Holiday 2010

On April 24, 2009 Greg Michels died... weeks later, he got a second chance.

Music Makers

Emerging artists aim for the big time

Freemason Founders

Billings’ Masonic Roots

Entrepreneurial Spirits Turning passion into success

Plus

Our Picks for Holiday Gift Giving

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 1

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903 Shiloh Crossing Blvd 281-8414

location

now oPEn!

Meet the Turnerwagnerbeitzlehmkuhlewydohertys.

What’s in a name? For six families in Kansas, it has been the support, friendship and love they shared at a very special place. Their amazing story began in the fall of 2000 when six women gave birth to seven premature infants. As often happens, complications arose and the babies required long and often difficult hospital stays.

To be close to the hospital, all of the families moved into the nearby Ronald McDonald House® in Wichita.

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HOLIDAY 2010

Cover Story

58 Miracle Man: Greg Michels was a loving husband and devoted father until he died.

Weeks later, he got a second chance.

By Brenda Maas

63 The Gift of Life: A mother’s story The Montana Mongolia Connection: 64

By Brenda Maas

By Stephan Kosnar

Compassion fuels the work of Dr. Megan Evans, M.D.

69 Seeking Higher Ground: Words of Wisdom: 73

A season of spirituality

By Laura Tode

The best advice I ever received—community members share

By Nancy Brook

76 Innovators:

MAGIC • BILLINGS’ CITY MAGAZINE SINCE 2003

82 Winter Music Scene: Christmas in Cappawhite: 86

MIRACLES • FREEMASON FOUNDERS • INNOVATORS

Music Makers

Emerging artists aim for the big time

Freemason Founders

Billings’ Masonic Roots

Turning passion into success

HOLIDAY 2010

Plus

Our Picks for Holiday Gift Giving

Emerging artists aim for the big time

By Elizabeth McNamer

By Anna Paige

Excerpted from Elizabeth McNamer’s memoir

On April 24, 2009 Greg Michels died... weeks later, he got a second chance.

Entrepreneurial Spirits

5 enterprising entreprenuers who parlayed creative ingenuity into success By Dan Carter

On the Cover Photo by MBPHOTO, INC.

90 In Search of Super Plants:

For 50 years, scientists in the Clarks Fork Valley have been quietly decoding Mother Nature. By Jim Gransbery

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 5

HOLIDAY 2010

The List: Fun, fascinating finds for the holidays...............................................13 Profile: Sophia Brown, Centenarian .............................................................20 Giving Back: Giving the gift of self through volunteerism ............22 EcoSense: Sustainable Shine .........................................................................28 Artist Loft: Julie Pederson Atkins ..............................................................30 Media Room: Reads, Tunes, DVDs and Technology ....................32

30

46 40

34

44

. Signature Sections

Fine Living . Great Estates: A Quintessential Craftsman Christmas..................34 Epicure: Lamb and Christmas pudding .....................................................40 Libations: Holiday Bubbly ................................................................................44 40

Travelogue

52

Beyond Billings: Fire and Ice in Yellowstone .................................52

Montana Perspectives Legends: Business & Brotherhood: Billings’ Masonic Roots..46

50

I’m Just Sayin’: Life’s Great Pageantry............................................50 .

Photo Journal: Miracles happen every day.................................56 In Every Issue

Editor’s Letter: Miracles big and small ............................................ 8 Contributors ....................................................................................................... 9 Seen at the Scene ..............................................................................94 DateBook ............................................................................................................96 Last Word ...........................................................................................................98

6 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

Why Magic City?

In the early 1880s, immigrants and adventurers came in droves to seek their livelihood on the verdant land along the Yellowstone River. The hastily constructed tents and log cabins made it appear as if Billings materialized overnight – thus earning the name “The Magic City.” Today, as the largest city in Montana, Billings proudly retains its ‘Magic City’ moniker. As for Magic City magazine, we promise to continue our mission to uncover all that is unique and wonderful and changing in this great community ... and we guarantee a few surprises along the way.

Holiday 2010

Michael Gulledge

•

VOLUME 8

•

ISSUE 4

Sometimes, Simple Is Better.

Publisher 657-1225

Editorial

Allyn Hulteng Editor 657-1434 Bob Tambo Creative Director 657-1474 Brittany Cremer Senior Editor 657-1390 Dina Brophy Assitant Editor 657-1490 Linsay Duty Assitant Editor 657-1490 Evelyn Noennig Assistant Editor 657-1226

ONE PROMISE. ONE WARRANTY.

Larry Mayer, David Grubbs, James Woodcock, Casey Riffe, Bob Zellar, Paul Ruhter Photographers Kyle Rickhoff, Preston Stahley

Online Web Designers

Advertising

Dave Worstell Sales & Marketing Director 657-1352 Ryan Brosseau Classified & Online Manager 657-1340 Louie Mann Advertising Coordinator 657-1254 Nadine Thorson Lead Graphic Artist 657-1286 MAGIC Advisory Board

Jim Duncan, Brian M. Johnson, Denice Johnson, Nicki Larson, Susan Riplett, Jeanelle Slade

Contact us: Mail: 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101 editor@magiccitymagazine.com Find us online at our newly redesigned website www.magiccitymagazine.com Now available at: Albertsons, Borders Books, Music & Cafe, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Hastings Books, Music & Video, Yellowstone County Museum Gift Shop, Holiday Stationstores (Billings area), ZooMontana Nature Store, Gainan’s Downtown, Jacket’s and Co. and many other locations.

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Subscriptions are available at the annual subscription rate of $29 (6 Issues). Single copy rate $4.95. Mail subscription requests and changes to address above, ATTN: Circulation Magic City is published bi-monthly by Billings Gazette Communications Copyright© 2010 Magic City Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without

Billings 406.652.4666 2950 King Ave W www.PierceFlooring.com

express written consent is prohibited.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 7

FROM THE EDITOR

this issue

Miracles big and small When you are witness to a miracle, you know it.

It’s one of those moments that pierces the mortal plane, leaving no doubt there is something greater at work in the universe. And it leaves you forever changed.

The mighty I used to think that miracles had to be big events – really big events – like those I learned about in Sunday school.

With time and maturity, however, I’ve come to believe that miracles small and large take place every day in our world … and far from being passive, people play an important role.

Take Pam Rox, for example. Pam became acquainted with Henry Graham at the Billings YMCA where both regularly work out. In casual conversation, Pam discovered that Henry would eventually need dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant. Though she barely knew him, she offered to donate one of her kidneys.

That’s right – Pam gave one of her kidneys to a virtual stranger.

What’s more, she’s humble about it.

I don’t know Mr. Graham, but I suspect if you were to ask him he would say Pam Rox’s selfless act was nothing short of miraculous.

Small acts, big impacts Every day we’re given opportunities to make a difference in someone else’s life. Maybe it’s not something as dramatic as donating a kidney. Maybe it’s a kind word or thoughtful gesture. The point is we have the power to bump others in a positive way if we choose to do so. And large or small, never underestimate the impact one kindness can make.

I remember once finding myself in an embarrassing moment at the grocery store. As the checker finished ringing up the sale, I reached for my wallet only to realize it wasn’t in my purse. Embarrassed, I asked her if I could leave everything there while I went home to get it. Without hesitation the kindly shopper behind me turned to the checker and said “just add it to my order.” When I tried to politely decline she told me someone had done that for her, and she was pass ing on the kindness.

Sometime later, my daughter and I were in line at the grocery

8 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

store when the person in front of me realized she didn’t have her wallet. Smiling, I asked the clerk to add it to my order. Before she could object I gently explained someone had done that for me and I was just passing along the kindness.

“Did you just pay for her groceries?” asked my daughter.

“Yes,” I replied, explaining what had happened before.

“That’s cool, mom.”

Months later, my daughter came bouncing through the door sporting a giant grin on her face.

“Guess what? There was a lady in front of me at the store who didn’t have enough money and I helped her pay for her stuff,” she joyfully shared.

Smiling, I listened as she related the story. It was then I realized it wasn’t the act of paying for someone’s groceries that moved me; it was the unbroken cord of compassion.

Full circle One of the things I love best about this time of year is the renewal of the giving spirit. Most of the year, it takes a back seat to bad headlines and the stress of daily life. But as the holidays approach, our compassionate nature springs to the foreground.

You see it in expressed through generosity, gratitude, merriment and sheer joy. But there’s something more. Beyond gift-giving, beyond common courtesy, each of us has a deeply rooted need to connect with humanity in ways that transcend our two-dimensional lives. When we act on this need, we enter the realm of miracles. It’s there where you’ll find your faith.

editor@magiccitymagazine.com

From all of us at Magic City Magazine, may peace, prosperity and joy be yours this holiday season.

contributors

Brenda Maas

As a technical writer, she learns how things work. As a feature writer, she meets incredibly interesting people. And, as a columnist, she laughs about the absurdities in her own life.

A relative newcomer to Billings (in Montana terms), Brenda Maas is a natural story-teller and says “I love reading Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein—their messages are ageless.”

Stephen Kosnar was a Peace Corps Volunteer in

Togo, West Africa. While he was there, he worked on a variety of health and social campaigns. Since returning, he has written for magazines, newspapers and non-profit projects.

He lives in Billings with his wife and two children.

Elizabeth McNamer was born in Ireland and educated in England. She has lived in America since 1960.She teaches at Rocky Mountain College.

Gail Hein entered college in mid-life, graduating in 1990 from Eastern Montana College, now Montana State University Billings, in the same class as her son, Bruce. She learned to read at the age of four, sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he scratched the alphabet on frosty window panes and has been in love with words every since. In addition to working in her family business and volunteering with Rimrock Opera, she writes, edits and reads passionately.

Dan Carter Born and raised in the Gallatin Valley, Dan spent more than 20 years in journalism before moving into his latest adventure as director of university relations and government relations at MSU Billings. He and his wife, Lynn, have been enjoying the magic that is Billings with their family since the late 1980s.

Nancy Brook Nancy’s first book, Cycling, Wine, and Men: A Midlife Tour de France, will be out later this year. The memoir chronicles post-divorce dating and cycling across France. Nancy works at VP of marketing for First Interstate Bank Credit Cards. A motivational speaker, she loves biking and traveling the world. She lives in Billings with her two hairy herding dogs.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 9

As a healthcare leader in the area, it’s our mission to deliver the best care possible. That includes innovative care for premature and critically ill newborns through our 22 bed Level IIIB NICU and the comfort and quality of care we provide hundreds of healthy babies born in our hospital every year. But we don’t stop there.

We’ve recently renovated our Labor & Delivery/Mother Newborn Units and have an exceptional team of specialists to provide you with a customized care plan.

Visit svh-mt.org or give us a call at 406-237-7007.

PROVING OUR DEDICATION by

PROVIDING QUALITy, INNOVATIVE

WOMEN’S & CHILDREN’S CARE

taRiF baKDasH, MD, MHsc

Lisa R. Ross, MD

RoGeR L. WaLLace, Do

PeDiatRic neURoLoGy

obstetRics & GynecoLoGy

MateRnaL-FetaL MeDicine

At St. Vincent Healthcare, our commitment to providing exceptional services for women and children has always been strong. For over 110 years, we’ve been the region’s leader in delivering comprehensive, innovative care through our Labor & Delivery, Mother Newborn Care, Level IIIB NICU and the region’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. From pregnancy through raising your family, St. Vincent Healthcare is here to meet your every need.

And now, we have taken our commitment to you even further. We have expanded our specialty services through new physicians and the specialized care they bring to you or your little bundle of joy.

Visit svh-mt.org or give us a call at 406-237-7007.

I n c o r p o r a t e d

12 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

HOLIDAY 2010

Special Holiday List

Fun, Fascinating Finds for Christmas Giving

Zents eau de toilette

Step aside American Idol

Versatile and aromatherapeutic, Zents eau de toilettes are unisex, complex and classically designed.

The game Spontuneous™ challenges players to think of lyrics to songs they know and love. Created by Montana native Rob Ridgeway, it is fun, fastpaced and full of laughs!

neecee’s, $54

Rimrock Mall (kiosk located in front of Herbergers) or online at www. spontuneous. com, $30

Get yer boots on

Who says country can’t be couture?

Johnny Ringo boots for women, Hondo Boots for men.

Shipton’s Big R, Prices vary

Drive your dream It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s fabulous.

1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 two-door convertible

Autobahn Motor Werks, Inc., $34,000

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 13

Special Holiday List

Options Reversible Rugs

Change your décor with the flip of a rug, These room-size rugs come in a variety of designs.

Stone Mountain Leather Furniture Gallery, $925

Fashion for Him

Sporty-looking layers are practical and en vogue this season.

Tommy Bahama Flipster Half Zip, $98 Tommy Bahama Denim Sunny Stripe Up Shirt, $110 Desmonds

Primal Elements Soap

Whimsical handmade vegetable glycerin soaps are as fragrant as they are fun.

Raffia, $7

Train Smarter, Not Harder

The Garmin Forerunner® 110 uses GPS to accurately record your speed, distance and average pace information making it the easiest way to track your training.

The Forerunner® also serves as a fullfunctioning watch.

Scheel’s, $249.99

14 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

For the lil’ one

Luxe linens and fanciful décor will transform any nursery.

Little Giraffe blanket, $60.95 Oopsy Daisy canvas night light, $26.95 Elegant Baby piggy bank, $36.95 Lil’ Sprouts by Gainan’s

Maya Burton 591-0106

Phil Cox 670-4782

Sheila Larsen Larry Larsen 672-7884 Larsen Team 672-1130

Mike Oliver 861-5305

Mimi Parkes 698-6980

Karen Frank 698-0152

Darwin George 794-4663

Susan Lovely 698-1601

Steve Judd 698-5575

Stephanie Patterson Pat Schindele 591-2551 321-0759

Rhonda Grimm 661-7186

Sarah Harvey 860-9097

Kathy Neibauer Ginger Nelson 697-4667 698-7254

Lindy Schmitt 690-9513

Gina Moore Barbara Haws 860-8198 Haws/Moore 545-9036 Team

Jase Norsworthy 690-8480

Cal Northam 696-1606

Judy Shelhamer John Tampazopoulos Linda Wedel 855-6540 697-8454 850-3623

We Unite Buyers and Sellers, Your Home is Our Business!

Ed Workman Judy Workman 690-0567 Workman Team 690-2135

Leann Zahn 672-5432

406-254-1550 | www.floberg.com | 1550 Poly Drive, Billings, MT 59102 An independently Owned & Operated Member of the Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 15

Special Holiday List

Alicia’s Cake Bites Choffy

Made from the finest organic cacão beans, roasted and ground, Choffy brews like coffee and supplies you with long-lasting energy sans caffeine.

Every Needful Thing, $16

Custom and vintage hats

One-of-a-kind custom cowboy hats and derbies.

The Outlaw Josey Wales wore one—so can you.

H Bar Hat Works, Prices vary

Decorative and Chic

Direct from Guatemala and India, ornate table runners are a perfect way to dress up any table. Global Village, $56 (as pictured)

16 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

Decadent morsels of cake hand-dipped in a rich, velvety coating.

Visit www.aliciacakebites.blogspot.com for details and pricing.

Unique Gifts & More When Cheesy’s a Good Thing

Indulge with exquisite, savory cheese. Pair with crusty bread and a fine bottle of wine for a delectable tapas dish. a. Rogue Caveman Blue and Rogue Smokey Blue b. Red Dragon (Y-Fenni) c. Robiola Bosina d. Patacabra e. Brillat-Savarin Recommended by the staff at City

a.

K E Y S E R C R E E K S M O K E D M E A T S

• • and

M O N T A N A M A D E G I F T S T O R E

632 N 9th St, Suite 110 Columbus, MT 59019 406.322.9073 www.montanakeysercreek.net

Vineyard, Prices vary

b.

c.

Forthefood connoisseur

Basil Garlic, Toasted Pumpkin, Habanero and other infused extra virgin olive oils add flavor to marinades, salad dressings and more.

Copper Colander, Prices vary

Coffees Jams Gift Baskets Candy Specialty Meats

d.

e.

BRING

family tradition HOME

BREWED CHOCOLATE

g

SPONTUNEOUS family game night!

EVERY NEEDFUL THING 3990 Avenue D Billings, MT 59102 ph. 406-651-4964 everyneedfulthingbillings.com

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 17

Special Holiday List

Gourmet microbrews and specialty sodas Indulge in a 6-pack or give one as a gift.

Brewing Company Local brews: $7.50/6-pack $28/case (24 bottles) Root Beer: $5.50/6-pack $20/case (24 bottles) (Also check out the selection at other local breweries including Angry Hanks, Carter’s Brewing, Montana Brewing Company and Red Lodge Ales.)

Smooth and Spicy

Enjoy the taste of the season with each savory bite of cinnamon Santas hand-dipped in dark chocolate.

Paula’s Edibles, $5.95

Give the gift of safe passage

Never drink and drive! Prepaid accounts for any dollar amount can be set up with Yellowcab and given to friends and family.

Yellowcab, (406) 245-3033

18 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

New holiday styles.

toys • clothing • gifts Free gift wrapping!

Free popcorn everyday!

Bring the kids to our “Petting Zoo!”

M - F 9:30am - 8:00pm • Sat 9:30am - 6:00pm • Sun 11:00am - 5:00pm

1510 24th Street West, Billings, MT 59102 (next to Sanctuary and The Joy of Living) 406.294.1717 www.thejoyofkids.com

A heart attack prevented.

Smart Toys for Smart Kids

Alerted by subtle symptoms.

An 80% artery blockage revealed.

Check it out at

www.BarbarasStory.com

Where it all comes together.

M-F 9-5:30 • Sat. 10-5 | 2819 2nd ave. n. | 245-4612 • 1-877-834-0732

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 19

By Craig Lancaster • Photography by David Grubbs

Sophia Brown

What I know after 100 birthdays I was born May 14,1910.

We lived in Illinois and Michigan before coming out here to Montana.

Dad mined in the winter and farmed in the summer.

My parents had nine kids, and I was right in the middle, number five.

When we moved to Billings, I thought it was a big city. We lived on Shiloh Road,

and back then, it was miles outside the city.

“I loved driving.

We were like kids today in some ways. We’d play hide and seek or kick the can.

I was a speed

My husband, Joe, had a car when we got married. My first car was one we bought in

demon. One time,

1930, a big black Ford.

I loved driving. I was a speed demon. One time, I took a corner too tight in the Heights

and the car almost tipped over. I learned to have some caution.

There was a big group of us, maybe eight or 10 couples that would go out dancing and socialize together.

I took a corner too tight in the Heights and the car almost tipped over. ”

My husband, Joe, died in 1954. I was only 44 when he died. He’d had quite a few surgeries.

Back then, people didn’t always go to the doctor like they should have. He always said, ‘I’ll never make it to 50,’ but he did. He turned 50 on November 27 and died on November 29.

I took my first airplane ride in 1961. I went to Tulsa, Okla., to visit my son, Bob. I didn’t want to get on that plane, but it was the only way I could see him. Once we were in the air, it was fine.

I remember the day we put a man on the moon. I was just about to retire and had the day off from work. I sat glued to the TV,

just like much of the country at that time I suspect.

I had two sons. Don, the younger one, died in 1972. Bob died in 1984. I never expected to outlive my children. It was awfully hard.

I thought maybe I’d live to be 80. But I kept going. People say, ‘You’ll live to be 110.’ I say, ‘I hope not!’

We lived downtown for a while, on North 25th. We did all our shopping downtown. It was nice. It was hometown.

Everybody knew each other.

When we lived on N. 25th St., there was nothing above 9th Avenue. It was a big grain field. A plane landed there one

day, and everybody came out to see it.

20 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

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Strengthening MillionS of WoMen

I worked at the JCPenney downtown for 28 years, from 1946 to 1973.

Of all the people we ran around with, there’s only two left among the women.

Technology, e-mail and computers,we didn’t miss those things back then. I don’t have the first clue how to operate a computer, but I still like to use my typewriter.

People my age have seen everything.We had tough times. We had the De-

pression. But I didn’t worry. God took care of us. Younger people, their life is more complicated, and maybe easier in some ways, too.

curves.com 406.651.1911 1238 Central Ave Billings, MT 59101 MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 21

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By Dina Brophy

We can do that!

Giving the gift of self through volunteerism

For many, the holidays represent a time of charitable contribution. In years past, the easiest means of giving to your favorite cause was to open the checkbook. However, current economic conditions are fostering financial creativity for most of us.

Knowing the spirit of giving is still alive and well, one option worth considering is the generous

donation of your time through volunteerism. While the fiscal resources for many non-profits have recently waned, their need for assistance has not. Here are some local volunteer opportunities

22 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

Organizations that serve Youth

Computers4Kids – Working to ensure that under-served and at-risk youth have access to capable technology at home for educational purposes, Computers4Kids seeks computer technician volunteers who can work independently to evaluate donated computers and prepare them for distribution. Call (406) 2945437 or visit www.computers4kidsinmontana. org Discover Zone – Share your hobby, occupation, sport or skill-set with middle school children in this after-school program. Call (406) 281-5939 or e-mail lambottm@billingschools.org Family Support Network – In support of children diagnosed with a mental illness and children at risk for abuse or neglect, you can assist with: babysitting during parenting classes, organizing gifts and donations, wrapping donated gifts during the holidays. Call (406) 256-7783 or visit www.mtfamilysupport.org

Friendship House – A youth enrichment program for at-risk kids, K-6th grade. Share your hobby, assist with homework, reading and special events. Call (406) 259-5569 or e-mail dylana@friendshipmt.org Head Start, Inc. – Extra hands are needed in the classroom with reading, art projects, storytelling or sharing your special talent or music ability. Volunteers are valuable during the holidays to organize donations and shop for needed supplies. Call (406) 869-1220 or e-mail denisej@billingsheadstart.org Yellowstone CASA – Volunteer for Yellowstone CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). CASA volunteers are appointed by the courts to gather accurate and complete information about the child’s circumstances, serve as the child’s advocate in all facets of the child protection system and make objective recommendations in the best interest of the child. Volunteers are also

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 23

needed for two annual fundraising events and clerical support in the CASA office. Call (406) 259-1233 or visit www.yellowstonecasa.org

dergo training and be willing to be on-call. Call (406) 245-4472 or e-mail kimwalker@ywcabillings.org

Organizations that serve Women

Organizations that serve Seniors

Angela’s Piazza – Designed to develop holistic families when a parent(s) is in recovery from drugs or alcohol, Angela’s Piazza has volunteer opportunities for people interested in babysitting while mothers attend classes, basic clerical work and assistance with annual fundraisers.

Call (406) 255-0611 or e-mail

Alzheimer’s Association, Montana Chapter – Volunteers can support the Alzheimer’s Association by providing general clerical functions, running errands, planning and assisting with the annual fundraiser (the Memory Walk) and general building maintenance. Call (406) 2523053 or e-mail suzanne.belser@alz.org

angelaspiazza@bresnan.net.

Montana Women’s Prison – Volunteers at the Women’s Prison serve as positive role models for the women. Volunteers provide religious

Knowing the spirit of giving is still alive and well, one option worth considering is the generous donation of your time through volunteerism.

and faith based service, arts and crafts projects, exercise classes and a wide-range of educational classes. Call (406) 247-5156 or visit www.cor.mt.gov/MWP Women’s and Family Shelter – The Shelter features a new volunteer program called Life Coach Assistants, succinctly defined as “friendship with a purpose.” They ask for a two-hour commitment per week to visit and provide social support. Group volunteer opportunities are available for hosting a meal (planning the menu, purchasing, preparing and serving the food) for approximately 100 people, hosting a holiday party for the residents and gift wrapping…lots and lots of gift wrapping! Call (406) 259-3800, ask for Sheila Cole or e-mail mrmbcsheila@180com.net YWCA – Sexual Assault Services seeks volunteers to serve as advocates to provide emotional support for rape victims. Volunteers must un-

24 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

Big Sky Senior Services – BSSS is an umbrella organization for three programs that serve seniors: Senior Helping Hands, Prevention of Elder Abuse Program and Friends Volunteer Program. Volunteers are needed for Phone Friends, Visiting Friends and Lend-A-Hand Volunteers to assist with small repair jobs, light yard work, snow removal and assistance with holiday shopping, decorating and cards. Call (406) 259-3111 or e-mail www.bigskyseniorservices.org Yellowstone County Council on Aging – With several different programs that assist seniors, the Council on Aging has an unending need for volunteers. Drivers are needed for the delivery of meals and transporting seniors to non-medical appointments and errands. There is also a need for volunteers during the holiday season to assist with the seniors giving tree program.

And if you have knack for numbers, income tax preparation assistance is needed January April. Call (406) 245-6177 or e-mail rsvppc@imt.net

Organizations that serve Animals Animal Welfare League – Animal Welfare welcomes volunteers who can transport animals between Laurel and Billings, run various errands and assist with immunization clinics, fundraising efforts and wild cat feedings. Call (406) 628-6019 or visit www.animalwelfare@aol.com Billings Animal Rescue Kare (B.A.R.K.) – B.A.R.K. emphasizes meeting the physical and social needs of each animal in their care. So just like having to wait for dessert, volunteers at B.A.R.K. are asked to first clean kennels, do laundry or wash dishes, then its play time with the animals. Call (406) 839-WAGG (9244) or e-mail bark@bresnan.net

Help for Homeless Pets – A ‘no kill’ animal rescue group, Help for Homeless Pets volunteers can assist with the daily chores of feeding, watering and clean-up. Volunteers are also needed to walk dogs, socialize with the animals, transport, groom and help with laundry.

Call (406) 896-1700 or visit www.helpforhomelesspets.org Montana Audubon Conservation Education Center – Assistance is needed with restoration work of this organization’s conservation site.

Volunteers can help with planting, potting, weeding, watering and restoring this habitat back to its natural state. Anyone interested in helping with the effort to present the conservation program to schools, youth and civic organizations are welcome volunteers. Call (406) 294-5099 or visit www.mtacec.org Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter – Volunteers provide much needed help by cleaning animal cages, walking dogs, moving them to and from outdoor exercise areas and providing general assistance to staff. Call (406) 294-7387 or visit www.yvas.org ZooMontana - As the Zoo continues to develop and grow, so does its need for volunteers.

Help is needed with grounds keeping, general maintenance, education, tour guides and assisting with special events. Call (406) 652-8100 or visit www.zoomontana.org Volunteer Resources RSVP – A program of the Yellowstone County Council on Aging, RSVP helps more than 100 local agencies meet their missions by providing them with senior volunteers. Call (406) 245-6177 or e-mail rsvppc@imt.net The Volunteer Center of the United Way of Yellowstone County – More than 70 agencies are registered with the United Way with a multitude of volunteer opportunities available. Check out special holiday opportunities indicated with the snowflake icon. Call (406) 252-3839, ext. 15 or visit www.YouCanVolunteer.org

Youth Volunteer Corps of Yellowstone County, Sponsored by The Volunteer Center of the United Way of Yellowstone County, YVC offers two different service projects each month for youth, ages 11-18. The projects occur on Saturdays for two to four hours. Call (406) 252-3839, ext. 38 or visit www.yvcyellowstone.org

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 27

By Kristen Prinzing • Photography by Casey Riffe

Sustainable Shine

Easy on the eyes and the environment

The approaching holidays have many of us scurrying about looking for the perfect present for friends and family. This year, why not consider a gift that glitters and is ecologically sensitive: Eco Bling.

Wearing bling is nothing new; personal adornment dates back thousands of years. Recently, an archeological team in South Africa discovered beads made of shells dating back some 72,000 years. The remarkable find suggests that ancient humans used attractive objects not only to enhance their appearance, but also to communicate their identity and social status.

You can give the nature enthusiast on your list a gift that sparkles and makes a statement. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Locally-created art jewelry: Hand-made jewelry is widely available in Billings and the region. Toucan Gallery on Montana Avenue has a sumptuous display of beautiful pieces, including a line by artist Gen Garibay that incorporates found and repurposed items. www.ToucanGallery.com Fair Trade charms: Located downtown, Global Village is a unique boutique dedicated to selling Fair Trade items. All merchandise is made by artisans from around the world who are paid a living wage, enjoy dignified working conditions and emphasize sustainability in practices and materials. Lovely gift ideas, including beautiful baubles, are available at www.GlobalVillageFair.org.

Eco-opulent pearls: Healthy oyster beds require healthy ecosystems, so pearl cultivation depends on environmentally sensitive practices. Also, pearls don’t require the mining and processing other gems do. Peruse a variety of pieces at local jewelry stores.

Estate and consignment jewelery: Several local jewelers, including Montague’s and Greenleaf’s Jewelry, feature beautiful and rare estate and consignment pieces.

Featured ring courtesy of Montague’s Jewelers.

28 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

Estate and consignment jewelry: Several local jewelers, including Montague’s and Greenleaf’s Jewelry, feature beautiful and rare estate and consignment pieces. Also, many local jewelers buy unwanted (but legitimate) jewelry to melt down and reuse in new creations. www.montaguesjewelers. com and www.greenleafsjewelry.com Sea glass: Another exotic option is jewelry made from sea glass – shards of glass originating from boats, shipwrecks or shore side discards from the 19th and 20th centuries. Over time, the jagged shards are tumbled and smoothed by water, resulting in lovely, frosty patinas that are perfect for jewelry. www.sweptfromtheseadesigns.com

Eco-opulent pearls: Healthy oyster beds require healthy ecosystems, so pearl cultivation depends on environmentally sensitive practices.

Featured pearls courtesy of Goldsmith Gallery Jewelers.



Turn your favorite photos into unique wall art.

Transform a picture or group of pictures into something extraordinary!

Art jewlery: Hand-made jewelry is widely available. Toucan Gallery on Montana Avenue has a sumptuous display of beautiful pieces, as does Global Village on 3rd Avenue N. Marble and porcelain necklaces courtesy of Toucan Gallery. Earrings made of washers and copper wire courtesy of Global Village.

photo designs Turning Your Favorite Photos Into Art

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 29

By Anna Paige • Portrait Photo by James Woodcock

Julie Pederson Atkins Detail in Graphite

Julie Pederson Atkins describes working with pencil on paper as though she’s working with clay.

“It is a matter of caressing the paper,” Atkins said. “I baby it. Paper isn’t just a surface to me. Right from the beginning I want it to be transformed.”

As an artist, she is particularly fascinated with people and animals, using extraordinary detail to capture her subjects in an unrehearsed moment of time. Each line of the pencil is blended into subtle grays that melt together to create form. Her technique, she admits, is “all over the place,” yet the seemingly random blending of black and white results in exceptionally detailed works.

“I love to capture people and their expressions – not as a posed person, but more of a true representation of them,” she said.

Born in North Dakota, Atkins moved to Montana at a young age. She studied fine art in Bozeman, and has resided in Billings since the late 80s. Atkins’ interest in visual arts and love of drawing began during childhood.

“My first memories are of drawing,” Atkins said. “I must have been 4 and I don’t know if I had seen a lot of other drawings, per se, but I do remember thinking I want to make objects look as real as possible.” Her first drawing, a simple coffee table and loveseat in the family living room, launched her obsession with the medium.

“I drew all the time,” Atkins said. Trees, animals, blades of grass – her environment became her muse.

Reflecting on her art, Atkins talked about her father who would sketch small pictures for her as she watched. “He wasn’t an artist, but he just had fun doing it. He’d laugh, and I thought, ‘Hey, that’s “ I love to capture what I want to do.’”

More than a hobby

My hands have to be busy creating something all the time. There are times that my husband might say ‘let’s do something else,’ and I can’t because I am in that artistic mode and that’s all I can focus on. I do think a lot of artists are like that; hopefully I am not the only one.

Why pencil drawing?

Pencil work lends itself to more realism. For portraits, I want to capture the natural person. It’s even better if I can catch people off guard. I love textures and portraying hair and fur and things like that. When I draw landscapes, I capture small details like tall blades of grass, leaves in the trees in the distance, or peeling paint off old barns. And there is something about wheat fields. We farmed in North Dakota, and that is what I know. Everything I do comes from where I grew up.

30 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

people and their expressions – not as a posed person, but more of a true representation of them...”

1.

2.

4.

3.

5.

Pella window & door showroom

1] Lean on Me 2] Her Face Tells a Story 3] Against the Grain 4] Jackie O’Asses 5] untitled. Photos of artwork by Bob Zellar.

2520 Grand ave. Billings 406-656-1516 • 800-727-3552 www.pella.com

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 31

By Brittany Cremer

Music

Joy to the World

By Pink Martini / Heinz Music 2010

Web Ed

www.cardfunk.com Save on stamps this holiday season and send an e-greeting card using www.cardfunk.com.

Upload images to superimpose over festive, dancing characters.

Customize your card with a merry message, select theme music and click send. Your one-of-a-kind card will leave recipients rolling in the aisles, marveling at your cleverness.

Pink Martini, which has developed a following with its nouveau martinibar multicultural fusion music, brings many of these same sensibilities to their first holiday CD.

Bubbly jazz, retro lounge and Technicolor fantasies of ‘50s holiday music come together in the festive potpourri of Pink Martini. The band, which has developed a following with its nouveau martini-bar multicultural fusion music, brings

Book

“The Gifts of Imperfection”

By Brene Brown I wish my nose was smaller. I hate these thunder thighs. I should have gotten that raise. I sounded so dumb.

Whether we fixate on our bodies, minds, personalities, or actions, everyone struggles with feelings of not being good enough.

In “The Gifts of Imperfection,” Brene Brown, Ph.D., reveals that it is actually our imperfections that connect us to one another as human beings and make us who we are. Through essays, stories, inspiring quotes, meditations and dynamic creative exercises, Brown engages our minds, hearts and spirits in finding the greatness in our flaws and evolving our selfperceptions.

many of these same sensibilities to their first holiday CD. The album includes unique renditions of classic holiday songs, Jewish Hanukkah pieces, opera music of Verdi and even a taste of Christmas in Hawaii.

All of the songs have a jazz lounge essence, pairing shuffling rhythms with

Movies/DVD

piano, keyboards and strings as China Forbes’ intoxicating voice leads the way.

Polar Express Blue-ray in 3-D

Things get particularly fun with the island slide guitar-laden “Snowglobe Christmas” and the percolating Latin jazz rendition of the Jewish song, “Ocho Kandelikas.”

This unique holiday album brings a festive globetrotting approach to the holidays with an exploration of glorious seasonal music from around the world.

32 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

Enjoy all the enchantment, all the adventure, all the joy of “The Polar Express” – all in astonishing true Bluray 3D. This instant holiday classic filmed in performance-capture animation by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks now delivers a whole new cargo load of immersive Blu-ray magic. Reach out and grab your ticket as the exciting next dimension in home entertainment transports you to the North Pole in amazing fashion. All aboard!

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 33

FINE LIVING

great estates

BY JULIE GREEN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES WOODCOCK & casey riffe

Bundled against the cold, a group of pink-cheeked children giggle wildly as they glide across a gleaming sheet of ice on their tightly-laced skates. Stopping briefly, two of the children try to catch a few of the giant floating snowflakes on their tongues before rejoining the others. In the background, light pours from the windows of a classic farmhouse. The iconic scene is reminiscent of a Thomas Kinkade painting, only it’s real.

Michael and Aimee Brown knew the moment they saw the Virginia Lane home that it was perfect for their growing family. Built in 1911, the home still had many of the charming details that arts-andcrafts style homes of the era were known for, plus it featured a spacious one-acre lot with plenty of room. But it was also in need of some major improvements.

“The front porch had been enclosed so that it could be used as a bedroom,” Aimee said. “The kitchen was small and there was no family room where the kids could play.”

The home also lacked a master bedroom and had only one bathroom.

Working with architect Eric Simonsen, the Browns designed an addition that would both meet their needs and remain true to the home’s historic architecture.

Left] Once nearly hidden by overgrown trees, this historic home now provides an enchanting glimpse into life at the turn of the 20th century. Inset] Tiny skaters glide across a tabletop decoration, a playful nod to the family’s fun outdoor rink.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 35

FINE LIVING

great estates

There were times during reconstruction when we wondered whether the project would ever end, but we love the final result. I can see us living here forever.

— Aimee Brown

A new kitchen and open family room were added to the back of the house, and the home’s original kitchen and tiny sitting room were replaced with a main level bathroom, laundry and hallways complete w it h window seats that double as storage. The guest room above the garage remains largely unchanged. Wall colors throughout the home were inspired by those used in the 19th century.

Upstairs, the family’s bedrooms are a seamless mix of old and new. The children’s rooms all lead off of a central landing, as does a bathroom.

“We kept as many of the original features that we could,” said Aimee, “including the linen closet in the hall and the built-ins in the bathroom.

We ended up having to redo the bathroom because of problems with the floor, but we chose tile that mimicked what was here originally.”

2.

3.

1.

1] Dining Room: Place settings set with rich linens and sparkling china, the formal dining room awaits Christmas guests. 2] Stockings are hung with care in the Brown’s formal living room, the perfect spot to greet guests as they come in from the cold. The room was restored to be true to the home’s original design. 3] Kitchen: The Browns created a comfortable kitchen, with custom cherry cabinets, rich tile floors and a large granite island perfect for breakfast in the morning and homework in the afternoon. 4] Family room: At Christmas, Michael and Aimee, along with their four children, Maisee, Emilee, Alex and Ivee, spend Christmas Eve and morning in the bright and open family room. Banks of windows flood the room with light, reflecting off light hardwood floors. Homage is paid to the original, century-old home in the craftsman touches throughout the room, including built-in bookcases and a rock fireplace with a hearth perfect for sitting on a cold winter evening. 5] The Brown’s oldest daughters are budding violinists. Their instruments add to the holiday spirit when surrounded by sparkling trees, deep greenery and glowing gold and silver candles.

36 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

5.

4.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 37

FINE LIVING

great estates

6.

7.

8.

The couple also added a master suite, with a sitting area, walk-in closet and beautiful bathroom and deck.

“There were times during reconstruction when we wondered whether the project would ever end,” Aimee laughed. “But we love the final result. I can see us living here forever.”

6] Master bath: The master suite includes a large bathroom, complete with a deep soaking tub and doors leading to a private deck overlooking the backyard. It provides a relaxing getaway at the end of the day. 7] Theater room: Downstairs, the Browns can relax and enjoy their favorite holiday film.

8] Outdoor skating rink: In what has become a winter tradition, the Brown family enjoys a skating rink they construct in their back yard. “People actually drop off skates on our front step for us,” said Aimee. “When our friends and neighbors stop by they just dig through the box until they find their size, then they go out on the ice.” Michael also hosts a weeknight hockey game.

38 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

RESOURCES Main Remodel work- Greg Loterbauer Construction Excavation and DemoMatriarch Construction Foundation- FKF Concrete Electrical- Metro Electric Plumbing- Northern Plumbing HVAC- Ductmasters, Inc. Insulation- D’s Insulation Drywall- MD Drywall and Guthridge Drywall Roofing- Krebill Roofing Stucco and Exterior Paint- Mountain Area Systems Windows- Billings Window & Door Decorative Flatwork- Kelly Concrete, Inc.

Masonry- Lav’e Masonry Hardwood Floors- Montana Hardwood Floor Company Carpet and Tile- Northwest Floors Shower Doors- American Glass Raingutters- G & J Rain Gutters Fireplace- Fireplace Center, Inc. Cabinetry- Summit Cabinetry, Inc. Countertops- Billings Marble & Granite Radiator Restoration- Coatings, Inc. Landscaping- Good Earth Works Co. and Nursery Metal Work- Artistic Iron

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 39

FINE LIVING

epicure

rack the halls for a non-traditional Christmas entreĂŠ, give lamb a try

Tom Nelson knows good food.

The former restaurateur-turned-caterer has been tantalizing taste buds for more than 15 years. And he does it with exquisite style.

“I make everything from scratch using the highest quality local ingredients,” he said. There are no pre-made or processed foods in his pantry. “I don’t even have a can opener in my kitchen.”

Tom noted one of his secrets is not to over-complicate the recipe.

“Keep things simple; let the flavors infuse naturally.”

As a caterer, it’s more than just how the food tastes. A stickler for detail, Tom makes certain every dish is elegantly presented. Even a suite of savory cheeses, breads and gourmet crackers is handsomely displayed.

“It’s about savoring delicious food, but the important thing about eating is being together.”

Below, Tom Nelson shares one of his most popular lamb dishes.

Rack of Lamb 2 frenched lamb racks 3 medium sprigs of fresh rosemary 1 bunch fresh thyme or mint 4 cloves of garlic Zest of 1 lemon ½ cup olive oil Make a paste of rosemary, thyme or mint, garlic, lemon and olive oil and rub on both racks. Sprinkle with fresh ground pepper. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 12-24 hours.

Bring racks to room temperature, and salt them. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in an oven-safe pan. Brown the racks, then put the frying pan in the oven for 12-15 min. (to about 120-130 degrees). Let the racks rest for 15 minutes, then cut in half or into chops.

2814 2nd Ave N 259-3624 MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 41

FINE LIVING

epicure

Christmas Pudding This old-fashioned holiday dessert has its origins in England. Sometimes called plum pudding, family recipes were often handed down from generation to generation.

Christmas puddings were traditionally made the Sunday before Advent, which became known as “Stirup Sunday.” Everyone in the household, especially each child, would give the mixture a stir while making a wish. By tradition, on Christmas Day brandy is poured over the pudding and set aflame before being presented to family and friends at the dinner table.

Ingredients:

for a dessert steeped in tradition, try

harrod’s christmas pudding

1/2 pound butter unsalted, plus about 2 teaspoons butter for greasing the molds 1 1/3 cup brown sugar, dark 3 large eggs, beaten 3 tablespoons corn syrup, dark 2/3 cup flour, self-rising pinch salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, grated fresh 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice lemon juice of one lemon finely-grated rind of one orange finely-grated rind of one lemon 4 cups bread crumbs, fresh 1 1/3 cup golden raisins 1 1/3 cup raisins, seedless 1 1/3 cup currants 1/3 cup mixed citrus peel, chopped 1/4-1/2 cup brandy, more or less to taste Directions: Generously butter and dust with flour two 1-quart molds (or dome-shaped china, ceramic or glass bowls). Set aside.

Beat the 1/2 pound of butter until soft. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and syrup.

Sift flour with salt and spices; fold into the butter mixture with the lemon juice, grated rinds, bread crumbs, fruits, mixed peel and brandy.

Spoon mixture into the two prepared molds. If molds don’t have lids, cover each with a circle of waxed paper, then a piece of foil pleated across the center and securely tied in place. Leave overnight in refrigerator.

Put molds in a large saucepan with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the molds. Cover and steam for five hours; remove from the water. Cool completely. Cover with a clean piece of waxed paper and a pudding cloth (muslin or closely woven cheesecloth) secured with a string and ends of the cloth tied in a knot over the pudding mold. Leave in the refrigerator to thicken. Before serving, steam an additional three hours.

Remove from mold. Bring to the table blazing in ignited brandy and with Christmas holly stuck into the top!

---JUST BEFORE SERVING--Garnish with holly. Ignite with brandy

Yield: Two 2-pound puddings

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 43

FINE LIVING

libations

By Stella Fong • PHOTO BY JAMES WOODCOCK There is something indescribably delightful about sipping a glass of sparkling wine – and you needn’t wait for a special occasion to uncork your favorite.

Sweet and effervescent, the bubbly nectar brings lightness to any affair.

What’s in a name?

celebrating this holiday season:

While sparkling wine is

Dave Swoboda of Red,White and

commonly referred to as

Blush recommends NV Jacquesson

Champagne, true Champagne

Champagne Cuvée and the

comes only from the region in

2009 Cascina Ca’Rossa Birbét, a

France which has the same name.

sparkling red dessert wine.

In Italy, the bubbly beverage is

Porter Elliot of Winegardners

named Prosecco, and in Spain, it’s

Wines, “The most fun one for me is

called Cava. Otherwise, “sparkling

a little sweet sparkler from Bugey,

wine” is the proper label.

called Vin de Bugey.”

There are various processes for

making sparkling wine, some more

Company of Montana recommends,

complex than others. The traditional

“My favorite sparkling wines

“Methode Champenoise” involves

right now are Piper Sonoma Brut,

a second alcoholic fermentation in

Schramsberg Cremant, Blanc de

the bottle, adding yeast and sugar.

Blanc, Domaine Carneros Brut, and

In accordance with tradition, the

a new sparkler from Australia called

grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and

Taltarni Brut Tache. Tache is French

Pinot Menunier are used to make

for stain and the Dosage on the

the French bubbly, while Cava uses

Brut Tache is described as a “Red

macabeo, xarello and parellada,

Liqueur.”

Prosecco uses pinot blanc or pinot

grigio grapes. Pale orange to pink-

Distributing recommends J

colored rosés are created with

Vineyards “Cuvée 20” Sparkling

skins left on the pinot grapes.

Wine which “gracefully opens up

with lemon peel, honeysuckle and

Several local wine experts

shared their recommendations for

Ben Ripley of Young’s Market

Kawai Harvey of Briggs

delicate yeast aromas.”

Tasting notes: 1] Casicina Ca’Rossa Birbét; A ruby-red Brachetto sparkling with light fizz, musky odors and hints of roses. Available at City Vineyard, $18 2] Jacquesson Cuvée Champagne Brut; A worthwhile splurge with apples, grapefruit and toast.

Available at City Vineyard, $60 3] Patrick Bottex, Bugey-Cerdon “La Cueille” Sparkling Wine; A sparkling red wine made with Gamay and Poulsard grapes, slight sweetness with refreshing flavors of strawberries. Available at Simply Wine, $22 4] J Vineyards “Cuvée 20” Sparkling Wine; Refreshing lemon-lime and apples on the palate. Available at City Vineyards, $20 5] Taltarni Sparkling Brut Tache; A pink beauty with essences of roses and peaches. Available at Simply Wine, $17

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MT PERSPECTIVES

legends

business brotherhood how Freemasons shaped our community

By Gail Hein

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“Never was the fraternal handclasp more cordial than when, in the glory of the beautiful autumnal evening, we opened and closed the first Lodge ever assembled in Montana.” ~ Nathaniel P. Langford,

describing the first Masonic gathering in Montana held on September 23, 1862.

Nathaniel Langford was one of three Masonic members taking part in the Northern Overland Expedition. Traveling by a train of ox carts from St. Paul, Minn., the explorers camped on Mullan Road near present day Helena. In imitation of their ancient Freemason brethren, Langford and the other two Masons performed the ritual opening and closing of a Freemasons Lodge outdoors at the summit of the Rockies.

Not long after, Langford was instrumental in helping to found the town of Bannack at the site of the 1862 Grasshopper Creek gold strike.

Located in the southwest corner of Montana near the Idaho border, the small town quickly grew and was named the first territorial capital of Montana. In 1864, pioneer businessmen and miners organized a Masonic Lodge in Bannack. Ten years later, the group erected a Greek Revival-style building on Main Street, housing a public school on the ground floor with the Masonic Lodge rooms, according to tradition, on the second floor. Now a State Park, Bannack is basically a “ghost town.”

Even so, regular Lodge meetings and activities continue in the 136 year-old building. Support for its preservation comes from around the world.

Billings brothers While Bannack was booming, there was no lack of action along the Yellowstone River. Banker P. B. Moss, cattlemen C. M. Bair and Thomas

McGirl, rancher George Danford, businessmen Sidney Erwin, A. L. Babcock, Charles Spear, George Swords II and Joseph Zimmerman were among the dozens of early titans of Billings enterprise. These men laid the foundations for a city growing so rapidly in the flats below the sandstone Rims that it earned the moniker “The Magic City.” They had much in common – confidence, adventurous spirit and the fraternal bonds of Masonic Brotherhood.

Billings had hardly reached its first birthday in 1883 when it became the seat of newly created Yellowstone County. Almost simultaneously, a group of Freemasons held their first formal meeting in the courthouse, a log structure located on First Avenue North where the post office now stands, and initiated steps to establish a Lodge. The charter for Ashlar Lodge #29 became official in 1884.

Masonic brothers were appointed or elected to many Yellowstone County “firsts” – state legislator, county attorney and county treasurer, sheriff, probate judge, surveyor and two commissioners.

Inset: The Masonic Square and Compass symbol is the cornerstone symbol of the Masonic Temple building on the corner of Third and Broadway. Designed by Link & Haire, the grand temple of brick, stone and terra cotta was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Right top: Dinner programme from a 1901 Masonic meeting. Right Bottom: 1934 50th Anniversary Program.

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legends

Masons established the first two private banks, and the first and second newspapers, later consolidated to become the Gazette Publishing Company.

“Thus from those early beginnings, Masons from Ashlar represented much of the moving force behind the growing town. They were involved in building schools, roads, businesses, homes, churches, hospitals, parks – all of which could be said to represent the lodge as living up to its name. For an ashlar by definition is a rough piece of stone as taken from a quarry.” ~ Addison Bragg for the Gazette, Oct. 18, 1984, Bragg about Billings on the centennial celebration of Billings Masonry Who are the Masons?

Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternity in the world. The basic Masonic Lodge is the only body which can make a Mason, conferring the first three degrees in Masonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason, a prerequisite to joining Scottish Rite, York Rite and Shrine.

Above: Original officers of Lodge 29 taken from the 1934 Golden Anniversary Program. Officers “Freemasonry is a way of life, family-oriented,” included well-known names like Moss, Bair, Babcock and McGirl. said Jack Humphrey, Master Mason and caretaker of Billings Masonic Center, 1101 Broadwater Ave. “It takes good men and makes castles and cathedrals gathered in shelter houses, or lodges, to protect their better men of them. All professions are equal in the brotherhood.” With fervency skills and wisdom. In 1717, four such lodges united to form the first Grand and zeal, “Masonry gives them the knowledge to put it all together,” he concluded. Lodge of England. A gradual transformation from a brotherhood of laborers to secret fraternities among the nobility emerged over the centuries.

How is a Mason different from any other fellow?

Today’s Masons consider themselves symbolic “builders.” Their insignia “Men of influence and commonality build bridges of trust among include tools of the stoneworker’s trade: square, compass, trowel, chisel, to themselves. And perhaps we are a bit more decent to one another,” mused a name but a few, yet meant to be applied not to stones but to the imperfect member of Scottish Rite, who declined to be named. He, too, indicated the human being… wide range of professions and occupations among the brotherhood and the mutual enrichment which comes from these associations. All are on a common “… out of which so much can be made by education and cultivation.” footing with no distinction of worldly position.

“You meet people you

~ Gadicke, Lexicon of Freemasonry would otherwise never encounter in your normal daily life,” he observed.

Masons do not proselytize. A man must voluntarily request to become a Atheists need not apply petitioner to the ancient Craft of Freemasonry. Membership, however, remains Although Freemasonry explicitly states that it is neither a religion nor a the purview of men. Wives and daughters of Masons are eligible to join Eastern substitute for one, candidates are required to declare a belief in a supreme being.

Star, Jobs Daughters or Rainbow for Girls, and Daughters of the Nile, the The discussion of politics and religion is forbidden within a Masonic Lodge.

Shrine women’s organization.

In the rituals, the supreme being is called the Great Architect of the Universe.

The letter “G” embossed in the center of the Masonic symbol of the square and Ancient roots compass has been said to stand for both geometry – integral to stonemason Sources vary widely on the origins of the fraternal organization. Some cite knowledge – and for God, who Masons believe should be central to the life of a the builders of the biblical Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) or the stone craftsmen Mason, no matter what his religion. of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. Others claim that the highly skilled gothic architects of the 11th and 12th centuries came to be known as “free Veil of secrecy, solemn oaths, bloody penalties masons” because they were free to work anywhere.

Would you give your life to keep a secret? Hiram Abif did. Abif is the Chief Architect of King Solomon’s Temple in a play used in the Degree rituals. The “The uniqueness of the cathedral builders’ art granted them certain character is murdered during an unsuccessful attempt to force him to divulge immunities, and allowed them to move about at will from place to the Master Masons’ secret password. The story is an allegorical lesson in fidelity place, which set them sharply apart from stationary guilds…not to one’s word. permitted to work outside its own incorporated limits.” ~ Brother H. L. Haywood, Editor, THE BUILDER 1923, Vol. IX “The alleged bloody oaths refer to the penalties associated with the Masonic obligations. They originated in the medieval legal system History does tell us that stonemasons and other craftsmen working on

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of England and were actual punishments inflicted by the state on persons convicted of opposing political or religious tyranny.” (Think Braveheart.) “Masonry’s obligations…are entirely symbolic and refer exclusively to the shame a good man should feel at the thought he had broken a promise.” ~ Masonic Information Center “The only penalties which can be imposed on a Mason are those of suspension, expulsion, or reprimand. Frankly, missing a mortgage payment can be far more hazardous.” ~ Edward L. King Sealing the deal In the Old West, a handshake was a man’s solemn word. Similarly, handshakes between Masons convey something distinct. Embedded in each different handclasp, along with trust, solidarity, and camaraderie are levels of communication that only a fraternal brother understands. Similar to the cowboy ethic of the West, the Mason’s handshake is an irrevocable bond.

Swords Park, Babcock Theatre, McGirl Road, Moss Mansion, Danford Drive, Zimmerman Trail – Masonic pioneer footprints have crisscrossed, marked and made history in Billings. The names remain with us along with their legacy of community service and philanthropy. Like quarry stone, rough frontier edges have been smoothed and layered seamlessly into the 21st century. Ranchers, cowboys, businessmen, teachers, innovators – today’s Masonic brotherhood blends its ancient rites with ongoing advancement and improvement for the benefit of future Montanans.

Masonic Symbols: What’s in your wallet?

That cryptic dollar bill in your wallet is loaded with Masonic symbols and hidden messages, though curiously, none of the final designers was a Mason. (The plan submitted by Benjamin Franklin, who was a Freemason, was rejected.) Perhaps the imagery is simply reflective of a group of deists steeped in European mysticism awash in patriotism. Or, perhaps something more.

Signs & Symbols: When an informed Mason examines the front and back of the one dollar bill, he sees dozens of symbols with which he is deeply familiar.

The portrait on a one dollar bill is President George Washington, a distinguished Freemason.

T h e p y r a m i d s i g n i f i e s strength and duration: The eye over it and the motto, Annuit Coeptis means He [God] has favored our undertakings.

The Eye of Providence was a common Christian emblem symbolizing the Trinity throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under it, Novus Ordo Seclorum (a new order has begun), signify the beginning of the new American era in 1776.

The number 13 – the number of original colonies – plays an important role in the dollar bill design. Count the steps on the pyramid, the stars above the eagle, the number of letters in some of the Latin phrases, and the numbers of fruits, leaves and arrows on the pictures.

The All Seeing Eye is one of the most significant and spiritual Masonic symbols. The front of the Great Seal displays an eagle, also important in Masonic traditions, to mention only two.

The History Channel periodically airs a 2007 program, “Decoding the Past – Secrets of the Dollar Bill,” an in-depth look at the artwork and its Masonic implications.

YOUR CITY. YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR UNIVERSITY. More Magic City students have discovered the incredible benefits of higher education in their home town. Perhaps it’s time you discovered MSU Billings for yourself. There’s no better time to enroll for spring.

We’re anticipating your call!

Visit www.msubillings.edu Call 406.657.2888

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 49

MT PERSPECTIVES

i’m just saying

life’s great pageantry

By Gene Colling I first started to use the phrase, “life’s great pageantry” to explain things that puzzled or troubled my two children when they were young. These were things like why lions chased down and ate the wildebeest on the nature show. When I hit the part of my speech that sounded like “yada yada” to them, I always ended with a flourish by saying, “It’s just part of life’s great pageantry.” When the kids grew older, I retired the phrase and it lay dormant for many years.

Then this fall, I attended my 45th high school reunion and saw life’s great pageantry in a totally different light. I realized that, for me, life’s great pageantry was best demonstrated by the human stories of those who made it to our host, Carol’s, door.

By pure serendipity, 25 of us started out in a small Catholic school in the middle of the South Dakota prairie. We were the war babies and the largest class in school history. Our high school was originally a granary for the 1905 World’s Fair before it was dismantled and shipped out to the prairie. The building was drafty, noisy and would make a fire marshal faint.

Our class was a mixture of farm and town kids, but we were all in the same economic class. Eventually we broke into little cliques, but because the class was so small many of us had a foot in several of them. If you just showed up you were on the athletic team, in the class play or a member of any school organization. If you went to a school dance, you danced.

Perspective takes time and distance, and 45 years has been enough to see that the school and those early friendships played an enormous role in shaping our lives. Many of us had not seen each other since graduation night because we quickly scattered to the four winds. Many different paths were taken, yet everyone was successful in whatever endeavor he or she chose. It took years to realize that we all did well because we had been taught that retreat or failure were not options.

At the reunion, there was a common understanding that life had dealt us all some dings, dents and major blows. There had been divorces and deaths of spouses, parents, and most tragically children. But the grit and humor endured and most importantly, we were all still standing. Old bonds were instantly reformed. It was easy to look through the gray hair, glasses and

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softened body shapes to see the kids you shared 12 years with. The old stories began to flood out.

My friend, Ron, was the eldest of 14 children. They lived a mile and a half out of town and milked 70 cows morning and evening. When Ron was a senior, he drove all his siblings to school in a 1947 Chrysler New Yorker. This behemoth was the only thing Ron’s dad found that could hold all the kids and cost less than $20 to fill with gas.

We could see the dust cloud boiling into the sky as the tank-sized Chrysler barreled down the gravel road. Every square inch of window space had a face peering out. As the car doors opened, a seemingly unending line of kids poured out.

One of the most remembered stories was about the time several of us slipped out of study hall to go exploring in the school attic. In a corner we found a contraption called the “Strength-O-Meter” – an innocent enough looking device that appeared to measure someone’s One of strength. It’s true function, however, the amost was to initiate members into social by humiliating and remembered organizations pummeling them. It worked by having stories was initiates bend over, grab two metal about the time handles and pull as hard as they could to “test their manly strength.” The several of us handles were connected to a magneto slipped out of that produced a stout electric shock, locking the victim’s hands onto the study hall to go handles. With the initiate caught in exploring in the this compromised position, the final insult was issued when the wooden school attic. extension disguised as the “strength In a corner meter” (but actually a paddle) released and administered a sharp wallop to the we found a backside.

We started bringing classmates up one contraption by one to have them give the Strengthcalled the O-Meter a whirl. A string of gullible “Strength-O- victims felt the double whammy of the machine. The inevitable end came Meter” when the resounding wallops and roaring laughter alerted the nuns and they declared the attic a free-fire zone.

Laughter…it was the same joyous sound we made as kids, and it continued as the evening at Carol’s progressed. Buoyed by beer and bravado, several classmates stepped up to the karaoke microphone to bludgeon perfectly good popular songs. It made me wish that the Strength-O-Meter could have made it to the reunion, eliminating all but the most committed singers.

In truth, I enjoyed every aspect of the reunion. It was comforting to know that the people I liked as a youth and who had so much to do with the person I am today had only gotten better. That’s what I call the essence of life’s great pageantry.

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Gene Colling claims dual residency in both Billings and Missoula. He recently retired after a career with the U.S. Forest Service. For 25 of those years he produced video programs, including ones on such Billings area topics as the Beartooth Highway, Pryor Mountain wild horses, Lewis and Clark expedition, Hebgen Lake earthquake and Nez Perce Trail.

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 51

TRAVELOGUE

beyond billings

fire ice by karen kinser photo by david grubbs

Imagine a golden dawn, with soft shafts of light sifting through geyser steam or lighting up the ice-coated face of a burly bison. At night, a canopy of stars wink and glimmer a million times over. Plan it right and you can find yourself in a hot tub under the full moon – warm as toast, your breath creating its own geyser-like plume.

Yellowstone Park offers an other-worldly experience for winter visitors

From top: Guided snowmobile excursions use West Yellowstone as a starting point. Snow coaches take visitors to up-close and personal views of geysers, hot springs and wildlife. Photos by David Grubbs. Camping with amenities is available for the more robust winter visitors.

Photo courtesy of Xanterra Corp.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 53

TRAVELOGUE

beyond billings 1.

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Luxe lodging Lodge at Old Faithful. Mammoth is the only one accessible by car this time of year, but snowcoaches and guided snowmobile tours can get you to Old Faithful from Mammoth, West Yellowstone, or Stay Safe and Warm in Winter even Flagg Ranch, near Jackson, Wyo. Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Yellowstone in winter looks so romantically wonderful. And it is. But, it’s also so very cold if you’re not prepared. So, plan ahead. Be safe the concessioner for Yellowstone and be warm by following these precautions: offers a wide variety of lodging packages for these two locations.

• Watch out for ice. Walking around the terraces at Mammoth, or even from your room to the dining room, can be very slippery. Check out The Frosty Fun Packages include Yaktrax at their website (www.yaktrax.com) or at the Sports Authority. two nights lodging, breakfast, hot This slip-on, steel-treated coil system grips and squeezes ice to prevent tub use (at Mammoth), unlimited falls, and will be great not only in Yellowstone, but also walking on icy sidewalks at home. ice skating and snowcoach transportation to Old Faithful.

• The right clothing. Think layers. Start with some kind of insulating The Nordic Heaven packages underwear that can wick moisture away. Follow with a mid-weight layer of light fleece or a wool shirt, and follow that with a heavy-weight include these amenities plus ski insulating layer of wool, down, or heavy fleece. Finish with a waterproof rental and ski drops. and windproof outer layer. This should be lightweight and breathable There are two lodging options during winter – the Hotel at Mammoth Hot Springs and the Snow

if possible (such as Gore-Tex). Be sure and bring an insulated hat (or two) with ear protection, as well as a wool scarf. Gloves and socks (both with lightweight liners and heavier outer layers) along with insulated, waterproof boots, and gaiters to keep snow out of boots, are also recommended.

• Weather. Conditions can vary widely in the Park, so be sure and check the weather – either at the front desks, the Visitor Centers, or at the Park Service’s website before heading out. Check for avalanche danger, and be aware that unfrozen streams can lie beneath a blanket of white.

• Bring that daypack. And load it up with some snacks, water, sunscreen, sun glasses or goggles, pencil (ink can freeze) and paper, chemical hand and feet warmers, and some extra clothing.

• Camera. Even if you’re not taking a photography seminar, you’ll want to record your adventures throughout the day. Be aware that camera batteries can slow down – or die – in extremely cold weather, so bring extras, or keep batteries near your body heat.

1] Snowmobilers hit the trail in front of Old Faithful Inn. 2] Yurt camping is an exciting experience. 3] Fog lifts from the Gibbon River. 4] Snow sports are available for the entire family. 5] Castle Geyser, one of Yellowstone’s many, erupts.

6] A snowshoer makes his way through Mammoth near Top Notch. 7] Frost blankets the trees at West Thumb Geyser Basin. Photos courtesy of Yellowstone Expeditions.

with Tapas and a Valentine’s Dinner.

Camp …. unconventionally For hardy souls, the Mammoth campground is open year-round, but for those wanting a more comfortable camping experience, try a yurt. The Yurt Camp, located in a meadow near the Grand Canyon, is run by Yellowstone Expeditions and offers accommodations in heated sleeping huts (yurtlets), with a larger communal yurt that serves as a dining room. A camp shower, sauna and heated outhouse, along with guided ski trips, make this an unforgettable back-country experience. Imagine the brilliance of the starlight – or moonlight – in such a remote location.

Divine dining

Take a tour

Both hotels offer breakfast, lunch and dinner options as well as a full bar with an extensive wine list. Look for sumptuous sustainable offerings such as Thai curry mussels, parmesan truffled fries, bison meatballs, sliders, short ribs and even wild game chili with jalapeno cornbread. There are also specialty dining events during the season that include a Brew Master’s Dinner, Wine Tasting

Departing from Mammoth, enjoy a heated snowcoach tour of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin and Old Faithful, along with naturalist commentary on the geology, wildlife, and history of the Park. With roaming bison and elk, mountain goats, moose, wolves and bighorn sheep, the opportunities for wildlife viewing are endless. Other interpretive tours include the Wake up to Wildlife (starting at 6:45 a.m.) and the Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour. A night-time tour from Old Faithful – Steam, Stars and Winter Snowscapes – offers a starlight express

FREEDOM from TOBACCO

for yourself, for your family, for your life 7.4.

view of the Park at night. Snowcoach trips can also be arranged through tour operators in West Yellowstone.

Get physical The Park offers a myriad of outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, winter hiking and even dog sledding. There are guided snowshoe and cross-country ski tours, including Ski-Daddles to Fairy Falls, DeLacey Creek or the Grand Canyon. Never skied before? No problem, as equipment rentals and instruction are available for first-timers. Afterward, warm up in a hot tub under the stars at Mammoth, sit next to a crackling fire, relax with a massage at Snow Lodge or enjoy a hot toddy at one of the bars.

Sparkling safari See the Park in a whole new light through the lens of your camera on a winter photo safari. This specialty tour is offered twice a week from Old Faithful. For other educational opportunities, Xanterra has partnered with the Yellowstone Association for a wide variety of multi-day lodging and learning adventures.

Resources

Beyond the boundaries If Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres of pristine wintertime beauty don’t fulfill your needs, there are plenty of options outside the Park – especially in West Yellowstone.

West has been named the “snowmobile capital of the world” – due to an annual snowfall of 145 powdery inches, more than 400 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the nearby National Forests, and a plethora of snowmobile rentals. Nordic ski trails abound, too, including the Rendezvous Ski Trail system (more than 35 km of trail) and the Riverside Trail, which offers abundant wildlife views of bison, elk, bald eagles, trumpeter swans and even river otters. And, for a unique new view, explore the winter wonderland by dog sled, with several options available in West Yellowstone.

• Xanterra Parks and Resorts is the concessioner for Yellowstone and can be reached at 866-GESYERLAND (1-866-4397375), or visit their website at www. yellowstonenationalparklodges.com for a full listing of lodging rates, availability, and a wide variety of tours.

• The National Park Service. This excellent site (www.nps.gov/yell) will help you to plan an outstanding winter trip.

• Snowmobile Rentals. Within the Park, snowmobile rentals are available for guided touring only, and reservations can be made through Xanterra or in West Yellowstone at twelve locations.

• West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce. For lodging, dining, snowcoach tours, snowmobile rentals, x-c ski maps and rentals, and even dog sled tours, be sure to visit this town’s website: www. destinationyellowstone.com, or call at 406-646-7701.

123 South 27th Street • Billings, MT

406.247.3200

www.riverstonehealth.org

• Yurt Camping. www.yellowstoneexpeditions.com, or 800-728-9333.

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Department of Public Health & Human Services

MT PERSPECTIVES

photo journal

Miracles happen every day, big and small.

Last year, John and Kristen Marble of Glendive experienced the miracle of adoption, as 9-year-old Slorencia joined their home from an earthshaken Haiti. Simultaneously, Slorencia experienced the miracle of seeing and tasting snow for the first time outside Billings Logan National Airport.

Photo by James Woodcock

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Greg Michels was a loving husband and devoted father until the day he died ... weeks later he got a second chance.

By Brenda Maas

miracle man MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 59

I first met Greg Michels at swim team practice in the winter of 2009.

His unkempt appearance – disheveled hair, a slow, tired gait and dark, sunken eyes – made me assume he had just finished a 12-hour night shift at the hospital or refinery.

I could not have been more wrong.

As we acclimated to the swim team, I learned vague details. Greg was an engineer who, at age 41, had prolonged heart problems. He and his son, Alex, were quiet, private. But it wasn’t until the Montana State Short Course Swim Championship that I realized the true severity. By that time, my son had become friends with Alex. So, as parents do in the swimming world, we moved over to Alex’s lane to cheer for him in his 100-yard butterfly race.

Although I cheered for Alex, part of me watched Greg. When Alex, who was not seeded as the top contender, touched the wall first to win, I turned to Greg for a quick high-five. And there it was – all the emotion in the world – wrapped, simmering, coiled inside, pounding to get out but shown only in his eyes. Though he may have stood a bit taller and his hands shook a bit, a casual observer would not have known that his son just won the state championship.

But Greg’s eyes said it all: Pride in his son; elation that Alex had done as well as he had; Greg’s own sheer exhaustion from traveling to the event; his relief that it was over; and, the fierce love and enduring connection they shared. When Alex, wet and breathing heavily, returned to his father, the hug was hard, but not lingering and silent. It was though they communicated from their souls, through their eyes. However, Greg’s shadowy looks and slow, silent tears stuck with me for a long time.

Seven weeks later Greg died.

“Yes, Greg died,” noted Dr. Otto.

“But that is not always permanent.”

* * * * Greg Michels was born to a third-generation ranch family. In eastern Montana, the number of generations carries a depth of meaning. Roots.

Stability. Matter-of-factness. Endurance. All qualities a person needs to survive the intense heat, extreme winters and incredibly harsh and solitary lifestyle of a high desert ranch.

After graduating from Medicine Lake High School in 1987, Greg attended Montana State University where he studied mechanical engineering. In his second year of school, he met his future wife, Joni Teeling.

Later that same year he contracted a virus suspected of infecting his heart.

From age 21, Greg has dealt with idiopathic cardiomyopathy – weakened heart muscles from an unknown cause. He has seen innumerable medical professionals and been hospitalized countless times. His heart has received some sort of mechanical assistance – including five defibrillators — since 1992.

Despite barely being able to carry his backpack to class, Greg muscled through and graduated from college. In 1990, Joni and Greg were married, and he went to work as an engineer. Two years later, Greg left the engineering world to continue farming with his parents near Medicine Lake – the commute, flexible pace and quiet fields fit the lifestyle his damaged heart required.

Joni and the couple’s two children, Alex and Jade, remained in Billings where she worked and the kids attended school.

There were good times, when Greg felt well and was healthy for months at time. But then he would contract something as simple as a cold and be side-

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lined for weeks. It was not an easy life for the Michels family, but it was the only one they knew.

Nearly 20 years of wear and tear on his damaged heart strained Greg’s other systems, too.

When a heart cannot pump blood properly, other organs suffer from stress along with insufficient oxygen and nutrients. In December of 2008, Greg had his gall bladder removed. But he did not recover well.

By the spring of 2009, Greg’s heart was wearing out. “I think he learned to live with less and less of a heart,” said Joni. “But he continued to compensate.”

Dr. Lynn Otto, Greg’s cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Billings Clinic noted, “His heart muscle was stretched out, weak and underpowered. He had started to change about a year before the transplant; he was quieter, withdrawn and often nauseated. Even after the gall bladder surgery, the nausea was not better and aerobically he could not function.”

At that point, Dr. Otto advised Greg to consider a workup for placement on the national donor list. Despite medical and mechanical assistance, Greg’s heart could no longer keep a rhythm and pump blood into the left ventricle (which already had assistance). Simply put, his heart was failing.

For years Greg had hoped for a better solution – possibly even stem cell advancements that would heal his existing heart. But, as it did many times in the past, Greg’s heart made the decision for him.

1.

2.

April 24, 2009 After traveling to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, for a transplant evaluation, Greg returned to Billings. His health, however, continued to decline. Finally, Joni called Dr. Otto’s office and asked for Greg to be seen.

“I saw him in the parking lot as he got out of the car,” recalled Dr. Otto. “He walked like an old man and his ears were blue because his blood supply was so low.”

Greg vomited throughout their meeting and asked to be admitted.

“The best thing about Greg is that he’s so smart. He’s an information hound,” noted Dr. Otto. “That day I asked him a question and there was a three-second delay. His smart brain could not process questions.”

Although she was scheduled for surgery, Dr. Otto took the time to see Greg situated into the cardiac unit. Joni left to gather the kids after school and bring back some personal items for Greg.

“I had decided to go for a walk around the unit,” recalled Greg. “My legs were restless but I didn’t make it all the way around. I don’t remember too much after that.”

“His heart went into this terribly fast rhythm and he went down,” reported Dr. Otto. “They were rhythms he had had before, but his body just couldn’t tolerate it anymore.”

Joni was on her way home. Knowing the situation was serious, she called her mother, Joan Teeling, explained the situation and asked her to stop in to see Greg; Joni would be there shortly with the kids.

When Joni’s mother arrived at the hospital, she saw cardiologists with a crash cart working on a patient on the hallway floor.

“Is that Greg Michels?” she asked.

Greg’s heart had flat-lined and he collapsed. Dr. Otto got it going

3.

4.

5.

Dr. Lynn Otto, M.D Photo courtesy of Billings Clinic

again and Joan said to Greg, “Joni’s on her way.” His eyes rolled back and his heart stopped again. Another shock revived his heart a second time.

“Yes, Greg died,” noted Dr. Otto. “But that is not always permanent.”

Once Dr. Otto’s team was able to get Greg into a consistent rhythm and stabilized, she arranged for his transfer flight to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Intermountain Medical Center (Intermountain).

“I left for Salt Lake City with only the clothes on my back,” said Joni, recalling the shock. “I left my kids with my brother and just went. I didn’t know what we were going to do there – we really thought he had a year or two left on his heart.”

April 27, 2009 Greg spent the weekend in critical but stable condition. Family members, including Alex and Jade, traveled to Utah. After the weekend, a team of 25 specialists at Intermountain met with Greg and Joni. Thus began a journey that only 850 other people have experienced – transfer to an artificial heart as a bridge to a heart transplant.

“They told me that I had one to two weeks left on my heart and recommended the total artificial heart transplant,” said Greg. Despite being a shock, he noted, “Waiting for a donor heart – especially in my condition, with O negative blood and being six feet tall – wasn’t a gamble I was willing to take. My chances of the artificial heart working were much better than doing nothing. Once I said ‘yes’ to the total artificial heart, there were no more decisions to make.”

May 1, 2009

“One week after the crash, Greg had his heart cut out,” Joni stated.

The Intermountain heart transplant team, headed by surgeon Dr. Ste-

1] Supervised by Dr. Stephen Clayson and nurse Robin Mengis, Greg works out on a treadmill while connected to a Total Artificial Heart.

2] Still connected to the Total Artificial Heart, Greg walks outdoors aided by a cardiac rehabilitation specialist. 3] Greg, Joni,Alex and Jade pose in front of a helicopter at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah. Photos 1-3, courtesy of Intermountain Medical Center 4] Greg with his father, Robert, and mother, Leila, on the family ranch near Medicine Lake, Mont. Photo courtesy of Jim Alvey. 5] Joni, Greg, Jade and Alex walk on trails around Riverfront Park. Photo by Paul Ruhter.

phen E. Clayson, surgically removed Greg’s native heart and inserted the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart – a great-grandchild of the device that newspaper headliner Barney Clark received in 1982. Afterward Greg surprised everyone. When Joni visited him shortly after the surgery, he opened his eyes. The next day he stood up and marched in place.

A mere 36 hours later, he was off pain medication.

“Greg was amazing – he was their poster child in every way,” noted Joni.

But Greg was not yet eligible for a donor heart. “The artificial heart doesn’t care how much fluid you have retained – it would pump water out of your basement,” noted Greg with his dry humor and engineering logic. “But I was in bad shape. My kidneys had failed. My liver had failed. I had aspirated from my stomach into my lungs and I needed to build up strength.”

Dr. A.G. Kfoury, MD, FACC, is director of Intermountain’s Heart Failure Prevention and Treatment Program and Greg’s primary cardiologist there. “The intent of these ‘bridging’ therapies is to allow recovery of renal and liver function, and especially, to rehabilitate the patient prior to transplant,” he noted. “Usually, the better shape they go in, the better shape they come out.”

Greg left the ICU within 10 days. Despite being tethered to a 418-pound pneumatic driver that literally did the work of his native heart, Greg walked on a treadmill. He remained confined to the hospital, however, because the unit – nicknamed “Big Blue” – is not highly mobile.

For the next few months Greg continued to watch his diet and rest. And while Greg’s body recuperated, his mind remained active.

Living with the constant whooshing and thumping noise of the artificial heart was nerve-wracking. It was so loud that Alex could not sleep in the room overnight. When Greg opened his mouth, Joni could hear clicking sounds. And keeping a family of four, including a preschooler and a

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 61

middle-schooler, content in a small hospital room strewn with cords and tubes required serious mental stamina. “You can only play Guitar Hero so many times,” said Greg.

“Our kids are such troopers,” boasted Joni. “Alex was 11 years old and had the weight of the world on his shoulders. But when he packed, he threw in Greg’s in-line skates and said, ‘Dad’s gonna need these.’ He never thought anything bad would happen. I was the same. I never thought Greg wouldn’t make it – you don’t even go to that negative place. You just don’t do it. I’ve always had peace in my heart that he would live.”

At one point there was a possible donor heart available, but it turned out to have coronary heart disease. After that, noted Greg, he was more guarded and time seemed to pass more slowly.

“To believe that it is really going to happen is wearing on a person,” noted Greg. “I saw nurses go on vacation and come back, and I was still there.”

“My job was to keep Greg sane,” laughed Joni with a loving look. “I had to hold everyone together, to get through each day as a team. And it was really tough on Greg’s parents, too. You are always a parent, no matter the age of your child.”

As you move on the donor list, it’s hard not to think about the potential donor and his or her family, Greg noted. 111 days after receiving the total artificial heart, Greg was matched with a healthy heart.

“But I guess I was just more worried about living in the way I was – it wasn’t really living.”

August 21, 2009 “My best day – the day I received a donor heart – was someone else’s worst day,” Greg stated. “We hit the jackpot and they lost someone they loved.”

In a surgery that started at 3:00 a.m. and ended 12 hours later, a team of five surgeons, lead again by Dr. Clayson, transferred Greg’s cardiac functioning from the total artificial heart to a donor

heart.

“There are a lot of times when maybe I shouldn’t have made it, but I think that anyone who isn’t scared to go into a surgery like that is a fool,” emphasized Greg. “But I guess I was just more worried about living in the way I was – it wasn’t really living.”

Greg lived up to his “poster child” reputation. He recovered quickly, his heart biopsies scored well, and he was out of the hospital in 11 days. He continued to work hard daily to improve his heart, his health and his life. Despite some minor setbacks, Greg was snow-shoeing with Alex in the mountains of Utah less than four months later. In April of 2010, nearly a year after Greg’s heart stopped, the Michels family returned to their Billings home for good.

Fall 2010 In September Alex, now a robust 12-year-old, started playing on a football team for the first time and loved it. Jade started kindergarten. Her preschool art work that says “I’m a star

62 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

because I help my dad with his pills” hangs on the family’s refrigerator.

The crops in Medicine Lake are harvested and the combines are stored for another year. Life is back to normal at the Michels’ home – at least their “normal.”

Now Greg takes 25 medications, vitamins and supplement pills each day. He was recently hospitalized for a virus, which is not uncommon with heart transplant recipients. As of publishing time he was home and doing well. His long-term prognosis is similar to other transplant patients – their biggest risks are rejection, infection and later on, coronary artery disease and cancer. Ironically, the two latter are concerns of most Americans over age 40.

Dr. Otto notes, “Like other transplant patients, Greg walks a line between rejecting the heart because it is foreign (thus the anti-rejection drugs that suppress his natural immune system) and infection. But he has a lot of physical and mental stamina. For most transplant patients, it is not a normal life like we know it, but they will tell you how great they feel – it’s a new engine.”

For the Michels family, every day is a new day. “I feel sort of like the middle of my life was taken from me and I’m trying to pick up. There really is nothing more important than life,” noted Greg. “My kids have never seen me healthy and I don’t take that for granted.”

“This journey has been over the top in so many ways – physically, emotionally, spiritually,” said Joni. “Now Greg has someone else’s heart – if that is not spiritual, I don’t know what is.”

But the story, which could have ended very differently, is not over.

“Greg once told me that he spent the last 20 years trying to stay alive.

Now he has a new life and it’s a beautiful, wonderful thing—all because of an organ donor.”

The Waiting Game

Every 12 minutes, a new person is added to the national donor waiting list. And every day, 18 people die waiting for an organ transplant. But one donor can save up to eight people and touch up to 50 lives.

“Montana has a proud tradition of saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. Since 2009, 99 lives have been saved by 32 Montana organ donors. One donor can make a profound impact on the lives of countless others who are waiting for life-saving organs, sightrestoring corneas or life-enhancing tissue grafts,” said Kevin O’Connor, President and CEO of LifeCenter Northwest, the designated organ procurement organization for Montana.

• Currently in Montana, 184 people are waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Of those 184, 129 people are waiting for a kidney. Seven are waiting for a heart.

kidney, for example, both organs should come from the same donor.

• The kidneys are the most commonly transplanted organ and most in need.

In addition, a kidney can be a “live” donation from a living person who •Nearly 64 percent of registered drivers and identification card- then continues to function with one kidney. holders in Montana have designed their consent to be organ donors.

• The pancreas is sometimes transplanted with a kidney, most • Since January 1, 2010, in Montana, commonly in diabetic patients.

36 lives have been touched by 17 organ donor • Most intestinal transplants are performed on infants and children.

• There are only 13 medical centers in the U.S. that are trained and •Around 46,000 people have their certified to use SynCardia’s “Bridge sight restored through corneal to Transplant” total artificial heart. transplant each year with a 95

percent success.

• More than 2,600 people nationwide are waiting for a heart To designate your wish to be an organ donor transplant. or to learn more go to www.donatelifetoday or www.organdonor.gov. To request a brochure, • A donated liver can sometimes call (877) 275-5269. be split between two recipients and one lung donor may be the source of Sources: United Network for Organ Sharing two separate lung transplants.

(UNOS) and www.donatelifetoday.com However, if a recipient needs more than one organ, a pancreas and

the gift of life by brenda maas

calls Valerie, a counselor with LifeCenter Northwest whom Lisa Nace of Billings signed her own donor card on “My daughter was she knew by first name and who called her every week, her the back of her driver’s license. But she never dreamed gone, but I figured lifeline. “She called and listened to me cry every week for over she would have to make the decision for her adolescent that if I could prevent 10 months,” noted Lisa, who struggled deeply with her loss. daughter.

Lisa’s older daughter, Brittny Whitcomb, was 17 when Five years ago, Lisa’s 15-year-old daughter, Lauren someone else – some Lauren died. She still misses her sister, but she also feels a Sloan, was in a coma and on a ventilator after unexpectother mother – from strong need to educate others about the entire organ donaed surgical complications. She would not survive withgoing through the tion process. “The people from the donation organization are out life support. same incredibly not the same people who take care of you in the hospital,” she Lisa was asked to consider organ donation. LifeCenpainful experience said. “They are not there waiting for you to die – there are so ter Northwest is the designated organ procurement orthat I was going many myths like that that are just not true. This is more than ganization for Montana, Washington, northern Idaho just a job for these people – they have passion for what they and Alaska. through, then it was do.”

“My first response was ‘no’ because she wasn’t gone the right thing to do.”

Last spring, five years after Lauren passed away and yet – at least for me. I was in a state of emotional distress after corresponding several times, Lisa and Brittny agreed to and it all happened so quickly,” recalled Lisa.”I was in — Lisa Nace meet Lauren’s liver recipient and his family. Although this is total shock.”

Billings not a requirement for either the organ donor’s family or the Once Lisa realized that there was no hope Lauren organ recipient, LifeCenter Northwest recognizes strong would recover, she gave greater consideration to the doneeds for both privacy and human connection. In fact, the emotional nor request.

“A mother doesn’t expect to make that decision about her child,” said needs of both parties are as varied as the individuals themselves.

For Lisa, meeting this young man, who is now in college, erased the Lisa. “It’s your worst nightmare.”

In Montana, approximately 184 people are currently waiting for life- final obstacle in her grieving process. To finally see one another in person, saving organ transplants. Seventy-five percent of those waiting need a kid- after their different yet intersecting life altering experiences, was the cloney. With Lisa’s consent, Lauren’s liver, kidneys and pancreas were surgi- sure piece that she did not realize she needed. cally removed and transplanted into three different donor recipients in Lisa talked about her doubts, their first encounter and how words simply cannot describe the sudden slam of emotions she felt. “I was still skepthe Pacific Northwest region.

“Losing a child is the absolute hardest thing a mother can go through,” tical. But I hugged him and his body was shaking and suddenly I could reLisa emphasized. “My daughter was gone, but I figured that if I could pre- late to him – a weight was lifted from me. My daughter died on Christmas vent someone else – some other mother – from going through the same Day and he could have died on Christmas Day, too. Instead he received incredibly painful experience that I was going through, then it was the life. His mother looked at me and said, ‘How do I thank you?’ What do you say to that? To see the good my daughter had done, that was closure right thing to do.”

For donor families, there is no timetable on the grieving process. Lisa for me. And who knows? Maybe that was her purpose in life.”

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 63

themontanamon Dr. Megan Evans and her husband Jeff drive with a medical team across unpaved Mongolian roads en route to the first location where they will set up a makeshift clinic. The surroundings are open, vast, and beautiful – like Paradise Valley, only wider with no buildings or ranches. Jaggedpeaked mountains rise up in the background.

Mongolia has the lowest population density in the world – less than three million people live in the country, which is bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined. Many of these people are among the poorest in the world; 36 percent live on fewer than $2 a day. For Megan and Jeff, the trip, which has dragged into a third day of bumping and jostling in a Land Cruiser, has become a test of endurance. The final five to 10 miles takes about two hours because of the undulating terrain. The only person Megan and Jeff have seen for hundreds of miles is the man that took a toll for passing over a log bridge.

When they finally arrive at their destination, they look out into the sweeping landscape, and they can’t help but wonder if anyone is going to come to the clinic once they set it up.

Dr. Megan Evans, M.D, Photo by James Woodcock

64 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

by stephan kosnar photos courtesy of Megan and Jeff Evans

In Mongolia, Megan’s work not only involved seeing patients, but she also helped educate local doctors. She gave presentations on women’s and children’s health issues, as well as first aid training. Megan found the doctors to be eager to learn how health care professionals provide care in the U.S.

“They weren’t so much concerned about the disparities between us and them, they just wanted to know how we do it in the U.S.,” Megan explained. She was sometimes surprised by their quesions because she knew the doctors wouldn’t have access to the same means as doctors in the U.S. “They still wanted to know what we do,” she said, smiling at the memory of the local doctor’s enthusiasm.

Megan realized the local doctors in some ways were influenced by the “celebrity” status American doctors had, but their attitudes transcended this, and in the end, the local doctors were in search of “best practices” of delivering care. Although the local doctors had less medical education than U.S. doctors, she found them to be smart with impressive skills.

Photo: The land in Mongolia is vast and sparsely populated.

co

ngolia

nnection The surroundings are open, vast, and beautiful – like Paradise Valley, only wider with no buildings or ranches.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 65

4.

1.

5.

**** After setting up a ger – the Mongolian word for yurt – and spending the night, Megan and the others wake up and are ready to see patients. It’s quiet and still around the white, circular structure. Megan plans on mostly performing patient screenings for hypertension. Many in the region smoke and eat a diet high in salt. Jeff will help with taking blood pressure and pulse readings. The calm is broken, though, by the rumbling of an engine and shouts of, “We need a doctor. We need a doctor.” Two men appear— one has been badly injured in a motorcycle accident. Megan believes the man has fractured both his tibia and fibula and his leg needs a splint. With few medical supplies on hand, she uses fire wood and duct tape, and then through an interpreter, tells the injured man he needs to get an X-ray at the nearest hospital, which is a 10-hour trip. The man nods, and after he leaves with his friend, Megan and Jeff step outside. In the distance near the horizon, there is movement. Slowly, the specks become bigger and bigger, until the forms – people and horses – can be made out. It’s like a scene from the movie, “Field of Dreams”, “build it, and they will come.”

2.

Previous pages: The Darhad Valley, looking onto the Tengis and Shisget Rivers’ confluence. 1] Two young Mongolian cowboys travel to attend a blood pressure screening. 2] Posters written in Mongolian present health information to patients attending screenings.

3] The BioRegions health team: Otgonjargol Badamsuren, Lora Soderquist, Scott White, Ryan Wallace, Megan Evans, Battur 3.

Enkhbattur and Jeffrey Evans.

4] Child of a Mongolian doctor.

5] Yaks are readily used to transport goods. 6] University of Washington Medical Student, Ryan Wallace, takes the blood pressure of a Mongolian herder. 7] A Russian van, called a “forgon,” uses a ferry. 8] Megan Evans and three other med students walk toward the Horidal-Saridag mountains in the Darhad Valley. 9] The ferry successfully transports the van across the pond.

66 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

In Billings, Dr. Megan Evans is a family practice physician at the Montana Family Medicine Residency, working at RiverStone Health, St. Vincent Heathcare and Billings Clinic. Her time in Mongolia was a rotation that she coordinated with a special outreach program at Montana State University. The program, called BioRegions, has been in existence for the past 12 years in the Darhad Valley of Mongolia. Their mission is to coordinate with rural Mongolian community members to better understand their needs and then work together to preserve culture, environment, education and health. Susan Gibson, BioRegions health team coordinator, selects the health team each year. This year the team included herself, Megan, Jeff, two medical students from the University of Washington and two medical students from the Health Sciences University of Mongolia. Susan taught in Mongolia in 1994 and 1995.

“I saw the need then to help them update their health care education and ways to do things,” said Susan. It’s only been over the last three years, however, that a resident physician from the Montana Family Medicine Residency has joined Susan and her team working in

6. 7.

8. 9.

Megan had only been away once on a basketball trip to Australia and New Zealand. It was in college that she first realized she wanted to travel outside the U.S. to do work in a developing country, but she wouldn’t be able to find the opportunity until the Mongolia rotation during residency.

Megan is soft-spoken and self-described as shy. Going to Mongolia where she would be doing presentations in front of people that didn’t even speak the same language was daunting. Adding to the stress was the fact that she wasn’t exactly sure what material to present. But Megan knew it was an opportunity to help people, which is why she had become a doctor. In college she majored in biochemistry and didn’t know what profession she wanted to pursue. She didn’t want to do research. When she thought about the fact that she was best working one-on-one with people, and, furthermore, she wanted Wearing a polar fleece vest with the University to help people, becoming a doctor seemed like an of Colorado – Denver (where she went to medical excellent fit. school) written on the front, Megan looks like she When Megan thinks of the most fulfilling aspect of would be just as comfortable outside – skiing down ­— Susan Gibson, her time in Mongolia, it was working with and educating a mountain or floating a river – as she is inside. She BioRegions health team coordinator the local doctors. “I couldn’t help all the people I saw,” grew up in the small town of Wilsall, Mont., whose said Megan. One of these patients was a man who had population hovers around 250 people. Megan has been severely burned in a gasoline fire – siphoning gas was commonplace fond memories of being outside working on the family ranch, fixing in the region. “It was nice to know how useful the information was for the fences and salting cows. On summer nights, she looked forward to doctors – for example I did some obstetrics training, and they have to deal driving in to town to play basketball with the other kids in the area. Her with babies being born in the middle of nowhere and they were just really husband Jeff, who works in the fishing department at Cabela’s, has on a camouflage baseball cap with an outfitters logo on front. He took up enthusiastic to learn.”

Megan’s experience in Mongolia reaffirmed what she has always fishing later in life. Growing up in Red Lodge, he was all about skiing, known about where she wants to work, and that’s back in her home town. joining his first racing team when he was only five. Megan and Jeff met The people and local doctors in the Darhad Valley were genuine, resilient at a party while they were both attending Montana State University. They laugh simultaneously thinking of the first time they met; and the laughter and appreciative – like the man injured in the motorcycle accident. And these same characteristics are what Megan values in the people of Wilsall. continues, acting as a blanket concealing details, until Jeff said, “Megan’s “These people raised me—it’s like a large community family,” Megan best friend was dating my best friend.” explained. “These are the people I want to take care of.”

While Jeff had traveled internationally several times growing up, Mongolia. She feels the program has benefited greatly from the residents’ skills and knowledge.

“Megan was great because the others really used her as a mentor. She’s a very good teacher,” Susan said. **** The man injured in the motorcycle accident stays nearby during the day and later that night comes by to ask Megan for something for the pain. She gives him Aleve. This will be all he ever asks for, and he is genuinely grateful for the care he receives. A couple of weeks later when Megan returns to the area, she inquires about the man and is told his leg had swelled badly and was red. She figures it is probably infected, and the man never made it to the hospital because he lacked the money.

“I saw the need then to help them update their health care education and ways to do things.”

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 67

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the sound of a stream, a vast mountaintop view It helps to define us. It answers life’s mysteries, or the warmth of the sun on the coldest of days. explains what cannot be explained and gives us Location plays a role in spirituality. hope in impossible circumstances. It gives us “Whoever you are, no matter what your strength to heal in times of illness, and it connects experience, when you stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon, it is impossible not to be struck us to others.

Religion can provide avenues for developing with this overwhelming sense of awe,” said Jim a spiritual life, but spirituality is, at its essence, an Herron, pastor of the First Congregational UCC. “People can have that experience anywhere.” exploration into life beyond the bounds of logic.

Elizabeth McNamer, professor of religious Nature is the obvious place to connect with studies at Rocky Mountain College, said God can the spiritual, but it’s not the only place to look. be a metaphor for what we cannot comprehend yet It can also be found in the gentle routines of life.

Cooking a meal for family, somehow know without raking leaves, working out a doubt still exists. or waiting for a train all offer “God is within opportunities for a spiritual us. He is everywhere, experience. Be ready for a in everything. He spiritual nudge at any time, is in all of creation,” “Compassion and seize the chance to slip into McNamer said. “From and service the wonder and awe of a divine the beginning of time, encounter, Herron said. people have always are hallmarks “The challenge is to find tried to get in touch of all world new meaning in familiar and with the God that is unfamiliar places,” he added. within. It’s from this religions need that religions and spiritual Action and mythologies were Compassion and service are birthed. That need is in traditions, hallmarks of all world religions all of us.” and and spiritual traditions, and eventually, our spirituality Shhh… eventually, should spur us to action, In the hectic our McNamer said. whirl of the holiday “It’s this idea that my life is season, it’s easy to spirituality the gift I give to this world,” forget the importance should spur she added. “A lawyer writing of spirituality. Pray if a brief is being spiritual. He’s it feels right, meditate us to action.” using his talents to help his on the meaning of the client. A doctor performing season, practice yoga, an operation is being spiritual. give yourself to a small -Elizabeth McNamer He’s using his talent to heal. A act of kindness or take teacher in a classroom is being a slow walk in nature. In spiritual. When we use our these moments of quiet, talents to help others, we are our spirits are renewed. being spiritual.”

“We’re all so busy, and often, it’s with good things, but that means we may not be paying as much attention to our souls and what’s going Simplicity on inside of us,” said Susan Thomas, director of Disciplines like prayer, meditation and reading scripture or sacred texts all foster spirituality, but pastoral care at Billings Clinic.

Spiritual experiences are part of our daily they are no guarantee a connection to the divine. lives, McNamer said, but the fast pace of our lives More than anything, spirituality requires us to often robs us of the chance to experience them. It be open to the unexpected, Herron said. When takes a conscious shift to be open to moments of we’re quiet, ready and aware, we are open to a spiritual experience. spiritual opportunity.

“You don’t have to have a set routine, but “We need to be looking for a spiritual maybe it should become one of your priorities or leading all the time,” McNamer said. “Take time out of your day to pray and develop your part of your vision,” Thomas said. spirituality and get in touch with the God within and ask yourself, ‘am I contributing to Place Consider the shifting light on a wooded trail, make this world a better place?’”

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Open

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3175 Grand Avenue • 652-3877

Words of

Wisdom The Best Advice I Ever Received

By Nancy Brook

Steve Jans Aspiring stand-up comic In the early ‘80s Steve was working as a copier salesman, and his boss recommended a way for Steve to improve his communication and leadership skills as well as boost his self-confidence.

“Join Toastmasters.”

He attended one meeting and decided speaking in front of people wasn’t for him. In 2006, he tried it again. He says it has made a huge improvement in his life. One unexpected outcome, he’s started performing locally as a stand-up comic. Recently, he was even one of the opening acts for professional comedian, Lukas Seely. He only regrets that he didn’t follow the advice of his boss sooner.

Grains of insight are like sand in an oyster. Both become precious gems over time, transforming something quite ordinary into a thing of beauty. Just as pearls bring luster and beauty to the recipient, wise words can offer a new perspective on life, encouragement at the right moment or a fresh way of seeing the world.

We asked people to share valuable insights they’ve gained through advice given at the right moment. For some, the guidance provided an immediate ah-ha moment; for others, the words became something valued over time. For all, these words of wisdom were life-enriching.

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Mary Dyre

Kari Phoenix

Attorney and partner, Karell Dyre Haney PLLP

Tae Kwon Do black belt An inspirational force in Kari’s life for the past six years has been her martial arts instructor, Grand Master Suk Byung Park. Before every martial arts class, he passes on encouraging words and advice. At first, Kari said it was difficult to understand what Master Park was saying because of his broken English. (He was born in Korea.) Now his “Parkisms” have become a second language. One piece of sage advice stands out in Kari’s mind.

Lorri Turner

Hairstylist and owner, Genesis Salon Whether it’s an outdated haircut or an outmoded way of thinking, Lorri has observed that sometimes people get stuck in a rut. Her sister’s words have inspired Lorri to avoid getting trapped in unproductive patterns.

“All times competitor only one: only yourself. You all times fighting yourself. You never give up, you winner.

Quitters never winners, winners never quitters.”

For Kari, she has learned it’s not about comparing herself to other students, but to focus on her own progression. Kari believes we tend to be our own worst critics, judges and enemies, but as long as we persist, we will prevail as winners.

When Mary and her husband, John, became parents of premature twins, there were many trials. Sometimes things were just plain difficult. Mary remembers advice from a friend that really made a difference in her life.

Doug Brown

“What’s hardest in the short run is best in the long run.”

He calls himself the “Angry Accountant,” an ironic moniker since Doug Brown’s philosophy in life is to let go of life’s difficulties. His best advice came years ago through motivational tapes by Anthony Robbins.

Mary found this true for not only keeping positive during the early months after the birth of the twins, but also in everyday life circumstances. She says she often asks herself: “Do I want to take the shortcut or take the more difficult path that will bring better long-term results?”

Accounting professor, Montana State University-Billings

“If something catastrophic happens, don’t dwell on the problem but shift to the solution as soon as you can.”

Doug recalls the first time he implemented Robbins’ advice. His car broke down in the middle of nowhere, years ago when cell phones weren’t common. Instead of being stymied by the problem, Doug decided to walk toward the nearest town to find a phone and call a friend for help. He also said the advice came in handy when he was learning to fly. “As a pilot, focusing on the solution can mean the difference of life or death.”

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always got.”

“People want to make things way more complicated than they need to be,” says Lorri. Her answer? Stop doing what doesn’t work and try a different approach.

Sara Hatfield

Owner, Maternal Fitness Montana As a fitness trainer, Sara knows it’s essential to work her body. But it was her mother’s advice that first gave her this perspective as a child.

“You got all your arms and legs? They workin’? Then you’re fine. Go play.”

No matter what the issue, Sara says this advice has always helped her keep things in perspective. “If nobody’s dead or maimed, then don’t freak out. Just go solve the problem, you know?”

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Katie Ellis

Lyle Knight

Owner, Bottega Clothing

CEO, First Interstate Bank

About a year ago, Katie opened her clothing store in downtown Billings.

Her best advice came years ago from a former boss at another clothing

When he was about 15 years old, Lyle heard profound career advice from his father. He told Lyle that he wasn’t the smartest person in the room, and because of that, he needed to do things

store.

differently.

“Confidence is everything.”

“Hang out with smart people and work harder than anyone else.”

It was a light bulb moment for Katie. “Confidence affects perception,” she says. “It affects how people perceive you, how you perceive each day and how you perceive yourself.”

Lyle thinks it was excellent advice that has helped him rise in his career. “That’s what I’ve always tried to do,” he says.

Steve Syndergaard Father John Mancantelli Priest, Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

As someone who is often the giver of advice, Father John shared two pieces of guidance that changed his life. The first was provided by his best friend, 37 years ago, who told him, “Marry Clara” (which he did). A year later, Father John heard another piece of advice, this time by a senior priest when Father John was assigned his first parish.

“Above all, you must love your parishioners.”

Father John says that this was the best thing anyone could have told him about being a priest. It has provided him with a perspective and focus that has sustained him through the years.

Owner, Pooper Patrol

More than anyone, Steve knows that sometimes in life we have messes to deal with. Twenty-three years ago, Steve was electrocuted and nearly died. Six months later he was involved in a severe truck accident and fell into a coma for a month and half. Soon after, his wedding plans fell through. Living through these harrowing experiences has given Steve an internal wisdom that he calls his best advice.

“Pick yourself up and keep going.”

“Life is an adventure, but you have to keep going down the road,” he says.

“I’ve always been one who has never given up.”

Mark Perez

Theme Cuisine Chef, Sodexo One of the most positive people you’ll ever meet is Mark Perez, a chef who works at the Billings Clinic cafeteria.

His best advice came from his wife, Melody.

Ron Tussing Former mayor and chief of police in Billings Years ago, when Ron was first elected sheriff in Lincoln, Neb., he and his chief deputy, Tom, discussed who to hire for new deputies. One of Ron’s concerns was how the candidates performed on the physical fitness test. From Ron’s perspective, this was a valid concern. He had just completed an Ironman Triathlon and had a nickname of “Hondo” after the old SWAT TV show. Chief deputy Tom gave Ron a new way to look at people.

He said,

“Ron, I don’t want to offend you, but perhaps we should consider not hiring exclusively Tussing clones.

We need a variety of people with a variety of skills.”

“Be thankful for what you have. There are people who have it a lot worse.”

For Mark, being thankful means appreciating himself and others. He says he strives to always be positive by doing his best every day and giving 100 percent. And he adds that he gives everyone he meets a smile. “You never know if that smile can make a difference for someone having a bad day.”

BRING YOUR CURIOSITY Visit our current exhibitions at the Yellowstone Art Museum Polar: Photographs from the Ice Antarctica to Greenland Patrick Smith October 7, 2010 – January 9, 2011 John Buck Through January 9, 2011 Eye for an Eye: Photographs of Modern Artists by Modern Artists from the Collection of John W. Green October 7, 2010 – January 9, 2011 Edith Freeman’s Montana Seasons: Works from the Permanent Collection November 9, 2010 – April 10, 2011

401 N. 27th St. Billings, MT 59101 (406)-256-6804 w w w. a r t m u s e u m . o rg

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the spirit of

Innovators. Entrepreneurs. Pacesetters. Define them how you will, these people found niches in which they have thrived. They work in surprising areas and often refuse to play by others’ rules. And they like doing it all in Billings.

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L

When Laura Heine was looking for some new fabric that she really wanted — something with vibrant color and fun design — she found it easier to design her own.

So the fabric designer, thread designer and author started her own business. That was in 1994 and things have been going well since.

Calling her business “quilting for passionate quilters,” Fiberworks isn’t for the faint of heart. The walls burst with color and design, and the store is often buzzing with activity. During the winter months, where gray days can block out the view of the Rims, Heine says she often gets non-quilters who wander in “just to get filled with color.”

Photo by David Grubbs

Fiber, color and quilts...OH MY!

The innovator: Laura Heine The business: Fiberworks, a quilting supply and fabric business How to find it: 3213 Henesta Drive On the web: fiberworks-heine.com How would you define yourself as an innovator?

Heine says she has never turned down a job and continues to pursue her ideas. She’s written books, designs fabrics, designs threads and pushes the envelope. “Deep down, I was always afraid I wasn’t going to make it,” she says. “I did everything I could to ensure I was a success in my little business. Let’s face it, when I started, I was going up against some big chain stores.”

What makes you different?

Heine says she and her employees are indeed a “are a group of passionate quilters.” She is also the only fabric designer in Montana, let alone in Billings, which makes her business a “quilters’ art gallery.”

What makes Billings a good place to do business?

“Billings is a smaller, close-knit community and is very supportive

of the arts,” Heine says. For her, that translates into a loyal customer base that also gets the word out to friends who don’t live here. During summer months, when Billings residents are camping, fishing and on vacation, Fiberworks is filled with touring quilters longing for a new idea, a new pattern or more fabric.

Where to you see yourself in five years?

“I think I’ll be doing the same thing, but will be getting out there a bit more and learning more.”

If you could create an exclusive line of fabric for any celebrity, who would it be?

Lady Gaga, because it would be so different with polka dots in pink, black and white.

innovation

By Dan Carter

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A

As Billings grows into a more metropolitan or urban center – complete with vibrant health care, retail and financial sectors – the art scene is evolving as well. Travis Hunt, Johnny Robertson and Nic Jovanovich are artists who want to provide young adults who work in the largest city in Montana a richer array of art. That might mean photos and paintings, but it also might mean graffiti, tattoo art and dance. The options are limitless.

And instead of opening a gallery and hoping people come, Rogue Art is mobile, working with downtown restaurants and night clubs to bring the art to places where people gather. They plan and work the events around their regular jobs, and in the one year that the trio has been working as Rogue, they’ve done five venues and had a lot of fun.

Photo by Larry Mayer

PUSHING THE URBAN ART IDEA IN AN URBAN AREA The Innovators: Travis Hunt, Johnny Robertson, Nic Jovanovich The entity: Rogue Gallery How to find it: It’s always on the move… follow the buzz On the web: Go to Facebook and search out Rogue Gallery

How would you define yourself as an innovator?

“We’re just trying to do something different,” says Hunt, who works in acrylics, other media and has a love of comics. “We were on about our third Art Walk, and everything looked the same.

We wanted to expand the horizons of the Billings artistic community and open the door to new, young artists.”

The result, Robertson and Jovanovich note, has been a rise in energetic young artists on the Billings scene. Their events bring new customers to businesses with which they work and awareness to some art forms that Billings residents seldom see. Graffiti artists did their art on canvas outside the Carlin this past summer and some tattoo artists had customers show their skin for a show in October.

What makes you different?

“Anything we pull off is fresh,” Hunt said. It’s not that Rogue’s shows are unique (similar shows have been done elsewhere), but they are new to Billings.

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What makes Billings a good place to do this kind of work?

“Billings is a big blank canvas,” said Robertson, who studied art at Montana State University - Billings and does digital art and sculpture.

“There’s an opportunity here to do something that’s different from traditional western art.”

Jovanovich, a mixed media artist who also studied at MSU-Billings, says people in Billings are open to new art. “We have a blast. It seems like they do too.”

Where do you see yourself in five years?

The Rogue Gallery trio wants to find new ways to reach art lovers, including developing a clothing line and a comic book. They also want to make Billings a place where artists love to stay.

“It would be great to have people stick around instead of wanting to leave and we can create an artists community,” Hunt says.

If you could be any artist or comic book character, who would it be?

Hunt: Banksy (renowned graffiti artist) Robertson: Johnny Storm (Fantastic Four hero) Jovanovich: Landscape artist Russell Chatham (“Because I respect his work and his lifestyle.”)

BRINGING SCIENCE TO YOUR DOOR --- LITERALLY!

The Innovator: Frank Schaner The business: Home Science Tools, a business that supplies customized science kits across the country How to find it: 665 Carbon St. On the web: hometrainingtools.com How would you define yourself as an innovator?

Schaner said he saw a need in the marketplace and decided it was time for someone to fill it. “There was a real lack of science materials available to home educators,” he said. “We were really trying to understand the needs of a particular group of people, and we developed a product line to meet that need.” What Schaner found, however, was that demand for microscopes, chemistry kits and related materials was larger than the home-education market.

Public and private school teachers also use his products to enhance their classroom work.

What makes you different or unique?

The business is local, but the clientele is national.

Schaner says 99 percent of Home Science Tools products are shipped outside of Billings thanks to a vibrant Internet and catalog sales. And of that amount, Montana only makes up 3 percent of the sales. That has led to sustained growth in his business of 15-20 percent a year. “There is a lot of demand for the kind of discovery science we provide.”

What makes Billings a good place to do business?

“I grew up in Great Falls, and my wife grew up in Bozeman. When we decided to move back to Montana, Billings was central as a commercial

hub,” he said. “We also came to Billings because we found a good church here that we decided to raise our family in.” Because a majority of his products are shipped out of Billings, the city’s status as a postal and shipping hub helps maintain his client base that reaches to all areas of the country.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

“We’ll be working hard to sustain our growth,” Schaner says. When the economy took a bit of a dip last year, he and his company used the opportunity to work on search engine optimization and work on their website. He also says he wants to “do a better job of reaching families and schools.”

F

Frank Schaner is a chemical engineer by trade and one of those people who never lost his sense of curiosity when he grew up. A Great Falls native, he remembers going to the nearby drug store and buying test tubes to do his own experiments.

Fast forward to the mid1990s, and Schaner found that materials for those home chemistry experiments weren’t readily available.

So in 1994, he started Home Science Tools from a room in his house and primarily marketed kits and materials to homeschool parents. “We started it from scratch and the inventory was in one of our closets,” he said.

Since that time, the business has grown to 19 employees in a warehouse on Billings’ West End and has a nationwide reach.

Photo by David Grubbs

If you could be at the side of any great discoverer, who would it be?

“There were things that Einstein did from certain philosophies of discovery, and I would want to know what he was thinking at different times along the way,” Schaner said. “I think we lost some of his perspective in the sciences today, and I want to better understand that. There’s an exclusivity in science today that flies in the face of Einstein’s perspective.”

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K

THE WIZARD OF AAHHHHHS

The Innovator: Kris Carpenter The businesses: Sanctuary Spa and Salon, The Joy of Living, The Joy of Kids How to find them: 1504 24th St. W.; 1528 24th St. W.; and 1510 24th St. W. On the web: sanctuaryspaandsalon.com; thejoyofliving.com

How would you define yourself as an innovator?

“I just like to make stuff up,” Carpenter says simply when asked about her penchant for creative business ideas. “Growing up, I didn’t have much so I learned that you have to be very creative with what you have. You have to use your ideas and make something out of nothing.”

That means she is always thinking about the next horizon. “I live in a world of ‘what-ifs’ and it drives the people I work with crazy sometimes.”

What makes you different?

Carpenter noted that being her own boss and becoming a successful business owner didn’t happen overnight. She went back to college to learn all aspects of business. She learns from others and when she travels, she brings back ideas to incorporate into her own entities. She doesn’t try to be everything to everyone, either. “When I decided to open the new gift store, I was very clear on my vision of what I want it to be.”

What makes Billings a good place to do this kind of work?

Carpenter has a sense of the community and the

80 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

willingness to support new ideas. “People are interested in different things here,” Carpenter said. “It’s a really great market.” She also appreciates the fact that the Billings economy does not fluctuate greatly. “While things may hit, it doesn’t spike high and low like it does in other places.”

Where to you see yourself in five years?

“I’m sure I’ll be up to something. I’ll be spending time developing new designs and looking for opportunities. I always seem to have an urgency that there is a need out there that isn’t being fulfilled.”

If you could work with any innovator ever, who would it be?

“My first thought is Benjamin Franklin. For his time, he was so far out there and so creative.

But then I think about Richard Branson (British entrepreneur and owner of the Virgin Group). I’d love to spend a day with him.”

Kris Carpenter has an innate sense of what makes women feel good.

A pampering session in a spa… a new look for a big weekend… a thoughtful gift for a best friend… a fun place to hang out.

And if she can’t quite find the right place to bring out those feelings, she builds it herself.

It all started with Sanctuary Spa and Salon in 1998 as a special place to give women who selflessly care for others a place to get some special care themselves.

And just as conscious as Carpenter is to tending to her customers, she’s equally as aware of her community. Everyone who works for her takes part in charitable outreach volunteerism in Billings as part of their employment and she focuses on donations to causes instead of traditional advertisement.

Responding to a restless nudge inside of her, the Billings native has expanded into new areas in the past year, opening The Joy of Living, a specialty boutique shop she calls a “girlfriend store” and The Joy of Kids.

Photo by James Woodcock

M SMALL BUSINESS, BIG SOLUTIONS The Innovator: Matt Duray The businesses: Connect Telephone & Computer Group, a business solutions company How to find them: 1306 Central Ave., with an office now open in Bozeman On the web: theconnectgroup.com

How would you define yourself as an innovator?

When computer and technology service models changed about a decade ago, Duray decided his company would adjust to the market, not simply adjust to the technology. The result was a strategy to embrace a strict certification program for employees and stellar customer service. “I like to open up to good ideas from employees and contacts and adjust,” Duray said. “And when you can’t play by the rules that you have today, you change the rules.”

What makes your company different?

“We have built our reputation on exceptional service,” Duray said. What that means is guaranteed response time, a mobile crew of web office experts with inventory on hand and a company-wide commitment to employee training and certification. “The technology we preach is the same we use.”

What makes Billings a good place to do this kind of work?

Raised in Billings, Duray said he likes his hometown, but also knows that “the advances in technology put Billings totally on par with everyone else” and a business can grow and prosper here.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

“I’d like to have the state of Montana covered with web office solutions,” he said, noting his future growth plans include locating offices and technicians in Missoula and Kalispell.

Matt Duray knows the difference between fixing computers and providing solutions.

It’s more than pulling wires for a business; it’s about providing a platform for profitability.

Duray began Connect Telephone & Computer Group in 1991 in response to rapid changes in business technology.

Over the years, the Connect Group has evolved to become one of the most sought after service providers for voiceover-Internet phone technology and other business tech tools.

The company has 25 employees, recently opened another office in Bozeman and is looking to expand to the western part of the state.

Photo by James Woodcock

If you could work on any cool technology innovation in the future, what would it be?

“I think it would be video,” he said. “I see big changes in the way that people meet and live, and soon we’ll get all our TV in devices like iPods and phones and other electronic tools. There will be one interface for all of it.”

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 81

magic city scene by anna paige

Photo by Casey Riffe

Sons of Billings Tune into the unique musical musings of these upand-coming artists.

Their talent will leave you breathless, their passion will have you coming back for more.

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Billings-based blues/rock band, the Sons of Billings, (S.O.B.’s for short) didn’t predict they’d end up being one of the hottest new acts this year. Without a website, without using social media and without even writing their own material, the group exploded onto the Billings scene through word-of-mouth.

Live, the S.O.B.’s perform mostly covers, from obscure to experimental rock to bluesyinspired fusion tunes. The group is fronted by the 21-yearold rock guitar animal, Matt Rogers and backed by Steven Brown on bass and Pat Epley on drums.

The band formed before the Magic City Blues festival with the intention of landing a performing slot during the two-day music festival, which took place in August. They performed both days, and afterward, they began to feel

the group coalesce.

Brown said since that time they have begun to take their band more seriously.

“Following the Blues Fest we were ready to start kicking ass and writing original material,” Brown said.

The band is working on an album of new material and is hoping for a CD release in April. The group currently has a recording of cover tunes, available for purchase at live performances. The album was recorded prior to the Blues Fest and contains covers of “Black Coat” by Randall Bramblett, the Bob Dylan tune “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” “Larado” by John Dee Graham and their original tune “Rock Creek,” among others.

The S.O.B.’s are an elusive group, but on most Tuesdays at Carter’s Brewing they’re bound to be playing. Keep your ears open for their CD release party.

Courtesy of Jill Nauman Photography

Alex Nauman Organ Trio The Alex Nauman Organ Trio is hosting a CD release party Saturday, Nov. 27, at the Railyard. The group is fronted by traditional jazz guitar, funk, experimental, and improvisational musician Alex Nauman, who said the celebration will be shared with “all kinds of friends.”

Billings blues and rock band the S.O.B.’s will open the show, and Nauman estimates several musicians will join his group onstage to play and sing a few tunes.

The album, titled “Loud Lullabies,” features 10 tunes— all originals except for a cover of a Santana song from the late ‘70s, and is packed with Nauman’s powerful sound.

“We try to take the elements of passion and power from the other genres and blend with improvisational aspects of jazz and complex chord changes and harmonies,” Nauman said of the trio.

The group formed in November 2009, playing at Walker’s and Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co., Nauman

also performs with the Ernan Cortez Quartet (ECQ), the Tiny Trio, Funk in the Trunk and Big Caboose, though the Alex Nauman Organ Trio is his main vehicle for music.

Nauman grew up in Basin, Wyo. After high school he attended college in Powell for three years, and finished school at the University of Northern Colorado, receiving a BA in jazz studies and guitar performance.

He moved to Billings in the summer of 2008, saying it was going to be a “temporary thing.” He and his wife had their first daughter in May of 2008 and found Billings a good place to raise her.

The key to family and musical life is balance, Nauman said.

“I am lucky to just play music; that’s all I do. I teach guitar every day except Sundays and gig at night. Most days I don’t go into work until 3 p.m., so I get to hang out and be a dad in the morning and go play at night.”

Visit alexnaumanmusic.com for more info.

Known By Name The creation of local musicians Ryan Kabeary and Parker Brown, Known

By Name is an ever-evolving group. Sprinkled with pop rock and a myriad of blues influences, the group features Kabeary on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Brown on electric guitar and occasionally bass. Trevor Krieger, who plays violin with the Billings Symphony, adds fiddle and mandolin to the group. Phil Griffin, a senior at Senior High, plays upright bass.

Thomas Burke, a saxophone instructor at Rocky Mountain College, plays flute and sax.

Add Clay Green, an active drummer and performer with more than a half dozen bands throughout the community, and the group is Known By Name.

“It’s a good contrast of instruments,” said Brown, “especially with upright bass; everything has that natural sound.”

With approachable grooves and Kabeary’s amiable voice,

Photo by Larry Mayer

Known By Name’s music gives a distinct sense of comfort and familiarity, as though you were listening to a well-known song.

Brown and Kabeary formed Known By Name a year and a half ago and have an evolving rotation of players.

“We’re in the process of trying to make each collection of artists distinct,” Kabeary said. When the group first formed, Kabeary said they weren’t that interested in practicing. But now that the group has evolved, they have a desire to practice, become more comfortable as a group and give the sounds and songs justice.

“We’re letting these projects grow up and letting them figure out who they are,” Kabeary said.

The group will host a release for its debut CD, “Of Love in a Foreign Land,” on Dec.18 at the Carlin.

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Upcoming Winter Concerts Billings Boy Choir - Dec. 10 & 11, Rocky Mountain College The Billings BoyChoir, a community-based performing ensemble focused on training and performance of contemporary and traditional boy choir literature, will present a multimedia and theatrical performance of “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” on Dec. 10 and 11 at Rocky Mountain College.

Directed by K. Stuart Smith, associate professor of computer science at Rocky Mountain College, the group is in its third season. Smith has been working with youth for nearly 20 years, including at the Boy Scouts of America.

“Their excitement is rewarding,” Smith said of working with the BoyChoir. “They believe that they can do anything, and they usually can.”

The group is composed of boys ranging in age from 8 to 17. The upcoming holiday performance is adapted from Denholm Elliot’s story of a child’s Welsh Christmas, and was scripted by a theater student at Rocky.

“Scenes will be acted out, and the choir will supply music for the program,” Smith explained.

Envisioning the event as a yearly Photo by Casey Riffe tradition, Smith said he’d “like to establish this as our contribution to the season.”

The group has will perform “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” on Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. at Losekamp Hall on the Rocky Mountain College campus. For more information, visit www.theboychoir.org.

Billings Symphony - Nutcracker, Nov. 27, ABT / Doug LaBrecque, Dec. 31, ABT Camela

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The Billings Symphony has two upcoming performances during the holidays, including Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet with the San Diego Ballet on Nov. 27 and 28 at the Alberta Bair Theater and New Year’s Eve with Broadway superstar, Doug LaBrecque on Dec. 31.

Conductor Anne Harrigan said she is especially looking forward to the New Year’s Eve concert with LaBrecque. The Broadway singer performed to a sold-out crowd in November 2009 with the Billings Symphony. Harrigan describes him as “one of the most engaging and entertaining artists I’ve ever worked with.”

Some of LaBrecque’s more famous pieces are “Phantom of the Opera” and “Mr. Cellophane,” but he has a list of hundreds of pieces that he regularly performs Courtesy of Billings Symphony with orchestras

around the world, Harrigan said. “I love the way he puts programs together, and have often consulted him when putting programs together, like our community-based Broadway concerts several years ago. The energy he brings to the stage is incredible, but he fell in love with Montana the last time he was here—especially after visiting Chico.”

The orchestra has traditionally performed in a New Year’s Eve gala performance each year, but switched formats several years ago to feature a solo artist.

“It’s exciting to have the full orchestra back on stage for New Year’s Eve working with Doug. I know we’re going to really enjoy ourselves,” Harrigan said.

A Thanksgiving tradition, the Symphony will also host the Nutcracker Ballet. The San Diego Ballet has performed in Billings in years past and was on the list of ballet companies requested by the local ballet instructors and parents.

The ballet company brings its own interpretation of the Nutcracker, with their own artistic direction and choreography, Harrigan said. “This keeps it interesting for our audience and also for the many local children who are cast alongside the professional ballet troupe.”

The Midlife Chryslers - Dec. 31, Billings Hotel Homegrown classic rock group, The Midlife Chryslers, will come together on Dec. 31 for a holiday party at the Billings Hotel.

“We’ve never done a New Year’s Eve show before, and we’re really looking forward to this kind of celebration,” said Doug Ezell, keyboardist, fiddle, mandolin and harmonica player for the group.

Composed of 11 members— all working professionals, doctors and professors— the group has challenges when it comes to getting everyone together for a live performance.

“Because of our busy schedules, our playing agenda is relatively limited,” Courtesy of The Midlife Chryslers Ezell said.

When asked of their success, Ezell referred to the fact that the group is composed of “older” guys (and one young lady) who have a ton of fun onstage.

“We all feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do this at this stage in our lives,” Ezell said. This holiday performance is open to the public, one of the few the group has in the coming months. For more information, visit www.themidlifechryslers.com.

Out-of-towners worth tuning in to Our city not only fosters local talents, it calls to out-oftowners. Check out the upcoming CD releases for two Bozeman-based groups:

Jeni Fleming

The sultry Bozeman-based jazz/blues artist, Jeni Fleming, has just released her seventh album, “Come to Life,” featuring her wide range of classical and jazz influences. The album is a collection of original songs, jazz standards and re-arranged pop/rock tunes, recorded with Fleming’s current six-piece instrumentation.

“I feel like I’m finally discovering how to sing, how to honestly represent myself as a musician,” Fleming said of the album.

“Come to Life” features several original tunes written by Fleming’s husband and bandmate Jake Fleming, as well as thoughtful interpretations from the rock and country genres including Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying too Close to the Ground” and a version of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away.”

Jeni Fleming brings her band to the Billings Depot on Nov. 19 for a CD release party. The group has dates slated for Bozeman, Great Falls and Missoula as well. For more information, visit www.jenifleming.com.

The Clintons

Known for their party tunes, Bozeman-based country/pop rock band, The Clintons, got its start 10 years ago at a frat party. The celebratory nature of the band has propelled them across the western half of the United States, and what they’re know for is Montana-grown good times.

Clintons’ frontman, John McLellan recently sat down with Josh Keehr at the Yellowstone Brewing Co. for a live recording. McLellan said he hopes to have a CD/ DVD package ready by New Year’s.

“Keehr and I always put our money and energy into Clintons records, so this is a new experiment for us,” Courtesy of The Clintons McLellan said. McLellan has lined up videographers, a Nashville artist to mix the recording, a colorist for the final footage, as well as made a hefty financial investment in the project.

“If I were a poker player, I’d say I’m ALL IN,” he said. The Clintons have six recordings to date, available for download at their website, www.clintonsband.com. Upcoming performances are also listed online.

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MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 85

The following is an excerpt from Elizabeth McNamer’s memoir, “Christmas in Ireland.”

Set in the 1940s, McNamer revisits her childhood home of Cappawhite, Ireland, where her family prepares for the holiday season. With wit and whimsy, she recreates the cast of characters, interweaving them with unpretentious traditions of a time gone by.

CHRISTMAS IN

CAPPAWHITE

By Elizabeth McNamer Illustrations by James Haughey

86 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

With the autumn leaves swept up, and winter fires glowing in the chimney, the first sign of Christmas appeared: the baking of the Christmas cake. Early in November shopkeepers shelved raisins, currants, sultanas, nuts and self-rising flour, and the hens were busy laying extra eggs. Publicans ordered in the indispensable just-once-a-year brandy. Housewives brought out the recipe passed down the generations. Aproned women eagerly set about the happy ritual: the pudding bowl was taken down from the shelf and then the soaking of the fruit in boiling hot water, the beating of the eggs, the creaming of the butter and sugar, the sifting of the flour and the crowning of the mixture by the liberal soaking with the brandy, (always reserving the “sup for the cat.”)

“Cats don’t drink brandy,” the children said.

“Oh, but they do,” said their fathers.

“Saint Bernard’s dogs have brandy,” someone remembered.

“Jasus, Josie you didn’t put all the booze in the bloody cake.”

Good children were allowed to stir the mixture while wishing for something that was bound to be granted (if you wished for the right thing). My mother suggested I wish for good health so that I could enjoy eating it.

As November waned, Advent began. A time of prayer and penance. Children were admonished to say 4000 Hail Marys in honor of the 4000 years the world was kept waiting for the coming of Jesus. This amounted to three rosaries a day, and I remember being on my knees all day Christmas Eve trying to make up for my deficiencies.

In early December toys began to appear in the shop windows. Rag dolls of green and pink and red stood primly displayed, surrounded by small tea sets, and tin soldiers, and golliwogs and little train sets and games and books about Aladdin and Cinderella and fairies. How I loved to peer in the window and imagine they all belonged to me. Of course I would not want the toys for myself, but I would save them for my children when I was grown up. Greed was a venial sin, as my grandmother reminded us, and even to lust after toys was an occasion of sin. Confessions during the Advent season were frequent and penances doled out (usually extra Hail Mary’s, as if we did not have enough already).

Once in early December my mother took my brother Michael and me to Cork to shop for clothes. We went to the big store where Michael and I were to meet Father Christmas. The smiling red-clad man sat on a big red chair, but none of the children dared go near him. He smelt just like the men on the night of baking the Christmas cakes.

Timidly, I sat on his lap and asked if I could have a new dress, just like my mother had told me to. “Have you been a good girl?”

I said, “No,” and started to cry.

I was afraid of telling a lie because I had taken two biscuits when my mother had said I could have one, and that would be a sin, and Our Lady would not be pleased with me. Father Christmas was distraught.

He asked if I had gone to confession. I told him that I had. I mumbled that I would like a red dress because my mother had told me to ask for that. He said he wasn’t sure about me, but he would have to talk to my mother.

“Try to behave better in the future,” he cautioned.

Michael was next. He asked for a train set, and Father Christmas got very mad and said he was a very selfish little boy with his mother working so hard to get the money to send him to school, and why didn’t he ask for a coat and hat like a sensible child, and he deserved to have the shit beaten out of him. The whole store was in an uproar, and we left in shame, Michael wailing like a Banshee.

We went to the hotel for tea. Michael was given lemonade to stop the crying. And then we had tea and scones and jam and buns called butterfly cakes because they had butterfly wings decorated in cream on the top. Chinese lanterns were suspended from poles in the dining room. I had never seen anything so beautiful and thought that when I grew up I would have Chinese lanterns in my house all year long.

MAGIC I holiday 2010 I 87

As the Advent days began to end, my older brothers came home from boarding school at Rockwell College. My mother was so excited. Green curtains were hung on the windows in the parlor. Linen was put to air by the fire, and the best bedspreads were taken out of the closet and the beds made up in the four-bed boys’ room.

The coming home of my brothers was such a glorious time. We had sausages and bacon and eggs at tea in the dining room with the best china all laid out. And later I would lie in my own little bed in my tiny room and listen to the masculine voices coming from the dormitory and feel so secure and warm.

By the last Sunday of Advent, fat geese could be seen wandering in the back yard of Tracy’s, the butchers, unaware of the fate that awaited them.

On Christmas Eve, the goose was killed and plucked in the back kitchen and hung over the fireplace. The Christmas cake was taken out and decorated with white royal icing with “Happy Christmas” written in red. We went to the woods to pick holly to decorate the house, and the branches were put behind all the pictures in the parlor. It looked so beautiful with the gleaming dark leaves and berries red as blood and the fire crackling in the chimney. And then my grandmother arrived saying that we would set the house on fire and couldn’t we think of something else to do wrong and my father glanced up from his reading and murmured something about “that bloody woman again.” And shopkeepers delivered ham and whiskey and puddings in Christmas boxes. And the dog threw up the goose feathers.

Before going to bed we set a candle in the kitchen window so that Mary and Joseph would be able to find a place to rest if they needed to come in. I prayed that it would snow like it did in Bethlehem and that Mary and Joseph would come to see us instead of Father Christmas coming down the chimney.

I had to stay awake to finish off the 4000 Hail Mary’s.

After mass, Father Callahan walked down the Chapel Lane throwing apples

And then, the exquisite expectation from his pocket to the waiting children. while falling to sleep on Christmas Eve. My brother Freddy was always the first up on Christmas morning, rooting through the brown bag to see what Father Christmas had left him. I got a pink rag doll and a box of watercolor paints. But, I already had a pink rag doll that I got last Christmas. I realized that Santa wanted me to have twins, and I introduced the dolls to each other and put them aside to play with after mass.

The mass at half past eight o’clock in the parish church was crowded. Father Callahan talked about how poor Jesus was and that he got no toys when he was born in Bethlehem, even though he was God. I felt guilty that I had two dolls and Jesus had none. After mass, Father Callahan walked down the Chapel Lane throwing apples from his pocket to the waiting children.

Christmas Day In the morning, the delicious aroma of the cooking goose filled our home. The best linen was laid out in the dining room with the good china and silver. My mother dished out the goose, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy and cauliflower and then for pudding we had jelly and cream. It was a Dickens feast.

The afternoon was spent playing games in the parlor while my grandmother had her once-a-year glass of port and snored. My father read out loud to me from “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp.” After tea when the Christmas cake was cut, my mother played the piano and we all gathered around the fire and sang the old songs: “Annie Laurie,” “The Minstral Boy to the War has Gone,” and “Danny Boy,” and my grandmother cried. And Freddy got the hiccups and Michael wanted to play with his stuff and my grandmother chastised him. She said that Father Christmas had been right, to which he responded by calling her an old fecker, and my father winked at him and said that he must be more respectful of his grandmother.

And then we had more cake and jelly and cream and the grownups had whiskey.

And the holly berries shone red on the green leaves and the candles flickered. And all was happiness and peace.

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super plants

By Jim Gransbery Photography by James Woodcock

For more than 50 years, a group of scientists in the Clarks Fork Valley have been quietly decoding plants and developing new species.

And they do it in virtual anonymity.

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The Bridger Plant Materials Center, operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service just outside this south central Montana town, was founded in 1959.

The 140-acre native-plant farm is not well-known to the public.

However, for the conservation districts of the two neighboring states that own the center, it is the mother ship of flora that developed in this region over hundreds of years. In its 51 years of existence the center has released 28 new plant selections and maintains foundation seed for their commercial production.

The successes are impressive. Scientists here have been able to propagate plants that thrive in arsenic-infested soils. They also develop substitute trees for the Russian olive which has become invasive on the Montana and Wyoming landscape.

They test native grasses, forbs and shrubs, cultivating them in their natural climatological setting to provide seed stock for farmers, ranchers and horticulturists, enhancing conservation practices and remediation of land despoiled by nature and human activity. And they are fulfilling a vital role in water conservation through the encouragement of xeriscape or reduced irrigation landscaping.

Previous page: Ponderosa pine growing at the Bridger Plant Materials Center. 1] Ross Oyler and Andrea Pierson examine a basil wild rye grass growing in the facility’s fields. 2] Agronomist Roger Hybner of the Bridger Plant Materials Center. 3] Robert Fisher works with pine tree seedlings in the Bridger Plant Materials Center greenhouse. 4] A stand of genetically selected Ponderosa pine grow at the center . 5] Joseph Scianna, assistant manager and horticulturist from the Bridger Plant Materials Center conducts a tour for visitors through the plant’s experimental fields.

Broadly speaking, “Plants will save us,” Roger Hybner acknowledged during a presentation this past summer in which he outlined the numerous projects the center has underway. Hybner, an agronomist – plants and soils scientist – said the focus is on native plant materials and the practical application of its research.

“We use plants to solve conservation problems,” said Joe Scianna, assistant manager and horticulturist who has spent the past 19 years at the center. Scianna, who holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Connecticut, emphasized that the center uses “no purposeful genetic manipulation.”

Budding adaptation A key project of the center is the selection of superior varieties of native plants that “adapted” to the acidic and heavy metal soils surrounding the Anaconda* copper smelter and the landscape downwind from the smoke stack that scattered hundreds of tons of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, zinc and sulfur dioxide. This ash mixture, when combined with hydrogen in the atmosphere, creates a type of acid rain, said Beth Graham, leader of the Development of Acid/Heavy Metal Tolerant Releases (DATR) project. Sponsored by the Deer Lodge Valley Conservation District, in

cooperation with the NRCS, and headquartered at the PMC at Bridger, its mission is to release plant materials that exhibit tolerances to mineland soils with elevated heavy metal concentrations and low pH (acidic).

“These plants are not mutated,” Graham said, “but have adapted to the soil conditions. We have found that most of them have shown superiority to known cultivars of the same species.”

The DATR project collected 145 plants from the affected soils and brought them to the PMC. The collection included trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs (broadleafed flowering plants) said Graham, an environmental engineer. The seeds were tested at PMC and were released to the public through growers certified by Montana Seed Growers Association.

“Then the market takes over,” Graham said.

“Restorators can buy the seed.”

Still being tested and soon to be released to the public is the silver buffalo berry grown from seed collected from heavy metal sites in Anaconda. “It is a great native conservation plant and provides food and shelter for birds and small mammals, while aiding in the stabilization of erodible soils and stream banks,” Graham said

Tackling thorny subjects Among land managers, “the Russian olive has become a four-letter word,” Scianna observed.

Although it has some conservation benefits, the plant’s invasive expansion is altering ecosystems, which is detrimental.

“Russian olives are low maintenance and hardy, useful for site stabilization, windbreaks and living snow fences,” he said. On the other hand, “it is replacing native plants in riparian areas, which affects the whole system.” Riparian areas include the ecosystems that border creeks, rivers and other watercourses.

Currently, scientists at the center envision Bur Oak as a potential replacement for the Russian olive. “Its winter hardy and drought resistant,” said Scianna. The fact that the tree grows rapidly – 12 to 18 inches annually – and that it provides food for deer, turkeys and rabbits makes it an even more attractive option.

The center also maintains a germ plasm

forest for Ponderosa pine, a tree native to the Intermountain West which can attain a height of 35 feet in 20 years under dryland conditions.

Germ plasm is the reproductive cells of an organism, particularly the portion that contains the chromosomes. These trees and their seeds are propagated and preserved to maintain a store of germ plasm for future conservation of the species.

“It’s a seed orchard for conservation nurseries,” Scianna said.

Plant protocol Before plants are released by the PMC, they undergo a long process of testing, evaluation and foundation seed production. The Bridger Select Rocky Mountain Juniper was one such plant. Released in 1997, the native mediumsized evergreen is used for windbreaks and living snow fences. It is also a good choice to use in xeriscaping – or landscaping in arid and semiarid regions using native plants that are drought resistant.

The tree is described by Scianna as the “number one conservation species in the Northern Great Plans and Intermountain West.”

Since 1998, the Bridger PMC has tested grasses that require low maintenance and limited water. The test plots include cool and warm season grasses, said agronomist Susan Winslow.

Winslow is the tribal liaison and oversees test plots of sweetgrass, which is used by Native Americans in cultural and spiritual ceremonies.

For now, Hybner and his fellow scientists remain focused on the practical application of their findings and in getting the results of their research into the hands of the public.

Through their efforts, Montanans can continue to enjoy a healthy, native environment for generations to come.

*A Soiled History:

The Anaconda smelter closed in

1980 and the site and surrounding area are part of the largest EPA Superfund reclamation project in the United States. The site covers the watershed from Butte to Bonner on the Clark Fork of the Columbia River. A multi-million dollar reclamation of the area has been underway for more than two decades.

The DATR project is funded by the Montana Department of Justice Natural Resource Damage Fund.

For more information:

The Bridger Plant Materials Center is one

of 27 such research facilities that serve all 50 states. Inquiries from the public are welcome: (406) 662-3579.

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Saturday Live 1] Jane Leuthold 2] Jack and Penny Copps 3] Krista Hertz, Blaire Martin Brush, Liz Fulton, Julie Whitworth, Josi Wilgus

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Rimrock Opera’s “The Merry Widow” 4] Danielle Frey and Josh Mahon 5] Rebecca Fay, Carl and Victoria Johnson 6] Christopher Johnson, Colleen Powers, Gennard Lombardozzi

Billings Clinic Classic 7] Dr. Walt and Carol Degnan 8] Dr. Malie Kopplin, Susan

14.

Elliott, Nancy and Dr. Robert Schultz 9] Paige Montague and Lead Beach Boys singer, Mike Love 10] Alan Anseth and Miss Montana, Annie Anseth 11] Dave and Renee Coppock

St.Vincent Healthcare SAINTS Ball 12 ] Brynde Vallevik, Deanna Emmitt, Amber Pisk, Jenilee Crellin 13] Jim and Patte Paquette 14] Angela Gardner, Tana Cornelius, Cealie Brumwell, Alysia Smith 15] Shawn and Judy Heringer

16.

High Plains Book Fest 16] Dindi Meyers, Kent Meyers, Kathy Mosdal O’Brien 17] Russ Willis, Francine Spang Willis, Steven Grafe, Christine Grafe 18] William Notter and Robert Lubbers

Photos courtesy of Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools, Rimrock Opera, Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare and Skinner Benoit Public Relations.

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December 7

December 7, 2010

20th Annual

RiverStone Health Hospice Tree of Lights Ceremony Hospice programs provide comfort, peace and dignity for individuals in the final stages of life and their families. During National Hospice Month, take time to recognize the dedicated professionals and volunteers who provide hospice care. These devoted individuals emphasize the importance of respecting and honoring life in all of its seasons.

November National Hospice Month November 16-January 1

Christmas at the Moss Mansion Location: The Moss Mansion Contact: (406) 256-5100

November 18

Grease Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 256-6052 Website: www.albertabairtheater.org

November 19

Billings Senior High School’s Bronc Extravaganza Location: Billings Senior High Contact: (406) 652-3273

November 19-20, 26-28, December 2-5, 9-12, 16-18 A Christmas Carol Location: Venture Theatre Contact: (406) 591-9535 Website: www.venturetheatre.org

November 20

St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral Annual Bazaar Location: St. Patrick’s CoCathedral Contact: (406) 245-3640

96 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

November 20 and 21

Holiday Food and Gift Festival Location: MetraPark Expo Center Contact: (406) 696-6585 Website: www.DandDProductions.us

November 21

Yellowstone Chamber Players Location: Yellowstone Art Museum Contact: (406) 248-2832 Website: www.yellowstonechamberplayers.org

November 26

Holiday Parade Location: Downtown Billings Contact: (406) 294-5060 Website: www.downtownbillings.com

November 27 and 28

Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale The Nutcracker Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 252-3610 Website: www.billingssymphony.org

December December 2-5

25th Annual Festival of Trees Location: Shrine Auditorium Contact: (406) 252-9799

December 3

Artwalk Location: Downtown Billings Contact: (406) 259-6563 Website: www.artwalkbillings.com

December 3

Christmas Stroll Location: Downtown Billings Contact: (406) 294-5060 Website: www.downtownbillings.com

December 3

A Montana Christmas Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 256-6052 Website: www.albertabairtheater.org

December 3-5, 9-12, 16-19 A Christmas Story Location: Billings Studio Theatre Contact: (406) 248-1141 Website: www.billingsstudiotheatre.com

December 4

6th Annual Billings Symphony Holiday Tour of Homes Location: Various Contact: (406) 252-3610 Website: www.billingssymphony.org

December 5

The Messiah Festival (Free Admission) Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 237-0453

20th Annual RiverStone Health Hospice Tree of Lights Ceremony Location: RiverStone Health Campus Contact: (406) 651-6555 Website: www.riverstonehealth.org

December 8

Wizard of Oz Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 256-6052 Website: www.albertabairtheater.org

December 9

Celtic Yuletide with Michael Londra Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 256-6052 Website: www.albertabairtheater.org

December 11

Rimrock Opera Chorus for Kids Holiday Concert Location: Skyview High School Contact: (406) 671-5174 Website: www.rimrockopera.org

December 11

Billings Youth Orchestra Concert Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 672-1843 Website: www.billingsyouthorchestra.org

December 12

The Shrine Chanters featuring the Akzents, Billings Community Orchestra and mezzo-soprano Michelle Berger, “Voices of Christmas” Holiday Concert Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 252-0081 Website: www.albertabairtheater.org

December 12

Yellowstone Chamber Players Location: Cisel Hall (MSU Billings) Contact: (406) 248-2832 Website:

www.yellowstonechamberplayers.org

December 17

Chase Hawks Memorial Cowboy Gatherin’ Dinner and Dance Location: Billings Hotel & Convention Center Contact: (406) 248-9295 Website: www.chasehawks.com

December 18

Chase Hawks Rodeo Location: MetraPark ExpoCenter Contact: (406) 248-9295 Website: www.chasehawks.com

December 31

Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale featuring Doug LaBrecque New Year’s Eve Celebration Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 252-3610 Website: www.billingssymphony.org

January 2011 January 2

January 14-16

The Great Rockies Sport Show Location: MetraPark ExpoCenter Contact: (406) 580-3907 Website: www.greatrockiesshow.com

January 22

Billings Symphony’s Free Family Concert Sonic Boom!

The Science of Sound Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 252-3610 Website: www.billingssymphony.org

A Chorus Line Location: Alberta Bair Theater Contact: (406) 256-6052 Website: www.albertabairtheater.org

January 23

January 6-8

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Ag and Construction Expo Location: MetraPark ExpoCenter Contact: (406) 696-6585 Website: www.DandDProductions.us

January 14

Christopher O’Riley and Matt Haimovitz Location: Alberta Bair Theater

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LAST WORD

by dina brophy

Christmas by the Numbers A collection of holiday trivia, tidbits and clever conversation starters.

37%

SEVEN

types of fowl

1991

The year artificial Christmas trees first outsold real ones and have each year since.

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98 I holiday 2010 I MAGIC

of cat owners and 40% of dog owners

were originally mentioned in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” when it was first printed in 1780. In addition to a partridge, turtle dove, French hen, geese and swans, there were also pheasants and colly birds, which eventually evolved into “calling” birds.

hang Christmas stockings for their pets.

1899 Apparently Santa was a bachelor until 1899 when poet, Katharine Lee Bates, first introduced a wife for Santa in her book, “Goody Santa Claus On A Sleigh Ride.”

5340 Number of times a VISA card is used each minute during the Christmas buying season.

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