Bozeman – On Tuesday, October 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will join the Deputy Mayor of Bozeman and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to highlight $1,605,660 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help the City of Bozeman enhance their Sustainable Organics Management Program to provide year-round recycling and composting services for organics and food waste. EPA is also providing $632,629 to the state of Montana to improve solid waste management planning and data collection in communities across the state.

“EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funds are helping communities across the nation reuse waste and reduce local and global environmental impacts,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker.  “We are proud to support a growing program that will serve Bozeman residents for many years to come. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funding to expand and create new waste management facilities in Montana is part of EPA’s largest recycling investment in 30 years.”

EPA’s grant award will help the city create a Bozeman Sustainable Organics Management Program with new residential collection infrastructure to provide single- and multi-family households with year-round diversion services for organic waste, including food waste. These investments include the purchase of carts, collection trucks, technology improvements and program education and outreach to residents and businesses. The city estimates the program will serve up to 7,000 households by 2026 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,950 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.

BOZEMAN — Montana State University’s Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity, or CAIRHE, in collaboration with a research center in Utah, has launched a new project that aims to address health in areas struggling with persistent poverty, including areas in Montana and other states. The work is supported by a $9.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. MSU’s portion of the award is $2.4 million. 

The new grant brings together the expertise of researchers at MSU’s CAIRHE; the Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity, or HOPE, at Huntsman Cancer Institute; and the University of Utah to expand their impact through two initiatives that address poverty as a fundamental cause of cancer-related inequities. The joint project is known as HOPE & CAIRHE 2gether, or HC2. 

The grant is part of the National Cancer Institute’s Persistent Poverty Initiative. As part of this initiative, National Cancer Institute program officers and staff scientists provide expertise, data and other resources to assist the university research teams. The initiative’s goal is to empower institutions, clinics, communities and tribes to collaborate and develop a cancer prevention and control research program that focuses on and serves people living in persistent poverty.  

The grant’s co-principal investigators are Dr. Alexandra Adams, CAIRHE director and a faculty member in MSU’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the College of Letters and Science, and David Wetter, senior director of cancer health equity science and director of the Center for HOPE. Wetter is also a Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Utah. 

“The poverty level for a family of four is an income of $30,000 a year or less,” Wetter said. “Unfortunately, people living in poverty have a far greater likelihood of getting almost every type of cancer, and it’s critical to eliminate this inequity if we are to meaningfully reduce the pain and suffering due to cancer.”  

Social factors, such as living in poverty, being uninsured, having unstable housing or lacking access to healthy foods can put a person at a higher risk of getting cancer or lead to later stages of diagnosis with worse outcomes, Wetter explained. 

Adams noted that the inequities for Native American communities are especially severe.  

“Cancer rates in Native American communities are extremely high as a result of multiple inequities in health care, income and food availability, among other issues,” Adams said.  

One part of the grant is led by Emily Tomayko, assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Food Systems, Nutrition and Kinesiology and a CAIRHE researcher. Tomayko leads a project aimed at lowering the risk of cancer in Native American populations across four states by studying the social factors that affect health and by promoting family wellness.  

The project uses a culturally tailored, family-based wellness program called Turtle Island Tales. Tomayko and Adams developed the research-based program in partnership with eight tribes across the United States. Tribal nations in four states, including Montana, collaborate with CAIRHE on the project. 

Another part of the grant will be led by Chelsey Schlecter, a researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute and assistant professor of population health sciences at the University of Utah. That project will address the social factors of health related to tobacco use. Using tobacco greatly increases the risk of getting cancer, and its use is concentrated in areas where people are experiencing poverty and are medically uninsured, according to Wetter. 

Wetter noted that both projects will benefit from the interstate collaborations. 

“We have Montana experts involved in our Center for HOPE tobacco use project and Utah experts involved in the CAIRHE project,” Wetter said. “Because of these collaborations, it gives us the opportunity to have a much greater impact with respect to reducing health inequities.” 

According to the National Cancer Institute, long-term goals of the Persistent Poverty Initiative are to conduct research that fosters cancer prevention efforts, as well as to promote programs that help reduce the risk of cancer among people living in poverty.  

Founded in 2014, CAIRHE is a multidisciplinary network of researchers, faculty members and students spanning multiple colleges and MSU academic departments. In addition to funding faculty research projects and smaller pilot projects that are working with Native and rural partners across the state, CAIRHE facilitates mentorship for junior faculty to help them become independently funded researchers who hold the highest level of grant funding from the NIH or other national grant-awarding agencies. 

BOZEMAN – Montana State University political science professor and Associate Vice President for Research Development Elizabeth Shanahan has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Founded in 1967 by James E. Webb, then administrator of NASA, the National Academy of Public Administration was chartered by Congress to provide independent, nonpartisan and neutral advice to government leaders and agencies at all levels of government, similar to the National Academy of Sciences. Fellows are chosen by the membership based on their distinguished and continuing achievements in and contributions to public administration and public policy.

“This is awesome, fantastic news,” said MSU professor David Parker, head of MSU’s Department of Political Science in the College of Letters and Science. “Not only is this confirmation that Liz’s scholarship is deemed important but it’s important in a realm where she is going to be called on to help make policy and decisions on a national level. This is an honor befitting the work she has done.”

Shanahan is an expert in narrative risk communication and co-architect of the Narrative Policy Framework, which she spent her career developing and testing after arriving at MSU in 2005. The framework is a hypothesis-driven approach to the study of policy making, whose central question queries the power of narrative or stories to gain public attention, motivate behavior and shape policy outcomes. Her framework is now used internationally, having “made a pretty big splash in the policy world” when it was introduced, Shanahan said.

“The typical approach to risk and hazard mitigation is through the technical or engineering approach,” Shanahan said. “I’m bringing social sciences to bear in response to risk and natural hazards, as you must have community buy-in for technical approaches to be successful. People need to see policy as relevant to their lives, and scientific information communicated in narrative form can help.”

She believes her expertise in narrative risk communication is a primary reason she was selected as a NAPA fellow, as it positions her well to help governments—especially those with responsibilities in the American West—to prepare for and respond to natural hazards, including fires and floods, the spread of infectious disease similar to COVID-19 and cybersecurity threats.

“My nominators worked hard to make the case for geographic diversity,” she said, noting that a large percentage of current NAPA fellows are employed in policy positions in the White House and elsewhere in Washington, D.C.

Mere weeks before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, an interdisciplinary MSU research team led by Shanahan published a paper on its research showing that delivering public information about potential hazards through narrative is significantly more effective at engaging people in risk reduction behaviors than science statements alone. During the pandemic, Shanahan led a group of social scientists on COVID-19 vaccine narrative communication, publishing on the use of visual narratives to increase vaccine uptake. Her team made risk communication recommendations to the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Shanahan said she continues to research effective ways to communicate evidence-based information during natural disasters while ensuring that the persuasive power of narrative isn’t misused. As a NAPA fellow, she said she looks forward to working on challenges related to the environment, pandemics and climate change, particularly with an eye on preventing problems.

“How do we get policymakers to think ahead and, for example, stop pandemics before they happen?” she said.

Parker called Shanahan the “top scholar in our department,” and praised the caliber and volume of her published research.

Yves Idzerda, dean of the College of Letters and Science, noted that Shanahan is committed to helping faculty find practical applications for their research.

“Liz is an outstanding scientist whose commitment to moving research into practice truly embodies the land-grant mission,” Idzerda said. “Her research has led to the development of policies to help mitigate the effects of natural disasters, and she similarly works to help other MSU faculty develop programs for important research that may lead to important industrial, medical and societal innovations.”

Alison Harmon, MSU’s vice president for research and economic development, praised Shanahan’s research, as well as her work in the Office of Research and Economic Development.

“In this role, she represents the interests of faculty in seeking out the best ways for us to support researchers as they create their own agendas, seek funding and other resources, and translate their work into relevant outcomes,” Harmon said. “She will be an excellent adviser for policymakers.”

Shanahan will be the third current fellow with connections to Montana State University and the only one still serving as a member of the university faculty, according to a NAPA spokeswoman. The others are Sian Mooney, former assistant research professor in MSU’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics, and Mark Emmert, a former MSU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The 2023 class joins nearly 1,000 academy fellows, including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, and public administrators. 

Shanahan is one of six MSU faculty members to be appointed to a national academy. The others are Dana Longcope, professor in the Department of Physics, National Academy of Sciences; professor Joan Broderick, head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; retired Regents Professor Cathy Whitlock, Department of Earth Sciences, National Academy of Sciences; Alexandra Adams, faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and director of the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity, National Academy of Medicine; and Peter Buerhaus, retired professor in the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, who sits on the Committee on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Shanahan said that as a member of the academy, it will be a privilege to represent the American West, where she has found her permanent home in Montana and MSU.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without the support from the provosts, deans, department heads and, of course, the students. I owe a lot to this university,” she said.

Most people think that Disneyland, the world of dreams, thrills, and imaginative landscapes, is just a wonderland made just for little ones, but that’s not the case. There's plenty here that will keep teenagers equally captivated. In fact, with the right approach, you can turn a trip to Disneyland into a transformative adventure that you and your teen will cherish forever. In this guide, we aim to help you plan an unforgettable Disneyland journey tailored perfectly for teens. 

Do Extensive Research

One of the cardinal rules before planning a trip to Disneyland with teens is to carry out extensive research. Being informed about teenage-friendly attractions can help shape an itinerary that aligns with their interests and excitement level. For example, thrilling rides like Space Mountain or Indiana Jones Adventure often appeal to teens. Also, understanding park hours, crowd levels, and specific event schedules in advance can prevent last-minute rushes or disappointments. This pre-trip homework does not just maximize enjoyment but also efficiently utilizes everyone's time at the park.

Include Down-Time

While an action-packed day at Disneyland promises excitement, it's equally vital to account for some downtime. Ensure that the itinerary isn't too packed and incorporates enough time for teens to relax, shop, or explore quieter parts of the park. It provides necessary breaks between high-energy activities and helps prevent fatigue.

If they're fans of Disney merchandising, a shopping break might also meet their interest, giving them a chance to pick up unique souvenirs or collectibles.

Invest in Fast-pass+ System

Another effective way to enhance your teen's Disneyland experience is investing in the Fastpass+ system. It allows you to skip the long queues at popular attractions, maximizing time spent on enjoyment. Teens, known for their impatience and desire for instant gratification, will appreciate this feature as it reduces idle waiting times significantly. Additionally, booking Fastpass+ early for desired shows or rides ensures that your teen doesn't miss out on their most-anticipated activities due to limited availability. But keep in mind that this convenience and saved time often comes at an extra cost. 

Look for Higher-End Restaurants for a Memorable Dining Experience

Transforming meal times into memorable experiences is an excellent way to keep your teens engaged during a Disneyland trip. Opting for higher-end or themed restaurants rather than the usual fast food joints can add an extra layer of excitement to their dining journey.

For instance, check out the Lamplight Lounge on Pixar Pier. Besides serving delicious Californian gastro-pub cuisine, it also boasts a famed Lamplight Lounge secret menu, thus presenting not just a meal but an exciting culinary adventure. Splurging occasionally on such unique dining experiences can take your teen's Disneyland visit from good to unforgettable.

Encourage Interactive Activities

While rides and shows are fun, interactive activities can also add an exciting dimension to your teen's Disneyland experience. These hands-on experiences allow them to actively participate rather than passively watch.

Disneyland offers numerous workshops where teens can create their own Disney merchandise. Whether it's drawing favorite characters or making custom-themed jewelry, these activities foster creativity and engagement.

Additionally, they provide something tangible your teens can take home: a personal reminder of their exciting Disneyland journey. Offering such interactive opportunities not only diversifies the amusement but could also stir up hidden talents and interests in your teenage children. 

Include Shows and Parades 

No trip to Disneyland is complete without witnessing the dazzling shows and parades that the park offers. These performances are a wonderful way to break up the day and make your teen's experience more memorable.

Many of these shows, like Fantasmic! or World of Color, feature visually stunning spectacles guaranteed to captivate any viewer. They offer a change from the fast-paced thrill of rides and let you sit back, relax, and be entertained.

Besides, being able to catch their favorite Disney characters in action during parades is sure to delight teenagers. So, do check showtimes early in the day and plan accordingly to ensure you don’t miss these magical moments. 

Take Advantage of Photo Opportunities

Being a teenager is all about creating memories and cherishing moments, and there’s no better way to do that than clicking memorable photos!

Disneyland is nothing short of a picturesque setting with its whimsical castles, themed lands, delightfully colorful parades, and costumed characters, all making it a photographer's dream. Encourage your teens to capture these moments on their cameras or smartphones.

Additionally, consider using Disney’s own PhotoPass service that snaps professional photos throughout the park. From action shots on thrill rides to character meet-and-greet snapshot opportunities, these can be fun mementos for the teens.

Incorporating these picture-worthy instances into your trip can provide both an enjoyable pastime for your teenagers and lovely keepsakes of their time at Disneyland.

Allow Some Freedom 

A trip to Disneyland is a great opportunity for teenagers to exercise some independence while still within a safe and monitored environment. If you and your teens are comfortable with the idea, consider giving them some freedom to explore portions of the park on their own. They could select the rides they wish to go on or choose where they want to eat.

Giving teenagers this sense of autonomy can contribute positively to their enjoyment of the trip. It allows them space to make decisions, be responsible, and explore based on their interests. Plus, it addresses their natural desire for growing independence, but always remember: safety first. 

Conclusion

Disneyland offers a universe of delights for every age group - even your teenagers! To make their Disneyland adventure truly magical, aim to cater to their unique interests, tickle their taste buds with unique dining experiences, and encourage them to engage in interactive activities. Also, allow them the much-needed independence they crave but within clear communication boundaries. A carefully planned trip incorporating these suggestions will ensure your teens don't just tag along but play an active role in creating unforgettable memories. So, pack up those mouse ears and ready yourself for the enchanting journey that awaits at Disneyland! 

HELENA – General antelope season opens this Saturday, Oct. 7, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 12. For information about what to expect this season, check out Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunting forecast.

FWP provides online information about hunting access, including our popular Block Management Program, which provides hunting access to more than 7 million acres of private land.

FWP’s interactive Hunt Planner is a mapping tool that allows users to look at information for various species, including hunting districts and regulations. The hunt planner interactive map is a great way to access our block management information. If you’re planning a hunt in a certain region of the state, you can see if there are Block Management Areas available to expand your opportunity.

Remember, regulations may change a bit from year to year depending on hunting district. Double check the regulations to be sure.

FWP’s Hunter FAQ is another great resource to help you prepare to go out into the field.

Upcoming hunting season dates

• Youth Deer-Only – Oct. 19 – Oct. 20
• Deer & Elk General Season – Oct. 21 – Nov. 26
• Deer & Elk Muzzleloader – Dec. 9 – Dec. Dec. 17
• Fall Mountain Lion – Oct. 21 – Nov. 26
• Bison – Nov. 15 – Feb.15

After review by the Community Development Board, Commission to discuss issue Oct. 17
 
BOZEMAN— On Oct. 17, Bozeman City Commission will consider an ordinance changing short-term rental regulations. The most notable potential revision includes banning “Type 3” rentals – homes that are not owner-occupied for the majority of the year. If the Commission votes to approve this change, there may be limitations on renewals for existing owners and bans on any new Type 3 short-term rentals.

The ordinance also proposes splitting “Type 2” rentals into two categories: Type 2A, a single-household dwelling unit (house) that is the host’s primary residence, and Type 2B, an ADU on the same lot or one unit in the same building as the primary residence (such as a duplex or condo unit). Additional changes in the ordinance include adjusting terminology referring to hosts and increasing the residency requirement from 50 percent to 70 percent of the year.

 
The City’s Community Development Board considered the ordinance at a public hearing on Oct. 2. Public comments were made both in opposition to the proposed ban and in support of it. The Board ultimately recommended the City Commission adopt the ordinance with several amendments. Most notably, this includes only banning new Type 3 short-term rentals and allowing existing lawful Type 3’s to continue operating. The Commission will discuss the ordinance and whether to make the Board’s suggested changes or other changes on Oct. 17.

 
Most of Bozeman’s STR regulations originated in 2017. Ordinance 1974 established a number of regulations classifying types and where they are allowed, as well as the need to register, have a fire inspection, and comply with permit requirements.  More recently in July 2023, Commission passed Ordinance 2131 which requires hosting platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO to remove listings that fail to provide a valid city permit number.

 
“The City is already seeing improved compliance as a result of the July ordinance, and we expect this trend to continue as more hosts become aware,” Erin George, Deputy Director of Community Development explained. “Should the next ordinance be adopted in one form or another, our staff will be ready to help everyone navigate the changes.”

 
More information on short-term rentals and the regulations around them can be found at https://www.bozeman.net/departments/community-development/planning/short-term-rentals.
 

A significant uptick in COVID-19 cases as well as reported flu cases have already been detected in Gallatin County.
It is important to take proper steps to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including flu and COVID-19, in
order to minimize the strain on the healthcare system this fall and winter.

On September 11, 2023, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) took action to approve and authorize an updated
COVID-19 vaccine, formulated to more closely target currently circulating variants and to provide protection
against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. With this new approval, the
bivalent COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be available. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have also recommended the 2023-2024 (monovalent, XBB
containing) COVID-19 vaccines are approved for those 12 years or older, and Emergency Use Authorization is for
those six months to 11 years.

Some locations in Gallatin County have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine and are starting to administer
doses. The Gallatin City-County Health Department currently has appointments available on our website or call
for scheduling assistance.

“Flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses are showing up early and fast this fall,” states Lori Christenson,
Gallatin City-County Health Officer. “It’s very important for our communities to do what we can to protect
ourselves and others. Our goal remains to work alongside our community partners to ensure vaccine access
across our communities. Be sure to stay up to date on your COVID-19 and flu vaccines, stay home when you are
sick, wash your hands regularly and effectively, and follow masking recommendations, especially if you are sick.”

Since the Public Health Emergency ended, the sponsorship of free COVID-19 vaccines is no longer available.
However, most insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, will cover the cost of the COVID-19
vaccines under preventative care. Adults who are uninsured or underinsured can receive their updated COVID-19
vaccines at no cost to them when they get their vaccine from the health department. The Gallatin City-County
Health Department is eligible for the CDC’s Bridge Access Program to provide vaccines at no cost. For kids who
are uninsured or underinsured, the Vaccines for Children program helps the health department provide vaccines
at no cost as well. If you have a valid insurance card, please bring it with you to your appointment.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department will be hosting a flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Thursday,
October 19 at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, building 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This clinic will have walk-in
availability for flu, and if vaccine supply remains at current levels, also for COVID-19. The number of COVID-19
doses on hand may be limited for those without a scheduled appointment. There is no waiting period between
getting your COVID-19 and flu vaccine.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department will also continue doing our weekly clinics at the health department
where you can sign up for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines. These clinics are by appointment only, you can find
more details on our website. You can also find flu vaccines at Bozeman Health’s website, or find flu or COVID-19
vaccines at vaccines.gov.

The best place to find the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, flu, and other communicable diseases is on our website, www.healthygallatin.org.

BOZEMAN – Bozeman City Commissioner I-Ho Pomeroy has resigned from her seat at the Commission. Her resignation letter mentioned her medical diagnosis and a desire ‘to let someone else serve this great city.’  

“Our thoughts are with Commissioner Pomeroy and her family as she continues her fight against cancer,” says Mayor Cyndy Andrus. “She remains a treasured member of our community, and we have been so fortunate to have had her serve on the Commission. We wish her the very best and thank her for her many years of hard work and service.”  

Pomeroy was first sworn in as a commissioner in 2014 and has served on the Commission for nearly ten years. She ran for election three times and won each election. Born in South Korea, Pomeroy was the first immigrant and person of color elected to the Commission.


Pomeroy is known by many in the community as a businesswoman and owner of I-Ho’s Korean Grill, which she started locally as a food cart in the ‘90s. I-Ho’s Grill continues to this day under the operation of her daughter and son-in-law, Jin-Ju and John Jahns. She is also well-known for philanthropic efforts and has fundraised for causes such as COVID-19, the Bridger Foothill Fire, and the war in Ukraine. 

Some of the major issues she has been passionate about and supported during her term on the commission include affordable housing, responsibly managing taxes, supporting local businesses, preparing for climate change, and improving mental health services. 

“I-Ho’s is a remarkable person. It takes dedication to move to a foreign country, learn the language, start a business, and run for office. She did all of that and so much more. She cares deeply about her community, and her voice will be missed” said Andrus.  

The process to fill a vacancy on the Commission caused by resignation is separate from local elections. In this case, the resignation will go into effect on Nov. 1. The Commission then has 30 days to appoint a person to fill the seat. The designated person will serve until the next municipal election, which will be held in November 2025. 

Interested residents can apply to fill the vacancy by writing an up to 1,000-word statement of interest and submitting it to agenda@bozeman.net by Nov. 16. Applicants must be registered voters whose principal residence is within the City of Bozeman to be eligible to serve. For more information, call the City Manager’s office at 406-582-2306.