Dec. 2011 Jan 2012 Issue of 406 Woman

W h e r e M o n ta na G e t s E n g ag e d www.McGoughandCo.com

131 Central Avenue Whitefish, MT 59937 406-862-9199 800-862-9199

406 contents

Featured Stories

Family

Outdoor Women

wellness

14 Alison Chopp

18 Maggie Doherty

perfect getaway 22 Bigfork

406 Love 26 Drew & Kelsey 32 Love Stories

Food & Flavor

64 Simply Enjoy

66 Mindful living 68 Dear Dru

Finance 70 Entrepreneurs 72 tax tips 74 Holiday Money

History

76 My Hutterite Life

38 South of the 48°

Art

40 Mexican holiday traditions

78 Book Review

42 A Very Tapas Christmas

80 Classical Holiday

44 Christmas Chiles

People & Places

46 HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING 50 Organic Wine

home

54 Frontier Builders

HEALTH 60 resolutions

62 dry skin

82 profiles

82. Dr. Debbie Wade

84. Fran Tabor

86 406 man

Jim Oliverson

88. The Zone 92. First Night Flathead 94. Crush Wine Bar 96. Mollydooker Whirlwind Tour

88 community

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Publisher Cindy Gerrity cindy@montanasky.net

Business Manager Daley McDaniel daley@montanasky.net

Creative Director/Layout&Design Sara Joy Pinnell ayourartisan@yahoo.com

Editor Kristen Pulsifer Kristen@whitefishstudycenter.com

Photographer Rachel Catlett rachel@rachellynnphotography.com

Copy Editor/Writer Carole Pinnell queencarolerule@yahoo.com

Staff Photographer Brent Steiner steinerbw@gmail.com

Staff Photographer Daniel Seymour montanasharpeye@gmail.com

Cover Image by:

Mark Bryant - www.bryantphotographics.com

406 Woman

Published by Skirts Publishing CopyrightŠ2011 Skirts Publishing Published six times a year.

6477 Hwy 93 S Suite 138, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-862-1545 info@406woman.com

View current and past issues of 406 Woman at www.406Woman.com

note} from the editor

Winter temperatures are keeping us all inside more. This is a claustrophobic time of year! Skiing has not begun, but slushy weather abounds, making the outdoors suddenly less tempting than they had been all fall. We were so fortunate to have had such a lovely fall in the Flathead Valley.

I am still on my feeding frenzy, as the really juicy holidays approach. I will be lucky if the pumpkin pie I have baked makes it to my mother’s house for Turkeyday, without bite marks. That’s something my whole family would be thankful for! But, in all seriousness, this is a time to be truly Thankful. I hope all of you have a chance to sit back and find something to be grateful for… even if it’s the littlest thing.

Editing this issue of 406 Woman has given me some time to think about appreciation. I am extremely appreciative of all of the wonderful articles that so many members of the Flathead Valley Community have taken the time to prepare and contribute. It is great to have a plethora of enlightening articles that force a reader to reflect on themselves, their health and their families. Even if it’s something simple like learning more about how to better take care of your skin in the winter months, or looking to our book reviews for a ‘good read’ idea to indulge in (or give as a gift) over the holidays. Even more importantly in this issue, focus on the articles that describe how another culture celebrates Christmas, and think about how you could switch up some of your own holiday celebration traditions. Some of the Mexican food menu ideas look yummyful and fun.

Enjoy your holiday season, keep family close and safe. Relax and enjoy time with friends and… enjoy ringing in 2012!

Happy HolidaysSincerely,

Kristen Kristen Pulsifer Editor

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Contributors Sammi Johnson

Erin Blair

Licensed Esthetician, is owner of the Skin Therapy Studio. Specializing in the effective treatment of acne and aging, Erin helps people have skin they can be proud of. She has trained with the best Acne Specialists in the country, and now brings world class acne therapy home to the Flathead Valley. Erin resides in Whitefish with her husband and daughter, where they enjoy nine months of winter and three months of company every year. For help with problem skin, visit SkinTherapyStudio.com.

has written features and shot photos for the top newspapers and magazines in the country, covering destinations from Whistler, British Columbia, to Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, to Lake Geneva, Switzerland. His award-winning writing has been featured in The Boston Sunday Globe, National Geographic Traveler, Forbes Life, Ski Magazine, Skiing Magazine, Big Sky Journal, Great Falls Tribune, Montana Living magazine, Sailing World Magazine, New York Post, New York Daily News, and the New Hampshire Sunday News. Schott is the founding editor of the nonprofit journal Whitefish Review, a Montana-based art, photography & literary journal focused on the art and literature of mountain culture.

Alison (Grabau)

Alethea Schaus

Mark &Sandra Bryant,

Raised in the small town of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, Sammi has yet to find a reason to leave the state. She works at Outside Media, she brings a diverse background of marketing education and work experience from in and around Glacier National Park. Outfitted with a double major in Business Marketing and Forestry Recreation Management from the University of Montana, Sammi is gripped by the outdoor recreational market and its motivating individuals. Whether she is finding fresh turns, hanging with the hubby and new baby, hiking Glacier’s peaks, conducting kitchen experiments, dabbling in home remodel or perfecting her splash-less dive (with nose plugged) Sammi is proud to have a 406 area code.

Pomerantz is a former account executive, middle school English teacher, and writer who recently left the rat race of Boston, Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, two labs and a guinea pig to enjoy all things outdoors in Montana.

Alison’s personal and professional interests are diverse, with degrees in journalism and history and Masters degrees in business administration and education. Author of Summit Pioneers, Alison now squeezes freelance writing in amidst the chaos as a stay-at-home mom to an active toddler and new baby. She finds refuge in a vigorous run, a good book and a large glass of wine. Contact her at alisonpomerantz@ me.com.

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began writing and drawing in a small journal printed with strawberries at age seven and began her career life as a leader for a children’s outdoor creativity program. She earned her B.A. in English, with leanings toward Anthropology and Psychology from the University of Montana in Missoula. Raised primarily in the Flathead Valley, Alethea traveled, lived, and worked around the western U.S. for two decades, exploring diverse terrains and resilient communities. She has worked as a communications partner with public, private, and non-profit organizations, small businesses, and artists. Over the past decade, Alethea has contributed energy to various educational and mentoring programs related to ecology, empowerment, and creativity.

She cut her teeth as a reporter and photographer with the West Shore News and has contributed to Big Sky Journal, Big Sky Journal Home, Western Home Journal, 406 Woman, Elle, Mothering, and Mamalode.

Alethea is the mother of two, who are most often her best teachers. She lives in Whitefish and loves to play, especially outdoors. She believes that love and creativity make life better.

Reach her at aletheaschaus@ gmail.com.

Brian Schott

M. photog., operate a studio in Missoula, Montana.

Their work has graced the pages of such national magazines as "Town and Country”, "Home”, "Fly Fisherman”, "Log Home”, "Photoshop User”, etc. A recipient of the Kodak Gallery Award, Mark has numerous International Loan Collection prints.

He was also awarded Photographer of the year three-consecutive years in the Rocky Mountain Region. A unique style and passion has given them the opportunity to travel the U.S. photographing assignments. Capturing the inner and outer beauty of people and awakening the heart and mind of the viewer has renewed their passion and commitment to portrait photography, their first love.

Kelly O’Brien

Lee Anne Byrne

Katy Croft

Dru Rafkin

Nancy Kimball

Miriam Singer

Kristen Hamilton

Karin Holder

works for Measure Law Office, P.C. in Kalispell, MT. She is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Montana, and focuses on estate planning, probate, business, real estate and natural resources law. Kelly earned her J.D. at Lewis & Clark School of Law in Portland, with a certificate in natural resources law.

She also has a B.S. in Business Administration & International Business from the University of Montana, and a minor in German. Kelly is originally from Kalispell and recently returned to the area to work with Measure Law Office. Prior to returning to the Flathead Valley, Kelly worked in private practice with law firms based in Portland and Bend, Oregon.

She now lives in Whitefish with her husband and son where she enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities.

Contact Kelly at ko@measurelaw.com or 406-752-6373

traded pipe dreams of being a research biologist for a solid career in print journalism, clutching tightly her degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University.

Now she has a new lease on life at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. After a long run in the news business at papers across Iowa and Montana – Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish – she now is a marketing communications assistant working to get out the word on health care. When she can extract herself from flower beds and the vegetable garden, she just might be found on a mountain, two-wheeling down a back road, skinnyskiing through the woods, paddling on the water or reading a good book. She’s been in Columbia Falls 20 years and plans on another 20.

is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering counseling in private practice at Imagine Health in Columbia Falls, Montana. She blends holistic and conventional approaches in her work with adults, adolescents and couples, drawing on her extensive and diverse experience. Lee Anne also offers classes in mindful approaches to our moods.

She can be reached at 406-270-0790. leeanne@imaginehealth.net

writes to express her soul. The way words flow and find meaning makes her happy. Like writing, cooking can also be a meditation. And both activities result in being fed. Miriam started writing many years ago as a way of capturing her life’s journey.

She learned to cook from her very talented mother and from her own love of creative experimentation while playing with food.

She grew up in New York City and went to Brooklyn College. Her journey took her across the country and to homes in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Seattle, Washington, Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Flathead Valley of Montana. Miriam Singer lives in Whitefish, Montana with her partner in life John Simpson who manages Don “K” Subaru.

Together they promote music as Singer & Simpson Productions. Miriam sings for the same reason she writes. By the way, Miriam drives a Subaru.

is a Certified Public Accountant and a shareholder at Swiftcurrent Consulting & Accounting, P.C. She has an Associates degree from the University of Montana College of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree from Devry University. Her areas of expertise are income taxes, payroll taxes and bookkeeping.

After running her own bookkeeping business in Missoula, she and her husband Dan relocated back to Kalispell to start a family. They have since welcomed Kyler, 4 and Adilyn, 1 to their family.

Katy is a true Montana native, born in Kalispell, and has spent the last 30 years in northwest Montana. To find relief from balancing work and life as a busy mom, she finds solace in riding her bike and playing on the lake. Katy can be reached at kcroft@swiftcurrentcpa.com.

wears many hats these days.

As founder and co-owner of Ham It Up Strategies, she and her husband, Bob, work with many clients on various projects to help them grown their business. Recent projects have included event planning and execution, magazine project management and sales, operations management, electronic newsletters, website development, and freelance writing. She particularly enjoys writing these days and is working on a novel in her spare time.

She has lived in the valley for over twenty years and has an extensive background in tourism and working with non profit organizations. Kristen is grateful to her friends and colleagues who have supported her throughout the years. She knows the importance of giving back and therefore volunteers her time and services whenever she is able. In her free time, she enjoys the arts and concert offerings in the valley and tries to play outdoors as much as possible. Kristen is blessed to have a happy marriage and two terrific teenaged children who make her smile every day!

is a Certified Personal and Professional Development Coach who started Sane Solutions by Dru in 1998.

In her former life, Dru was a script supervisor who worked in the “glamorous” world of television. And although she loved the camaraderie, teamwork and 80-hour weeks, she took a dare from friends and decided to follow her passion of supporting others.

She lives in Whitefish with her husband. To contact her, please visit www.solutionsbydru.com.

is a limited Partner and Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments.

Karin along with Daved, Her husband of 19 years, and her two boys, Warren age 15 and Easton age 10, live in the surrounding Whitefish area. Originally from Virginia, Karin and Daved made Montana their home in 1996 after realizing that they needed to be in and near the great outdoors. City life was not for them! Karin is a fully licensed Financial Advisor who is not only didicated to helping her clients in the local area but across the nation as well. Being a mom, wife and a career woman has given her the insight to help women of all walks and ages to plan for their individual and business financial goals.

Karin can be reached by phone (406)862-5454 or at her convenient location 807 Spakane Ave, suite 500, Whitefish, MT.

featured} roaster

Alison Chopp

R o a s t e r , P r o d u ct i o n M g r .

M T C o ff e e T r a d e r s Written by Alethea Schaus

Have you met someone who loves what they do for a living? The energy that radiates from genuine passion and expertise is entirely contagious. That sort of thing tends to be good for business.

Alison Chopp, one of the two Roasters at Montana Coffee Traders in Whitefish, is such a person. Within five minutes of meeting her and asking about her work, it is evident that she has energy. And not necessarily because she’s been drinking a lot of coffee. Alison became acquainted with Traders back in 1999, and after a few years of thoroughly enjoying the product from the customer side of the counter, she decided to apply for a job on the production floor in 2004.

She is now the Production Manager and one of two Roasters at the Hwy 93 location.

“I enjoy my role with Montana Coffee Traders so much because I am working with a socially-responsible company, with genuine people, and real vision,” says Alison. “There is an incredible sense of community.”

Montana Coffee Traders began roasting coffees in Whitefish in 1981. At an altitude nearly identical to that at which the beans are grown (just over 3,000 feet above sea level) Traders produces distinguished roasts that are enjoyed locally and shipped around the world. The company is recognized for its community-oriented philosophy and commitment to organic and fair trade practices.

Alison grew up in Minnesota, with parents who were from farming families. While they had moved on from an agricultural lifestyle during her childhood years, she says she definitely learned a great deal about the hardships and realities of subsistence farming from her parents and surrounding community. She graduated from St. Cloud State University with a BES in Biology. In 1999, she moved to Whitefish and now lives in Columbia Falls with her husband and their two dogs. Alison is an avid gardener and enjoys cannning and fermenting her harvests.

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Some of what Alison is most proud of in her role with MTCT, is being able to participate in the annual Cup of Excellence competitions. Cup of Excellence is an international program that raises the bar for coffee production and quality around the world, while connecting premium roasters, buyers, and farmers in a transparent and integrated way. Owned by the U.S.-based non-profit Alliance for Coffee Excellence, Inc. (ACE), Cup of Excellence is headquarted in Missoula, Montana. CoE contributes as a leader in the realm of fair trade business practices, placing a priority

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on transparent communication, mutual respect, and balancing power dynamics in international trade. Cup of Excellence also provides professional development for cuppers and brings together some of the finest coffee connoisseurs in the business for competitions and auctions. Alison is thankful to get to travel for these events, representing Montana Coffee Traders as one of the chosen exemplary roasters, and brims with stories from her experiences.

The consumption of specialty coffee has risen dramatically over the past decade, with specialty roasters popping up worldwide. The destructive environmental impacts of pesticide use and sun cultivation that characterized coffee farming in the 1970’s and 80’s, are gradually being mitigated by a conscious return to more traditional methods of coffee cultivation. By growing in the shade of trees and honoring the surrounding habitat balance, families that earn their livelihoods from coffee cultivation contribute to higher standards for specialty coffee consumed worldwide.

This year, Alison was one of 17 people chosen for the Cup of Excellence International Jury, including representatives from Austria, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Norway, Sweden, and the U.S. The 2011 CoE held special meaning in Nicaragua, as the country celebrated its 10th anniversary of hosting an event.

For the competition, producers submitted 370 different coffees to a National Jury. Only 60 coffees made it through their discerning selection process. Those 60 coffees made it to the International Jury who devoted their expert cupping skills at the CoE event to refining the selection further.

Cupping is a process of experiencing, documenting, and categorizing the various essences of a particular coffee bean. The cupping process is really a controlled scientific experiment. To distinguish nuances between different coffee regions, cuppers taste samples side-by-side, moving carefully from cup to cup along an artful line of brew-filled vessels. Through this careful process cuppers are able to detect defects in coffees and often collaborate to create unique blends.

Alison says her scientific self loves the process of cupping. In addition to the aromatic, flavorful and cultural elements of the experience, she is fascinated by the attention to every precise detail, from water temperature and quality to precise measurements of grounds, and the timing of each stage. She has been impressed with the level of ground support involved for each event.

CoE not only weaves new connections between

people within the specialty coffee world, it also provides many event-specific jobs for local communities hosting the event.

“One of my favorite parts of the Cup of Excellence is the ‘Meet the Producers’ event,” says Alison. “All of the cuppers get to meet the farmers and ask questions about their coffees, after we’ve spent a week cupping all of the varieties, and before the awards are known or presented – this is such a great way to connect with the people who, award or no award, all produce such excellent coffee.”

Alison shares that many of the coffee producers at the CoE events, and in the regions they visit, are women. Whether they are the matriarch of the family, the spokesperson for public events, or the manager of the coffee farm, women are active leaders in coffee production.

Montana Coffee Traders also contributes to Grounds for Health, an organization that contributes to building stronger, sustainable health and social infrastructure for women in developing countries, where rates of cervical cancer are much higher than average.

In 2010, Alison was able to attend the Roaster’s Guild Retreat. She took part in classes, certifications, cuppings, discussions, and gained handson experience with different coffee analysis equipment, including a drum roaster. Montana Coffee Traders in Whitefish roasts with a Sivetz Fluid Bed Roaster, which keeps beans moving (fluid) in a bed of fresh mountain air as they roast through chosen temperature gradients.

Education of the MT Coffee Traders staff, as well as the surrounding community, is one of Alison’s passions. In addition to managing staff, production, and the demands of exemplary roasting, she feels strongly about ensuring that staff is up-tospeed on what they share with the community.

She has some ideas about offering more cupping classes for the public, but says that project is still in the works. With local food and farming issues top-of-mind these days, shared vision from a business that has devoted itself to supporting such practices in rural areas around the world could do much to energize northwest Montana’s progress toward collaborative sustainability.

More info: https://www.coffeetraders.com/index.cfm/ aboutus/ourstory http://www.cupofexcellence.org/ http://www.groundsforhealth.org/

outdoor woman} Maggie Doherty

Maggie Doherty Written by Sammi Johnson - Photo by Kat Gebauer

US National Telemark Team Member Balances Skill and Passion to Compete I n t e r n at i o n a l ly

W

hen Whitefish resident Maggie Doherty claimed the bronze medal at the 2011 US Telemark National Championships, it marked a journey to the podium that was a lifetime in the making. Maggie’s parents had her on skis when she was two years old. Raised in Boyne City, Michigan, Maggie’s life was centered on the sport.

She spent her weekends chasing her parents down the Midwestern slopes. While Maggie raced on her high school team, her Dad and her Mom, who still ski races at age 56, fostered a love for skiing that manifested well beyond her school years.

Maggie moved to Montana in 2004, where she set her sights on the high peaks and vast wilderness of the Flathead Valley. “I visited Montana when I was 13 years old, and instantly fell in love. And I knew as an adult, I would make it my home, so I could ski in the mountains,” says Maggie. Originally the move to Montana was to learn how to ski powder and explore the

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backcountry safely, and had little to do with racing. But, in 2009 Maggie was ready to hang up the fixed heel setup and return to skiing in its original roots—heels up!

She lunged into the new world of telemark skiing and humbly discovered a new discipline with its own set of challenges. “I cried a lot that winter. The easiest green runs at Whitefish Mountain Resort were completely daunting to me and took hours to ski down. I wanted to quit many times, “says Maggie.

Lucky for Maggie, Whitefish Mountain is known for its vibrant and legendary telemark ski community, which welcomed her and helped ease the learning curve. She joined a weekly telemark recreational race league, where she eventually started crossing the finish line at the head of the pack. Soon, the US Telemark National Championships came to town and she was invited to train with the current members of the local tele squad.

There she would not only learn the ways of telemark

racing, but also meet her fiancé, Cole Schneider—a well-respected US Regional Team member.

While ski racing is now a dominant factor in her life, Maggie spent her summer hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, climbing peaks in Glacier National Park, and launching her freelance writing career.

At that first “big-kid” race, Maggie ended 8th overall and her best finish was 4th in the slalom event. She was hooked. “Racing at Nationals in Whitefish was the most exciting and daunting experience for me. I learned a lot from watching the other women, and I knew that this was something I definitely wanted to pursue.” Based on her performance and enthusiasm at the National race, she was nominated to the 2011 US Telemark Regional Team. What also contributed to her accelerated success on tele skis was that she had racing in her blood—she

Photo by Cole Schneider

recalled the foundation of racing technique from her high school racing days, and applied it to adult tele racing.

Last winter, Maggie took a giant leap of faith and traveled across the pond to compete internationally in the Norway, Austria and Germany FIS World Cup race series as a team member. “When I was little I dreamed of racing in the World Cups. But I had no idea that my dream would actually come true or that I’d being doing it on telemark skis.” Although Maggie is new to the sport of telemark racing, at age 29 she is ten years older than most top competitors. “There are some young, dedicated and super talented skiers in this sport, so that is humbling.”

The World Cup race series in Europe proved to be her biggest challenge and greatest learning experience yet. She finished her races at the back of the pack, but didn’t allow her results to distract from the overall ex-

perience of competing among the world’s best. True to her fun and lively nature, Maggie also soaked up the entire cultural affair of traveling and racing in countries where skiing, in all of its forms, are equivalent to the US’s obsession with American football. “The culture of telemark racing internationally embodies true sportsmanship and devotion. It didn’t matter if I didn’t speak their language, or came in dead last. I was among family and friends.” Building off of her inaugural race season abroad, Maggie returned home to place 3rd overall in the US National Championships. “It was a magical way to end the season. I truly bonded with my teammates, competed well and had the time of my life.”

While ski racing is now a dominant factor in her life, Maggie spent her summer hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, climbing peaks in Glacier National Park, and launching her freelance writing career. For her, the balance between racing and having fun, whether it’s on

skis or hiking, is critical to her success. Yet with her recent accomplishments in the race course, she feels an added pressure for the upcoming winter as a new member of the US National team. “I’m happy to go into this season with more experience under my belt. I know how to train better and what to expect in races. I feel more confident. And I’m hopeful that I’ll continue to build upon my success and be a strong National team member.”

Plans for the upcoming race season include a regional race in Whitefish, spending most of February in Colorado for the FIS World Cup race series, traveling east to New Hampshire for the National Telemark Championships and planning her wedding in Glacier National Park next September. “I think I’m pretty darn lucky that Cole and I were first teammates and have built our relationship from that strong foundation. I always hoped I’d marry a skier and now that dream is coming true too.”

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perfect getaway}Bigfork

Bigfork

By: Kristen Hamilton

With busy schedules and tight budgets, coupled with shorter days in the valley, sometimes getting away close to home might be all you need to feel refreshed and ready to take on a new week.

My husband, Bob and I, recently set our sites on Bigfork and had a perfect getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Although it’s certainly quieter in Bigfork during the offseason, many businesses do stay open year-round and they welcome visitors with open arms. It’s a relaxing atmosphere and a great opportunity to slow down.

We arrived in town and decided to start our little getaway by enjoying the many great shops that line Electric Avenue. Of course, for me, that started with a 16oz double skinny mocha at Ken’s Coffee, to warm up a touch.

I hadn’t been in Roma’s for a while and was thrilled to see they had expanded to more than double their previous space. I love to cook, so this store is definitely one of my favorites. Whether you are looking for a new whisk or a beautiful teak cutting board, Marlys Anderson-Hisaw, the owner of Roma’s, has it in stock. Bob enjoyed trying dips and chips in the food sampling area while I picked up a great little gift for my sister.

We popped in and out of a few more stores, and then we found Persimmon Gallery. This artist coop has a great collection of artwork, jewelry, and pottery. Deliah Albee was on hand to answer a ton of questions and show us around. She’s one of the co-owners of the coop. She specializes in watercolors and Giclee prints but was very versed in every form of media that is represented here. I’m always amazed at the talent of the artists in this valley.

Next stop was Merry Gems. Although my kids are older now, just looking around brought back some great memories of when they were young. Mary Jo Naïve, owner, has a terrific eye for picking out the most adorable items for kids, and you are sure to find something unique there.

I’m sure I could have spent hours wandering through shops, as Bigfork really does have a great collection of stores and items that you just can’t find at a big retailer.

Although a little cold, the sunshine prompted us to hike the Swan River Trail next. The entrance to the trail is easily accessed from the North side of Electric Avenue, up Grand Drive. We’ve actually hiked the trail in just about every type of weather and know that as long as you have the right footwear and layers, you’ll be fine.

As the trail name indicates, your path is along the river and the views are truly spectacular. We saw many others enjoying the afternoon with kids, dogs and couples, holding hands while they got a bit of exercise.

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We had reservations at Bridge Street Cottages, so we

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headed back to town to check in. The cottages are located on the south park of town, right by the bridge along the river. It was perfect, as we could park the car, then walk into town later for dinner.

The cottages are beautifully appointed and large! We stayed in a one-bedroom river cottage that had a small kitchen, living room with fireplace, a separate bedroom with a king bed and desk, a huge bathroom, and a deck facing the river. We enjoyed a glass of wine while sitting in front of the fire. We would have been comfortable there for a week!

The rates in the off-season for a river cottage are $195$225 per night. There are also wooded king and full cottages that are $115-$155 per night and cottage suites $85-$95 per night. All of the units are impeccable and spacious. Be sure to call ahead and ask about upcoming specials too!

After our hike, we had worked up an appetite for dinner and were looking forward to a great meal at Grille 459, which is located right in the center of town on Electric Avenue on the upper level.

Owners and twins, Joel and Jason Hagen, opened Grille 459 in April 2010, and then moved to their new, current location in May 2011. The atmosphere is welcoming and classy. They have a full bar area, and a separate dining room with large windows overlooking town.

Joel claims he has done just about everything, and when faced with the downturn in the economy a couple of years ago, he was presented with the opportunity to open the restaurant. He had always been interested in the industry and called his brother and told him he was going to open a restaurant. A few hours later, Jason called back and said, “I’m in.” They pooled their resources, and when their dad, Norm, got wind of the news, he retired from his government job in Helena to become the dishwasher. Joel took on the duties of bartender, host, and office task manager, while Jason became the head chef. Although they are all relatively new to the restaurant business, they are finding success by providing great service, serving delicious food, and not getting in over their heads. Joel says they learn as they go and pay as they go, which has helped them even turn a small profit this past year.

Our favorite thing on the menu is the Scotch Eggs as an appetizer. We always like to try different items and specialties of the house, and this fit the bill. They are hard-boiled eggs hand wrapped in Italian sausage, then coated in Panko breadcrumbs, and served with a delicious mustard sauce. They also have Manila steamer clams, buffalo shrimp, spinach artichoke wontons, and sirloin tip kabobs for appetizers.

We enjoyed a great salad, and then Jason prepared our entrees of New York strip with caramelized onions, and the Montana salmon with huckleberry sauce. Other entrees are tenderloin, rib eye, fettuccini, Ahi tuna, shrimp flambé, and spicy sausage penne. The entrees range from $15-$25, each complete with salad and starch.

Of course we finished our meal with a French press coffee and crème Brule….delicious!

We ended the night at the Bigfork Inn with a nightcap and a dance to the live house band “The Company Brass”. Boy can those guys play! This five-person band is starting its 30th year at the Inn, and they play a great array of standard music mixed with a few newer songs.

Even if you don’t dance, it’s fun to watch the smooth dancers on the floor. David May, the owner at the B fork Inn, stopped by to say hello while we listened to the music. He said the band always plays on the weekends, but to be sure, call in advance – sometimes they will play on a Saturday night.

After a great night’s sleep (and sleeping in), our last stop was the Echo Lake Café for a late breakfast before heading home. My only question would be…does anyone ever clean his or her plate here (as portions are very large)? You may have to wait a few minutes for a table on a Sunday morning, but I guarantee you that it is worth the wait.

If you visit during the holidays, Bigfork is decorated with some wonderful Christmas decorations, and the spirit is definitely in the air. New Year’s Eve is great fun then plan to head just south to Woods Bay on New Year’s Day for the annual Polar Bear Plunge. A rambunctious crowd is on hand watching the 100 or so brave souls jump in the frigid waters of Flathead Lake.

Whether you jump in yourself or go to watch, it’s a great way to start off the New Year.

Anytime is a really good time to visit Bigfork, but the slower pace during the off season really makes visiting this gem by the lake extra special.

Plan your own Bigfork Getaway

Bigfork Chamber of Commerce 406-837-5888 www.bigfork.org Bridge Street Cottages 406-837-2785 www.bridgestreetcottages.com Grille 459 406-837-2786 Bigfork Inn 406-837-6680

406 love}

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Wedding

Drew & Kelsey Photographed by Sara & Justin Pinnell of A. Yourartisan www.ayourartisan.com

After only knowing her for three weeks, Drew wanted to tell Kelsey that he loved her, but he was afraid he would scare her away. Little did he know, Kelsey felt the same. Drew wasn’t an instant hit with her Dad, but he knew he could win her parents over. Luck for Kelsey, her dad was unable to scare Drew away, and five years later, her Dad, now one of Drew’s biggest fans, happily consented to their marriage.

Kelsey always thought that when she got married she would want it all. When it came time to plan, ‘having it all’ meant planning the wedding around the union of two families. It started out about family, when Drew purposed to Kelsey at sunset on a bridge, over the Clark Fork River, with his Grandmother’s ring. Months later, her brother took their ‘save-the-date’ pictures on the same bridge.

As the planning began, Kelsey was thankful that she had the best wedding planner of all, her mother. Her mother was with her when she found the perfect dress to wear for her wedding day, pockets and all. They created centerpieces using the romantic inspiration of candle light and personalized them with peacock feathers. They also hand crafted elegant invitations of white, black and royal purple for the guests.

The bridesmaid dresses were strapless, short, and an elegant dark plum. The shoes matched perfectly, and all three girls, including the bride, wore the purple bowed shoes. All of their hairstyles were created around the inclusion of peacock feathers, and The Beauty Bar flawlessly did their make up.

Kelsey walked down the aisle to “Canon and D” as her father held her tightly. Kelsey remembers her dad telling her, as he had so many times in her life, “Don’t worry baby girl. I’ve got you.” A close family friend stood in front to marry them, and they each had two bridal party members on either side. As Kelsey came down the aisle, Drew tried to remain calm and not faint. The two held hands and looked lovingly into each other’s eyes, as they nervously said their vows. They danced back down the isle as husband and wife to “This will be”.

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Wedding

A

s a wedding gift, her aunt prepared all the food to be served at the wedding. With the help of other family members, heavy appetizers were served buffet style under the lit pavilion, at the McGough's property, located in Star Meadows. The wedding party table was lined with beautiful bouquets of flowers, done perfectly by Mums Flowers. The guests enjoyed cupcakes done by Simply Sweet Bakery.

The night continued with carefully planned toasts by the bridal party that brought back memories of their friendships, and filled the pavilion with love, tears and laughter.

They danced the night away as Jerry, from Music on the Fly, played the carefully tailored music selection.

The next day, the couple took off on their honeymoon, that they called their “European Excursion”, for three weeks. They traveled around England, France, Italy and Germany. In their adventure abroad, they were able to relax by themselves, whether it was on the beach in Cinque Terre, Italy or at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Not only was the wedding a night to remember, but back packing around Europe sealed the deal.

“…when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

W

~

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WOMAN 28

hen Harry Met Sally

LOVE

406 love}Story

story

“You Know You're in Love When You Can't Fall Asleep Because Reality Is Finally Better than Your Dreams.”

- Dr. Seuss

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WOMAN 32

Photo by: Koko Verde Photography - kokoverde.com

Couple: Lucas Everett Stacy - U.S. Forest Service Firefighter. Kelsey May "Jensen" Stacy - Whitefish Lake Golf Shop Retail Manager/Buyer. Meeting: Through friends and family What is Love? Making each other laugh and taking care of each other in the good times and the bad.What do you love? Kelsey on Luke - I love how he takes care of me and I love his blue eyes and curly hair.

Luke on Kelsey- I love her smile and witty personality… and her cute sense of style. And, I love her at the lake. ;)When did you know it was love? Luke says he knew for sure when she came up to go clay shooting with his family, which she had never done before. They both agree that it was probably from their first kiss.

Wedding Details l Cake: Susan Shea l Dress: Custom Made, alterations by Debbie Moffattl Flowers: Susie Jensen (Mother of the bride) and her amazing friends and family. l Band: Kiniption Fit l Photography: Koko Verde Photography: Lindsey Jane Gardner and Mandy Mohler. l Hair and Makeup:The bride did her own hair and make-up. Mother of the bride, flowergirls, and Matron of Honor styled by Missy Fox.lCaterer: Whitefish Lake Restaraunt at the golf course: Chef Dan CrumbakerlLocation: Lost Coon Ranch, Whitefish, MT, Don and Lucy Jensen's Estate (Grandparents of the Bride) lCeremony Music: Purple Mountain Majesty String Quartet directed by Jeananne Solberg

Photo by: Shannon Hollman Photography - shannonhollman.com

Couple: Nick Luedtke, local 14 Ironworker and Leslie Morigeau, Michael's Custom Framer Meeting: We met about 5 years ago. We can't remember exactly how we met, but we kept a mutual acquaintance with one another. After a few years had gone by, I was on my way home from Spokane one weekend and sent a text to Nick to see what he was up to. Luckily he was in Ronan for the weekend, and he came to pick me up. We drove all the way to Quinn's Hot Springs. He then kissed me for the first time. What is Love? We both feel a strong love between us that's indescribable. It's not every day you find a couple that can get in a wrestling match for an hour and come up smiling and laughing at one another. We've now been together a little over three years, and we are finally going to tie the knot on September 8th, 2012! What do you love? We both love every aspect of one another, and that is how we know we loved each other.When did you know it was love? It was the first kiss at Quinn’s Hot Springs, when we knew we were in love… the very first kiss.

Wedding Details Cake: Linda Bell l Dress: Pronovias l Flowers: Bev's Bloomers Ronan, MT l DJ: Bob Starkel l Location: Cheff Guest Ranch Charlo, MT lPhotographer: The amazing Shannon Hollman l Hair and Makeup: Shear Madness Polson, MT

Photo by: JMK Photography - www.jmkphotography.net

Couple: Felicia was born in Reidsville, NC. She has a BFA in Design.

Dane Beck was born and raised in East Glacier, MT, at his father’s ranch, Bear Creek Guest Ranch. He set out on a winding journey at the age of 17 becoming a commercial fishermen and tugboat deckhand. He sailed everywhere from the Bering Sea to the South Pacific. Meeting: They found their treasure in Norfolk, VA. Dane was a wild sailor, who walked into a wild sailor bar. Felicia, an assistant PE teacher, was convinced by colleagues, to go to the bar. He was not in there long when he noticed the sexiest eyes he had ever seen. When he saw her, he was immediately turned on (lol). They exchanged numbers. What is Love? When you wake up in the morning and you lock eyes, and go through the day’s agony, and then return to the same spot at the end of the day, and lock lips, you know you made it through the day together. – That’s when you know that you love each other. What do you love? Felicia - His eyes seemed to see right through my soul… his eyes are hot. Dane - Her funky and energetic spirit. When did you know it was love? When we were at the beach and Dane carried me out to the sandbar because the water was freezing cold. I told him I loved him. For Dane it was at the exact same moment.

Wedding Details Cake: Mitzi StonehockerlDress: Impressions – Bridal Mart Burlington, NC l Flowers: Mitzi Stonehocker l Photographers: Wayne and Vicki Murphy, JMK Photography lLocation: (Ceremony, Reception) Bear Creek Guest Ranch, East Glacier Park, MT www.bearcreekguestranch.com l DJ:iPod Bride and Grooms Mix l Caterer: Terrie Faber

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food}South of the 48°

Christmas south of latitude 48° Written by Alethea Schaus

The season of lights has arrived! Whether you had your decorations up before Halloween, are ready to brave travel escapades, or plan to hunker down by the fire with a steaming mug of cheer after a great powder day, the holiday season will embrace you. Will the embrace be a good one? We think it can be! When the days get short and the nights long, and more shoes than usual grace the foyer floor, why not dig deep and throw a fiesta! How about hanging up the turkey this year? Or at least dress it in something more interesting? Reinvent a few traditions with friends and family and spice things up a bit.

This season, 406 Woman brings you a few zesty ideas to spice up the holidays, brighten rooms and faces, and add a little kick to mid-winter. So for now, tune your station to something Latina, and let’s go south of the 48!

Just what are the elements of a great party? Good people and good food. Then, add music and perhaps some bursts of song.

Bring in luminous lanterns and steady flames, inviting homes, mini stage sets and theatrical performances, bright flowers, warm toasts in steaming cups, colorful and breakable art, playful pranks, and plenty of prayers and gratitude. Stretch out the scene and celebrations over a month and a half. Now you have a full-on celebration of life in your hands. That is what a Christmas in Mexico is all about.

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The Christmas season in Mexico is not too unlike our own; yet, it offers some very refreshing interpretations on what we typically do. The period between December 16th and February 2nd in Mexico, is filled to the brim with fiestas. From the initial nine days of parties and processions of La Posada, which honor the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy and reenact Joseph’s and Mary’s search for hospitable lodging, to the final celebration of el dia de la Candelaria, the day of Purification, on February 2nd, communities teach their children, through celebration, about the birth of the Holy Child.

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Following the nine celebration days of Las Posadas, La Noche Buena, Christmas Eve, finds most at a midnight Mass. Families return to their homes afterward to share feasts either simple or extravagant. These fiestas may have tamales, wild greens in mole sauce, suckling pick, turkey, or simple rice and bean dishes. Brindis, or toasts, with hot drinks such as “Ponche con Piquete”, steeped from fruit, cinnamon sticks, with a shot of liquor, are as popular at any gathering. While putting up a tree has become more common in modern day, the Nativity scene, el Nacimiento, is the central ritual to the holiday. Traditionally, the Baby Jesus figurine is placed in the Nativity manger on La Noche Buena.

Rather than receiving presents on Christmas day, the children wait until early January. It is traditional to reserve Christmas day for rest and celebration of the birth of the savior. Throughout the month and a half of celebration, reenactments of Joseph and Mary’s journey abound in various theatrical productions, or pastorales. December 28th, Los Santos Inocentes, the Day of the Innocents, is celebrated much like our April Fool’s Day, full of general mischief and pranks.

The Poinsettia plant that we see so often during the holidays is named for Dr. Joel R. Poinsett, a U.S. diplomat serving as Minister to Mexico in the early 1800’s. Returning to South Carolina with cuttings from Mexico, he cultivated a strain more tolerant to the northern climate. La Flor de Noche Buena, the flower of Christmas Eve, grows larger in the Mexican countryside than the plants we generally see. The hallmark bright leaves surround the actual blossom of the poinsettia. Pre-Hispanic tribes of Mexico used the leaves for healing, often for poultices to treat infection or for illnesses of the heart.

A traditional saying in Mexico says, “I don't want gold and I don't want silver...all I want is to break the piñata.” The piñata

remains one of the central traditions in Mexico for children’s celebrations. Story goes that the breaking of the treat-filled piñata represents overcoming temptation and evil. Wearing the blindfold represents our blindness from sin, and surrounding family and friends help guide the one breaking the piñata. If the person is well-guided, they find and whack the piñata, break the cycle of fear and evil, and all are showered with sweets and joy.

While most of our children send their requests to Santa, children in Mexico send theirs to el Niño Dios (the Holy Child) or Reyes Magos (Magi). Many go to the town marketplace, or zocalo, with their families, in early January, to send their wishes, tied to colorful balloons, into the sky, and to the Magi. On January 6th, el dia eyes, the day of the Kings or The Wise Men Day, children who have been good receive gifts in their shoes which have been left by the window.

Many children simply receive new shoes as a gift. On this day people gather to eat from la Rosca de Reyes, a large bread wreath decorated with sugar and dried fruit. Hidden within is a tiny ceramic figure representing the baby Jesus.

Whoever finds the figurine hidden within their piece of La Rosca de Reyes, is chosen to host another party before, or on, February 2nd for el dia de la Candelaria, or the Day of Purification. Figurines found in La Rosca de Reyes are taken to the church to be blessed. El Nacimiento is stored away for the year and the resilient partygoers, the blessed, and the purified gather in their homes for a final seasonal celebration, surrounded by close friends and family.

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food}South of the 48

L a s Tr a d i c i o n e s N a v i d e ñ a s M e x i c a n a s (Mexican holiday traditions) Written by Kristen Hamilton

Every culture seems to put a unique twist on does most of the cooking. Chano (dad) does the We visited El Topo in Bigfork too, and can I just tell kitchen prep work, including cutting the meats for you? I love these assignments! I met with owners, celebrating the holidays.

Although we are far from the Mexican border, the traditions surrounding the holidays in Mexico offer some really fun ways to mix up your own traditional celebration.

La Posadas, which commences on December 16 and concludes on Christmas Eve, commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Children lead a procession each night, by visiting a home assigned on the Posada, carrying a small pine-decorated platform depicting Mary and Joseph riding a burro. The children are surrounded by others, holding candles, while together they sing “Litany of the Virgin” as they approach the house.

They knock on the door and plead for admittance but are turned away with threats of beatings unless they move on. They attempt admittance again and when the owner realizes who his guests are, he welcomes them into his home. Then the group kneels around the manger to sing songs and pray. Following the prayers, the celebration continues with a piñata and much eating and drinking.

Although this tradition might be difficult to duplicate every night leading up to Christmas, the idea of the piñata, as well as the celebration involving eating and drinking sounded like a great opportunity to try something different over the holidays.

Christmas Eve is the perfect opportunity to include some traditional Mexican themed items on the menu along with a piñata to celebrate the season.

While researching what options would be best for my family, I visited a couple local Mexican restaurants to talk about their specialties.

When we arrived at La Hacienda Mexican Grill in Whitefish, I noticed the plaque on the wall that said, “Treat your family like friends and your friends like family.” We were definitely welcomed with open arms by the Galvan family, proprietors of this great little gem of a restaurant.

The entire family is truly involved in the operation.

Rosario (mom) has developed all of the recipes and

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the delicious meals and even making the guacamole.

Lucy, Briza and Chela (sisters) run the front of the house. This job entails taking orders, serving meals and clearing tables. Brian Bushnell (brother in law – Chela’s husband) is responsible for the operations.

Jonathan (Lucy’s 18 year old son) is even involved in the restaurant duties. Lucy looks so young and Jonathan was so engaging, that I mistakenly asked if it was her brother!

The family opened La Hacienda in February 2009, after moving to the area from Seattle (originally from Ensenada, Baja California). Lucy said, “My sister and Brian lived here, and they told us about the area, and the restaurant space that was available. Mom always wanted to open a restaurant and once we arrived, we knew we would stay.”

Rosario prepared her Chili Rellenos, and I must admit this was my favorite. The chili poblano was stuffed with mozzarella cheese and topped with ranchero sauce. Lucy said this is a house favorite along with the quesadillas. We tried the Mexican pizzastyle quesadilla with chorizo, which added to the flavor. Both were absolutely delicious----a unique twist on the usual pizza styles!

Then, Rosario made a few Mexican holiday specialties, that are only available at the restaurant during certain times. The Tamales were amazing. The masa (Spanish dough within the corn husk) was light and fluffy, stuffed with shredded pork and topped with a red and green sauce. I’ve read about Mexican families making an event out of making tamales, but I was happy to learn that La Hacienda will take advanced orders for tamales over the holidays. She also made a traditional Menudo soup that was so flavorful.

Lucy also mentioned that they would serve Atole (traditional masa-based hot drink with cinnamon and vanilla) over the holidays. My husband, Bob, described the authentic Mexican food as “the real deal!”

Lucy observed, “If you come to our home, this is what you would be served. My mom puts love and a lot of effort in every recipe.” They love the sense of community in the area and appreciate the customers who have made La Hacienda their favorite stop.

Ken Degitz and Lindi Nelson. The locals love this place for the terrific margaritas, great food and good prices.

Ken started cooking in San Diego in the late 60’s and then moved to Missoula in 1977. Ken worked for Lindi’s mom in the 80’s, eventually opened the New Pacific Grill and Caterwest in Missoula, and then opened El Topo with Lindi in 1994. They wanted to open an El Topo North, and therefore set their sites on Bigfork. Since 1998 the restaurant has been going strong.

Lindi has been in the business as long as she can remember. You could say she was born into it, as her family, famous bakers from Holland, still own the famous Schat’s Bakery in Bishop, California. Lindi has a genuine, radiant smile and greets customers from behind the bar where she prepares El Topo’s famous margaritas. What makes them special? She says, “We use high quality tequila and homemade lime mix. Many locals make us their first stop, when arriving home from a trip, for a margarita and dinner.”

Ken says their success is in “using original recipes and the freshest ingredients.” Additionally and most importantly, El Topo uses imported “real Mexican cheese” that only a handful of places use. As a cheese lover, I can tell you it is worth the added effort adding another layer to their delicious food items.

The Carne Asada was my favorite! The beef was tender and mouth-watering. As an appetizer, this was a big hit served with avocado and special sauces. We also enjoyed the house specialty “Jalapeno Crisp” with fresh garlic, black beans, Mexican cheese, olive oil, and jalapenos.

The most popular item on the menu are the fish tacos featuring battered cod with either a yogurt cilantro sauce or a grilled mahi mahi taco with mango salsa. The pork enchilada verde style is another house favorite.

They have worked hard to create a menu that is not only delicious but healthy. El Topo also has many vegetarian and gluten free dishes that customers can choose.

For a full Mexican meal, I think I’ll head to either El Topo or La Hacienda, but I thought it would also be fun to try a couple of recipes and a desert at home.

Thankfully, the restaurants I met with both gave me a recipe to try.

El Topo’s Tortilla Soup (For 2) 1 Whole Chicken Breast 1 Qt. Chicken Stock 1 Tbs Olive Oil 1 Yellow Onion (halved, the sliced into slivers) 1 Dried Ancho (or a mild dark chili) slivered 1 Fresh Avocado, diced Large ¼ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar ¼ Cup Canola or Corn Oil ¼ Cup Mexican Cotija Cheese, grated (or parmesan) 3 Corn Tortillas

In a small saucepan, put chicken stock in along with the chicken breast, bring to a medium simmer and cook the chicken for about 15 minutes.

Pull aside, take out the chicken and diced or shred large (reserving stock). In another saucepan heat oil to med-high and throw in onion slivers. Brown onions until they caramelize reduce heat to medium-low, and then add chicken stock, chicken, and slivered dried chilies. Let simmer for about 20 minutes then add vinegar. Salt to taste.

For Serving: Cut the corn tortillas into matchstick size and heat oil in a sauté pan. Fry the tortilla strips until crispy and put on paper towel. Pour tortilla soup into pre-warmed bowls, put in fresh Avocado, and then top with tortilla strips and cheese. Yummy.

La Hacienda’s

For desert, I decided to make Mexican Wedding Cakes. In my research, I found that these are a specialty around the holidays. I am not much of a baker, but I thought it would be fun to try something different. These little cookies are really easy to make, and they were a big hit with my family and friends. I used a Betty Crocker recipe and made the cookies with a suggested variation of adding a Hersey’s® Kiss® filled with caramel.

Mexican Wedding Cakes

1 cup of powdered sugar 2 cups of margarine, softened 2 teas of vanilla 4 ½ cups of all-purpose flour ½ cup of finely chopped nuts (I used walnuts) ½ teas salt Optional – Hershey’s® Kisses® filled with caramel Additional powdered sugar to roll cookies in

Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix 1 cup of powdered sugar with margarine and vanilla.

Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.

If inserting a Kiss®, shape dough around Kiss® into about a 1 ½” ball.

If not, then shape dough into a 1” ball.

Place about 1” apart on an un-greased cookie sheet.

Bake 12-14 minutes with Kiss® or 10-12 minutes without, until set but not brown.

Remove from oven and roll in powdered sugar while still warm then cook completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.

Then, roll again in powdered sugar before storing.

So, for the holidays this year, try a little twist on Christmas. Put a splash of culture on what you usually do, and have some fun.

Buen provecho!

El Topo 7987 MT Hwy 35, Bigfork 837-2114

La Hacienda Mexican Grill 130 Central Ave, Whitefish 862-6111 41

food}Tapas

Beginner Pantry

A Very Tapas Christmas

By Kristen Ledyard Owner/Executive Chef of John’s Angels Catering LLC

The snow has fallen and Holiday music has started everywhere. It is a wonderful and exciting time. Why just stick to the same old menu? Let’s kick it up a bit with your new pantry and new cooking knowledge.

Tapas are a fun and new way to start off your Christmas traditions. Originally they were small bites served free with beer and cocktails in Spain, typically on top of the glass. There are several explanations why, but the one that makes sense to me is to cover up the top for flies and to prevent the drink from blowing over. Now, in America, they have become more hardy and a total meal at times. You can have fun deciding which way to approach your menu. Also, Tapas are not necessarily Spanish. We are going to go the Mexican way. Here are some great ideas to utilize your organized pantry.

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Tequila and Malibu Rum Grilled Shrimp

16/20 shrimp (at least two per guest and fresh, preferably) ¼ cup of your favorite tequila (Don’t go too high end. It will overtake the shrimp flavor.) ¼ cup Malibu Rum Fresh chopped cilantro bunch EVOO ½ tablespoon minced garlic 2 limes

Clean your shrimp carefully and place in a Ziploc bag. Use two Ziplocs and double the recipe, if necessary. Simply combine the tequila, rum, cilantro, garlic and squeeze one lime in the mixture. Pour over the shrimp. Slowly add olive oil until partially covered. Shake and let sit in the refrigerator for no more than two hours. After that, the shrimp will begin to cook ceviche style and the alcohol will over power your desired flavor. Pat off the extra marinade. Do not rinse. Get your grill going and make sure you pull them off just as they turn pink and begin to curl. Do not overcook. This recipe is a show stopper. Finish with your extra lime sliced as garnish.

I think you can see how easy and fun tapas can be. The recipes are very open to your own touches. Always be sure to restock your pantry and record your changes. Your organized pantry makes things so easy, and you always know exactly what you have on hand for unexpected occasions. Make sure to add a small edible garnish to each dish such as, lime zest, lime and lemon curls, cilantro sprinkles, edible flower, etc. If you have any Mexican plate ware or items, add them to your table scape. One of my favorite presentations is to serve our signature salsa with a small scoop of our house guacamole, cilantro sprinkles, and tri-colored chips on one side in a margarita glass. It is a fun and easy way for an individual to eat salsa and guacamole instead of getting it on themselves or on your clean floor. You can also do this with lump crab or chopped shrimp combined in the salsa.

The Holidays are a time to create warmth and fun. For us, Mexican really fits our appetizer course. Yes, we still have our traditional part, but I think every year we will try to bring something new to our table. From all of John’s Angels Catering, we wish you the best Holiday season and a very Happy New Year.

Individual Pita Pork loin and Cilantro Chili Dip Nachos

Pita bread (not pita pockets) Grilled and sliced pork loin Taco seasoning Smoked paprika Mexican cheese blend 2 bunches of cilantro (use your judgment because it is a 50/50 on whether people like cilantro) EVOO ½ tablespoon minced garlic Jalapeno or Serrano chili roasted (depending on the heat level you wish) Salt and pepper (preferably lime flavored salt)

Cut your pitas into fours and place on a baking sheet. Brush with EVOO and shake your desired amount of taco seasoning, and a little smoked paprika. A little goes a long way. Cook until turning barely brown at 400 degrees. Set aside to cool. Take one bunch of cilantro (leaves only, although the stems have lots of flavor) chopped fine and put in a bowl. Chop fine your roasted pepper. Take away the seeds and the membrane if you wish a mild spice level. Also, make sure the pepper’s skin is peeled off. Add the garlic. Slowly pour the EVOO in until it begins to emulsify (turning a little cloudy and becoming thicker). Do not over use your oil. Taste before you think you should. The old rule applies= you can always put more in, but you can’t take it out. Add pepper to taste. You will add the salt at the end. If you have not reached your desired hotness, I like to add a bit of Harissa. Pour your mixture into a dip bowl for service. This can be served at room temperature. Take each individual pita that was baked and place a piece of pork loin. Top with the cheese blend. Place back into the oven until melted and bubbly. Serve warm. Sprinkle the lime flavored salt on each piece. A side of Mexican crème is an excellent addition. This can also be a wonderful vegetarian dish by deleting the pork and adding a fresh slice of tomato. Make this recipe your own.

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food} in the kitchen

Christmas Chiles

By Miriam Singer

When music finds its groove, we say it’s cooking. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that the word for what makes Mexican cooking so exciting is the same word that refers to a style of Latin music and dance – Salsa. Salsa in Spanish means sauce. If you ask me what I love about Mexican cuisine, I’d have to tell you it’s the sauces.

a

turning point for my cooking was the year and a half that John and I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. That’s when we learned to love chili sauce. If you order enchiladas in Santa Fe, then you’d better be prepared to answer a serious question: red or green? If you can’t make up your mind, don’t worry.

Just say Christmas and your dish will arrive with both red and green chili sauces. Green chilies are usually roasted fresh and red ones typically are dried and reconstituted. Enchilada is the past participle in Spanish of enchilar, which means to season with chili.

Chile peppers are native to the central Mexico/Central American region where they have been in use for many thousands of years. Christopher Columbus was introduced to them in 1493 and named them peppers, because the heat of chilies made him think of black pepper. The Spanish and Portuguese not only delivered peppers back home to Europe, they also brought them to their colonies. So chili traveled the world and became an important part of Indian and Indonesian cuisines. It arrived in the Szechwan provinces of China through the silk trade route. The Hungarians got their chili from the Turks. What would Hungarian cuisine be without paprika?

Not all peppers are hot; but for those that are, the heat is mostly located in the ribs and comes from the alkaloid capsaicin. Capsaicin is very stable. You can cook it, dry it or freeze it, and it stays hot. To cool your mouth off, have some yogurt or milk. Lipoproteins like the casein in milk and yogurt will relieve the pepper heat by breaking the bond with the heat receptors in your mouth. Drinking water, on the other hand, won’t do much good. Capsaicin is a potent anti-inflammatory and is also an anti-bacterial. It is used to treat arthritis, sinus infections and headaches. It stimulates endorphin release making the heat enjoyable.

Chili pepper is a vegetable in the nightshade family, which also includes eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers and white potatoes. All chilies start off green and as they ripen turn yellow, orange or red. Fresh peppers have more vitamin C than citrus fruits. Red peppers are a good source of beta carotene. Chiles contain potassium, iron, magnesium and manganese. They are a source of B vitamins and vitamin A.

Here are recipes for Green Chile Sauce and Red Chile Sauce for your enchiladas, burritos or huevos rancheros etc. Or serve it Christmas, and use both.

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Green Chile Sauce 4 anaheim green chilies 2 poblano chilies 1 jalapeno (optional) 1 small onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon coriander 1 cup chicken broth Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub the green chilies with a little oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan and roast for 20 - 25 minutes, turning after 10 minutes. Remove to a bowl, cover with a plate and allow them to sit in their own steam for 15 minutes. Peel the chilies and remove stems and seeds. Dice the flesh.

In a medium pot, heat olive oil and saute onion. Then add garlic and season with salt and pepper. Add the chilies and their juices to the onion and garlic. Mix in the chicken broth, cumin and coriander. Simmer for 20 minutes. Remove 2/3 of the mixture and puree in a blender till smooth.

Combine the puree with the remaining 1/3 in the pot.

Red Chile Sauce

3 dried New Mexico chilies 3 ancho chilies (dried poblano peppers) 1 small onion 1 clove garlic 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon Mexican oregano Salt and Pepper to taste Water to cover

Remove seeds and stems from dry chilies. Then, toast chilies in a skillet on medium heat, for one minute per side, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn them. Then remove to a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit for 15 minutes. Heat olive oil and sauté onion. When it is soft, add the garlic and cook one minute. Season with oregano, salt and pepper.

Place the softened chilies in a blender. Measure 1 1/4 cups of the soaking liquid and add to blender along with the onion and garlic. Puree till smooth. Return the mixture to the skillet. Simmer for 20 minutes.

food}

Salsa cups

Avocado Salsa Cups

ONE-ARMED HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

By Katy Croft

Ah, the holiday season. The time of year for giving thanks, being generous, celebrating family traditions, and…..stress. For most moms, the holiday season is filled with extra tasks that we squeeze in to our already busy lives. From homemade Halloween costumes, holiday school recitals, and hosting family meals to Black Friday Christmas shopping for your entire family (and your husband’s) and so many holiday parties to attend you can’t possibly make them all, the holidays bring joy and wonderment in the form of stress and chaos.

Not only are moms stretched extra thin, they of course try to do everything in Super-Mom mode, striving to have the best smelling turkey, most beautifully decorated house and the most superb holiday party. With young children, preparing for holiday entertaining often seems hardly worth the effort. But with a little creative organization, pulling off a great party is well within reach.

There is no shame in catering a party or spreading out platters you’ve purchased and displaying them as your own in gorgeous serving pieces. To give the added touch of homemade decadence, let’s try to apply my one-armed meals philosophy to holiday entertaining. I’ve chosen a very simple recipe to share with you, but it will take a little strategic planning because there are a couple of two-armed tasks.

While preparing the Avocado Salsa Cups, I roll my daughter’s high chair into the kitchen after having rinsed all my veggies and scattered my counter with every ingredient, knife and supply I might need. My son is at the counter armed with his apron and a plastic knife from the play room,

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ready for his task of cutting (completely smashing, rather) a couple slices of tomatoes. While my daughter is happily enjoying the few slices of cheese I laid out for her, I get busy dicing and chopping my tomato, avocado, cilantro and garlic. A quick toss and a squeeze with my citrus juicer (thank you Pampered Chef!) and my twoarmed tasks are complete. Now begins the fun of preparing the tortilla cups. Over the years I’ve learned to crack eggs with one hand, so creating these cups one handed seems pretty doable. Out of the kitchen goes the stroller and my daughter is perched contently on my left hip. After I slice the tortillas with a pizza cutter, my son brushes on the olive oil and then I fold them into the muffin pan to cook. Once they come out, I spoon in the tomato mixture, garnish with sour cream and cilantro, and viola! Now for the challenging task of deciding which platter I want to use to present them….

Holiday entertaining can be exhausting and stressful, but after a long day of family, food and fun I hit the pillow at night thinking what a great day it truly was. Happy entertaining!

Ingredients: 6 flour tortillas 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 2-3 small plum tomatoes 2 small avocados 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or pressed 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. To make the cups, trim tortillas into 6-inch squares; discard trimmings. Cut each square into quarters for a total of 24 3-inch squares.

Make a 1 inch cut from each corner toward the center of each square.

Brush both sides of each square with oil. Press squares into bottom of a muffin pan and sprinkle lightly with salt. Bake 10-12 minutes or until crisp.

3. For filling, core and seed tomatoes.

Finely dice tomatoes and avocados.

Combine tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and salt.

4. Fill cups with filing. Spoon sour cream into a small resealable plastic bag; trim one corner to create a small hole to allow sour cream to come through. Squeeze sour cream over avocado mixture. Garnish with additional cilantro, if desired.

Yields 24 single servings

food}

wine

y

Guns or Butter: T he Q uestion of O rganic W ine

By Dan Vogel

ou are in the wine aisle. The other half is in the car with the clock ticking. The mission is a gift wine for a Holiday dinner party you learned about fifteen minutes ago. To make matters worse, your partner has expressed the suspicion that you should get something “Organic, they’re like that, Organic!”

But what is Organic wine? Isn’t wine Organic to begin with? You stomp grapes in a stone vat with bare feet, let the juice run into a goat skin, go hunting, and Voila! You get back and there is wine! Yes, it is that simple. But then again so is Chess.

Under the definition of “natural wine” the equipment listed is what would be required, with maybe some glass, just to assure us of our need for thumbs. But it would be awful, unstable and inconsistent.

You can just hear your other half now - “You bought that Caveman Wine!”

Organic Wine is not Biblical Wine. It uses bunches of new science and some shaky philosophy to create what is implied, yes only implied, that what you are buying is better than a non-organic creation of nature. The issue of Organic Agriculture is born in the years after WWI. This war brought focus on the classic Economics 101 situation of “Guns or Butter”. Nitrate is the chemical in question, and prior to the advent of The Great War, no one could create gunpowder in quantity, necessary in a great war, without a trip to the Chilean Atacama Desert or to the South Pacific for Bat Guano. It rather changes the allure of Black Powder rifles to know that Bat Scat made the big bang happen. So the war goes on and Germany is running out of bullets or at least the ability to make bullets shoot from guns. In 1915 a pair of Teutonic scientists, building on an American breakthrough, created synthetic nitrates. Millions of causalities later, the war was over and the same nitrate factories were churning out the miracle chemical: Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizer.

And, a miracle chemical it is. It is believed that today forty to sixty percent of worldwide crop yields are attributed to commercial fertilizer use. Further, one half, 3.5 billion people, of our world population are currently fed as a result of synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers. Unfor-

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tunately, they cause algae blooms and other scourges in drinking water sources and oceans, that may deplete the soils natural components and encourage a monoculture industrial agriculture that is questionable in its long term sustainability. So What?

Let’s paint, or rather listen to, an Organic Vineyard versus a chemically farmed field of wine grapes. The Traditional vineyard is very attractive. It is orderly and straight with clear soil underneath the canopy of vines. The vines look, and are, relatively happy, save the stress the winemaker puts upon them to increase flavor. It’s a quiet life with a vine enabled to concentrate on growing a good grape. Occasionally a bird will fly over, and the noisy tractor will travel down the rows regularly but with little effect on the peaceful growing of fruit.

Let’s now go to the Bonterra Vineyards in Mendocino County, California. Bonterra’s Organically Grown Grapes are surrounded in a riot of noise. There is a “buggery” where Praying Mantis, Lady Bug and other natural born killers are raised and released buzzing into the vineyard by the billions. Sheep stroll bleating through the vineyard focused on the soil surface, and graze on the specially cultivated groundcover plants that naturally add nitrogen to the soil. Their dung adds additional organic material. There are bees, bees, and bees. The water is carefully recycled when feasible and no synthetic chemicals including fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides are applied.

Any winery that has the right to use the USDA Organic logo complies with these general rules.

But does the wine taste better? You must decide for yourself. The real implication of wines labeled Organic, No Sulfites Added, No Sulfites Detected, Sustainable, Organically Grown Grapes and Biodynamic, is that extra care has been taken to produce these wines in concert with natural components and practices friendly to the earth. These practices are inherently more expensive and less productive; yet, most wines labeled Organic are under the $25.00 mark. To explore these wines and their stories, visit your local wine store specialist. Look for the Bonterra, Como Sur, Snoqualmie Naked, Girgich Hills, Cline, Jacuzzi, Les Heritique, Blue and Yellow, and Banrock Station Labels, among many others available all over the Western Montana Region.

home}Frontier Builders

Frontier Builders

Pushing boundaries. Defining new territory. At budget. On time.

Written by Brian Schott Photography by Michala Berube

You’d need to search far and wide to hear anyone in real estate or construction claim the best thing that happened for their business was the real estate crash of 2007. But listen to this: “What the real estate crash showed us is that our model is right,” says Frontier Builders at Whitefish owner Eric Payne, sitting behind his desk in between project meetings. “Our volume exploded with the crash. The playing field was reduced and we’ve more than doubled our sales volume.”

Mr. Payne is not being glib with this notion of his company rising from the ashes. He’s just proud that his simple building philosophy can survive—and thrive—a cataclysmic event. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a huge commercial job or a small remodel. The rules stay the same.

Build it better. Make it perfect. Keep costs low by doing it in-house. Be on time. Stick within the budget. Communicate with the client. And have fun.

Many contractors—in the Flathead Valley and industry-wide—have earned a bad reputation for being over budget and over schedule.

Not at Frontier. With a separate excavation company and an in-house team of craftsmen, they can control costs and keep on schedule.

“We can operate within a solid budget,” says Eric. “Even when the market was hot, we had the same philosophy—do things better and save money. I’ve stuck with that notion. And it works.”

A crowd standout: Details. Design. Finishes.

Attracted by the big views and wide-open spaces of Montana, Eric moved to Whitefish in 2004. “I live here and I love it,” he says. “The projects are so rewarding. I thrive on the challenge. I don’t want to be every other builder doing the same old boring stuff.”

One of the largest employing contractors in the Flathead Valley with over 70 employees and 8 crews, Frontier Builders has half-dozen large projects in the mix at one time.

“It takes a custom home builder to be able to take on these large custom commercial projects—because we are used to the intricate details,” says Eric.

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One flagship building that will be completed this spring is a state-ofthe-art research and manufacturing facility for PROOF Research, Inc., a science-driven, precision rifle manufacturer that is building betterdesigned guns based around science. The facility will have an indoor shooting range and highly-advanced R&D division.

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Right in the center of downtown Whitefish, Frontier has also embarked upon an ambitious, ground-up rebuild of the famous Casey’s Bar.

Opening this summer, the history of Casey’s will be reflected in brick and stone with wood accents, something Eric calls “rustic contemporary.” The design will reflect an old, restored Irish pub with a modern flair, complete with high-tech audio and lighting for live music, and an interior design that will reflect modern Montana.

The full basement will feature a commercial kitchen and the groundfloor will have sliding glass doors that open to the street so guests will feel like they are sitting outside. In the main hall a big bar and casino will open to a spacious second-level dance floor, while a third floor with a mezzanine level will look down on the dance floor, as well as offer space that is rentable for parties.

One of Montana’s only rooftop bars, the top outdoor deck will feature a grill, heated walls and floors, as well as stunning views of the Whitefish Range.

Eric makes no bones about it. “Our goal is to build the nicest facility of its kind in the Northwest.”

Details: A High-Tech, Modern Flair

The way any project looks and feels is the ultimate measure of success for Eric and his team. Sure, they can create that “cabin lodge” feel that has dominated the architecture of the West for years. But Eric would rather push things—the more complicated the project, the better.

“When people see our work, I don’t ever want it to be the same old thing,” he says. “And I especially love using cutting-edge technology.”

Before his building career, Eric ran a large data tech company in Maryland and sold it to follow his Montana dream. He inherited this love of technology from his Dad, who worked for IBM. “I love automation, but I also try to keep it simple,” says Eric. “I now have clients using their iPhone when they are out of town to control and monitor parts of their house. If a sink starts leaking, the water shuts off automatically and they get a text message alert.”

But above all, high-tech modern or classic National Parkitecture: make the home fun to live in.

“When you wake up, your entire house can be playing jazz if you want.”

home}Frontier Builders

Big or Small: The Rules are the Same

Sabine VanLaere and her husband recently bought an older house on Whitefish Lake, but they wanted to raise the standard of living. While a major house renovation pales in comparison to the complex commercial projects Frontier has embarked on, the execution is the same.

Bottom line: “They treated me like I was very important,” says VanLaere.

“It was amazing. Because I live 260-miles away in Calgary, a lot of our communication happened over the phone or by email. Every question or concern I had, they had solutions in a friendly, helpful way.”

The renovation included new metal clad windows, barn wood siding, a new dining room and expanded family room, a new, expansive deck, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the grandeur of the lake into the home. And while Sabine talks excitedly about her new home and how comfortable it will be for family retreats, the Frontier philosophy has created another happy client by following the rules.

“We came in under budget and on-time,” she says. “That was huge. Any change that was necessary was clearly communicated and we got a copy of every bill and an overview of all the work done. I’d do it again in an instant. It was a very pleasant experience.”

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The Heart of the Business

Employees are the lifeblood of any business and Vice President of Operations, Wally Wilkinson stays busy overseeing the entire team—from the construction side, to the excavation division and general construction, to the masonry crew. Having lived in the Flathead for 18 years, he speaks with pride about the work Frontier does.

“We complete all carpentry and framing in-house, plus we do our own excavation and have a full masonry division,” he says. “We stand out in the crowd because of our commitment to quality—and our diversity.

We are the most diverse general contractor in the Flathead and have been able to assemble a team of craftsman that is second to none”

Using unique materials like reclaimed lumber and working with owners to achieve the look they want is part of the fun—and challenge.

“Working with 100-year-old wood is an exciting challenge and I especially enjoy the artistic side to our work,” says Wally. “The creativity that we get to do with rock walls and stone features makes it fun. We are not just looking at a drawing. We analyze each site and come up with the best look and get creative with materials.”

And having a good boss makes creative work flow. “Eric is a great guy to work for,” says Wally. “He is demanding, because he wants jobs completed on a timely basis, but he doesn’t breathe down your back and keep you under a microscope. He is a phenomenal guy to work with.”

Office manager Keegan Bonnet concurs. “Everyone is really flexible and works well together as a team. There are lots of perks and Eric is a generous boss. Many employees had never had a paid vacation before they started here.”

Working seven days a week can take a toll on a person, but Eric has no regrets. He loves what he does. And with a trusted team, he still finds time to go ski with his son or ride horses in the mountains. “Time in the saddle is a huge stress reliever,” he says.

Ultimately, beyond the rock and dirt, wood and mortar, steel and ceramic, circuitry and art, there are people. “I surround myself with good, smart people who have knowledge beyond my skill set,” Eric says.

“I want to change the way of thinking in the construction business,” he says as he gathers papers to go into a team meeting. “I want to help people build a different home.”

Frontier Builders at Whitefish - 406.730.1060 frontierbuildersatwhitefish.com

Eric Payne

But people can get stuck in their ways. It’s Eric’s job to motivate.

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health} resolutions

Making resolutions?

Get

By Nancy Kimball

real

What is it with New Year’s resolutions, anyway? Do we see a fresh year ahead, relish the clean slate, then chuck reality out the window and decide we’re going to design a life that’s perfect in every detail?

“Could you please for once set yourself some resolutions that could end in success?” pleaded Barbi Webber. She holds a bachelor of social work degree and is an eating disorder mentor with the Body Balance program at The Summit Medical Fitness Center, among other programs.

As a survivor of disordered eating herself, she’s passionate about people finding success. Her byword: Get real. Take stock of who you are.

“Find joy in the life you are living,” Webber said. “Recognize what you already have and what you like about yourself just the way you are.”

Then, if it’s called for, decide on the one or two things you could start changing.

Kelly Brewer is on board with that small-steps approach. Brewer, a licensed clinical social worker at The Montana Center for Wellness and Pain Management, sees resolutions melt under the hot lights of real life all too often.

“The average life span of a resolution is three weeks,” Brewer said.

She ticked off the top five resolutions: Weight loss, debt reduction, increased family time, fitness and quitting smoking or drinking.

All admirable goals; but can you really expect to achieve them – or even one? That’s where you start taking stock.

“You have to get quiet and take time to figure out what you’d like to change. Then frame it in a positive, not a negative way,” Brewer

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said. Rather than forbidding yourself from ever eating chocolate cake again, decide you’re going to improve your health and fitness. “We all like to do more, not do less. It’s all about making life more enjoyable, fuller.”

Then make a list and prioritize. Choose one or two to work on for the year. No more. Remember, we’re talking about some pretty fundamental shifts here.

“You are changing the chemistry in the brain, the neural network.

So if you are changing a habit, it takes time for that neural network to change,” Brewer said. Some experts put it at 21 days. “Our brain will default onto the most traveled path. The road less traveled in our brain requires some practice in order for it to feel like and become second nature.”

Next, kick back and visualize.

“Imagine what life would be like by achieving the shift,” Brewer said. “Use all your senses – smelling, tasting, touching, hearing and seeing." Would that free up time for other things you love?” Picture hiking with friends you enjoy, going to the gym with a smile on your face. The most successful professional basketball players “make” their all-net, three-point shots before they ever set foot on the court. “Imagining in a positive way helps you go back and touch that feeling again when you might get down about it,” she said.

Now, break down your one or two goals into achievable tasks. If one goal is to become healthier, maybe you’d decide to exercise three days a week, drink a glass of water before every meal and meditate 15 minutes a day. Easy to define, easy to track.

Brewer offered the tried-and-true SMART acronym for goal-setting:

Specific Measurable Attainable

Nail down the change you want to see.

Decide exactly what you will do, and when.

You know you can’t hit the gym seven days a week, so don’t commit to it.

Realistic Time limited

How does this fit into the rest of your life?

Give yourself a date, and re-evaluate where you are.

Webber describes this process as making a bitesized effort at what you’d like to see different. If it’s nutrition, treat yourself to a consultation with a clinical or registered dietitian; get information on how to run your body at its optimum. Is it exercise?

Ask the fitness desk at the gym for some tips, take a neighborhood walk, grab some friends and hike up Lone Pine.

Expand your passion for life; check out The Summit’s Wellsprings offerings, try the hospital’s Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction classes.

“Please try something new, and don’t feel you have to be good at it,” Webber said.

Not worrying about perfection is what it’s all about when you’re talking body image, too. Come on, look at your family members. Do you see wide hips? Accept and embrace your own genetics. Don’t pine after a digitally retouched image; be who YOU are.

Show gratitude daily for what your body can do – things as simple as walking and stretching.

“See if you can be imperfect and be OK with it,” Webber said.

“Those resolutions are a quest for one perfection after another. They set you up for failure,” Webber said. “In the short time we spend on earth, we shouldn’t spend it in guilt over failure.”

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health}dry skin

Dry Skin Solutions

By Erin Blair, Licensed Esthetician

If you struggle with dry skin, then you’re all too familiar with the irritation and discomfort that winter brings. Even if your skin is not normally dry, you probably find the cold and wind of wintertime takes its toll. The, add constant indoor heat, and it’s a recipe for misery. Unless, of course, you know how to repair lost moisture and protect your skin from further damage. There is more to it than just wearing lotion.

Ever heard of barrier function?

This refers to the complex of fatty materials (lipids) in between the cells of the outermost layer of the skin. This barrier guards against moisture loss, and prevents irritants from entering. Think of the skin as a brick wall. The cells are the bricks, held together by the mortar that is the barrier lipid complex. This lipid complex fills the gaps between the cells, creating a wall that serves as the protective covering for your entire body.

Chapped skin has lost lipids in the barrier function. This allows easy penetration of irritating ingredients and also allows precious moisture to escape. Imagine mortar that has crumbled away, leaving open space between the bricks.

Exposure to the elements, especially cold, sun, wind, dry air and indoor heat can damage the lipid barrier. In the winter, skin that’s left unprotected is much more likely to become dehydrated due to the erosion of barrier lipids. The barrier may also become impaired as a result of over-cleansing, use of the wrong cleanser for your skin type, and over-exfoliation.

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Impaired barrier function leads to flaking, redness or inflammation, itchiness, tightness, and stinging or burning. Since the skin is not holding moisture well, wrinkles and sagging will also be more apparent.

How to protect barrier function

Don’t over-wash or use cleansers that are stronger than you need.

This first strips the protective surface oils, and eventually strips the lipids in the barrier.

To help shield the skin from water loss and add a protective barrier, dry skin needs surface protection in the form of a good moisturizer which contains humectants (hydrators) and emollients (protectants). Humectants attract water, literally drawing it from the air, while emollients guard against its’ escaping. Examples of humectants are sodium PCA, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sorbitol and propylene. Common emollients are petrolatum, mineral oil, jojoba, sunflower, safflower or borage oils.

Your moisturizer should also contain lipid ingredients to help supplement barrier function.

Look for ingredients such as ceramides, linoleic acid, glycosphingolipids, phospholipids, and cholesterol. Going between the cells to fill the gaps, these lipids act like a patch to repair the missing mortar in your brick wall. Lipids can be infused into many formulas, including serums, eye cream, sun protection, and more.

The ratio in which these elements are combined will determine how heavy the moisturizer is. Lighter formulas work best for oily skin which primarily needs to replace water. A skin lacking oil will benefit from a heavier cream.

Moisturizer must be used routinely to treat and prevent dryness. Most skin benefits from morning and night application.

Correct exfoliation helps too

When you think of exfoliation, you probably think of scrubs. If your protective barrier is compromised, scrubbing will lead to irritation, dehydration and inflammation. Please do not use a scrub product, have microdermabrasion, or even rub with a washcloth.

Gentle exfoliation with mild alpha hydroxy ac-

ids promotes stimulation of the cell renewal cycle. This improves hydration and natural production of the intercellular lipids that form the barrier function. Exfoliation rids the skin of dry surface cells, allowing your moisturizer to penetrate better and ultimately be more effective. This also makes the skin look smoother, plumper and less wrinkled.

Get professional help

When in doubt, seek the advice of a qualified skin therapist. Navigating through skin care products can be a daunting task, but you don’t have to do it alone.

To improve your results, professional alpha hydroxy or enzyme peels will boost the benefits of correct, consistent home care. Professionally administered deep moisturizing treatments are also helpful in relieving dry skin irritation.

Your diet counts

liquid oils that can be added to recipes. Google EFA sources for a more complete list, or visit the health food store for great recommendations.

Your skin will never be hydrated enough if you don’t give your body the water it needs. Make it a goal to drink at least half your body weight, in ounces, every day. Eating juicy fruits and veggies with a high water content will help your cells retain more hydration than drinking water alone.

Other tricks include lowering your heat by a couple degrees at home, the office, and the car. Invest in humidifiers and run them around the clock. Place one in your bedroom, another where you spend your waking hours. Avoid long, hot showers. Apply body lotion after the shower, while your skin is still damp. Eliminate all fragrance, dye, enzymes and fabric softener from your laundry; they are irritating to a compromised skin.

A diet high in essential fatty acids (EFAs) will help support the formation of your protective barrier, and will lessen inflammation. EFAs are necessary fats that our bodies cannot synthe- If you incorporate these changes into your skin size, so we must get them from our diet. A few care, you’ll surely be more comfortable this good food sources are salmon, kale, avocado winter, the longest Montana season of all! and flaxseed. Supplements come in pill form or

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family}enjoy

Simply Enjoy By, Kristen Pulsifer

I stretch out on my bed, computer in my lap. I begin typing, and the next thing I know, I am being woken up by my three year old. I slowly pick up my lulled back head and wipe the drool from my chin (and from my key board) and look towards my child. Her hair is tussled and crusted to her own slab of drool that has formed on her own chin.

I slide my computer aside and hoist her sweet body on to my lap. I ask her what is wrong, and she very poignantly says, “The whales were swimming by my bed, and I could not get out of bed and across the floor to get to you, and …” she is asleep on my chest. I smile and hold her. My mind of course flashes to all those nights when she was just a little baby, and she would sleep on me for hours. At that time, it was a bit easier, as she fit on my chest. Now her legs stretch to my knees, and her head is curled up under my chin, forcing my head into a horrifically awkward position. She just doesn’t fit the way she used to!

I have another memory flash, of a plane ride I took with my older daughter, when she was only 8 months old. I was flying with her, by myself, and she had just embarked on her first day of the ROTA virus.

At that time I had no idea what she was sick with, but I knew I was sick of changing the most fowl diapers you could imagine! The contents were of a substance I never dreamed could come from such a small body. Anyway, I held her in my arms on the plane, and she finally fell asleep. I sighed, and let my head clunk against the window of the plane. The gentleman next to me quietly laughed, and nudged me, like he had known me for years. “You’ll miss this some day, I promise.” I politely smile and nod, thinking ‘bull!#*@!’. But he was right. Every time I am either up in the wee hours of the night with my girls, or so angry I could cry, I remember that man, and know what he said was truer than anything else I have heard from anyone in regards to kid advice.

Why do I tell you this? Because as I think of all the advice of what to do with your children over the holidays, and the things you can 406

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do to keep them ‘bright, vibrant and mentally stimulated’, I can’t get past what I felt the other night when my daughter crawled into my lap and under the covers with me. What it felt like to slide that computer aside, take a deep breath and simply enjoy being with her. So, find ways to simply enjoy each other. You know those catalogue pictures, with all of the family members wearing matching pajamas? I am not saying you have to go that far, but whether it’s skiing, skating, sledding or just sitting in front of the fire and a silly movie, just take pleasure in one another’s company.

Educators say that “academic skills are lost when the brain is unengaged for an extended period of time. And believe it or not, that can begin to happen even in a week.” Possible, but I also know that the brain is not “unengaged” when its owner is focusing on quality time with family. Experienced educators also say, “You can turn practically anything into a learning experience to keep your child's brain stimulated. Not only will this help prevent learning loss, but give your child a positive outlook on learning and improve their attitude.” What a wonderful time to simply talk to each other or just play a game – those things will engage the brain.

Whatever it is, just keep loved ones close to home, safe and happy.

Work on benefiting from each other’s company without the stresses of school and work. TAKE A BREAK and ‘engage your brain’ in appreciating the moment, friends and family. And remember the words of that kind man on the airplane. I will never forget them, because they have gotten me through a plethora of crazy times.

Happy Holidays! Be safe and enjoy.

Information cited from: Tiffany Cooper Gueye, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life). “Seven Educational Activities for Your Child Over the Holidays.”

wellness} Mindful living

mindful living

By Lee Anne Byrne, LCSW

W

ould you like a simple antidote for holiday hustle, bustle, stress, sense of meaningless, fatigue? Try GRATITUDE. The simple mindful practice of gratitude enhances our psychological and spiritual well-being in a moment’s time.

Gratitude is simply thankful appreciation. Notice the “appreciation” that goes along with thankfulness. Gratitude has an air of heartfelt connection; a cherishing, a heartbeat of deep noticing that goes beyond thankfulness alone. It comes from our being more than our head. Gratitude recognizes the simple truth of our equality with one another as humans and contains the humility inherent in that understanding.

Thankful appreciation can drop us out of our lists, worries, efforting and directly into the calm stillness of a grateful and humble heart. At the same time, gratitude can fill us with a vitality and zest for living that focusing on our complaints and wants in life, just does not accomplish.

One of my gratitudes in life is for a friend who has taught me the power of gratitude. He lives in a state of ongoing thankful appreciation. It is apparent in what he says, his emails, text messages, in the way he lives his life which is zestful, creative, optimistic and full. He says this was not always the case. He has cultivated gratitude and now it is a flowing part of his life.

So, how can we go about cultivating gratitude this holiday season and make it a gift to ourselves and to others? Pause right now. Take a slow, deep breath. Be mindful of your breathing for 3 or 4 breaths - put all of your focus on it in the present moment. Then, ask yourself: “What am I grateful for right now?” When your answer arrives, continue to breathe with awareness and also notice the thoughts, feelings and body sensations that accompany this experience of gratitude. Let the gratitude be, flow and circulate inside of you for a few moments.

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Nice break from the “to do” list, isn’t it! Now imagine what it would be like to take several “gratitude breaks” each day. With a bit of aware practice, you will find that you begin to spontaneously notice what you are grateful for.

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Thankful appreciation can drop us out of our lists, worries, efforting and directly into the calm stillness of a grateful and humble heart.

Remember that expressing your gratitude tends to grow it for yourself and for others. This is where joyful creativity comes into play. Begin to speak it out loud and attend to the words that most capture the nuance of feeling. Consider keeping a “gratitude journal” remembering you are free to embellish it with doodles, drawings, feathers, stickers, sparkles, etc.. Make a donation or offering in honor of someone or something you are grateful for. Take a moment at dinner, the next pot luck, book club, etc. to offer a single word of something you are grateful for in that moment and invite others to do the same.

Looking for a really fantastic, over the top holiday gift for someone within your budget? Write a letter of gratitude to them. Tell them all those things that you appreciate and admire about them – not just the big things, the “little” things too that make them uniquely them and a gift in your life. Sit mindfully with your breathing and see what comes through your heart when you come into stillness about this person and how they bless your life and put it to paper or video. Deliver it to them in the way that most fits for you.

Likely, your gift recipient will long remember and cherish this gift above most and quite possibly all others. While you are at it, get one of these for yourself too! Write a letter of gratitude to yourself, acknowledging the blessings you bring into your own life. You could mail it to yourself or ask someone else to do that or to slip it into your holiday stocking.

The new year is a wonderful time to take a “gratitude inventory”. Consider replacing those typically short lived new year’s resolutions with a new year gratitude inventory for what is right now. Research shows that people who practice focusing on gratitude are happier, better problem solvers, have better personal relationships, weather life transitions better, have more sense of purpose, and more. Now that incomplete list alone contains a lot of constructive new year energy!

A moment of thankful appreciation can change your entire experience.

This holiday season, be generous with yourself and others and give the gift of gratitude, which truly keeps giving.

wellness} dear dru

Dear Coach Dru,

By Dru Rafkin Jackman, PCC

What I really want from Santa this year is a better year ahead. I’ve spent the last 12 months running from one thing to the next, packing as much as I can into each day in order to be a great mother and wife and meet my work deadlines.

I’m exhausted at the end of each and every day. I love being there for everyone, but something has got to change; I can’t keep up this pace. Can you help this working wife and mother of 2 ring in a better year?

Whew, I hear ya sister! Wife, mother, colleague, community member and friend - that’s quite a few roles to fill. (In that list we’re leaving out your positions as chauffeur, activities coordinator, personal shopper, book keeper and short order cook). In each role you have responsibilities, deadlines, challenges and commitments to others.

One responsibility you didn’t mention in your letter is the one that involves being You. This is the most important role you play and it’s most often the role that gets shuffled to the bottom of your to-do list. What is important to You? What are the qualities You bring to all the roles you fulfill? What’s the contribution You would like to make? (You wants to leave your world a little bit better than You found it, am I right?).

Fulfilling your varied roles takes a lot of energy, and that energy comes from being You. Ignore You and you will find yourself feeling frustrated, bored, overwhelmed, frazzled and/ or resigned.

Have you ever noticed that everything seems to usually take more energy than you expected and more energy than you think you have? If there’s one common theme I hear from clients, colleagues and friends, it’s that they are running at a pace that is faster than their bodies and minds can keep up with. We rise early, race through our day and fall into bed exhausted and relieved that we made it. We eat on the run, run on treadmills (literally and figuratively) and rely on technology to keep us on track.

We do more and enjoy less. We have so much on our plates, so much that we want to accomplish - and so little time, it seems, to fit it all in. We quickly lose track of who we really are.

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At the Academy for Coaching Excellence where I am a Faculty Member, we talk about this kind of experience a lot. My colleagues and I work with people from around the country and around the world who are having a hard time keeping up with the pace of their lives. My job there, and in my private practice, is to support people in moving through their days more effectively and with less stress.

“Would it be alright with you if life got easier?”

This is a question we ask at the Academy a lot. It’s a simple question that gets a variety of responses: there’s the emphatic YES, the exasperated smirk, the nervous laugh and the sarcastic, “sure, Coach”. There’s the response you are having right now.

Let me ask You again, “would it be alright with you if life got easier?”

It would, wouldn’t it?

An easier life is not the one with less responsi bilities, challenges and commitments. Taking on challenges and keeping commitments are vital to our continued physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development. An easier life is the life in which you pay attention to who you are, what you are capable of and what is important to you. It’s the life in which you stop putting off what is important to you and begin taking small steps toward your goals, no matter what. It’s the life in which you stop struggling and start living. Like suffering, struggling is optional.

Life becomes a burden when we consistently spend expend loads of energy without replen-

ishing ourselves or working toward what is important to us. We lose the ability to be grateful and we wonder what it’s all for. We wake up one day to find that we’ve morphed from idealistic, passionate and thoughtful people, to frustrated, overwhelmed, sleep-deprived, cranky adults who rarely laugh or breathe deeply. Gray hairs, forgotten homework assignments and out of service ATM’s send us over the edge.

What joy would 2012 bring you if you said yes to You? While you are fulfilling the responsibilities of your various roles in life, are you moving forward with the ideas, dreams and visions that are important to you?

Is there a goal based on one of these dreams or ideas that you’ve been putting off? Would achieving it bring you joy?

What is it? What’s one small step you could take toward it?

Whether you are a working mother of two, a single father working two jobs or anyone else, You can have the best year of your life in 2012.

I promise.

Happy New Year! Here’s to your best year yet. www.solutionsbydru.com

finance}

Entrepreneurs

Year-End Business Tips for Women Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses

By Kelly O’Brien, Attorney at Law

When we think of successful business women, it is hard not to immediately think of Oprah Winfrey. Again this year, Forbes magazine rated Oprah on the "Top 400 Richest Individuals in America" list. While Oprah is among the richest individuals in the county, what is striking about her is that she is one of only women on the Forbes list to have built her fortune entirely from scratch. To achieve this level of success, she had to be savvy, understand how to effectively execute a business plan and how to protect her personal liability.

While we may not all strive to achieve the same level of success in business as Oprah, Montana thrives on small businesses that are owned and operated by women. To achieve success in business, it is important for female entrepreneurs to keep up with industry trends, cycles and news. To maintain that success, it is critical to know the basics of business law, and understand how to keep your business in compliance with these laws. If your business is not in compliance, you could be held personally liable.

Statistically, most small businesses owned by women are solo proprietorships. If your business is a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation, congratulations! You have taken the first steps towards protecting your personal liability. LLCs and corporations protect your personal liability by placing liability on a separate entity rather than an individual.

Consider a Separate Legal Structure

If you are a solo proprietor, the end of the year is the perfect time to start thinking about setting up a separate business entity such as an LLC or corporation. The decision about the legal structure of your business will impact your personal liability, ownership rights, and business operations. Making the right decision about the legal and corporate structure of your business is critical to your long-term success, so discuss your options with a business attorney to determine what is right for your specific business.

Take the Time for an Annual Review

Whether you operate a single member LLC or a corporation with a large board of directors, following certain formalities is essential to maintaining status as a separate entity. Following company formalities does not mean that it has to be “formal,” but you do need to follow certain procedures and keep your company records updated. To ensure you are protecting your personal liability, your annual review should consist of the following activities:

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1) Conduct your Annual Meeting Your annual meeting is a meeting where the business reviews the actions of the previous year. A typical annual meeting should cover issues such as: a review of the meeting minutes of previous year; presentation and adoption of the annual report; accounting review; The end of the year is an excellent opportunity elections of officers and directors; transfers in for every small business to review the previ- ownership; and review of pending actions. The ous year, make plans for the future, and take specific date of your annual meeting is ususteps to ensure that its company records are ally set by your company bylaws or operating up-to-date. Take some time before the begin- agreement. However, if you do not have these ning of the new year to review the actions of documents in place it is important to have your business and determine where its goals your annual meeting prior to April 15. I usually recommend that you schedule a date in midfor the year to come.

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January each year. If you have been in business for while, but have not held an annual meeting, it is not too late to start.

Set a date and get in the habit of a once a year meeting.

2) Prepare & Submit Your Annual Report To maintain your business status as separate entity, you must file an annual report with the Secretary of State every year. An annual report provides information about the current officers and directors of a corporation, or the members or managers of a LLC, as well as the registered agent and registered office. The Annual Report is also where you report changes in your business location and ownership.

In Montana, you must file your annual report prior to April 15 each year by submitting it to the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $15 if filed before the deadline, or $30 if filed after that date. If you do not file your report by December 1, the Secretary of State will involuntarily dissolve your LLC or corporation. You can check the status of your business by performing a business search through the Montana Secretary of State's website at www.http://sos.mt.gov/Business/.

3) Update Any Local Business Licenses or Professional Licenses Every city and county has specific requirements for licensing a business within its jurisdiction. Normally, these local licenses must be renewed on an annual basis. Check with your county or city office to determine how often you need to renew your license.

In addition, some professions such as dentists, architects and plumbers must be licensed under state law. If you fall into one of these categories, you are likely aware of your licensing requirements, however it is always a good idea

to review your licensing requirements, including a review of these agreements and any updates to the law, on an an- in your annual review you will ensure these agreements are more favorable to nual basis. you when the unexpected occurs.

4)Â Review the Financial Activities of your Business with your CPA or Review your Business Plan & Set your Goals for the Coming Year Tax Adviser In addition to the considerations addressed above, make sure you discuss any major changes to your business that occurred that year with your CPA or tax adviser. These may include such changes as the sale or purchase of a large asset; changes in employees; loans to the company; or personal investments in the company by members or shareholders. Regardless of your business type, your CPA and bookkeeper are crucial in protecting your personal liability through the tracking of your personal and business expenses, so make sure you schedule a time to review these activities before the start of a new year.

It is always difficult to take time out of a busy schedule to plan. However, every small business should make it a priority to set aside some time to review its plan, make sure the business is on target and set the direction for the future.

If you can schedule a time at least once a year to review and set your goals you will be more likely to fulfill these goals.

If you started a business without a lot of advance planning take advantage of a new year to start planning for the future success of your business. Keep it simple and tailored to your specific business and lifestyle; start with a couple of small goals and see what you can achieve in the next year.

While all women entrepreneurs may not set their sights on the Forbes "Top 400" list, you can accomplish your Although it is not required, it is a good goals and protect yourself personally idea to review the contracts and policies through a quick and simple annual reaffecting vital areas of your business. It view. is important to assess where improvements can be made and keep up with Contact Kelly O’Brien, Measure Law changes in your business to prevent Office, P.C. at (406) 752-6373 unintended consequences. Consider www.measurelaw.com such agreements as: lease agreements; insurance policies; advertising or ven- ***DISCLAIMER*** dor agreements; and subcontractor or This article is intended for educational employment agreements. Don't wait and information purposes only, it is not until a problem or dispute occurs, by intended to act as legal advice.

5) Review your Business Contracts, Agreements, and Policies

finance}tax tips

Year-End Tax Saving Tips

By Katy Croft

Taxes. I am sure that just at the sight of the word, your face cringes. Unfortunately, paying taxes is one of those things what will just never go away.

Luckily there are some very simple tax-saving strategies that you can take advantage of to reduce your 2011 tax bill and save some cash. The timehonored approach to effective tax planning is all about accelerating deductions and deferring income. Here are few quick and easy moves you can make. And, for example’s sake, let’s put some dollar amounts to each item and assume an 18% effective tax rate. I think you’ll be surprised how many ways there are to free up some cash for your holiday shopping budget.

1. Contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA). If you and your family participate in a high-deductible health plan (which means you have a deductible of at least $1,200 for individual coverage, or $2,400 for family coverage), you may be eligible to contribute up to $6,150 for 2011. An HSA is a tax-exempt custodial account for the exclusive use of paying out of pocket medical expenses, including deductibles and co-pays. Potential tax savings: $1,107 2. Make your January tithe in December. Donations to your church are tax deductible on your itemized deductions. If you accelerate all or some of your January tithing budget into December, your itemize deductions will go up, bringing your taxable income down. Additionally, you can charge other charitable donations to your credit card. Let’s assume a donation of $500. Potential tax savings: $90

3. Pay your medical expenses off. Not many of us get to take advantage of a deduction for medical expenses thanks to the 7.5% “floor”. Medical expenses are deductible only to the extent that they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. For example, if you have $50,000 in adjusted gross income, you would need more than $3,750 in medical expenses before you’re eligible to deduct any of those expenses; and even then, the deduction only includes expenses above and beyond $3,750. However, if you did incur substantial medical bills throughout 2011 and you think you might be above the floor, consider using a credit card to pay off your medical bills.

(Just be sure to pay off the card in January!) This could create a higher itemized deduction for you just by shifting the timing of when you pay the medical bills. Let’s face it – you’re going to pay the bills anyway; you might as well get a little benefit for it. Let’s assume an additional $1,000 in deductible medical expenses. Potential tax savings: $180

4. Realize losses on your investments. This can be tricky, but definitely doable. If you are holding securities that are worth less today then when you bought them, you can get creative by selling off the original holding and buy them back 31 days later. This way, you can realize those stock losses in 2011, yet substantially preserve your investment position. Obviously, it would be wise to contact your investments advisor before making any moves like this. Losses can be deducted against gains, and even $3,000 beyond that. If you realize a loss of $3,000 or more, you reduce your taxable income by $3,000. Potential tax savings: $540 5. Make your fourth quarter estimated tax payment before 12/31/11. For self-employed individuals who have no wages from which taxes are withheld, the IRS requires you to make quarterly estimated payments. The due date for the fourth and final installment is due January 16, 2012. If you itemized your deductions, make your federal and state estimated payments before the end of 2011 since federal taxes paid are deductible on your state return, and visa versa. Just as medical expenses, you’re going to ultimately make the payment anyway, so you might as well shift the timing a little to maximize your deductions. If your final state estimated tax payment is $2,000, your federal itemized deductions will increase by that much. Potential tax savings: $360

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6. Make energy-efficient improvements to your home. The credits available for making energy-efficient improvements to your personal residence are about to expire, so take advantage now while you still can. Put in some extra insulation or install energy saving windows and receive a federal tax credit of up to $500. The tax savings for credits are substantially more than a deduction because a deduction merely reduces your taxable income, while a credit reduces your total tax bill dollar for dollar. Potential tax savings: $500

7. Consider prepaying for higher education expenses. A deduction of up to $4,000 can be claimed on your 2011 tax return by prepaying for an academic term that begins during the first three months of 2012. The deduction is available to people with adjusted gross income of less than $65,000 if you’re single, and $130,000 if married, and can be claimed for you or any of your qualified dependents. This deduction is set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts to extend it. So take advantage while you can. Potential tax savings: $720

8. Take your old and unwanted items to a qualified donation center. Do you have any old clothes, shoes, furniture items, etc. that you are hanging onto “just because”? Chances are you have literally hundreds of dollars worth of items that are taking up space in your home or crawl space, never to be used again. A charitable deduction is available for your donated items so long as they are still in useable condition and the establishment provides you with a written acknowledgement. Generally, the acknowledgement is signed and dated, but it is up to you to include an itemized list of the items, as well as a value. Keep in mind that the value of the items is the “thrift store value”, so don’t get overzealous on assigning a value for that old TV you are donating. Generally, up to $500 worth of non-cash contributions can be included on your itemized deductions without the IRS asking for a more detailed explanation of the donated items. Potential tax savings: $90

9. Contribute to your Traditional IRA. For 2011, the maximum deduction available to a Traditional IRA is $5,000. This creates a significant reduction in your taxable income. Consult your financial advisor for this and other retirement-related tax saving strategies. Potential tax savings: $900

These are just a handful of ways to save a few bucks before this tax season rolls around. If you own a business or have employees, there are countless other options to explore as well. The absolute most important thing to know about tax planning is: don’t procrastinate. There are many deductions and credits that are set to expire at the end of 2011, and unless Congress acts to extend them, your tax position could be much different in 2012. Once the year is over, it’s over and it’ll be too late to make a difference in your tax bill.

finance} Holiday Money

Manage Your Money Carefully This Holiday Season As you know, the holiday season can be joyous, hectic, celebratory — and expensive. And while you certainly enjoy hosting family gatherings and giving presents to your loved ones, you’ll find these things even more pleasurable if they don’t add a lot more weight to your debt load. And that’s why you’ll want to follow some smart money-management techniques over the next few weeks.

To begin with, try to establish realistic budgets for both your entertaining and your gift giving. When you host family and friends, don’t go overboard on your expenditures.

Your guests will still appreciate your efforts, which, with a little creativity, can create a welcoming and fun experience for everyone. As a guiding principal, keep in mind these words attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous German poet and philosopher: “What you can do without, do without.” Set a budget and stick to it.

And the same rule applies to your gifting.

You don’t need to find the most expensive presents, or overwhelm recipients with the sheer volume of your gifts. This is especially true if you, like so many people, have been affected by the tough economy. Everyone 406

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you know will understand that gifts don’t have to be lavish to be meaningful.

Furthermore, by sticking to a budget, you won’t be tempted to dip into your long-term investments to pay for fabulous parties or mountains of gifts. It’s never a good idea to tap long-term investments for short-term needs, but can be especially bad when your investment prices are down, as they may well be this year.

So, if you want to stick to a budget but you don’t want to raid your investments, how can you pay for your holiday season expenses? If you can spread out your purchases, you may be able to pay for them from your normal cash flow. But if that’s not possible, you might want to consider “plastic” — your credit card. Using your credit card does not, by itself, need to amount to a financial setback, especially if you’ve chosen a card that offers favorable terms and you’ve already shown the discipline not to over-use that card. Just try to minimize your credit card usage over the holidays and pay off your card as soon as you can.

Of course, you can make your holiday season much easier, financially speaking, if you’ve

set up a holiday fund to cover your various expenses. While it’s too late to set up such a fund this year, why not get an early start on the 2012 holiday season? All you need to do is put away some money each month into an easily accessible account, separate from your everyday accounts. You don’t have to put in a great deal, but you do need to be consistent, which is why you may want to have the money moved automatically, once a month, from your checking or savings account to your holiday fund. When next year’s holiday season rolls around, you might be pleasantly surprised by how much you’ve accumulated.

But for now, following some common-sense money management practices can help you get through the holiday season in financial shape — and that type of result can get your new year off to a positive start.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor

Contact Karin Holder, your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor at (406) 862-5454 Or stop by at 807 Spokane Ave, Suite 500, Whitefish, MT. www.edwardjones.com

history}My Hutterite Life

Christmas on the Colony Excerpt from My Hutterite Life by Lisa Marie Tschetter

Lisa Marie Tschetter, a young Hutterite woman who grew up at the Gildford Colony near Havre, Montana, provides a rare public glimpse into the lives of the Hutterites, a communal religious group with colonies in the upper Midwest, Northwest, and Canada.

Originally appearing in the Great Falls Tribune, Tschetter’s "On the Colony" columns cordially and tenderly shared details about the Hutterites’ style of dress, colony organization, beliefs, holidays, celebrations and day-to-day life.

Her first-person-style articles, written when she was a teenager on the colony, were published in the book My Hutterite Life, and a discussion of Christmas traditions is excerpted here.

In my culture, Christmas is one of the biggest spiritual holidays we celebrate and probably by far the most important. But the way, how we celebrate Christmas is a lot different than how the general public celebrates it.

Just like each nationality has its tradition of celebrating Christmas, so do the Hutterites.

Food is a good example. Each year, two different ladies get to pick six kinds of Christmas cookies to bake. All the ladies join in making the cookies, which are then divided equally among each of the colony members.

A month before Christmas, the famous “Saturday Sausage” is made and is scheduled on the menu each Saturday for lunch.

One of the biggest Christmas treats is “nicklus.”

It’s a large variety of bars, candy, gum, chips, crackers, nuts and dried fruit, which is given to each family a few weeks before Christmas as a gift from the colony.

During the week of Christmas and New Year’s, the colony will plan special meals. For example, on Christmas Eve, we’ll have turkey and stuffing. For supper on Christmas Day, the cooks will make plates of “Surprise Spread.”

Christmas decorations are frowned upon and are rarely seen in Hutterite homes. In an older couple’s home, you probably won’t see more than a string of Christmas cards hanging from one wall to another.

Sending Christmas cards is something everyone seems to do a lot of. Many times with families with younger children, it’s a game to see who gets the most cards.

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Of course, exchanging Christmas gifts is something that is not frowned upon. This part of

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Christmas is very special for the children. Everyone will gather with their own families for gift exchanging, which usually happens on Christmas Eve. Many times, in large families, names are drawn for the exchange and price limits are set.

“And I’m the narrator,” said Rhoda, in a fake grownup voice. A fourth-grader this year, and the youngest in our family, she’d easily won the important role, as she is mature for a girl her age and quick to take on big responsibilities.

The children’s Christmas program is a special night for a Hutterite colony, as well as the surrounding neighbors who are asked to attend the occasion. The students’ parents make special treats, which are shared with all in attendance following the program.

“We’re adding a touch of patriotism this year, too,” added Lorraine, the oldest of the three. “We want to do something to show our respect for our country for what’s been happening in the past few months.”

Exchanging gifts among dating couples is a highlight of the season. Special Christmas cards are bought, and gifts are chosen with extra care. It’s always a treat to be able to spend Christmas with the one you love.

But by far the most important are the church sermons we have during Christmas break. We have services December 25, 26 and 27, and again on New Year’s Day and January 6.

Each year, the story of the birth of Christ is respoken, yet the goodness of it never seems to fade away. How many of us are there who are able to celebrate this beautiful season with our families and in peace?

Even though we get to celebrate the birth of Christ year after year, in our hearts, it is something we should never take for granted. * * * My three younger sisters ran home from the evening rehearsal at the church, where they met with the other colony kids to recite their plays for Thursday’s Christmas program.

“Mom, I’m a boy,” Gloria announced upon entering the house. “None of the boys in school wanted to be the main male actor in one of the plays, so I volunteered—and I got it!”

In a rush of mixed English and German, they quickly supplied my mother with an idea of what to expect on their big show night. They were cautious, though, so as not to give away any surprises.

Christmas is a very exciting time for young Hutterite children. They have so many activities going on that they’re kept extra busy throughout the month of December. Besides their program plays and songs, they’re practicing songs they’ll sing on their caroling rounds at each colony home the evening of the 25th. As it comes closer to the program, the older schoolgirls will add a helping hand making special holiday treats for everyone to share afterward at the communal kitchen.

Doing a little spy work, with the thought of helping out “the guy up north,” I asked my sisters what they were going to tell Santa their Christmas wishes were this year. After much consideration, my sister Gloria replied, “There’s a lot of stuff I want—an umbrella, a diary, a pet puppy— but do you know what I’d really wish for? I wish that all the people in the world would get along and be friends.”

Her answer greatly surprised me, for I was expecting a long list of impossibilities. Yet it dawned on me that if I had my wish, similar to my sister’s, I too would wish for world peace—and two feet of beautiful, wet snow.

In my culture, we exchange gifts each Christmas, but we don’t go to extremes. We try not to hide the true meaning of Christmas behind a pile of gifts, decorated trees and walls. We must all remember that the real reason for this special celebration is the birth of baby Jesus, born in a manger in Bethlehem long, long ago.

Of all the past Christmases I’ve celebrated with my family, I strongly feel in my heart that this year will be one of the most special and remembered Christmases ever. After all that has happened in the past few months, I think Christmas will bring every American family closer, so as not to take for granted what’s so special about this Christian holiday.

* * * Walking home from a neighbor’s house, I spotted the school kids on their way to the communal church for rehearsal for their annual Christmas program.

They’ve been practicing extra hard this week, memorizing their lines and perfecting their acting skills. I write in anticipation of this year’s December 21 performance. Just watching the kids hurry to rehearsal, lugging along their props, makes you catch the Christmas spirit.

Their guests will consist of all the colony members, many of the local neighbors and a few people from town.

Featured this year are two plays, “The Fourth Wise Man” and “The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.” At least that’s what I’ve gathered from the photocopied scripts I peeped at, found while tidying up our house, and from bits and pieces of other stuff my sisters just couldn’t help but share excitedly with my mom and me when they came home from school.

Of course, we have to remind them that it’s really supposed to be a secret, and they hold their breath, suddenly remembering the same thing.

As is custom, front seats are reserved for the performers’ parents. The program normally lasts an hour. Concluding the presentation is a visit from Santa, all dressed in red with his curly white beard.

Later, there is a snack party at the kitchen put on by students and their parents.

The Christmas program is an event many of our neighbors look forward to because it gives them a chance to come visit their friends here at our colony. It’s a great get-together for everyone attending.

Christmas Eve is family time for everyone—sharing the evening with loved ones, singing praise to the birth of our Savior and the opening of presents.

Christmas Day starts with a beautiful church service, retelling the famous story of the birth of Jesus so long ago. That afternoon at Sunday school, the non-baptized members of the colony recite about ten German Christmas songs and later are rewarded with a package of candy (as in an old tradition) from the colony’s boss.

We also have church services on December 26 and 27.

On the evening of Christmas Day, I hope to take the school-aged kids and some of the younger ones caroling to all the colony homes. At each home they’ll first sing a well-known German Christmas song, then take requests for English Christmas songs.

What a wonderful holiday Christmas is! I hope everyone can spend Christmas with a joyous heart and in good spirits this year.

But most of all, the best part of Christmas is being able to spend it with your family and those you love.

My Hutterite Life is available at bookstores, from online retailers, or from Farcountry Press, www.FarcountryPress.com.

Lisa Marie Tschetter grew up at the Gildford Colony near Havre, Montana. As a teenager, she wrote a column for the Great Falls Tribune about her life titled "On the Colony." She is now a wife and mother living on a colony in Saskatchewan.

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Book Review Sponsored by

862-9659 - 242 Central Avenue, Whitefish Below Copperleaf Chocolat Co.

Skipping Christmas By: John Grisham BOOK REVIEWS BY JOAN G. SMITH Christmas is a time to take a long look back and enjoy holiday traditions. Grisham’s take on the season is touching, hilarious and full of the frenzy that often overtakes us in the spirit of the season. Just imagine a year without Christmas! No silly office parties, no shopping and decorating, no Christmas Eve open house and no tree!

Nora and Luther Krank have decided to skip Christmas and go on a Caribbean Cruise on December 25th. Their only child, Blair, won’t be home for the first time. She has

graduated from college and decided to spend a year in Peru with the Peace Corps. Their house will be the only one on Hemlock Street without a snowman on the roof and without Christmas lights in the yard! Nora and Luther are wary, but they have no idea of the consequences of skipping Christmas.

John Grisham is famous for his legal thrillers; however, in Skipping Christmas he has taken a break from his routine and written a heart warming and humorous book instead. Though this book hit

the shelves in 2001, and I usually review recently published books, Skipping Christmas deserves to be brought out each year and enjoyed like other holiday traditions.

Star Island By: Carl Hiassen Carl Hiaasen has done it again with his hilarious take on superstar, Cherry Pye. Cherry is a twenty – two year old pop start who became one when she was fourteen, and is now trying to make a comeback. The problem… she has become a drug and alcohol disaster. She is impossible to handle; therefore, a stand in, Ann DeLuisa, has been hired. Ann is a beautiful, intelligent girl, that has no idea what she is in for.

The real trouble begins when Ann is kidnapped, from a motel in Florida,

by Bang Abbott, a delirious photographer. Bang makes a living with his pictures of the rich and famous and their most embarrassing moments, and sells them to publishers for big money. He thought Ann was Cherry.

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Now it’s a big fiasco for Cherry and her family, handlers, record producer, etc., to keep the secret, even from Cherry, that Cherry has a double that has to stand in for her when Cherry is wasted!

And, what would Hiassen’s novels be without Skink, the ex-governor of Florida, who resigned and lives in the wilds so he can make raids on those that are polluting the land and killing the wildlife? The novel becomes crazier when this zany road – kill eating ex-governor goes on the hunt to try to find and help Ann. The best part of the story is that Bang Abbott meant to kidnap Cherry to get exclusive photos, and nabs Ann by mistake. Now he has to try to

return Ann. He is offered big money for her return and for hopefully keeping his mouth shut because Cherry doesn’t even know she has a double!

Carl Hiassen’s spin on celebrity life in the fast lane is finely tuned, and the antics of everyone involved in Star Island are ridiculous. Hiassen is a satirist of the first order and is truly funny.

art} books Children's BOOK REVIEW

By Kristen Pulsifer

The Crown on Your Head Written by: Nancy Tillman

The holidays are a special time. They are a time to remind people that we care, and love them. I find this especially true in regards to my children. As I sauntered around the book store, I stumbled on the perfect book – a children’s book that does just that.

The pictures are phenomenal – quite different than those of most children’s books.

The Crown on Your Head, by Nancy Tillman, is a sweet story, written in poetic verse. It tells of the hopes and dreams we all have of our children from the first day they are born to the present. In the story, this hope is symbolized by the ‘crown’ we all see glowing on the top of our children’s heads. “On the day that we met and I put you to bed, I noticed a crown on the top of your head.”

The story goes on to describe how magnificent we know each of our children can be – “I always knew just what your crown meant. It said that you were MAGNIFICENT.” The best selling author, Nancy Tillman has successfully told a story that reminds young and old what we are capable of and how beautiful life can be.

The day I found this heartfelt read in the book store, had been an especially crabby day with my sweet kiddos. When I read this, I felt as if I could not have found a better way to remind my girls that no matter how crabby mom gets, I still have the utmost faith that they are priceless and capable of grand accomplishments – oh…and that I love them, dearly. This book would make a wonderful holiday gift for any friend or family member.

The Crown on Your Head is available at Books West in Whitefish.

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art} Music

“Classical Holiday”pops concert brings together seasonal classics with classical music!

By Marti Ebbert Kurth

What would the holiday season be without music? Just mention Christmas and I’ll bet favorite tunes like “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas…” or “Let it Snow, Let it Snow”, pop into your head.

Glacier Symphony is offering a delightful pairing of those seasonal classics with traditional classical music on December 17th and 18th, in Kalispell at its “Classical Holiday” pops concert, held at the Flathead High School Performance Hall. The best news is that you can bring kids, grades 12 and under, to the concerts for free!

A collection of holiday favorites such as The Skater’s Waltz, Johann Strauss’ Fledermaus Overture, Jingle Bells Forever, and Leroy Anderson’s celebratory Christmas Festival and will certainly put you in a holiday mood.

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The classical portion of the concert will be a special treat as it will feature three accomplished young musicians in performance with the orchestra. The students were winners of the MASO Young Artists statewide competition that was held in Bozeman last January. MASO, the Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras, holds the bi-yearly event to recognize and encourage symphonic musicians.

Rosalyn Weiss, a violinist/fiddler from Billings will perform “Threads and Strings” by Mark O’ Conner - an unusual, foot-tapping concert work for solo violin and string orchestra that explores the rich genre of fiddle music.

Classical pianist, Damian Garvey, currently a music student at the University of Montana, will offer selected movements from the wonderfully sparkling “Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor” by Saint-Saens, a work full of pianistic flash and bravado.

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And Kalispell’s Jessica Chon, will perform “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso” by Saint-Saens. The soft spoken, 17-year-old violinist was chosen to solo with the orchestra after GSC Music Director, John Zoltek, heard her performance at the MASO competition. Though she ultimately won the runner up award in the competition, Maestro Zoltek felt her performance was exceptional and invited her as one of the soloists with the orchestra for the holiday concert.

I caught up with Jessica backstage at intermission of the recent Glacier Symphony and Chorale performance of “Russian Mythic.” Jessica has been performing with the GSC for several years, ever since Maestro Zoltek invited her to join the second violin section.

Jessica says she has been playing the violin since age four, having begun with the Suzuki lesson program. But it wasn’t her first instrument of choice.

“My brother Amos first started playing the cello, and I really wanted to play the cello as well, because I always wanted to do what my brother did (he’s 4 years older than me). But my mom thought it would be best to not have two cellos in the house, so she decided to start me on the violin instead, and we’ve been playing duets together ever since we were little,” she said.

A home school student, Jessica began formal violin studies with Eileen Iams, and at age 12 began studying with Kalispell teacher, Jackie Melvin, whom she continues with today. “She is a wonderful teacher and she has really boosted me.”

Under Melvin’s tutelage, Jessica has grown as a performer and the Saint-Saens piece she will perform for the concert requires a skillful confidence and maturity.

“I requested to play it. I’ve never performed as a soloist and it is a piece that I’ve always wanted to play with an orchestra,” Jessica is a little nervous but also excited. “It’s such a great opportunity to play with them.”

Jessica’s future plans include college, and she is preparing for that by taking courses in the “Running Start” program at Flathead Valley Community College. “I am sending audition tapes to Rice University in Texas, because there is a teacher there with whom I want to study.”

Her relaxation time is spent with her little white American Eskimo dog “Mochi” which means rice cake in Japanese. She also enjoys doing marshal arts, such as TaeKwando, practicing with her father since her brother went off to college.

In late November she will fly to Tennessee to audition for a competition at Southern Adventist University, where her brother Amos is a student. “I will audition for a competition, and if I make it, I will perform with their orchestra in January.”

Jessica says her plan is to continue sharing the beautiful music of the violin with others. “With the violin I can show many different kinds of feelings more strongly than words. I just plan to expand on my musicality.

All seats for the Classical Holiday concert are reserved; please call the GSC office at 257-3241 to secure a free student seat. Ticket prices range from $10 to $32 for adult seats and can be purchased online at the website www.gscmusic.org

It will definitely be a concert to get you in a holiday mood!

406 women}

profiles

Dr. Debbie Wade

by Kristen Hamilton - Photo by Brent Steiner

I

’ve come to realize that we are surrounded by some pretty amazing women in the Flathead Valley. You know the type…they are successful but not showy. They are kind-hearted and giving, and they are the women you want to spend time with if only to absorb their positive energy.

Dr. Debbie Wade fits this category. She is not only beautiful on the outside, but after spending some time with her, I realized her beauty is much more than skin deep. Wade was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, and at the age of thirty – five, while her children were young, she decided to start medical school. She had a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration, and after working as a manager in a urology office, she wanted more. She said, “I wanted to be a doctor, but I was scared and thought I was too old. Then I realized, what’s the worst that can happen?” After four years of medical school at the University of Kansas, five years of radiology residency, and a oneyear fellowship with the Mayo Clinic in women’s imaging, she realized her dream.

Luckily for the valley, her next step was moving here, just five years ago. Her children were grown and her son, Kyle was living in nearby Lethbridge, Alberta, with his wife and her brand new grandchild.

She decided to pick up roots from Kansas and move to the Flathead to be closer to them. Upon moving here, Wade was shocked when she discovered the number of women who were not receiving regular screening mammograms. She said, “I realized that whether it was the culture, lack of education, or finances, the rate of women receiving regular mammograms was very low. The area that I could probably make the quickest impact was financially.” She founded ‘Save a Sister’ with the help of Susan Kuhlman, Tagen Vine, Northwest Healthcare, Flathead Health Department, area hospitals, and many volunteers. Simply put, ‘Save a Sister’ provides free mammograms to women in need, with no questions asked. The program started with screening and now includes diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds. In the past few years, several hundred women have benefited. Although Wade would never take full credit, I can assure you that she has been instrumental in helping to raise over $335,000 since September 2008.This is only the tip of the iceberg. Wade’s dedication to women’s health is benefiting all of us. She has raised the levels and standard of care of breast imaging, in Northwestern Montana. “Anyone with an idea and the drive to make it happen can do it,” she said. I think she’s being modest, as most people don’t go to the lengths she has to “do it.”

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Another huge accomplishment has been the work of Tagen Vine, President of Northwest Healthcare Foundation, and the generous donation of local philanthropist and breast cancer survivor, Jane Winkley, who established the Winkley Women’s Center. This one of a kind mobile unit travels to rural areas providing mammography, breast ultrasound, and DXA (bone density) exams. Wade said, “The Winkley Women’s Center provides real time, high quality digital imaging to women that don’t have convenient access otherwise. If there is a concern, I am able to receive the images immediately to help in early diagnosis and the patients know the results during their visit to the coach.” In addition, philanthropist Paul Bass facilitated a $1,000,000 gift for the Breast Surgical Oncology Center for breast cancer surgery.

Wade is a member of Northwest Imaging, which is a private radiology practice serving northwest Montana. Holly Apple, a radiology technician at Health Center Northwest, says, “She (Dr. Wade) is an amazing radiologist and very smart. She is a very passionate person who loves to have fun. We fondly call her our Queen Bee.”So what’s next? “I plan to replenish myself a bit,” she said. Wade knows she’ll do the most good when she takes care of herself as well as attending to others. She’s going to continue to enjoy family, friends, and her Bichon Frise (dog) “Bijou”.

Wade has made a difference in the community, and I intend to thank her each time I see her!

Save a Sister 877-399-0384.

Find us on Facebook at "Save a Sister Montana

406 women}

profiles

Fran Tabor O ,A ,G

Business

I

wner

uthor

randmother

by Kristen Hamilton - Photo by Rachel Lynn Photography

had the pleasure of sitting down and getting to know Fran Tabor recently. What I discovered is that she is a hard working businesswoman, a published author, and a cancer survivor who has deep love and gratitude towards her family and friends.

Fran said, “I know life is not what we expect or plan…just expect to be surprised.”

She has learned to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Fran has worked hard to build her business, A-1 Vacuum & Sewing, and although that is still a very important aspect of her life, she spends much of her free time writing. In an endeavor that started simply as a hobby, writing has become a creative outlet to release the stress of the day. Fran has published two non-fiction books. Her latest is entitled, Live Abundantly! Business Lessons From The Bible, which she wrote after being diagnosed with cancer, an employee’s embezzlement, and being encouraged to declare bankruptcy. Instead of quitting, she turned to the Bible to see what business lessons she could learn. The answers saved her and her business. The other book called Instant Cleaning Expert was written for other vacuum business owners to share business lessons and basic cleaning advice to help their business grow.

She is working on a second edition of this book.

Now Fran has branched out and recently completed a science fiction novel called To Own The Sun. It sounds like a fascinating tale from the alien viewpoint. Fran is currently looking for a publisher for her latest book.

Having a creative outlet is important, and that’s one of the things she loves about owning A-1 Vacuum & Sewing. It gives her the opportunity to help people either finish a task at hand with great products in cleaning or enjoy creating a beautiful finished product through sewing.

Fran and her husband worked at A-1 in Missoula then moved to Kalispell in 1978, and started their own business in a double bay garage south of town. They lived in one bay, and worked out of the other one. Twelve years ago, the business moved to its’ current location on Center Street in Kalispell. During my recent tour of A-1 Vacuum & Sewing, I was surprised at how many products are available for customers to try out. There is a wide array of vacuums available, and if you have allergies and/or pets, getting a high quality product is really important in keeping your whole house clean. A-1 also services vacuums, and the technicians are highly trained to do the job right.

Every cleaning supply imaginable is available for professionals, and the general public.

A-1’s sewing section has multiple machines available to try, and they teach classes regularly. They have fabric, patterns and accessories for every sewing project. Sewing machines are also serviced and repaired at A-1.

Fran is proud that A-1 has been rated in the top percentage of vacuum stores nationwide, and that A-1 is able to compete with similar businesses in cities that have a much larger population than Kalispell.

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She and her staff attend seminars, training workshops and educational sessions to be sure they are informed and current on the latest products and innovations.

“I have absolutely fantastic people working with me,” Fran says with tears in her eyes. Everything else aside, she knows one of the main reasons for her businesses’ success is her family and staff. It hasn’t always been easy. When she encountered the difficulties that inspired her to finish Live Abundantly, she had to let go of her pride. Her family, friends and employees helped her survive. A daughter and sonin-law work at A-1, and she couldn’t be more proud. Her other daughter teaches in Maine.

When asked what she likes most about owning a business, Fran replied, “It has allowed me to bend the rules.” The main rule she refers to is allowing employees who are new mothers (including her daughters) to bring their children to work.

When she had young children, they were always by her side, and she loved being able to work with them near. She wants her employees to be able to support their families and be around their babies. It has worked out well.

Fran encourages you to come in and take a look at all the great products they have to offer at A-1 Vacuum & Sewing. You are sure to get a warm hello when you walk in the door, along with some top-notch advice on products and service options.

What are Fran’s plans for the future? “Watch my grandchildren become wonderful people,” she says.

A-1 Vacuum & Sewing 140 W Center StreetKalispell, MT 59901 (406) 755-1871

Kim Shirley

works in watercolor

Commission a one of a kind portrait in time for the Holiday Season 406.370.6728 espanartistica@hotmail.com Whitefish, MT

www.kimshirleyoriginals.com

406 man} Jim Oliverson

S h a r p D r e s s e d 406 M a n

Jim Oliverson

by Kristen Hamilton - Photos by SharpEye Photography

I can’t remember the first time I

met Jim Oliverson, but I’m pretty sure he was one of the first people

I met, in a business environment, when I moved to this valley over

twenty years ago. What I remember about that meeting still holds

true today – Jim is one of the most

genuinely sincere, authentic, and sharp dressed men I have ever met.

As the Senior Executive Director of External Relations at Northwest Healthcare, Jim is involved in the community. It’s his job. “I am like the lightening rod for the organization. I try to keep my finger on the pulse of the community and really try to find out what the people value about our services,” he says. What he’s discovered is that although a larger percentage of people have not stayed overnight in the hospital, “they’re glad it’s there if they ever need it.”

How does he do it? By being very involved!

Jim started in healthcare over forty-two years ago, as the CEO for the hospitals in Ronan and St. Ignatius. He has been with Northwest Healthcare in Kalispell for over twenty years. We joke about the titles he has had over the years, which have included: CEO, HR Manager, VP Clinical Services, COO, VP Support Services, Licensed Insurance Salesman Glacier Health Plan PPO, and a few more VP titles. Regardless of those titles, he has kept his positive outlook for the hospital and his hand on the pulse in the community. He added that he has never been much for titles and then quoted, “Who would your friends be if you didn’t have a title?” To Jim, the answer to that question is a true measure of an individual’s worth.

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As a community representative, Jim is active on many boards that are doing a lot of good for the following areas: the Kalispell Chamber, Somers/ Lakeside Chamber, Columbia Falls Chamber, Flathead Building & Industry Association, Flathead Business and Economic Development Council, Montana West Economic Development, Police Advisory Committee, ALERT Advisory Board, Flathead Convention & Visitors Bureau,

Montana Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and United Way. He is also proud of being one of the original founders of Leadership Flathead and remains quite active with Rotary International. “A lot of what they (Rotary) do is below the radar which is very similar to what Northwest Healthcare is about. It’s not about a photo opportunity but about doing something really important because it’s right.” Developing Miracle Field at the KidSport Complex and helping restore the natural rock fence at Conrad Mansion Museum, are a few examples that Jim notes have really made a difference. One thing is certain, Jim gives back and is grateful that he’s had the opportunity to do so.

In over forty years with Northwest Healthcare, Jim has seen many good changes and looks forward to further positive growth. He knows people choose this area because they want to be here, and the staff at the hospital is no different, which allows them to recruit and retain the best. Most of us think of the hospital as a place to either have a child or go to only in an emergency, but great technological advances and community support have allowed Northwest Healthcare to become a true leader in all types of health care arenas. To Jim, one of the most significant signs of progress in recent years has been the additions to the cancer department. The mobile mammogram unit (Winkley Women’s Center) is a reality and allows for cancer screening literally anywhere there is a road. The position of a Breast Cancer Navigator has been a terrific edition to help cancer patients through every step of the daunting process of treatment. Jim commented that he can’t imagine three worse words to hear than, “you have cancer,” and knows the navigator helps tremendously in the treatment process. “Every day there are new incredible stories of advancement and treatment options.”

“I am like the lightening rod for the organization. I try to keep my finger on the pulse of the community and really try to find out what the people value about our services”

Jim has been married for 46 years and has two grown sons. When he’s not heading to a board meeting or working at the hospital, he enjoys gardening and fishing. “Overall”, he says, “I’m comfortable in my own skin” and plans to keep enjoying life. He was born during the depression and raised on a farm during WWII. His upbringing has given him a strong work ethic. People at that time didn’t retire or take vacations. He certainly doesn’t see retirement as an option any time soon and “Besides”, he says, “I’d drive my wife crazy.”

Jim feels passionately about the fact that “I don’t think any human being should have to go to bed hungry or cold…there is no valid excuse for that.”

“The future here is with some of the great new local companies that are contributing to our community,” Jim says. He is very impressed with the development of Nomad Technologies and Zinc Air and sees companies like these as our future.

Anything else? “Maybe I’ll write a book on leadership,” he says, pointing to the bookshelf above me with an array of books covering the subject. Go for it Jim! I’d read it!

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community} family

Cold Winter + Warm Fun = Written by Kristen Hamilton

As we all know, winter in the Flathead can be very long and cold with limited Another popular attraction is the LaZer FrenZy Maze. It’s like .007 when you are crawling through options for entertainment and fun. the lazer beams trying to beat your friends score If you’re looking for a way to entertain rambunc- and earn tickets. The Arcade has the newest and tious kids, somewhere fun to go on a date, or a best games around. “We recently added a twogreat place to plan your cooperate Christmas lane bowling game that has become really popuparty, visit The Zone Family Fun Center. Celebrat- lar,” Jodi said. The prize zone features great prizes ing their one year anniversary this December, The for everyone from real Electric Guitars to DVD players and novelty items.

Zone offers something for all ages.

This fun center is huge! Off Hwy 2 West just 2 miles North of Reserve, the convenient central location is easy to access from any town in the valley. Offering activities and attractions for all ages, there is no admission to “Get In The Zone”.

The KraZy Zone stands in the center of The Zone and is great fun for everyone. It is a 2 story unit where you can climb and shoot each other with soft foam balls from air cannons and a air powered ball fountain. The electric bumper cars are unique in that even the younger kids can drive their own cars, because they use unique handle controls rather than foot controls.

The newest offering at The Zone is the Camp Zone, a drop-in childcare service. It’s available to kids from 18 months to 12 years and offers activities, crafts, games, snacks and peace of mind for parents. Open seven days a week, parents can drop off kids for an hour or two or the entire afternoon.

Jodi said, “It’s a great locally owned business, and I love the fact that we are always updating and changing things and are very engaged with the community.”

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FUN is really what it’s all about. During the month of October, they offered a haunted house, in November, a food drive, and over Christmas, Santa will be on hand to greet the kids. They plan to continue with special events during all Package pricing allows you to pick and choose the holidays. Day camps are also available duryour fun and what works with your budget. The ing the school breaks. For latest information on Zone uses re-chargable game cards that can be loaded with various attractions and arcade cred- Everyone loves the Bounce Zone, which has an in- specials and coupons, you can follow The Zone on its. Birthday party, group packages, and private flatable bounce house complete with an 18 ft. in- Facebook. flatable slide and a toddler area. They have their events are also available. own private bounce house and activities. You can The Zone Family Fun Center “Probably the most popular area for the older come bring the kids to Bounce for only $3.00 per (Open Tuesday-Sunday, Closed Monday for private events). kids is the LaZer Combat Arena,” said Jodi Fee, child, for unlimited bouncing, and parents are free Extended hours will be available during Christmas Break.

3240 Hwy 2 East Kalispell manager at The Zone. “It’s a 3,500 sq. ft. blacklit, (and encouraged) to bounce with their child.

406-755-9663 (ZONE) fully themed arena filled with fog and sound efwww.zonefamilyfun.com fects. Coming soon will be some additional com- The on-site restaurant called SLiCE offers freshly Open Tuesday through Thursday & Sunday 11:00AM-9:00PM; ponents and membership options to the Lazer Tag made to order, hand-tossed pizzas, salads, wraps, Friday & Saturday 11:00AM-11:00pm that will allow players to earn additional types of wings, and drinks. Even the pizza dough is made Camp Zone - Drop in Daycare (Open 7 days a week) weapons and advantages based on your play ac- fresh right at The Zone. The Zone offers free Wi406-646-2267 tivity. There are various games that can be set up Fi in case you want to catch up on work after the Open Monday-Friday 7:30AM-8:30PM; kids wear you out. so it’s like being in a video game,” she added.

Saturday & Sunday 9:00AM-6:00PM

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community}FNF

The Women Behind First Night Flathead

In September 2008, Patrice Manget and Jill Redmond, subcontracted by the Kalispell Downtown Association, took on the production of First Night Flathead, the annual non-alcoholic family friendly community New Year’s Eve Gala that takes place in Kalispell. A month later, the US economy collapsed and an all-day blizzard on December 31st greeted their maiden voyage with the event. But it happened and was a success.

In September 2009, the KDA stepped down from organizing and as the event’s future hung in the balance, Manget recalls, “I asked Jill, ‘Should we go for it?’ Jill replied, ‘Let’s do it.’ So with a new Board of Directors and a huge leap of faith, the two of us have produced FNF ever since.”

Manget and Redmond voluntarily serve respectively as Board President/Organizer and Vice President/Graphics/PR & Marketing Director, and are subcontracted by the FNF Board for their professional time to produce First Night Flathead. “We’re allocated modest fees,” says Manget, “given that we work for almost 5 months, at times 24/7, from September through January, and that’s during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays.”

Manget is a Valley transplant. With family here since 1975, she moved here permanently in October 1996.

With many years experience in event planning and production with her company The Montana Concierge, Manget is also a career blues and jazz singer. Her professional perspective from “both sides of the lights” gives her unique skills as First Night’s organizer in booking the venues and the music groups, as well as handling all the logistics, paperwork, data bases, volunteer schedules, admission button sales and promotional interviews.

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Redmond is a 4th generation Montanan, born and raised in the Valley, with an accomplished career as a

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Photo of Jill by Kelly Nelson -Photo of Patrice Manget on right by Michael Dores.

In September 2009, the KDA stepped down from organizing and as the event’s future hung in the balance, Manget recalls, “I asked Jill, ‘Should we go for it?’ Jill replied, ‘Let’s do it.’ So with a new Board of Directors and a huge leap of faith, the two of us have produced FNF ever since.”

top notch graphic designer and marketing professional with her company Z Designs. Her success in design branding for signature Valley events and businesses has elevated the look of FNF to world class standards.

Redmond oversees the design and production of all FNF promotional elements from the website, poster and information brochure to the button design, display ads for print, TV and web, and layout for the Official Program Guide. She likewise gives personal service to the VIP level Sponsors, insuring that they receive each and every one of their Sponsor level benefits.

“When we launched Jill’s new Sponsor Package with the 2009 fundraising,” says Manget, “many sponsors told me Jill’s involvement as our PR/Marketing director was huge, saying she always gave 120% and did absolutely everything she said she would. It’s pretty wonderful to have it affirmed that not only your professional partner but your best friend has such huge respect in the Valley.”

They are especially proud of the 2008 launching of the Free Children’s Activities at the Kalispell Center Mall as a regular part of FNF. “We decided we wanted to do something for the Flathead families in light of the economic crash. We met with Alisa Ibey, the Mall Manager, and Lisa Brown, General Manager of the Red Lion Hotel. They were fantastic! We would never have been able to launch and grow these free activities without their advice and whole hearted support!”

FNF has been consistently and generously supported for many years by a core group of sponsors but with

the continuing adverse economy, Manget and Redmond worried about raising enough funding to produce this year’s event. Discussions in the downtown arena produced one united opinion: First Night is a fabulous and hugely popular annual event. The community looks forward to it every year. It benefits everyone – the artists, the families, the businesses and the community – it is inconceivable that it not happen. “This event gives families an opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a safe environment while the Valley gets to appreciate its local talent.” Manget says, “Many performing artists bring their entire families.”

So of course they launched it, and with fundraising down alarmingly from last year, Manget and Redmond have appealed to the Valley community to give what they can. “You don’t have to be a major sponsor to support First Night,” says Redmond. “If everyone gave us $5, it would be huge. Every penny we raise goes right back into the economy so all support is two-fold: taxdeductible donations pay for the event while the event pays the artists, the vendors, the insurance, etc. We’re a community event asking the community for support.”

So why take on the long hours, stress and worry again?

“It’s what we do,” they reply. “We’re good at it. Despite the problems every year, we’ve made it happen. There are these moments of spontaneous joy. In the wee hours when we haven’t slept for two days and we’re a bit giddy, there come these moments of just sheer fun.”

Contact: Patrice Manget 406.253.2471 www.firstnightflathead.org

community} happenings

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Crush Wine Bar

By Megan M. Grunow Photos by Brent Steiner

An effervescent glass of bubbly awaited you as you ascended the stairs into what is now being hailed the “new hot spot in Whitefish.” The grand-reopening of newly remodeled Crush Wine Bar took place on October 22nd (cleverly referred to as the “Take2 Party”). It was a smash hit. Everyone enjoyed the new atmosphere, and mostly the new feel that was present that October evening.

The downtown streets of Whitefish were torn up and blocked-off, due to construction, but a significant crowd persevered through the fences and construction horses, to attend this elegant opening. The crowd who came for the festivities resembled patrons of a smart London nightclub or a New York Loft. Little black dresses peppered the room, and gentlemen were taking notice.

Megan Grunow, the new General Manager of Crush, orchestrated the event with one thing in mind - resuscitate a once struggling bar. Megan and sole proprietor of Crush Wine Bar, Bayard Dominick, have one simple mission for Crush provide a chameleon like space that can easily go from being a sexy jazz lounge one night, to a thumping electronic dance party the next.

The front room is available for semi-private gatherings, and a caterer is on hand to help fulfill your culinary desires.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday December 8th Luke Dowler Acoustic Trio 9pm FREE

Friday December 9th Turbulence with G9- Dance Party!

10pm FREE

Saturday December 10th- Amy Jean and Lucas Mace, 8pm FREE

Wednesday December 14th LIVE COMEDY! $15.00 Presale $20.00 DOOR Call for info Thursday December 15th Burlesco, 8pm FREE

Friday December 16th “Good Life” with Keishie; hosted by Angie LeDuc. Dance Party! 10pm FREE

Saturday December 17th Dead Hipster Dance Party 10pm FREE

Wednesday December 28th Barrel Stove Jazz Combo 8pm FREE

NEW YEARS EVE: “Good Life” with Keishie; hosted by Angie LeDuc. Dance Party!

10pm FREE

Crush Wine Bar 124 Central Avenue Whitefish. Montana 59937 406-730-1030

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community} happenings

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Mollydooker Whirlwind Tour Photos by SharpEye Photography

On September 7th, Whitefish was the 3rd stop on a Mollydooker whirlwind tour across the USA. Seattle and Denver were the next stops. Sparky Marquis and a few loyal, hard working young interns showed up in Whitefish to put on a wine tasting, showcasing their 2010 release of their award winning wines.

The event was featured at the Whitefish Lake Restaurant, and Sparky and the gang put on a great tasting along with a personal blending experiment at the table. Equipped with scientific blending equipment, each group of 4 guests was able to make their own blend of the Two Left Feet wines. They then competed with one another to see who made the best blend. Sparky and the gang poured the following line: The much acclaimed Velvet Glove Shiraz, Carnival of Love Shiraz, Enchanted Path Cabernet-Shiraz, Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz, and the Gigglepot Cabernet. They also poured the Leftie Series which includes The Boxer, Maitre D' Cabernet, Scooter Merlot and Two Left Feet blend. It was complimented with an excellent meal and the unrivaled service of the Whitefish Lake restaurant.

Dinner was a perfectly served Bone-in Fillet, served medium rare, and drizzled with demi glaze that was made with Mollydooker’s Gigglepot Cabernet, purple mashed potatoes and asparagus. Dan’s Chocolate Decadence was the dessert.

Instructions on meal service were several pages long, requiring one server per ten gests and provision of over 450 wine glasses. Storage of wine had to be at exactly 58 degrees. The temperature of the main dining area had to be exactly 60 degrees, while the outside temperatures were in the 80’s.

The white wine, Violionist, chilled in ice, was served at the welcom-

ing reception. Violinist was served with appetizers of Coconut Fried Chicken/ Cantaloupe Skewers, and seared scallops topped with citrus salad. It was quite the elegant spread.

Besides just making the wines, Sarah Marquis also designed all the fun labels. The Blue Eyed Boy features a picture of their son, Luke, and the Gigglepot wine label is a gorgeous picture of their daughter, Holly. For the higher end wines such as Carnival and Enchanted Path, and the elegant Velvet Glove label, they received the Australian packaging award

Sara and Sparky Marquis founded Mollydooker wines in 2006. Mollydooker is the slang in Australia for left hander. Mollydooker is similar slang to people in the United States calling a lefty a south paw. Since Sara and Sparky are both left handed, it seemed like the right fit. Robert Parker soon gave the first releases the best value award, in the world, and the rest is history.

Mollydooker continues to produce all their wines with finest fruit available, and they consistently wow the reviewers and the consumers alike. They are both passionate about their motto, "We make wines that make people go WOW, through commitment to excellence and attention to detail".

These Wines are available, for your Christmas gift giving needs and Holiday celebrations, at your local wine shops.

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