Missoula County, the City of Missoula, the City of Bozeman, and the City of Helena this week entered into an interlocal agreement pledging to pursue a green tariff to advance their shared clean energy goals. Over the past two years, all four local governments have adopted resolutions committing to 100% clean electricity by 2030.

The interlocal agreement authorizes the four local governments to jointly hire a consultant with technical expertise in green tariffs and utility rate design to work collaboratively with NorthWestern Energy and inform the development of a green tariff that most effectively advances the local governments’ 100% clean electricity goals. All four local governments had previously allocated funds in their FY21 budgets to support this effort.

A green tariff is not a tax. Rather, it is a mechanism by which customers of regulated utilities have the option to buy power from newly developed renewable energy sources through a special rate (or “tariff”) on their utility bills. In 2019, the Montana Public Service Commission directed NorthWestern Energy to initiate a stakeholder process to explore the development of a green tariff. This stakeholder process is currently underway, and Missoula County and the cities of Missoula, Bozeman and Helena are participating in it.

The Missoula City Council approved the interlocal agreement on Feb. 1; the Bozeman City Commission on Feb. 2; the Missoula Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 4; and the Helena City Commission on Feb. 8.
 
Elected officials from all four local governments expressed enthusiasm for the partnership.

Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier: “We’re so pleased to be partnering with the cities of Missoula, Bozeman and Helena. The green tariff is an important step in the right direction, but it’s only the first step. I look forward to our partnership continuing beyond this interlocal agreement as we continue to pursue our shared 100% clean electricity goals.”

Missoula City Council President Bryan von Lossberg: “It is eminently clear that Montanans value clean energy. And anyone looking forward sees we have the innovative expertise and resources to meet that vision. We invite other communities to join our collaborative effort to build the statewide energy portfolio Montana’s future demands.”

Bozeman City Commissioner Terry Cunningham: “Bozeman’s ability to meet its stated goals is dependent upon a rapid transition to renewable energy sources by the utility. Together, our communities represent about a quarter of NorthWestern’s customers, and this partnership is our best chance to exert the collective influence that will be required to facilitate this transition.”

Helena City Commissioner Sean Logan: “This agreement represents a novel and promising approach to advancing clean energy in Montana. We are optimistic that this historic collaboration between the communities and NorthWestern Energy will deliver important environmental and economic benefits to the citizens of our state.”

                                                                                                                                                                      Photo by Taylor Deas-Melesh on Unsplash
                                                                                                                    
The longer you're together, the stronger your love becomes, but that doesn't mean your marriage will always give you butterflies. There are many couples who, amidst jobs, responsibility and family, find themselves bored in their relationship. This can naturally bring about feelings of guilt as well, especially if you don't have any real issues with your partner and don't want to hurt them by vocalizing how dull things have begun to feel around them.

While you might feel like you've hit a roadblock in your marriage, there are many ways you can breathe new life into your relationship and rediscover your partner. First, make sure that you talk to them. The worst thing you can do in a marriage is stop communicating your feelings and needs; not only does it make you feel bad, but it leaves your partner feeling left out as well. This slowly erodes trust, which compounds into more difficult conversations and avoidance.

So, once you've sat down and let your partner know that you miss spending time with them, try to bring up fun ideas you could do together. Ask them for their input. Make it a game. There are a lot of ways to reconnect and address feelings of loneliness in your marriage without acting like either one of you is on trial.

Start Leaving Each Other Love Notes Again
Love notes are such a wonderful surprise during the early stages of dating, and many couples continue to leave them for their spouse throughout their marriage. You might be out of your honeymoon phase, but does that mean you've outgrown the need to surprise and be surprised by small expressions of affection? A simple "I love you" on a Post-It note in their car can make your partner's day; you can even make it a game to hide different notes for each other around the house and find them in unexpected places. The effort of leaving love notes is minimal, but their impact is profound. We can know someone loves us with their entire being, but that doesn't mean we ever stop needing to hear it, too.

Surprise Them with Flowers
It could be a birthday bouquet or Valentine's surprise, but flowers have always been one of the most romantic expressions of love. You can really take your spouse by surprise and arrange for them to receive flowers unexpectedly; a flowers subscription box like BloomsyBox.com delivers sustainably sourced, farm-grown flowers to your loved one. Choose a traditional bouquet or specify which flowers you'd like your love to receive. The gesture itself is enough to bring a smile to their face, but the strong visual reminder is an added bonus.

Make Each Other a Playlist
You can discover so much about your spouse through the music they like. Whether it's a strong bass that gets them dancing or heartfelt lyrics, ask them to make a mix of their favorite tracks while you do the same. Throw in some old songs you enjoyed together, and offer a description of new songs and why you like them or decided to share them. Even if you have different musical tastes, the experience of listening to music together is a great bonding experience. You may even be surprised by some of your spouse's picks and have great conversations learning about each other's interests.

During a special meeting held Feb. 8, the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission extended the late elk season in hunting district 580.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Montana State University, formerly MSU Wonderlust, will collaborate with the Bozeman Public Library’s One Book One Bozeman program to host a Friday Forum titled “A History and Future of Native Sovereignty: Controversies and Perspectives.” The talk, which will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, is free and open to the public. The selection for this year’s One Book One Bozeman event is “The Night Watchman” by Louise Erdrich.  

The forum will be presented by Alex Harmon, an assistant professor of English and American studies in the College of Letters and Science at MSU. Harmon will explore issues of federal Indian law, including the federal policy of termination and the erosion of tribal sovereignty. She will also address the current crisis surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Harmon will also offer perspective on “The Night Watchman,” its National Book Award-winning author Erdrich and Erdrich’s place in contemporary American literature. Published in 2020, “The Night Watchman” is based on the life of Erdrich’s grandfather, who worked as a night watchman at a factory in North Dakota and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota to Washington, D.C. Harmon’s scholarly and teaching interests include contemporary Native American literature and film, federal Indian law, and ethnic and critical race theory. 

Registration is required for the presentation and can be found at montana.edu/olli/register. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Webex link and instructions to join the program.

Friday Forums are offered on the second Friday of each month September through May and are a partnership between the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at MSU and the Bozeman Public Library Foundation. OLLI at MSU is a program of Academic Technology and Outreach at MSU. ATO works across the university to support and advance its land-grant mission through unique and innovative opportunities for outreach and engagement.

Grant applications are now being taken for program proposals that help Montana high school students prepare for college or careers through a partnership between the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Office of Public Instruction.

The iGraduate Montana 2021-22 Challenge Fund is accepting grant applications from schools, community organizations, tribal governments and post-secondary institutions via mus.edu/iGraduateMontana until close of business on Monday, March 12, 2021.

Last year, iGraduate Montana awarded 17 grants to schools and communities across the state.  Grants focused on bringing relevant career and college skills to students through strategies such as apprenticeships, work-based learning, mentoring, dual enrollment, career fairs and college visits. The grant awardees are partnering with Montana businesses and non-profits to create opportunities for students to explore in-demand careers and gain real-world experience.

“Providing our youth with the widest array of college and career opportunities will allow each child to pursue career options that will inspire them to follow their own passion and give them the tools they need to succeed in life,” said Mike Halligan, Executive Director, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation.

“Ensuring that graduating high school students continue to have access and opportunities through programs like iGraduate is paramount to not only their success but also for the success of Montana’s economy,” said Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, Clayton Christian. “Through successful partnerships like this one, we can ensure that programs, certificates and degrees are being generated for the areas in greatest need across our workforce.” 

“Montana’s capacity for innovation has come quite a ways in the past 10 years and our students deserve a learning environment that will drive them to reach their full potential,” said Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. “Generously funded by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the iGraduate Montana grant program gives Montana’s future generations every opportunity for scholastic and vocational success. It is with great optimism that the Office of Public Instruction partners with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to help bring career and college skill development opportunities to our youth.”

It seems like nearly everyone owns an instant pot nowadays, if you are late to the parade, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about.  

Instant pots seem to have a kind of a cult following. On the Instant Pot Facebook page, it has almost 3 million members all swapping recipe ideas, posting pictures of their beloved instant pots and the meals they have created with it, and plenty of reviews to help you decide what pot suits you. This is just one of many online groups dedicated to instant pots. There are lots of websites providing guests with some delicious recipes including the easy to make pressure cooker cornish hen. 

There are not too many kitchen appliances that help you save time and money. These are two of the reasons they have become so popular in people’s homes. One of the other key factors for the device's success is that even if you're not very good at cooking, you can still make great tasting, without much effort!

How can you Save Money cooking with Instant Pot?
During the current worldwide pandemic, many households have struggled with cash flow. People have realized that owning an instant pot has lots more to it than just cooking great meals. It is one of the best kitchen appliances to help you save some well-needed cash. Here are a few ways you can use your instant pot to try to cut the costs of your homes outgoings:

• Create a meal plan: Stock up on food at the start of the week and create a meal plan around what you have. When this is done you can make your meal plan for the entire week. When doing your weekly shop you can save money by purchasing inexpensive thick cuts of meat because the instant pot helps you cook it properly, without having to marinate it. 


• Instant pots can cook frozen meat: With an instant pot, you are not required to thaw the meat before you start cooking it. You can easily add it to the instant pot frozen, and it will cook without any problems. So, instead of being forced to eat meat from the fridge before it goes past its best before date, just freeze it. This function on the instant pot can really help you save some money. 


Creating a meal plan for the week can also include a day for leftovers. It is very common for a person to add extra ingredients to their meal so that they have extra food that can be used as a snack or lunch at a later stage.

Save Money on Electricity Bills and Purchasing other Appliances
People can save money using an instant pot instead of traditional cooking appliances. When you use the device in “Saute Mode” it can consume a lot of energy, but after it is at full pressure, it uses hardly any.

In comparison to using pots and stoves, toasters, electric ovens, the instant pot is far more energy-efficient. 

Instant pots are multifunctional devices that you can use for many jobs, not just as a pressure cooker. You can make yogurt, use it as a slow cooker, set it to make cakes, slow cook meals with it, the list goes on. Don’t think that just because it has lots of different functions, it is difficult to use. In fact, instant pots are one of the easiest devices you will come across in the kitchen.

Some instant pots have a sterilizing function. If you have a young baby in the house, instead of paying for a sterilizing unit, you can use your instant pot. You won’t need to worry if your baby’s bottles are safe to drink because of your instant pot. Some of these sterilizing units can prove to be very expensive, so this is another great feature that some of the instant pots on the market have.

How can an Instant Pot save you time?
It takes a lot less time to cook a meal using an instant pot in comparison to most other appliances.  When you have the instant pot set on the pressure cooker mode, you can expect the actual cooking time to take a ⅓ of how long you would normally expect it to take. Here are a few examples of how an instant pot can help you save time:

• Use the keep “warm setting”: If you are in the middle of something, and you don’t have time to get to your instant pot, the “keep warm” setting will help keep your meal heated and you can eat whenever you're ready. Unlike other cooking equipment, where you had to stare at it to make sure it was cooking properly and not being able to leave the kitchen in case the place caught fire!


• The Instant pot gives you a good incentive to plan your weekly meals: As explained earlier, planning weekly meals is easy when you own an instant pot. 

• Cook multiple things at one time: If you have got the hang of your instant pot, it might be time to take it up a notch and learn how to multitask. Cooking different foods together can help you save plenty of time.

• Cleaning: Minimal effort is required to keep an instant pot clean. All instant pots have only one pot, which is stainless steel insert, which is easily maintained. Most of the other parts can easily be added to the dishwasher to help you clean hassle-free. 


It's sometimes very difficult to find spare time in the world we live in. Owning an instant pot will help you save time, so you can go for an exercise session, a cycle, or even watch some tv.

You don’t need to spend all day Stirring
Many of us have stood around the kitchen for long periods, keeping a close on our slow cooking pressure cooker while stirring at the same time to make sure everything was going smoothly.

However, with an instant pot, stirring is a thing of the past. Just simply add your ingredients to the device, set your timer, and “bingo”, dinners ready! You don’t have to babysit the pot or wait closely over it until the meal is done. You don’t have to constantly stir the ingredients, nor check on it over and over again. 

Summary
It seems that during the pandemic, more people have been forced to cook for themselves at home instead of going out for meals or visiting other people's homes to indulge in a nice, home-cooked meal. With the economy struggling and jobs scarce, purchasing an instant pot can help you and other members of your household enjoy all of its features and functions. 

If you live in a small house or apartment, space might not be on your side. The instant pots are not large appliances, and they are portable so you can easily store them away in a small cupboard. 

There are plenty of different types of instant pots readily available. You are sure to find an instant put that won’t break the bank. If you are stuck for space or live alone, a smaller instant pot would probably suit you. The bigger the instant pot, the more food you can add, so if you have many people living under your roof, a larger device is ideal.

The City of Bozeman and the Bozeman Public Library have partnered with the Bozeman Public Library Foundation and Minneapolis-based library specialists MSR Design to plan an expansion and enhancement to the current Main Street Library campus. The MSR project team includes four Bozeman firms as partners, some of which worked on the current Library before it opened in 2006. The expansion will accommodate future growth and address the evolving role of public libraries in the world. As a part of the project the Library is conducting a community engagement process to collect input on how the new space can best benefit the whole community.

Susan Gregory, Bozeman Public Library Director says, “This is an exciting new chapter for our beloved Library! We’re thrilled to have so many ways our community members can us give us ideas to guide us in this endeavor. Our goals are to help our community members remain curious, have the chance to explore ideas and then have the opportunity to create connections that will impact their lives.”

 
Director Gregory adds, “Public libraries everywhere are adapting as the world changes around us.  Our goal as the Bozeman Public Library is to ensure that we provide spaces that encourage public dialogue, teach new skills, connect patrons to the world and enable our community members to enrich their lives.”

 
Community engagement opportunities will happen during the first two weeks of February. Members of the Bozeman community are encouraged to take an online survey or sign up to participate in a 30-minute interactive discussion with the Library’s architects:
• Tuesday, February 9th, 10am
• Wednesday, February 10th, Noon
• Thursday, February 11th, 10am
• Thursday, February 11th 5pm
 
The Bozeman Public Library Foundation will fund the entire Library expansion project. In addition to the first phase of community engagement, there will be additional opportunities for community members to provide input as the process continues. For more information visit www.bplforward.org

According to Montana State University Extension, some Montanans can qualify for state and federal tax credits that may provide funds for working families with children who have faced dire financial consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist, said Montanans should look into the earned income tax credit, the federal government’s largest program for helping working Americans. Created in 1975, the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, Goetting explained, the result is a refund to eligible taxpayers who claim and qualify for the credit. 

“For 2020 the earned income tax credit at the federal level ranges from $548 to $6,660,” Goetting said. “The amount depends on income and number of children.”

If individuals’ earned income was higher in 2019, they can use the 2019 amount to figure their federal EITC for 2020. This temporary relief is provided through the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, Goetting said.

For 2019, earned income and adjusted gross income at the federal level must each be less than $50,162 — $55,952 married filing jointly — with three or more qualifying children; $46,703 — $52,493 married filing jointly — with two qualifying children; or $41,094 — $46,884 married filing jointly — with one qualifying child.

For the Montana EITC, Goetting said, the basic qualifying rules state that individuals must have investment income below $3,650 in the year they claim the credit, must have a valid Social Security number and be a U. S. citizen or a resident alien for the entire year. In order to claim the credits, individuals have to file both a federal 1040 form and Montana Individual Income Tax Return, also known as Form 2.

“For most people in Montana, the state EITC is worth 3% of the federal EITC claimed,” Goetting said. “The credit is refundable, meaning that if it exceeds the total amount of taxes you owe, you will receive the difference.”

For those who are unsure whether they can claim the EITC, use the EITC assistant from the IRS at irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant.

The following is adapted from Choose Better.

Living well means creating values that are aligned with your individuality. So how do we know our values? There are several ways to begin a dialogue about values.

As a starting point, discern your personal values and what is most important to you. By identifying your individual values, you establish a universal baseline for your decision-making. Your values become the reference point with which you compare your decisions.

For those who are new to identity formation work, figuring out values may require experimentation with different facets of identities and experiences. 

A Simple Start in Identifying Your Values
One great way to identify your values is through psychological assessments. After all, a vital part of finding the right answers is asking the right questions. Psychological tests can reveal important information about yourself, and can help organize that information into understandable answers about your values. 

My personal favorite is the Enneagram personality test. This is a great tool to discover your personality type. It uncovers what makes you tick and why! It also reveals your personality under pressure and reveals the “dark and unhealthy” aspects of yourself. Other personality tests to consider include:

• Big Five Personality Test (e.g., 16PF, NEO-PI-R, IPIP-NEO)

• DISC

• LIFO Survey

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) 


These are great tools to get yourself asking some honest questions. Get to know yourself first! 

Though these results may not explicitly spell out your values, the answers of these tests will point to your intrinsic strengths and personal qualities. Understanding your personality will then help sort out the characteristics that inform your values. 

My Enneagram Results
As a brief example, I will share a small portion of my Enneagram results. My highest score for my personality type was a Type Three. Type Three is also known as the Achiever, whose leading motivation is success and efficiency.

It revealed my strong desire for accomplishment and being the best version of myself. This is partially why I was driven to write my book, Choose Better, because the values of being my best and helping others be their best matter to me! 

With these Enneagram results, I became more aware of my strengths and shortcomings.My value in personal growth helps me leverage my strengths while also addressing my shortcomings. 

What Do Your Personality Test Results Reveal About You?
Then there are specific tests that reveal other aspects of yourself. Hogan’s Motive, Values, Preference Inventory (MVPI) identifies your natural affinity toward certain values (e.g., aesthetics, affiliation, altruism, commerce, hedonism, power, recognition, science, security, and tradition). Preferences are neither good nor bad. People are simply wired to care about certain things over others. 

CliftonStrengths 34 (also known as StrengthsFinder 2.0) by Donald O. Clifton and The StandOut Assessment by Marcus Buckingham highlight your top strengths and provide ideas on how to incorporate them into your life. 

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves utilizes the four domains that comprise emotional intelligence, assesses your ranking in each area, and suggests specific skills to strengthen that domain. 

The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey also has a short assessment to identify your level of trust and provides ways to improve areas of weakness. 

To identify your values within a romantic relationship, consider taking the Prepare/Enrich assessment, which will identify areas of growth and strength across the most important nine domains in a relationship in relation to your partner’s scores. 

Whatever assessments you decide to take, the important thing is to acquire information that helps you discover your identity and values. 

Beyond Personality Tests
If you do not want to take these formal assessments, there are other ways to uncover your values. I have personally experienced more informal methods to gain additional clarity about myself. The Passion Test by Janet and Chris Attwood goes through a series of questions and has you rank your interests from most important to least important. 

You could also do a modified version by using a list of more generic values for consideration. 

Before referencing a list of values, consider writing out values from memory first and see what you can identify.

Then, simply search for “list of values” on a search engine like Google. There are lists that range from 50 to 200 values. Pick a list (perhaps choose a shorter list for starters). 

You can add your own values and write them down. Review the list and circle the values that resonate more strongly for you. 

Thoughts and Feelings Play a Vital Role
When you are comparing each item to see which value ranks higher than another, I would recommend starting with your feelings. Which values provoke a stronger feeling? When you take a moment to marinate with that value in mind, does it induce a weightiness in your heart? 

Identifying the most essential values allows you to mindfully incorporate them in your decision-making. Although most of these values may be nice to have, which ones are most important to you? This principle is reflected in Gary Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages (another great assessment). 

Love languages are ways in which people communicate and receive love. 

The five love languages are: 
1. Words of affirmation

2. Physical touch

3. Quality time

4. Acts of service

5. Gifts


Now, most people want to experience love in all five ways, but they are not weighted equally! 

Probably one or two of these love expressions resonate more strongly, and if missing, you would not feel loved. For example, I am a “words of affirmation” and “physical touch” kind of guy. 

Just as we want our lives filled with the right love language (the one that matters to us most), we also want our everyday living to reflect the values that matter to us. 

Identify Your Values for Better Decisions
Whatever method you decide to execute, clarity on your identity and Values of Self is crucial for optimal decision-making. If you truly want to make optimal decisions, do not skip these exercises! There are no shortcuts. Identity formation requires dedication and hard work. Even if you managed only to identify one or two values, run with them for now! 

Keep those values in the forefront of your mind and incorporate them in your decisions. Values that truly matter will rise to the surface while inferior matters will drift into the background. Take the time to identify your values because your purpose depends on them. Your values become the north star in guiding your everyday decisions, which creates authenticity and greater self-esteem. 

For more advice on making better decisions, you can find Choose Better on Amazon.


Timothy Yen is a clinical psychologist with a doctorate from Azusa Pacific University, practicing in the East Bay area and leading conferences and retreats around the globe. Between his years in private practice and another eight years as a Mental Health Staff Sergeant in the US Army, he’s empowered hundreds of individuals, families, organizations, and teams to develop authentic relationships and grow into their best selves. He currently resides in Northern California with his wife and son.