COMPLIMENTARY
BILLINGS’ MOST READ MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
tara tara ranstead ranstead 28 Helping veterans pave a new path in civilian life
LET THE SONSHINE IN
Community rallies to open home for homeless pregnant teens
delivering a christmas miracle
Non-Profit works to share the spirit by giving families a Christmas tree
empty stockings
Making holidays bright for the community's foster children
12 60 68
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
Thankful Giving Drive - Nov 1-30 Donate coats & and non-perishable food items the entire month of November! Drop off at Billings, Columbus or Red Lodge Offices.
Marissa Amen 406.855.7727
Erika Burke 406.544.8033
Stella Ossello Burke 406.690.9955
Maya Burton 406.591.0106
Tony Contreraz 406.671.2282
Suzie Countway 406.671.1595
Anita Dolan 406.860.5576
Cindy Dunham 406.425.0182
Lance Egan 406.698.0008
Myles Egan 406.855.0008
Karen Frank 406.698.0152
Kim Gottwals 406.696.3675
Catie Gragert 406.697.4321
Rhonda Grimm 406.661.7186
Cheryl Gross 406.698.7423
Toni Hale 406.690.3181
Scott Hight 406.425.1101
Sarah Kindsfather 406.690.7469
Amy Kraenzel 406.591.2370
Susan B. Lovely 406.698.1601
Amy Maggio 406.318.9620
John McMurray 406.425.5009
Don Moseley 406.860.2618
James Movius 406.670.4711
Ginger Nelson 406.697.4667
Lynsey O’Brien Peek 406.861.8851
Jeanne Peterson 406.661.3941
Jon Pierce 406.855.0368
Judy Shelhamer 406.850.3623
Angela Slade 406.672.1512
Carlene Taubert 406.698.2205
Brandon Treese 406.647.5007
Jeff Watson 406.672.2515
Team Hanel
Mark Winslow 406.671.7305
Team Smith
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR HOME IS WORTH? Contact a FOREVER Agent for a FREE Home Market Analysis.
Beth Smith
Dan Smith
BHHSFLOBERG.COM
406.861.9297
406.860.4997
SM
Korinne Rice 406.697.0678
Tom Hanel 406.690.4448
Robin Hanel 406.860.6181
Owner
Owner
406.254.1550 | 1550 Poly Dr, Billings | 444 N 9th St Ste 5, Columbus | 201 Broadway Ave S, Red Lodge | www.bhhsfloberg.com ©2023 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Letter
F RO M TH E
WE BELIEVE EVERY child deserves a little Christmas! That’s why, for the third holiday season, YVW is calling all elves from far and wide to help us make the holidays happen for some of the 750 children in Yellowstone County who are currently in foster care.
It’s heartbreaking to think that when a child is removed from their home, it’s often done in a hurry, at times in the dark of night. Social workers worry about the child’s safety and many times they leave with only the clothes on their back. If the child stays with family, many times that family isn’t prepared to take on the expense of caring for a child. Budgets are already stretched thin. The Empty Stockings program, which has been in this community for four decades, hopes to deliver a little Christmas cheer to those who need it most — children who are facing some of the hardest times in their young lives. Starting on page 68, you’ll find a partial listing of some of the wishes of these children. We really hope you take a look, and if you find it in your heart, sponsor
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YVW MAGAZINE
Editor Christmas for one or more of these children. When you are out shopping for your family, think about picking up a little something extra for a kiddo who could use a smile. Last year, we were blown away by your generosity. We have to say we panicked a bit in the days and weeks before Christmas. As the clock ticked down to the holiday, we found ourselves still needing 70 stockings to be filled. With the help of those who have some pretty big connections, we managed, on Dec. 23, to announce that all of our stockings had been filled. Thanks to you, we were able to provide Christmas to 374 kids, along with some of their caregivers. This year, we are hoping to get those gifts in order with a little more time to spare to make it easier on their social workers! So read our story and visit yellowstonevalleywoman.com/stockings for the full listing. Let’s make the holidays a little bit brighter for children in our community in foster care.
Merriest of Christmases to you and yours!
Julie
WHY MOVING IN
EARLIER IS BETTER!
❯❯ You’ll feel safe, secure and have a
greater sense of peace and so will your family.
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“I’d love to show you around! It’s never too early to take a look!” Kimberlee Garcia
Director of Sales and Marketing
Call Kimberlee at
406-200-0932
to Schedule a Tour Today!
INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE | RESPITE CARE
406-652-4886 | 2351 Solomon Ave | Billings, MT 59102 | westparksenior.com
n ovem be r / de ce m be r 20 23 o n t h e cove r
28 BU I L DI NG A B RID GE
Tara Ranstead selflessly helps veterans pave a new path in civilian life
feat u r es
12 L E T T H E SO N SH INE IN
Community rallies to open home for homeless pregnant teens
18 A H E ART FOR S U RVIVORS
New CEO is not new to YWCA and is focused on empowering women in her care
22 HE L P AND HOPE
NAMI Billings lends a hand to those with mental illness
36 BO O KS WI TH OU T BAT TERIES Teresa Kozak-Kennedy bookmarks the decades
42 giv ing l ife to logs
Blow torches & chain saws are Sandy Schrumpf’s artistic tools
46 ta ke a craf ty road trip
Plenty of ways to take a walk on the creative side in Billings
y v w h ol iday
54 l i g h t u p t he night
Holiday Nights is making a comeback to Billings in a big way
60 d e l ive r in g a chris tm a s mi rac le
28 114
Non-Profit works to share the spirit by giving families a Christmas tree
68 e mpty s tockings
Making holidays bright for the community's foster children
72 yv w 's h o liday gif t gu id e Check out our top picks for this season
8 8 th e mos t wond erf u l tim e of t h e year
One family's tradition of baking up cheer
98 i n sea so n
The Rustic & Savory Flavors of Fall
h o m e a nd ga rd en
10 4 de ck in g ou t you r holiday door Four simple things to add a festive splash
114 d es ig n e d to p erfection A long-awaited ‘dream home’ springs to life
i n eve ry issu e
66 kare n g rosz: You Can't Turn Down a Miracle 8 0 fa s h io n: All is Bright 94 ta s te o f the valley: Serving a Bit of Nostalgia 112 loo k w h at we fou nd : Hello Sugar 8
YVW MAGAZINE
94
C O P Y E D I TO R ED KEMMICK
Let us reintroduce ourselves.
SOCIAL MEDIA LAURA BAILEY
PayneWest Insurance is now Marsh McLennan Agency.
P U B L I S H E R & E D I TO R JULIE KOERBER
julie@yellowstonevalleywoman.com
ADVERTISING TERRY PERKINS: 406-860-3951
terry@yellowstonevalleywoman.com TRISH SCOZZARI: 406-690-9528
trish@yellowstonevalleywoman.com LYNN LANGELIERS: 406-671-2325
We shop dozens of companies and policies for you. We make sure you’re covered and we’ll help you plan for risks you may face in the future. Start now with a quick quote, visit MMANorthwest.com/GetAQuote.
lynn@yellowstonevalleywoman.com MICHELE KONZEN: 406-690-4539
michele@yellowstonevalleywoman.com GAYLE SMITH: 406-855-8210
gayle@yellowstonevalleywoman.com C R E AT I V E D I R E CT O R MELANIE FABRIZIUS
ads@yellowstonevalleywoman.com DISTRIBUTION NICOLE BURTELL C O N TA C T
Yellowstone Valley Woman PO Box 23204 Billings, MT 59104 Phone: 406-254-1394 www.yellowstonevalleywoman.com
ON THE COVER
Photography by Daniel Sullivan
©2023 Media I Sixteen All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
9
meet the STAF F
e d ke m m i ck
L AU R A BA I LeY
Copy Editor / Writer
Social Media / Writer
ly n n l a n g e l i e r s Sales Executive
m e l a n i e Fa b r i z i us Design
we
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t r i sh scoz z a r i
Sales Executive
M i ch e le Ko n ze n Sales Executive
da n i e l s u l l i va n
Photography
Te r ry P e r k i n s
c a sey Pag e Photography
Sales Executive / Writer
gay le s m i t h Sales Executive
N i co le B u rte l l Distribution
o ur co mmu n it y part n e rs
WE'RE MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION IN
Billings
Friday, October 27, at 8 a.m.
EVERYTHING YOU WANT. ALL IN ONE PLACE.
Special Offer
New members who join and enroll in auto renewal of their annual membership will receive a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card.* Expires Nov. 26, 2023.
Join before we open!
Sign up at our existing location.
2290 King Ave. W.
Hours: weekdays, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shop opening day starting at 8 a.m.
3880 Zoo Drive Billings
For location details, visit Costco. com and search: Billings Opening
*To receive a Digital Costco Shop Card, you must provide a valid email address and set up auto renewal of your Costco membership on a Visa® card at the time of sign-up. If you elect not to provide a valid email address and sign up for auto renewal, a Digital Costco Shop Card will not be emailed. Valid only for nonmembers for their first year of membership. Limit one per household. Nontransferable and may not be combined with any other promotion. New members will receive their Digital Costco Shop Card by email within 2 weeks of sign-up. Costco Shop Cards are not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. A Costco membership is $60 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $60 upgrade fee a year. Each membership includes one free Household Card. May be subject to sales tax. Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT and Costco Shop Cards. Departments and product selection may vary. Awareness Code: 23705 ∙ Expires: Nov. 26, 2023 ∙ Valid only at: Billings Costco and Costco.com NWR000191K 0823
e h t t Le
e n i N h s O s in COMMUNITY RALLIES TO OPEN HOME FOR HOMELESS PREGNANT TEENS written by LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
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YVW MAGAZINE
Editor’s Note: Last November, we
asked YVW readers on our social media to nominate their favorite charity. When that list was narrowed down to the top five, we asked again and when all the votes were counted, Love & SONshine Ministries came out on top. That sparked a yearlong fundraising campaign organized by YVW called The Great Love Project. By selling travel mugs for $25 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Love & SONshine, the community stepped up in a big way. The campaign raised $12,500 toward the effort, and with your help we were able to purchase kitchen appliances, a security system and a high-capacity washer and dryer for the SONshine home. For everyone who supported our efforts, we can’t thank you enough. Your purchase made a difference in the lives of atrisk pregnant teens in our community.
ALL WAS QUIET at the SONshine Home as summer turned to autumn. The swing on the wraparound porch beckoned visitors to pause for a moment’s rest. Inside, sunshine washed through the windows in bright swaths that radiated hope and endless possibilities.
If all goes as planned, by year’s end the pale-yellow house will no longer be quiet. Passersby might hear the clatter of dishes in the sink, the lingo of young teens in conversation and the cries of tiny infants needing a diaper change. Set to open in the late fall of 2023, the SONshine Home will be a place for pregnant teens and young mothers to find refuge, dignity and hope. The renovated two-story house, once the Josephine Bed and Breakfast, is the realization of a years-long dream of twin sisters Heidi Williams and Heather Petty. Though the dream was theirs, the sisters credit a large number of businesses and volunteers – among them the contractors who donated their time, the designer who bargain-shopped for furniture, the ladies who stitched quilts for the young mothers’ beds – for turning their dream into a reality. Above all, the sisters credit the Lord for urging them to take action. “The Lord just put it in our hearts years ago to do something,” Heather says. “Our role was, we got on our knees, had the nudge and said, ‘Yes.’” Both sisters have experience taking troubled teens into their own homes. But for the SONshine Home, they narrowed their focus to pregnant teens and young mothers who were at risk of homelessness. “We felt like we could impact not just one heartbeat but two heartbeats at one time,” Heather says. “And the impact on those
young mothers’ hearts … you can’t put a price on that.” The sisters know the need is real. Montana currently offers only 19 shelter beds for at risk pregnant and parenting young mothers. And yet that population is estimated at nearly 5,000 in the state. “In just the last year, we’ve turned away 22 women,” Heather says. Fueled by that need, Heather and Heidi went door to door, business to business and church to church, to garner support. Their dream generated an army of volunteers, a vibrant board of directors and funds ranging from one widow’s $10 sacrificial donation to a $100,000 matching grant. More than two years after taking the leap, the sisters’ Love and SONshine Ministries combined resources with the First Christian Church to purchase the house. “We closed on Sept. 29, 2022,” Heather says, smiling. “I remember because that’s my birthday.” In fact, it was a “birthday present” for both twins. In the year since the purchase, the home has been transformed from an aging bed-and-breakfast to a haven with an updated look, featuring individual rooms for five young mothers and mothersto-be. The remodel also includes two upstairs bathrooms, each with laundry facilities, and two small “suites” for the staff that will support them. Like many remodels, the project took on a life of its own. CDW Construction ended up gutting the house down to the studs – studs that are now hidden by drywall but on which volunteers used Sharpie markers to scrawl their favorite phrases and Bible scriptures. From a new roof to new windows, new flooring to reconfigured rooms, the project jumped from an estimated $500,000 to more than $1 million. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
13
WE ABSOLUTELY WELCOME ALL WALKS OF LIFE. — Heidi Williams
“We had several contractors tell us to walk away,” Heather says. “But that was never what the Lord was telling us.”
Today, a subtle palette of fresh paint has infused the house with an air of calm and warmth. Upstairs, though, a dash of bright colors — quilts, toys and children’s books in primary hues — suggest the playful element soon to come.
On the main floor, the pantry is organized with shelves and color-coded dishes for each resident. Beyond the sunny coffee nook, one can imagine young mothers, with babes on their laps, cozied up on the couch and chatting with one another. The sisters couldn’t be happier with the result. “This is more than we could have ever thought or imagined,” Heather says. While much thought and prayer have gone into the renovations, Heather and Heidi have simultaneously devoted countless hours to researching the best practices for making SONshine Home a success. Their primary goal is to provide a safe place where young women — many of whom have suffered poverty and/or abuse — will be enveloped in the love of a healthy family model. “Even though this is a faith-based organization, these young mommas will come from all different backgrounds,” Heather says. “We absolutely welcome all walks of life,” Heidi adds. Ultimately, they’d like to unify families, when appropriate. They also hope to expand, with more homes for at-risk pregnant teens and even places for young mothers to transition into new roles. Heather and Heidi realize the transition will come in fits and starts and with bumps along the way. “They may need to come into the home and just rest for the first 14
YVW MAGAZINE
month,” Heidi says. “That may be something some people can’t understand.” Heather and Heidi also know that rules and responsibilities for the residents are key to success. For example, residents will be required to prepare one dinner a week for a household. They also must comply with a ban on tech devices in the bedrooms. “We don’t want them (residents) to isolate,” Heidi says. “We want them to flourish in this homey environment.” Likewise, no men will be allowed upstairs and few will even be allowed in the home. “We want to minimize triggers,” Heidi says, explaining that many of the teen moms will come with a history of abuse. “When they walk through this door we want this to be a place of absolute refuge and safety.” Each young mother will be shepherded by several mentors who will offer guidance in life skills, such as parenting and financial management. The sisters put particular emphasis on education, requiring each young resident to participate in 30 hours of productive work each week, whether that be finishing high school, training for a job or participating in counseling. “We want to help mothers but not to keep them on the system,” Heidi says. “We want to give them a hand up, not a handout.” The SONshine Home hopes to take in its first residents this November. “We could have 100 homes like this and it won’t be enough,” Heather says. ✻
LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA, writer A long-time resident of the Columbus area, Linda Halstead-Acharya enjoys spending time and learning from her rural neighbors. She has a degree in wildlife biology but for the past 25 years has pursued a career sharing other people's stories in print. She loves riding, writing and traveling.
THE STAGGERING NEED % % % %
20 20
of homeless young women will become
pregnant
19 19
homeless shelter beds
are designated for pregnant/parenting youth in Montana
50
of pregnant or parenting teens
won’t won’t graduate graduate
from high school
4887 ,,
estimated at-risk homeless/ pregnant or parenting youth
LIVE IN IN MONTANA MONTANA LIVE
HOW YOU CAN HELP
SONshine Home seeks financial support to cover operating costs, estimated at $764 a day, not including staff salaries. Those who choose to participate in the Matthew 19:26 Circle of Givers donate $19 monthly to buy formula, a package of diapers, gas for the young mothers to travel to doctor appointments and other expenses. To learn more, go to loveandsonshine.networkforgood.com or call Heather at 406-696-0624.
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY SONSHINE HOUSE BUILT THANKS TO LARGE DONATIONS IN LABOR AND MATERIALS FROM THESE BUSINESSES
CDW Construction Kitchen Tune-Up Toepfer Concrete Smith & Co. Construction and Design Apex Insulation 406 Electric
One Source Lighting Newman Built Quality Homes Moon Construction Bert Cain Construction May Mechanical Kolk Design NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
15
She’s Custom Made..
HER WINDOW COVERINGS SHOULD BE TOO!
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Central Vacuum System
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406-656-8681 stuartshouseofvacuums.com 16
YVW MAGAZINE
3127 Central Ave, Billings Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, Sat 10-4
Expert Skincare Your Family Can Trust FOUR E XPERIENCED PROVIDERS WITH OVER 50 YE ARS OF DERMATOLOGY E XPERIENCE
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INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND COMMUNITY MINDED | COMPASSIONATE AND DEPENDABLE CARE | APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE MON-FRI, WITH SHORTER WAIT TIMES TANYA RIDDLE, MD, FAAD IS A TRIPLE BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST AND AN ASMS FELLOW SPECIALIZING IN MOHS SURGERY 406-294-9515 | Mon-Fri | 2294 Grant Rd | Billings | billingsdermatology.com
Outreach Clinic Locations: Miles City, Cody, Powell & Worland
We are proud to partner with Love and SONshine Ministries to provide safe housing and care for homeless teen mothers and their babies. Thank you for making a difference in our community.
CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY Montana’s Brand of Banking
Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
17
A A Heart Heart for for
survivors NEW CEO IS NOT NEW TO YWCA AND IS FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING WOMEN IN HER CARE written by LAURA BAILEY photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
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YVW MAGAZINE
IT WAS EARLY in the morning when Erin Lambert got her
first call as a volunteer for YWCA Billings. She quickly dressed and headed over to Billings Clinic’s emergency room, where she met a teenage girl, the survivor of sexual assault. Erin was terrified, wondering what she should say. After a couple of deep breaths, she set aside her anxiety and let compassion lead her. Erin offered the girl a listening ear and a hand to hold during the forensic exam to collect evidence that could be used to prosecute her perpetrator. Eighteen years later, Erin still remembers the young survivor and is still letting compassion lead her. Erin was recently named CEO of YWCA Billings and remembering that young girl, and the many others she accompanied during forensic examinations, grounds her in the work she does now. “Many, many times they were there alone and a lot of times it was 2 or 3 in the morning. That’s the time when sexual assault survivors maybe couldn’t sleep or couldn’t take it anymore and they called,” Erin says. She saw herself in many of them: college aged, carefree, and perhaps taking a few risks now and then. “Just to be there for somebody with no judgment and no questions asked is so important,” Erin says. “A lot of times we never even talked about the assault.” YWCA Billings still provides accompaniment for survivors of sexual assault. It is just one program Erin now oversees. The YWCA primarily offers support for survivors of domestic violence, including emergency shelter and short-term housing. Advocates also help survivors navigate the legal system, find employment or job training, and acquire permanent housing. The organization is also a safe haven for survivors of human trafficking. The YWCA provides many of the same services to survivors in Bighorn County and maintains a 24-hour crisis helpline. Erin has held many positions within the YWCA, starting in 2007 when she transitioned from being a volunteer to leading the sexual assault response program. She took every opportunity as it came, and she has held almost every leadership position in the organization before finally taking the helm as interim CEO in September 2021. She landed the position permanently in June.
YWCA Board Chair Stacey Nybo Black assisted in the search to fill the CEO vacancy and said there was no candidate who had the experience that Erin had. “She was just the perfect fit,” Stacey says. “Her passion for her work is inspiring.” Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are at the center of everything the YWCA does, and they are top of mind for Erin. “We offer all that we can and give them the best we have to offer so that hopefully they know they have value and worth as a human being,” she says. One of Erin’s goals as CEO is to flip the script on how survivors are seen by the community. There’s a tendency for people to focus on all the damage and trauma a survivor has endured, but Erin wants the story to be about survivors’ strength, resiliency, and hope for the future. She wants all YWCA messaging to be focused on empowerment. “Marginalized and victimized people do not need me to tell their story,” Erin says. “They need love and support so they can tell their own story.” Not every outcome is rosy, but Erin encourages her team to let go of their expectations and focus on the needs and desires of the survivors they work with. “Everyone gets to define their own version of success,” she says.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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the culture and the tone in our organization and decide how my team is treated, which is reflected in how they treat our survivors,” Erin says. “We treat them with the utmost dignity and respect, and I want to do that for our employees.” Fawn Reed has worked with Erin since 2016. Fawn oversees the legal services and victim services programs at YWCA. What she admires most about Erin is her unwavering desire to collaborate with staff and community partners. She’s always looks for the best possible outcome for everyone involved. “The work she does is not just a job to her,” Fawn says. “Aside from her family, the YWCA and the clients we serve are her number one priority.”
Erin is also on a mission to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of YWCA. The organization’s brochure has been updated to reflect the diversity of the survivors they serve and includes gender neutral language. Erin added a sign to the lobby stating YWCA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It welcomes people of all ages, races, genders, religions, and backgrounds. There’s lots more to be done, Erin says, but the organization is off to a good start. Where Erin once lost sleep thinking of survivors, she now ponders fundraising, community engagement, team building, and a host of other goals she has in mind for the YWCA. As a nonprofit, fundraising is a constant endeavor, and Erin is always thinking outside the box and looking for new ways to raise money and engage community members. She said she will always value donors who give large gifts, but she never overlooks those who simply give what they can.
In Erin’s tenure at the YWCA, she’s seen a steady increase in calls to the helpline and the need for more wraparound services. Part of the increase is due to the rise in gun violence and drug abuse in Billings, but people are also more aware of the YWCA and the help it provides to survivors. That awareness has brought about an increase in calls, but Erin points to an even more challenging trend, and that is generational trauma. Children exposed to domestic violence, neglect and abuse are growing up without adequate coping skills and are ending up as abusers and victims themselves. She knows the children of the survivors that the YWCA serves are at risk and wants to see support for them continue to expand so the next generation won’t experience the same heartache. “I try not to let the emotional aspect of this work get to me,” Erin says. She’s become adept at compartmentalizing her emotions and leaves her work at work. With few exceptions she’s home every night to make dinner for her children and husband. She is deliberate in her decision to be fully present for them.
“My message to the community is that every gift matters,” Erin says. “The YWCA is for everybody. Anyone who wants to join us in this work is welcome to make this community a better place.”
“I have an amazing opportunity as a mother,” Erin says. “I get to send these three amazing humans out into the world with my values and teach them empathy and compassion.”
This past year, Erin has worked closely with community leaders, including the Billings City Council, to establish a Family Justice Center on the YWCA campus. The center would provide support to individuals and families who are navigating the legal system as well as a variety of social services. The city is invested in the idea and all the community partners are coming together, Erin says, and she’s quick to point out that she has a building – the original Gateway Shelter – that could be used.
When Erin looks to the future of the YWCA she’s overcome with gratitude.
It's never far from Erin’s mind that the work YWCA does saves lives, and while she has very little direct contact with survivors, her focus is on supporting and developing her team so they can provide those critical, direct services. “I want this to be the best place to work,” Erin says. “I get to set 20
YVW MAGAZINE
“It’s been my honor and privilege to be at YWCA for so many years,” Erin says, “and I am so thankful for all the opportunities I’ve been given along the way to become a leader and be a part of so many survivors’ lives.” ✻
WE’RE HERE. WE BELIEVE YOU. YOU HAVE OPTIONS.
You are safe at YWCA Billings. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, YWCA Billings can help. Call 406-245-4472 or Text 406-702-0229 All services are free and confidential • Secure Emergency Shelter • 24/7 Call and Text Helplines • Legal Advocacy • Case Management and Referrals • Housing Assistance
Learn how you can get involved: ywcabillings.org YWCA Billings 909 Wyoming Ave Billings, MT 59101 406.252.6303 ywcabillings.org
Billings
Alicia Willard
Dee Holley
Help Ho Ho and
TWENTY YEARS AGO, when Bobbi French’s son was near-
ing the end of eighth grade, he came to her and told her he was really depressed. A doctor prescribed anti-depressants for her son, but within three weeks he tried to commit suicide, and he made two more attempts over the summer. Bobbi says members of her family had previously had juvenile diabetes, a universally recognized disease about which people were sympathetic and understanding. Not so with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder her son received. There was not only a lack of understanding, Bobbi says, but almost a coldness among friends and extended family. She was often told her son needed to pull himself up by his bootstraps, that she and her son simply had to deal with it and move on. “It was frightening,” Bobbi says. “I thought, even at home you 22
YVW MAGAZINE
couldn’t get support.”
And then she heard about NAMI Billings, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Bobbi attended a Family Support Group at the NAMI office — which, like all NAMI offerings was free — where she learned that her struggles were far from unique, and that there were things she could do to help her son and to deal with her own problems, which often seemed overwhelming. “It’s so hard to watch your child be so hurt, and NAMI saved my life—both of us,” she says. Bobbi hadn’t been using NAMI’s services very long when she was asked by the director of the nonprofit organization to lead eight-week Family-to-Family classes, for families and friends of individuals with mental health conditions. Bobbi went on to
Bobbi French
Michelle Johansen
Hope ope
NAMI BILLINGS LENDS A HAND TO THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS written by ED KEMMICK photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
teach classes for healthcare workers who provide mental health services, and this summer she was preparing to teach a new class called NAMI Homefront, for family and friends of veterans and current members of the military. (Bobbi’s daughter, a veteran, was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder.)
they’ll do whatever they can for very little pay to keep this organization going.”
There is much about Bobbi’s story that is unique, but she also typifies what makes NAMI Billings tick.
One of those people is Alicia Willard, the parttime office manager at NAMI — Bobbi French Billings, located at 955 Broadwater Square, just across the street from YWCA Billings. Alicia has two adopted daughters. The older one came to
Dee Holley, who helped found NAMI Billings almost 30 years ago and was its volunteer executive director for eight years, says board members, employees, teachers and facilitators, most of them volunteers, almost all have one commonality. “Our biggest asset has been the people who have experienced the illness and who have loved ones who have experienced it,” Dee says. “Because they get it from the inside, from the heart, and
IT’S SO HARD TO WATCH YOUR CHILD BE SO HURT, AND
NAMI SAVED MY LIFE— BOTH OF US.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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ALICIA HOLDS A
her family at age 2, and by 3 she was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder and several other conditions, all the result of early-childhood trauma.
PHOTO OF HER
DAUGHTER.
In the course of trying to help her daughter, Alicia eventually realized that she suffered from PTSD.
Children like her daughter don’t know how to accept love, and “So I call my daughter the gift that that keeps on giving,” Alicia they create conflict as a way of reinforcing their belief that they says. “I used to say that in a negative way because she kept on are themselves unloved. To make giving us everything we never matters worse, Alicia herself had wanted, with her behavior. But experienced trauma at 18, but now I look at this in a really joydidn’t realize she was struggling ful, positive light. Because of her, with post-traumatic stress disorI got the help I needed. Because der. The mother-daughter traumas of her, our family is more coheI REMEMBER MY FIRST SUPPORT made for constant clashes. sive and better. We’re better able to communicate with one anothGROUP AND THE FACILITATORS, AND “You put two combustible people er.” HOW I WAS IMMEDIATELY ATTRACTED together and it was a war zone in our house,” Alicia says. Another employee who also TO WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE AND I makes use of the organization’s KNEW THAT I WANTED TO BE HERE AND She attended meetings sponsored services is Michelle Johansen, by Child Bridge Montana, which NAMI Billings’ program and THAT I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED. tries to provide a support system volunteer coordinator. She had — Michelle Johansen for people with adopted children been diagnosed with multiple or kids in foster care, but she found mental health conditions in her little understanding for people like early 20s in California, and she her and her daughter. lived in Arizona before moving to Billings in 2017. “People run from you when you have a child with these issues,” she Previously, Michelle says, she says. “They don’t invite you over for dinner. They run from you.” had had experience with inpatient and outpatient treatment, medication, and therapists. In Billings, she attended a NAMI But another woman at a Child Bridge meeting told Alicia she support group. was a volunteer at NAMI Billings, and she suggested looking into what the organization had to offer. Alicia did an internet search “I remember my first support group and the facilitators, and how and discovered that NAMI Billings was looking for an adminisI was immediately attracted to what we were doing here,” she trative assistant. She applied and was hired, and she was soon says. “And I knew that I wanted to be here and that I wanted to taking classes through NAMI as well. 24
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be involved.” After her very first support group meeting, she volunteered. She helped out in various ways for a couple of years before becoming a support group facilitator, and this summer she began working as a part-time employee. “It was the support groups here that really helped my recovery, my journey, because it was something consistent, something I could depend on,” Michelle says. “It was a judgment-free zone where I was free to speak my mind and look around the room and see a bunch of people nodding their heads in agreement. I knew I was in the right place.”
IN
, JUST S E I C N E EMERG
SAY
e m e “ Tak ” s ’ V . t to S
Such testimonials are music to the ears of Dee, who remains active in the organization nearly 30 years after helping found it. Now a retired pharmacist, she and her husband, retired pathologist Dr. Paul Holley, helped start the local affiliate because when their son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1990, there were no support groups, no classes, “no one to talk to.” Dee and her husband continue to teach the Family-to-Family classes, and she emphasizes that the classes are also for friends, neighbors, loved ones. “Anyone who’s associated with a person with a serious mental illness and who wants to help them or is involved in their life in some way — they can get a really unbelievable education about those issues,” Dee says. And yet, despite all the progress, Dee adds, there is still stigma attached to mental illnesses. People still question the need for medication and therapy, and people are expected, somehow, to live “normal” lives despite debilitating conditions.
When it comes to the unthinkable, we’ve thought of everything. You’re not prepared when an emergency happens. But we are. In fact, according to the most recent State of Montana Trauma Registry data, for two years in a row, more patients trusted St. Vincent with their trauma care than any other trauma center in Montana. So whether it’s a serious accident or a critical health event, if you’re having an emergency, don’t delay care. When the unthinkable happens, just say, “Take me to St. V’s.” Learn more at svh.org/trauma.
“I believe we’ve made progress,” Michelle says, “but it’s step by step.” In her early 20s, she says, she asked a doctor for medication to deal with her anxiety. He told her he hesitated to prescribe a certain drug because it could be sold on the street. “So right there he labeled me as someone who could potentially be abusing these meds, or selling them,” she says. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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26 YVW MAGAZINE
“It was the most discouraging thing I’d ever experienced from a physician.” Dee recalled that when her husband had cancer, “the whole community was at our doorstep. Casseroles, flowers, everything you could imagine.” By contrast, when her son was dealing with mental illness, there was almost no support, no understanding. “It’s a completely different atmosphere for people with a brain illness,” Dee says, “and families are desperately affected by that, in a very negative way. And they lose hope so quickly. That’s one of the things NAMI does: we provide people with hope.” ✻
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The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the biggest grassroots mental health organization in the United States, and all its classes and support groups are free. NAMI volunteers also offer community presentations, and the organization has a lending library. Its offices are located at 955 Broadwater Square, and more information is available at namibillings.org. You can also call NAMI Billings at 406-256-2001.
❍ What is the price difference between plans? ❍ What doctors and hospitals can I use on my plan?
Call Today! 406.252.3411 | 2047 BROADWATER WWW.ROGERDANIELAGENCY.COM
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BUILDING A
Br i dg e Bridg TARA RANSTEAD SELFLESSLY HELPS VETERANS PAVE A NEW PATH IN CIVILIAN LIFE written by JULIE KOERBER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN & WARRIOR TRANSITION OUTDOORS
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YVW MAGAZINE
TARA JOINS GAVIN, FAR LEFT, AND GABE, FAR RIGHT WITH A GROUP OF VETERANS FOR A WTO HIKING TRIP.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In our July/August issue, we asked you to nominate a woman you thought would be the perfect story for our cover. After receiving dozens of nominations, Tara Ranstead rose to the top.
psychotic break. “I was not able to sleep for days. I wasn’t eating enough,” she says. “I was definitely overwhelmed with being a single mom.” Kiara called Tara in the middle of the night. After telling her that she was struggling with suicidal thoughts and was headed to the E.R., Tara went straight to the hospital to sit with her.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, 27-year-old Kiara Moreira-Diaz found herself sitting in a Billings emergency room, distraught and barely coherent. She had suffered a psychotic break brought on by the wounds she suffered JUST BEING THERE AS THE while in the U.S. Navy. Thoughts of suiAMAZING SHE cide played frequently in her head. As Kiara lay in a hospital bed, facing the IS — SHE LISTENED TO rock bottom of her life, 26-year-old Tara ME EMPATHETICALLY. SHE Ranstead — who until a few months before that was a complete stranger — sat AND REMINDED ME OF WHAT AN at her bedside night and day.
SUPPORT
REMINDED ME OF MY VALUE
“I had an experience with one of my supervisors in my chain of command where there was an unwanted sexual encounter and that created a lot of PTSD,” Kiara says. Depression and anxiety bubbled to the surface. To add to the stress, she was in the middle of a divorce, facing life as a single mother of 3- and 6-yearold daughters.
AMAZING PERSON I AM AT HEART AND THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS FACING THOSE STRUGGLES, I WASN’T ALONE.
“Just being there as the amazing support she is — she listened to me empathetically,” Kiara says. “She reminded me of my value and reminded me of what an amazing person I am at heart and that even though I was facing those struggles, I wasn’t alone.” “She was out of it and couldn’t really talk but I remember looking her in the eyes and saying, ‘I am right here for you. I’m not going anywhere,’” Tara says. “Even though she didn’t say anything, the look in her eyes was full of gratitude.”
Tara is the civilian support specialist for WTO. She volunteers full time to walk — Kiara Moreira-Diaz side by side with veterans who are struggling with things both big and small after their service. Since the nonprofit began in November of 2022, it’s built a network of resources— 60 volunteers from all over the nation with all kinds of expertise — to serve some of the 200,000 veterans who transi“I felt very unsupported, and I was trying to figure out how to tion into civilian life each year. ask for help,” Kiara says. That’s when she found Tara and Warrior Transition Outdoors (WTO), a nonprofit military advocacy organization that helps veterans and their families transition into civilian life. Once a family is stable, WTO provides an extra dose of healing through outdoor adventures.
Shortly after Kiara started the intake process, she suffered her
“I think the hardest thing is admitting that you need or want help. The second hardest thing is asking for it,” Tara says. Right now, she’s working with 24 families in 10 states, linking them to educational support, job training, financial counseling, help with Veterans Affairs services or connecting them to therapeutic NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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ONE-IN-FIVE VETERANS SAY THEY
STRUGGLED WITH ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY.
ACCORDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER, ABOUT HALF OF POST-9/11 VETERANS SAY IT WAS SOMEWHAT (32%) OR VERY (16%) DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO READJUST TO CIVILIAN LIFE AFTER THEIR MILITARY SERVICE.
ONE-IN-FIVE VETERANS SAY THEY STRUGGLED WITH ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY.
counseling. “And then, there’s me,” she says with a smile, “the civilian connection specialist who is kind of your lifelong friend.” She not only sat at Kiara’s bedside, but she’s also gone shopping for birthday presents for a veteran’s child, made coffee dates to catch up and even chatted about life with one veteran as they walked the dog. She listens, trying to decipher what each family might need to get them on a successful path. “There’s no shame in what they are experiencing or going through in the moment,” Tara says, adding, “They will share their stories, tell me their struggles, and their vulnerability is what blows my mind.” The nonprofit started as a passion project between two brothers who also call each other best friends — Gavin and Gabe Erickson. Gabe comes from a background in marketing, sales and journalism and Gavin has spent nearly 20 years serving in the U.S. Army. “I was deployed a couple of times — once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan,” Gavin says. Both times, he saw members of his platoon leave the service. Veterans are supposed to get a year to transition into civilian life, he says, but that’s not true for those who served in combat roles. “When you are deployed, it’s just a couple of weeks on either side of your redeployment date back to the U.S.,” he says. “My friends were really struggling. These guys went from getting into gunfights five to six days a week to a couple weeks later standing in the middle of Walmart wondering why they were in Walmart.” During his service he watched so many struggle that toward the end of his deployment, he and a handful of those he served with wondered how they could help veterans better transition to civil30
YVW MAGAZINE
ian life in the future. That was 2010, when the seed for Warrior Transition Outdoors was planted. In 2011, Gavin and his friends successfully started a nonprofit. Then, Gavin says, “True to the military, two weeks after we got our 501(c)3 (nonprofit status), we all got orders to go to different places around the country. We all got reassigned.” The nonprofit dissolved. Gavin’s new post landed him in Billings, recruiting for the Army. “If I’m being perfectly honest with you, I wasn’t handling it very well,” he says. “I lost a really good friend of mine in a firefight in Afghanistan, and I didn’t really start dealing with that until I was in recruiting. I was drinking too much and making stupid decisions.” He knew then, more than ever, that his idea for a nonprofit serving veterans couldn’t stay on the shelf for long. Meantime, his brother, who had recently made the move to Billings, was gaining experience working at another nonprofit that served veterans. Gabe told his brother there were veterans’ programs but nothing like Gavin envisioned. “I just committed myself that when I retired, I was going to start a nonprofit that took a holistic approach not only for the veteran but for their family transitioning over a long period of time,” Gavin says. Healing comes in its own time, he says, so services shouldn’t have an expiration date. Sadly, he says, Gabe abruptly resigned from his job, telling his brother that veterans deserved better than 2-star service. They needed programs that delivered 5-star service. “He went through a really terrible experience as an executive di-
Gavin & Gabe
TO TAKE A BREAK FROM WORK, TARA LOVES TO SKETCH AND PAINT. SHE HOPES TO ONE DAY ADD ART THERAPY TO WTO'S PROGRAM.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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rector at a local nonprofit serving veterans,” Gavin says. “I said, we can’t let veterans be served like this. We have to do this now.” They filed the paperwork to start WTO and launched last November. “Tara immediately chose to be our first-ever lifelong family advocate,” says Gabe, who is also Tara’s fiancé.
“She does it because she legitimately cares about each and every single person that she talks with. That makes you want to be on her team,” Gavin says. “You know she always has your back. She literally gives everything of herself for this community.” As Tara talks about her experiences and how she developed a heart to serve others, she’ll tell you about a pivotal moment just after college when she worked at an emergency homeless shelter in Manhattan, Kansas. She was the one who answered the incoming calls for care. “It was wintertime. Kansas gets brutally cold. It was in the negatives there,” Tara says. “We were completely full at the shelter. It was also during Covid, so we could only take half capacity because we had to separate people.” She says an incoming call that night forced her to think on her feet.
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“I remember this phone call with this one woman. She said, ‘I’m stranded. I don’t know what to do. I’m struggling so bad. I am living out of my truck but it’s not working.’ I said, ‘OK, let me see what I can do.’” Tara described how she moved and shuffled people all over the center to make room.
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Don “JR” Marty
“I think that it was her gratitude of me being able to do that for her that really touched me. That could have saved her life. When it’s negative degrees outside? That’s not a joke,” Tara says, adding the encounter lit a fire inside her. “I thought, all I want to do is help people. That’s what I want to do.” How did a girl from a small Kansas town end up in Montana? Tara’s older brother, who served in the National Guard, had recently made the move from California and while Tara was contemplating her future, her brother and sister-in-law both told her, “You have nothing to lose right now, why don’t you come and try Montana?” She did,
Kiara MONTANA HAS A HIGHER VETERAN POPULATION PER CAPITA THAN ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
BILLINGS HAS THE HIGHEST VETERAN POPULATION PER CAPITA OF ANY CITY IN MONTANA.
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and within weeks met her “soul mate” Gabe while “seeing what’s out there” on a dating app. The two have been inseparable ever since. In the months she spent living with her older brother, Tara got to see firsthand that her brother’s own service, with tours in Kuwait and Iraq, were affecting him. As a kid, she remembers hearing about the nightmares and anxiety. As an adult, she saw a man who kept a lot to himself. “One of the big things I’ve taken away from my brother is that he doesn’t open up about that stuff,” she says. “That’s a heavy burden to bear. Even with the people closest to him in life, he won’t say much.” She got him enrolled in WTO and says, “I think we are slowly peeling away the layers.” Today, she dedicates roughly 40 hours a week to reach out to all the veterans WTO serves. Again, she does it without any payment other than a veteran’s gratitude. She serves with big things like Kiara’s situation, and with things like the veteran who decided he needed to travel out of state to be reunited with family. Tara was up before dawn to help him get on his way. “One of our veterans – not on a whim, but suddenly, decided to move to Texas. He didn’t have money for a plane ticket, so he was going to take a Greyhound,” Tara says. “He said, ‘I am going on the bus at 4 in the morning, can you take me?’ I said, ‘Sure, of course. Why not?’” She’s arranged lawn care when a vet who was overwhelmed with life let her grass get waist high. “She (the veteran) came home to a totally serene lawn,” Gabe says. “What that does to your soul, just being able to relax in your own space. It’s not always about those big things.” “A veteran will call me and say, ‘Hey I just have to tell you, I love Tara. This is what she did for me. Thank you so much. She saved my life,’” Gavin says. “When people are calling you and telling you this person saved my life, I can’t even describe that feeling to you.” While the goal when Gabe and Gavin started WTO was to take veterans on outdoor adventures to let them experience the heal34
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ing you can feel when you simply put your feet in the grass or take in a beautiful mountain vista, they’ve learned that this oneon-one interaction that Tara has created is what’s helping veterans and their families survive. “She is too humble to see just how powerful she is, but Tara works full-time for free to serve veterans, spouses and children,” Gabe says. “She is with these people through thick and thin, the good and even the ugliest moments.” Kiara, who is now living in Utah near family, trying to get her life back on track, couldn’t agree more. “I learned how to go from surviving as a veteran to thriving as a veteran,” Kiara says. “She definitely gave me that love that I needed at the moment.” She adds when she sees other veterans trying to adapt to civilian life, “Every single veteran that I meet or talk to, WTO is the first resource I ever recommend. Regardless of what you are battling, they look at you as a person, really helping you figure out what you need.” “When you hear people say sometimes you have to hit rock bottom, that was truly the case for her,” Tara says. “It was such a hard, low moment that we experienced, but she came out so on top of that. She has her girls back and she’s working to figure out what she wants to do in life. She’s listening to her intuition. It’s been a beautiful ride.” And while Gabe and Gavin would love one day to be able to pay Tara for her work with families, Tara brushes it all off, saying there’s nothing that she’d rather do than to be a fierce advocate for veterans and their families. “I am grateful to be able to be in a position that I can be that person for people,” she says. “I don’t have any expectations. If I received nothing, you know what? I’ve helped a ton of people.” ✻
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WARRIOR TRANSITION OUTDOORS, visit warriortransitionoutdoors.org.
Con Congratulations tara tara For being YVW’s 2023 reader nominated cover woman!
Thanks to our sponsors... for for helping helping make make this this special! special!
YVW MAGAZINE
written by TRISH ERBE SCOZZARI photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
TERESA KOZAK-KENNEDY BOOKMARKS THE DECADES
Without
BooksBatteries
36
Teresa and
Larry TERESA KOZAK-KENNEDY surrounds herself with mys-
tery, romance and history of the ages. She tends watch over wars and taps into the cultures of people and countries. The works of Nicholas Sparks, Julia Quinn, C.S. Lewis, John Steinbeck, Shakespeare and a plethora of other notables keep her company. Teresa owns The Book Cellar, a charming, extremely organized bookstore nestled in Alpine Village off Grand Avenue. Its worn wooden floors squeak a familiar cadence as you mosey through a 900-square-foot dominion of the written word. It is a worthy place to spend time forging new friendships and stirring old acquaintances. Here you will find books without batteries.
Larry Kennedy, actually began collecting books decades ago when Teresa “decided on a whim to take a chance.” “I was working a job at the time,” says Teresa, “and Larry was traveling for his work.” Larry was tiring of being away from home, which helped fuel Teresa’s book fancy. The couple began looking for a place to plant a bookstore. “We opened on one side of this store,” Teresa says. “A hair salon was on the other side.” When the salon closed, “We pushed this way into the store front.”
NG✴ I S I R TERP ✴✴✴ ✴ EN MAN ✴ WO ✴ ✴
Gently used books in about every genre or category adorn the walls from floor-to-ceiling. It’s like walking into your small-town library where you feel the aura of authors past and authors present. There are books devoted to folk lore, science fiction, sports and horror, along with a small sanctuary purposely designated for the classics.
“I couldn’t live without books!” Teresa says. “When I was in fourth grade, we went to the library and it was the textured covers that appealed to me. I took home ‘The Enormous Egg’ by Oliver Butterworth. Even though I was a slow reader then, it was the idea I could have it and read it.” Teresa’s love for books has never dwindled. She and her husband,
What started as a whim grew into a burgeoning business celebrating 35 years this November. “In the middle of it all,” Teresa says, “and while raising three children, we had a store downtown for years and then one in Hardin and one in Red Lodge where we’d have book signings with well-known authors like Terry C. Johnston.”
International writer Paul Goble sauntered through the aisles of the Red Lodge store, as did local author Sandra West Prowell. “She would come in and peruse other author’s books,” Teresa says. “The bookstore changed the direction of our lives,” adds Larry. Over the years and as their children left the nest, the couple trimmed the bookstores back to this original store. Decades later, The Book Cellar continues enriching the community by providing a world in which gently read books are bought, traded and sold. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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y in na’s 4tho rg
hase mber nals ana. orial ring
Beauty & the Bea st Billings Studio Theatre presents “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Junior,” January 10th-13th. Brainy and beautiful Belle yearns to escape her narrow and restricted life including her brute of a suitor, Gaston. Belle gets adventurous and as a result becomes a captive in the Beast’s enchanted castle! Dancing flatware, menacing wolves and singing furniture fill the stage with thrills during this beloved fairy tale about very different people finding strength in one another as they learn how to love.b i lENRICHING l i n g s s tu dTHE i o t hCOMMUNITY e a t r e .c o m CONTINUES
THE THE BOOK BOOK CELLAR CELLAR
CONTINUES ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY BY BY PROVIDING PROVIDING AA WORLD WORLD IN IN WHICH WHICH
GENTLY ARE GENTLY READ READ BOOKS BOOKSFRinge ARE BOUGHT, BOUGHT, FestivaL TRADED AND SOLD. TRADED SOLD. Venture Theatre AND presents its Fringe Festival, January 18th-19th and 25th-26th.The festival features four nights of shows featuring local and regional performing artists of all types including dance, standup comedy, theater onebooks,” act plays, performance “People come in andimprov, smell the saysmusicals, Teresa, taking a deep art, spoken word/poetry, puppetry.v e n t u r top e t h esellers a t r e .oifr gyou get breath. Shelves packed and to the gills feature
in quick enough to grab one. Many tremendous series like John souL stReet d anCe Jakes’ “The Bastard” and Julia Quinn’s “Bridgerton” are bundled This high energy show comes the Alberta Bair Theater on January and bound (heat-sealed) in neartoperfect condition.
19th and presents a new era in dance, while pushing the artistic “I like to read series, as do a lotSoul of people,” “So,of when I of boundaries of street dance. Street Teresa concertssays. consist a mix canmovement gather most all the bound together.” thatorwill keepbooks, you atthey the are edge of your seat. The music is combined with an electric mix ranging from hip-hop to classical. The store offers a captivating and eclectic ambiance. Book club It’s a show that will make you laugh and keep audiences of all ages members stop by seeking specific books, as do grade-schoolers entertained.
and parents needing certain books to fulfil summer reading lists. Veterans search for war history, whether on Vietnam, World War I, World War II or moreRt recent conflicts. a ConCe FoR the w hoLe FamiLy
Billings Symphony presents its Family Concert 26th Teresa takes satisfaction leading customers toon theJanuary section or at to the theAlberta very book looking is hownominees, well she categorizes Bairthey’re Theater. Four for. timeThis Grammy “Trout Fishing andinlabels the books, as well as alphabetizing many Symphony. of them. “EvAmerica,” will perform along with the Billings Trout eryFishing book passes through hands,”duo Teresa says. “There’s no rock needand in America is my a musical which performs folk to seek and search.” children’s music. b i l l i n g s s y m p h o n y.c o m
Moments after Teresa makes that remark, a customer inquired about a specific book. Teresa dashes to its location bringing her
the requested book. A moment or two later, a group of young people from Oregon gather at the counter holding a bookstore treasure. One of the young men shares how his dad liked Tom Swift (the character of teen science fiction and adventure novels beginning in the early 1900s). After the group left, Teresa, her eyes dancing with delight, says, “So, now he is reading Tom Swift.” “Young people go for sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and now the classics,” she says. “Jane Austen, Steinbeck, Tolstoy and Melville are big. I just had a kid in last week and Moby Dick was on his pile of books.” Spotting an increase in young readers, Teresa points out that teens and 20-somethings are not big on Westerns unless it’s Louis L’Amour. “Everybody reads Louis L’Amour,” she says. “But, anything fantasy the young people like.” “We do get in rare books you don’t see very often, too,” Teresa notes. “The rare books aren’t here long, as there are still collectors looking for these books.” As for the adult readers, Teresa says mysteries are big and his-
ls e
GO L D, SI LV E R , CO I NS, C U RR EN CY Trusted by the Northwest ( 4 0 6 ) 7 0 2 - 1 5 1 6 | 2 4 5 0 K I N G AV E W | B I L L I N G S W W W. G R I Z Z LY G O L D A N D S I LV E R . C O M
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BILLINGS | HELENA | MISSOULA | IDAHO FALLS 38
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DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY 2013 63
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AT ABT
RUBEN STUDDARD & CLAY AIKEN TWENTY | THE TOUR
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 7:30 P.M.
A RHYTHM AND BLUES BATTLE ROYALE:
ELI PAPERBOY REED VS. THE HARLEM GOSPEL TRAVELERS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 7:30 P.M.
torical romance is a “big deal.” “We see more women reading about war now since romance writers are writing about it. Also there’s more writing from England that has been turned into TV series, like ‘The Tudors.’” Teresa quickly heads for the extensive Romance section where she pulls out one of many Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn. Holding the book in her hands, she comments, “Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is a big seller, too. Outlander is now big on TV. If people like an author they try to find the series.” Even though Teresa enjoys reading great series, her most recent favorite stories include “Water for Elephants,” “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” and “The Help.” “I also like biographies, World War II, and historical fiction,” she says. “The key is to don’t stick to one genre. Don’t limit yourself.”
JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO: STAGE AND SCREEN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11 7:30 P.M.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 7:30 P.M.
Consider this sage advice from a long-time reader who has three books going at any given time. “Teresa is the avid reader,” Larry says. “She can read twice as fast as me. Honestly, I was an average reader until we got the bookstore. It’s increased my reading and my highlight is meeting like-minded people.” As a huge reader of Western Americana, Larry shares this advice: “To appreciate Montana history, every Montanan should read ‘Tough Trip Through Paradise,’ by Andrew Garcia.” His favorite read is “A River Runs Through It,” by Norman Maclean. Discussing the merits of these distinctive books, Teresa says she finds it interesting that “some people absorb the story differently.” She surmises some read the words while others read it but see the story as if they are watching a movie.
MARK O’CONNOR’S
AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS
FEATURING MAGGIE O’CONNOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 7:30 P.M.
Tickets available at 406.256.6052, AlbertaBairTheater.Org, and the ABT Box Office! Box Office: Monday-Friday 10-5 P.M. Saturday 10-2 P.M.
JOHNNY CASH
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Testing this hypothesis, Teresa and Larry are currently reading the same book, “The Far Empty,” by J. Todd Scott. They NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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plan to compare notes when finished. The reservoir of books Teresa has soaked up during the years speaks volumes. She gains insight into her customer’s preferences from a quick chat. Recently, she proposed the novel, “A Gentleman in Moscow,” which this writer took home for $12. The hardcover book is in mint condition. The story of Count Alexander Rostov promises a whirlwind adventure through tumultuous decades of Russian history when he was confined to a room in the attic of a hotel across from the Kremlin.
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The Buzz in Billings
Meet
schmaing OWNER OF ISU STREETER BROTHERS INSURANCE Q: What makes you passionate about your business? I love helping people protect what they have worked so hard to achieve. I want my customers to feel comfortable with their insurance choices and educate them on their coverage by securing the best protection to fit their needs. Over the years, the long-term relationships and trust built between my customers and myself are priceless.
Q: What made you decide to become a business owner and initially, what were your biggest challenges? When I first learned of the opportunity, I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted and was not completely confident in taking on an ownership role. However, my husband is my biggest supporter and he encouraged me with his unlimited confidence in my abilities. I already had a good sense of day-to-day operations having been employed by Streeter Brothers for over 30 years, so I leaped. One big challenge was shifting my responsibilities to include wearing many hats! There was a learning curve, no doubt.
Q: What is your best advice for other women thinking about owning their own businesses? Don’t underestimate yourself and your talents. Don’t let fear get in the way, you are strong and capable - give yourself credit. Owning your own business is hard work but also very rewarding. It allows you to learn so much more about yourself in terms of management style, shifting your employee relationships, and discovering the right balance for your business.
Q: What can you share about Streeter Brothers that someone new to Billings might not know? Streeter Brothers began in 1922 doing real estate, mortgages, and insurance and eventually the three sectors were split into separate entities. All, of which, were only owned by men. The three were still doing business under the same roof when I joined the insurance agency in 1986. I am the first and only woman owner of Streeter Brothers Insurance and only the 4th owner in 101 years.
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Giving Giving
to Logs
BLOW TORCHES & CHAIN SAWS ARE SANDY SCHRUMPF’S ARTISTIC TOOLS written by LAURA BAILEY photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
IN A SLEEPY NEIGHBORHOOD off
Elysian Road, Sandy Schrumpf glides a die grinder over a rough log. The whine of the grinder reverberates out her open garage door as she smooths out the details on her latest chainsaw carving. It’s a pig in a barrel, carved from a single log. The pig’s ears are big and expressive, and maybe it’s just a knot in the log or a little nick from the grinder, but it looks like the dusty little dude is wearing a mischievous smirk. The pig started out as a 4-foot-tall hunk of pine, but in Sandy’s hands it has come to life. “Sometimes I can see something in a log,” Sandy says, adding that when she does, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to have the design come out right. Sandy has multiple projects in various stages of the carving process piled throughout the garage, and her driveway is stacked with sturdy logs all standing on end waiting for her inspired touch. Over the past two years, she’s carved everything from the classic porch-sitting bears and a myriad of other animals to more unusual designs, including cowboy boots, gnomes, Christmas trees and snowmen. She’s got a locomotive in the works, and whenever anyone retires from the post office where she works, she makes them a chainsaw-carved mail collection box. Sandy pops a small turtle the size of a basketball onto her steel workbench. Its neck and head are carved from a branch that naturally stuck out of the log. It’s a work in progress but is already taking on some personality. “The log told me, turtle,” she says, giving its shell a pat with her hand. Behind her sits another log with a heavy branch
almost as thick as the trunk. Sandy envisions a realistic owl or maybe a hawk carved from the branch, so it looks like it’s perched in the tree. “It’s just sitting until I figure it out,” she says. When she’s carving, Sandy wears a leather apron, steel-toed boots and leather gloves. With her hearing protection on, the whole world and all its cares fade away as she focuses on one thing: bringing logs to life. “I needed something for stress, and this is the best stress reliever I’ve found,” Sandy says. Sandy’s first experiences with a chainsaw were gathering firewood for the family’s backyard fire pit. “I always loved it and thought it was the funnest thing ever, but I never imagined being able to do this,” Sandy says with her arms spread wide. “I love it!” She carves most every day, and that old chainsaw she used for firewood has been replaced with a smaller, lighter, quieter Stihl electric chainsaw. She learned to carve by watching videos online, and her first project was a pumpkin, which still sits on her porch. After a few months of carving in her spare time, Sandy worked her way up to carving a bear. It sits on her porch too. “I was just happy it looked like a bear,” she says. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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I NEEDED SOMETHING FOR STRESS, AND THIS IS THE BEST STRESS RELIEVER I’VE FOUND. — Sandy Schrumpf
If practice makes perfect, Sandy is well on her way to perfection. “You learn more as you go,” Sandy says. “Everything that you do prepares you for what’s next.” Sandy has connected with a few tree cutters who supply her with wood of all kinds. In her time carving, she’s figured out what works best and has learned by experience how wood will react as it dries. Lots of times it will crack. “I prefer pine,” she says. “I love the smell of it.” The larger logs can be a challenge, but one Sandy is willing to accept. Her husband, David, built a system that allows her to clamp big logs to her hydraulic work bench, which she can raise and lower with ease. “I try to keep them so I can manage them myself,” she says.
“For now, I’m trying to keep a balance with everything else in my life,” Sandy says. Last year, she started selling her pieces at vendor shows in Huntley and Laurel and has several more shows planned for this holiday season. Sandy’s work can also be found on Facebook at Sandy’s Chainsaw Carvings, and her work is also for sale at The Maker’s Market. “I do it because I love it, and any money I make is just a bonus,” Sandy says. ✻
FIND SANDY on Face-
book at Sandy’s Chainsaw Carvings. Her work is for sale at The Maker’s Market, located in the old State Avenue IGA at 4220 State Ave. in Billings.
Her neighbors are supportive too, and don’t mind the sound of her tools or the occasional dusting of sawdust. Retirement is a little way off for Sandy, but when she does retire, she already has a plan: more chainsaw carving and perhaps a dedicated space where she can work year-round. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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y t f a r C
TAKE A
ROAD TRIP PLENTY OF WAYS TO TAKE A WALK ON THE CREATIVE SIDE IN BILLINGS written by CYDNEY HOEFLE photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
I HAVE TREMENDOUS APPRECIATION for anyone
who can turn a pile of fabric scraps into a quilt, or a pretty stone into a beautiful necklace. Tooled leather, crocheted sweaters or anything made from wood are wins in my book, especially since I can’t do any of those things myself. I’m not crafty in any way, but I sure admire those who are. Still, strolling into AR Workshop has the potential to give even a non-crafter the opportunity to try a project with confidence. A national franchise that calls itself a Specialty DIY Workshop, the cheerfully decorated space filled with worktables and supplies has an energy all its own. Finished samples featuring everything from hand-painted wooden wall hangings and scented candles to chunky yarn blankets are showcased as examples of what can be accomplished in the space of a few hours. Owner Jean Candee greeted me with a smile and made me feel welcome. Though she wasn’t teaching any classes when I walked in, she invited me to check things out anyway. When I explained that I was a complete novice, she assured me that anyone can take a class and go home with a treasure. “We take the work out of crafting,” Jean explains. “Our customers are here to have fun and be creative.” As I strolled through her store, touching soft, colorful yarns, smelling candle scents and imagining what kind of sign I might 46
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paint for my house, suddenly I couldn’t help but feel that dormant creative gene starting to wake up. “The chunky blankets are one of our most popular classes,” Jean says. “You ‘knit’ with your hands, so you don’t have to know how to use knitting needles to make a beautiful blanket.” That, I might be able to handle. It seems the hardest part might be which color to choose. Jean stocks dozens of them. Along with hundreds of stencils, paint colors and sizes of wood, the plethora of choices are sure to get the creative juices flowing. Classes average about 10 people and are a cross between a gathering of friends, company team building and a birthday party. “Really, just being around a table, working on the same thing, and being together is fun for people,” Jean says. “And it’s fun because someone else will clean up the mess.” She adds with a smile, “It’s fun to watch our customers get excited watching their work turn into something beautiful.” Across town, at the Maker’s Market, more than 100 vendors have their handiwork creatively displayed throughout the expansive 16,000-square-foot warehouse. Owner, Victoria “Vic” Eichel opened the business in June and within a very short time, sales have already surpassed $20,000 a month. Proudly showing me around, Vic explains that her business is
Jean
AR WORKSHOP
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Vic
MAKER'S MARKET
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run a bit differently than most. She refers to the vendors as “makers.” “We help our makers with merchandising, pricing, packaging and branding,” she says. “We offer classes on how to operate machines and give advice on where to make the best purchases for supplies. My team of mentors and I are willing to share everything we know to make sure of the maker’s success.”
y t ROAD TRIP f a r C AR WORKSHOP 1595 GRAND AVE., BILLINGS ARWORKSHOP.COM/BILLINGS
THE FRONT PORCH
MAKERS MARKET 4220 STATE AVE., BILLINGS FACEBOOK/THE MAKERS MARKET
Billings
109 W. FIRST ST., LAUREL In a creative way to help makers THEFRONTPORCH.INFO Laurel pocket more profit, Vic came up with a membership program that allows the vendors to pay a monthly fee instead of a percentage of each sale. The amount is determined not by the number of items, but by the specific items that a maker carries. For example, it would be the same fee for 12 hats as 100 hats, but the price increases if the vendor decides to include scarves. It’s that theme that carries throughout the showroom and makes seeing all the work of the vendors even more special. The world “It’s a way for both of us to make money,” Vic explains. “Our of mass production, online shopping and “just pitch it” is not makers really appreciate it.” here. The tone seems to declare to slow down and appreciate this Here, you can also get a taste of what it means to make something handcrafted talent. Vic welcomes visitors to take their time and by hand. Over the past few months, the Maker’s Market offered come back often. classes on everything from creating your own fall pumpkin Twenty minutes away, on a side street in Laurel, is the Front centerpiece to creating unique pumpkin candles out of small Porch, a charming boutique with a front door flanked by colorful bundt pans. planters and a comfortable bench. Launched nine years ago by After opening last July, it’s only the beginning of what’s to come owner Cheryl Hill, the business has some commonalities with in this space. the other two, but she says it’s set apart too. Vic’s enthusiasm and her passion for her business are evident as we continue the tour, and she talks about plans for the future. A hefty notebook is filled with ideas that she’s accumulated over the years. “I worked full time for years, but something like this has always been my dream,” Vic says. “I took a leap of faith with this building, and I think it’s just perfect!” The warehouse has been transformed by Vic, and with her sons’ help, they have repurposed materials that most would never see as having another life and have implemented them into displays and attractive décor. Old doors face the front of the cash register, barnwood configured into attractive wall designs graces one wall and another has been framed with shelves. A discarded China cabinet was given new life as Vic removed the doors, which opened the shelves for displays. Wooden stock racks from an old truck have been repurposed into a creative wall for hanging photos, frames and wall hangings. “We don’t throw anything away,” Vic says with a laugh. “We see something of value in almost everything.” Also a bit different is the incorporation of all the makers’ items into displays throughout the store instead of each one having their own table. As Vic explains, “A customer looking for baby items isn’t going to find them as easily if they are scattered everywhere than if they are displayed together.”
“We saw a need for a place for women to gather and do crafts,” says Cheryl. “I never dreamt it would turn into what it has.” From a space large enough for just 10 people, to the current location on First Street, the Front Porch has grown into a soughtafter destination for medium-size gatherings, a boutique filled with the work of local artisans and a “make and take studio.” “I always want to stay true to my first intention and that’s too have a place people can gather for events and not be hindered by the cost,” Cheryl says. Five years ago, she bought out her partner and moved to the current location, which was once the post office for the city of Laurel. Cheryl and her family remodeled the building, peeling back one of the walls to the original brick and adding repurposed wood as an accent wall to another. Used as the boutique area, the space holds handmade items by more than 25 vendors and includes such things as clothing, jewelry and home décor. In the adjoining community room, decorated as tastefully as one’s home, and large enough to accommodate 65 people, Cheryl has selected furniture that is not only attractive, but easy to move. Two comfy leather sofas, drapes and thick area rugs help make the space cozy, while tables and chairs and a concrete countertop allow the space to be transformed to feed a crowd or entertain dozens. A kitchen was just added and has expanded the types of events NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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Cheryl
THE FRONT PORCH
that can be hosted. Micro-weddings, family and class reunions, showers and birthday celebrations have taken place in the venue, along with crafting classes. “We’re booked out about three months between events and craft classes,” Cheryl says. “It’s been a great thing for our town.” It’s easy to see that Cheryl enjoys people and encourages her customers to relax and enjoy themselves when they’re browsing her shop. After my crafty road trip came to a close, I not only felt more in tune with the world of crafting, I made a few new friends as well. If you’ve always had an inkling to take on a DIY but didn’t know where to turn, it’s safe to say there are a handful of places who would love to help. I found out firsthand it’s a great way to meet, catch up and have a little fun, either making something by hand or buying up other handmade treasures for those on our holiday gift list. ✻
CYDNEY HOEFLE, writer A fourth generation Montanan, Cydney was raised on a ranch on the banks of the Yellowstone River where an appreciation of the outdoors was fostered. She and her husband raised three children in Billings and are now the proud grandparents of three. The best part of any of her days is time spent with Jesus, family, friends, a good book or capturing someone’s story in words.
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li g h t u p the night
Holiday Nights is making a comeback to Billings in a big way
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d e l i ve r i n g e mpt y yv w 's t he m os t a c h r i s t m a s s to c kings ho l iday wo nd e rfu l Making holidays bright g ift g u id e t im e o f t he m i rac le for the community's Check out our top picks Non-Profit works yea r foster children to share the spirit by giving families a Christmas tree
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One family's tradition of baking up cheer NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 53
HOLIDAY NIGHTS IS MAKING A COMEBACK TO BILLINGS IN A BIG WAY written by JULIE KOERBER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN & HOLIDAY NIGHTS
WHEN JANESE CARSTENS walked the grounds of ZooMontana in October, her face lit up almost as brightly as the trees wrapped in every color of Christmas light.
“Wait until you see what I am putting over here,” she said. “The vision is coming to life! It’s one thing when you see it in your head. It’s another thing to see it take shape in real life.” Janese was hired late last July as the event director to orchestrate the second annual Holiday Nights. She hasn’t slowed down since. “We want to make this an experience,” she says. “I remember going to see the lights with my parents when I was younger. That’s so nostalgic that once in a while my extended family who lives in town will get a bus and go around together to enjoy that.” She knows this event will be a destination for families. “I love the idea that what we knew as kids, we can give to the Billings community and it can be nostalgic for the next generation of kids,” she says. Since the beginning of September, crews have been out wrapping trees daily with miles upon miles of Christmas lights to get ready for the massive display that stretches over a third of the zoo. All told, there are nearly 10 million lights and several dozen largescale displays — everything from a giant castle fit for princesses of all ages to candy cane arches that light up a pathway through the zoo. Holiday Nights is a walk-through experience that families
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can use to spend a night together taking in Christmas in a way that’s never been possible in Billings before. “I am excited,” says Josh Benson, one of the owners of Holiday Nights. By day, he’s in the gaming business, but over the past few years he’s felt a pull to give something big back to his community. “Christmas is just a special time,” he says. “From the time I was little, my mom always brought out the porcelain cities and set up this massive display. I remember that as a child.” Two years ago, Josh and his family of five visited Sam’s Christmas Village in Somerset, Wisconsin. It’s a multi-acre display of millions of lights that mimics a European Christmas Village. After doing some digging, Josh realized there was nothing like this in Montana. In fact, the closest holiday light destinations were in Wisconsin, Idaho and Colorado, hundreds of miles away. “I approached Jeff (Jeff Ewelt, ZooMontana’s executive director), and ultimately he gave me the go-ahead to build something really cool here,” he says. Josh brought the idea to two of his business partners — Pete Carlson and Tom Cusciotta — and they were all in. “We want to make it cooler and brighter and better year after year until you just can’t go any bigger,” Josh adds with a smile. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The drive-through displays that the zoo has hosted for decades are aging. Wires on
some of the displays are exposed and the whole area needs new electrical infrastructure. “The zoo says when it goes out — and it could be any day — that it’s probably not going to be cost effective to set it back up,” Josh says, adding that Holiday Nights will continue to use what it can within its own display. For now, you’ll be able to take wagon rides through the drive-through portion during Holiday Nights for an extra $5 per person. On Mondays and Tuesdays in December, Holiday Nights will open up the ZooLights for folks to drive cars through the muchloved display. There’s a lot to explore with Holiday Nights. They’re bringing back the popular s’more tents that families and corporations loved in their inaugural year. The tents come stocked with a basket of goodies to make s’mores, games to play, a huge jug of hot chocolate plus their own personal fire pit. It was Heather Carlson’s job to deck out
Janese and Heather
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www.discreetsolutionsinc.com each of the 13 tents with its own special flair — everything from a Grinch-themed tent to tents that offer a cozy, woodsy charm. She loves the fact that folks will use these spaces to build not only s’mores, but memories. “I just love that there is something like this here in Montana that people can travel to, look forward to and make traditions,” Heather says. “People walk in and they just smile.” As the show gets ready to throw open the doors for the season, Janese is putting the finishing touches on every inch of the event. “This gets me jacked,” she says with a laugh as she points to which displays will go where on the grounds. There are 16 themed sections stretching into new parts of the zoo. The barnyard area will turn into Christmas at the Farm, with a splash of multi-colored lights and visits from different characters. “I don’t want to spoil too much, but we do have Frosty the Snowman this year,” Janese says. “We also have a certain snowman who enjoys warm hugs!” The waterfowl area will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland. “I’ll be honest.
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TAKE IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS WITH MILLIONS OF LIGHTS The walk-through experience is open Nov. 24 through Dec, 24 on Thursdays through Sundays and Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 every day. Doors open at 5 p.m. Admission gates close at 8 p.m. and the lights are out at 9 p.m. For more, visit holiday-nights.com.
It’s going to be a showstopper,” Janese says. “It will look like the entire place is frosted. I have these cool pathway lights that go both up and down. That’s all I am going to say. I am not going to say anything else,” she says with a laugh. There will be a scavenger hunt for guests. On certain nights there might be live entertainment. Vendors will be on site with food and drinks. On Sundays, kids will have a space just for them to create a craft or two. And, who could forget Santa? “The sleigh for Santa is one you can sit in with him,” Janese says, adding that you’ll be able to take pictures with Santa on your own phone or camera. “There’s not a kid who wouldn’t say, ‘Oh, I wish I could be with Santa in his sleigh.’ We are making that happen this year.” Twelve thousand people took in the light show last year. Janese is hoping for nearly double that number this year. “It’s a big production with a lot of people who have a lot of passion to bring this to the community,” she says. She’s counting down the days when she’ll be able to watch people’s reactions as they walk through the gates. “Oh, I can’t wait,” she says. “I hope it’s awe. I hope it’s wonder.” ✻
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Delivering a
Christmas Miracle NON-PROFIT WORKS TO SHARE THE SPIRIT BY GIVING FAMILIES A CHRISTMAS TREE written by JULIE KOERBER photography by CASEY PAGE
WHEN FOOTBALL SEASON KICKS OFF, Ryan and
Bobbi Cox start to feel the excitement brewing. They know it’s only a matter of time before the leaves start to fall and they can do the one thing they wait for all year. “I know it’s getting closer to Christmas and then it’s game on,” Ryan says with a laugh. For the past 15 years or so, the family’s display near 72nd Street West and Neibauer Road has been an attention-grabber. Thousands upon thousands of lights cover nearly every square foot of the family’s house and yard. They start decorating for “Santa’s Wonderland” in mid-September, and on the night of Thanksgiving they flip the switch, lighting up the display through the first of the year. “It’s honestly my favorite time of the year,” Ryan says.
On Thanksgiving 2020, the couple and their three kids were decorating when Bobbi realized they had two Christmas trees they no longer needed. “Ryan said, let’s put them on Facebook. There was an overwhelming number of people who reached out and said, I could really use one,” Bobbi says. “We had close to 200 messages on Facebook,” Ryan says. “I’m not even exaggerating. I told Bobbi, this is insane and almost heartbreaking.” That one Facebook post was the seed that would sprout into what is now Project Christmas Miracle. It’s a nonprofit organization that believes everyone deserves to celebrate Christmas with their NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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BOBBI COX AND KALEI EDMIASTON CHECK A SPREADSHEET OF DELIVERIES
VOLUNTEERS CARRY DONATIONS TO A RESIDENCE FOR PROJECT CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.
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loved ones. All year long, the couple seek sponsorships and donations to give a family in need an artificial tree, a tree topper, tree skirt, stockings for each member of the family and ornaments and lights to deck out the tree.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from our family to yours!
That first year, they helped 28 families in just a month. In 2021, that number grew to 35. Last year, the family delivered trees and all the trimmings to just shy of 60 families. “Three seasons, helping over 100 people? I would never have thought we’d be able to do that,” Ryan says. “Being able to help the community and knowing that when I was a kid, I went through some of the same things that many of these families experience with my mom struggling to make ends meet. I know where they are coming from.” “Ryan will always say, I came from a broken home and the meaning of Christmas is the tree and sitting around it building that bond with family,” Bobbi says. “It’s not about the gifts. It’s about the memories you make with your family. That’s what lights us up.” On a chilly Saturday last December, armed with a detailed spreadsheet and a handful of volunteers, the Cox family could be seen pulling boxes out of storage units, organizing them by name and then dispatching different volunteers to help them get delivered.
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“It’s kind of chaotic, I am not going to lie,” says Kalei, the couple’s 20-year-old daughter. Still, she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I think it’s a really good idea. I like that we are helping people.” One of the stops that day was to Rachel Phillips, an Army veteran who was medically discharged from the service in 2021. As Rachel opened the door, you could see tears start to well in her eyes as she gave Bobbi a hug. “Oh, thank you! I don’t want to cry,” Rachel said. “All of my family is back east and I am so used to celebrating with family.” She added, “I came back here after the military because my son said, ‘Mom, I need you home.’ I have been back for about a year and I moved with basically what I could fit in my car. I left a lot behind and now I’m just trying to get back on my feet.” As she looked through the box of ornaments she said, “This is huge. This allows us to actually have a Christmas tree to decorate, make ornaments and make those memories.” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 63
RACHEL PHILLIPS GIVES BOBBI COX A HUG AS BOBBI DELIVERS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
Project Christmas Miracle now partners with both the YWCA’s residential living complex and Veterans Navigation Network, a nonprofit that helps people to make the transition from military to civilian life. Both organizations urge those they serve to apply for a tree. The rest of the applications come straight from the public and, as Ryan says, many of the stories pull on his heartstrings. “When we started, we were in the middle of the pandemic. People lost their jobs due to Covid and so that played a big role,” he says. “Now, you are starting to see stories of people who have lost spouses. There are several this year who are by themselves and said, ‘Well, I am not going to celebrate because I am by myself.’ I say, ‘Well, why don’t we bring you a tree?’” Other families can’t help but get emotional at the gestures of kindness. “We’ve had several families cry,” Ryan says. “The first year, there were three different families that just came and gave us all hugs. I thought this, this is what makes it worth it.”
YVW MAGAZINE
“Oh my. Hobby Lobby, man. We came through and cleaned them out. They said, what are you guys doing and we tell them we run a charity,” Ryan says.
THIS IS HUGE. THIS ALLOWS US TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE TO DECORATE, MAKE ORNAMENTS AND MAKE THOSE MEMORIES. — Rachel Phillips
It probably comes as no surprise that as soon as Christmas is over, the Cox family — Ryan, Bobbi and their three children, Hayden, Kalei and Teagan — start gearing up for next year, hit64
ting up after holiday sales.
“We went to Walmart the other day and we got 16 trees and they stopped us on the way out. The guy asked us, why do you need all those trees? We said, we are giving them to families who need it,” Bobbi says. When the man asked if it wouldn’t be better to put food on a person’s table, Bobbi says she told the man, “We aren’t here to judge what you have going on in life or where you live. If you reach out and fill out the application, we are all for it.” “My son was asking me, ‘What does the 10year plan look like?’ I laughed and said, I’m living for today. Honestly though, I would love to see this go statewide,” Ryan says.
Now that they’ve figured out how to spread this kind of Christmas cheer, Ryan knows he and his family are in this for the long haul. “Bobbi and I will never stop giving,” Ryan says. “It’s life-changing doing this.” ✻
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The organization also takes decorations, lights, tree skirts, tree toppers and stockings. Project Christmas Miracle also takes monetary donations, noting that it takes roughly $100 to give the gift of a tree, decorations and stockings to a family of four. You can send cash donations to: Project Christmas Miracle, 111 S. 24th S. W., #8-130, Billings, MT 59102. You can also Venmo them by sending a donation to @projectchristmasmiracle.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 65
YV W COLUMN IST
written by KAREN GROSZ
Yo u
C m a n ’ t tu r n
i r a c le
ONE CHRISTMAS, shortly after the annual “There
won’t be a lot of gifts this year” talk, the local grocer stopped by our house. He handed my mom a TV and then, much to our delight, an 8-foot-long stocking filled with coloring books, and cheap games. We whooped and hollered!
That stocking had been hanging in his store for weeks, and while we drooled over it, talked about it, and hoped and prayed we would win it, we never entered the drawing. I learned a few years later of my dad’s pride, and how he didn’t want anyone to know that we needed help … ever. When we asked to enter the drawing, Mom would say, “No honey, there are others who need it more than we do.” Well, that may have been true, but there aren’t a lot of things grocers in a small town don’t know, and our grocer, a kind man named Knute, knew that we did in fact, need those IN EVERY ISSUE gifts. I remember him saying, “Now, 66
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Mary, it was a miracle when your name was drawn, and you can’t turn down a miracle. It’s not how it’s done.” You can’t turn down a miracle. That fact has run through my life in many ways. Unexpected money, right when we needed it most, a job offer, completely out of the blue, that turned our life from one of barely making it to thriving. My daughter, who asked to wear a cross necklace just before we left the house, was grabbed out of the path of an oncoming truck. My husband fell while hanging a giant crucifix, shattering every rib on one side, but having a doctor in the house and paramedics less than three minutes away. There are other miracles, small, medium and large, and I’ve never turned one down. It's not how it’s done. And while I’ll never turn down a miracle, I would much rath-
er be part of one. Big or small, thought, deed or money, I was taught to give all I had to give and to expect nothing in return. I like to be in the right place at the right time, to solve the problem, carry the happy news and be, if even in the tiniest way, part of someone’s joy, part of the miracle they have been praying for. I don’t do it for acclaim, to stake my place in heaven, or even for the tax write-off, which is something a little girl, thrilled by a plastic net stocking full of cardboard games and waxy crayons, ever dreamed she would need. I do it because it needs to be done. Because I can. Because, once upon a time, someone showed up, just when I was beginning to doubt the world, and showed me that the world is a wonderful place full of awe and kindness. For the last several years I have seen more miracles than I can count, witnessed more faces turn from fear to joy, and cried more happy tears than sad because of the people in our community. Dozens, hundreds and thousands hand out their own miracles to others in our community. They deliver dinner boxes, provide shelter, fill envelopes, as several of my friends have done, with hundred-dollar bills, and quietly slip them to complete strangers with a known need. Single parents have received cars, and grandmas, raising their grands in hotels, and have asked for and received delicious homemade cookies because they couldn’t make them themselves. Many of these people have been braver than I ever could be, and have gone onto the Facebook group, “I’ll Help”-Billings and asked for help. They have dropped their ego, swallowed their pride and bared their souls by asking for milk, warm socks, tampons, and beds. When my husband took the Fall with Jesus, as we call his tumble with the cross, our world turned upside down, and there was a moment when I thought that I might have to go onto that page to ask for help. Now, I am a brave woman. I hike alone, travel alone and am proud to be a public speaker, but I knew I could never, in a million years, so publicly ask for help. I was saved by a miracle and did everything in my power during that season with few gifts under the tree to make sure others had their miracles too. And that is what you can do this year. Make sure others have their miracles. It’s just how it’s done when you can. I learned, after the Fall with Jesus, that generosity did not have to be dollars. It did not have to be trunk loads of gifts. I learned that I could be generous with my time, my spirit and my connections because that was all I had to give. When I started to give again, as we came out of the fog of recovery, my soul was stirred, no, not just stirred, absolutely ignited, whenever I gave something away, whenever I saw how my small effort could be a miracle someone else could not turn down.
There are seven acts of generosity: thoughts, words, money, time, things, influence and attention. And while I went on my generosity journey with my family and the 8,000 people on the “I’ll Help” page, this magazine, with the gracious and humble Julie Koerber at its helm, put all seven of those into action by adopting the Empty Stockings program. Of course, there is a backstory to how YVW got involved, but that doesn't matter. There was a need, and there was a person who said, “I want to be part of this miracle,” and together with friends, readers, businesses and a small army of social workers, every stocking was filled. Every stocking. Within days. It showed many who had begun to doubt the world that it is, in fact, full of awe and kindness. Filling those stockings, there was, as my dear friend Shelley Peirce says in times of stress, “a lot of bra sweat.” There were lists, and phone calls, emails, texts and so many trips to the stores that there is no way to count them. The gifts, and gift cards, all unwrapped, were delivered to families with foster children who had been with them for years, or mere hours. Kinship homes, filled with noise and worry, were gifted with exactly what the children were asking for. There were, time and again, miracles, big and small, for the people filling the stockings and the people receiving them. There were happy tears and knees that went weak when they opened the door and saw a community member, a total stranger, hand them Christmas in a stocking that was no longer empty. There is no way to tell you what it is like, to give or receive a gift like this, a stocking filled with love and glad tidings. I am not that good of a writer, but there is a way for you to be part of a miracle someone can’t turn down, and that is a miracle all its own, the kind you can’t turn down because, as Knute said, it’s not how it’s done. ✻
KAREN GROSZ, writer Karen Grosz is a local Team and Leadership Development coach and motivational speaker. She owns Canvas Creek Team Building, is the author of “What’s Next” and “Quiet Leadership” and founding voice of the Facebook group “I’ll Help”- Billings. You can find more from Karen at karengrosz.life.
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will help you discover your capacity to operate as a Quiet Leader for yourself, your team and your community.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 67
2023
HE T E K A LET’S M
N U M M CO
1.
When children are placed in kinship foster care the unexpected addition to a family can be expensive, and often the family needs immediate assistance to maintain the children in the home. Gift cards for groceries, diapers, formula, or gas to transport the children to appointments are greatly appreciated to help families in crisis situations.
RIGHT NOW, roughly 750 children are in the care of the state
through foster care in Yellowstone County. When the holidays roll around, so does the fear that there won’t be one for them. “They are going through what is most likely one of the hardest things they will go through during their childhood,” says Jenn Webber, a child protection specialist supervisor with the Child and Family Services Division of the state health department. She knows that many of the children in care left their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs. “Sometimes, and it’s not always, when a child needs to be removed from their home due to unsafe circumstances, we don’t always have the opportunity to grab things that are needed or if we do, they are minimal,” Jenn says. Yellowstone Valley Woman is hoping to make the holidays bright for these children, and we need your help. We’ve gathered up the names and wishes from some of these children to help make sure there is a present with their name on it under the tree. “This program gives a child joy knowing that something was picked out specifically for them,” Jenn says. To sponsor a child this holiday, simply purchase the items in need and label the unwrapped gift with the child's name and stocking number listed below. For those who serve these children, there are often tears of gratitude by the time Christmas comes. “Honestly, I have no words,” Jenn says. “Every year there are tears. Between seeing the activity of gifts coming in or dropping them off with families or hearing the stories from community members who are part of the giving, it’s overpowering. There are always tears.” 68
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2.
Sarah is a 17-year-old girl who is living in a supervised apartment getting ready to transition into living on her own. She has a part-time job and is also pursuing her GED. She needs a non-stick frying pan, some baking sheets, and some food storage containers. She would also like some food gift cards for places like Domino’s, Dairy Queen, Firehouse Subs or Jersey Mike’s so she can get food when she isn’t able to cook for herself. She would also like Target or Walmart gift cards to get clothing and essential toiletries.
3.
Colter is a 13-year-old boy living in a group home. He loves anything to do with K-pop, anime or drawing. He also loves to collect Rainbow High fashion dolls, and to do his nails and make-up. He wears size 2X clothing, size 34x30” pants, and a size 10 in shoes.
4.
Crystal is a 16-year-old girl who wears a size large in shirts and a size 12 in jeans. She would really like some acrylic paints and canvases to paint on, a water bottle, a Polaroid camera and a brown hoodie. Jessica is a 13-year-old girl who wears a size 11 in pants and a size large in shirts. She’s interested in make-up and skincare and would really enjoy some false eyelashes, lip gloss and skincare products. Both girls would also like a fuzzy blanket and claw clips for their hair.
5.
Twins Lucas and Tom are 17. They are finishing high school this year, and both have part-time jobs. They would both like a gift card to Scheels to be able to choose some athletic wear that they like. Lucas wears 40x34” pants and 3XL shirts, and he likes anime. Tom wears 36x34” pants and XL shirts. They would also enjoy a pair of gaming headphones.
6.
Andrew is an 8-year-old boy who wears size 8 in pants, kid’s medium shirts, and size 2 shoes. He greatly enjoys 100-piece puzzles, painting by numbers, Tonka toys (trucks and
HE T R O F T H N G I E R R B S D Y L I H C HOLIDA TER
S O F I TY’S
tractors), and Buzz Light Year and Woody action figures. Nathan is a 5-year-old boy who wears size 6 in pants, kid’s small shirts, and size 1 shoes. He would like a 20-piece puzzle and play-dough games. He also likes Tonka toys. Both boys could also really use a body pillow and some slippers to wear around the house.
7.
Laney is an incredibly sweet 11-year-old girl who is living with a maternal cousin. She wears a women’s size medium in tops, women’s size medium in bottoms, and women’s size medium in winter gear. She enjoys crafts and reading. She would really like a Polaroid camera, a paint-by-number kit, and a crochet animal kit.
8.
Carly and Xavier are two spunky siblings placed together in a foster home. Carly is a 3-year-old girl who wears size 3T clothing and size 8 shoes. Xavier is nearly a 4-year-old boy, who wears size 4T clothing and size 10 shoes. He likes doing puzzles, playing with Hot Wheels, building and pretending that he’s fixing things with tools. Carly likes dolls and recently got Baby Annabelle for her birthday and would like different outfits and accessories for Baby Annabelle. They also both like doing arts and crafts.
9.
Alaina and Joshua are siblings placed with their maternal grandparents. They both need winter ski jackets. Joshua would like a black men’s extra-large coat, and Alaina would like a dark pink or white women’s large coat. Alaina likes to do her nails and would like a nice nail kit, and Josh would also like a pair of black Levi’s 505 men’s jeans size 36x34”.
10.
Carter is a 1-year-old boy who was just reunified with his birth mother. Carter is in size 4 shoes, size 18–24-month pants and shirts and size 6 diapers. He would love some new toy pots and pans, Lego building blocks and some trucks and cars.
13.
Alexis is a 1-year-old girl who would love a baby doll stroller. She also would like some new hair rubber bands and bows and a Pendleton blanket. She wears a size 24 month to 2T in clothing. Her mother is asking for an alarm clock with a radio.
14.
Christine is a 12-year-old girl who loves to draw and would love some new paint brushes, a sketch pad, colored pencils and paint. She also would love some new makeup. She wears a women’s large, juniors’ size 7/8 pants and size 7½ in women shoes. Her sister Joanna is 9 years old and would love a new LOL Doll. She is also big into makeup and would love some new makeup brushes. Joanna wears a size 8/10 shirts and pants and is in size 3 shoes. Their brother Paul is 7 years old and would love some new cars and dinosaur toys. He would also enjoy a new train set. Paul wears a size 10/12 in shirts and pants and a size 3 in shoes. Their birth mother could really use a coffee card as she is going to college and could use the extra boost. She also would love some new yarn for her knitting.
15.
Tabitha is a 2-year-old girl who would love a new baby doll, baby doll stroller and baby carrier. She loves puzzles and balls as well. Tabitha wears a size 2T in clothing and size 7/8 in toddler shoes. Her brother David is 10 months old and would love some new cars and dinosaur toys. He also is big into music and loves drumming on his drum. David wears a size 2T in clothing and a size 6 toddler shoes. He also loves balls and puzzles like his sister. Their grandparents who are caring for them could really use a gift card for groceries.
16.
Kendra is a 2-month-old girl who would like some new clothing in a size 6 months and would love some interactive toys. She could also use some size 3 diapers and wipes. She’d love bath toys or new board books as well.
11.
Cameron and Caleb are a sibling group who have been reunified with their mother. Cameron is 10 and is in size 10 pants, size 10 shirts and is a size 5½ in shoes. He would love a remote-control car or drone. Caleb is a 16-year-old teenager who is a size 31/32 in pants, size men’s large in shirts and size 10½ in men’s shoes. He would really enjoy a new black or blue sweatshirt/sweater for Christmas or some new wireless headphones.
12.
Brandy is a 1-year-old girl who would enjoy a play tea set or some play kitchen toys. She is a size 4T in clothing and a size 6 in shoes. She absolutely loves stuffed animals and baby dolls.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 69
17.
Sherry is a 6-month-old girl who loves cats and jumping in her jumper. She would really like some new clothing size 12-18 months and some size 4 diapers. She would also enjoy some interactive light-up toys and some bath toys. Her 2-yearold brother, Walker, loves dinosaurs, trains and Tonka Trucks. He would love some new books and puzzles and sensory toys. Walker is in size 2T in clothing and size 8 in toddler shoes.
18.
Kathryn is a 10-year-old girl who would love art supplies and make up. She would also love a new LOL doll or baby doll. She loves to do nails and would love some new nail polish. She wears a size 14/16 in girl’s tops and bottoms and a size 5 in shoes. Issac is a 3-year-old little boy who loves cars, trucks, balls and dinosaurs. He is also into “Cocomelon” and the movie “Home.” He wears a size 4T in clothing and size 9 in toddler shoes.
19.
Andrew is a 2-year-old boy who loves horses. He would really enjoy a new toy horse trailer or some cars/trucks. Andrew wears a size 6T in clothing, and a size 8 in shoes. Amy is an 11-year-old girl who would love a new pro scooter (neutral color) and a Lego set. Amy wears a size 12 slim in tops and bottoms and size 5 in shoes. Sam is a 13-year-old boy who would like a set of wireless headphones, and a twin bed frame. He wears a size small in men’s tops and size 32/24’ pants. He is a size 10 in men’s shoes.
20.
Zari is a 4-year-old girl who has fun playing with makeup and accessories. She loves the movie “Frozen” (Elsa), coloring, and sensory toys. Zari is in size XS in kid’s clothing and a size 11 in toddler shoes. Taylor is 2-year-old little girl who enjoys Minnie Mouse, sunglasses and Play-Doh. She would love a new baby doll stroller or baby carrier. Taylor wears a size 3T in clothing and a size 6 in shoes.
21.
Jamie is a 7-year-old girl who loves everything girlie — Barbie dolls, LOL dolls and OMG Dolls. She wears a size 8 in shirts, a size 10 in pants and a size 2 in shoes. Jessa is a 6-yearold girl who is obsessed with baby Yoda. She also enjoys Barbie dolls like her older sister. Jessa wears a size 6 in tops and bottoms and a size in 10 shoes. James is a 3-year-old boy who is in love with black panther and Hot Wheels. He also loves the movie ‘Cars.’ James wears a size 5T in shirts and pants and a size 10 in toddler shoes. Jace is a 2-year-old little boy who loves Spiderman and anything to do with Marvel comics. He enjoys playing with bouncy balls and other sensory toys. James wears a size 4T in clothing and a size 9 in toddler shoes.
22.
Bailey is a three-year-old girl who currently wears size 5T in both shirts and pants and size 11 in toddler shoes. Bailey loves to playhouse and dress up. Philip is a one-year-old boy who currently wears 2T in both shirts and pants and size 6 in toddler shoes. Philip likes sensory balls, shakers and building blocks.
23.
Roscoe is a 10-year-old boy who loves playing outside with his pup. He is an avid soccer player and loves to spend his down time on his Nintendo Switch. He wears a size 10-12 in clothes and a size 6 in shoes. He could use some winter gear for the colder months.
24.
Ridge is a 5-year-old boy with a mischievous glimmer. He loves to play outside and always has a ball in his
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hands. He was proud to show his CPS worker how fast he can ride on his bike. He wears a 5T in clothes and size 11 in shoes. He could use winter gear for the colder months.
25.
Dixie is a 3-year-old girl who is the boss of the house. She loves to play outside with her brothers and likes to watch Peppa Pig. She is a little mama and loves to play with baby dolls and girly things. She wears a 5T in clothes and a size 10 in toddler shoes.
26.
Carter is an eight-month-old boy who currently wears size twelve months. Carter is an active and energetic little boy who is beginning to walk on his own. Carter has an undeniable love for trucks.
27.
Sarah is a 15-month-old girl who currently wears sizes 18 to 24 months in clothes and a size 4 in shoes. Sarah is beginning to develop her own personality and has become quite the daredevil when it comes to climbing various objects. Sarah loves to care for her babydolls and enjoys playing with little people.
28.
Katie is a thirteen-year-old. She currently wears a women’s medium in both shirts and pants. Katie loves to wear hoodies even when it’s ninety degrees outside. Katie is a sports enthusiast and likes sports equipment. In her free time Katie can be found playing at the park with her friends.
29.
Cody is a 4-month-old boy who is currently rocking a lot of six-month clothing but is continuing to grow. Cody is a happy and smiley little boy. Cody has not begun teething but would like teething rings. Cody is also fond of stuffed animals.
30.
Timothy is a 9-month-old boy who is currently wearing size 12 months in both shirts and pants. Timothy has the most contagious smile and can light up the room. He likes sensory balls, shakers and building blocks and is alert and aware of his surroundings.
31.
Mackena is an 8-year-old girl living with her grandmother and grandfather. Mackena currently wears a size medium in girls. Mackena is active, energetic, and quite the personality. Mackena likes Squishmallows and enjoys arts and crafts in her free time.
32.
Martin is an 11-year-old boy who presently resides at a residential treatment center. Martin currently wears a size 12 in both shirts and pants. Martin is curious and loves to learn new things. Martin likes to play with Legos and is fond of Harry Potter.
33.
Nikki is an 8-year-old girl who currently wears size 10/12 in both shirts and pants. Nikki has a creative imagination and loves arts and crafts. Daizey is a three-year-old girl who currently wears size 4T in both shirts and pants. Daizey continues to develop her own personality and is outgoing. Daizey loves anything Disney princess related. Together as a family they enjoy playing board games and watching movies.
34.
Alex is a 2-year-old girl living with her grandmother who hardly has enough money to keep the electricity on. Alex wears a size 5 pullup and 2T in clothes. She has plenty of shoes, but the family desperately needs pullups. Alex loves anything cartoon like, loves coloring, noisy toys, toys with songs,
FOR ADDITIONAL EMPTY STOCKINGS
dolls, books, and anything pink. This little girl also loves her snacks, and she is not picky.
35.
Leah is a 6-moth-old girl living with her grandmother on a fixed income. She is growing so fast that she’s been quickly growing out of her clothes. She wears a size 2-3 diaper and anywhere between sizes 6 month to 12 months in clothes. Leah has a healthy appetite and is always eating, so baby food or baby snacks would be appreciated. Leah loves teething toys, toys that have music or noises, and warm fuzzy blankets. ✻
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • VISIT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
yellowstonevalleywoman.com/stockings
☛ T he list will be updated
continuously throughout the season to make sure new children in the foster care system aren’t forgotten this Christmas.
BILLINGS DROP OFF LOCATIONS ONCE YOU FILL A STOCKING, FEEL FREE TO DROP THE UNWRAPPED GIFT AT ONE OF THE LOCATIONS BELOW:
CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES
IRIS SALON
2525 Fourth Ave. N. Ste 309
1579 Mullowney Ln.
CENTURY 21 HOMETOWN BROKERS
EXCLUSIVE
ONLINE CONTENT CONTENT ONLINE from our
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242 E. Airport Rd.
3970 Pierce Pkwy
1605 Shiloh Rd.
LET’S MAKE THE HOLIDAYS BRIGHT FOR KIDS IN
FOSTER CARE! Follow These Easy Steps:
1. 2. 3.
Scan the QR code and pick one of the “stockings” Bring your unwrapped gifts to Meadlowlark Brewing
(3970 Pierce Parkway, Billings)
Get a token for a FREE pint!
yellowstonevalleywoman.com/stockings NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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All is5
right6 B
written by VICKI-LYNN TERPSTRA photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
LET YOUR SEASON SPARKLE
LET YOUR SEASON SPARKLE with these fresh new additions to your holiday wardrobe. Not only are they timeless for the holidays, but some of these shiny new staples could also be thrown into outfits all through 2024. ✻
Rebecca Minkoff red purse, $378 at Cricket Clothing Co.
2. Woven Metallic
3. Consuela Uptown Kyle purse, $175, and card organizer, $78 at Neecee’s 4.Metallic Crinkle Clutch, $148 at RocHouse Clutch, $78 at Something Chic
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1
2 3
ic 1. ll a t e M Kicks 3.
Cozy Girl, $148 at Giddy Up
2.Seychelles
Motive Metallic toe heel, $139 at Something Chic Ethyl Silver Sneaker, $69 at RocHouse
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406.652.9999 1025 Shiloh Crossing Ste #6 | Billings shoprochouse.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 83
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/neecees @neecees_mt 84
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5 2818 2nd Ave N | Billings, MT 59101 | somethingchicclothing.com
Holiday LO O K YO U R BES T TH IS
SEASON
g n i n Stun er v il S
1.Silver cuff, $79 at Cricket Clothing Co. 2.Gia Cigar Band ring, $58 at RocHouse 3.JoJo
Expert Dr y Cleaning | Shirt Laundr y Alterations | Comforters & Blankets Draperies & Curtains
Tuber Hoop, $58 at RocHouse
4.Rhinestone buckle chain
bracelet, $79 at Cricket Clothing Co.
5.Electric Picks Hunter
Hoops, $78 at Something Chic
245-3760 ✧ 117 N 30th St ✧ Billings wetzelscleaners.com
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3
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nt e m e t Sta arls e P 1.Lula n Lee cross necklace,
$86 at Cricket Clothing Co.
2.Sophia Double Heart
Helping you to look your best since 1983.
earring, $98 at RocHouse
3.Tai pearl hoops, $80 at Something Chic 4.Brighton necklace, $72, and matching Luster earrings, $22 at Neecee’s
259-3624 • 2814 2ND AVE N • BILLINGS
Celebrate the holiday season with Chef Sarah Seltvedt at TEN at the Northern
VICKI-LYNN TERPSTRA, writer With nearly a decade long career in retail, VickiLynn has cultivated a true passion for fashion. Even though her day job involves event planning and social media for the largest insurance agency in the Northwest, she uses her style and industry knowhow to help keep women in the Yellowstone Valley looking their best.
19 N. Broadway open daily, 3 pm to 11 pm 406.867.6774 nhten.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 87
THE MOST
Wonderful Time of the Year BAKING UP HOLIDAY CHEER written by STELLA FONG photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
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PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: JUNE WOLLMAN WITH WYATT HUSEBY, SUSIE WOLLMAN, MIRIAM STAHL, HUNTER AND TAMMY HUSEBY, AND SONYA WITH ADDISON SCHEETZ.
WHEN THE WOLLMAN SISTERS gather to bake together,
it’s the most wonderful time of the year. While that’s true every day, it’s even more so during the holidays. For them “It’s the hap-happiest season of all.” On a fall Saturday morning, sisters Miriam Stahl, Junia Wollman and Tammy Huseby gather in Laurel in Tammy’s kitchen sharing the sentiments of the Andy Williams song with their hearts glowing with loved ones. Sisters Helen Stahl and Marlene Martin couldn’t join in the fun, but their mother, Susie Wollman, sat at the dining room table within earshot of the activity, proudly watching her family kick off the holiday baking season. The sisters were making her apple pie recipe, her molasses cookies and the family’s favorite chocolate chip cookies. “I told my girls how to do everything,” Susie, 84, shares with pride as she physically can no longer participate. Dressed with a black scarf covering the lower part of her glimmering silver hair with a purple flowered skirt and vest over a white blouse, the traditional dress of her Hutterite culture, she listens to the chatter while passing on an occasional comment or question, mostly flavored with fond memories. These days, Miriam holds the recipe book that had been passed down from her mother. Most of the recipes were written on index cards with detailed ingredients but only brief instructions. Miriam, smiling, says, “My daughter Muriah said, ‘The stuffing recipe does not have directions.’” Her response to her daughter, who lives in Seattle was, “This is why you get to call me.” Miriam’s youngest daughter, Sonya Scheetz, is there for the festivities. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 89
As the women work in the open kitchen, aromas of ginger, cinnamon and apples fill the air while Tammy’s sons, Wyatt, 5, and Hunter, 3, circled around the house with Sonya’s 3-year old daughter, Addison. After being in the kitchen for only a couple hours, five batches of molasses cookies, a couple dozen chocolate chip cookies and four apple pies were baked. Cooking and baking in large volume was never a daunting task for the sisters, having grown up in the Hutterite colony at the Flatwillow Ranch in Roundup. There they learned to cook for a crowd. With 45 members in the community at its fullest, feeding everyone needed to be well coordinated. “We baked 40 to 50 loaves of bread on Tuesday,” says Junia. “On Wednesdays, we made rolls, 24 dozen times five. Then on Thursday, we made hundreds of cinnamon rolls. Friday was noodles and pies.” “We took turns. There were three parties of seven or eight women,” Miriam says. Junia adds, “Those of us who got up at 1:30 in the morning to mix dough were free during the day.” Youngest sister Marlene left the colony in the early 1980s with her husband Lester to open Martin’s Home and Garden in Tennessee. Miriam departed Flatwillow in 2014 with her husband, Rueben, to start Yellowstone Valley Farms, a greenhouse growing basil in Laurel. About six months later, Junia and Tammy found their new home near their sister to take on housekeeping jobs in Billings. Helen and brother Mick remained living in the colony along with their parents, Mike and Susie. “What makes it so special about baking with family is that we’re all together,” Tammy says. “The happy chatter of ladies, the smell of good coffee brewing. The older ones still teaching us younger ones.” They also love giving away their homemade goodies or keeping a few extras in the freezer. If someone drops by for a visit, a fresh pie could be baked and enjoyed. Apples, picked in the fall, are peeled, sliced, salted and frozen until use. These apples are then mixed with a combination of sugar, clear gel and cinnamon. Juneberry pie was another family favorite as Susie recalls picking these berries that look like medium- size blueberries with apple and pear-like qualities when she was a child in Saskatoon, Canada. She continued to harvest these native fruits that ripened in July when she moved to Lewistown. In recent years, however, relatives from Canada send the berries just for pie making.
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On Christmas Eve, the sisters may be with their own families, but the heart of the meal — for the most part — remains the same. And it all started with mother, Susie. “The family met at mom’s,” Junia says. “We would have turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade stuffing, cranberry relish and homemade roll. “There was lots of laughter, fun games and visiting. It put a smile on Mom’s face.” This year will be no different. Hearts will be glowing “when loved ones are near for it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” After all, that’s when the Wollman family shares the food that they’ve baked and cooked with love and care using recipes that have served them for decades. ✻
JUMBO MOLASSES COOKIES The number of cookies baked from this recipe depends on the size of the dough balls. The index card this recipe was written on did not specify the amount. Also, instructions were very abbreviated. Vary the baking time for doneness, looking for set edges.
8 c. flour 2 T. plus 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 t. cinnamon 1 t. salt 1 t. ground cloves 1 t. ground ginger 3 c. butter-flavor shortening 4 c. sugar plus extra for rolling 1 c. molasses 4 eggs DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl, add flour, baking soda, cinnamon,
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
salt, cloves and ginger. Mix well and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Add molasses and egg. Beat in until combined. Add dry ingredients to shortening egg mixture. Mix together until combined. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Grease or line a baking pan with parchment paper. Add sugar to a small bowl. Shape into balls and roll in sugar. Place on prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are set.
MAKES 5 DOZEN COOKIES
This recipe came from “At Home in the Kitchen, Mennonite, Hutterite & Amish-Style Cooking,” by Judy Walter, and is why the instructions are more complete. For Miriam, this is her go-to cookbook when she is not using her mother’s recipes.
1 c. butter or margarine, softened 1 c. brown sugar 1 c. white sugar 2 eggs 1 t. vanilla 3 c. all-purpose flour 1 t. salt 1 t. baking soda 2 T. hot water 2 c. milk chocolate chips 1 c. coarsely chopped pecans DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line a baking
pan with parchment. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until creamy. Blend flour and salt; dissolve soda in hot water. Add to creamed mixture; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoons 2 inches apart onto lightly greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a glass tumbler. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes for chewy cookies. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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MOM’S PIE CRUST MAKES 2 PIE SHELLS
On this recipe handwritten on an index card, there were no instructions and just the ingredient amounts. On the same card were also amounts for a Rhubarb Custard and Perfect Meringue. This showed that Miriam, who was the owner of the cookbook, holding her mother Susie’s recipe, already knew how to make these recipes and just needed to be reminded of how much to use.
1 c. shortening 3 c. flour 1 t. salt ¾ c. cold water DIRECTIONS: With a pastry blender or two
knives, cut shortening into the flour and salt. When dough is crumbly add water and bring dough together into a ball. Refrigerate for 1 hour before rolling out.
PIE SWEETENER AND THICKENER MAKES 8 CUPS
The Wollman sisters make this recipe in bulk and just sprinkle ¾ cup on top of the fruit when making pie. (To keep the apples and to preserve their color, 4 to 5 cups of sliced apples can be mixed with 2 tablespoons of salt, bagged and frozen.) After rolling out the pastry into the pie pan, 4 to 5 cups of apples are added with this mixture sprinkled on top. The top pastry is placed on and at this point, the pie can be put into the freezer and baked at a later time. A frozen pie will take about 1 hour to bake in a 350-degree oven until the pie is bubbling and the crust is golden.
7 c. sugar 1 c. clear gel 1 t. cinnamon DIRECTIONS: Combine sugar, clear gel and cinnamon and store in a large plastic bag. Add ¾ cup to 4 to 5 cups of sliced apples.
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WinterFair arts & crafts market
December 1, 2023 | 11 AM – 8 PM at the YAM Mark your calendars—one day only! YAM’s WinterFair will coincide with the annual Holiday Stroll and December ArtWalk in Downtown Billings. The Arts & Craft Market will showcase local artisan vendors throughout the museum and feature hand-made goods and more. Start your holiday shopping locally by visiting the WinterFair with one-of-a-kinds gifts that support the museum and our community.
401 North 27th Street | Billings, MT | 406.256.6804 | artmuseum.org NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 93
Nosta SERVING UP A BIT OF
TA STE O F THE VAL LEY
written by KAY ERICKSON photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
EACH HOLIDAY, we gather with family and
friends to chat, eat and remember. We think, “Did he really say that?” We laugh at humorous dinner conversations and we remember those who no longer grace our lives and our tables. We also cherish the dishes and treats that have either fallen out of favor or are no longer made because those who considered them their signature dishes are no longer with us. This season, let’s go back in time — no need to dig out the baggy jeans, cargo pants or tracksuits — and back into the recipe files to find those classic dishes. I offer up Mother’s Thanksgiving Cranberry Salad that had ground cranberries and Jell-O at its core and was a recipe in so many magazines several decades ago. It was a staple on our Thanksgiving table for years. An “oldie” of mine is Swedish Holiday Glogg that permeates the house with a wonderful warm smell that complements any party. And, for a holiday treat, there is Three Nut Candy from Jule Glasrud’s mother’s recipe file. These are just a few ideas to spur on those feelings of nostalgia, giving a nod to Thanksgivings past. Who knows, these dishes might just become a new family classic. Enjoy! ✻
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KAY ERICKSON, writer
Kay has spent her professional career in public relations and broadcast news, currently at Yellowstone Public Radio. Her journalism degree is from Northern Illinois University. Her passions include her family, sports and food. Her mom and an aunt taught her the finer points of cooking and instilled a love of good food and family mealtime.
algia REMEMBERING THE FOOD OF THANKSGIVING’S PAST
Swedish
HOLIDAY GLOGG 1 quart boiling water 9 regular tea bags or 3 family-size tea bags 5 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks, broken 1 t. grated orange peel 1 c. brown sugar ½ c. golden seedless raisins ¼ c. slivered almonds 1 bottle (4/5 qt) Burgundy wine
DIRECTIONS: In a large saucepan, pour boiling water
over the tea bags, spices and orange peel. Cover and brew five minutes. Remove tea bags and spices. Stir in brown sugar, raisins, almonds and wine. Heat through but do not boil. To serve, put a spoonful of raisins and almonds in each cup or mug and then, pour in glogg. Makes about 12 five-ounce servings. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 95
Three Nut
CANDY
Recipe from Jule Glasrud 3 c. granulated sugar 2 c. cream 1 c. white corn syrup (I used the Karo brand) 2 c. Brazil nuts 2 c. walnuts 2 c. pecans
DIRECTIONS Combine the above ingredients and place
in a large saucepan over low heat. Cook until mixture reaches soft ball stage (234-240 degrees). This will take about 30 to 40 minutes, no longer. Remove mixture from heat and while it’s still warm, stir until creamy. When it begins to stiffen, place in a buttered pan. Wrap and store. To serve, slice paper thin.
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Thanksgivng
CRANBERRY SALAD 1 c. ground fresh cranberries 1 c. granulated sugar 1 package lemon Jell-O 1 c. hot water 1 c. crushed pineapple, drained 1 c. pineapple juice 1 c. chopped celery
DIRECTIONS Combine the ground cranberries and the
sugar, set aside. Dissolve the lemon Jell-O in hot water and add pineapple juice. Chill until partially set. Add the cranberries and sugar combination, crushed pineapple and chopped celery. Scoop into a serving bowl and refrigerate for at least two hours.
NOTES: I chopped my cranberries in a food processor,
leaving them slightly chunky. My mom always ground hers. Also, I tried substituting the hot water with one cup of pineapple juice by heating the juice to near boiling before mixing it with the lemon Jell-O. With this swap, I still added another cup of pineapple juice as the recipe suggests.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 97
eason2 S
in
THE RUSTIC & SAVORY FLAVORS OF FALL written by STELLA FONG photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
AS THE DAYS become longer and the temperatures drop, it’s
the perfect time for rustic comfort food. Bread pudding is mostly associated with dessert, but it makes for a great substitution for baked stuffing at the holiday table. Kale and mushroom give the dish a savory flavor. Cauliflower is a neglected vegetable and serving it roasted and whole showcases its floret bouquet. Bring
it to the table whole and carve it to give it the respect it deserves. Spinach and feta are the perfect accompaniment to sweet potatoes. If there are leftovers, the potatoes make for a great school or office lunch. Finally, a mousse made with cranberry sings the holidays with the berry’s beautiful color. ✻
baked sweet potato with spinach and feta SERVES 4
I prefer jewel potatoes for this recipe and after cutting the potatoes open, butter can be drizzled onto the flesh instead of olive oil. If a meat option is wanted, chicken apple sausage would be a good addition.
4 sweet potatoes 1/2 t. sea salt 1/2 c. of extra-virgin olive oil, extra for drizzling 1 c. crumbled Feta, extra for garnish 1 c. chopped spinach 1/3 c. chopped fresh chives Salt and ground black pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
With a fork, poke potatoes with a fork 4-5 times and place on lined baking pan. Bake about 40 to 50 minutes or until tender. Cool for about 10 minutes or long enough to handle. Loosen flesh of potato with fingers. Split the tops with a knife then pinch the ends with your fingers and push in flesh. With a fork, break up meat and season with salt and pepper. Divide spinach evenly and add to potatoes. Top with feta cheese. Broil for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with chives and feta. Enjoy!
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2 whole roasted cauliflower SERVES 4 TO 6
DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Presenting this whole cauliflower and then cutting it up at the table for service will be a showstopper. Make extra pesto to accompany the dish.
In a medium heavy ovenproof skillet, heat one tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onions and salt. Cook until translucent, about 10 minutes.
1 head cauliflower, bottom stem removed and leaves trimmed
Rub cauliflower with remaining oil. Season with salt and pepper. Move onions to the side of the pan. Place cauliflower in an empty space. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until a knife cuts easily into its center.
2 T. extra virgin olive oil 1 large yellow onion, sliced c. water Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
In a food processor, add zest, juice, herbs, oil, nuts, garlic and salt. Pulse until blended and then set aside.
PESTO 2 t. lemon juice
Turn the oven up to 450 degrees. Uncover the cauliflower and baste with pan juices. Add more water if juices have dried. Bake for 30 minutes more, basting often until the top browns. (Brown under broiler if needed for about 2 minutes.)
½ c. packed cilantro and parsley leaves, extra for garnish
Spread pesto on top and garnish with herbs. Serve immediately.
Zest of 1 lemon
¼ c. extra virgin olive oil ¼ c. pistachios, roasted and salted 1 clove garlic, minced Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
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kale and mushroom savory croissant pudding SERVES 6
To make this bread pudding all the more special, it uses croissants at its base. This dish is a vegetarian option, but the addition of 1 cup crumbled bacon or cubed ham would be delicious.
1 bunch kale, thick stems removed 1 white onion, diced 2 T. extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1/2 pound mushrooms – brown, shiitake or oyster, sliced 1 t. fresh thyme leaves, coarsely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste 6 croissants, torn into large pieces ½ c. grated smoked Gouda 1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese 4 eggs 2 c. whole milk 100
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DIRECTIONS: Bring a pot of water with a pinch of salt to a boil. Add kale and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and squeeze out excess water. Coarsely chop and set aside.
Heat one tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat in a heavy skillet, add onions and cook until browned and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add remaining olive oil, stir in mushrooms and cook until they soften, about 3 minutes. Add thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to cook for another minute. Stir in kale, toss together and remove from heat. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2-quart baking pan and set aside. In a large bowl, toss together bread, mushrooms, kale and cheeses. Pour into baking dish. In an empty large bowl, beat together eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour mixture over bread and let sit for 15 minutes. Place in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until puffed and browned. Remove from oven and serve warm.
cranberry mousse SERVES 6
This dessert sings winter holiday. I love serving this mousse on top of chocolate wafer crumbles with more sprinkled. A dollop of whipped cream is a great garnish for this pretty dessert.
1 pound fresh or frozen cranberries, extra for garnish
in gelatin. Cook for 5 minutes to dissolve gelatin. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Beat whipping cream on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in orange zest and cranberry sauce. Spoon into bowls and enjoy!
2 c. sugar ¼ c. orange juice 1½ t. gelatin 2 c. whipping cream 1 T. orange zest DIRECTIONS: In a saucepan combine cranberries, sugar and
STELLA FONG, writer
Stella divides her time between Billings and Seattle and is the author of two Billings-centric books, Historic Restaurants of Billings and Billings Food. Her writings have appeared in Big Sky Journal, Western Art and Architecture, the Washington Post as well as online at lastbestplates.com.
orange juice. Cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes. Once berries have started to pop, pour the mixture into a blender and blend on high until smooth. Pour back into the pan and sprinkle
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 101
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home and2garden7
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de c kin g out yo ur h o l iday do o r
Four simple things to add a festive splash
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look what we fou nd :
DIY Sug a red O r n a m en t s
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d esigned to p erfectio n
A long-awaited ‘dream home’ springs to life
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oliday H Door DECKING OUT YOUR
FOUR SIMPLE THINGS TO ADD A FESTIVE SPLASH written by JULIE KOERBER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
WHEN IT COMES TO holiday décor, your front
door can set the stage and let your guests know that more surprises just might await them inside. We teamed up with the design team at Gainan’s to bring you three very different but stylish looks to inspire and help you get on your way to creating some Christmas curb appeal.
EASY AS 1-2-3 -4 To show you how easy it is to let your personal style show when decking out your entryway, designer Marie Boone broke each of our three looks down into four simple items — items anyone can use to help turn your front door into a holiday showstopper. For starters, you can’t go wrong by wrapping your door frame with garland. You can surround the entire door or, as you’ll see with our modern look, just the door’s header for a more subtle flair. Second, add a wreath. Third, make a statement by dressing up your patio pots for the season. Lastly, change up your door mat to one with a holiday vibe. All three looks we showcased have these four elements, and as you are about to see, all have their own unique feel. 104
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CL ASSY & CLAS S I C Nothing says home for the holidays quite like this classic look with sophisticated accents. As Jim Gainan of Gainan’s Midtown Flowers says, it works for every home and never goes out of style. Here, you’ll find a mix of red ilex berries, fir boughs and faux gold eucalyptus branches. “It presents a peaceful atmosphere with traditional features like pine boughs and berries but they are used in a modern way,” Jim says. “It just exudes joy and the feeling of an enchanted Christmas.” Simply start with two 8-foot pieces of garland. You can even dig through old Christmas décor to use here what you might not have room for inside your home.
“Take some treasures from past Christmases and add them to your garland. You just lay the garland flat on the floor and hot glue those ornaments in. It’s really quite easy to do,” Jim says. “The trick is the design part to keep everything even.” To add a little twinkle, battery-operated fairy lights are incorporated into the patio pots, the wreath and the garland on a timer to make sure they add just the right sparkle at just the right time of day. You’ll find all the same elements — berries, fir and eucalyptus — in every piece as well. “It gives this entry a continuous look,” Jim says. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 105
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E H T T S O H HOLIDAYS WOO DSY C H A RM Looking at this modern farmhouse bathed in a robin-egg blue, you feel like you’re taking a step back in time.
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“You can’t help but get that warm Christmas feeling from this look,” Jim says as he points out the three types of evergreen foliage — cedar, ponderosa pine and fir. Add in some bold red berry clusters and pinecones and you have a rustic look that perfectly dresses this natural mission-style wood door. To make sure this door décor doesn’t look too dark, contrasting white patio pots filled with fir and curly willow add contrast, and a lighter tone of holiday ribbon accents the door. And then there’s the use of a family treasure to take this entryway to the next level — antique cross-country skis dressed for the holidays. There’s nothing more special than using old family heirlooms in holiday décor.
MEE WE WILL
T OR BE
RICE IN AT ANY P
TOWN!
“I think it evokes a lot of memories for people because of its traditional nature,” Jim says.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 107
MERRY & MOD When you have a one-of-a-kind mid-century-modern home, it demands a merry and mod holiday look to match. “This look is perfect for the statement maker who loves pops of color and a twist on classic holiday design,” Jim says. “The fun and lively décor mimics the home’s personality and the homeowners’ too.” Instead of using two wreaths, here you’ll find six mini juniper wreaths set in each of the door’s window panes and decked out with ornaments both big and small. “They are just held to the door using little suction cup hooks,”
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Jim says. In this look, you’ll also find a layered look of foliage with cedar, fir and eucalyptus. Cedar topiaries flank the door and add just the right height. “Eucalyptus isn’t typical in holiday décor, but it works to get some gray tones in this design,” Jim says, adding that the greenery blends perfectly with the home’s dusty teal color. Instead of the typical red and green hues, you’ll catch glimpses of sage green, cranberry and peach, as Jim says, offering “a little of the unexpected.”
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 109
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WISHING YOU A SAFE & HAPPY
Holiday
C R E AT E YO U R OW N LO O K
SEASON
With today’s holiday designs, any color goes, as does any style. So, find holiday pieces you love and then deck out your patio pots, add a splash of garland around your front door, accent a holiday wreath and make sure guests have a holidaythemed mat to wipe their feet before they step inside your door. Matching up and using these four items are the secret to success when creating a festive feel right at your own front door. ✻
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LOOK W HAT WE FOU ND written by RACHEL JENNINGS photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
o l l e H SUGAR GIVE OLD ORNAMENTS AN UPDATED MATTE LOOK IN A JIFFY
SUGARED ORNAMENTS have been center stage in high-
end displays for years. If you knew just how easy they were to create, you’d make them by the dozen. I’m loving the matte look of these recycled baubles and so I gathered up a few things and got to work. For starters, I found old ornaments at a garage sale but, if you’re anything like me, you have extras stored in among all your holiday decorations that might need a little TLC. The ornaments I found were plastic, but use what you can find. This is a fun, fast way to give your Christmas décor a lift without spending a lot of money.
Here’s How To Make It
What you will need..
• ornaments • Craft paint • Ribbon • Cornstarch • Skewers • Adhesive spray • Old cardboard box • Masking tape • Paintbrushes • Disposable bowls Christmas ball
.
First things first: remove the hangers from the Christmas balls. Set those in a safe place since we’ll be reattaching them later. Place skewers into the balls secured with masking tape. Once done, poke as many holes into the shoebox as you have ornaments. Paint each ornament with craft paint in your new decor color. Once you have a light coat of paint on each one, use the cardboard box to hold the ornaments until they are dry. I applied 2-3 light coats of paint on each ball. Each coat of paint needs to be smooth with no visible paint brush strokes. When the paint is fully dried, put ½ cup of cornstarch in a disposable bowl. Working with one ornament at a time, spray the entire ball with spray adhesive, then dip into the cornstarch. Roll the ornament around until it is fully covered. Then, place the ornament back into the shoebox to set. Continue doing this until all the ornaments are “sugared.” When they’re dry, lightly dust any loose cornstarch off. I did a couple coats of “sugaring” to get my desired look. Once the adhesive was dry, I removed the masking tape, put the hanging hardware back on the ornament and ran my coordinating ribbon through the loop on each hanger. Now they’re ready for the tree.
Whether you are just starting out or have had your Christmas balls for a long time, this is a quick and effortless way to give your tree an updated look. If you want to make these ornaments in bunches, they would be a great little gift to exchange or even a fun addition to a wrapped package. ✻
RACHEL JENNINGS, writer
Rachel is a self described "Junker," who not only loves all things old, but LOVES the challenge of trying to make something new out of each find. While she is a Hair Stylist by day, in her off time you can often find her covered in paint, trying to repurpose something she's found.
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perfection2 DESIGNED TO
A LONG-AWAITED ‘DREAM HOME’ SPRINGS TO LIFE written by TRISH ERBE SCOZZARI photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
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PATTI AND TODD PRESTON know what it’s like to wait.
They’ve waited well over three decades to build their ultimate dream home. The couple’s four children left the nest years ago, Patti’s retired from teaching, and they’ve been blessed with four grandkids and a foster child. It was time to fulfill the dream. Their newly built home reflects some of the traditional Craftsman-style elements the couple appreciated when they bought their starter home. “Our first home was a Sears & Roebuck home,” says Patti. “When we bought it, it was three apartments,” adds Todd, who works in wealth management for D.A. Davidson. “That’s when we had more time than money.” Today, Patti and Todd live in the “Shadow” homes neighborhood
along Poly Drive. They had purchased a two-thirds-of-an-acre lot when the opportunity arose and have patiently waited for everything to come together. “It’s been a big build,” says home builder Jonathon Glassing of Glassing Custom Construction, “and a long build.” A heavy rain set the substantial project back a bit and supply issues interrupted plans here and there. However, Patti and Todd moved in this past March after initially breaking ground over two years ago. The three-level home offers 3,400 square feet on the main floor, an 1,800- square-foot loft, and 2,000 square feet of finished space downstairs, all beautifully designed to perfection. “I would say it’s a traditional-Western estate typology with open
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floor plan,” says architect Frank Nienaber of Studio 4 Architects. “The sandstone exterior has a formal look that is softened with a front porch for a welcoming entry.” Wall lanterns on either side of the front door lend a bit of nostalgia. “The lights are from Mulvaney Motors,” shares Todd. “My dad owned it.” Endearing elements such as this add to the easy, yet sophisticated comfort of the home. It’s a home with purpose. “We needed a big kitchen and dining room for family,” says Todd, “as we have Sunday night dinner. We had 24 people here recently.” Patti nods her head in agreement, “My mom did Sunday dinners for years. She did it all. I delegate.” Continuing Mom’s tradition dishes up great delights in this gourmet heart-of-the-home. Walnut cabinetry celebrates the distinctive design by Mark Davies of Summit Cabinetry. The rich wood is clear-coated with a natural finish. The cabinets feature Shaker-style doors with lighted glass-front top cabinets. Two-piece walnut crown molding delivers the finishing touch. “It’s timeless,” says Mark, who crafted the cabinet work throughout the home. “It’ll look beautiful forever.” The originality of the kitchen’s layout makes the area feel uber-spacious. An eating area provides the perfect spot for the grandkids, or for that early morning cup of coffee. A glance out the windows allows a view of the patio and pool area. The kitchen’s dramatic island embraces true craftsmanship with a walnut base contrasting deliciously with its natural stone top. 116
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The Mont Blanc leathered quartzite top from Magic City Granite wraps up this warm palette of earth tones in refined fashion. The island with three glass pendants overhead offers subtle separation to the great room. “We used transitional open-frame chandeliers with an oil-rubbed bronze finish in the great room and foyer,” says Lauri Patterson of One Source Lighting. The chandeliers pair perfectly with the stunning sandstone fireplace rising from the great room’s main floor to the peak of the second story. It’s an architectural masterpiece with native sandstone from Montana Frontier Sandstone in Roundup and designed by Frank of Studio 4 Architects.
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A walnut mantle divides the gas insert from a flat-screen TV on the face of this impressive fireplace. The mantle is reclaimed wood Todd acquired in Bozeman. “It’s from a barn back East,” he mentions. On each side of this mammoth fireplace, walnut floating shelves above built-in cabinets lend balance. In the dining area, you’ll find more of this luxurious wood. The beamed ceiling and columns set the stage for dinner parties with family and friends. Two cabinets anchored with half-columns evenly spaced along the front foyer define this beautiful dining area. The cabinets depict pure Craftsman style. Glass doors on the dining room side of the cabinets complete their classic structure. Enhancing the impeccable dining room is an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous two-flight stairway leading to the loft. “It’s Patti’s design,” says Jonathon. “Patti wanted a stairway so we put it together. We brought it to life.” He also points out the intricate railing of “mortise and domino,” a wood-to-wood connection. “It was complicated but fun,” Jonathan adds. Setting off the richness of the walnut is white oak flooring from Floors by Design. The white oak flows throughout most of the home’s main living area, as well as covering the stairs up to the loft and the landing. The loft features two bedrooms, a bath and a large playroom for the grandkids. A walnut railing guards the open area, presenting a stellar view of the great room NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 121
THIS 3-LEVEL HOME BOASTS ❯❯ 3,400 SQ FT MAIN FLOOR ❯❯ 1,800 SQ FT LOFT ❯❯ 2,000 SQ FT BASEMENT
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below. According to Todd, the youngsters “have been known to fly paper airplanes from here.”
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A plastic dart of some sort stuck high up on one of the glass windows persists as a giveaway to flyovers. The grandkids keep busy, as does the entire family. One of the bigger highlights for everyone is the swimming pool from Thompson Pools. It caters to fun in the sun with a curved slide and a diving board.
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“Mom gave us the pool,” Patti says, explaining how her mother was to live with them in the new home.
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A suite sits just off the kitchen specifically designed for Patti’s mom. She would delight in a lovely bedroom, dazzling bathroom and good-sized sitting area. “Mom sold her house to live with us,” says Todd. “But, she didn’t live to see it,” adds Patti.
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Across from “Mom’s” suite on the other side of the great room is Patti and Todd’s private sanctuary. A refurbished fireplace with stainless steel front casts a romantic nuance in this light and airy bedroom. The large en suite is dressed with a clawfoot tub and an elegant vanity accessorized with a quartz top in the calming color of ocean jasper. The walk-in shower favors knock-out status. “Patti put it all together,” says Joe Keller of Floors by Design. “The shower walls are tiled with polished and matte finish porcelain.” The shower’s back wall is polished black tile. It’s an exquisite contrast with the white matte tile walls.
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The bedroom is carpeted (as are all the bedrooms). “The style of Shaw Carpeting is Bali,” notes Joe, “and the color is Crushed Shell.” It’s an appropriate color as double doors lead from the bedroom to the private outdoor spa a few steps away. At the other end of the patio beyond the pool is what Patti calls “the best thing in the world” — an outdoor bathhouse. Little feet and big feet pitter-patter back and forth from the pool to this efficient bathhouse before snuggling in on the patio.
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The covered patio stays fairly useable year-around with overhead heaters and recessed lighting. “The heaters take the chill off,” acknowledges Todd. Whether rain, shine or snow, Todd enjoys the outdoor kitchen. Here’s where you’ll find
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him cooking on the griddle. “I got the biggest griddle I could get,” Todd says with a grin. “I cook on a griddle even when it’s zero degrees outside.”
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When he’s not at the griddle, the family finds Todd in either one of his other two favorite places: his “workout” room or in his office.
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The office is located off the dining area and commands attention with its built-in floor-to-ceiling walnut bookshelves. The high shelves become easily accessible with the courtesy of a sliding ladder. The large-and-in-charge desk and chair speak volumes. “I have my grandpa’s big desk and chair,” Todd says.
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The other favorite spot for Todd is his workout room. Situated on the lower level, along with two bedrooms, a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, a TV room co-starring a kitchenette, this super-star fitness center is decked to the max. The custom design style of the Preston home maximizes practicality and functionality while emphasizing the comforts and needs of a home shared with family and friends.
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Each space in this delightful home is purposeful. “It feels good with people inside and out,” says Patti. Patti and Todd achieved their long-awaited dream home this year. Concentrated patience paid off as their new home is designed to perfection. ✻
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Selling a house is like running a race. As you train both physically and mentally for a race, you also have to prepare to sell a home. During this preparation time, Team Hanel, played the role of Coach, helping with all the necessities and fine details for selling our mom’s home. During the race (listing of the home), they were there to field questions, provide guidance, and substance for the soul. They were cheerleaders, offering words of encouragement and plans for strategy changes along the whole course. As the finish line (closing date) approached, they were there to offer help with last-minute details . As we crossed the finish line, Team Hanel was there to provide words of congratulations and praise for the job well done.Thank you Team Hanel for everything you have done to help with the sale of our mom’s home.
— Shelley Phelps S BIG SKY STATE GA ME
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