After a person’s death, the matter of dividing up their personal belongings can become a complicated matter. According to Montana State University Extension, the Montana Uniform Probate Code allows a person to create a separate list in his or her will that specifies the distribution of personal belongings such as jewelry, china, firearms, photos and more.  

“The list cannot include cash, stocks and bonds, mutual funds, other intangible personal property, or real estate, because those items have titles,” said Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist. “The list is not a part of the will but separate from it. The list must identify both items and the persons to receive them with reasonable certainty.”

The list may be prepared before or after writing a will. It can be handwritten or typed and must be signed and dated. As new possessions are acquired, individuals can update the list, which should be kept with the will so the personal representative can distribute items to intended recipients.

Pondera County Extension agent Wendy Wedum suggested individuals who are ready to part with some items share them with family members before death. She also suggests talking to relatives and find out which items hold special memories for them.

“Transferring personal property can be a time to celebrate your life, share memories and stories, and continue traditions and family history,” Wedum said. “Sharing stories about special objects helps your family members understand their past, discover another aspect of their family and appreciate the real accomplishments of their ancestors.”

Wedum and Goetting added that individuals should keep in mind the sentimental value of belongings may be different depending on the recipient’s age. For instance, a grandfather’s journal may not appeal to his young grandchild but might be treasured by his daughter or granddaughter in her 40s.

For more information about the separate listing of tangible personal property, request the MSU Extension MontGuide “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate” at https://store.msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT199701HR.pdf. For those who do not have computer access, copies are available from county Extension or reservation offices.

The day after his feature-length documentary “Rewind” debuted before 280 million households, with a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and rave reviews from The New York Times, Montana State University film graduate Sasha Joseph Neulinger went fishing.

“This is the first day, the beginning of the next chapter for me, where child sexual abuse isn’t at the primary focus of my existence,” said Neulinger, who was headed out to a rural Montana stream near his home rather than hopping on 34 airplanes for a six-week, 12-city speaker’s tour advocating for children’s victim rights.

Neulinger, 30, has worked for seven years, since he graduated from the MSU School of Film and Photography, to bring his story of surviving childhood sexual abuse to life.

He also directed the film, which Esquire magazine called one of the best films of 2020 and a Rogerebert.com review predicted “will have a transformative impact on countless lives.” But “Rewind” is not for children. The film details Neulinger’s own harrowing story of sexual abuse and the angels, as well as the monsters, of his childhood.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic ended a speaking tour that was to build on the debut, Neulinger’s phone has been ringing off the hook since the film aired on Independent Lens nationally a few weeks ago. “Rewind” is available to view for free until June 10 on the national PBS Independent Lens website and is also available on several video on demand sites.

And while nearly all the film revisits his childhood growing up in suburban Philadelphia, the documentary, as well as its creator, came to maturity in Montana, Neulinger said.

“It is kind of incredible how supportive the MSU filmmaking community has been,” Neulinger said. “(The film) was a big MSU rally, is what basically happened. It is special that a film that is this personal and timely, and that has received so much praise internationally, was made here in Montana.”

Neulinger has literally grown up with a camera. Early scenes in the documentary begin moments after he was born. His father, Henry Nevison, now a historical documentarian, arrived a bit late to the hospital because he was purchasing a video camera to film the occasion. From that moment, Neulinger’s life unspools in home movies, beginning with scenes of a radiant little boy with bright, chocolate-drop eyes.

But young Sasha changes. He becomes aggressive, angry, then clearly troubled. He is referred to a therapist, and as the film progresses, viewers see a family pattern of sexual abuse. His father tells viewers that he knew his son’s claims of abuse were true because he had gone through similar abuse when he was a child, a secret he had kept.

Beginning when he was 8, Neulinger’s abusers were prosecuted. The attorneys for his most vicious abuser, an acclaimed cantor in one of Manhattan’s wealthiest synagogues, prolonged the case long enough to bargain a plea to five misdemeanor charges, the least amount of punishment of any of the three accused. Two other abusers confessed. Neulinger was 17 when the court proceedings ended.

Neulinger survives somehow. He officially changes his name (from Alex Nevison) to honor the resiliency and support of his maternal great-grandfather and as a way of claiming redemption from his abusers. Another escape was nature, he recalls now, especially trout fishing, which is how he came to MSU.

“I was looking at film schools in bigger cities, but when I landed on the MSU website and saw the campus surrounded by mountains, it spoke to me,” Neulinger said. He and his mother visited campus, and the late Paul Monaco, then director of MSU’s film program, met with them.

"Rewind," a feature-length documentary about Sasha Joseph Neulinger's personal journey of surviving childhood sexual abuse, made its debut recently on PBS' Independent Lens to rave reviews from several national publications. Neulinger began work on the film shortly after graduating from MSU with a degree in film seven years ago. Much of the production crew have MSU connections. Photo courtesy Neulinger.

“I had a profound connection with him,” Neulinger said. “I remember he told me that what is special about the MSU program is that you can get out of it as much as you are willing to put into it, and we will support you in doing that. MSU was such a positive experience that Montana quickly became my home.”

Neulinger said he was near graduation when he began rethinking his past.

“I still had that self-deprecating voice from unresolved issues from my childhood, and I thought there might be some answers in our home videos,” he said.

“To my surprise, my dad had more than 200 hours of home video dating back to the early 1990s,” which Neulinger retrieved and brought to Bozeman. “I basically logged the first six tapes in (an MSU editing bay). I quickly realized that this was going to be a film.”

Even though he did not have much money, Neulinger did have support from fellow MSU film grads and friends Robert Schneeweis and Jeff Dougherty. They shot a pitch reel, which Neulinger showed to Tom Winston, whom Neulinger met during his internship at Big Sky Youth Empowerment, where Winston served on the board. Winston is a graduate of MSU’s master’s program in Science and Natural History Filmmaking and is the award-winning founder and CEO of Grizzly Creek Films in Bozeman. “We had this MSU connection,” Neulinger said.

Winston said a story in New York magazine about Neulinger’s case revealed the depth and complexity of the story. Long known for award-winning wildlife and conservation filmmaking, Winston offered to team up with Neulinger on the project.

Other MSU friends and filmmakers jumped on board, including Rick Smith and Mike Kasic. MSU graduate Scott Sterling of MontanaPBS, himself an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, served as a mentor and an adviser.

Neulinger gave a TedX Bozeman talk, organized a local crowdfunding campaign and sought private donations. Through the process he became a sought-after speaker about surviving child abuse and launched the nonprofit Voice for the Kids.

“We raised more than $176,000 for the film to continue production, and we were able to go back to Pennsylvania for a three-week shoot,” he said.

Then they ran out of funds. Neulinger feared the project might be dead until MSU film professor Dennis Aig — “another MSU connection” — introduced him to producer Cindy Meehl, who had produced “Buck” and “Unbranded,” other successful documentaries that found wider audiences.

Neulinger said Meehl came on board in about 2017 “with a plethora of experience and resources to finish this film the way we wanted to finish it.

“Cindy just believed in this project and had the connections and resources to get seen by the right people,” he said. “While a big part of making a film is the construction of an effective and compelling narrative, if you don’t have the business side, or exposure to the right people, it doesn’t matter how good your film is. So, I’m extremely grateful for Cindy and Dennis.”

Meehl’s participation enabled many benefits, including sound mixing at the famed Skywalker Studios in California. In Grizzly Creek’s Avela Grenier, they found an able editor. She wove hundreds of hours of family video with current film of Neulinger’s childhood supporters — therapists, detectives, prosecutors, family members.

Those interviews of adult Neulinger with the other principals in the story provide perspective on Neulinger’s grace and resilience as an adult. In a final powerful scene Neulinger, closes the door on the empty suburban Philadelphia courtroom where his case was heard 13 years ago. The point of view of the camera then shifts, and a resolute Neulinger is met with the embraces of his Montana friends — Schneeweis, Dougherty, Winston and Smith — a triumphant ending for the difficult story.

“Rewind” was accepted into the juried 2019 Tribeca Film Festival a little more than a year ago, resulting in positive reviews and interest by distributors.

“Ultimately, we chose Independent Lens and PBS so the film could be seen by as many people as possible while being commercial free,” Neulinger said. They also contracted with Film Rise for video on demand rights. The film can be streamed on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and Microsoft Movies for the next 15 years. Neulinger hopes it will be an important resource of understanding and inspiration for generations of people dealing with abuse.

Sterling of MontanaPBS that he was thrilled when the production team for Rewind chose PBS as their distribution platform to enable the broadest audience.

“I believe they could have sold this film to a big money cable network, but, by going with PBS, this film is now available for free to millions of people that don’t have the luxury of those subscriptions, and likely those who need to see it most,” Sterling said.

For the time being, Neulinger is back home in Montana, fishing, building a house with his wife, training a new rescue puppy, and playing hockey in Bozeman. He said all are keys to his newfound balance as he contemplates his next project.

“I’m extremely proud of this film and what our team was able to accomplish here in Montana,” Neulinger said. “I’m really honored that we have received honors from critics and audiences, but the biggest reward is I have a better relationship with my family now. And I have a much healthier relationship with myself. I am at peace with myself. And that is worth more to me than any positive review or reward.”

After closing its doors in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Museum of the Rockies announced it will begin a phased reopening this month. Starting June 3, the museum will be open to the general public, however members will be able to enter May 28.

The museum’s hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The museum store and exhibition halls will be open, including its feature exhibit “Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly,” which showcases 19 different reptile species housed in naturalistic habitats.

Entry numbers are limited during the reopening. Admission rates will be discounted, and two-day admission has been suspended. Members and the public are asked to make reservations before visiting at sales.museumoftherockies.org. If availability allows, walk-in members and visitors will be admitted.

For the continued safety of the museum’s members, visitors, volunteers and staff, patrons will be required to wear face masks or coverings, maintain 6 feet of physical distancing and utilize the numerous sanitation stations throughout the building.

“The museum is grateful for your cooperation and understanding,” said Alicia Harvey, director of marketing for the Museum of the Rockies. “Your support for the Museum of the Rockies is essential to continuing world-renowned research and collections, vital education outreach programs, and the rich and varied exhibitions.”

For more information about the museum’s new visitation policies, visit museumoftherockies.org/visit.

Bozeman Independent Branch now fully available for virtual investing help and guidance
 
Charles Schwab, one of the largest full-service investment services firms in the country, has opened a new independent branch in Bozeman, MT that provides investors with local access to a range of investing, wealth management and personal finance guidance, products and services.
 
As a result of COVID-19 and Schwab’s commitment to the health and well-being of its representatives, personnel, clients and the community, the Bozeman branch is temporarily closed to public access, but the branch is fully available to support clients virtually during this period of economic and stock market volatility and uncertainty. Clients and non-clients can contact the branch directly at 406-219-0836.

 
The Bozeman branch is led by Schwab Independent Branch Leader Erin A. Yost, a financial services professional with more than 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Schwab’s independent branch network, Erin was a Financial Advisor at D.A. Davidson.
 
“Given the current environment, people have a lot of questions about how to approach their finances and investments, so it’s more important than ever to make help and guidance accessible in Bozeman,” said Yost. “Although we are temporarily not able to meet with clients in-person, we remain focused on Schwab’s commitment to be an advocate for the individual investor and provide them with the help and resources they need.”

 
Erin is a fifth-generation Montanan who attended the University of Montana where she earned a degree in Business Administration.  She holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® designation as well as the Certified Wealth Strategist designation.  Erin is an active member in the Bozeman community and is a supporter of the Bozeman Area Community Foundation, Business Professional Women as well as the Prospera Business Network.

 
The new Bozeman location, located at 610 Boardwalk, Ste 104, is part of a larger franchising initiative Schwab announced in early 2011. Schwab’s decision to begin opening franchise branches, in addition to its more than 300 existing company-managed branches, is grounded in a commitment to make financial advice and planning more accessible in local communities across the country. Schwab’s company-managed and independent branches deliver the same suite of brokerage products and services, pricing, and overall client service and experience.

 
Schwab is actively monitoring information and guidance provided by local, state and federal CDC officials and will communicate updates or changes to in-person branch access as quickly as possible.
 
In the meantime, in addition to contacting the Bozeman branch directly for virtual assistance, Schwab clients can also engage with the firm through it’s website at www.schwab.com, online chat, and the Schwab mobile app.
 
Once the Bozeman branch reopens to public access, Erin expects to hold a range of complimentary educational investing workshops, which are available to Schwab clients as well as the general public.
 
Bozeman Branch Location and Contact Information
 
Charles Schwab – Bozeman Independent Branch
610 Boardwalk Ste 104
Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone: 406-219-0836
 
Schwab’s Bozeman branch will serve all communities in Gallatin County as well as Livingston, Big Timber and Butte, MT.
 
About Schwab
At Charles Schwab we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients’ goals with passion and integrity. More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 
Disclosures
Through its operating subsidiaries, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) provides a full range of securities brokerage, banking, money management and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, www.sipc.org), and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; compliance and trade monitoring solutions; referrals to independent fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at www.schwab.comand www.aboutschwab.com.

 
Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Investment strategies cannot guarantee a profit or protect against loss in declining markets and may not be suitable for everyone. Presentations are informational and should not be considered personalized investment advice or recommendations.

A man was attacked by a female grizzly bear on Sunday morning near the Sun River. The attack left the man with non-life-threatening injuries.

The man was part of a group who were floating and camping on the Sun River, west of Augusta. The group was packing up their campsite when the attack occurred at about 8:30 a.m. After stepping into some brush, the man found himself between the female grizzly and her 2-year-old cub. 

The group was able to call 911, and the man was carried out by helicopter and taken to a hospital.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks investigated the scene and determined the bear acted as expected during a surprise encounter with a human. Because the bear exhibited what is considered normal and expected behavior, no further action is planned.

Grizzlies can be found throughout western Montana, not just the Rocky Mountain Front, Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Yellowstone Ecosystem.  In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded, and bears are re-colonizing historic ranges.

Here are some general tips to stay safe in bear country:

• Inquire about recent bear activity in the area.
• Carry and know how to use bear spray for emergencies.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
• Travel in groups of three or more people whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hours.
• Stay on trails or rural roads.
• Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses.
• Keep children close.
• Make your presence known by talking, singing, carrying a bell, or other means, especially when near streams or in thick forest where visibility is low. This can be the key to avoiding encounters. Most bears will avoid humans when they know humans are present.
• Use caution in areas like berry patches where bears occur.
• Don't approach a bear; respect their space and move off.

If you are camping in bear country, follow these guidelines:

• Camp away from trails and areas where you see grizzly signs.
• Keep a clean camp at all times. Keep tents and sleeping bags free of odors.
• Avoid cooking smelly foods.
• Hang all food, trash and other odorous items well away from camp and at least 10 feet above ground and 4 feet from any vertical support, or store in a bear-proof container. Livestock feed should be treated the same as human food.
• Don't sleep in the same clothes you wore while cooking or eating.

Anglers also need to practice safe behavior in bear country:

• Don't leave fish entrails on shorelines of lakes and streams.
• Sink entrails in deep water.
• If you don't properly dispose of entrails you increase danger to yourself and to the next person to use the area.

Before you begin writing an essay or article, you need a topic. A good topic is only the start of writing a great article, though. Other than the basic technical details such as structure that enhance your project, other important tips will improve your end-product.

An active voice makes the read more compelling, but fluff does not. Excessive rambling is distracting, while concise thoughts on paper with loads of interest, maintain attention. Learn how to write better with these 7 tips.

Plan your article structure

The structure is important, no matter what type of writing you do. Everything you write should have a beginning, body and conclusion. Few exceptions exist for this rule, and when they do, they typically involve SEO article designed to generate backlinks.

For the rest, your structure should include these 3 elements, and your headings and subheadings should give the reader a broad outline of your article. Introductory sentences under each heading should capture the gist of the heading. Final sentences under each heading should introduce your line of thought for the following paragraph.

Plan the software and apps that can help you with the article structure and the overall writing from the start to the end. A good suggestion from professional academic writers is the Edubirdie tool. To check your paper for plagiarism free of charge, it’s the best. It’s useful not just for articles, but for all academic work like thesis, dissertations and essays.

Choose a topic you’re interested in

If you’re interested in your topic, it shines through on paper. You’re also able to research and write quicker when you enjoy your subject. If you have very little to say about a topic, your writing can quickly become boring, unless you invest loads of time doing in-depth research.

When writing an essay about an academic subject or a creative article that you are passionate about, it is much easier to achieve a result that keeps your audience attentive.

Show creativity and clarity of thought

Facts are great, but clear creativity is better.

I have a family.

I have a wife, two daughters and one son. My older daughter takes violin lessons, and my younger daughter is a ballerina. My oldest son is my first child, and he is now at university. My second son is my youngest child, and he is now in grade 7.

The second sentence gives the reader a clearer idea of his family and makes for a far more interesting read.

Simple language works better

Use simple words to get your point across without sounding uneducated. Current writing aims for easy reading. Modern writing should be designed for rapid understanding, so use these tips to improve your work to achieve this aim.

Write “use” rather than “utilize”; “nearby” in place of “close proximity,” and replace “commence” with “start.” Use longer words when the short ones just won’t work. Simple!

Long sentences are confusing

Keep your sentences short. Short sentences maintain attention and are faster and easier to read. Long sentences can cause confusion---for you and the reader. You want your thoughts to be understood, so make them a pleasure to read rather than a burden.

Active is much more interesting than passive

The active voice uses the subject, followed by the verb, and then the object. This formula is known as the SVO in the English language. It isn’t always possible to accomplish the SVO in every sentence, but aim for more use of the active over the passive voice.

The passive voice reverses this formula, which then becomes the OVS---object, verb, subject. Active is typically much more interesting than the passive voice. Most writing software programs provide a check to see how much of your article consists of the active and passive voice. Aim for at least 20% and lower for your passive voice.

Edit out the fluff

Get rid of the extra “add-ons” to your sentences that don’t improve your sentence. Ditch the rambling because you are bored, and have lost focus because your audience will also lose interest.

Aim for no more than 2 to 3 paragraphs per double-spaced page for academic essay---much fewer for non-academic articles. Short paragraphs are also easier to read and remember.

Conclusion

Repetition is boring, so avoid that. Edit your work until you cut it down to the bone, without reducing its meaning. Writing well needs loads of practice. Learn good habits from the start, and you will never need to revisit the basics. Take constructive criticism and implement it. Don’t sacrifice your voice in the process, though, because writing is an individual creative expression.

Robert Everett is a blogger and article writer working for ResumeWriterReview with a digital agency for more than a decade. He also works as a freelance academic writer and manages business management and technology subjects. In his free time, he shoots YouTube funny videos, plays basketball and reads short stories.

The Arts Council of Big Sky has announced that the organization has cancelled its well-known free concert series, Music in the Mountains, for the upcoming summer due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Events that won’t happen include 11 Thursday night concerts, the annual July 4 celebration, the Bravo! Big Sky classical music festival, and a performance of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks.

"Without knowing what the future looks like for crowd gathering or when Montana will move to Phase 3 of the state COVID plan, we feel this is the best situation for the health of our local community, as well as for the artists, crew and audience,” said Brian Hurlbut, the Arts Council’s Executive Director. “It’s just too hard to plan without knowing when things will open up, and we feel that large crowds won’t be gathering anytime soon.”

The series was slated for June 25 to September 3, and was to showcase nationally recognized bands like Susto, Mike and the Moonpies and Grupo Fantasma, as well as beloved regional acts like Kitchen Dwellers and Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs.
           
“We were really excited about this summer’s artists, and we know the community will miss the concerts, but we feel that this is absolutely the right decision.” said Hurlbut. “Hopefully next summer we’ll return with an equally exciting lineup and be able to present another award-winning series.”

The free concert series, which started in 2008, has a reputation for introducing up-and-coming artists to Montana, many of whom have gone on to enjoy greater success on an international scale. Performers like Jason Isbell, the Infamous Stringdusters and Lukas Nelson graced the Big Sky Town Center stage early in their careers before going on to win Grammy awards. The family-friendly series draws more than 30,000 people to Big Sky during the summer.

The Arts Council is still planning on presenting its annual Mountainfilm event in September, but will continue to monitor the situation moving forward. In the meantime, the organization is offering a slate of free programs to the community, including online painting workshops, drawing classes and youth art-to-go projects. In addition, the ARTventure youth activity station that is usually at the concerts will be at the Farmers’ Market in the Big Sky Town Center every Wednesday this summer.

For more information about what the Arts Council is doing, visit bigskyarts.org or by calling (406) 995-2742.