org.

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Lifestyle Calendar

JUNE 20 MISSOULA AUTISM AWARENESS DAY PUZZLE RUN/WALK UM OVAL

JUNE 17 WILLIE NELSON WITH ALISON KRAUSS OGREN PARK AT ALLEGIANCE FIELD

Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas kick make a stop in the Garden City. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, 406.543.3300 and the MSO Hub box office.

JUNE 18 A CAROUSEL FOR MISSOULA'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION DINNER RANCH CLUB BARN

Come celebrate Missoula's carousel at its 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner and Auction at the Ranch Club Barn. There will be music by John Floridis, great food, and amazing auction items. For more information, visit CarouselForMissoula.com.

The Puzzle Run/Walk benefits the Dalton Hunter Autism Foundation. There will be a free kids carnival, informational booths on autism, other fun activities, and items available for raffle. To register or learn more, search "Missoula Autism Awareness Day 2015" on Facebook.com.

JUNE 21 LAST BEST SOLSTICE ART ON THE RIVER RIVERFRONT TRAIL

The Missoula Cultural Council will host a pop-up riverfront gallery and artist showcase on the longest day of the years. Local artists and galleries will line the riverbanks in downtown Missoula from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Original works will be on sale as talented local artists share their unique process through live art creation and one-of-a-kind demonstrations. For more information visit MissoulaCultural.org.

JUNE 22 - 28 'JACK AND THE BEANSTALK' DAY CAMP MISSOULA CHILDREN'S THEATRE

What happens when a young boy plants Wonder Beans in his own backyard? For Jack, it is the beginning of a great adventure. And could be one for kids entering grades 1-12. Missoula Children's Theatre day camps are a fun rehearsal process for original musicals. Each day camper participates in an audition, gets cast in a role, rehearses, and performs in the show. Camp is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 22-26 with performances at 3 and 5 p.m. on June 27-28. Visit MCTInc.org for more information.

JUNE 18 DOWNTOWN ELIMINATOR BIKE RACE CARAS PARK

Come on down to Caras Park to watch some of the best mountain bikers in the country duke it out head to head on a challenging urban course. For more information visit MissoulaDowntown.com.

JUNE 18 MARIAN PALAIA SHAKESPEARE & CO.

Marian Palaia reads from her debut novel The Given World. Visit ShakespeareAndCo.com. 30 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

JUNE 25 CRAIG LANCASTER SHAKESPEARE & CO.

Craig Lancaster reads from his fourth novel The Fallow Season of Hugo Hunter. Visit ShakespeareAndCo.com.

Missoula

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JUNE 26 & 27 15TH ANNUAL GARDEN CITY RIVER ROD RUN CARAS PARK

Get your motor runnin' and head over to Caras Park for this two-day hot rod show featuring a show and shine of more than 200 classic cars, food, music and fun! Be sure to catch the annual Higgins Avenue Parade Friday night. For more information, visit MissoulaDowntown.com.

Benefits Include: Unlimited Golf on Montana’s Premier Championship 18 Hole Course • Free Golf Clinics —Men, Women and Juniors • Fully Stocked Pro Shop and Professional Club Fitting • Unlimited use of Driving Range and Short Game Practice Facility • Men’s, Women’s and Couples’ Leagues • Junior Golf Program • Club and Personal Cart Storage Aailable • Family Swimming Pool • Clubhouse, Lounge and Event Dining

JUNE 27 GREGG ALLMAN & MATT ANDERSEN BIG SKY BREWING CO.

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Andersen and one of rock's most acclaimed stars Gregg Allmann hit the stage at Big Sky Brewing Co. for its summer concert series For tickets and more information, visit BigSkyBrew.com.

JUNE 29 JOHN BURGESS SHAKESPEARE & CO.

John Burgess reads from his new book by Land, a riff on the Journals of Lewis & Clark that follows where the author intersected with the Trail, throughout Montana, the Pacific Coast, and St. Louis. Visit ShakespeareAndCo.com.

Family/Business Membership: $1,000 Initiation fee • First three months dues and fees waived • Two-year membership agreement: Associate (under 35 yrs) and Single Memberships: $500 initiation fee • $200/month total fees (including scrip) for 12 months • Two-year membership agreement Social and Non-Resident Memberships are also available. Stop by for information or contact us at:

406-251-2404 • CNowlen@MissoulaCountryClub.com June 2015 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

business directory ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Open Lens by Pamela (406) 370-2704 openlensbypamela.com

AUTOMOTIVE

Dealers Choice Detail (406) 728-0040 DeMarois Buick GMC Mercedes-Benz (406) 721-4000

CHARITIES & FUNDRAISERS AniMeals (406) 721-4710

DRY CLEANERS Missoula Textiles (406) 543-5171

ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION

Missoula Country Club (406) 251-2404 missoulacountryclub.com

FASHION & ACCESSORIES Sage Accessories (406) 531-8259 sageaccessories.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Peak Health & Wellness Center (406) 251-3344 peakmissoula.com Spas of Montana (406) 251-6742 spasofmontana.com

HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS

PROPERTY & REAL ESTATE

Abbey Carpet Missoula (406) 721-1810 missoula.abbeycarpet.com

Berkshire Hathaway Home Service Montana (406) 721-4141 berkshirehathawayhs.com/MT/Missoula

HOME DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

Diane Beck Windermere Real Estate (406) 532-7927

Acoustic Vision (406) 543-0030 Direct Source (406) 728-8099

Sierra Pacific Windows Missoula (406) 728-6142

INSURANCE

Danny Blowers Insurance Agency (406) 541-9885 Farm Bureau Financial Services (406) 728-3276

MEDICAL CLINICS & FACILITIES

Oral Surgical Associates (406) 728-6840 oralsurgicalassociates.com Surgical Arts Centre (406) 549-6600 surgicalartsmt.com

OTHER

Bob Wardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sporting Goods (406) 728-3220 Montana Ace Hardware (406) 728-3030 montanaace.com Tucker Entertainment LLC (406) 544-8333

32 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

RE/MAX All Stars Missoula (406) 542-8644 propertiesmissoula.com

RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE Montana Club Resturants (406) 541-0076 montanaclub.com Mustard Seed (406) 542-7333 mustardseedweb.com Paradise Falls (406) 728-3228 paradisefallsmissoula.com

SENIOR LIVING & SERVICES Springs at Missoula (503) 435-2323

TRAVEL & LEISURE Gull Boats (406) 549-6169 gullboatsandrv.com

Montana Ace - Tremper’s Montana Ace - Eastgate 2301 Brooks St Missoula (406) 728-3030

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Danielle Schulz Agent June 2015 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

Parting Thoughts

Stepping Up to the Plate WORDS RYAN ROSSER

he helmet wobbled around my head as I cautiously took my first steps to stand over home base. A not-so-confident 6-year-old, I tapped the plate with my bat, glanced over my shoulder to find my parents, and gulped air. Across the field stood the enemy. The other team. A group determined to dash my hoped-for success. Their shortstop pulled a pinch of Big Chew and shoved the wad inside his cheeks. He started the chant. Hey batter, batter, batter...SWING! Suddenly, little league didn't seem so little anymore. Was it too late to quit? Mom could get a refund on my jersey, right? It wasn't even dirty yet. Then I looked to the pitcher's mound. A friendly face. My coach. I breathed relief. I had heard horror stories about kid-pitch baseball. I kicked a dirt cloud behind my cleats and brought the bat over my shoulder. The coach smiled, and I grimaced in return. He raised his arm and released the ball. It zeroed in on me at breakneck speed. THUD! I dropped the bat and grabbed my shoulder where the ball had struck. My face burned hot with embarrassment, steaming away my tears. The umpire escorted me to first base. The game had just begun and already I longed for the concession-stand inning. Today, I've graduated from the little league of childhood to the big league of parenting. My thoughts race as I stare out toward the next few months. Two kids, about to have three. Three kids aged 3 and under. A whole outfield of children. The diapers.

34 Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2015

The exhaustion. The teething. Oh, the teething! There's not enough air to swallow. My daughter is sound asleep: one down. Now time for the older boy. I escort him from the living room to his bedroom. It's his and his alone for just a little while longer. I tuck him in. He listens to a story and prayer. "Two pray?" he asks as I stand to leave. How can I say no to that? I pray my regular prayer again, "God, thank you for my children. May they lie down and rest in peace, and know that you alone are their security." But I hear a taunt chanting in my ear. Hey daddy, daddy, daddy...SWING! My son's eyes drowsily close as I continue to pray. His peace is infectious. The future doesn't look so daunting anymore. I ignore the taunt, kiss my son goodnight, and leave him to his dreams. I was called up into the majors when I became a dad. No longer just a guy with a great wife. I have a tiny team. Diapers get filled. Sleep is lost. And teething is a fact of life. But so is stepping up to the plate when it matters most. Sometimes it means taking a few lumps and limping to base. Sometimes it means hitting the homerun and knowing that todayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even if just for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I did it right. When my kids are older, I'll tell them about little league. "It's okay to be afraid when you first step up to the plate," I'll say, "because fear is just an opportunity to be courageous." And when the time comes for them to swing their own bat at parenting, I'll pray I coached them well.