12 minute read
Co-op
from 01/04/23 ISSUE
Ronan Co-op Brewery says goodbye to event coordinator, looks to future
By Taylor Davison
Valley Journal
RONAN — With the new year comes changing times at the Ronan Cooperative Brewery along with new ideas for the future.
The Co-op’s event coordinator Eric Brunet has officially stepped away as of Dec. 30 to focus on his heath. “It has been an honor to serve as a taproom server, manager, and events coordinator,” Brunet stated. “Mobility, speech, and vision issues due to spinocerebellar ataxia have worsened and it is time to move on to the next adventure. Discovery and reflection will continue, just from a different perspective. I wish you all a Happy New Year.”
“The first day he was gone last fall it was noticeably quieter in there,” head brewer Jim Myers said. “I miss him in there. He brought so much life, he’s so good with keeping customers engaged and keeping conversations going … he kept it light. And the biggest thing he did that was so important to the brewery, maybe the most important thing, is that he brought a lot of events into the taproom.”
As Brunet steps away, Myers and the Co-op’s board will try and fill the gap he leaves behind. The tap room situation changing during the quieter time of the year makes it a good time to reassess where things are going with the brewery, Myers explained. He went on to say the co-op will start focusing on the long-term. “We’ve operated for a while as a scrappy little business trying to make it go, and now we’re two and a half years in,” he commented. “It’s really about reassessing which things work for us, which has the greatest return for our time and effort, and which things Ronan has told us and which things tourists that’ve come to the area have told us, because you want to cater to both. There’s a lot of different styles and products to pay attention to.”
One part of switching to a long-term view for the brewery is the reopening of preferred stock. In an effort led by board member Larry Hall, formerly of S&K Technologies, the Co-op is looking to pay down their construction loan, which currently makes up a large portion of their costs. The faster the Co-op can pay it down, the more manageable their costs will be. Preferred stock, when reopened, will be available for existing members. Those interested can find out more at: ronancoopbrewery.com/memberinformation
Throughout each month, he brewery will continue to hold events, including some possible open mic nights and more local food options. They will continue visiting brew fests and competitions in the coming year, with a few notable beers coming on tap in January, including the return of their Big Red Sticke, a new Czech dark beer, and their Dunkles Bock, which won silver at the North American Beer Awards in 2022.
Additionally, Myers said they are always looking for new local artists to display their artwork in the taproom. Those interested can reach out by calling the brewery at 406-676-4677 or emailing: ronancbtaproom@gmail.com.
Anyone interested in supporting Brunet in his next endeavors can do so at: https://gofund. me/3cb69726
“The time (Eric) spent reaching out and building relationships for people to come in and give guest lectures and things like that, music, artists on the wall, all that stuff, it’s going to be the hardest thing for me to try to fill those shoes,” Myers said.
TAYLOR DAVISON / VALLEY JOURNAL
Wolf trapping opens in all occupied grizzly bear habitat across the state
News from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife staff completed its final assessment of grizzly bear activity in occupied grizzly bear habitat. Effective Saturday, Dec. 24, wolf trapping season is open in all areas of occupied grizzly bear habitat across the state, including deer and elk hunting district (HD) 130 in northwest Montana.
Hunters and trappers should note that wolf harvest quotas exist in each FWP trapping district and wolf management unit 313. Those harvest quotas can be viewed and followed on the FWP Wolf Dashboard.
In August, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved wolf hunting and trapping regulations for the 2022 season, which ends March 15, 2023. The regulations include a floating start date for wolf trapping in occupied grizzly bear habitat. The intent of the floating start date is to avoid conflict with grizzly bears that have yet to den for the winter
FWP makes a decision opening trapping in occupied bear habitat each Monday in December with input from field staff on bear activity.
Trappers still need to exercise caution when out in the field. Black bears are still active is some parts of the state. In addition, grizzly bears can leave dens at any point during winter; trappers are encouraged to avoid trapping in areas where grizzly sign is detected.
Wolf hunters and trappers should make sure to be familiar with the 2022 Furbearer, Wolf and Trapping Regulations, which include maps of occupied grizzly bear habitat.
Gallatin County single-family home prices and inventory continue to increase
Median number of days on market remains below one month
News from the Gallatin Association of Realtors
BOZEMAN — While home prices in Gallatin County increased again in November, other numbers continued their trend toward a more typical market.
“Our market saw extremely tight inventory and incredibly quick sales throughout 2021, but those numbers have slowly been returning to more typical levels throughout 2022,” said Joanna Harper, GAR Board President. “Last month, we saw fewer homes sold, homes spending more days on market, and sellers receiving a slightly lower percentage of their list price than in recent months. The increases in inventory and months’ supply of inventory are additional indicators that our market is returning to a more normal pace as we move into winter, when real estate activity typically slows. While we are still technically in a seller’s market, we are on the verge of moving into a neutral market. We’ll continue to monitor these trends as we move through winter.”
View the most recent updated stats for November here: https:// www.gallatinrealtors. com/market-review
Single Family Market – Gallatin County
As of Dec. 19, median sales prices were up 4.6% compared to last November, from $735,000 to $768,713. The number of closed sales fell 50.4%, from 141 to 70. The median number of days homes spent on the market increased 358.3%, from 12 days to 55 days. The average percent of list price received decreased 1.4%, from 98.8% to 97.4%. The median price per square foot of homes sold during November increased 6.6% compared to last November, from $333 to $355. Pending sales fell 37.9%, from 95 to 59. The number of new listings decreased 19.5%, from 82 to 66. The end-of-month inventory jumped 132.4% from 139 to 323. The months’ supply of inventory, which is an estimation of the time it would take for all homes on the market to be sold, increased 368% from 1.0 to 4.6. A months’ supply of inventory of less than five months is typically considered a seller’s market.
Condo/Townhouse Market – Gallatin County
Median sales prices increased 3%, from $465,000 to $479,000. The number of closed sales fell 55.9%, from 93 to 41. The median number of days homes spent on the market increased 190.6%, from 16 days to 47 days. The average percent of list price received fell slightly by 3.1%, from 100.4% to 97.3%. The median price per square foot of homes sold increased 2.8%, from $317 to $326. The number of pending sales fell 28.9%, from 45 to 32. There were 33 new listings, which was the same number as last November. The end-of-month inventory increased 164.9%, rising from 57 to 151, while the months’ supply of inventory jumped 500.8% from 0.6 to 3.7.
- HJoanna Harper, GAR Board President
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Neighborhood Pantry Project provides Helena residents a way to give and receive
The project aims to aid those in need with several locations around the city.
News from Christine Sullivan Montana Free Press
HELENA — As kids do, Jessica Andersen-Eller’s kept growing out of their clothes.
In the past, she’d donated those outgrown clothes, along with other household items, to organizations that would turn around and sell them. Wouldn’t it be more helpful, more in the spirit of giving, she thought, if there was an organization that would simply facilitate giving those items away? No hassles. No applications. Anonymous. Available anytime.
“I saw something on Pinterest about sharing school supplies, and it really founded the idea,” said Anderson-Eller, a Helena mother of five. “It started with a box on my [street] corner where I put their used snow pants, boots, mittens, or whatever, that they’d outgrown, put it up on a Facebook post that said ‘Free Stuff,’ and it was very well-received. I thought, ‘Why wouldn’t we just do this all the time, with clothes, food, household items, for anyone who needs it?’”
That idea has grown into the Neighborhood Pantry Project (NPP), with several locations around town and Anderson-Eller as its executive director. Its motto: “Take what you need, give what you can.”
Since its inception in the summer of 2020, NPP has become a vital nonprofit resource for many people throughout the city. The pandemic, and the more recent rise in inflation, highlighted the need for such a service and sparked NPP’s growth.
“COVID definitely promoted it, to get to where it is now,” Andersen-Eller said.
“There was such a huge need. People were out of work, out of money,” she added. “They couldn’t get to the store. Some had a surplus, and they really wanted to help, so it really kind of prompted the whole thing. So now the biggest challenge we have had is kind of trying to figure out regular life outside of COVID.”
NPP will accept basically anything anyone is willing to give, excepting non-perishable food items and old mattresses. Canned goods, diapers, firewood, clothing, personal hygiene and care products, shoes, kitchen appliances, gloves, blankets and towels are all needed.
“I just think it is a really cool way to full-circle-donate. Giving anonymously is one of the most generous things you can do,” Andersen-Eller said.
“And it doesn’t matter who is taking it. It doesn’t matter why they’re taking it. You are just giving because you want to give.” Anyone can use NPP, any time, day or night.
“Whenever people have a little extra, they throw things in, and whenever there is a need, they can pick up whatever they need,” she said.
There are five pantry locations around Helena: the corner of Hollins Avenue and Cleveland Street; the walking mall in Last Chance Gulch; the Holter Museum of Art; the United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area; and behind the First Presbyterian Church on Rodney Street.
NPP also has many local business partners. Grateful Bread Bakery and Café, No Sweat Café, Loft Studios, Ten Mile Brewery, Hokkaido and Blackfoot Brewery have all helped Andersen-Eller sponsor events to raise donations for the project.
In addition to its pantry locations, NPP also has an annual Holiday-Christmas program that matches families in need with people who want to sponsor holiday meals for families.
“We also have done free clothing swaps, where you bring your lately loved and laundered clothing, and people can come pick them up or drop them off,” Andersen-Eller said.
Cayla Clark, of Helena, praised NPP for how it helps the community.
“In late October, my 5-year-old stepdaughter was visiting from Florida, and the pantry project provided donations of clothing, coats, shoes and lots of toys. We were so grateful,” Clark said. “Anything that we didn’t use, we were able to drop off at a pantry near us, to provide for the next family.”
Andersen-Eller said a large number of homeless people rely on NPP donations as well.
“There is a need, and it’s not going to go away,” she said. “They’re humans that need things, so it’s a really nice way to just have those things available. My big thing is, I never want there to be any kind of requirements to utilize the project, so anybody can go any time and for any reason. I have been shocked and humbled by how much more there is to give than take.”
For more information on the Neighborhood Pantry Project, visit: neighborhoodpantryproject.com
News from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
MISSOULA — Montana’s largest wildlife management area offers more room to roam for hunters, anglers and others thanks to a collaborate effort led by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
RMEF teamed up with private landowners with a history of conserving and opening public access to elk habitat by acquiring and conveying 829 acres to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), which added the land to the now 56,980-acre Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area.
“Buyers noted the beauty and potential of this acreage and reached out to Roger and Gayle Burnett about it, but they chose wildlife and conservation over development. We salute and thank them for their conservation ethic and values,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO.
About 30 miles west of Butte, the property features open grasslands with sagebrush and bitterbrush foothills as well as aspen, willows and forestland. It supplies elk with winter, calving and summer range as well as important habitat for mule deer, moose, pronghorn antelope and other wildlife.
Because portions of Willow Creek and Mill Creek cross the property, in addition to various springs, the resulting wetlands and riparian habitat are vital for brook trout, westslope cutthroat trout, other fish species, beavers and more bird and animal species.
In 2016, the Burnetts worked with RMEF to see their 800acre property near Georgetown Lake acquired and conveyed to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. That transaction conserved and opened access to the land while also improving access to 5,500 acres of adjacent public land.
Project partners include hunters thanks to Pittman-Robertson excise taxes, Habitat Montana, Heart of the Rockies, and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust. RMEF also committed $37,000 to help FWP with set-up and future property management improvements including fencing, invasive weed control, signage and maps.
