Missoula Independent

NEWS

SUCKER PUNCH: ALLEGED UNPROVOKED DOWNTOWN ASSAULT RAISES CONCERNS

DAINES DOESN’T GET WHAT’S WRONG WITH COULD IMPACT ARTS OPINION NEWS CHANGES MEANING OF “REAL” CHRISTMAS SONGS? LOCAL MICRODISTILLERIES

Welcome to the Missoula Independent’s e-edition! You can now read the paper online just as if you had it in your hot little hands.

Here are some quick tips for using our e-edition: For the best viewing experience, you’ll want to have the latest version of FLASH installed. If you don’t have it, you can download it for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/.

FLIPPING PAGES: Turn pages by clicking on the far right or the far left of the page. You can also navigate your way through the pages with the bottom thumbnails.

ZOOMING: Click on the page to zoom in; click again to zoom out.

CONTACT: Any questions or concerns, please email us at frontdesk@missoulanews.com

NEWS

SUCKER PUNCH: ALLEGED UNPROVOKED DOWNTOWN ASSAULT RAISES CONCERNS

DAINES DOESN’T GET WHAT’S WRONG WITH COULD IMPACT ARTS OPINION NEWS CHANGES MEANING OF “REAL” CHRISTMAS SONGS? LOCAL MICRODISTILLERIES

[2] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

cover illustration by Kou Moua

News Voices/Letters Malamutes, wolves and the Bitterroot................................................4 The Week in Review Communists, health care and a deadly chair ............................6 Briefs Movies, birds and illegal sitting............................................................................6 Etc. The Beer Garden City ..............................................................................................7 News Alleged unprovoked downtown attack raises concerns .......................................8 News State struggles to revise microdistillery laws ........................................................9 Opinion Daines doesn’t understand the meaning of “real”.........................................10 Opinion Why Republicans want a top-two primary.....................................................11 Feature An occasionally heroic tale of surviving Christmas with the family................14

Arts & Entertainment Arts Why we can never have The Hobbit we want........................................................18 Music Christmas music only promises a yesterday ......................................................19 Books Free-falling in Ken White’s Eidolon...................................................................20 TV Finding our made-for-TV holiday spirit ...................................................................21 Film Coens create a grand odyssey with music............................................................22 Movie Shorts Independent takes on current films .....................................................23 Flash in the Pan WhiteWave, greenwash? ....................................................................24 Happiest Hour Santa’s Slayer Winter Ale ....................................................................26 8 Days a Week Love the ones you’re with ...................................................................27 Mountain High Five Valleys Ski Day at Discovery........................................................33 Agenda Dive for Five Swim Meet..................................................................................34

Exclusives

Street Talk..............................................................................................................4 In Other News......................................................................................................12 Classifieds ..........................................................................................................C-1 The Advice Goddess ...........................................................................................C-2 Free Will Astrolog y.............................................................................................C-4 Crossword Puzzle...............................................................................................C-7 Camp Sleepover ...............................................................................................C-10 This Modern World...........................................................................................C-12

PUBLISHER Lynne Foland EDITOR Skylar Browning PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Joe Weston CIRCULATION & BUSINESS MANAGER Adrian Vatoussis DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Christie Anderson ARTS EDITOR Erika Fredrickson PHOTO EDITOR Cathrine L. Walters CALENDAR EDITOR Kate Whittle STAFF REPORTERS Jessica Mayrer, Alex Sakariassen, Jimmy Tobias COPY EDITOR Kate Whittle ART DIRECTOR Kou Moua PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Pumpernickel Stewart, Jonathan Marquis CIRCULATION ASSISTANT MANAGER Ryan Springer ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sasha Perrin, Alecia Goff, Steven Kirst SENIOR CLASSIFIED REPRESENTATIVE Tami Allen MARKETING, PROMOTION & EVENTS COORDINATOR Tara Shisler FRONT DESK Lorie Rustvold CONTRIBUTORS Ari LeVaux, Jason McMackin, Brad Tyer, Nick Davis, Ednor Therriault, Michael Peck, Matthew Frank, Molly Laich, Dan Brooks, Melissa Mylchreest, Rob Rusignola, Josh Quick, Brooks Johnson

Mailing address: P.O. Box 8275 Missoula, MT 59807 Street address: 317 S. Orange St. Missoula, MT 59801 Phone number: 406-543-6609 Fax number: 406-543-4367 E-mail address: independent@missoulanews.com

President: Matt Gibson The Missoula Independent is a registered trademark of Independent Publishing, Inc. Copyright 2013 by Independent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole or in part is forbidden except by permission of Independent Publishing, Inc.

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [3]

[voices]

Misfire

STREET TALK

by Cathrine L. Walters

Asked Tuesday, Dec. 17, near the corner of Higgins and Pine.

Where and with whom are you spending Christmas this year?

Follow-up: What is the weirdest holiday experience you’ve ever had?

Chuck Maffei: At home with the family—my wife, daughter and mother-inlaw. All the wrong stuff: My wife had our daughter on Dec. 5 so I had to cook the turkey myself and I left all the guts and stuff inside. It tasted good but I was the only one eating it.

Bob Freel: In Missoula with my brother and sister-in-law and new niece. Getting saucy: During a Cowboys game my mom got mad and threw a tomato across the room and hit my dad in the head. That was pretty memorable. I’m sure Dad deserved it.

Katrina Weckenbrock: Going to Cincinnati, Ohio, to spend time with the inlaws. On Dasher! On Dancer! In our younger days, my brother-in-law, cousin and I went around the neighborhood and rearranged lawn decorations to make all the light-up reindeer hump. Not in Missoula—just the town we were in at the time.

Dianne Peterson: At home with my family, and my grown daughters will be joining us.

Peek-a-boo-hoo: Each year our kids would always find their presents and peek at them before Christmas. So one year we wrapped crappy gifts like old lady stretch pants and underwear and hid them. We knew they found them when they were pouting and not talking to us, then broke down and confessed that they hated our gifts. On Christmas we finally gave them what they wished for and they were pretty surprised.

Eliza Oborne: Here at home with my boyfriend and Carl the cat. Joy to the world: When my dad decided we needed wild boar for dinner but then he didn’t know how to cook it ... so we ordered pizza.

[4] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

Sometimes it’s valuable to see an alternate view, to listen to an alternate voice. In fact, I think we were all taught that it’s tough to have a well-rounded and rational opinion unless you do. Unfortunately, Joe Morgan’s letter in the Dec. 5 issue hit a terribly flat note and belly-flopped a far cry from harmonizing with mine.

“Pack Pride,” a column published in the Indy on Nov. 14, by Marybeth Holleman, discusses the significance of indiscriminate wolf hunting. The conclusion is that it makes matters worse from a management standpoint, and published data verifies it. FWP is handing wolf permits out to hunters who are unable to discriminate between an alpha and other family members.

We could have predicted that, and there’s really no way to prevent it outside of banning wolf hunting entirely. But now we see that FWP is also handing permits out to people who are unable to discriminate between dogs and wolves (see “etc.. Sure, malamutes look like wolves, but a fullgrown malamute is about ¾ the size of a full-grown wolf (not to mention wolves typically don’t have flashing collars). White-tail and mule deer share a number of common features as well, but aren’t there repercussions for confusing them?

I don’t doubt that both the hunter and victim feel terrible. I’m sorry for both of them. I’m also sorry for the other folks whose dogs or legs will, in time, get caught in traps or shot. The FWP disregarded foresight that all but guaranteed these sorts of things would happen in favor of appeasing the ag industry and taking permit money to the bank. Who’s surprised? What disappoints me most is that there are people who have a mind to victim-shame a guy who lost one of his best pals to six high-caliber rounds only because he wanted to take him for a ski.

Malcolm Gilbert Missoula

Accountability issue The recent shooting death of Layne Spence’s malamute has left public land users stunned. A hunter thought Spence’s dog—wearing a lighted collar—was a wolf, and fired a dozen shots after Spence made his presence known to the hunter. Perhaps as shocking as the failure to properly identify a target before shooting—the cardinal rule of hunting—is the dismissive inquiry into the matter by Missoula County and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Despite the recklessness of firing over a dozen rounds in the direction of Spence and his dogs 30 yards away, clearly creat-

L

ing a substantial risk of death or serious injury, no charges were filed against the hunter and the investigation closed within 24 hours. The Missoula County Sheriff ’s Office explained in a release: “These events are very unfortunate.” However there was no finding of criminal intent.

Likewise, FWP declined to press charges against the hunter as no game animals were involved. While the hunter has since come forward and given his story, the county attorney’s office has been reluctant to release either the hunter’s name or the file to Spence.

“What disappoints me most is that there are people who have a mind to victim-shame a guy who lost one of his best pals to six high-caliber rounds only because he wanted to take him for a ski.”

Wolf hunting season, which lasts six months, also allows for trapped or shot wolves to be simply “left in the field” (read: rot). This naturally reduces the onus on hunters to truly confirm their target, promoting a shoot now, ask later approach, as in the case of Spence’s dog.

This sensitive issue which will not go away is based neither on hunting nor the Second Amendment; it’s instead about accountability when a person fires a weapon. Recreationists who enjoy public lands must speak up and refuse to be held hostage by the fear that either negligent hunters or lax law enforcement can sim-

ply walk from such a tragic event, which could easily occur again.

William E. Rideg Missoula

Ravalli follies The sagebrush rebellion has arrived in the Bitterroot at the invitation of County Commissioner Suzy Foss, who brought in Ken Ivory, a slick lawyer from Utah (see “Power grab,” Nov. 21). He delivered a barrage of words like a drone attack launched from his mouth designed to stupefy the already stupefied. It’s really not hard to see the elephant Ivory try to hide behind his mind-numbing endless veil of words.

Ivory repeatedly mentioned this state or that state that used to be “more than 90 percent public land but is now less than 5 percent.” The big elephant that Ivory doesn’t want to talk about is, what happened to the missing 85 percent of land? Answer: It was sold, i.e. privatized.

Commissioner Chilcott is also trying to hide the elephant of privatization. He claims the commission is not talking about selling public land. I’m not surprised to hear that, because privatization of public land generally means “no trespassing” signs and loss of public access, especially when it is large chunks of land.

Chilcott says, “Whoever raises that issue is making it up. This is not about class warfare.” That’s right, Mr. Chilcott—it’s simply the observable truth. If it was class warfare it wouldn’t be from those raising the issue, but from those pushing the plebes out. Maybe Chilcott just doesn’t want this loss-of-access elephant to be associated with the Republican icon.

One of the many states Ivory mentions as an admirable example is North Dakota, where public land access has decreased to less than 3 percent and is still being sold off. They have about 700,000 acres left in the entire state for the public to recreate on. That is smaller than the West Fork District of the Bitterroot National Forest.

Commissioner Foss, thank you for mobilizing Tea Party opposition. Please bring Ivory back closer to election time.

Larry Campbell Darby Correction: Two images in last week’s feature, “Bird in a bind,” should have credited to Jeremy R. Roberts and Conservation Media in addition to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Indy regrets the error.

etters Policy: The Missoula Independent welcomes hate mail, love letters and general correspondence.

Letters to the editor must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime phone number for confirmation, though we’ll publish only your name and city. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication.

Preference is given to letters addressing the contents of the Independent. We reserve the right to edit letters for space and clarity. Send correspondence to: Letters to the Editor, Missoula Independent, 317 S. Orange St., Missoula, MT 59801, or via email: editor@missoulanews.com.

Your safety is our top priority Transporting natural gas through pipelines is a safe and reliable means of delivering the energy that our customers depend on.

And at NorthWestern Energy, we’re committed to ensuring the safe and reliable operation of our entire natural gas pipeline system and related equipment by performing regular physical checks and tests. Whether you’re a natural gas user or not, there could be natural gas pipelines running under your property. That’s why we ask that you follow these important natural gas safety rules and report any suspicion of leaks.

Signs of a natural gas pipeline leak may include: • A hissing or whooshing sound.

•

Dirt being blown into the air.

•

Water bubbling or shooting into the air from a pond, creek or puddle.

•

A skunk-like odor or, dying shrubs or grass, perhaps near healthy plantings.

•

An area of dead vegetation.

If you observe any of these signs of a natural gas pipeline leak: • Extinguish smoking materials and other small flames.

Potential hazards: Fire or explosion • Extremely flammable – easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames.

•

Will form explosive mixtures with air.

•

Vapor may travel to ignition source and flashback when ignited.

Health • If sour gas (hydrogen sulfide) is present, an immediate, extreme health hazard exists.

•

Natural gas acts as an anesthetic at high concentrations (i.e. enclosed spaces causing displacement of oxygen), producing dizziness, headache, loss of coordination and narcosis.

Eliminate other sources of ignition (e.g., a nearby car with the engine running, cellphones).

•

Extremely high concentrations can cause irritation or asphyxiation by exclusion of oxygen.

•

Leave the immediate area.

•

•

From a safe distance, call 911.

Natural gas may or may not contain mercaptans to odorize.

If it does not, natural gas is odorless, tasteless and colorless.

•

Fire may produce irritating and/or toxic gases.

•

DO NOT attempt to extinguish a burning gas leak.

•

Contractors: Turn off and abandon equipment. Do no attempt to move any machinery.

•

Do not re-enter the area until you have been advised that it’s safe.

NorthWesternEnergy.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [5]

[news]

WEEK IN REVIEW

VIEWFINDER

by Cathrine L. Walters

Wednesday, December 11 During a meeting in Missoula, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee votes unanimously to recommend that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proceed with plans to remove Endangered Species Act protections for grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Thursday, December 12 Jordan Graham, the 22-year-old newlywed who pushed her husband off a cliff in Glacier National Park this summer, pleads guilty to second-degree murder. Her sentencing date is set for March 27, 2014.

Friday, December 13 Old Time Montana, a group dedicated to promoting old time music (not bluegrass!) through monthly jam sessions at Montgomery Distillery, hosts the Winter Moon Square Dance at Stage 112 in Missoula.

The crowd dances to banjos, basses and sweet whining fiddles.

Saturday, December 14 Missoula police arrest 25-year-old Tyler Dan Perry after he allegedly beats his grandmother to death with a chair in the house they share on Kent Avenue. Perry allegedly says he killed her because she had a “third eye” and that “everybody knew we needed to bash her over the head.”

Sunday, December 15 Planned Parenthood of Montana and the Montana Primary Care Association host an event at the Missoula Public Library to help locals sign up for health insurance on the federal online exchange. Fourteen people, young and old, show up to talk with trained navigators who are not intimidated by Healthcare.gov.

Monday, December 16 More than 80 people file into the Best Western Plus in Kalispell to hear Kirk Mackenzie, founder of the group Defend Rural America, give a rambling two-hour speech in which he likens “neo-environmentalists” to communists and terrorists.

Multiple state legislators attend the event.

Tuesday, December 17 The Montana Public Service Commission refuses to reconsider its November decision to increase rates for Mountain Water Co. customers in Missoula, despite a request by the Montana Consumer Counsel for it to do so.

Beatrice Erickson, 9, skates to Jewel’s “Sov Gott” during the Missoula Figure Skating Club’s Dec. 15 “Holiday on Ice” performance at Glacier Ice Rink.

Ornithology

Bird count draws a crowd Retired forester Jim Brown leads his crew of three on a recent Saturday morning onto the grassy stubble of a private ranch west of Missoula. As the team marches across the field, a handful of gray partridges flush and disappear into the tall grass. Song sparrows chirp from inside a shed and a juvenile bald eagle soars overhead.

The team notes each sighting as part of the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count, which sends birders into the field each December to tally species across the country.

The best sighting of the day: A flock of 200 bohemian waxwings take flight from a tree and, in perfect unison, dodge left and right, up and down, as a hungry merlin chases them through the sky.

“The waxwings are an arctic bird,” says Brown.

“They only come down here in winter.”

Brown would know. He helped found Missoula’s Five Valleys Audubon Society in 1976 and he has participated in the bird count for decades. He explains that at the turn of the 20th century, there was a holiday tradition called the Christmas “Side Hunt.” Friends and

neighbors would go to a field, choose sides, and try to kill as many birds as possible, no matter the size or the species. The winner was the team that had the most dead birds at the end of the day.

Frank Chapman, an Audubon official, organized the first Christmas Bird Count in 1900 to encourage people to count birds during the holiday season rather than kill them. A century later the count is perhaps the nation’s longest running experiment in citizen science.

“It’s fun and it’s science,” says Brown. “It helps us understand how things like climate change affect birds.

For instance, we are seeing more flickers than we did 30 years ago in wintertime and we think they are benefiting from milder winters.”

Cornell University compiles the data from each year’s bird count, and develops software to track the prevalence and movement of different species across the country and the world.

In Missoula, 16 groups with a total of 76 people went into the field this year to count birds. By the end of the day, the Missoula circle, as it’s known, counted 9,415 birds and 83 different species. There were 31 different bird count circles planned in Montana this winter.

Jimmy Tobias

Times Run 12/20/13 - 12/26/13

Cinemas, Live Music & Theater Closed Christmas Eve Tuesday 12/24

All Is Lost Nightly at 7 & 9 Sat matinee at 1 & 3

Great Expectations Nightly at 7 Sat matinee at 1

Enough Said Nightly at 9:15 Sat matinee at 3:15

www.thewilma.com

[6] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

Beer & Wine AVAILABLE

131 S. Higgins Ave. Downtown Missoula 406-728-2521

Roll credits

Village 6 gets 86’d Carmike Cinemas has closed the Village 6 on South Reserve Street, leaving Missoula with only one movie theater for major studio releases.

The Independent learned Dec. 9 that Village 6 staff had been notified of the impending closure. Messages left with Carmike’s corporate offices in Columbus, Ga., were not returned. Local managers are not authorized to speak to the media, but did confirm that movie times for the Village 6 would not be supplied beyond Dec. 12.

The next day the Village 6 marquee announced the closing and directed patrons to the Carmike 12.

The Carmike 12 is now the only local theater that screens major studio releases, such as the current lineup including Frozen and The Hunger Games. The Wilma Theatre and the newly revived Roxy mostly specialize in independent, art house and foreign films.

Brendan Cashin, who worked at the Village 6 for more than a year, says his manager contacted him Sunday about the closure. Cashin says he was offered the chance to transfer to the Carmike 12. He declined and resigned instead, adding that the intimate Southside lo-

[news] cation had a dedicated following and different feel than the Reserve Street cineplex.

“We had regulars and they would say we treated them better,” says Cashin, who acknowledges he did not get along with the Village 6’s new manager and did not like working at the Carmike 12. “They felt our theater was more comfortable. I loved the theater, but not the job, at least not recently.”

Carmike Cinemas, which closed the Cine 3 on Brooks Street in 2006, continues to make changes nationwide to adjust to a changing entertainment industry. The company’s stock has risen in the last four years from a low of $8 per share in 2009 to more than $24 today under CEO David Passman, who has aggressively paid down debt, updated or built new theaters, and closed underperforming locations. Carmike renovated the Carmike 12 in 2011 to add a “BigD” theater.

As of June 30, Carmike owned 245 theaters and 2,476 screens in 35 states.

The Village 6 location is surrounded by new development. The former Kmart building was recently torn down to make way for a new Cabela’s Outpost and Kohl’s department store. Petco is also expected to open along the strip. The Boot Barn, located next to the Village 6, opened last week.

Skylar Browning

soula Chamber of Commerce sounded much like the ACLU when expressing worry that the amendments would only move problems elsewhere. In a recent letter, Chamber President Kim Latrielle and Board of Directors Chairman Shawn Clouse warn that the amendments seem to “provide a special protection for downtown businesses while leaving locations outside of the (Business Improvement District) unprotected.”

Despite some opposition, the changes received overwhelming support from people who work downtown. Liquid Planet manager Chad Strickland testified

Downtown

City bans sidewalk sitting The Missoula City Council voted Dec. 16 to ban sitting, sleeping, lying and panhandling across much of downtown, despite taking heat from civil libertarians who accused the governing body of criminalizing homelessness.

“I feel kind of ashamed that we’re even having this conversation right now,” Missoula resident Tom Bassett said during a lengthy public hearing on the proposal.

“I’ve never heard of a more discriminatory regulation, ever. This is essentially trying to ban homeless people ...”

Montana ACLU staff attorney Anna Conley echoed Bassett’s concerns. She said that making more areas offlimits to loitering and panhandling would push poor people out of sight and “out of mind,” rather than rooting out unsavory behavior. “These amendments will not make Missoula a safer place,” Conley said.

Council’s 7-3 vote in favor of the amendments means that after a 90-day warning period, soliciting and loitering within 20 feet of a downtown doorway between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. becomes a misdemeanor punishable by not more than a $100 fine.

Entrances to all city footbridges and tunnels will also be off-limits.

Marking a seemingly unlikely convergence, the Mis-

that he and his employees regularly confront transients who steal, fight and use drugs. The overall environment, Strickland said, leaves Liquid Planet staffers frightened to take trash out to alley receptacles.

Dan Cederberg, who served on the Mayor’s Downtown Advisory Committee, which first proposed the amendments, also argued for the changes. He said that downtown residents and businesses have invested years of work into solving the problems of crime and homelessness, such as last year’s 10-year Plan to End Homelessness. He believes that characterizing supporters of stronger prohibitions as solely self interested is unfair.

“There are allegations made that we’re trying to criminalize homelessness or that we’re just a bunch of big bad business folks who are trying to run roughshod over the downtrodden,” Cederberg said. “I take strong exceptions to those kinds of statements.”

Jessica Mayrer

Rides

No answers from Ucallus While Ucallus founder Kevin Sandberg sits in jail, bartenders at the Union Club, Charlie B’s and the Iron

BY THE NUMBERS The weight, in tons, of oil refinery equipment expected to cross Lost Trail in the coming days on its way to a tar sands project in Alberta, Canada. It’s the first of three scheduled shipments by Omega Morgan.

450

Horse say they haven’t seen his cars around lately. The phone number for the nonprofit cab service designed to get drinkers home on a pay-what-you-can basis goes immediately to voicemail.

“We are back in business,” the message promises.

“If you could not get a hold of us we are probably busy.” The mailbox, however, remains full.

Sandberg, who started Ucallus in 2011, was arrested the week before Thanksgiving on misdemeanor charges of partner/family member assault, driving on a suspended license and one felony count of drug possession after police found meth in his pocket.

It’s unclear what impact Sandberg’s recent arrest will have on the cab company, but issues between himself and law enforcement have already burned bridges between Ucallus and Missoula community members.

The Missoula County DUI Task Force voted in September to stop endorsing Ucallus after Director Lonie Hutchison says that “numerous reports of unethical conduct” surfaced regarding Sandberg and his drivers.

Hutchison says last winter she was informed that several of Sandberg’s drivers were pulled over for traffic violations including speeding and failing to come to a complete stop at traffic lights, in some cases with passengers onboard. Hutchison says drivers were initially let off with warnings, the understanding being that a citation could cause a spike in liability insurance costs for Sandberg’s struggling company.

“We had brought it to Kevin’s attention, and he just kind of, you know, shrugged it off,” Hutchison says.

The last straw came on Sept. 5 when a highway patrol officer reported to the DUI Task Force that he had pulled Sandberg over for speeding in a Ucallus car, while on a suspended license. They voted unanimously to sever ties with Sandberg and to stop endorsing his service.

Hutchison hopes the idea of a nonprofit cab service can still forge ahead, perhaps under different leadership.

“We’re terribly disappointed. He let us down. He let the community down,” Hutchison says. “It doesn’t mean his program can’t keep going.”

Sandberg remains in jail on $30,000 bail.

Mike Gerrity

ETC. When Missoula City Council released the agenda for its final meeting of 2013, it became abundantly clear that Dec. 16 would be a big night. The public weighed in on a host of hot issues from the expansive Russell Street project to a proposed crackdown on “aggressive solicitation” in the downtown district. In the midst of all that heady debate—all five-and-ahalf hours of it—the council made quick work of approving an eyebrow-raising little item: A conditional use permit for a microbrewery on the corner of East Main and Pattee.

It’s a safe bet most of Missoula had the same reaction: “Another one?!”

Ice Bridge Brewing is the third proposed microbrewery to get the green light in the Missoula area in the past two months. Meg Gorseth, who is co-founding the Norwegianthemed Ice Bridge with her father, Mark Gorseth, says she understands the city might be nearing a saturation point. But she’s not convinced Missoula’s there quite yet.

“Maybe in the next couple years we will be, but we’re making it in by the skin of our teeth,” she says.

Missoula’s brewing community hasn’t seen a surge like this in … well, about three years.

Back in spring 2010, Big Sky Brewing cofounder Neal Leathers told the Indy he was surprised Missoula hadn’t given rise to a fourth brewery. The comment was barely six months old when Flathead Brewing opened the doors at its Missoula taproom. Tamarack followed several months later. And by fall 2011, beer was pouring from the taps at Missoula’s fourth locally born brewery, Draught Works.

Things went quiet until about two months ago, when news broke that Great Burn Brewing would be going up on Missoula’s Southside. Lolo Peak Brewing received approval to break ground just a few miles south in Lolo. That makes Ice Bridge the tenth taproom in the greater Missoula area. It will also be the first Montana brewery to share space with a distillery. The Gorseths will be splitting the old Firestone building with Montana Distillery, formerly known as Flathead Distillers of Eureka.

Gorseth says the current goal is to open in June and establish a niche as a Belgian-style brewery specializing in barrel-aged beers. She adds there’s “definitely still room” for more local breweries after Ice Bridge opens. Maybe, maybe not. But as far as nicknames go, “The Beer Garden City” does have a nice ring to it.

Bruce Adams Win a 50% OFF Merchandise Coupon Sign Up for our Weekly Drawing

Leather Goods – Great Footwear Downtown – 543-1128 www.hideandsole.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [7]

[news]

Sucker punch Alleged unprovoked downtown attack raises concerns

by Jessica Mayrer

the assailant either hit Talmo with something heavy from behind and sent him to the ground, where he landed unconscious on his face, or that Talmo was punched in the face and that his head snapped back to hit the building behind him.

Regardless of how it happened, why it happened remains frustratingly unclear.

The uncertainty has prompted some of Talmo’s acquaintances to speculate that he fell victim to what’s called “knockout,” a game in which people attempt to floor a victim in just one punch and then post the assaults online.

Knockout’s origins are disputed, but the media reported on a series of assaults in St. Louis in 2011, including one perpetrated by four young men who killed a 72year-old Vietnamese immigrant and injured his wife. In the wake of the St. Louis attacks, knockout reports surfaced in Washington, D.C., New Haven, Conn., and New York City.

While the media devotes a significant amount of attenphoto by Cathrine L. Walters tion to knockout, law enforceFriends of alleged victim Russ Talmo say that a recent unprovoked assault on Higgins ment cautions that the game Avenue should serve as a wake-up call for local residents. could be getting blown out of proportion. The New York didn’t understand. There was no exchange Talmo also lost a tooth, either as a result of Times last month quoted New York Police of words and no obvious aggressive postur- the assailant’s blow, Fritz says, or while land- Commissioner Raymond Kelly saying, “We’re trying to determine whether or not this is a ing before the man attacked, sending Talmo ing on the sidewalk.

Fritz says her son is still in a consider- real phenomenon.” crumbling to the ground.

In Missoula, Sgt. Welsh tells the Inde“He was basically already unconscious able amount of pain. Though he was dis(before he hit the ground),” Fairbank says. charged Dec. 9 from the hospital, he had to pendent that he hadn’t heard of the game be readmitted on Dec. 13. Talmo, 35, was until a reporter covering the Talmo case “It happened all in just a few seconds.” asked him about it.

Fairbank dropped to her knees and again released Dec. 17.

Garton, Fairbank and Fritz say they don’t Since moving to Missoula 13 years ago, asked Talmo to respond. He didn’t. “It was unprovoked,” she says. “(It) seems totally Talmo has been involved with numerous care so much about what to call the unprolocal organizations. He volunteers on the voked violence directed at Talmo and at random.”

Thompson says he was about a half- Missoula Ultimate Federation Board of Di- knockout victims, but believe the incident block behind Talmo and Fairbank, and en- rectors and works as a conservationist, most deserves attention. “Give it a name, don’t gaged in another conversation when the recently as a project assistant for Defenders give it a name,” Garton says. “It’s still the attack occurred. He agrees that the assault of Wildlife. His friends are holding a same thing.”

The effects of the attack are still being appeared unprovoked. “Things happened fundraiser on Dec. 19 at Montgomery Disfelt by Talmo and witnesses. Fritz says her way too fast for anything to have been said,” tillery to help cover his medical expenses.

“He’s a good person who treats people son worries when she leaves his side at the Thompson says.

Thompson and other onlookers tried to very well,” says Katy-Robin Garton, a friend hospital and asks her to get a security escort stop the assailant, but before they could he who immediately visited Talmo at the hospi- to her car. As for Fairbank, she’s having a hopped into the car and sped off. Witnesses tal following the attack. “You always think hard time sleeping and is now wary of walkreport there was more than one suspect in- that good people don’t deserve to have bad ing downtown.

“It’s a really scary thing to think that things happen to them.” volved in the attack.

Largely because Talmo doesn’t remem- there’s someone out there who’s willing to As of press time, the Missoula Police Department had released few details about ber the assault and since witnesses including do this to somebody randomly, who they the alleged beating, other than to say that Fairbank and Thompson didn’t actually see don’t even know,” she says. law enforcement responded to the scene. it occur, Fritz is working to piece together jmayrer@missoulanews.com “We did find a male on the sidewalk,” says what happened to her son. She believes that On Dec. 7, Russ Talmo, Liz Fairbank, Erik Thompson and another person left a friend’s graduation party at Charlie B’s in downtown Missoula and walked south on Higgins Avenue toward their homes. The group toyed with the idea of grabbing a latenight snack, ultimately deciding against it.

None of them could’ve anticipated what happened next.

Fairbank says a man standing next to a parked vehicle muttered something that she

2nd Annual Christmas Steamer

$5

=

1 bowl of PennCove mussels and a tasty draught pint

Friday, December 20th ~ 4 pm 915 Toole Ave

~ 406.541.1592

[8] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

MPD Sgt. Travis Welsh. “The case is active and ongoing.”

Talmo, meanwhile, was hospitalized following the attack. His mother, Linda Fritz, who last week flew in from her Colorado home to care for her son, says that Talmo’s injuries range from bleeding and swelling on the brain to multiple hairline skull fractures and a fractured orbital socket. Talmo’s eyes were nearly swollen shut. Doctors used staples to close a gash in the back of his head.

[news]

Distilling defined State struggles to revise microdistillery laws

by Alex Sakariassen

Next month, the Montana Department of Revenue will host a public hearing on proposed amendments to how the state’s booming microdistilling industry conducts business. It marks the first hard look officials have taken at the law since establishing the Montana Microdistilling Act in 2005, and, if approved, the revisions would dramatically alter what craft distillers are allowed to sell in tasting rooms.

State Liquor Control Administrator Shauna Helfert says part of the motivation to revisit the language was to clear up ambiguities regarding what qualifies as liquor produced on premise. As the industry has grown, some in-state microdistilleries have turned to sourcing spirits from other distill-

sourced bourbon and either blending it with their own, as Willie’s does, or simply re-barreling and bottling it under their own label.

Indiana-based MGP Ingredients, one of the nation’s leading suppliers of beverage alcohol, noted this fall that increasing sales of its premium bourbons and whiskeys “continue to have a positive impact on profitability.”

Federal regulations are strict regarding how such products are labeled—a measure designed to offer some transparency for consumers. But the use of sourced spirits has caused friction among distillers in Montana, with some asking the state to step in.

“If you’re going to do it, you should label it, and you should have to tell people.

You shouldn’t be able to lie about it,” says

photo by Cathrine L. Walters

The Montana Department of Revenue has proposed revisions to the state’s microdistillery laws, and not all craft distillers are happy about it.

eries to craft certain beverages. For example, Willie’s Distillery in Ennis uses sourced spirits in its chokecherry liqueur. Co-owner Robin Blazer explains the company does so out of necessity, since it cannot produce the appropriate alcohol with its own small-batch whiskey and brandy still.

Under the new amendment, which requires that 90 percent of the liquor sold in a microdistillery’s tasting room be distilled on site, Willie’s would no longer be allowed to sell the liqueur at its own location. The proposed revisions would do nothing to limit what distilleries can produce for sale through state liquor stores or out-of-state distributors.

The issue is hardly exclusive to Montana.

As the craft distilling industry has taken off nationwide, many start-ups have turned to sourced spirits as a raw ingredient for some or all of their liquors. Others are purchasing

Carl Bock, owner and operator of Steel Toe Distillery near Potomac, which produces what Bock calls an all-Montana “Prohibitionstyle whiskey” (read: moonshine). “There should be transparency there. If you’re pimping yourself as a Montana product, you should be a Montana product.”

Montana law does allow for use of sourced spirits. Ryan Montgomery, cofounder of Missoula’s Montgomery Distillery, isn’t bothered by the pratice itself. Like most critics, he’s concerned about the level of transparency with which those distillers operate.

“Really now, the whole movement behind craft, whether it’s craft brewing or craft distilling or craft cheesemaking, is we offer something different than the large corporations can offer,” Montgomery says. “When something bills itself as craft and is simply buying something from these large corpora-

tions and bottling it, I think it damages the whole brand of craft.”

Blazer says her company’s use of sourced spirits is “as transparent as the day is long. All you have to do is turn the bottle over, ask the question.” With the Montana Wild Chokecherry Liqueur, the label reads “produced by” and not “distilled by,” in accordance with federal law. Willie’s website, however, makes no mention of ingredients from outside Montana.

Blazer likens sourced spirits to one of the base ingredients in a pie.

“I’m a pie-maker,” she says, “but I don’t make my own butter, and I don’t grind my own cinnamon or go find my own vanilla. I purchase those individual ingredients, I put it together and I make it into my own recipe that’s mine. Then it’s mine. It’s my pie, I made it.”

Blazer adds that crafting the base spirit, essentially vodka, is the “easiest part” of the distilling process. If people don’t believe the end product is truly theirs, she says, “they’re wrong.”

Willie’s isn’t the only distillery concerned about the impact of the proposed amendments. Headframe Spirits in Butte would similarly be banned from selling its popular Orphan Girl Bourbon Cream Liqueur in its tasting room. Co-owner John McKee explains that the base cream used in the recipe has alcohol mixed into it at the dairy to make it shelf stable. Since his distillery is not a registered dairy, he would be unable to produce that cream himself. McKee and Blazer both see the new regulations as indicative of a broader lack of understanding about how complex the liquor world really is, particularly among state regulators.

“It unfortunately doesn’t call into account how distilled spirits are actually made,” McKee says. “It calls into account how one classification is made, but not how all distilled spirits are made.”

Despite the differences of opinion among Montana’s distillers, McKee believes it’s time for those in the industry to band together. Everyone can agree that rules need to evolve as craft distilling grows, he says, but there are bigger concerns out there— namely, the fact that the proposed regulations appear to favor the Montana Tavern Association, which has taken significant issue with microbrewery and microdistillery tasting rooms over the years.

“A rising tide lifts all ships,” McKee says.

“All of us together expressing our opinions and coming to a plan together is ultimately going to be the best plan.” asakariassen@missoulanews.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [9]

[opinion]

Let’s be real Daines votes against budget, falls back on familiar excuse

by Dan Brooks

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan budget bill. It was a remarkable achievement in much the same way that it’s a remarkable achievement when a toddler uses the toilet. Should the RyanMurray compromise make it through the Senate, it will be the first time Congress has passed a budget since 2009. Normally just passing something is not so great, but it’s thrilling when you’ve spent four years changing diapers.

The last time the House addressed fiscal issues, we had no federal government for 16 days. The time before that, Republicans and Democrats triggered sequestration—the across-the-board spending cuts Congress set up when it failed to agree the time before that, supposed to be so awful that negotiators would have to compromise to avoid them.

That’ll teach Congress to bet on itself.

Sequestration is where we are now, but for the first time in four years, our elected representatives are passing a federal budget. It spends a little more money than we do now, but it reduces the federal deficit over the next 10 years. The best part is not the numbers so much as that Republicans and Democrats actually agreed on them.

To continue our metaphor of diminished expectations, it’s as if Mom and Dad took their toddler to Chili’s and had a nice dinner without anyone shouting or throwing his Loaded Potato Skins. It’s not a happy marriage, but in this historical moment it’s a heartening sign. Almost everyone agreed to compromise on their disagreements, and the Ryan-Murray deal passed the House 332–94.

Rep. Steve Daines, Montana’s Republican congressman, was one of the 94 who voted “no.” He saw the opportunity to end four years of partisan gridlock, and he didn’t take it.

The reason, according to his official statement, was that the Ryan-Murray budget relies on long-term spending cuts to offset short-term increases from sequestration. “We need to continue working toward real solutions that get our country back on track and

ensure a better future for the next generation,” he said.

There’s that word I don’t like: “real.” I am like a toddler who tried to use the toilet once, and there was a snake in it. Whenever someone says “real,” I get sad and damp.

In this case, Daines appears to be using the word “real” to refer to “something that does not exist.” The Ryan-Murray budget is a real solution, both in that a House committee wrote it out line-by-line

“It was a remarkable achievement in much the same way that it’s a remarkable achievement when a toddler uses the toilet.” and in that it stands a good chance of passing the Senate. Daines’ “real solutions that get our country back on track,” by contrast, are totally imaginary.

This is not the first time Daines has abused the word “real.” Back in October, when Congress lifted the debt ceiling and reopened the federal government, Daines lamented the missed opportunity to discuss “real solutions that deal with our spending and balance the budget.”

That statement used the word “real” twice in three sentences. “Montanans want long-term reforms and real solutions,” he wrote, “not more of Washington’s persistent failures to resolve its spending addiction.”

Daines did not specify the “real” solu-

tion that offered an alternative to what Congress had done. If we’re talking about persistent failures, though, I might mention the first piece of legislation he introduced as a representative: the Balanced Budget Accountability Act. That bill proposed that members of Congress would receive no pay unless they passed a budget that would balance within 10 years.

You’d think that representatives from both parties would love the idea of not paying themselves unless they did something they’ve never done, but Daines’ bill went into committee in February and hasn’t emerged. GovTrack.us gives it a 6 percent chance of passing both chambers.

Of the nine bills that Daines has sponsored since entering the House, exactly zero have become law. He has cosponsored six bills that passed the House and Senate and were signed by President Obama, but on average each of those bills was also cosponsored by 171 other members.

So far, Daines has not fulfilled his promise to find “real solutions” to the problems facing this country. He has proposed a number of exciting theoretical solutions, but they have remained just that.

Also, he is running for the Senate. Even more than the House, that chamber is paralyzed by a lack of comity—an inability to settle on real solutions. There are plenty of members shouting about fun ideologies, but agreement—the kind of real compromise that makes representative government work—is in short supply.

Maybe Daines has plenty of the “real solutions” he cites when expressing his opposition to actual bills, and he just hasn’t told us about them yet. Or maybe he has hit on that phrase as a fine way to talk about fake ideas. The voters of Montana should think about whether we want to make him a senator to find out.

Dan Brooks writes about politics, culture and lying at combatblog.net. His column appears every other week in the Independent.

photo courtesy of the Office of Steve Daines

[10] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

[opinion]

FREE

$20

Limiting choice Why Republicans hope a top-two primary prevails

by Gabriel Furshong

For most Montanans, the last session of our state legislature is a distant memory.

We’ve had better than half the year to heal from any lasting political injury, and the parade of newspaper headlines about partisan hardball in Helena won’t begin marching again until January 2015.

But for Mike Fellows, chairman of Montana’s Libertarian Party, forgetting hasn’t been so easy. Although the session ended more than seven months ago, he hasn’t been able to stop worrying about Senate Bill 408, a top legislative priority for Republicans, which passed on a party-line vote during the final week of the session.

The bill placed Legislative Referendum 127 on the 2014 ballot. The referendum asks voters to replace Montana’s open primary election with a top-two primary. An open primary requires citizens to vote on a single-party ballot of their choosing and allows the top vote-getter from each political party, including third parties, to advance to the general election. A top-two primary lumps all candidates into a single primary regardless of party affiliation and allows only the top-two vote-getters to advance to the general election.

Republicans have defended the measure as an effort to ensure that candidates who win the general election receive a majority of the vote instead of a plurality of the vote, which is sometimes the case in a threeway race between candidates from three different parties. However, if LR 127 were approved, it would likely prevent third party candidates and independents from reaching a general election. Fellows believes that this is the true motive behind the Republican push for a top-two primary.

“The independent view is going to be wiped out because they’ll never make it out of the primary,” Fellows told me over coffee in downtown Missoula, where he’s lived since 1983.

He points out that Washington state hasn’t had a third party candidate for statewide office on the general election ballot since it moved to a top-two primary in 2008. Fellows predicts that a top-two primary would have the same effect in Mon-

tana, reducing the choices available to voters in the general election. “LR 127 is designed to get rid of the competition,” Fellows argues, “namely Libertarians.”

At first blush, this seems like a questionable argument. After all, the Montana Libertarian Party doesn’t appear to represent much of a political threat. Between 1998 and 2010, Libertarians ran in 14 statewide races and averaged just 3.2 percent of the vote. According to Fellows, the party has approximately 500 members and an email list of about 1,000 people. These aren’t numbers generally associated with a political powerhouse.

“The independent view is going to be wiped out because they’ll never make it out of the primary.”

Yet, a closer look reveals that the party has lately had an outsized impact on Montana’s elections. In 2006, perennial Libertarian candidate Stan Jones ran for U.S. Senate and received 10,377 votes, about 3,000 more than the gap between incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns and Democratic challenger Jon Tester.

Part of the post-election narrative that year was that Jones’ supporters were disgruntled Republicans who thought Burns was too cozy with lobbyists. A spoiler scenario seemed unlikely to happen again. Then came the Tea Party surge in 2010 with its accompanying anti-tax narrative, which at a basic level was consistent with Libertarian values. That year, Fellows’ share of the electorate in the U.S. House race nearly doubled from his previous average to 5.7 percent, foreshadowing a historic year for Libertarians in 2012.

Last year, Sen. Jon Tester beat Congressman Dennis Rehberg in the race for U.S. Senate by 18,072 votes. Dan Cox, a Libertarian newcomer, received 31,892 votes or 6.6 percent of the vote. To make matters worse for the GOP, Montana’s Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock beat former Republican Congressman Rick Hill by 7,572 votes in the race for governor. Libertarian Ron Vandevender, another first-time candidate, received 18,160 votes.

Following that election, Montana Republican Party Chairman Will Deschamps decried Libertarians as the spoilers in both races, implying that Libertarian candidates have more in common with Republicans than Democrats. But Fellows questions this assumption, saying it’s unclear who would have won these races if Libertarian candidates hadn’t been on the general election ballot.

He bolsters his argument by citing this year’s race for governor in Virginia, where exit polls revealed Libertarian voters as younger, white, pro-choice individuals who do not identify with Democrats or Republicans. This profile also reflects a national Libertarian Party platform that shares key planks with both major parties, including a woman’s right to choose and an absolute right to bear arms.

While it remains unclear which of the two major political parties has the most in common with Libertarian voters, Montana Republicans have placed a bet that a top-two primary will result in more Republicans getting elected in Montana. They’re also betting that Montana voters will give them this advantage by passing LR 127 and decreasing the choices available to voters in future general elections.

Fellows, who has run for office in the last eight election cycles, is willing to take that bet. “Voters want the free market of ideas,” he says. “I think Montanans are going to look past the Republican rhetoric and they’re going to say ‘we do want choices’ in November.”

GIFT CARD WHEN YOU PURCHASE $100 IN GIFT CARDS

(WHITE ELEPHANT RECOMMENDED) MUSTARDSEEDWEB.COM DINE IN | TAKE OUT | DELIVERY 542.SEED

editor@missoulanews.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [11]

[quirks]

CURSES, FOILED AGAIN - Police investigating a burglary in Lake Worth, Fla., identified Derek Codd, 19, as their suspect because he left his cellphone at the scene, and his mother called. Investigators answered and asked the woman whose phone it was. They then arrested Codd and Kristen Rynearson, 19, with the stolen goods. (South Florida Sun Sentinel) Authorities in Jonesboro, Ark., thwarted Larry Barnett’s plan to have a former employee murdered because the intended victim overheard the plot for himself when Barnett, 68, butt-dialed him while talking to a third party about burning down the man’s house “with him in it.” The call lasted 90 minutes, giving the target time to alert police, who found his gas stove had been tampered with. (Jonesboro’s KAIT-TV)

SUNNY DAZE - Utility companies in Georgia, Arizona, California and Idaho, fearing the loss of revenue from customers who install rooftop solar panels, are proposing to charge solar customers extra or to roll back programs that allow those customers to trade the solar power they generate for power from the grid that they need when the sun isn’t shining. Georgia Power, for example, wants owners of basic home solar systems to pay an extra $22 a month. (Associated Press) Most solar panels are facing the wrong way, according to a study by the Pecan Street Research Institute. Instead of pointing south as most do, panels pointed west produce 49 percent more electricity during peak demand time. (Treehugger.com)

SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION - Adrian Laroze Briskey, 28, shot and killed a fellow University of Alabama football fan, according to police in Hoover, Ala., because she didn’t think the victim seemed sufficiently upset when rival Auburn beat the Crimson Tide. “She said we weren’t real Alabama fans because it didn’t bother us that they lost,” the victim’s sister, Nekesa Shepherd, said, adding that Briskey flew into a rage.

“And then she started shooting.” (Associated Press) Daniel Pirtie, 46, shot a Wal-Mart assistant manager at a store in Anchorage, Alaska, who asked him to leave after he wouldn’t put his service dog on a leash inside the store. After wounding Jason Mahi, 33, Pirtie, a double amputee, tried to flee in a motorized shopping cart, but police arrived and stopped him at the door. (Anchorage Daily News) Alex Rossi attacked his father at a home in Lyman, S.C., after the father confronted him about cheese packets missing from a box of macaroni and cheese. The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office arrest report said that Rossi chased after the victim and then punched him in the face and head. (Greenville’s WSPA-TV) James L. Cothran, 70, told sheriff’s deputies in Culleoka, Tenn., that he shot his wife to death after she threatened him with a kitchen knife because he refused to take off the shoes he was wearing. The shoes had belonged to the victim’s father, who died 30 years ago, according to the police report, which said the two argued for about 30 minutes until Cothran fired his .22 magnum revolver at his wife, claiming that she “had a crazy look in her eyes.” (Columbia’s The Daily Herald)

HAZARDS OF CABIN LIFE - A man was shot while sitting on the toilet in a cabin in Norway’s Hvaler district when a hunter aiming at a moose missed. Police investigator Anders Stroemsaether told public broadcaster NRK that the bullet whizzed past the animal, pierced the cabin’s wooden wall and wounded the man in the stomach. (Reuters) HEISTS OF THE WEEK - New York City police accused William Footman, 55, of as many as 37 bank thefts in 11 weeks, according to an official at JPMorgan Chase, his preferred target. Investigators said that the thief never took money, however, only rugs inside the front door. “I sell them to bodegas,” Footman explained, adding that he got $30 or higher per rug. (The New York Times) British police reported that thieves cut a hole in the curtain side of a delivery truck parked in Cookhill, Worcestershire, and stole more than 6,000 cans of baked beans with sausages. Police appealed for information “about anyone trying to sell large quantities of Heinz baked beans in suspicious circumstances.”

(BBC News)

FACT OR FICTION? - Costco apologized for selling Bibles in the fiction section of its store in Simi Valley, Calif., after church pastor Caleb Kaltenbach noticed them there while shopping. Two weeks later, newspaper columnist Robin Abcarian was shopping at another Costco near Los Angeles and spotted movie character Ron Burgundy’s “autobiography” in the non-fiction section. (Los Angeles Times)

GOVERNMENT GIVEAWAY PROGRAMS - The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives misplaced 420 million cigarettes—more than 2.1 million cartons—during at least 20 separate sting operations, according to the Justice Department’s inspector general. The agency also misused some of the $162 million in profits from the stings, including letting a tobacco distributor working as a confidential informant keep $4.9 million received from cigarette sales to criminal suspects. ATF Director B. Todd Jones blamed management and oversight lapses but insisted that “the report’s findings do not reflect current ATF policy or practice.” (Associated Press) The Internal Revenue Service issued tax refunds totaling $4 billion to identity thieves last year, according to a Treasury Department inspector general’s report. In one case, the IRS sent 655 tax refunds to a single address in Lithuania; in another, 343 refunds went to an address in Shanghai. The good news, IG J. Russell George pointed out, is that the IRS stopped more than $12 billion in fraudulent refunds to identity thieves, compared with only $8 billion the year before. (Associated Press) An entrenched practice of claiming unearned overtime at the Department of Homeland Security costs taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year, according to the federal Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Many DHS employees consider the overtime their due, whistleblowers told the OSC, pointing out that government managers trying to recruit new employees often promote padding paychecks as a perk. “Employees will sit at their desks for an extra two hours, catching up on Netflix, talking to friends or using it for commuting time,” whistleblower Jose Rafael Ducos Bello said. “It’s pick-pocketing Uncle Sam.” (The Washington Post)

[12] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

Relax • Cleanse • Exfoliate • Hydrate DEEP TISSUE OR HOT STONE OR PRE-NATAL

BUY 1 GET 1!

Treat yourself & call to schedule with MICHELLE 541-1525

For every occasion a gift certificate is the perfect gift every time.

Wellness, relaxation, balance and more.

Prenatal massage for expectant moms is not only possible, but is safe and essential for circulation, flexibility, and well-being.

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [13]

[14] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

As my dad finished smoking two chickens and my mom’s chocolate chip cookies cooled on paper towels, Aunt Kathie sat in front of me considering my review of the movie. She put her hands on her lap and leaned back in the sofa. She had rimless glasses that moved up on her face as her smile grew larger. Suddenly, I wished I had just said I liked Brokeback Mountain. Suddenly, she wielded a power only family members of an older generation—people who remember Christmases when you pissed your pants and built block forts for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures—can wield.

“Well,” she said, “it sounds like someone has been spending too much time in Montana.”

A

fter my first semester of college in Missoula, I drove home to New Canaan, Conn., to spend Christmas with my family. This was in 2005, the year of Bush, YouTube, Benedict XVI, Katrina and the first human face transplant. It was also the year moviegoers watched handsome cowboys make out on the big screen, and the year I started to hate Christmas.

In New Canaan, the wealthier you are, the higher you live on the hill. The town of 20,000 people sprawls across undulating hardwood forests 50 miles from New York City, and the smallest homes on the smallest plots of land are near the bottoms of those hills, while the hedge fund managers live on top. My grandfather called the people on top “Ridge Runners.” I called him Big, because he was tall. He was a venture capitalist who got his start on Madison Avenue back when handsome Don Draper-type dudes made capitalism and chauvinism classy. Eventually Big earned enough to move to the suburbs and became a Ridge Runner. He and his wife, Henrietta, who was a poet and civil rights activist and who I called Little, raised their three children well above sea level in New Canaan.

When I was 8 or 9, Big gave my dad a plot of land just behind his home, where my dad built his own house.

We—my dad, my mom and I—lived in Big and Little’s backyard.

That Christmas in 2005, my dad’s family convened at our house. Big and Little had died within months of one another years before, and though a hedge of evergreens had been planted to separate our home from the new homeowners up the hill, I think my dad and his two sisters liked to spend Christmas in New Canaan because it felt like the only place their parents could still join us. By that time, I had also become aware of the fact that my parents sort of despised each other, and that my mom felt anxious around my dad’s sisters and that my aunts didn’t take my mom and her afflictions very seriously.

My Aunt Kathie—a Manhattan therapist whose partner, Betsy, is a Manhattan photographer—and I were sitting in the living room talking about my experience in Montana. She asked me if the fishing was as good as I hoped. She asked me how my writing was going and if I had met Judy Blunt, the author of that incredible book about growing up on ranches. The questions bothered me. They seemed less an inquiry into my life and more an effort to reveal the novelty of my decision to move to Missoula. I didn’t want to respond because I didn’t want to give the questions credence, but also, I didn’t have good answers. I had fished very little. I had written nothing outside of my requisite composition class. My inaugural months in Missoula were spent more or less distracted by the sporty people, music in parks, keg beer, pot and long lines of tan-legged girls waiting for ice cream cones. To that point, Missoula had been a satisfying college cliché, and here on Christmas, my aunt was making me feel shitty about it. Then she asked if I’d seen Brokeback Mountain.

I saw it the week before on my way back from Montana, somewhere in Wisconsin or Chicago. I was impressed by the performances of Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger and the scenes where they wrestled one another into moments of intimacy. I knew it was beautiful and that it did something. But as an 18-yearold freshman, I didn’t like the movie. I thought it was long and too quiet and slow-moving to make it worth the price of admission. I said this to my aunt, and although I was being genuine, I aimed to antagonize her.

Not long after that Christmas, my parents moved to Massachusetts and divorced. My half-sister, Kate, had a daughter before her marriage also ended. Aunt

Kathie’s son moved to California, my other halfsister to Maine. And I was living in Missoula, where the shape of my life was comfortingly malleable. By my early 20s, I decided family wasn’t a good enough reason to ever leave.

Holidays are strangely powerful days on the calendar when we are expected to feel things we might not be ready or willing to feel, spent with people we are meant to love but may not see often or know very well. Just as each family has its own makeup and stories, each family also has its own holiday expectations.

When you are young, as I still am, and your perspective is limited, this is a complicated proposition: Even as family changes, the time spent with one another is meant to feel the same. Or at least this is how I have felt since the Christmas of 2005.

When I was little, it was different. Ten years before Brokeback became the favorite euphemism of actual homophobes, I saved Christmas. I also saved the lives of two grandparents, three uncles, three aunts, six cousins, two parents and two cats. Christmases then were more about the promise of presents than anything else (which I now believe is not such a bad thing). It was also when my mom’s family gathered at the home of my mom’s mother, whom I called Emmie, and her husband George, whom I called Pa. They lived in a single-story house in Commack, Long Island, where the topography is mellow and gives way to the ocean.

About that time, I began to dread gathering with my mom’s family. I was a chubby kid who wore sweat pants to school and once poured a bottle of hydrogen peroxide into my hair to make it blonder. I was sensitive and sucked at math and soccer, and had recently stopped taking karate lessons after wetting my pants on the mat of the dojo. At this time my cousin, Kaitlyn, was becoming the sort of girl who expected all roads to be paved for her. It’s a quality that these days is sort of endearing, but as a 7-year-old she brandished it like a flame thrower, from which I was too slow to escape. She used to leave me out of games and call me fat. I recall a family reunion in the Poconos when Kaitlyn wouldn’t let me in a hot tub with the other cousins. I was probably 10, she was 8. I cried until I was hysterical, hyperventilating and wailing. My uncle recommended someone call an ambulance.

From inside the front door of Emmie and Pa’s house, the living room was to the right. There was a couch and armchairs, a coffee table with Swedish meatballs and mushrooms stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs and a Christmas tree, wrapped presents piled underneath. Straight ahead a doorway led to the dining room, where the grown-ups ate, then a kitchen and a den, where Pa liked to sit in a La-Z-Boy sipping gin and nibbling the corners from a Hershey bar. To the left of the front door was a room with a tiled floor, a skylight and a hot tub. It was there the kids were kept out of the way while the grown-ups ate—and where Kaitlyn could torment me.

I wanted to eat with my parents, but both of my uncles were former college lacrosse and football players who lifted weights and talked about it, and I didn’t want them to know I was scared of a little girl. So I

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [15]

just sort of avoided sitting down, got up for more turkey or went to the bathroom. Things were going well that Christmas. I don’t remember any run-ins with Kaitlyn. My strategy of avoidance was working.

At some point I walked through the dining room, past the table where the adults laughed and shouted over dinner, through the kitchen and into the den, where a muted TV showed sports.

The den was lowly lit. The faux leather of Pa’s recliner was cracked and worn soft in the seat and on the arm rests. My mom’s real father battled alcoholism and killed himself sometime after being divorced from my grandmother, when my mom was a teenager.

Long before I was born, Emmie married George, a pharmacist from Port Jefferson, Long Island, who loved her children as if they were his own. He also loved the Yankees and crossword puzzles and enjoying both from his recliner.

When his stepchildren had children, he loved them too and became known as Pa. The den was empty.

Next to the TV, lit candles stood on a mantle. Above that, a wreath hung on the wall. I don’t remember if I smelled it or if I just saw what was happening, but the wreath was fully on fire, a spire of black smoke crawling up the wall and pluming at the ceiling. I walked out of the den, through the kitchen and into the dining room. “There’s a fire in there,” I said.

The grown-ups pushed away from the table and ran to the den.

Someone called 911, and the kids were shooed out the front door. When the fire truck arrived, my uncle took charge. He was a volunteer fire fighter in New Jersey and offered advice to his colleagues from Commack as they put on their helmets and grabbed axes. The entire family was out in the street, washed in the red flashes of the fire truck. I don’t remember how long we stood there before someone said, “Jamie’s a hero!”

A few years after the fire, the family began to disperse. Pa was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He and Emmie moved into an assisted living facility on Long Island before moving into a golf course condo on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Physically, Pa couldn’t play golf, but also I think he hated the game. He was a baseball guy.

Two years ago, Pa died in Florida. Emmie has since remarried, and I’ve heard her new husband is very nice. For many people, the ideal of Christmas is cobbled together from a bank of childhood memories when the holiday exhilarated and buzzed with anticipation: treats and presents and time off from school.

As we age, we attach ourselves to those memories— to the phantom tingling we felt as young people on Christmas Eve—and they become an abstraction we call Christmas spirit. If I have Christmas spirit, it is sourced by the memory of Pa on two feet, and the lot of us standing out in the cold, as the fire fighters tore apart the wall where the wreath hung. In the end, most of the damage to the den was caused to make sure no embers remained—to put out completely the chance of the fire re-igniting. Huddled in the front yard, all of us facing the house and the lit Christmas

tree through a bay window, I remember my uncles, aunts, my mom and my dad laughing absurdly.

A decade after the fire, my dad left my mom. In the years leading up to the separation, Christmases

[16] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

had become fractured and inconsistent. A few gatherings were held at my parents’ new home in northern Massachusetts. Some were at Aunt Kathie’s apartment in Manhattan, which my mom didn’t attend. Others at my uncle’s house on Long Island, but the families had been spreading apart for years, and never were they all in the same place.

I became increasingly disenchanted with the holiday. My aunt’s latent observation that I was a homophobe wasn’t a cause for the way I began to feel about Christmas, but I used it as a justification for a cynicism that at some point I became proud of. To me, holidays unduly demanded feeling things about people who I only saw once or twice a year. And so I began to skip them, staying in Missoula or joining a friend rather than returning to the East Coast. And after my parents split, I stopped attending holidays with my dad’s family all together.

Two years ago, I devised a plan to have Christmas my own way, reinvented without the pretense and obligation of the family I was given, free to spend the day with the friends I had chosen. For dignity’s sake, the friends’ names have been changed.

After a morning spent trudging through knee-deep snow in the hills above the Clark Fork, my friend Davis and I returned to town with a sapling evergreen in the back of my truck. We stopped by China Buffet and ate a plate of lo mein and cashew chicken, and then a second and a third. Some time in the late afternoon, I built a bank of snow around the keg on the deck and the other orphans started to arrive.

They brought decorations, Christmas lights and tinsel and ornaments for the tree.

They drank from Solo cups and refilled them before they were empty. They wore ugly sweaters. At one point, my friend Chris pulled a bag from his jacket pocket and poured a little pile of cocaine onto a plate. For a moment, I was anxious because it was a sort of brash move, and I wasn’t sure how the 15 or so other orphans would feel about it. And after all, it was Christmas. But no one seemed to mind.

The night dragged on. I called my sister, Kate, back in New York City. Forever, she had been the most constant relationship in my family, a relative who was also a friend, a confidant and a counselor. In recent years, though, my absence at Christmas had driven a wedge between us. I’d tell her that I couldn’t afford the trip or more bluntly that I didn’t want to deal with the hassle. She would call me on it.

My niece, she would say, deserved to see her uncle.

Why I thought it necessary to call her that night is obvious—I had too much beer and too much of Chris’ party favor and felt the need to rub my newfound give-no-fucks attitude about Christmas in the

face of someone I missed. The conversation was brief.

She gifted me some laughs.

Eventually, people filtered out of the party. Hours before sunrise, it was just me and Chris and a few others, sitting in my ruined living room, watching YouTube videos. My dog sat on her bed with a dog I didn’t know, looking forlorn. The Christmas lights were on the floor and lit the room from the ground up, so the ceiling was dark. The kitchen floor was slick with dirty melted snow. All night, I had had reason to rejoice, feeling the levitating chemical surge of the holiday spirit, something I knew I wouldn’t feel with my family back east. But then it was the next morning, and everyone was gone. I picked up cups and poured the dregs down the sink. Every surface was sticky, and when I tried to mop the kitchen floor, I succeeded only in spreading around spits of sand. I was tired and probably could have fallen asleep but I felt the need to keep moving, to distract myself from whatever feeling was sure to come. The tinsel was a bitch to get off the carpet.

Humbuggery is easy, because Christmas is a holiday disconnected from its antecedent. It’s more American than Christian, and if you don’t feel like flying home to see your family, it’s convenient to just call it capitalist. On the other hand, if you are the one waiting at the airport, it’s equally convenient to declare Christmas as a day for family—a moment when you are meant to slow down and spend time with people from the same gene pool, who you were born to love. Neither attitude is fair, and both inflict undue pressure on the person owning it.

Like Christmas, the ideal of family is often based in memory and felt in the present as an abstraction.

Just as we see our families grow by birth and marriage, we see them shrink by death and divorce.

Family is a bedrock given to dissolution, a hypocrisy that when you are young tempts disenchantment. I recognize that privilege, more than anything else, breeds cynicism, and cynicism mistakes hope for naïveté. I also recognize that people and circumstances are forever changing; nothing can be relied on to stay the same.

A year and a half ago, I began dating a girl named Carly and we immediately moved in together. Most of my friends thought it was a bad idea—a classic nearsighted mistake on my part—and so far proving them wrong has been a joy. I spent last Christmas with Carly and her dad and stepmom, her brother and his wife and infant son. For three days, we watched football, cooked and ate and played board games. Like my family and so many others, her family was fractured and spread out, but they made me feel at home. They made me miss my own family, in all its strewn-about pieces.

Eleven months later, Carly and I got engaged.

This Christmas, I am going back east. To say that my feelings have softened because I am getting older, my perspective wizening, is only partly true and a little bit of a cop-out. More at the heart is that again my family, like everyone’s family at various points in a life, is on the precipice of redefinition, and so too are my attitudes about time spent in December.

My dad remarried in July. His wife is from New Jersey. Her name is Jayne and she has sisters named Joyce and Joan and sons named Jordan and Jason.

That my name is James, as is my father’s and his father’s, is a fact I’m still working through.

The wedding was pleasant if a little weird. Having not attended Christmas in years, it was the first time

in a long time I had seen my aunts and his other relatives. Hugs were accompanied by looks that seemed to say, “Nice of you to join us.”

My sister Kate was also at the wedding with her growing family. Today, Kate has two daughters, Zadie

spent a Christmas with her. I don’t know what they’ve been like for her, but I remember Christmas vacation and the anticipation of Dec. 25 when I was her age.

When I think about Christmases of the future, I imagine Naiyah as she was in the dress she wore to my

“Even as family changes, the time spent with one another is meant to feel the same.” and Naiyah. They are beautiful and smart and I think if Kate has any major anxieties about being a mother, chief among them is that her daughters will be raised without a strong sense of family.

Naiyah never met Big or Little. She was a tiny, memory-less baby when we still lived on the hill in New Canaan. When Naiyah was 3 my sister and her dad were divorced. When she was 4, my sister remarried and a year later, Naiyah had a new sister. Then her grandfather was also divorced and my mom, who Naiyah called Reenie, wasn’t around so much.

Now her uncle will be married, and her family is changing again.

At my dad’s wedding, Naiyah was proud of her fuchsia dress and silver slippers. I’ve never really

dad’s wedding—laughing and blushing at things that had long ago become invisible to me. I’ll spend some of those holidays at Kate’s home in Brooklyn. Carly will be there, and maybe she’ll squeeze my thigh when my aunt reveals my phobias again. Maybe we’ll go for a walk before dinner and she’ll make a joke about all those J-names. And when all the grown-ups are sitting around the dinner table, maybe a candle will flicker out of control in the next room. Maybe Carly will be the first to notice Naiyah standing in the threshold to the kitchen. She’ll be wide-eyed and pointing through the doorway. Softly, she’ll say, “There’s a fire in there.”

editor@missoulanews.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [17]

[arts]

Ugh of Smaug Why we can never have The Hobbit we want

by Kate Whittle

“If you have to ask what slashfic is, honey, you don’t want to know.”

I

always thought one’s approach to Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit should depend on your relationship with the source material. If you hold the source material sacred, then by all means, employ your right to avoid the movies. This was my approach to Harry Potter. The books and the vision I had in my head meant everything to me, and I was incredibly disappointed when it arrived on the big screen and suddenly became cheesy and childish.

After Chamber of Secrets, I refused to see any more of the movie adaptations, and I still haven’t seen them.

Tolkien’s work is less important to me, though, so that’s why I threw myself wholeheartedly into the Lord of the Rings films. The books are packed with good stuff, to be sure, but they’re also overlong and full of archaic language and confusing speeches. The Hobbit is different. It was an odd tale I read when I was in sixth grade; by my 11-year-old estimation, it was a little dark and scary and I wasn’t always sure which character was a good guy or a bad guy.

And of course, ambiguity and mystery can’t be sustained in modern American blockbusters; everything has to crash and bang to appeal to ADD-riddled

dudes between 18 and 35. This is why we can’t have nice things. I never thought it was possible to make a Hobbit that’s true to the book; and so ultimately, when arguing with fellow nerds I’ve defended Jackson and co.’s choice to sex it up with extra battles and characters. This worked just fine for LOTR. Last year’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey wasn’t fantastic, but I figured it had the potential to set up something better.

So I came to the midnight opening of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug fully prepared to defend it.

And for three hours, it tested my resolve. The pacing feels wonky right from the get-go. It’s as if someone had pressed “pause” after An Unexpected Journey and then hit play. We start with a flashback to Gandalf (Ian McKellen) meeting Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) at the Prancing Pony, and then it’s back to the present quest at hand, with the dwarves and Bilbo meeting the shapeshifter Beorn and battling giant spiders in Mirkwood in quick succession. Gandalf splits to deal with mysterious wizard business, which is only hinted at in the book, but here is expanded into a subplot that sets up the looming threat of Sauron. Since we’ve already seen LOTR, it feels entirely unnecessary. Meanwhile, the

[18] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

Photo by Chad Harder

dwarves are saved from spiders by the elves of Mirkwood, only to be put in elf prison, and it’s up to Bilbo (Martin Freeman) to put on The Ring and orchestrate a daring escape.

Much has been made over the movie’s addition of elves never named in the book: Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the son of King Thranduil, and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), the warrior lady wholly invented by the filmmakers. I liked Tauriel. She kicks some ass, flirts with Aidan Turner’s Kili and provides some muchneeded feminine balance to such a dude-heavy story.

Legolas, however, might as well have been played by the cardboard Orlando Bloom stand-up I still have in my childhood bedroom. All he gets is superfluous CGI fight scenes and some Serious Statements to deliver; he doesn’t have any of the mischievous twinkle that made him so endearing in LOTR. (Excuse me for a moment while my teenage crush dies a sad death.)

My favorite elf was Lee Pace’s Thranduil, the preening, high-cheekboned king with a fantastic headdress.

Someone, somewhere, is writing a smutty gay fanfiction about Thranduil right now.

Anyway, that covers maybe the first hour of the film. The next two hours devolve into, essentially, a

video game: several minutes of action-filled problemsolving, a halt for expository dialogue, and then it’s back to the CGI fights. It’s exhausting, particularly when one is watching the movie significantly past her bedtime. And then, as things are getting real with the dragon, Smaug, the movie ends. The beauty of LOTR was that each movie stood fairly well on its own; but that’s not possible here, where the narrative has been stretched like taffy.

Could the film adaptation of The Hobbit have ever been well done? Perhaps, if much more restraint had been used. And yet, no matter how botched these movies are, I don’t want to give up on Middle Earth.

It’s a testament to how great Lord of the Rings was that fans are still turning up at midnight releases for something we all know in our hearts isn’t going to be very good. I don’t want to give up on Bilbo or Gandalf or the dwarves. And so I would recommend watching this on DVD at home, where you can walk away to get a drink or Google “Thranduil/Legolas slashfic.” Or you could just skip the whole mess and read a book. kwhittle@missoulanews.com

[music]

Holiday haze Christmas music only promises a yesterday

by Dan Brooks

In the grocery store last weekend I heard “Santa Baby,” which is a song about a woman who wants to have sex with Santa Claus. That’s the subtext. The actual text is about how she wants Santa to bring her several luxury products, including but not limited to a yacht and the deed to a platinum mine.

It came on while I was in the peanut butter aisle with a couple who were about 19 years old. They were buying Skippy and hot dog buns. As soon as “Santa Baby” hit the sound system, the woman began doing a coquettish dance. Eventually she was lip synching.

Her boyfriend put his hands on his stomach to indicate jolliness/surprise that his career as a toy distributor was finally going to get him laid. Everyone had a great time except for me. I had to get out of there, because I am a Scrooge, or possibly a Grinch—one of those heartless monsters you will know by his hatred of Christmas songs.

Except for “All I Want For Christmas Is You”—I love that one. Despite the fact that all I want for Christmas is to be left alone, Mariah Carey’s bell-enhanced Ronettes knockoff gets me every time. I have been known to sing it in multiple retail establishments, even though I don’t really know the words. I like the 1994 original from her album Merry Christmas, and I like the 2010 version from Merry Christmas II You, “All I Want For Christmas Is You (Extra Festive).” I recognize that this makes me a bad person.

I am not so steeped in iniquity that I accept “Jingle Bells,” though. “Jingle Bells” is the sound of culture giving up. The music that comes on in malls and big box stores this time of year doesn’t just coalesce out of nowhere. Someone has to choose it, and whoever chooses “Jingle Bells” is a sociopath.

Playing “Jingle Bells” in the grocery store is like singing “Happy Birthday” at karaoke. It refuses to admit that other people have interiority. You control the sound system, and the next three minutes are going to enact your perverse vision of autarchy. “Jingle Bells” is to the grocery store as “Let them eat cake” is to France.

Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time” is “Jingle Bells” played backwards. I don’t know how this Mandarin sound collage became a retail staple, with its k-hole organ and inverted phrasing. It gets to the chorus in exactly 30 seconds, and the chorus is “simply having a wonderful Christmas time.” That’s it. There are two components: it’s Christmas, and you are happy. The “simply” is in there to tell you to shut up.

That’s why I don’t like Christmas music. It invites

us to re-enlist in a lie. It’s the same songs we heard last year, and we do not particularly like them. No one puts “Silver Bells” on her road trip mix. But we tolerate the songs because it is Christmas, and if we cannot tolerate them we know we are awful, because it means we cannot tolerate others’ happiness. And as the aforementioned A Christmas Carol and Grinch Who Stole Christmas remind us, tolerating others’ happiness is what Christmas is all about.

Herod was the first guy to really blow it. Chevy Chase has the same meltdown on a different scale in Christmas Vacation, as does Bruce Willis in Die Hard.

All of those people set out to make one Christmas really special, and it wound up backfiring on them in bitterly ironic ways. The lesson is clear: Make this Christmas like last Christmas, or who knows what might happen.

Last Christmas sucked. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John released an album called This Christmas, a title that made more sense at the time. I played the Vandals’ “Christmas Time for My Penis” and my mom got disappointed in me and cried. In that moment, the function of “Frosty the Snowman” became clear to me.

It triggers a kind of flashback in your brain, so that this Christmas and all others blend into an eventless, vaguely festive haze.

Eastern religions construct death in much the same way. They have nirvana; we have “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer.” Oblivion is seductive, but I am not ready to be dead yet. If we’re going to have Christmas again this year, I would like stuff to keep happening.

That’s why my new favorite Christmas song is “NoWin Xmas” by locals VTO. It’s got the same fun bells as “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” but it expresses disdain for “you” and your friends. It points out what time of year it is like “Wonderful Christmas Time,” but it does not demand that I feel wonderful. It only asks permission to drink a beer.

Best of all, it is new. When I hear “No-Win Xmas,” I do not remember feeling alienated hearing it in the grocery store last year. It does not make me feel guilty for associating that alienation with Christmas, nor does it lead me to suspect that I have become disconnected from society in sad and dangerous ways.

It’s just fun. It promises that this year might be different after all, and that’s all I really want for Christmas. I can take or leave you.

Enter to win great prize giveaways at every booth and one lucky bride will win

$1,000 IN CASH!

Photograph courtesy of Hixson Family Photography

arts@missoulanews.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [19]

books

$3995

Rabbit hole Free-falling in Ken White’s Eidolon

by Melissa Mylchreest

Mullan Reserve combines the best of regional design and environmental sensitivity with amenities that promote an exceptional lifestyle.

The result is Missoula's most innovative and comfortable apartment community.

Energy-Efficient Features: LED Site Lighting Energy Star Appliances • High-Grade Insulation Exterior features include an extraordinary clubhouse, private gardens, open spaces and a pool and fitness center. Residences include oversized storage and balconies, bike hangers, shaker cabinetry, plank-style floors and custom finishes.

4000 Mullan Road • Missoula • 406 543 0060 mullanreserveapartments.com

[20] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

First of all: Not all readers are interested in working mark.” Later in the same poem he mentions becomhard. If nothing else, Ken White’s debut poetry collec- ing “conspicuous beyond vision.” In these lines, he tion, Eidolon, demands that its readers put in some acknowledges the limitations of language, and it extra effort to follow his circuitous syntax and wide- often feels as though the mere words themselves canranging lexicon. You might know White as a co-pro- not contain his exuberance. Instead, he invites the ducer and screenwriter for the recent Montana-based reader to listen first to the sound of his words, to hear film, Winter in the Blood. In Eidolon, published by Mis- his poems first as songs and then as stories. In fact, soula’s own Peel Press (its first release, in fact) and fea- he makes this clear right on the cover of the book: turing drawings by Carson Ellis, he makes his own Instead of saying, “By Ken White,” it reads, “As performed by Ken White and his Own Opera Company.” complicated landscape come to life.

If you already like modern poetry, pick up White’s It’s a strange byline, to be sure, but one that tells us how to hear this book. And book right away. It’s clever, the harder we listen, the tricky, wry, undeniably smart, more we understand. and concerned not only with The word “eidolon” the big questions—life, death, comes from ancient Greek myth, the otherworldly, idenliterature, and means “phantity—but also with the traptom,” “ghost” or “image.” pings of everyday life: This is a fitting title for a kerchiefs and transmission book that feels haunted, not fluid, bratwurst and Ziploc only by its many characters, bags of peas, tiddledywinks but by certain ideas that reand mud. On their own, turn again and again. That these mundane, everyday obomnipresence, appears in jects aren’t anything special.

“This Apparition:” But what makes White’s work “I am comprised of really sing is that he offers just thread / spun from carded a brief glimpse of the ordiair, can divide / myself or senary, and juxtaposes these duce the loom and widen snapshots with curious such with wind / that if you proclamations and gestures, abide yet on this earth and questions and addresses. His breathe / you cannot help sentences curl back on thembut contain me/ in some selves contortedly and selfsmall portion.” consciously, and the reader But there is also a sense must trust White enough to of doubt and a questioning believe that even though Ken White humility that appears too, as these poems are decidedly Eidolon evidenced by the very next weird, they are necessarily so. hardcover, Peel Press sentence: If you’re not inclined, 104 pages, $14 “If by some chance you however, to like poetry, do not/ the mistake is mine; let me convince you why Eidolon is worth reading anyway. This is not a gentle in- I have arrived/ at the wrong world, or at the wrong troduction to modern verse. But, go big or go home, time.”

This line also gestures to another theme in Eiright? Plunge in. Get confused, feel lost. Shake your head and put the book down. Pick it up again. Read dolon, which is the sense that multitudinous worlds, some lines like, “How fox-gold/how damp the thatch times and realities are all layered and occurring simulhow laced and hobbled/to the chute. How sheaves he taneously. Figures, insights and concerns carry through murdered.” Proclaim that this White fellow makes no from one poem to the next, lending a tenuous permesense, and fling the book across the room. Go and pick ability, but also a kind of bewildering magic. Lines from one poem show up as the title of another, inextricably it up again.

After the first few pages, you’ll find yourself drawn weaving the book’s world together.

Eidolon really hits its stride in the fourth section, deeper into the world that White creates, not necessarily because you know what’s going on, but because with the longest poem, “Embassy of Days.” Part mythic of the sound and cadence of his poems. They carry you tale, part colloquial conversation, the 26-page advenalong like a current. While his words are compelling ture includes everything from unionized pigs to giants, on the page, the lines seem to hiccup and shift illicit love affairs, jellybeans, Sophia Loren and thumbstrangely, the wordings unfamiliar. But read aloud, wars. White flings his reader around mercilessly, but they sound exuberant, breathless and real. In the poem also offers faint threads by which we can tie this behe“Though our Mouths Be Taken From Us,” he iterates moth story together.

Those threads are key to unlocking the collection’s again and again, “Listen.” And ultimately, this is what strange and complicated beauty. It’s not always an easy White wants us to do.

In the poem “Disrobing Him of His Body Itself,” lock to turn, but it’s a worthy undertaking.

White writes, “I cannot give more/sufficient voice than arts@missoulanews.com to split the shaft that split/the shaft that almost hit the

tv

Predictable joy Finding our made-for-television holiday spirit

by Erika Fredrickson

If aliens invaded Earth and decimated humanity, they’d have a wealth of pop culture artifacts to piece together. But what if, in some weird stroke of Lifetime channel-inspired luck, only made-for-TV holiday movies remained to illustrate our world? Well, a lot of things would be missing, like every important news story and historical event ever. Instead, the greatest aspiration for humans would be—in the face of Grinch and Scrooge-like obstacles—finding the spirit of Christmas. Surely the extraterrestrials would be skeptical of the plot holes and bad acting, but they’d probably be entertained all the same. In the spirit of the holidays—and in case of future aliens— here is an analysis of a few of the best and worst Christmas television movies.

A Christmas Kiss Wendy, an up-and-coming interior designer, works day and night for her shallow boss. One night, while her boss (who looks vaguely like Kate Hudson) is out of town, Wendy’s friends convince her to go out, and they dress her up in glittery eye makeup “like the sugar plum fairy,” because that’s a normal thing to do when you go clubbing.

Later that night, while checking on her boss’ apartment, Wendy shares a magical kiss with a stranger in the elevator. The next day, however, she discovers the guy is her boss’ boyfriend. Oh, brother! And without her glittery eye makeup on, he doesn’t even recognize her. How will he and Wendy end up together in the face of an imminent engagement by the pushy, conniving boss?

If you understand the rules of these kind of movies you know that it will all come down to who— Wendy or her boss—makes the interior design that best encapsulates the Christmas spirit. And isn’t that what gets the guy every time? A Christmas Kiss is predictable in a warm-fuzzy way and only slightly ridiculous. If you are a realist, this is more your style than the usual seasonal fare.

Christmas Cupid One of the obvious tropes of made-for-TV holiday movies is that women who work in high-powered jobs need to learn a lesson—that finding true love and being at the top of a corporate food chain don’t mix.

Wouldn’t they rather work at a less stressful job so they have time for cute boyfriends?

In Christmas Cupid, a fashionable, selfish woman named Sloane is hoping to climb the corporate ladder at her celebrity PR firm and marry her rich and powerful boss. But just before Christmas, one of her starlet clients chokes on a martini olive and dies, and Sloane is visited by a familiar plotline: The dead actress and three ex-boyfriend spirits appear to show her how bad her life is, past, present and future.

There are emotional and logistical problems with this movie; mostly it’s unclear which egomaniac you

should root for. The guy you’re supposed to like is Chad Michael Murray (“One Tree Hill”), who switches between different shades of brooding, interrupted by bouts of distant amusement. The starlet, Ashley Benson of “Pretty Little Liars,” carries around the fateful martini wherever she goes. Like most ghosts, she melts through earthly objects, but in some sloppy oversight or exception to the rule, her ghost martini is visible—and drinkable—to the living.

12 Dates of Christmas This movie is not to be confused with The 12 Trees of Christmas, which is the You’ve Got Mail of holiday made-for-TV programming, or The 12 Dogs of Christmas, which falls into an alarmingly full category of holiday movies starring golden retrievers. Taking a page or several from Groundhog Day and A Christmas Carol, 12 Dates of Christmas is about how Amy Smart has to endure Christmas Eve—and a blind date—over and over until she can break the cycle. She also has to get over her ex-boyfriend and realize that Mark-Paul Gosselaar is the one for her. Each time the clock strikes midnight, Smart is transported back to Christmas Eve morning, having passed out on the floor of a department store, like we all have done. The story indulges in the Groundhog Day fantasy by allowing Smart to use her series of do-overs to learn how to hone the most important skill: baking the best Christmas cookies.

Time’s Up.

The New Health Insurance Law is Here.

Enroll Now Let us help you.

We will walk you through, talk you through, and get you through it all.

Join your trusted partner today.

bcbsmt.com

More Information: 855.508.2502

| reformandyoumt.com

A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

The 12 Men of Christmas Starring Kristin Chenoweth’s white teeth, the not-as-racy-as-you-hope story unfolds as a high-powered (i.e. workaholic) publicist is betrayed by her fiance. She leaves the big city and finds herself in Montana trying to make a charity calendar of sexy Kalispell Search and Rescue men. One guy is particularly arrogant and doesn’t want her to make the calendar. But soon their feelings begin to change about each other. The moral of the story is that even in Montana, love can be complicated.

A Boyfriend for Christmas If a guy showed up at your door with a Christmas tree saying his name was “Douglas Fir,” would you A) say, “Uh, I don’t let psychopaths in my house” or B), ask him to pretend to be your boyfriend for Christmas so your family won’t think you’re lonely? In this story, it’s the latter that wins out for “Holly” (also a suspect name for Christmas movie). In a surprising twist, Doug Fir may not be who he claims. But everything turns out fine. As is always the case in this genre, everyone realizes that the true meaning of Christmas—getting a good boyfriend—was right in the front of them the whole time. efredrickson@missoulanews.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [21]

Do you secretly try to smell the drinker’s breath?

Al-Anon is for you!

[film]

Sloppy con Good delivery, bad form in Hustle

by Cole Smithey

“It’s five golden rings, then four calling birds.”

If awards were handed out for the sloppiest movies, American Hustle would be a dead ringer for just such a booby prize. The damn thing is all over the place. It can’t decide if it wants to be a comedy, a period crime drama or a music video. Dueling voiceover narration—between Christian Bale and Amy Adams—finally ceases after an eternity, and the film segues into something resembling a movie only to flit away in a series of music sequence montages that make you opine for the glory days of MTV. The good news is that the film’s acting ensemble is as committed as they can be. When those actors happen to include Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper, it’s sufficient cause to head out to the nearest cinema with the knowledge that you’re there for the performances but not the format. The players are great, but the rules of the game don’t apply.

Conspicuously cribbing from Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, director/co-screenwriter David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) creates a hodgepodge caper movie—an exaggeratedly fictionalized account of a real-life ’70s-era sting operation involving the FBI—that falls apart so many times that there’s noting left by the time the third act closes.

Anyone familiar with the term “Abscam” knows about the decades-old FBI political-corruption probe that used the obvious moniker as a phony business front to entrap nearly 20 political figures—including a U.S. senator, House representatives, New Jersey state officials, Philadelphia City Council members and a handful of attorneys.

Dry-cleaning and art-forgery businessman Irving Rosenfeld (played by a paunchy Bale) has one of the worst comb-overs you’ve ever seen. It takes him many minutes in front of a mirror to stick a patch of black toupee on his pate before carefully spraying down the hair he pulls across the top of his head at an un-

[22] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

natural angle. The unsightly disguise gives Irving the confidence he needs to go out in the world and rip off investors who are dumb enough to believe that the $5,000 they give him will be returned tenfold.

There’s one born every minute.

Irving wastes no time charming the pants off “Edith” (not her real name), played by Adams, a redhead looker with a British accent who is just as devious as Irving. It takes a while before Edith discovers that Irving is married to a tacky woman named Rosalyn (Lawrence), but by then the romantically attracted Edith has already signed on to participate in Irving’s con games.

Irving calls his arms-length wife Rosalyn a “Picasso of passive aggression” for good reason.

Lawrence steals the movie whenever she’s onscreen— which is saying something considering the caliber of actors she shares it with. A couple of scenes in particular provide the movie with two of its high points—one involving a microwave oven, and another in which Rosalyn’s crocodile tears leave Irving, and the audience, speechless.

Irving’s and Lady Edith’s con games aren’t as polished as they imagine. An eventful run-in with undercover FBI agent Richie DiMasso (Cooper) leaves the felonious couple with an option of spending many years in the pokey or participating in four sting operations that will wipe their records clean.

Unfortunately for Irving and Edith, DiMasso doesn’t really know how to count to four. For all of its awkward narrative tics, American Hustle is more than a little entertaining, but it comes nowhere near living up to the hype surrounding it. Goodfellas, this movie ain’t.

American Hustle opens at the Carmike 12 Fri., Dec. 20.

arts@missoulanews.com

[film]

OPENING THIS WEEK ALL IS LOST Robert Redford stars as a stranded sailor at sea who must battle a certain death and his own inner demons. Written and directed by J.C. Chandor. Rated PG-13. Wilma.

AMERICAN HUSTLE Sexy, swindling, ’70s-fabulous misfits led by a con man get involved with the FBI, in a story megaloosely based on the real Abscam sting operation.

Starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper. Rated R. Carmike 12. (See Film.)

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES Ron Burgundy and crew are dusting off their suit jackets and taking their fantastic hair to New York City. Starring Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate and Paul Rudd. Rated PG-13. Carmike 12.

CITY LIGHTS In this 1931 silent classic, that lovable Tramp goes on screwball adventures to help a beautiful flower girl. Starring Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill and Florence Lee. Not Rated. Screening at the Roxy Theater Dec. 20–22 at 5 and 7 PM. PHILOMENA A cynical journalist sets out with an elderly woman to help find her long-lost son. Rated PG13. Starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan and Sophie Kennedy Clark. Carmike 12.

SAVING MR. BANKS Walt Disney coaxes the curmudgeonly P.L. Travers into selling the movie rights to her novel, a little book you may have heard of called Mary Poppins. Starring Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks and Annie Rose Buckley. Rated PG-13.

Carmike 12.

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS Take an animated journey into the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth with T. Rex and co. (Obligatory nerd trivia: scientists now think most dinos were feathered, not scaly. But feathered dinos look ugly as sin, so maybe that’s why movies don’t draw them that way.) Starring the voices of Charlie Rowe, Karl Urban and Angourie Rice.

Rated PG. Carmike 12, Showboat, Pharaohplex.

NOW PLAYING THE CRASH REEL Kevin Pearce fights to recover from a devastating injury and get back on the snowboard to defeat his half-pipe rival, Shaun White. Director Lucy Park uses 15 years of footage to tell the story. Not rated. Screening at the Roxy Dec. Dec. 20-22 at 7 and 9 PM. ENOUGH SAID A middle-aged woman seeking love realizes the fella she likes is a friend’s ex. You’re never too

“Young lady, it’s time to get off your high horse.” Saving Mr. Banks opens at Carmike 12 Fri., Dec. 20.

old for sloppy seconds! Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini and Catherine Keener.

Rated PG-13. Wilma.

FROZEN A Nordic princess endeavors to find her sister and bring her back to their snowy kingdom. A whimsical talking snowman joins in the adventure, too. Starring the voices of Kristen Bell, Josh Gad and Idina Menzel. Rated PG. Carmike 12, Pharaohplex.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS Orphan Pip comes into money in director Mike Newell’s take on the Dickens classic. Starring Toby Irvine, Jason Flemyng and Helena Bonham Carter. Rated PG-13. Wilma.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG 100 percent more hot elf action is on tap in the

second installment of the kids-book-turnedgiant-trilogy. Starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage. Carmike 12, Village 6, Pharaohplex, Entertainer. (See Film.)

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE Katniss Everdeen and boring ol’ Peeta are back for the second installment of the dystopian teen fantasy. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Rated PG-13.

Carmike 12, Village 6, Pharaohplex.

grief and/or parking lot profanities. Theater phone numbers: Carmike 12 and Village 6 at 541-7469; Wilma at 728-2521; Pharaohplex in Hamilton at 961-FILM; Showboat in Polson and Entertainer in Ronan at 883-5603.

Capsule reviews by Kate Whittle.

Planning your outing to the cinema? Visit missoulanews.com’s arts section to find up-todate movie times for theaters in the area. You can also contact theaters to spare yourself any

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [23]

[dish]

WhiteWave, greenwash?

by Ari LeVaux

Please donate to our Giving Tree in our main area to benefit Watson Children's Shelter

12/20-12/22 • 7 & 9 PM

THE CRASH REEL The Fall & Rise of Snowboarder Kevin Pearce 12/20-12/22 • 5 & 7 PM Charlie Chaplin in

CITY LIGHTS AFI’s #11 movie of all time

d o w n t o w n

Sushi Bar & Japanese Bistro

We have your Happiest Hours!

$2.50 Sake Bombs & Half-Priced Appetizers Thursdays & Saturdays • 7-9 PM 403 North Higgins Ave • 406.549.7979 www.sushihanamissoula.com [24] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

WhiteWave, maker of Silk soymilk, is purchasing the nation’s largest producer of organic produce, Earthbound Farm. Organic industry observers are wondering about the fallout of this consolidation, which was announced Dec. 9. For WhiteWave CEO Gregg Engles, the road ahead is clear.

“With Horizon Organic and Earthbound Farm, WhiteWave will now provide the two most popular gateways for consumers to enter into the organic category—produce and dairy,” he said in a press release.

The purchase comes barely a year since the initial public offering of WhiteWave stock, after it was spun off from its parent company, Dean Foods. Perhaps “foster parent company” would be more accurate, as Dean Foods had purchased WhiteWave 10 years earlier. Dean Foods then reorganized its holdings, transferring the feel-good products, like Silk and Horizon organic dairy, in the Silk division, before spinning off WhiteWave.

Today on the WhiteWave website you can see a picture of people doing yoga.

Earthbound Farm, which started in 1984 with a rented raspberry patch and a farm stand, went on to transform the way America eats salad; today the company controls 60 percent of the bagged organic salad market, which it helped pioneer. Along the way, Myra Goodman, who started Earthbound Farm with her husband, Drew, has used her stature to further the cause of clean, fresh food. The Goodmans’ success, from such humble roots and with such good intentions, sounds like a foodie fairy tale.

But some are forecasting dark clouds over the WhiteWave buyout, as it invokes the specter of Dean Foods, the nation’s largest dairy company. Soon after purchasing WhiteWave in 2002, American organic soybean growers, who had been supplying Silk’s primary raw material, were told they had to meet the price of Chinese organic soy, which was lower. Organic soy is labor-intensive and American farmers couldn’t go that low, so Silk began sourcing from China. After the company amassed a commanding share of the organic soy milk market, Silk switched its supply back to the U.S., but used conventional soybeans. Silk products got a downgrade from certified organic to the meaningless designation “natural.”

By this time, WhiteWave was a division of Dean Foods, and another Dean Food holding, Horizon, was transferred to WhiteWave. Horizon is the largest organic dairy in the nation, and the largest organic brand, period.

Dean Foods built Horizon using roughly the same principles and practices it used to make Dean Foods the nation’s largest dairy—mainly, it gobbled up smaller dairies. In the case of Horizon, many small or-

FLASH IN THE PAN

ganic dairies saw core principles get tossed.

“The spin-off will provide WhiteWave with greater flexibility to build its portfolio of great-tasting, nutritious and responsibly-produced products,” said Engles, who, in addition to serving as WhiteWave’s CEO, is the former CEO of Dean Foods and still sat on the board of Dean Foods as of last May. “We look forward to our future as an independent company with a clear strategy, a leading portfolio of trusted brands and a culture of continuous innovation.”

Cornucopia Institute Co-director and farm policy analyst Mark Kastel fears that with the purchase of Earthbound Farm, WhiteWave is gaining undue influence in the industry. “This new acquisition even gives corporate lobbyists at the former Dean Foods/WhiteWave a direct conduit to the important National Organic Standards Board via John Foster, an employee of Earthbound and an NOSB member,” he wrote in a press release.

Samantha Cabaluna, vice president of communication with Earthbound Farm, dismissed the suggestion that WhiteWave would somehow control John Foster as “speculative.”

Cornucopia raises interesting concerns about the new WhiteWave, but got it backwards in claiming that, “After [Dean Foods] were done pillaging they then jettisoned the WhiteWave division earlier this year.”

If anyone was jettisoned it was Dean Foods, which was left with its conventional dairy business, while WhiteWave got the hottest, most profitable brands, including Horizon.

Now, WhiteWave has a lock on some of the most profitable industries in the country, including the largest dairy and vegetable producers in the fast-growing organic segment. Wall Street approved the merger, as the stock price soared 9 percent in the two days following the announcement.

WhiteWave says it plans to run Earthbound as a separate business unit, with no significant operational changes planned, and has expressed interest in keeping Myra and Drew Goodman on board as advisors and brand ambassadors. Similar promises were made to Whitewave/Silk founder Steve Demos. He told Bullfrog Films: “Dean Foods said, ‘We agree you have a culture, and we agree with the principles.’ That’s how I agreed to stay with Dean Foods and run Silk after its acquisition. I was told one week that I was doing a brilliant job and everything was working great, and the next week it was, ‘You’re not the right person for this job.’”

I asked Cabaluna at Earthbound Farm if the sale will mean big changes for her company.

“Absolutely not,” she told me by phone. “WhiteWave was interested in the purchase because they like what we do and want to expand on that.”

[dish] Bagels On Broadway 223 West Broadway • 728-8900 (across from courthouse) Featuring over 25 sandwich selections, 20 bagel varieties, & 20 cream cheese spreads. Also a wide selection of homemade soups, salads and desserts.

Gourmet coffee and espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, and frappes. Ample seating; free wi-fi. Free downtown delivery (weekdays) with $10.00 min. order. Call ahead to have your order ready for you! Open 7 days a week. Voted one of top 20 bagel shops in country by internet survey. $-$$ Bernice’s Bakery 190 South 3rd West • 728-1358 It’s the little things we do together. Bernice’s takes these moments to heart. This Christmas when you want “just the right size” gift or party package, think Bernice’s cookie plates, frosted Christmas trees (Yep! Those famous sugar cookies), packaged Bernice’s Hot Cocoa, a Joyous Kringle, Mini Macaroons, Gingerbread Coffeecake, Loaves of Poundcake, and so much more! Have you checked out Bernice’s wear-ables lately? Downright smart.

Coffee mugs? Oh, yeah. Bernice’s wishes you a Merry Little Christmas. xoxo bernice. bernicesbakerymt.com $-$$ Biga Pizza 241 W. Main Street • 728-2579 Biga Pizza offers a modern, downtown dining environment combined with traditional brick oven pizza, calzones, salads, sandwiches, specials and desserts. All dough is made using a “biga” (pronounced beega) which is a time-honored Italian method of bread making.

Biga Pizza uses local products, the freshest produce as well as artisan meats and cheeses. Featuring seasonal menus.

Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat. Beer & Wine available. $-$$ Black Coffee Roasting Co. 1515 Wyoming St., Suite 200 541-3700 Black Coffee Roasting Company is located in the heart of Missoula. Our roastery is open Mon.–Fri., 7:30–4, Sat. 84. In addition to fresh roasted coffee beans we offer a full service espresso bar, drip coffee, pour-overs and more. The suspension of coffee beans in water is our specialty. $ The Bridge Pizza Corner of S. 4th & S. Higgins • 542-0002 A popular local eatery on Missoula’s Hip Strip.

Featuring handcrafted artisan brick oven pizza, pasta, sandwiches, soups, & salads made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Missoula’s place for pizza by the slice. A unique selection of regional microbrews and gourmet sodas. Dine-in, drive-thru, & delivery. Open everyday 11 to 10:30 pm. $-$$ Brooks & Browns Inside Holiday Inn Downtown 200 S. Pattee St. • 532-2056 This week at Brooks and Browns: Thursday Trivia Night 7:30-10 pm. Friday 12/20: Curtis Rathburn 6-9 pm. Sunday Funday (Happy Hour all day). Martini MONDAY ($4 select martinis). Have you discovered Brooks and Browns? Inside the Holiday Inn, Downtown Missoula. $-$$ Butterfly Herbs 232 N. Higgins • 728-8780 Celebrating 41 years of great coffees and teas.

Truly the “essence of Missoula.” Offering fresh coffees, teas (Evening in Missoula), bulk spices and botanicals, fine toiletries & gifts. Our cafe features homemade soups, fresh salads, and coffee ice cream specialties.

In the heart of historic downtown, we are Missoula’s first and favorite Espresso Bar. Open 7 Days. $ Ciao Mambo 541 S. Higgins Ave. 543-0377 • ciaomambo.com The vibrant energy at Ciao Mambo is fantastically accompanied by steaming hot pizzas, delicious assortments of pastas and of course authentic Italian wine. We focus on making sure that whether it be date night, family night, or business dinners we accommodate whatever the need! And do not forget there are always leftovers! Open 5 to close every day, come make us your go to dinner destination! $-$$ Claim Jumper 3021 Brooks 728-0074 Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week. We feature CJ’s Famous Fried Chicken, Delicious Steaks, and your Favorite Pub Classics. Breakfast from 7am11am on Weekdays and 7am-2pm on Weekends. Lunch and Dinner 11am-9pm Sun-Wed and 11am-10pm ThursSat. Ask your Server about our Players Club! Happy Hour in our lounge M-F 4-6 PM. $-$$ Dickey’s Barbecue Pit 143 W. Broadway Downtown Missoula • 203.1557 Taste why Dickey’s Barbecue is the world’s best barbecue since 1941! Try our 8 juicy hot pit smoked

$…Under $5

meats, like our southern pulled pork or our family recipe polish sausage. We even offer 11 home-style sides, like our creamy cole slaw and fried okra. Don’t forget we’re also your catering experts! Any event, any size – let Dickey’s do the cooking, and you can take the credit. Graduation parties, weddings, office functions, you name it! Dickey’s Barbecue is the perfect catering choice for groups of all sizes – from 10 to 10,000! Don’t forget-Kids Eat Free Sundays & everyone enjoys FREE ice cream every day! Dickey’s Barbecue. Seriously, Pit Smoked. Open 7 days a week. Offering a full liquor bar. $-$$ Doc’s Gourmet Sandwiches 214 N. Higgins Ave. • 542-7414 Doc’s is an extremely popular gathering spot for diners who appreciate the great ambiance, personal service and generous sandwiches made with the freshest ingredients. Whether you’re heading out for a power lunch, meeting friends or family or just grabbing a quick takeout, Doc’s is always an excellent choice. Delivery in the greater Missoula area. We also offer custom catering!...everything from gourmet appetizers to all of our menu items. $-$$ El Cazador 101 S. Higgins Ave. • 728-3657 Missoula Independent readers’ choice for Best Mexican Restaurant. Come taste Alfredo's original recipes for authentic Mexican food where we cook with love.

From seafood to carne asada, enjoy dinner or stop by for our daily lunch specials. We are a locally owned Mexican family restaurant, and we want to make your visit with us one to remember. Open daily for lunch and dinner. $-$$ The Empanada Joint 123 E. Main St. • 926-2038 Offering authentic empanadas BAKED FRESH DAILY! 9 different flavors, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. NOW SERVING BREAKFAST Empanadas! Plus Argentine side dishes and desserts. Super quick and super delicious! Get your healthy hearty lunch or dinner here! Wi-Fi, Soccer on the Big Screen, and a rich sound system featuring music from Argentina and the Caribbean. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Downtown Missoula. $ Food For Thought 540 Daly Ave. • 721-6033 Missoula’s Original Coffehouse/Café located across from the U of M campus. Serving breakfast and lunch 7 days a week+dinner 5 nights a week. Also serving cold sandwiches, soups, salads, with baked goods and espresso bar. HUGE Portions and the Best BREAKFAST in town. M-TH 7am-8pm, Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 8am-8pm. $-$$ Good Food Store 1600 S. 3rd West • 541-FOOD The GFS Deli features made-to-order sandwiches, a rotating selection of six soups, an award-winning salad bar, an olive & antipasto bar and a self-serve hot bar offering a variety of housemade breakfast, lunch and dinner entrées. A seasonally changing selection of deli salads and rotisserie-roasted chickens are also available. Locally-roasted coffee/espresso drinks and an extensive smoothie menu complement bakery goodies from the GFS ovens and from Missoula’s favorite bakeries. Indoor and patio seating. Open every day, 7am – 10pm. $-$$ Grizzly Liquor 110 W Spruce St • 549-7723 www.grizzlyliquor.com Voted Missoula's Best Liquor Store! Largest selection of spirits in the Northwest, including all Montana micro-distilleries. Your headquarters for unique spirits and wines! Free customer parking. Open Monday-Saturday 97:30 www.grizzlyliquor.com. $-$$$ Heraldo's Mexican Food 116 Glacier Dr. • Lolo, MT 59847 406-203-4060 HeraldosMexicanRestaurant.com Lunch and Dinner. Open 7 Days • Eat-in or Carry-out • Handmade Tamales • Burritos • Chimichangas • Flautas • Fajitas • Combo plates and MORE. See our menu at www.heraldosmexicanrestaurant.com. Order Your Holiday Tamales Now! Also sold year-round. Call for details. $-$$ Hob Nob on Higgins 531 S. Higgins • 541-4622 hobnobonhiggins.com Come visit our friendly staff & experience Missoula’s best little breakfast & lunch spot. All our food is made from scratch, we feature homemade corn beef hash, sourdough pancakes, sandwiches, salads, espresso & desserts. MC/V $-$$ Iron Horse Brew Pub 501 N. Higgins 728-8866 www.ironhorsebrewpub.com We’re the perfect place for lunch, appetizers, or dinner. Enjoy nightly specials, our fantastic beverage selection and friendly, attentive service. Stop by & stay awhile! No matter what you are looking for, we’ll give you something to smile about. $$-$$$

$–$$…$5–$15

$$–$$$…$15 and over

DECEMBER

COFFEE SPECIAL

Yuletide Blend $10.95/lb.

BUTTERFLY HERBS

BUTTERFLY HERBS

232 N. HIGGINS AVE • DOWNTOWN

232 N. HIGGINS AVE • DOWNTOWN

Coffees, Teas & the Unusual

SATURDAYS 4PM-9PM

MONDAYS & THURSDAYS ALL DAY

Coffees, Teas & the Unusual

$1

SUSHI Not available for To-Go orders

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [25]

[dish]

Santa’s Slayer Winter Ale HAPPIEST HOUR The revival: This year, after a brief hiatus, the Kettlehouse revived Santa’s Slayer Winter Ale, a potent brew (7 percent ABV) that could warm up a fat man flying through thin air at 30,000 feet. The beer even looks warm. Matt Blair, a brewer who helped bring this beverage back to Kettlehouse customers, notes its “beautiful orange glow.” “We threw in a bunch of different adjuncts like orange peel, ginger, cinnamon, and we upped the gravity so that it has a kick to it,” he says. “It’s perfect for winter.”

Jimmy John’s 420 N. Higgins • 542-1100 jimmyjohns.com Jimmy John’s - America’s Favorite Sandwich Delivery Guys! Unlike any other sub shop, Jimmy John’s is all about the freshest ingredients and fastest service.

Freaky Fast, Freaky Good - that’s Jimmy John’s. Order online, call for delivery or visit us on Higgins. $-$$ Le Petit Outre 129 S. 4th West • 543-3311 Twelve thousand pounds of oven mass…Bread of integrity, pastry of distinction, yes indeed, European hand-crafted baked goods, Pain de Campagne, Ciabatta, Cocodrillo, Pain au Chocolat, Palmiers, and Brioche.

Several more baked options and the finest espresso available.

Please find our goods at the finest grocers across Missoula.

Saturday 8-3, Sunday 8-2, Monday-Friday 7-6. $

The adventure: If you are feeling wild, ask the bartenders to blend Santa’s Slayer with the slightly overwhelming (it tastes like trees!)

Spruce Tip Ale. What you’ll get is Santa’s Tip, a suggestively named concoction that cuts the cool spruce flavors with the warmth of ginger and cinnamon. Ask for it and try not to giggle.

When to get it: Blair says Santa’s Slayer should be available until at least Christmas, and perhaps until the New Year if it doesn’t run out.

“It’s selling great,” he says. “You can always tell when someone is drinking it by the glow in their glass.” So, check out the glow before it goes away.

Iza 529 S. Higgins • 830-3237 www.izarestaurant.com Contemporary Asian cuisine featuring local, vegan, gluten free and organic options as well as wild caught seafood, Idaho trout and buffalo. Join us for lunch and dinner. Happy Hour 3-6 weekdays with specials on food and drink. Extensive sake, wine and tea menu. Closed Sundays. Open Mon-Fri: Lunch 11:30-3pm, Happy Hour 3-6pm, Dinner 5pm-close. Sat: Dinner 5pm-close. $-$$

photo by Cathrine L. Walters

Where to get it: You can find it on tap at the southside Kettlehouse, 602 Myrtle St. —Jimmy Tobias Happiest Hour celebrates western Montana watering holes. To recommend a bar, bartender or beverage for Happiest Hour, email editor@ missoulanews.com.

Hole

Missoula Senior Center 705 S. Higgins Ave. 543-7154 (on the hip strip) Did you know that the Missoula Senior Center serves delicious hearty lunches every week day for only $6? Anyone is welcome to join us for a delicious meal from 11:3012:30 Monday- Friday for delicious food, great conversation and take some time to find a treasured item or garment in our thrift shop. For a full menu and other activities, visit our website at www.missoulaseniorcenter.org.

The Mustard Seed Asian Cafe Southgate Mall • 542-7333 Contemporary Asian fusion cuisine. Original recipes and fresh ingredients combine the best of Japanese, Chinese, Polynesian, and Southeast Asian influences. Full menu available at the bar. Award winning desserts made fresh daily , local and regional micro brews, fine wines & signature cocktails. Vegetarian and Gluten free menu available. Takeout & delivery. $$-$$$ Korean Bar-B-Que & Sushi 3075 N. Reserve • 327-0731 We invite you to visit our contemporary Korean-Japanese restaurant and enjoy it’s warm atmosphere. Full Sushi Bar. Korean bar-b-que at your table. Beer and Wine. $$-$$$ Pearl Cafe 231 East Front St. 541-0231 • pearlcafe.us Country French meets the Northwest. Idaho Trout with Dungeness Crab, Rabbit with Wild Mushroom Ragout, Snake River Farms Beef, Fresh Seafood Specials Daily. House Made Charcuterie, Sourdough Bread & Delectable Desserts. Extensive wine list; 18 wines by the glass and local beers on draft. Reservations recommended for the intimate dining areas. Visit our website Pearlcafe.us to check out our nightly specials, make reservations, or buy gift certificates. Open Mon-Sat at 5:00. $$-$$$ Philly West 134 W. Broadway • 493-6204 For an East-coast taste of pizza, stromboli, hoagies, salads, and pasta dishes and CHEESESTEAKS, try Philly West. A taste of the great “fightin’ city of Philadelphia” can be enjoyed Monday - Saturday for lunch and dinner and late on weekends. We create our marinara, meatballs, dough and sauces in-house so if “youse wanna eat,” come to 134 W. Broadway. $-$$ Plonk 322 N Higgins • 926-1791 www.plonkwine.com Plonk is an excursion into the world of fine wine, food, cocktails, service and atmosphere. With an environment designed to engage the senses, the downtown establishment blends quality and creativity in an all-encompassing dining experience. Described as an urban hot spot dropped into the heart of the Missoula Valley and lifestyle, Plonk embodies metropolitan personalities driven by Montana passions.

Romaines 3075 N. Reserve Suite N 406-214-2659 www.romainessalads.com We provide you with the convenience of delicious salads, sandwiches and soups. Our salads include over 30 wholesome ingredients. Our homemade soups change with the season as different ingredients become available. If hearty sandwiches are your favorite, then visit Romaines for one

$…Under $5

[26] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

of our braised meat sandwiches. We also have a Montana Hummus sandwich made from Montana grown garbanzo beans. At last, local, fresh, and healthy! $-$$ Roxiberry Gourmet Frozen Yogurt Southgate Mall Across from Noodle Express 317.1814 • roxiberry.com Bringing Missoula gourmet, frozen yogurt, using the finest ingredients (no frozen mixes), to satisfy your intense cravings with our intense flavors. Our home-made blends offer healthy, nutritional profiles. We also offer smoothies, fresh-made waffle cones, and select baked goods (gluten-free choices available).

Join Club Roxi for special offers. See us in-store or visit our website for information. $-$$ Silvertip Casino 680 SW Higgins • 728-5643 The Silvertip Casino is Missoula’s premiere casino offering 20 Video gaming machines, best live poker in Missoula, full beverage liquor, 11 flat screen tv’s and great food at great prices. Breakfast Specials starting at $2.99 (7-11am) For a complete menu, go to www.silvertipcasino.com. Open 24/7. $-$$ Sis’s Kitchen 531-5034 • sisskitchen.com Wheat, Gluten & Allergen Free Foods. Frozen & Dry Mix Products. Sis’s Kitchen plays a part in Best of Missoula “Best Pizza” Winner’s for 2008-2012. Find our products at: The Good Food Store • Biga Pizza • Bridge Pizza • Pizza Cafe in Ronan (12”crust). $-$$ NOT JUST SUSHI We have quick and delicious lunch specials 6 days a week starting at $7, and are open for dinner 7 nights a week. Try our comfort food items like Pork Katsu and Chicken Teriyaki. We also offer party platters to go and catering for all culinary styles. Lunch 11:30-3 Mon-Sat. Dinner 5-9:30 Every Night. Corner of Pine and Higgins. Very Family Friendly. 549-7979. $-$$ Taco Del Sol 422 N. Higgins • 327-8929 Stop in when you’re in the neighborhood.

We’ll do our best to treat you right! Crowned Missoula’s best lunch for under $6. Mon.-Sat. 11-10 Sun 12-9. $-$$ Taco John’s 623 W Broadway 2600 S Reserve West-Mex® is about fresh taste and BOLD flavors. Taco John’s recipes make you smile and yell “OLÉ”. We combine hearty helpings of seasoned meats, crispy Potato Olés®, and flavorful cheeses with fresh-made Mexican specialties like burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. All topped off with bold sauces, spices and salsas. You’ll find West-Mex® cooking makes for an unbeatably satisfying meal. See you soon ... Amigo :) $-$$ Taco Sano 115 1/2 S. 4th Street West Located next to Holiday Store on Hip Strip 541-7570 • tacosano.net Once you find us you’ll keep coming back. Breakfast Burritos served all day, Quesadillas, Burritos and Tacos. Let us dress up your food with our unique selection of toppings, salsas, and sauces. Open 10am-9am 7 days a week. WE DELIVER. $-$$ Ten Spoon Vineyard + Winery 4175 Rattlesnake Dr. 549-8703 www.tenspoon.com Made in Montana, award-winning organic wines, no added sulfites. Tasting hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 5 to 9 pm. Soak in the harvest sunshine with a view of the vineyard, or cozy up with a glass of wine inside the winery.

Wine sold by the flight or glass. Bottles sold to take home or to ship to friends and relatives. $$ Walking Moustache 206 W. Main St. • 549-3800 www.walkingmoustache.com 12/21 Live Music with Kiristi Neumann 7:30 pm. Our aim is to offer excellent food with five star service. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Daily Specials + 2 am Special. Restaurant Hours: Tues 6 am – Sun 5 pm. Monday Lunch 11 am - 2:30 pm. Winebar Hours: Tues 11 am – Sat 11 pm.

Westside Lanes 1615 Wyoming 721-5263 Visit us for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner served 8 AM to 9 PM. Try our homemade soups, pizzas, and specials. We serve 100% Angus beef and use fryer oil with zero trans fats, so visit us any time for great food and good fun. $-$$

$–$$…$5–$15

$$–$$$…$15 and over

December 19–December 26, 2013

Get your Golden Ticket and head on down to the Missoula Community Theatre production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Performances at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 1315 and Dec. 18-22. All evening shows are at 7:30 PM, besides Sundays, which are at 6:30.

Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 PM. $15-$21. Tickets available at mctinc.org, by calling 728-7529 or at the box office on 200 N. Adams St. Hang out with limber folk and watch Hard Nut, a pop-art take on the Nutcracker, at the Dance Movie Night at Downtown Dance Collective, 121 West Main St. Door opens at 7:15, movie starts at 7:30 PM. $5/free ages 16 and under.

Unleash your cogent understanding of the trivium at Brooks and Browns Big Brains Trivia Night. $50 bar tab for first place, plus specials on beer. 200 S. Pattee St. in the Holiday Inn Downtown. 7:30–10 PM. Films by pioneering Russian puppeteer and stop-motion animator Ladislas Starevich, including The Cameraman’s Revenge and The Ant and the Grasshopper, get the live-score treatment from Next Door Prison Hotel at the Roxy Theater. 8 PM. $10.

During Open Mic Night at Sean Kelly’s, local talented folks may titillate your eardrums.

8:30 PM. Free. Call 542-1471 after 10 AM Thursday to sign up.

Ask our former calendar editor to dance, why dontcha, and cut a rug when Julie Bug and Northern Exposure play the Sunrise Saloon.

Country two-step beginner/intermediate dance lesson from 7-8:30 PM, live band starting at 9. $5 for dance class/no cover after 9.

Singer John Adam Smith keeps it simple, stupid at the Palace. 9 PM. No cover.

photo courtesy Andy Kemmis

When it rains, it pours. Comedian Chris Fairbanks headlines the Molly Huffman benefit show at the Badlander Fri., Dec. 20 at 8 PM. $18. Proceeds benefit Molly’s fight against Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Tickets available at Rockin Rudy's.

THURSDAYDEC19 If you could use a refreshing artsy palate cleanser, here’s an unusual function to wet your whistle. The Moonrisers Variety Show includes three short plays by Christopher Magee, a short scene from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and music from Brody Klemer and The Chalfonts. ZACC. 7 PM. Free, but donations appreciated.

Go ahead and linger in Tortoise pose for a while at Yoga For You class, led by Rodney Yee, which encourages folks to go at their own pace.

Missoula Public Library. Thursdays at 4:30 PM.

Might we suggest pairing a dirty martini with Captain Wilson Conspiracy’s jazzy tunes when they play Montgomery Distillery. 6-8 PM. No cover.

You’ll swear every song is dedicated to you when the one and only Tom Catmull plays Draught Works, 915 Toole Ave., from 5-8 PM.

nightlife

Get your nosh on while Tyler Decker plays mellow tunes at the Top Hat Dinner Show. 6 PM. Free.

Say you heard ‘em back then after seeing Nashville indie-rock duo You Knew Me When.

Bitter Root Brewery in Hamilton. 6-8:30 PM. No cover.

Like a bad boyfriend, Jerry Joseph just can’t stay away for long, so he and his Jackmormons play rock ‘n’ roll at the Top Hat, starting at 10 PM. $10/$8 in advance. Tickets at Rockin and Hat Top the Rudy’s, tophatlounge.com/events.

FRIDAYDEC20 Santa Claus and the missus are out to paint the town red and sing some dirty songs while they’re at it. Join the fun with the 2013 Missoula edition of Santacon, where everyone is invited to dress up in red hats or elf gear and wander around downtown getting their holiday drink on.

I once saw a lady at Portland Santacon dress as a tree, complete with working lights, so game on. Start at Flipper’s at 6:30 PM.

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [27]

[28] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

[calendar]

photo courtesy of Tony Morey

“Banksy was just here, I swear.” Rocker Jerry Joseph plays the Top Hat Thu., Dec. 19 at 10 PM. $10/$8 in advance. Tickets at Rockin Rudy's, the Top Hat and tophatlounge.com/events.

Paul Horton presents a one-day sustainability workshop with the Natural Step Framework. University Center room 332. $450; email paul@paulhortongroup.net or call 360-918-1079 to learn more.

Take the time to make that automatic thingamajig a reality with MakerSpace’s Open Time/Project Development at the Missoula Public Library. Noon-6 PM. To learn more about this project, where people can learn how to do everything from sewing to soldering, check out missoulapubliclibrary.org/makerspace.

Heat things up at the Second Annual Christmas Steamer, where $5 gets you a pint and a bowl of fresh mussels, and folks’ll be watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Draught Works, 915 Toole Ave. 4 PM. Everybody play nice now when Pinegrass provides tunes for Family Friendly Friday at the Top Hat. 6 PM. Free.

Stevites are invited to make merry (is Stevites a thing, btw?) with the holiday celebration sing-along at the North Valley Public Library in Stevensville. Leading the joyous multitudes are Kendal Norris on piano and singer Deb Goslin. 6-7:30 PM. Free.

nightlife A Musical Dreamtime Journey: Winter Solstice Performance with Michael Marsolek and Lawrence Duncan goes on a magical world-beat adventure, featuring instruments like didgeridoos, flutes, drums, Tibetan bowls and other neat stuff. Participants encouraged to bring pillows and blankies. St. Anthony Parish, 317 Tremont Ave. 7 PM. $15/$12 in advance. Tickets at drumbrothers.com and all Griz Tix outlets.

Discover one of the architects of American progressivism when historian Richard Drake reads from his new tome, The Education of an Anti-Imperialist: Robert La Follette and U.S. Expansion. Shakespeare and Co., 103 S. Third St. W. 7 PM.

Burn it bright when local musicdealio Baby Tyger rocks out at the Palace. 9 PM. No cover.

Beans ‘n’ Joe bust out with “songs you forgot you love” at Brooks and Browns, inside the Holiday Inn downtown. 7 PM. No cover.

Snort a pixie stick and prepare to have your mind blown when psychblues band The Steady Changes plays Stage 112, inside the Elk’s at 112 N. Pattee St. 9 PM.

Get your Golden Ticket and head on down to the Missoula Community Theatre production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Performances at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 18-22. All evening shows are at 7:30 PM, besides Sundays, which are at 6:30. Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 PM. $15-$21. Tickets available at mctinc.org, by calling 728-7529 or at the box office on 200 N. Adams St. Please sir, may I have another cog? The Whitefish Theatre Company presents a steampunked-out performance of the classic musical Oliver. O’Shaughnessy Center, 1 Central Ave. in Whitefish. Showing Dec. 20-21 at 7:30 PM., plus Sunday matinee on Dec. 22 at 4 PM. $20/$18 for seniors/$8 for students.

Bump up your endorphins at the Molly Huffman Benefit show, starring comedian Chris Fairbanks. Badlander.

8 PM. $18. Proceeds benefit Molly’s fight against Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Tickets available at Rockin Rudy’s.

Who knew Tom Catmull was a December baby? Discover this and other intriguing trivia when Mr. Catmull and Radio Static play the Union Club, starting around 9 PM. No cover.

There’s no place like home for the holidays, so throw on a sweater and get down with I’ll House You, a DJ night with Hotpantz, Mike Stolin, and Tak 45. Badlander. 9 PM. Free.

Escape the urban doldrums when folk outfit Run From the City plays Sean Kellys, along with special guests.

9 PM. No cover.

Wear a gold chain like it was 1980 when Mighty Flick plays retro tunes at the Dark Horse. 9 PM. No cover.

Lolo Hot Springs Resort hosts the weekly TomBourine Show, plus you can get your soak on and rent a cabin.

9:30 PM. No cover.

Walk on the wild side, baby, with the Queer Party: Animal Edition, where all flavors of the rainbow are invited to dress up like their animal selves and groove to electronic tunes.

Palace Lounge. 9:30 PM. No cover.

Leave your head and your heart on the dance floor while 406 Band plays all the right dance numbers at the Sunrise Saloon, 1101 Strand Ave. 9:30-close. No cover.

Russ Nasset and the Revelators’ll put you in the finest of frolicking moods at the Top Hat, starting around 10 PM. Free.

SATURDAYDEC21 Newly minted author Dan Brister, executive director of the nonprofit Buffalo Field Campaign, signs his book, In the Presence of Buffalo, a collection of essays about grassroots organizing and research on protecting this shaggy ole American icon. Fact and Fiction, 220 N. Higgins Ave. 11 AM-1 PM.

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [29]

[calendar] Stay true to your root vegetables with the Heirloom Winter Farmers Market, which offers produce, honey, crafts and more, in the Floriculture Building on the Western Montana Fairgrounds. 10 AM-2 PM on Saturdays.

Kris Kringle is sliding into town on a Zamboni to join in a family skate day at Glacier Ice Rink on the Western Montana Fairgrounds. Skating from 9 AM-4 PM, with Santa appearances on Sat., Dec. 21 from 10:30-noon and Sun., Dec. 22 from 2:30-4 PM. $6/$3 for kids and seniors, plus skate rentals.

Music is an aeroplane so share the gift of it with the chilluns at Kids’ Vibrations, a 45-minute funtime featuring local musicians, dancing and playing instruments. Now meeting at the Missoula Senior Citizens’ Center, 705 Higgins Ave. 11–11:45 AM. Donations accepted.

The Daly Mansion Community Christmas Party invites one and all to have a holly jolly day. The Bitterroot Ragtime Society, Joan Roe and the Sunshine Generation provide tunes, River Street Dance group performs, kids can decorate cookies and Mrs. and Mrs. Claus will be hanging out to tell stories. 251 Eastside HIghway near Hamilton. 11 AM-4 PM. $5/$2 for kids. Children under 6 are free.

Discounts for veterans and their children.

Get edumacated on Figurative Modernists: Picasso, Chagall and other Masterpieces from a Private Collection and Modernist Prints when art curator Brandon Reintjes leads a gallery tour. Meloy and Paxson Galleries, PARTV Center. 12:10 PM. $5 suggested donation. Tour is limited to 28 people, so RSVP at 406-243-2019.

nightlife Solo artist Sarah Brown sings during your supper at the Top Hat dinner show. 6 PM. No cover.

Dazzle ‘em all with your knowledge of notes and body while Captain Wilson Conspiracy plays jazzy tunes at Ten Spoon Vineyard and Winery, 4175 Rattlesnake Drive. 6-8:30 PM. No cover.

Get a li’l sassy this holiday season with the Alpine Theatre Project’s Yuletide Affair X, a concert with classic Christmas songs and comedy skits. Whitefish Performing Arts Center, 600 E. Second St. 7 PM. $39. Tickets at atpwhitefish.org or 862-SHOW. The Kimberlee Carlson Jazz Trio classes up the joint when they play Finn and Porter, 100 Madison St. inside the Doubletree. 7-9 PM. No cover.

Get to steppin’ when the Wild Coyote Band rules the roost for a dance in support of local veterans.

American Legion Hall, 825 Ronan St. 7-11 PM. $7/$5 with donation of canned good.

[30] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

Get your Golden Ticket and head on down to the Missoula Community Theatre production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Performances at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 18-22. All evening shows are at 7:30 PM, besides Sundays, which are at 6:30. Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 PM. $15-$21. Tickets available at mctinc.org, by calling 728-7529 or at the box office on 200 N. Adams St. Please sir, may I have another cog? The Whitefish Theatre Company presents a steampunked-out performance of the classic musical Oliver. O’Shaughnessy Center, 1 Central Ave. in Whitefish. Showing Dec. 20-21 at 7:30 PM., plus Sunday matinees on Dec. 22 at 4 PM. $20/$18 for seniors/$8 for students.

Prepare for elves with attitude when MCT’s Out of the Box Productions presents The Santaland Diaries, a one-man performance of the droll David Sedaris classic. Starring Justin Fatz. Performances at the Crystal Theater Dec. 21-22 at 7:30 and 9 PM, and on Dec. 23 at 7:30 PM only. $10.

Tickets at mctinc.org, by calling 7287529 or the MCT box office, 200 N. Adams St. Advanced purchase is recommended. (See Spotlight.)

The Missoula Folklore Society presents a contra dance with tunes provided by Skippin A Groove upstairs at the Union Hall. Morna Leonard has the call. Beginner workshop from 7:30-8, dancing from 8-11 PM. $9/$6 for members.

The Jack Saloon and Grill (formerly the venerated Lumberjack) presents live music on Saturdays.

7000 Graves Creek Road. 9 PM. Wear a gold chain like it was 1980 when Mighty Flick plays retro tunes at the Dark Horse. 9 PM. No cover.

Become one with the party within you whilst Joan Zen plays the Union Club, starting around 9 PM. No cover.

Learn your ABCs and EDMs at Resonance, a DJ night with Deadline, Digerati, Clayton L, Carter, Opioid and Enigmatik. Palace. 9 PM. Free.

Leave your head and your heart on the dance floor while 406 Band plays all the right dance numbers at the Sunrise Saloon, 1101 Strand Ave. 9:30close. No cover.

Folk outfit Run From the City goes for a wild ride at the Top Hat. 10 PM. No cover.

SUNDAYDEC22 Arlee gets into the holiday swing of things with a somewhat unusual Christmas Music Celebration. Tsering Lodoe starts things off while performing Tibetan music celebrating peace and freedom, and then Jeff Daniel and Mike Ward lead off a community Christmas sing-along. Hangin Art Gallery and Coffee House, 92555 Highway 93.

5 PM. Free-will donation.

Get a kick out of the Indoor Soccer Holiday Tournament at the Missoula Indoor Soccer Arena, 2811 Latimer St. Adult and junior divisions compete from Dec. 22–Jan 1. Check out missoulaindoor.com for a full schedule.

Heads up, procrastinators, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be taking lastminute requests at Liquid Planet today from noon-4 PM. Free.

Kris Kringle is sliding into town on a Zamboni to join in a family skate day at Glacier Ice Rink on the Western Montana Fairgrounds. Skating from 9 AM-4 PM, with Santa appearances on Sat., Dec. 21 from 10:30-noon and Sun., Dec. 22 from 2:30-4 PM. $6/$3 for kids and seniors, plus skate rentals.

nightlife Work on that low self esteem when Captain Wilson Conspiracy plays Draught Works, 915 Toole Ave. 5 PM. Bob Wills is still the king of Western swing, but our very own Western Union is looking to commit some regicide and make some fine old Western swing tunes for you all to dance by at the Missoula Winery, 5646 Harrier Way. 6 PM. $5.

Get your Golden Ticket and head on down to the Missoula Community Theatre production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Performances at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 18-22. All evening shows are at 7:30 PM, besides Sundays, which are at 6:30. Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 PM. $15-$21. Tickets available at mctinc.org, by calling 728-7529 or at the box office on 200 N. Adams St. Get a li’l sassy this holiday season with the Alpine Theatre Project’s Yuletide Affair X, a concert with classic Christmas songs and comedy skits.

Whitefish Performing Arts Center, 600 E. Second St. 7 PM. $39. Tickets at atpwhitefish.org or 862-SHOW. Prepare for elves with attitude when MCT’s Out of the Box Productions presents The Santaland Diaries, a one-man performance of the droll David Sedaris classic. Starring Justin Fatz. Performances at the Crystal Theater Dec. 21-22 at 7:30 and 9 PM, and on Dec. 23 at 7:30 PM only. $10.

Tickets at mctinc.org, by calling 7287529 or the MCT box office, 200 N. Adams St. Advanced purchase is recommended. (See Spotlight.)

MONDAYDEC23 I hear if you play Decline of Western Civilization Part II backwards, it reveals the location of Atlantis. Or just watch it the normal way at the Top Hat’s Monday Movie Night. 7:30 PM. Free.

The kiddos can put their cabin fever to good use with SpectrUM’s Tech Masters workshop, where participants can use the 3D printer to make their own toy and film a stop-motion

[calendar]

tis the season The Christmas season abounds with cheery, family friendly activities and stories. It’s nice to see grown-ups and kids bond over cookies and caroling and “Charlie Brown” movies. But past about the age of, oh, 10, there’s only so much sweetness you can take before you need a little dash of salt, like that found in The Santaland Diaries.

David Sedaris’ 1992 essay recounts his time working as an elf named Crumpet at the Macy’s Santa station. The published version of Santaland Diaries explains that he was an out-of-work writer desperate for some cash, and undoubtphoto by Cathrine L. Walters edly failed the drug test, but short peo- Justin Fatz stars as Crumper in The Santaland Diaries. ple got hired anyway.

WHAT: The Santaland Diaries WHEN: Dec. 20-23 at 7:30 and 9 PM WHERE: The Crystal Theatre HOW MUCH: $10 MORE INFO: MCTinc.org, 728-7529 or the box office at 200 N. Adams St

The Santa business sounds depressing, indeed, with tired kids and frazzled parents all trying to go through a ritual that, quite frankly, is really weird. In the essay as he performs it for NPR, he begins, “Twenty-two thousand people came to see Santa today, and not all of them were well behaved. Today, I witnessed fistfights and vomiting and magnificent tantrums.”

By way of a tidy conclusion, Sedaris says, “Tonight, I saw a woman slap and shake her crying child. She yelled: ‘Rachel, get on that man’s lap and smile or I’ll give you something to cry about.’ Then she sat Rachel on Santa’s lap and I took the picture, which supposedly means on paper, that everything is exactly the way it’s supposed to be—that everything is snowy and wonderful.”

It’s bitter, to be sure, but anyone who’s gritted their teeth and soldiered through a holiday when Mom’s pissed at Dad or Uncle Bob showed up wasted or little Jordan fought with Sarah can probably empathize.

So if you need an antidote to holiday cuteness, the Crystal Theatre hosts Out of the Box Production’s live performance of The Santaland Diaries, featuring actor Justin Fatz dressed in an elf outfit. Sometimes the holidays aren’t snowy and wonderful, but if we can admit it and laugh about it, everything will be fine.

—Kate Whittle

movie. Classes are split for ages 6-8 and 9-12. Skaggs Building, Room 166. 9 AM-4 PM. $50. Call 728-STEM to sign up. Scholarships are available, too.

Cellist Jessica Catron busts out with holiday classics and folk tunes at the Montgomery Distillery. 6 PM. No cover.

Come on in, the water’s fine at the Dive For Five Missoula High School Alumni Swim Meet. All swimmers are welcome to join in this fundraiser to benefit Living Art of Montana, a nonprofit that offers therapeutic art workshops to help people dealing with illness and loss. Grizzly Pool at the University of Montana. Warm-ups start at 6 PM. $5 entry free. Register by emailing huli@bresnan.net. (See Agenda.)

Find an Abe’s Cabe and let’s ankle to Monk’s for Jazz Mondays.

Line-ups vary, but generally the fourpiece Basement Boys kick things off at 7 PM and a vetted jazz jam starts at 9. $5 suggested donation. 21-plus.

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [31]

[calendar] Hey, David Lynch lovers, The Roxy Theater shows episodes of “Twin Peaks,” a few at a time, every Monday at 7 PM. Homemade pie and Black Coffee Roasting Co. decaf and regular available. $5.

Cast a wry glance when Rye Bones with Ryan Bundy play bluesy country and folk at the Red Bird Wine Bar, 111 N. Higgins Ave. 7-10 PM. No cover.

Prepare for elves with attitude when MCT’s Out of the Box Productions presents The Santaland Diaries, a one-man performance of the droll David Sedaris classic. Starring Justin Fatz. Performances at the Crystal Theater Dec. 21-22 at 7:30 and 9 PM, and on Dec. 23 at 7:30 PM only. $10. Tickets at mctinc.org, by calling 728-7529 or the MCT box office, 200 N. Adams St. Advanced purchase is recommended since seating is limited. (See Spotlight.)

nightlife Open mic at the VFW, 245 W. Main St., seems like a fine idea, especially with 2-for-1 drink specials for musicians and the working class. 10 PM. Free. Call Joey at 406-229-0488 to get yourself a spot.

The appropriately-enough titled Mondays in Missoula shindig happens tonight, with electronic music from DJs Cryptochrome, Broken Stihletto, plus some fancy stepping from the Soulkandi Gogo Dancers. Palace. 9 PM. Free

TUESDAYDEC24 Await the Wise Men’s arrival with a brewski while Eric Barrera plays solo acoustic tunes at the Sunrise Saloon, 1101 Strand Ave. 9 PM. No cover.

nightlife Sean Kelly’s invites you to another week of free pub trivia, which takes place every Tuesday at 8 PM. Here’s a question to tickle your brainwaves: “Homo Christmas” is a festive queer holiday song by what legendary punk band? (See answer in tomorrow’s nightlife.)

“Honey, I shrunk my guitar.” Nashville duo You Knew Me When plays the Bitter Root Brewery in Hamilton Thu., Dec. 19 from 6–8:30 PM. No cover.

WEDNESDAYDEC25

THURSDAYDEC26

Snazzy lady Kimberlee Carlson plays jazz along with Ron Meissner and Pete Hand at the Bitter Root Brewery in Hamilton. 6-8:30 PM. No cover.

The cattle are lowing and the dear children are in our tender care, for today is Christmas Day. Most stuff’s closed, except for the movie theater and the ER. Here’s wishing you and yours lots of love, ‘nog and good-natured ribbing. And stay out of the ER. (Trivia answer: Pansy Division.)

Howl at the moon when Wild Coyote Band plays the Sunrise Saloon. Live music and dancing from 9 PM to close. $5 for dance class/no cover after 9.

Brag about your presents while the Milkcrate Mechanic gets to work at the House and Trance Night at the Palace. 9 PM. Free.

[32] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

nightlife Do your Boxing Day up right when David Baty plays Draught Works, 915 from 6-8 PM. No cover.

Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is you (repeat ad infinitum). Submit events to Calapatra by 5 PM on Friday to calendar@missoulanews.com.

[outdoors]

MOUNTAIN HIGH

C

aring about environmental health can be really depressing. Every time I read about the melting of glaciers, animal extinctions and toxic chemicals and impending natural disasters, I have to sometimes walk outside and check to make sure Mount Sentinel hasn’t somehow crumbled.

Fortunately, there are organizations in Missoula doing work that should cheer up even the most dour environmentalist. Five Valleys Land Trust, for instance, is a nonprofit that helps private landowners put their property into conservation easements. The trust— named for the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Mission and upper and lower Clark Forks—was founded in 1972. Since then, piece by piece, it’s protected more than 67,000 acres and 146 miles of stream frontage. Take a look out your window and you can see Five Valleys’ hand-

iwork on Mount Jumbo, which was saved from potential development partly by the trust’s efforts in 1997.

Winter sporty types can earn a gold star in outdoorsy-ness with the Five Valleys Ski Day at Discovery, where $10 from each $30 lift ticket benefits the trust. Helping protect western Montana’s open space while getting to play in it sounds like a pretty uplifting experience.

—Kate Whittle At Five Valleys Ski Day, $10 from each lift ticket sold goes to the Five Valleys Land Trust, and Shane Clouse and Stomping Ground play tunes. Discovery Ski Area, outside Anaconda. Sat., Dec. 21. Skiing starts at 9:30 AM, music at 3 PM. Lift tickets are $30.

photo by Cathrine L. Walters

THURSDAY DECEMBER 19 The miniNaturalists Pre-K Program is aces for outdoorsy learning for ye childrens. The Montana Natural History Center. 10–11 AM. $3/$1 for members. Visit montananaturalist.org.

You can’t achieve those marathon dreams unless you get started now, so check out the Boston/Spring Marathon Training Class informational session, which meets in the basement classroom at Runner’s Edge, 304 N. Higgins Ave. 5:30 PM. The 16-week course is intended for advanced runners, and the first run will be Jan. 5. $75/$50 for RWM members. Register at runwildmissoula.org.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20 Active outdoor lovers are invited to the Mountain Sports Club’s weekly meeting to talk about past glories and upcoming activities at Bigfork’s Swan River Inn. 6–8 PM. Free.

Make sure your first time is special by attending First Timer Friday at the Freestone Climbing Center, 935 Toole Ave. in Missoula, at 7 PM. Free if it’s your first visit.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 21 The Kick Out the Kinks ski race gives that rascally British band the boot while you have a good time competing in a 3K, 5K or 10K cross-country event. There’s also a free 1K race for kids. Hosted

by Izaak Walton Inn, near Essex on the border of Glacier National Park. $10. Learn more at izaakwaltoninn.com or call 888-5700.

You’ll be bright eyed and bushy tailed after Run Wild Missoula’s Saturday Breakfast Club Runs, which start at 8 AM every Saturday at Runner’s Edge, 325 N. Higgins Ave. Grab breakfast with other participants afterward.

Free to run.

Visit runwildmissoula.org.

Skive off chores and take a snow day when Discovery hosts a Five Valleys Ski Day, where $10

from each lift ticket sold goes to the Five Valleys Land Trust, and Shane Clouse and S tomping Ground play tunes while you kick back in the lodge. Discovery Ski Area, outside Anaconda.

Skiing starts at 9:30 AM, music at 3 PM. Lift tickets are $30.

Them waters might be chilly, but you can b.s. about trout anyway when the Rock Creek Fisherman’s Mercantile hosts a weekly Fly Tyer’s Roundtable. Y’all can drink coffee, learn new patterns and use tools and materials for free. Rock Creek Fisherman’s Mercantile, 73 Rock Creek Road in Clinton. 10 AM. Call 825-6440 or email rcmerc@blackfoot.net for more details.

Perhaps the Wyld Stallyns will inspire you with the kid-oriented Wild Gift Workshop at Montana Natural History Center. There’ll be flora on hand and advice for crafting it into a neat trinket. 2 PM. $3.

Learn more at montananaturalist.org.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 22 Perhaps this will be the year you take the plunge and join the Libby Polar Bear Club, which meets at the Farm-to-Market Bridge over Libby Creek at 2 PM on Sundays through April. If the ice can be broken, the club does the dive. Check out libbymt.com/outdoors/polarbearclub.htm.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 24 It’s not over ‘til the dude in the red suit shows up at the annual Santa’s Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade at Whitefish Mountain Resort, where folks can watch from outside Ed and Mully’s restaurant or be a torch bearer. You can spike your hot cocoa with schnapps, too. 7 PM. Head to skiwhitefish.com to learn more. calendar@missoulanews.com

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [33]

[community]

• gift cards • makeup • skin care • spa services • complimentary gift wrapping

My mom, an ever-practical R.N. who works in hospice care, often remarks, “Funerals are for the living.” It’s a simple way of remembering that death is a natural part of existence, and we have to come together with the people who are still here to grieve and carry on. Our culture doesn’t offer many tools for dealing with grief, either, once the funeral is over.

(Mom also says that nobody makes giant funeraldinner casseroles like they used to anymore.)

So I greatly appreciate the work that Living Art of Montana does. The nonprofit offers arts workshops as a therapeutic place for people dealing with serious illness, their friends and family and their caregivers. Teachers lead courses like Creative Connections for Cancer Survivors and Creativity for Life where people can paint, write, craft or dance as a way to process their emotions. All of Living Art’s workshops are free, too, so as not to add to the burden for people already shouldering medical bills.

You can help with Living Art’s mission at the Dive for Five swim meet, a refreshingly unusual sort of fundraiser organized by Mackenzie Keiper, a Hellgate High senior. All swimmers are invited to enter. If you’re hurting from a loss, or even if you’re not, it might cheer you up to get together with other people to do good.

—Kate Whittle All swimmers are welcome to join the Dive For Five Missoula High School Alumni Swim Meet Mon., Dec. 23. Proceeds benefit Living Art of Montana, a nonprofit that offers therapeutic art workshops to help people dealing with illness and loss. Grizzly Pool at the University of Montana. Warm-ups start at 6 PM. $5 entry free. Register by emailing huli@bresnan.net. .

[AGENDA LISTINGS] THURSDAY DECEMBER 19 Budget expert Sarah Cobler Leow presents “Government Budgets Matter: the Effects of Public Spending Cuts in Montana,” which talks about how guv’mint spending affects everybody. Mountain West Bank Conference Center, 3301 Great Northern Ave (next to Costco). 11:30 AM-1 PM. $10/free for Missoula Nonprofit Network members.

The UM Climate Action Now Meeting is out to save the day, promoting sustainability and environmental action. UM FLAT, 633 Fifth St. E. Now meeting at 6 PM. Honor your connection to the earth and the glorious array of life on it during the Children of the Earth Tribe Song and Chant Circle at the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center. 519 S. Higgins, enter through back alley door. 7:30-9 PM. Free will offering.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20 Give and receive empathy with Patrick Marsolek during Compassionate Communication, a nonviolent communication weekly practice group, at the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center, 519 S. Higgins Ave. Noon. Free.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 21 If you’re having trouble paying for daycare for the little ones, Missoula’s Child Care Resources offers scholarships. New guidelines mean a family of three can earn up to $2,386 per month to potentially qualify. Call 406-728-6446 or visit childcareresource.org to learn more.

Learn about maintaining healthy relationships at Co-Dependents Anonymous, which meets at 11:30 AM on Saturdays at the Fourth D Alano Club, 1500 W. Broadway. Contact Koryn for more information at 493-4431.

MONDAY DECEMBER 23 Help support assault victim Russ Talmo at today’s edition of Moscow Monday at the Montgomery Distillery, 129 W. Front St., where the distillery redistributes the wealth. A dollar from every drink sold is donated to a different non-profit or good cause each Monday. Family friendly, from noon–8 PM. Find out how the Garden City grows at the weekly Missoula City Council meeting, where you can no doubt expect ranting public commenters, PowerPoint presentations and subtle wit from Mayor Engen.

Missoula council chambers, 140 W. Pine St. Meetings are the first four Mondays of every month at 7 PM, except for holidays.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 24 Knitting For Peace meets at Joseph’s Coat, 115 S. Third St. W. All knitters of all skill levels are welcome.

1–3 PM. For information, call 543-3955.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 26 The UM Climate Action Now Meeting is out to save the day, promoting sustainability and environmental action. UM FLAT, 633 Fifth St. E. Now meeting at 6 PM.

AGENDA is dedicated to upcoming events embodying activism, outreach and public participation. Send your who/what/when/where and why to AGENDA, c/o the Independent, 317 S. Orange, Missoula, MT 59801. You can also email entries to calendar@missoulanews.com or send a fax to (406) 543-4367. AGENDA’s deadline for editorial consideration is 10 days prior to the issue in which you’d like your information to be included. When possible, please include appropriate photos/artwork.

[34] Missoula Independent • December 19–December 26, 2013

missoulanews.com • December 19–December 26, 2013 [35]

Photo by Jonathan Marquis

M I S S O U L A

Independent

www.missoulanews.com

December 19 - December 26, 2013

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD ADD/ADHD relief ... Naturally! Reiki • CranioSacral Therapy • Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Your Energy Fix. James V. Fix, RMT, EFT, CST 360840-3492, 415 N. Higgins Ave #19 • Missoula, MT 59802. yourenergyfix.com Grout Rite Your tile & grout specialists. Free Estimates. Over 31 yrs exp. 406-273-9938. www.groutrite.com

ChristmasEveWorship-7pm Christmas Day-10am 402 STRAND • 543-8222

MOUNTZIONMISSOULA.ORG

Missoula Medical Aid: Working for Health in Honduras. In 1998 we responded after a devastating hurricane. The need still continues, and so do we. Will you help? Volunteer or donate today! missoulamedicalaid.org Missoula Medical Aid: Working for Health in Honduras. Please donate now at missoulamedicalaid.org!

LOST & FOUND Help us find our lost kitty Patty, our sweet little kitty has been missing since Sun Oct 13th. She has a pink nose with a

Dec. 22, 11AM: Family Christmas music service Dec. 24, 7PM: Christmas Eve candle lighting service 546 South Ave. W. Missoula 728-0187 • unitychurchmissoula.org

Snow Plowing Free Estimates

406-880-0688

bladesofglorylawncarellc.com

small birthmark on it, she has a white undercoat, and is brown/black on her top. Her tail is dark and fluffy, and she is not spayed. She was last seen around Splash Montana, Playfield Park, and Pattee Creek Road. If you have seen her or know of her whereabouts please contact Kiki at 701 361 9506 or Kayla at 507 381 8646.

Help us find our lost kitty Patty, our sweet little kitty has been missing since Sun Oct 13th. She has a pink nose with a small birthmark on it, she has a white undercoat, and is brown/black on her top. Her tail is dark and fluffy, and she is not spayed. She was last seen around Splash Montana, Playfield Park, and Pattee Creek Road. If you have seen her or know of her whereabouts please contact Kiki at 701 361 9506 or Kayla at 507 381 8646.

TO GIVE AWAY Free For All First Fridays. Free haircuts for everyone. Mighty Aphrodite Salon.

www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com

406-546-3846. 736A S. 1st W. Missoula. Find us on Facebook Pass It On Missoula is a community supported service offering FREE infant, toddler and maternity clothing to ALL Missoula area families! There are NO eligibility guidelines, simply reduce, reuse, and Pass It On locally! Community donations are accepted on location.

PIOM offers FREE clothing to those in need, and affordable for all at 3/$5! Located at 2426 W Central Ave and open Monday-Saturday

Table of contents Advice Goddess . . . . . .C2 Free Will Astrology . . .C4 Public Notices . . . . . . . .C6 Crossword . . . . . . . . . .C7 Camp Sleepover . . . . .C10 This Modern World . .C12

P L AC E YOUR AD:

I BUY

Honda • Subaru • VW Toyota • Nissan Japanese/German Cars Trucks SUVs

Nice Or Ugly, Running Or Not

327-0300 ANY TIME

Walk it.

317 S. Orange

( :

Talk it.

543-6609 x121 or x115

Send it. Post it. classified@missoulanews.com

PET OF THE WEEK Daytona, a three month old Chihuahua mix, and his tropically named friends are hoping to be adopted for Christmas. Visit the Humane Society to meet the wonderful dogs (and cats!) for adoption. Can’t find the perfect pet in time for the holidays? Consider an adoption certificate. It comes with a goodie bag to present as a gift and allows you the time to find the perfect fit for your family.

549-3934 www.myHSWM.org

“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.”

– Albert Einstein

ADVICE GODDESS

BULLETIN BOARD

By Amy Alkon

10AM-5:30PM. 274-6430. www.passitonmissoula.com

Call For Instant Offer: 1-888420-3808 www.cash4car.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INSTRUCTION

CASH FOR CARS: Any Car/Truck. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You!

ANIYSA Middle Eastern Dance Classes and Supplies. Call 2730368. www.aniysa.com

SOME LIKE IT HOT MESS Why do "helpless" women have men constantly doting on them, while women like me are deemed "too strong?" I was raised by a 1970s feminist and single mother. ("A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle!") At 21, I became a widowed single mother. I put myself through school and own a home and a business. I now have a boyfriend who feels I don't "need" him enough. He says I need to drop some of the balls I'm juggling so he can pick them up. "Just take them!" I say. We recently had a yard sale, and I did everything and was resentful and exhausted. I threw a little fit and walked away. My man then put forth a superhuman effort and cleaned everything up. But, as usual, he didn't handle things until I was unable to.

—Superwoman The modern damsel doesn't have to be in distress, but it helps if she at least has a few items not yet crossed off her to-do list. Otherwise, what is there for Superman to do but smoke a bowl and make YouTube videos of the cat riding the Roomba?

No sooner did you find a man who says he wants to help than you immediately raised the bar. It isn't enough that he's willing to take out the trash from under the sink. You expect him to sense that you want him to and then wrestle you for the bag. What's with this? Did you get comfy with the belief that women don't need men and are you now intent on confirming that? Could it be that having him help conflicts with your self-image as the suburban Joan of Arc—if not burning at the stake, cooking up the steak while burning with rage about how you have to do it all?

You can have the martyrdom merit badge or a relationship; pick any one.

Consider that maybe being a strong woman means being strong enough to admit that you need a man for something besides yelling at when he gives the wrong answer to "Do I look fat in this?"

You will have to ask for help, which may be easier if you think of this as sending your boyfriend on little "quests" to make him feel needed. Though you probably don't need a Holy Grail, you could ask him to wield power tools or run up to Rite Aid to get your kid some cold meds. While he's gone, here's a suggestion: Write out that dumb fish/bicycle quote. Burn it.

Scatter the ashes. And replace it in your

head with an update on a classic: "It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease—that is, if it doesn't run off and grease itself before anybody else can get up out of his chair to go look for the can."

Guitar • Banjo Mandolin Classes forming soon.

Bennett's Music Studio

721-0190 BennettsMusicStudio.com

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish for compliments and you annoy the crap out of everyone who knows or encounters him.

Of course, if your boyfriend didn't feel like a skin tag among men, he wouldn't be marching around putting out mini-manifestos on his greatness. You can probably get him to cut back on the incessant selfcongratulation simply by telling him it grates on you and makes you feel unappreciated. (A woman likes a man who's quick with a compliment, but especially when at least a few of the compliments are for her.)

The question is, do you even know the man you're with? Chances are, he hides his real feelings out of fear that you'll leave him if you get a glimpse of what he probably sees as his shamefully loserish true self.

Unfortunately, somebody chasing inner security all around town is never going to find it, and if your boyfriend's happy in your relationship, he's unlikely to feel motivated to get into the grubby business of digging inward. Relationships involve tradeoffs, and maybe being with him is worth it to you.

But you may ultimately find it too hard to respect a guy who does stuff like bragging when people say, "Hi, Chris." Yes, it's the highest achievement of the human spirit: "Wow, people know me, and they don't shun me!"

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com www.advicegoddess.com

[C2] Missoula Independent • December 19 – December 26, 2013

546 South Ave. W. Missoula 728-0187 Sundays: 11 am

HYPNOSIS

A clinical approach to negative self-talk • bad habits stress • depression Empower Yourself

BAD GRATITUDE Although I regularly tell my boyfriend how much I appreciate him, he repeatedly reminds me of how well he treats me, often saying "You sure have a great boyfriend" or "Your boyfriend's so good to you"—even when I've just done something super-nice for him! I'm not sure why he does this, but he often tells me he's "very confident," which screams insecurity to me. He also loves telling stories about people complimenting him and every day tells me about someone's seeing him and saying, "Hi, Chris."

—Annoyed

Positive. Practical.

Casual. Comfortable.

And, it's a church.

728-5693 • Mary Place MSW, CHT, GIS

NEW MISSOULA PUZZLE CLUB STARTING

Age Group 40-50

Ken's Barber Shop

Call For Interview Cell: 406-239-3161 Home: 406-541-9845

Children & Walk-in Welcome • 8:30AM-5:30PM • Tue-Sat Haircuts $10 • Beard Trims $5 Senior Citizens $9 1114 Cedar St, Missoula, MT• 728-3957

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL

GIVE BACK. GET MORE. Donate life-saving plasma.

RECEIVE RECEI EC IV VE UP U TO $ $305 30 YOUR 1st MONTH! ª'REATª.ORTHERNª!VEªsª-ISSOULA ª-4ª 406.721.2584

BARTENDING

$300-Day potential, no experience necessary, training available. 1-800-965-6520 ext.

278 Flatbed Drivers needed from the Missoula area. Home weekly to Bi-weekly • Top pay

IT’S A CALLING.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT BIOLIFEPLASMA.COM

$175

NEW DONORS OR DONORS WHO HAVEN’T DONATED IN SIX MONTHS OR MORE, PRESENT THIS COUPON AND RECEIVE $175 IN JUST THREE DONATIONS.

Must present this coupon prior to the initial donation to receive a total of $50 on your first, a total of $50 on your second and a total of $75 on your third successful donation.

Initial donation must be completed by 12.31.13 and subsequent donations within 30 days. Coupon redeemable only upon completing successful donations.

May not be combined with any other offer.

Only at participating locations.

GoANG.com/MT 800-TO-GO-ANG

• Full benefits • New equipment • 2 years experience required • Clean driving record • Must be present to apply.

406-493-7876 Call 9am-5pm M-F only.

FRONT DESK CLERK / Will be working either 7 A.M. to 3 P.M or 3 P.M. to 11 P.M. 30 to 35 hours per week. Must be computer literate, will be

www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com www.missoulanews.com

EMPLOYMENT making reservations, must have good customer service skills.

Must have a clean driving record. May also do some light breakfast bar work. Prefers prior desk clerk experience, but will train. Starting pay will depend on experience. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984804 GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY in Montana’s service of first choice. Earn more with the skills you have. Learn more of the skills you need. In the Montana Army National Guard, you will build the skills you need for a civilian career, while developing the leadership skills you need to take your career to the next level. Benefits: $50,000 Loan Repayment Program. Montgomery GI Bill. Up to 100% tuition assistance for college. Medical & dental benefits. Starting at $13.00/hr.

Paid job skill training. àCall 1800-G0-GUARD. National Guard. Part-time job...Full-time benefits.

Housekeeper Applicant must be able to be on their feet for long periods of time, must be able to bend and stoop regularly, must be able to work with cleaning chemicals, must have reliable transportation and various other things that will be discusses in interview.

Applicant MUST be able to work weekends!!! Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984718 Janitor Janitorial work such as sweeping, vacuuming, scrubbing and buffing floors, emptying trash, and sanitizing bathrooms in a local grocery store. 10:00 pm - 4:00 am Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984757 Non-Medical CAREGiver HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE is looking for the right people to make a difference in the life of a senior today.Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984758 Now Hiring Call Today!

273-2266 Sales Representative Some national travel will be part of the job but initially a strong presence on the phone means you could be an ideal candidate. B2B sales experience preferred although candidates with extensive retail experience in a technical industry will also be considered. Beyond great personal skills, you

will also need a love for technology and a clean driving record to be considered. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984786 WHOLESALE FLORAL DELIVERY DRIVER 6 months to a year delivery driver experience, and clean motor vehicle record. M, Tue, Thur and F, hours to be discussed. Approximately 35 hours/week. Pay starts at $9.50/hr; increases upon learning more routes. Per diem is paid on overnights—hotel is provided. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#2985915

PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT IV Work is fulltime and pay is $14.79.

Benefits included. CLOSE DATE: 12/30/13. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com. Job# 2985910 Client Services Downtown medical consulting office, PT (25 hours/week) Reception, answering/transferring telephone calls, scheduling appointments, and billing/invoicing. Computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Word, Access, and Outlook are mandatory, and experience with QuickBooks and JustClaims is preferred.

Competitive vacation/ health/ retirement benefits package provided after probationary period. Email resume and professional references to Anya Vasquez at akv@reoh.com or mail to REOH, Attn: Anya Vasquez, PO Box 8809, Missoula Montana 59807. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984771

Full Charge Bookkeeper Must be able to

perform payroll & reporting; 3 years minimum bookkeeping experience; computer skills with working knowledge of Quickbooks and Microsoft office required. Must be bondable and pass a background check. Applicant should have good attention to detail and work well within a professional environment, both independently and in a team environment that services clients. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984770

BUSINESS PROFILE Full Time Office Assistant Office assistant to help with general duties such as answering multi-line phones, helping the public, and general knowledge of accounting. Business is very fast paced at times so need someone who is able to multi-task. Must have 2 years prior office experience, computer knowledge and customer service skills. Opening is M-F. Salary $9.50+ DOE. Benefits.

Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984735

Technical Support Representative Do you have what it takes to help school districts solve software problems?

We need motivated, technicalminded, and friendly individuals to provide support for our clients. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984784

Legal Assistant/Paralegal Small, fast-paced law firm seeks a legal assistant/paralegal for longterm employment. This position requires high proficiency in word processing, internet usage, and basic office skills.

Willing to provide some training. Please send cover letter and resume to: Attorneys Inc., P.C. 301 West Spruce Missoula, MT 59802. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984799

TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING. Complete programs and refresher courses, rent equipment for CDL. Job Placement Assistance. Financial assistance for qualified students. SAGE Technical Services, Billings/Missoula, 1-800-545-4546

Systems Implementer We need self-starting, well-organized, technology leaders to help school districts integrate and troubleshoot our unique software and hardware systems. Beyond an inquisitive, analytical mind, you will also need a technical background and a clean driving record. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job#9984787

SKILLED LABOR Implementation Specialist Are you technically inclined with project management skills? Want to grow your technical skills & solve real-world problems while integrating software and hardware systems? Self-starting, well-organized, technological leaders to fulfill our role of Implementation Specialist needed. Full job description at Missoula Job Service: employmissoula.com.

Job# 9984783 LOOKING FOR A TRUCK DRIVER. Must have Class A CDL with a clean driving record. Competitive wages, starting wage $18 DOE. Benefits: Simple IRA, health insurance, dental, paid vacation and paid holiday. B&B Septic Services, Inc., 3604 N. Hwy 7, P.O. Box 1514, Baker, MT 59313-1514; Allan or Trish Barth 406-778-2599. Please send resumes to: trisho@hotmail.com or can fax to 406778-3794 Part-Time opening “approximately 1200 hours/year” for Custodial/Maintenance Manger for Woodman School.

Minimum $12/hr plus medical insurance after 60 days successful employment. Paid hourly or salary depending on individual ability or qualifications. Call 406-273-6770 for application and job description.

TRAINING/ INSTRUCTION

OPPORTUNITIES Marketing on motion Marketing on Motion for Public display (Ads in Motion). Interested Car owner should apply and earn $500/wk. Send a mail of interest to fredwilliams8791@gmail.com or sms (747) 333-6401 for more information. Mr Fred Williams

I call my practice “Shana’s Heart of Healing” because I work from the heart and with the heart, and my goal is to get to the heart of the issue, so you can heal from the inside out.

Now hiring

PCA/ CNA for mornings and evenings

Why I started the business: I wanted to simplify and concentrate exclusively on my clients’ health needs. I felt compelled to use all of my skills for their benefit, including what is considered alternative approaches.

For more information

please call

406-541-7063

FOSTER CARE PROVIDER Opportunity Resources, Inc. is seeking a Foster Care Provider for a 19 year old female with developmental disabilities who is looking for a home.

A $1500 monthly stipend w/room and board will be paid; respite money is available through the individual cost plan.

Please contact Sheila: 329-1765 or Kerry: 329-1736.

Giving back to the community: 1) I provide a voluntary sliding scale so people can afford treatment when they need it.

2) I am the instigator and probono co-organizer of the Missoula Healthy Downtown Day. We provided a cooperative model for raising awareness of the many healthpromoting small businesses in Downtown Missoula by offering open houses, information, and free treatments.

Testimonial: “Hello, Shana. I want to thank you for your healing touch. I have to admit that I have little understanding of how it works, but I know based on my experience with you that it does work. More energy.

Less pain. More ‘happy.’ Less fret. It is rare to have one-on-one contact of more than 45 minutes in any professional setting, and 90 minutes is a luxury. Thank you for using your gift to enrich and empower the lives of so many people.”

What’s special: The combination of 30 years work experience in rehabilitation and pain relief as a licensed physical therapist with 25 years experience in energy work and intuitive healing.

Why customers should choose me: Experience and dedication to healing on all levels.

Something coming up: Therapeutic Laughter Club, Jan.6, 2014, 6-7pm Funny episode: Working on my horse, she got so relaxed that she almost fell over.

Shana Dieterle, PT, CranioSacral Therapist 127 N. Higgins Ave. #303 Missoula, MT 59802

406-396-5788 shana@ShanasHeartofHealing.com www.ShanasHeartofHealing.com

Paid advertisement

montanaheadwall.commissoulanews.com • December 19 – December 26, 2013 [C3]

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

By Rob Brezsny

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A horticultural company in the UK is selling TomTato plants to home gardeners. Each bush grows both cherry tomatoes and white potatoes. The magic was accomplished through handcrafted hybridization, not genetic engineering. I foresee a comparable marvel in your long-term future, Gemini. I'm not sure about the exact form it will take. Maybe you will create a product or situation that allows you to satisfy two different needs simultaneously. It's possible you will find a way to express two of your talents in a single mode. Or perhaps you will be able to unite two sides of you that have previously been unbonded. Congratulations in advance!

a

CANCER (June 21-July 22): "To destroy is always the first step in any creation," said the poet E. E. Cummings. Do you buy that idea, Cancerian? I hope so, because the cosmos has scheduled you to instigate some major creative action in 2014. In order to fulfill that potential, you will have to metaphorically smash, burn, and dissolve any old structures that have been standing in the way of the future.

You will have to eliminate as many of the "yes, buts" and "I can’ts" and "not nows" as you possibly can.

b

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When did you first fall from grace? Do you remember? It has happened to most of us. We spend time being privileged or cared about or respected, and then, suddenly, we no longer are. We lose our innocence. Love disappears. Our status as a favorite comes to an end.

That's the bad news, Leo. The good news is that I think the months ahead may be time for you to climb back up to one of those high states of grace that you fell from once upon a time. The omens suggest that even now you're making yourself ready to rise back up—and sooner than you think, there will be an invitation to do so.

c

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Leonardo da Vinci created the painting St. Jerome in the Wilderness around 1480. It now hangs in the Pinacoteca Vaticana, a museum in Vatican City. For several centuries, though, the treasured work of art was missing. Legend tells us that in the early 19th century, Napoleon's uncle found the lower half of the painting in a junk shop in Rome. Years later he stumbled upon the top half in another back alley, where it was being used as a wedge in a shoemaker's bench. I foresee the possibility of a comparable sequence unfolding for you in 2014, Virgo. You just may manage to restore a lost beauty to its proper place of honor, one step at a time.

d

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Italian painter Tintoretto (1518-1594) was a Libra. He worked with such vigor and passion that he was nicknamed Il Furioso—The Furious. One of his crowning achievements was his painting Paradise, which is 74 feet long and 30 feet tall—about the size of a tennis court. It adorns a huge wall in the Doge's Palace, a landmark in Venice. I propose that Tintoretto serve as one of your inspirational role models in 2014. The coming months will be an excellent time for you to work hard at crafting your own personal version of paradise on earth. You may not be so wildly robust to deserve the title "Il Furioso." But then again, you might.

e

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Between 2002 and 2009, Buddhist monk Endo Mitsunaga spent a thousand days meditating as he did a ceremonial walk around Mount Hiei in Japan. In 2006, English writer Dave Cornthwaite took 90 days to skateboard across the entire length of Australia, a distance of 3,618 miles. The first man's intentions were spiritual, the second man's adventurous. The coming months will be prime time for you to contemplate both kinds of journeys, Scorpio. The astrological omens suggest that you will generate extra good fortune for yourself by seeking out unfamiliar experiences on the open road. To get yourself in the mood, ruminate on the theme of pilgrimage.

f

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many farms in California's Tulare County grow produce for supermarket chains. Here's the problem: Those big stores only want fruits and vegetable that look perfect. So if there are brown spots on the apples or if the zucchinis grow crooked or if the carrots get too big, they are rejected. As a result, 30 percent of the crops go unharvested. That's sad because a lot of poor people who live in Tulare don't have enough to eat. Fortunately, some enterprising food activists have begun to work out arrangements with farmers to collect the wasted produce and distribute it to the hungry folks. I gather there's a comparable situation in your life, Sagittarius: unplucked resources and ignored treasures. In 2014, I hope you take dramatic action to harvest and use them.

g

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Derrick Brown has a poem entitled "Pussycat Interstellar Naked Hotrod Mofo Ladybug Lustblaster!" I hope that at least once in 2014 you will get up the nerve to call someone you love by that name. Even if you can't quite bring yourself to utter those actual words, it will be healing for you to get to the point where you feel wild enough to say them. Here's what I'm driving at, Capricorn: In the coming months, you will be wise to shed any inhibitions that have interfered with you getting all of the free-flowing intimacy you'd love to have.

Family Care • Nutritional Consultation • IV Therapy • Herbal Medicine • Women’s Health • Massage Physician’s Building #2 • Community Medical Center • 2831 Fort Missoula Road, Ste. 105

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here's a tale of three renowned Taurus brainiacs: Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, and Bertrand Russell. They all had IQs over 175 and all made major contributions to philosophy. Yet all three were physically inept. Kant had trouble keeping a sharp point on his writing instrument, the quill, because he was clumsy using a knife. Mill was so undexterous he found it a chore to tie a knot. Russell's physical prowess was so limited he was incapable of brewing a pot of tea.

Chances are that you are neither as brilliant nor as uncoordinated as these three men. And yet, like them, there is a disconnect between your mind and body -- some glitch in the way the two of them communicate with each other. The coming year will be an excellent time to heal the disconnect and fix the glitch.

Christine White N.D. Elizabeth Axelrod N.D.

BLACK BEAR NATUROPATHIC

ARIES (March 21-April 19): "Life is best organized as a series of daring ventures from a secure base," wrote psychologist John Bowlby. Some of you Aries enjoy the "daring venture" part of that formula, but neglect the "secure base" aspect. That's why your daring ventures may on occasion go awry. If you are that type of Ram, the first half of 2014 will be an excellent time to correct your bad habit. Life will be offering you considerable help and inspiration in building a strong foundation. And if you already appreciate how important it is for your pursuit of excitement to be rooted in well-crafted stability, the coming months will be golden.

Escape with MassageSwedish, Deep Tissue and Reiki.

Open days, evenings and weekends. Insurance accepted. Janit Bishop, LMT • 207-7358 • 127 N Higgins

h

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): "Artists who are content merely to hone their gifts eventually come to little," says the Belgian writer Simon Leys. "The ones who truly leave their mark have the strength and the courage to explore and exploit their shortcomings." I'd like to borrow that wisdom and provide it for you to use in 2014, Aquarius. Even if you're not an artist, you will be able to achieve an interesting kind of success if you're willing to make use of the raw materials and untapped potential of your so-called flaws and weaknesses. Whatever is unripe in you will be the key to your creativity.

i

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 2014, you will have the mojo to escape a frustration that has drained you and pained you for a long time. I mean you can end its hold on you for good. The coming months will also provide you with the chance to activate and cultivate a labor of love that will last as long as you live. While this project may not bloom overnight, it will reveal its staying power in dramatic fashion. And you will be able to draw on the staunch faith you'll need to devote yourself to it until its full blessings ripen.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES and DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

[C4] Missoula Independent • December 19 – December 26, 2013

406.542.2147 MontanaNaturalMedicine.com

Hummingbird Usui Reiki Attunements at Garden Mother Herbs 345 West Front St. Missoula, 1st level $75, 2nd level $75, Master Level $150. ph 406-529-3834

Mentally exhausted?

Refresh yourself!

Call our Mental Health Therapist Lois Doubleday, LCPC today!

721-1646 www.bluemountainclinic.org

Education & Support for the Whole Family

Julie Linville, CHom Certified Classical Homeopath

Red Willow Center 845 W. Kent · 406-546-5485 www.sageflowerhomeopathy.com

PROGRAMS ON MEDICINAL PLANTS LEARN MORE ABOUT HERBS OR BECOME A PROFESSIONAL HERBALIST! GREENPATHHERBSCHOOL.COM

406-274-2009

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

MARKETPLACE MISC. GOODS

LLC

1520 S. 7th St. W, Missoula

Peggy Miller Owner/ Medical Herbalist (Chinese/Ayurvedic)

• Herbal Consults • Bulk Chinese/Ayurvedic Herbs

406-541-7577

wix.com/peggymiller/highlandwinds

Did you know?

Posting a classified ad ONLINE is FREE! www.missoulanews.com

2006 John Deere 5525 asking $9700, has cab heat air, 91HP, FWD, 540 PTO, marthy6@outlook.com / 406426-1578.

Auction 12-30-13 @ 5PM at All Star Storage. Viewing 24PM. All Contents: 155. Terms: Cash.

X-MAS SALE: Christmas villages, Christmas decor, new toys and games, new cloths, porcelain dolls, and sports memorabilia. Hidden Treasures 1810 North Ave. 406-317-1001. 105 Monday thru Saturday.

MUSIC Banjo lessons not just for guys anymore. Bennett’s Music Studio 721-0190 BennettsMusicStudio.com

#3240 Calico, DSH, SF, 8yrs; #3248 Black, DMH, NM, 2yrs; #3340 Blk/tan, DSH, NM, 2yrs; #3468 Black, DSH, SF, 2yrs; #3505 White/grey, ASH, SF, 8yrs; #3620 Grey Tabby, ASH, SF, 6wks; #4013 White#4038 Choc Pt, Siamese, SF, 10yrs; #4043 Blk, Persian X, NM, 8yrs; #4047 Orange, Maine Coon, NM, 6yrs; #4049 White/grey, ASH, SF, 9 mo; #4050 Brn/blk, DMH, NM, 7yrs; #4052 Grey, Russian Blue, SF, 2yrs; #4053 Grey Tabby, Persian X, NM, 3yrs. For photo listings see our web page at w w w. m o n t a n a p e t s . o r g Bitterroot Humane Assoc. in Hamilton 363-5311 www.montanapets.org/hamilton or www.petango.com, use 59840.

DOGS: #2564 Brindle, Catahoula, NM, 2yrs LONGEST RESIDENT; #3681 Tan/Blk, Shep X, NM, 4yrs; #3822 White/Tri, Aussie X, NM, 1.5yrs; #3838 Tri, ShepX, NM, 7yrs; #3919

White/Brown, Blue Heeler, SF, 2yrs; #3936 Tri, Aussie X, SF, 8yrs; #3965 Black/tan, Heeler/Rott, NM, 3 yrs; #3966 Red Tick, Hound, NM, 8 mo; #3975 Blk/Brn, Shep/Lab, SF, 3yrs; #3998 White/Blk, Pit, NM, 4yrs; #4002 White/Brown, Pit X, NM, 1yr; #4054 Blk/white, Catahoula/Ptr, NM, 2yrs; . For photo listings see our web page at www.montanapets.org Bitterroot Humane Assoc. in Hamilton 363-5311 www.montanapets.org/hamilton or www.petango.com, use 59840.

OUTDOOR GEAR The Sports Exchange - Great Gear. Great Prices. Buy • Sell • Trade • Consignment. 111 S. 3rd W., Missoula, on the Hip Strip. 406-721-6056

Outlaw Music Got Gear?

We Do! Missoula’s Pro Guitar Shop specializing in stringed instruments. Open Monday 12pm-5pm, Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 11am6pm. 724 Burlington Ave, 541-7533. Outlawmusicguitarshop.com Turn off your PC & turn on your life! Guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass lessons.

Rentals available. Bennett’s Music Studio 721-0190 BennettsMusicStudio.com

PETS & ANIMALS Basset Rescue of Montana www.bassetrescueofmontana.or g 406-207-0765 CATS: #2455 Black, ASH/Bombay X, SF, 6yrs;

Turn off your PC & turn on your life.

Bennett’s Music Studio

Guitar, banjo,mandolin and bass lessons. Rentals available.

bennettsmusicstudio.com 721-0190

Accepting Winter Consignments 111 S. 3rd W. 721-6056 Buy/Sell/Trade Consignments Thift Stores 1136 W. Broadway 930 Kensington

Outlaw Music

Missoula's Stringed Instrument Pro Shop!

Open Mon. 12pm-6pm Tues.-Fri. 10am-6pm • Sat. 11am-6pm

541-7533

MISTLETOE MARTINI 2 oz. Vodka • 2 oz. orange juice 3 oz. cranberry tea, chilled 3/4 oz. lemon juice • 3 tsp. Sugar Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice.

Shake well & strain into two chilled cocktail glasses.

724 Burlington Ave. outlawmusicguitarshop.com

montanaheadwall.commissoulanews.com • December 19 – December 26, 2013 [C5]

PUBLIC NOTICES MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT Dept. No. 3 Cause No. DP-13-232 NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN RE THE ESTATE OF FELICIA GARLAND SULLIVAN, Deceased.

Terry J. Sullivan has been appointed Personal Representative. Creditors of the Estate shall present their claims within 4 months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or be forever barred. Terry J. Sullivan, 4908 Rattlesnake Drive, Missoula, MT 59802 MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Cause No. DP-13-233 Dept.

No. 4 Judge Karen S. Townsend. NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Matter of the Estate of FREDERICK MAISEL, IV, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to William Andrew Maisel, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, in care of his attorneys, Crowley Fleck PLLP, 305 South 4th Street East, Suite 100, PO Box 7099, Missoula, MT 59807-7099, or filed with the Clerk of the Court. DATED this 21st day of November, 2013. /s/ William Andrew Maisel, Personal Representative MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Cause No.: DV-13-1268 Dept. No.: 1 Notice of Hearing on Name Change In the Matter of the Name Change of Lauren Kelso, Petitioner.

This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Lauren Michelle Kelso to Lauren Michelle Kelso Hanna. The hearing will be on January 8th 2014 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Missoula County. Date: 11/27/13 /s/ Shirley E. Faust, Clerk of District Court By: /s/ Laura M. Driscoll, Deputy Clerk of Court MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Department No. 2 Cause Probate No. DP-11-139 NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ALEXANDER A. GEORGE, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Penelope M. George, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested at GEORGE LAW OFFICES, PLLC, 210 North Higgins Avenue, Suite 234, Missoula, Montana 59802 or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED: November 22, 2013 /s/ Penelope M. George, Personal Representative Personal Representative’s Attorney: GEORGE LAW FIRM, PLLC, 210 N.

Higgins Ave., Suite 234, Missoula, Montana 59802 MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Dept. No. 1 Ed McLean Probate Case No. DP-13-236 NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Matter of the Estate of Del W. Cumley, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Shirley J. Edwards, return receipt requested at 4206 Expressway #14, Missoula, MT 59808 or filed with the Clerk of the above Court. DATED this 2nd day of December, 2013. /s/ Shirley J. Edwards, Personal Representative 4206 Expressway #14, Missoula, MT 59808 MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Dept. No. 2 Robert L. Deschamps III Cause No. DP-13-235 NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN RE THE ESTATE OF RICHARD M. LEONARD, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Jeffery Leonard has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must be mailed to Jeffery Leonard, Personal Representative, return receipt requested, c/o Timothy D. Geiszler, GEISZLER & FROINES, PC, 619 Southwest Higgins, Suite K, Missoula, Montana 59803 or filed with the Clerk of the above Court. DATED this 22nd day of October, 2013. GEISZLER & FROINES, PC /s/ Timothy D. Geiszler, Attorneys for the Personal Representative. I declare under penalty of perjury and under the laws of the state of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct. DATED this 22nd day of October, 2013 /s/ Jeffery Leonard, Personal Representative MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Dept. No. 4 Cause No. DA13-63 NOTICE OF INTENT TO RELEASE CHILD FOR ADOPTION IN RE THE PARENTING RIGHTS OF SAMANTHA THOMPSON AND MICHAEL PRITCHARD. SAMANTHA THOMPSON, Petitioner. NOTICE To: Michael Pritchard, a putative or possible father to an unborn child belonging to the Petitioner, Samantha Thompson, address unknown. Pursuant to Mont.

Code Ann. § 42-2-503, you are hereby notified as follows: 1.A Petition of Notice of Intent to Release Child for Adoption has been filed by Samantha Thompson. 2. Samantha Thompson has identified you as a putative father or possible father of her unborn child. 3. Petitioner is pregnant. 4. Petitioner intends to release the expected child for adoption through direct parental placement.

5. The approximate date of conception was May 20, 2013. 6The location of conception was in Missoula, MT. 7. The expected date of delivery is February 16, 2014. 8. That a hearing will be held on the 14th day of January, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 2 South, 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT, the purpose of which will be to consider the termination of your parental rights. 9. You have the following rights: a. You have a duty to register with the Montana Putative Father’s Registry pursuant to Mont.

Code Ann. § 42-2-204. b. If you register with the Montana Putative Father’s Registry, you will be entitled to notice of all proceedings to terminate your parental rights in accordance with Mont. Code Ann. § 42-2-205. c. If you do not have an address where you can receive notice of a termination of parental rights proceeding, you may designate another person as an agent for the purpose of receiving notice. d. If you wish to designate an agent you must provide the department with the agent’s name and the address at which the agent may be served. Service of notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, constitutes service of notice upon the putative father. e. If you register, you are responsible for providing written updates regarding any change of name or address.

10. Failure to appear as required may result in the termination of your parental rights. DATED this 2nd day of December, 2013. By: /s/ Karen S. Townsend, Hon. District Court Judge MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Probate No. DP-13-238 Dept.

No. 4 Judge Karen S. Townsend NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Matter of the Estate of Robert M. Munson, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Christopher P. Munson, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, in care of his attorneys, Crowley Fleck PLLP, 305 South 4th Street East, Suite 100, PO Box 7099, Missoula, Montana 59807-7099 or filed with the Clerk of the Court. DATED this 5th day of December, 2013. /s/ Christopher P. Munson, Personal Representative MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Dept. No. 3 Cause No. DP13-241 NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN RE THE ESTATE OF: CHARLES E. DOUGLAS, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Bradley C. Douglas has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate.

All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Bradley C. Douglas, Personal Representative, return receipt requested, c/o Timothy D. Geiszler, GEISZLER & FROINES, PC, 619 Southwest Higgins, Suite K, Mis-

[C6] Missoula Independent • December 19 – December 26, 2013

soula, Montana 59803 or filed with the Clerk of the above Court. DATED this 6th day of December, 2013. GEISZLER & FROINES, PC. BY: /s/ Timothy D. Geiszler, Attorneys for the Personal Representative. I declare under penalty of perjury and under the laws of the state of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct. DATED this 6th day of December, 2013. /s/ Bradley C. Douglas, Personal Representative MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, MISSOULA COUNTY Dept. No. 2 Probate No. DP13-247 NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE KNAPP, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must be mailed to JOSEPH GORSH, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o CHARLES W. SCHUYLER OF SCHUYLER LAW OFFICE, 103 South 5th Street East, Missoula, MT 59801 or filed with the Clerk of the above Court.

DATED this 13th day of December, 2013. /s/ Joseph Gorsh, Personal Representative NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Reference is hereby made to that certain trust indenture/deed of trust (“Deed of Trust”) dated 01/26/07, recorded as Instrument No. 200702634, Bk. 791, Pg. 655, mortgage records of Missoula County, Montana in which Mark W. Knight and Laura A. Knight, husband and wife was Grantor, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., solely as nominee for Home123 Corporation was Beneficiary and First American Title Insurance Company was Trustee.

First American Title Insurance Company as Successor Trustee. The Deed of Trust encumbers real property (“Property”) located in Missoula County, Montana, more particularly described as follows: Lot 55-B of Snider Addition, a platted subdivision in Missoula County, Montana, according to the official recorded plat thereof. By written instrument recorded as Instrument No. 200807848, Bk. 816, Pg. 1024, beneficial interest in the Deed of Trust was assigned to HSBC Bank USA, National Association as Trustee for Deutsche Alt-A Securities Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2007-AR3.

Beneficiary has declared the Grantor in default of the terms of the Deed of Trust and the promissory note (“Note”) secured by the Deed of Trust because of Grantor’s failure timely to pay all monthly installments of principal, interest and, if applicable, escrow reserves for taxes and/or insurance as required by the Note and Deed of Trust. According to the Beneficiary, the obligation evidenced by the Note (“Loan”) is now due for the 01/01/08 installment payment and all monthly installment payments due thereafter. As of October 17, 2013, the amount necessary to fully satisfy the Loan was $994,172.33. This amount includes the outstanding principal balance of $599,322.54, plus accrued interest,

accrued late charges, accrued escrow installments for insurance and/or taxes (if any) and advances for the protection of beneficiary’s security interest (if any).

Because of the defaults stated above, Beneficiary has elected to sell the Property to satisfy the Loan and has instructed Successor Trustee to commence sale proceedings. Successor Trustee will sell the Property at public auction on the front steps of the Missoula County Courthouse, 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802, City of Missoula on February 24, 2014 at 11:00 AM, Mountain Time. The sale is a public sale and any person, including Beneficiary and excepting only Successor Trustee, may bid at the sale. The bid price must be paid immediately upon the close of bidding at the sale location in cash or cash equivalents (valid money orders, certified checks or cashier’s checks). The conveyance will be made by trustee’s deed without any representation or warranty, express or implied, as the sale is made strictly on an as-is, where-is basis.

Grantor, successor in interest to Grantor or any other person having an interest in the Property may, at any time prior to the trustee’s sale, pay to Beneficiary the entire amount then due on the Loan (including foreclosure costs and expenses actually incurred and trustee’s and attorney’s fees) other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred. Tender of these sums shall effect a cure of the defaults stated above (if all non-monetary defaults are also cured) and shall result in Trustee’s termination of the foreclosure and cancellation of the foreclosure sale.

The trustee’s rules of auction may be accessed at www.northwesttrustee.com and are incorporated by the reference.

You may also access sale status at www.Northwesttrustee.com or USAForeclosure.com. (TS# 7777.26264) 1002.97599-File No. NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Reference is hereby made to that certain trust indenture/deed of trust (“Deed of Trust”) dated 11/19/98, recorded as Instrument No. 199831230 Vol 563 Pg 243, mortgage records of Missoula County, Montana in which Pamela J. Walzer, a single person was Grantor, Norwest Mortgage, Inc. was Beneficiary and Insured Title was Trustee. First American Title Insurance Company has succeeded Insured Title as Successor Trustee. The Deed of Trust encumbers real property (“Property”) located in Missoula County, Montana, more particularly described as follows: Lots 7 and 8 in Block 58 of School Addition in the City of Missoula, Missoula County, Montana, according to the official recorded Plat thereof. Beneficiary has declared the Grantor in default of the terms of the Deed of Trust and the promissory note (“Note”) secured by the Deed of Trust because of Grantor’s failure timely to pay all monthly installments of principal, interest and, if applicable, escrow reserves for taxes and/or insurance as required by the Note and Deed of Trust. According to the Beneficiary, the obligation evidenced by the Note (“Loan”) is now due for the 06/01/13 installment payment and all monthly installment payments due thereafter. As of October 15, 2013, the

amount necessary to fully satisfy the Loan was $64,003.89. This amount includes the outstanding principal balance of $57,462.58, plus accrued interest, accrued late charges, accrued escrow installments for insurance and/or taxes (if any) and advances for the protection of beneficiary’s security interest (if any).

Because of the defaults stated above, Beneficiary has elected to sell the Property to satisfy the Loan and has instructed Successor Trustee to commence sale proceedings. Successor Trustee will sell the Property at public auction on the front steps of the Missoula County Courthouse, 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802, City of Missoula on February 24, 2014 at 11:00 AM, Mountain Time. The sale is a public sale and any person, including Beneficiary and excepting only Successor Trustee, may bid at the sale. The bid price must be paid immediately upon the close of bidding at the sale location in cash or cash equivalents (valid money orders, certified checks or cashier’s checks). The conveyance will be made by trustee’s deed without any representation or warranty, express or implied, as the sale is made strictly on an as-is, where-is basis.

Grantor, successor in interest to Grantor or any other person having an interest in the Property may, at any time prior to the trustee’s sale, pay to Beneficiary the entire amount then due on the Loan (including foreclosure costs and expenses actually incurred and trustee’s and attorney’s fees) other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred. Tender of these sums shall effect a cure of the defaults stated above (if all non-monetary defaults are also cured) and shall result in Trustee’s termination of the foreclosure and cancellation of the foreclosure sale.

The trustee’s rules of auction may be accessed at www.northwesttrustee.com and are incorporated by the reference.

You may also access sale status at www.Northwesttrustee.com or USAForeclosure.com. (TS# 7023.107762) 1002.259179-File No. NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE TO BE SOLD FOR CASH AT TRUSTEE’S SALE on January 17, 2014, at 11:00 o’clock A.M. at the Main Entrance of the First American Title Company of Montana located at 1006 West Sussex, Missoula, MT 59801, the following described real property situated in Missoula County, Montana: Lot 47 of HELLGATE MEADOWS, PHASES 1 AND 2, a platted subdivision of Missoula County, Montana, according to the official plat of record in Book 25 of Plats at Page 56 Leigh E. Bitney, as Grantor(s), conveyed said real property to Charles J. Peterson, as Trustee, to secure an obligation owed to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc, as Beneficiary, by Deed of Trust dated on August 8, 2006 and recorded on August 10, 2006 on Book 780 and Page 1020 as Document No. 200620128. The beneficial interest is currently held by U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, as successor in interest to Bank of America, National Association, as Trustee, successor by merger to LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee for Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through

Certificates, Series 2007-RS1. First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., is the Successor Trustee pursuant to a Substitution of Trustee recorded in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of Missoula County, Montana. The beneficiary has declared a default in the terms of said Deed of Trust by failing to make the monthly payments due in the amount of $1,321.06, beginning April 1, 2011, and each month subsequent, which monthly installments would have been applied on the principal and interest due on said obligation and other charges against the property or loan. The total amount due on this obligation as of September 27, 2013 is $171,100.00 principal, interest at the rate of 7.5% now totaling $32,995.49, late charges in the amount of $1,550.63, escrow advances of $8,583.71, and other fees and expenses advanced of $2,042.75, plus accruing interest at the rate of $35.16 per diem, late charges, and other costs and fees that may be advanced. The Beneficiary anticipates and may disburse such amounts as may be required to preserve and protect the property and for real property taxes that may become due or delinquent, unless such amounts of taxes are paid by the Grantors. If such amounts are paid by the Beneficiary, the amounts or taxes will be added to the obligations secured by the Deed of Trust. Other expenses to be charged against the proceeds of this sale include the Trustee’s fees and attorney’s fees, costs and expenses of the sale and late charges, if any. Beneficiary has elected, and has directed the Trustee to sell the above described property to satisfy the obligation. The sale is a public sale and any person, including the beneficiary, excepting only the Trustee, may bid at the sale. The bid price must be paid immediately upon the close of bidding in cash or cash equivalents (valid money orders, certified checks or cashier’s checks). The conveyance will be made

by Trustee’s Deed without any representation or warranty, including warranty of Title, express or implied, as the sale is made strictly on an as-is, where-is basis, without limitation, the sale is being made subject to all existing conditions, if any, of lead paint, mold or other environmental or health hazards. The sale purchaser shall be entitled to possession of the property on the 10th day following the sale. The grantor, successor in interest to the grantor or any other person having an interest in the property, at any time prior to the trustee’s sale, may pay to the beneficiary or the successor in interest to the beneficiary the entire amount then due under the deed of trust and the obligation secured thereby (including costs and expenses actually incurred and attorney’s fees) other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred and thereby cure the default. The scheduled Trustee’s Sale may be postponed by public proclamation up to 15 days for any reason, and in the event of a bankruptcy filing, the sale may be postponed by the trustee for up to 120 days by public proclamation at least every 30 days.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Dated: September 11, 2013 /s/ Dalia Martinez Assistant Secretary,

PUBLIC NOTICES First American Title Company of Montana, Inc. Successor Trustee Title Financial Specialty Services PO Box 339 Blackfoot ID 83221 STATE OF Idaho ))ss. County of Bingham) On this 11th day of September, 2013, before me, a notary public in and for said County and State, personally appeared Dalia Martinez, know to me to be the Assistant Secretary of First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., Successor Trustee, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledge to me that he executed the same. /s/ Lisa J Tornabene Notary Public Bingham County Idaho Commission expires: Nov 6, 2018 Suntrust Vs. Bitney 41531.702 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE TO BE SOLD FOR CASH AT TRUSTEE’S SALE on January 21, 2014, at 11:00 o’clock A.M. at the Main Entrance of the First American Title Company of Montana located at 1006 West Sussex, Missoula, MT 59801, the following described real property situated in Missoula County, Montana: LOT 584 OF PLEASANT VIEW HOMES NO. 5, PHASE II, A PLATTED SUBDIVISION IN MISSOULA COUNTY, MONTANA, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL RECORDED PLAT THEREOF. Laura S. Jeszenka and Bryan M. Jeszenka, as Grantor(s), to secure an obligation owed to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Beneficiary, by Deed of Trust dated May 5, 2011 and recorded May 6, 2011 in Book 877 Page 322 under Document No 201107507. The beneficial interest is currently held by Guild Mortgage Company a California Corporation. First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., is the Trustee. The beneficiary has declared a default in the terms of said Deed of Trust by failing to make the monthly payments due in the amount of $1,105.43, beginning May 1, 2013, and each month subsequent, which monthly installments would have been applied on the principal and interest due on said obligation and other charges against the property or loan. The total amount due on this obligation as of September 1, 2013 is $200,232.73 principal, interest at the rate of 5.0% now totaling $4,160.17, late charges in the amount of $405.75, and other fees and expenses advanced of $510.52, plus accruing interest at the rate of $27.43 per diem, late charges, and other costs and fees that may be advanced. The Beneficiary anticipates and may disburse such amounts as may be required to preserve and protect the property and for real property taxes that may become due or delinquent, unless such amounts of taxes are paid by the Grantors. If such amounts are paid by the Beneficiary, the amounts or taxes will be added to the obligations secured by the Deed of Trust. Other expenses to be charged against the proceeds of this sale include the Trustee’s fees and attorney’s fees, costs and expenses of the sale and late charges, if any. Beneficiary has elected, and has directed the Trustee to sell the above described property to satisfy the obligation. The sale is a public sale and any person, including the beneficiary, excepting only the Trustee, may bid at the sale. The bid price must be paid immediately upon the close of bidding in cash or cash equivalents (valid money orders, certified checks or cashier’s checks). The conveyance will be made

by Trustee’s Deed without any representation or warranty, including warranty of Title, express or implied, as the sale is made strictly on an as-is, where-is basis, without limitation, the sale is being made subject to all existing conditions, if any, of lead paint, mold or other environmental or health hazards. The sale purchaser shall be entitled to possession of the property on the 10th day following the sale. The grantor, successor in interest to the grantor or any other person having an interest in the property, at any time prior to the trustee’s sale, may pay to the beneficiary or the successor in interest to the beneficiary the entire amount then due under the deed of trust and the obligation secured thereby (including costs and expenses actually incurred and attorney’s fees) other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred and thereby cure the default. The scheduled Trustee’s Sale may be postponed by public proclamation up to 15 days for any reason, and in the event of a bankruptcy filing, the sale may be postponed by the trustee for up to 120 days by public proclamation at least every 30 days.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Dated: September 19, 2013 /s/ Dalia Martinez Assistant Secretary,

First American Title Company of Montana, Inc. Successor Trustee Title Financial Specialty Services PO Box 339 Blackfoot ID 83221 STATE OF Idaho ))ss. County of Bingham) On this 19th day of September, 2013, before me, a notary public in and for said County and State, personally appeared Dalia Martinez, know to me to be the Assistant Secretary of First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., Successor Trustee, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledge to me that he executed the same. /s/ Lisa J Tornabene Notary Public Bingham County, Idaho Commission expires: Nov 6, 2018 Guild Vs. Jeszenka 41291.895 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE TO BE SOLD FOR CASH AT TRUSTEE’S SALE on January 21, 2014, at 11:00 o’clock A.M. at the Main Entrance of the First American Title Company of Montana located at 1006 West Sussex, Missoula, MT 59801, the following described real property situated in Missoula County, Montana: LOT 15 OF ORCHARD PARK PHASE I, A PLATTED SUBDIVISION IN MISSOULA COUNTY, MONTANA, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL RECORDED PLAT THEREOF. Charles A. Hill, as Grantor(s), conveyed said real property to Insured Titles, LLC., as Trustee, to secure an obligation owed to ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc, as Beneficiary, by Deed of Trust dated July 18, 2003 and recorded on July 23, 2003 in Book 712, Page 838 under Document No 200326742. The beneficial interest is currently held by CitiMortgage, Inc. successor in interest to ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc. First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., is the Successor Trustee pursuant to a Substitution of Trustee recorded in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of Missoula County, Montana. The beneficiary has declared a default in the terms of said Deed of Trust by failing to make the monthly payments due in the amount of $887.96, beginning March 1, 2013, and each month subsequent, which monthly installments would have been applied on the principal and interest due on said obligation and other charges against the property or loan. The total amount due on this obligation as of September 8, 2013 is $92,149.85 principal, interest at the rate of 5.25% now totaling $2,914.90, late charges in the amount of $221.06, escrow advances of $394.99, and other fees and expenses advanced of $934.95, plus accruing interest at the rate of $13.25 per diem, late charges, and other costs and fees that may be advanced. The Beneficiary anticipates and may disburse such amounts as may be required to preserve and protect the property and for real property taxes that may become due or delinquent, unless such amounts of taxes are paid by the Grantors. If such amounts are paid by the Beneficiary, the amounts or taxes will be added to the obligations secured by the Deed of Trust. Other expenses to be charged against the proceeds of this sale include the Trustee’s fees and attorney’s fees, costs and expenses of the sale and late charges, if any. Beneficiary has elected, and has directed the Trustee to sell the above described property to satisfy the obligation. The sale is a public sale and any person, including the beneficiary, excepting only the Trustee, may bid at the sale. The bid price must be paid immediately upon the close of bidding in cash or cash equivalents (valid money orders, certified checks or cashier’s checks). The conveyance will be made by Trustee’s Deed without any representation or warranty, including warranty of Title, express or implied, as the sale is made strictly on an as-is, where-is basis, without limitation, the sale is being made subject to all existing conditions, if any, of lead paint, mold or other environmental or health hazards.

The sale purchaser shall be entitled to possession of the property on the 10th day following the sale. The grantor, successor in interest to the grantor or any other person having an interest in the property, at any time prior to the trustee’s sale, may pay to the beneficiary or the successor in interest to the beneficiary the entire amount then due under the deed of trust and the obligation secured thereby (including costs and expenses actually incurred and attorney’s fees) other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred and thereby cure the default. The scheduled Trustee’s Sale may be postponed by public proclamation up to 15 days for any reason, and in the event of a bankruptcy filing, the sale may be postponed by the trustee for up

JONESIN’ C r o s s w o r d s to 120 days by public proclamation at least every 30 days. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Dated: September 11, 2013 /s/ Dalia Martinez Assistant Secretary, First American Title Company of Montana, Inc. Successor Trustee Title Financial Specialty Services PO Box 339 Blackfoot ID 83221 STATE OF Idaho ))ss. County of Bingham) On this 11th day of September, 2013, before me, a notary public in and for said County and State, personally appeared Dalia Martinez, know to me to be the Assistant Secretary of First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., Successor Trustee, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledge to me that he executed the same. /s/ Lisa J Tornabene Notary Public Bingham County, Idaho Commission expires: Nov 6, 2018 Citimorgage Vs. Hill 42011.626 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE TO BE SOLD FOR CASH AT TRUSTEE’S SALE on January 21, 2014, at 11:00 o’clock A.M. at the Main Entrance of the First American Title Company of Montana located at 1006 West Sussex, Missoula, MT 59801, the following described real property situated in Missoula County, Montana: IN MISSOULA COUNTY, STATE OF MONTANA, TO WIT: LOT 20 IN BLOCK 2 OF REMICK’S SWAN RIVER TRACTS NO. 2, A PLATTED SUBDIVISION IN MISSOULA COUNTY, MONTANA, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL RECORDED PLAT THEREOF. ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NO: 1886100 Jimmie D. Carter and Rosenda P. Carter, as Grantor(s), conveyed said real property to First American Title Insurance Company, as Trustee, to secure an obligation owed to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Beneficiary, by Deed of Trust dated October 21, 2009 and recorded October 27, 2009 in Book 849, on Page 1002, under Document number 200925754. The beneficial interest is currently held by EverBank.

First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., is the Successor Trustee pursuant to a Substitution of Trustee recorded in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of Missoula County, Montana.

The beneficiary has declared a default in the terms of said Deed of Trust by failing to make the monthly payments due in the amount of $1,889.27, beginning April 1, 2012, and each month subsequent, which monthly installments would have been applied on the principal and interest due on said obligation and other charges against the property or loan. The total amount due on this obligation as of October 6, 2013 is $344,010.75 principal, interest at the rate of 4.8750% now totaling $26,782.99, late charges in the amount of $377.84, escrow advances of $4,945.74, and other fees and expenses advanced of $800.46, plus accruing interest at the rate of $45.95 per diem, late charges, and other costs and fees that may be advanced. The Beneficiary anticipates and may disburse such amounts as may be required to preserve and protect the property and for real property taxes that may become due or delinquent, unless such amounts of taxes are paid by the Grantors. If such amounts are paid by the Beneficiary, the amounts or taxes will be added to the obligations secured by the Deed of Trust. Other expenses to be charged against the proceeds of this sale include the Trustee’s fees and attorney’s fees, costs and expenses of the sale and late charges, if any. Beneficiary has elected, and has directed the Trustee to sell the above described property to satisfy the obligation. The sale is a public sale and any person, including the beneficiary, excepting only the Trustee, may bid at the sale. The bid price must be paid immediately upon the close of bidding in cash or cash equivalents (valid money orders, certified checks or cashier’s checks). The conveyance will be made

by Trustee’s Deed without any representation or warranty, including warranty of Title, express or implied, as the sale is made strictly on an as-is, where-is basis, without limitation, the sale is being made subject to all existing conditions, if any, of lead paint, mold or other environmental or health hazards. The sale purchaser shall be entitled to possession of the property on the 10th day following the sale. The grantor, successor in interest to the grantor or any other person having an interest in the property, at any time prior to the trustee’s sale, may pay to the beneficiary or the successor in in-

terest to the beneficiary the entire amount then due under the deed of trust and the obligation secured thereby (including costs and expenses actually incurred and attorney’s fees) other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred and thereby cure the default. The scheduled Trustee’s Sale may be postponed by public proclamation up to 15 days for any reason, and in the event of a bankruptcy filing, the sale may be postponed by the trustee for up to 120 days by public proclamation at least every 30 days.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Dated: September 18, 2013 /s/ Dalia Martinez Assistant Secretary, First American Title Company of Montana, Inc. Successor Trustee Title Financial Specialty Services PO Box 339 Blackfoot ID 83221 STATE OF Idaho ))ss. County of Bingham) On this 18th day of September, 2013, before me, a notary public in and for said County and State, personally appeared Dalia Martinez, know to me to be the Assistant Secretary of First American Title Company of Montana, Inc., Successor Trustee, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledge to me that he executed the same. /s/ Lisa J Tornabene Notary Public Bingham County, Idaho Commission expires: Nov 6, 2018 Everhome Vs. Carter 41471.317 NOTICE OF PENDING TAX DEED December 17, 2013 Occupant 300 North Ave. West Missoula, MT 59801 Lisa Kay Heller 300 North Ave. West Missoula, MT 59801 Missoula County Treasurer 200 W. Broadway Missoula, MT 59802 Golden Goose LLC Employee Profit Sharing Plan 97-07 63rd road #1m Rego Park, NY 11374 Collection Bureau Services, Inc. P.O. Box 7339 Missoula, MT 59807 Midland Funding LLC c/o Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson & Hornik, PLLC 111 N. Higgins, Ste 400 Missoula, MT 59802 Attn: Joshua S. Mirel Pursuant to section 15-18-212, Montana Code Annotated, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: Please take notice that a property tax lien exists on the following described property in which you may have an interest. TAX ID # 1524145 1. As a result of a property tax delinquency, a property tax lien exists on the following described real property in which you may have an interest: The real property is described on the tax lien sale certificate as: GLENWOOD PARK, GLEN PK GLENWOOD PARK-E1/2 OF LOT 30, ALL OF 31 BLK 7 2. The property taxes became delinquent on June 1, 2010 and a property tax lien exists on the property as a result of a property tax delinquency. 3. The property tax lien was attached as the result of a tax lien sale held on 7/16/10. 4. The property tax lien was purchased at a tax lien sale on 7/16/10, by Missoula County whose address is 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802. 5. The lien was subsequently assigned to Golden Goose LLC Employee Profit Sharing Plan 401k. 6. As of the date of this notice, the amount of tax due is: Taxes: $10,354.13 Penalty: $207.10 Interest: $2,114.50 Costs: $337.80 Total: $13,013.53 7. For the property tax lien to be liquidated, the total amount listed in paragraph 6 must be paid by February 11, 2014 which is the date that the redemption period expires or expired.

8. If all taxes, penalties, interest and costs are not paid to the County Treasurer on or prior to February 11, 2014 which is the date the redemption period expires, or on or prior to the date on which the County Treasurer will otherwise issue a tax deed, a tax deed may

be issued to the purchaser, on the day following the date that the redemption period expires or on the date the County Treasurer will otherwise issue a tax deed. 9. The business address and telephone number of the County Treasurer, who is responsible for issuing the tax deed is: Missoula County Treasurer, 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802 (406-258-4847) 10. Further notice for those persons listed above whose addresses are unknown: 1. The address of the party is unknown. 2. The published notice meets the legal requirements for notice of a pending tax deed issuance. 3. The party's rights in the property may be in jeopardy. Dated this 17th day of December, 2013.

Michael Flores NOTICE OF PENDING TAX DEED December 17, 2013 Occupant 647 W. Crestline Dr. Missoula, MT 59803 Teresa Ann Duffin 647 W. Crestline Dr. Missoula, MT 59803 Missoula County Treasurer 200 W. Broadway Missoula, MT 59802 First Interstate Bank 3502 Brooks Street P.O. Box 4667 Missoula, MT 59806 Kevin D. Duffin 703 E. Travois Missoula, MT 59808 Torrance L. Coburn c/o Tipp & Buley 2200 Brooks Missoula, MT 59801 Golden Goose LLC Employee Profit Sharing Plan 97-07 63rd road #1m Rego Park, NY 11374 Pursuant to section 15-18212, Montana Code Annotated, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: Please take notice that a property tax lien exists on the following described property in which you may have an interest. TAX ID # 965903 1. As a result of a property tax delinquency, a property tax lien exists on the following described real property in which you may have an interest: The real property is described on the tax lien sale certificate as: HIGH PARK NO 5, HIGH PARK #5-LOT 12 BLK 9 T 12N/ R 19W / S 05 2. The property taxes became delinquent on June 1, 2010 and a property tax lien exists on the property as a result of a property tax delinquency. 3. The property tax lien was attached as the result of a tax lien sale held on 7/16/10. 4. The property tax lien was purchased at a tax lien sale on 7/16/10, by Missoula County whose address is 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802. 5. The lien was subsequently assigned to Golden Goose LLC Employee Profit Sharing Plan 401k. 6. As of the date of this notice, the amount of tax due is: Taxes: $10,409.56 Penalty: $208.20 Interest: $2,244.97 Costs: $337.80 Total: $13,200.53 7. For the property tax lien to be liquidated, the total amount listed in paragraph 6 must be paid by February 11, 2014 which is the date that the redemption period expires or expired.

8. If all taxes, penalties, interest and costs are not paid to the County Treasurer on or prior to February 11, 2014 which is the date the redemption period expires, or on or prior to the date on which the County Treasurer will otherwise issue a tax deed, a tax deed may be issued to the purchaser, on the day following the date that the redemption period expires or on the date the County Treasurer will otherwise issue a tax deed. 9. The business address and telephone number of the County Treasurer, who is responsible for issuing the tax deed is: Missoula County Treasurer, 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802 (406-258-4847) 10. Further notice for those persons listed above whose addresses are unknown: 1. The address of the party is unknown. 2. The published notice meets the legal requirements for notice of a pending tax deed issuance. 3. The party's rights in the property may be in jeopardy. Dated this 17th day of December, 2013.

Michael Flores

SUSTAINAFIEDS Natural Housebuilders, Inc. Energy efficient, small homes, additions/remodels, higher-comfort crafted buildings,

solar heating. 369-0940 or 6426863. www.naturalhousebuilder.net

"Time Shift"–set it and forget it.

by Matt Jones

ACROSS

1 "Armageddon" author Leon 5 Mos Def collaborator Kweli 10 Drains, as of energy 14 Jazz great Thelonious 15 Crack up 16 "___ se habla espaÒol" 17 Guy who avoids fighting (one hour behind)?

19 Litter critter 20 Bite-size 21 Handy children's game 23 Advance 26 Deep sleep 27 Consumer protection org.

30 On the Caribbean, poetically 32 Nobel Peace Center city 35 Scenic fly-fishing activity (one hour behind)?

40 Cookie in pie crusts 41 Drone, for instance 42 Frozen drink company with a polar bear mascot 43 The key elixir (one hour behind)?

46 Short footrace 47 PayPal co-founder ___ Musk 48 Electronics co. whose slogan was once "So Real" 49 Baseball stat 52 "Carmina Burana" composer 54 2,640 feet 58 Bird in the constellation Aquila 62 Retail chain that offers meatballs 63 Airline hanging on the edge (three hours ahead)?

66 Takes for a ride 67 Suitcase attachment 68 Kernel 69 Slip or square follower 70 "Gee, that's swell!"

71 Places for peels

Last week’s solution

DOWN

1 Strike callers 2 Go outside the service area 3 ___ Empire 4 Technique 5 Mai ___ (bar order) 6 "Breaking Bad" network 7 Coal unit 8 Late singer Hayes 9 Japanese box lunch 10 Snidely stated, perhaps 11 Pastel shade of blue 12 Jello Biafra's genre 13 Web presence 18 Ice cream concoction 22 Singer/songwriter Tori 24 Beijing Olympic gold medalist sprinter ___ Powell 25 "Elysium" director Blomkamp 27 College VIP 28 Disinterested 29 "The ___ Vista Social Club" 31 Hayao Miyazaki genre 33 Allowed 34 How hair may sometimes stand 36 "Hold it right there, buster!"

37 "The Voice" judge/coach Green 38 Intense devotion 39 Person who'll argue about Windows vs. Linux 44 Baba au ___ 45 Derive by reasoning 50 Promotional gimmick 51 Former Washington senator ___ Gorton 53 Viper features 54 The ___ from French Lick (Larry Bird) 55 "Konvicted" hip-hop artist 56 Joking Jay 57 Shakira's "___ Noche Voy Contigo" 59 Golf lesson subject 60 Maggie's sister 61 CPR experts 64 Skin design, briefly 65 Star's propulsion, maybe?

Natural Housebuilders, Inc. Building the energy-efficient

SOLAR ACTIVE HOME

• Custom crafted buildings • Additions/Remodels

369-0940 or 642-6863 www.naturalhousebuilder.net

©2013 Jonesin’ Crosswords editor@jonesincrosswords.com

montanaheadwall.commissoulanews.com • December 19 – December 26, 2013 [C7]

SERVICES CHILDCARE Diaper Service averages 18 cents per change, so why are you throwing your money away?

Local cloth diaper sales & service. Missoula peeps order online and get your goods delivered during diaper route Wednesdays. 406.728.1408 or natureboymontana.com

HANDYMAN Squires For Hire Carpentry, Remodel, Drywall, Custom

Tile, Appliance Repair. Free Estimates.

Licensed Contract #163074. Bret Squries, Handyman 406-544-4671

HOME IMPROVEMENT Natural Housebuilders, Inc. Building the energy-efficient SOLAR ACTIVE HOME • Custom crafted buildings • Additions/Remodels. 369-0940 or 642-6863 www.naturalhousebuilder.net

Remodeling?

Look to Hoyt Homes, Inc, Qualified, Experienced, Green Building Professional, Certified Lead Renovator.

Testimonials Available.

Hoythomes.com or 728-5642 SBS Solar offers design and installation services for Solar Systems: residential, commercial, on- and off-grid. We also specialize in Energy Audits for home or business. www.SBSlink.com

located at 1526 S. Reserve St., Missoula. Call (406) 370-3131 to schedule an appointment. zoocitymassage.com.

WINDOWS Abbott’s Glass Vinyl Windows • Wood Windows • Small Commercial Jobs • “The Meticulous Glass Professionals” Since 1992 728-6499

PERSONAL $35/hour Deep Tissue Massage. Zoo City Massage

RENTALS APARTMENTS 112 Turner Ct.: Studio, New carpet & linoleum, Storage, Main floor, Big closet, $475. Garden City Property Management 549-6106 1237 Kensington: Studio, Dishwasher, Laundry, Full kitchen & bath, Heat paid, $625 Garden City Property Management 549-6106 1502 #4 Ernest 1 bed/1 bath, W/D hookups, recent remodeling, central location. $600. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060 1801 Howell #2. 2 bed/1 bath, Northside, deck, shared yard, W/D hookups, storage. $725.

Grizzly Property Management 542-2060 1848 S. 4th St. W.: 1 Bedroom, On-site laundry facilities, Near Papa Murphy’s, Heat paid, $625.

GARDEN CITY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 549-6106; 1-YEAR COSTCO MEMBERSHIP!!

1885 Mount Ave. #2. 1 bed/1 bath, shared yard, storage, central location. $550. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060 1939 3rd:1 Bedroom, Stacking washer & dryer, Microwave, Central, $595. GARDEN CITY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 549-6106 2 bedroom Equinox unit. Equinox Building boasts exceptional energy

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal and State Fair Housing Acts, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, marital status, age, and/or creed or intention to make any such preferences, limitations, or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, and pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings adefficiency, underground parking, vertised in this newspaper are available on and a community overlooking an equal opportunityroom basis. To report disthe Clark Fork.

2-bedroom, crimination in housingThis call HUD at toll-free first floor apartment has tall at 1-800-877-7353 or Montana Fairceilings, Housa ing private deck, storage toll-free at 1-800-929-2611 unit and

contemporary finishes. $620 plus electric & natural gas for forced air climate control. Please contact Colin Woodrow, 549-4113 x 122, cwoodrow@missoulahousing.org.

2 bedroom, 1 bath $595, W/D hookups, DW, storage, carport, offstreet parking, W/S/G paid. No Pets, No Smoking. GATEWEST 728-7333 2 bedroom, 1 bath $615, coin-op laundry, storage, off-street parking, H/W/S/G paid. No Pets, No Smoking. GATEWEST 728-7333 2 bedroom, 1 bath $695, quiet culde-sac, DW, coin-op laundry, offstreet parking, H/W/S/G paid.

No Pets, No Smoking. GATEWEST 728-7333 2 bedroom, 1 bath, $825. New complex, W/D hookups, open concept, off-street parking, W/S/G paid.

No pets, no smoking.

GATEWEST 728-7333 448 Washington. 1 bed/1 bath, downtown, HEAT PAID, coin-ops on site. $700. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060 735 W. Sussex #3. 2 bed/1 bath, central location, HEAT PAID, coinops on site. $700. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060 Fireweed Court 2 BR. $604 a month. Townhouse style apartment.

Please contact Colin Woodrow, 549-4113 x 122, cwoodrow@missoulahousing.org Garden District. 1BR. $576/$550 deposit. Quiet location in central Missoula near the Good Food Store. W/D included. Available mid-December. Contact Kelly Abbey at 406-549-4113, ext. 127 or kabbey@missoulahousing.org.

Gold Dust Apartments. Quiet location near downtown! Art studio and large community room! Mountain Line EZ pass included. 2 bedroom, accessible 504 unit, $691, all utilities paid. ONE MONTH FREE RENT! Contact: Matty Reed at 406-549-4113, ext. 130 or mreed@missoulahousing.org.

Orchard Gardens: 1 BR. $589 all utilities paid. Mountain Line EZ pass for every family member.

Contact Connie Toney: 406-5437500 or ctoney@missoulahousing.org.

Palace 1 BR apartment. $556 per month. Heat paid. EZ pass with lease-up. One month rent free.

Contact Matty Reed at 549-4113,

x. 130 or mreed@missoulahousing.org

cluded, pet? $625. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060

Russell Square Apartments. 2 bed, $650 month/ $650 deposit. Quiet community, second floor unit.

Washer and dryer hookups. New flooring. Available now. Contact Kelly Abbey at 406-549-4113 x127 or kabbey@missoulahousing.org

817 Monroe. 1 bed/1 bath, Rattlesnake area, W/D hookups, carport $650. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060

STUDIO APARTMENT WITH ONE BATH. $535 plus utilities. No pets, no smoking. 204 East Pine #15.

Contact Professional Property Management, 1511 South Russell. 7218990. For immediate showing, contact current resident, Doug.

210-364-4317

1309 Linnea Lane. 4 bed/2.5

HOUSES

bath, newer home, central location, single garage, small yard, pet? $1300. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060 3+ bedroom, 2 bath house $1,350. 2 WEEKS FREE RENT to Qualified Applicants. U Area, Garage, W/D hookups, fenced backyard, lawn care provided, S/G paid. No Pets, No Smoking.

GATEWEST 728-7333

1708 Scott St. “A”. 1 bed/1 bath, shared yard, all utilities in-

1&2

Bedroom Apts FURNISHED, partially furnished or unfurnished

UTILITIES PAID Close to U & downtown

549-7711 Check our website! www.alpharealestate.com

422 Madison • 549-6106 For available rentals: www.gcpm-mt.com

Grizzly Property Management, Inc. "Let us tend your den" Since 1995, where tenants and landlords call home.

715 Kensington Ave., Suite 25B 542-2060• grizzlypm.com

FIDELITY 251-4707

[C8] Missoula Independent • December 19 – December 26, 2013

Finalist

All properties are part of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.

Uncle Robert Lane 2 Bed Apt. $660/month

Visit our website at

Finalist

MHA Management manages 10 properties throughout Missoula.

Management Services, Inc. 7000 Uncle Robert Ln #7

fidelityproperty.com

ALL AREAS ROOMMATES.COM. Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps. Find your roommate with a click of the mouse! Visit: http://www.Roommates.com.

Property Management

MOBILE HOMES

DUPLEXES

603 Cherry St. 2 bed/1 bath, Rattlesnake Creek, W/D hookups, carport. $950 Grizzly Property Management 5422060

ROOMMATES

GardenCity

Studio, 1 bath, $550, overlooks river, DW, patio, coin-op laundry, off-street parking, H/W/S/G paid. No Pets, No Smoking.

GATEWEST 728-7333

Lolo RV Park Spaces available to rent. W/S/G/Electric included. $425/month 406-273-6034

426 Alder St. 3 bed/1.75 bath, downtown near St. Pat’s Hospital, W/D, fenced back yard, some hardwood floors, single car garage. $1350. Grizzly Property Management 542-2060

The Missoula Housing Authority complies with the Fair Housing Act and offers Reasonable Accommodations to persons with Disabilities.

1235 34th St. • Missoula (406) 549-4113 missoulahousing.org

No Initial Application Fee Residential Rentals Professional Office & Retail Leasing 30 years in Call for Current Listings & Services Missoula Email: gatewest@montana.com

www.gatewestrentals.com

montanaheadwall.commissoulanews.com • December 19 – December 26, 2013 [C9]

REAL ESTATE HOMES FOR SALE 11689 Stolen Rock Court. 5 bed, 3 bath, 2 car garage on 3.15 acres. $315,000. Betsy Milyard, Montana Preferred Properties.

880-4749. montpref@bigsky.net 1807 Missoula Avenue. Lovely Bavarian-style 3 bed, 2 bath in

Lower Rattlesnake. Mount Jumbo views & 2 car garage. $309,000. Pat McCormick, Properties 2000. 240-7653. pat@properties2000.com 1944 S. 8th W. 2 bed, 1 bath on two lots. Wood floors, garden & front deck. $158,000. Pat McCormick, Properties 2000. 2407653. pat@properties2000.com 1965 Raymond. 4 bed, 2 bath Rattlesnake home with 2

kitchens & 3 garages. $339,000. Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate 546-5816. annierealtor@gmail.com 2607 View Drive. 3 bed, 2 bath ranch-style home in Target Range. Hardwood floors, fireplace & 2 car garage. $239,000. Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate. 546-5816. annierealtor@gmail.com

FIDELITY Management Services, Inc.

7000 Uncle Robert Ln #7 • 251-4707 Specializes in Residential Property.

Serving the Missoula area since 1981.

Visit our website at

fidelityproperty.com

UPTOWN FLATS STARTING AT $120,000 Great investment property for potential leasing in highly sought after condo close to downtown.

Perfect for out-of-town residents. Only 8 units left!

Call Anne for more details

Anne Jablonski

546-5816

annierealtor@gmail.com • movemontana.com

Did you know? Posting a classified ad ONLINE is FREE!

www.missoulanews.com [C10] Missoula Independent • December 19 – December 26, 2013

PORTICO REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE 3 Bdr, 1 Bath, Central Missoula home. $214,900. Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 239-6696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com 3010 West Central. 3 bed, 1 bath on 5 acres in Target Range. Borders DNRC land. $499,900. Properties 2000.

Pat McCormick 240-7653. pat@properties2000.com

Lewis and Clark Area Home!

839 W Central. $220,000 MLS# 20136229. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Double detached garage and many other sweet features. KD: 240-5227 porticorealestate.com

CONDOS/ TOWNHOMES

Burns St. Commons, next to the Burns St. Bistro and the Missoula Community Co-op. KD: 2405227 porticorealestate.com Condo With Views 1545 Cooley, Apt C. 2 bed, 1 bath Westside condo close to downtown, Burns Street Bistro & Missoula Community Co-op. $128,500 MLS# 20134747 KD 240-5227. porticorealestate.com

606 North Avenue West. 3 bed, 2 bath with finished basement & 2 car garage. $255,000.

Rochelle Glasgow, Prudential Missoula 728-8270. glasgow@montana.com

1 Bdr, 1 Bath, University District condo. $210,000. Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 239-6696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com

Uptown Flats #103. 1 bed, 1 bath with W/D, patio and handicap accessible features. $120,000. Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate 546-5816. annierealtor@gmail.com

716 South 6th West. 3 bed, 2 bath with wood floors, fireplace, basement, large fenced yard & single garage. $259,900. Pat McCormick, Properties 2000. 240-7653 pat@properties2000.com

2025 Mullan Road. Mullan Heights Riverfront Condos. Large secure units with affordable HOA dues.

Starting at $149,900. Betsy Milyard, Montana Preferred Properties. 8804749. montpref@bigsky.net

Uptown Flats #210. 1 bed, 1 bath modern condo on Missoula’s Northside. $149,000.

Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate 546-5816. annierealtor@gmail.com

925 Cleveland. 1 bed, 1.5 bath Slant Street home with fenced backyard, gas fireplace & single garage. $189,900. Pat McCormick, Properties 2000. 2407653. pat@properties2000.com

2272 South 10th West. 3 bed, 1 bath bungalow with wood floors, basement, 2 car garage & fenced yard. $197,500.

Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate 546-5816. annierealtor@gmail.com

FIND YOUR WAY HOME! David Loewenwarter, Prudential Montana Real Estate, 406.241.3321

Uptown Flats #306. 1 bed, 1 bath top floor unit with lots of light. W/D, carport, storage & access to exercise room. $162,000. Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate 546-5816. annierealtor@gmail.com

with energy efficiency, comfort and affordability in mind. Next to Burns Street Bistro and Missoula Community Co-op. Starting at $79,000. KD 240-5227 porticorealestate.com

53 acres overlooking Missoula in the South Hills. Utilities and septic approved. $927,500. Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 239-6696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com

Uptown Flats. Upscale gated community near downtown.

All SS appliances, carport, storage and access to community room and exercise room plus more. Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate 546-5816. annierealtor@gmail.com www.movemontana.com

LAND FOR SALE

East Missoula Lot At 559 Speedway (Next Door) $55,000.

4,800 square feet. Mature trees, sewer available. KD: 240-5227 porticorealestate.com

Why Rent? Own Your Own 1400 Burns. Designed

160 acres in Grant Creek bordered on two sides by Forest Service land. $750,000. Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 239-6696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com

dream home here. $650,000 MLS# 20134863, 20134864 KD: 240-5227 porticorealestate.com

Florence Acres 944 Pathfinder. 330 gorgeous acres with 1 bed cabin and double garage. This little slice of perfection can be yours! Build your

Burns Street Commons 1400 Burns St. #15. $159,9000. 3 bedroom, 1 bath.

Coveted 3 bedroom home in the

Mullan Heights Riverfront Condos $144,900 - $249,900 Under new ownership! 1 and 2 bedrooms. Large units, nice finishes, secure entry, secure U/G parking, riverfront, affordable HOA dues and much more. Owner financing comparable to FHA terms available with as little as 3.5% down!

Units, pricing and info available at www.mullanheights.com

606 North Ave. W. • $255,000

PROGRAM FEATURES • No required down payment

Classic 1950's with refinished hardwood floors,arched doorways and built-ins.

All new windows & new energy-efficient furnace.

Finished basement with family room.

• Must be a Veteran, Active duty or • Reserve member to be eligible • • No Monthly Private Mortgage Insurance

Credit scores down to 600 FICO Borrowers may be eligible to purchase a home two years after a Bankruptcy discharge (Borrower must reestablish a good credit history)

• Seller can pay up to 4% towards • Manufactured Homes allowed closing costs • No Prepayment Penalty

(require a 680 FICO score)

All loans are subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions apply.

Subject to change without notice. Equal Housing Lender.

Company NMLS #3274 Branch NMLS #398152

Fenced yard with fruit trees & raised beds.

Double detached garage.

Call Team Astrid Today!

Astrid Oliver NMLS 395211 O: 406-258-7522 M: 406-550-3587 F: 1-800-584-4218 aoliver@guildmortgage.net

For location and more info, view these and other properties at:

www.rochelleglasgow.com

Keri Lunak

Rochelle Glasgow

Missoula Properties Cell:(406) 544-7507 • glasgow@montana.com

100% VA FINANCING AVAILABLE

O: 406-258-7528 M: 406-258-7528 F: 1-877-261-1195 klunak@guildmortgage.net

Astrid • Keri

1001 S. Higgins Ave, Suite 2A, Missoula, MT 59801

missoulanews.com • December 19 – December 26, 2013 [C11]

REAL ESTATE Frenchtown area, 14.9 Acres, existing well, adjacent to Forest Service land. $225,000. Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 239-6696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com NHN Frontage Road, Alberton.

2 building sites with Clark Fork River views. $65,900. Pat McCormick, Properties 2000. 2407653 pat@properties2000.com NHN Ryans Lane Tract B. 103+/- treed acres with year-round creek near Evaro Hill. $517,250. Betsy Milyard, Montana Preferred Properties 541-7355. milyardhomes@yahoo.com Noxon Reservoir Avista frontage lots near Trout Creek, MT. Red Carpet Realty 728-7262 www.redcarpet-realty.com

COMMERCIAL Great place to run your business and either live on-site or rent out for a supplemental income stream. $265,000. Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 239-6696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com HISTORIC STENSRUD BUILDING. Renovated 1890’s building with 95% original hardware.

Residential or commercial zoning.

Lovely opportunity. $799,000. Rochelle Glasgow, Prudential Missoula 728-9270. glasgow@montana.com

OUT OF TOWN 3 Bdr, 1 Bath Alberton home. $130,000. Prudential Montana.

For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 239-6696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com 3 Bdr, 2 Bath, Historic Stevensville home. $239,000.

Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 2396696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com 3 Bdr, 2 Bath, Stevensville area home on 6+ acres. $325,000.

Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 2396696, or visit www.mindypalmer.com 5 Bdr, 3 Bath, Florence area home on 3.2 acres. $575,500.

Prudential Montana. For more info call Mindy Palmer @ 2396696, or visit... www.mindypalmer.com River Access 20525 Schwartz Creek, Clinton. 3 bed, 2 bath, single level living on 1 acre. Walking distance to river

fishing access. $250,000. KD: 240-5227 porticorealestate.com

MORTGAGE & FINANCIAL EQUITY LOANS ON NONOWNER OCCUPIED MONTANA REAL ESTATE. We also buy Notes & Mortgages. Call Creative Finance & Investments @ 406-721-1444 or visit www.creative-finance.com

$158,000 REMODELED

1944 S. 8th W.

• 2 bed, 1 bath • 2 lots on Zoned RM1-45 • Newer roof & windows Pat McCormick Real Estate Broker • Front deck, Real Estate With Real Experience fenced yard with pat@properties2000.com 406-240-SOLD (7653) garden shed Properties2000.com

[C12] Missoula Independent • December 19 – December 26, 2013