Bridger Bowl will close for the season beginning today Sunday, March 15, 2020 at noon. Although there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Bridger Bowl, we are closing in order to do our part in limiting the spread of the virus. After careful consideration, we have concluded that closing for the season is the way we can help to protect the health of our guests and employees.

We at Bridger Bowl are skiers and snowboarders at heart, we are members of our vibrant community and we understand how this impacts our staff, and our community and visitors from afar. This decision was not made lightly, our commitment to safety is of utmost importance.

Uphill travel has been closed until sunrise March 16, 2020.

Given the extenuating circumstances related to COVID-19, we have relaxed our cancellation policies. We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate your patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries.

After careful consideration of the quickly changing circumstances around COVID-19, Big Sky Resort will suspend operations after skiing on Sunday, March 15, 2020. As always, our top priority has been the health and wellbeing of our guests, team members, and community, and this is undoubtedly the right decision given the current situation. 

In addition to ski operations, all retail and rental shops and Solace Spa will cease operations as well. Food outlets will remain open based on situational needs and a commitment to social distancing. Lodging properties will remain open while guests in house make alternate travel arrangements. All lodging properties will close by Sunday, March 22. Seasonal team members will be paid through Sunday, March 22. 

We sincerely apologize to all guests currently at Big Sky, or planning to come for a ski trip. Given the short notice, we have relaxed our cancellation and refund policy, and guests are encouraged to visit our website for more information. We will automatically process refunds for future arrivals. We expect our teams will be overwhelmed with calls – but rest assured – there is no urgency to call to discuss cancellations. We will continue to honor this relaxed policy throughout the coming months. 

We will evaluate reopening at a later date, and look forward to welcoming guests back to Big Sky as soon as conditions permit.

In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect its patrons and the communities in which it operates, Logjam Presents will postpone all live events for 30 days effective immediately.

“While there is no current moratorium on public gatherings in Montana, Logjam Presents has decided to postpone all live events for a period of 30 days. We are following the lead of communities that are more advanced in the spread of COVID-19.”   Said Nick Checota, owner of Logjam Presents.“Safety of our customers, as well as the safety of the communities in which we operate, is our highest priority and must supersede the business interests of our Company. While the impact of canceling all of the events at our venues will have a significant impact on business, we feel it is in the most effective way to help curtail the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and remain in contact with local state and government health officials.” Checota said.

Ticket holders for events during this time period are encouraged to hold onto their tickets as all tickets will be honored for rescheduled dates. Refunds are also available for canceled events by emailing boxoffice@logjampresents.com. If tickets were purchased in person from the Top Hat or Rockin’ Rudy’s, refunds will be available at the Top Hat box office starting Monday, March 16th. Additional questions regarding ticketing can be directed to boxoffice@logjampresents.com.

The Top Hat Restaurant & Bar in downtown Missoula will continue to operate with increased sanitation efforts. Tables within the Top Hat Restaurant will be spaced out to meet social distancing policies, staff will sanitize menus, condiments, tables, chairs and other used surfaces after each use and kitchen staff will be required to wear masks and gloves during prep. Hand sanitizer stations will be available for staff and public use during operations. All staff are required to report and stay home if they come in contact with or show any symptoms.Checota went on to say, “Logjam encourages elected officials and business leaders to continue to work together to confront this situation. I have a high degree of confidence in our local and state leaders. I am confident that our communities will band together to address this challenge.”

For more information, contact Nick Checota at (406) 544-7440 or by email at nick@logjampresents.com.

In the interest of putting the health of our patrons, volunteers, employees and neighbors first and foremost — and in following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) response guidelines — we have decided to temporarily close the theater. We hope that by helping flatten the curve of infections locally, we can play a small part in allowing our first responders to do their best to keep everyone healthy.

For now, we are postponing all Verge Theater classes, rehearsals and shows. If we are unable to reschedule, we will issue full refunds. We will announce the status of each show and class as soon as possible. Until that time, we greatly appreciate your patience as we navigate this situation.

One of the best aspects of Verge is its sense of community, so I know you will stay focused on taking care of one another. Let's use this time to connect and find a deeper appreciation for all that we have as well as to support those in need. We'll be here, ready to welcome you back to Verge Theater, in the very near future.

Please take good care of yourselves and each other. Thanks for your understanding!

If you are a winner of the Bozeman's Choice Reader Poll it is likely that you will receive a call or email from one or more web-based companies currently calling and emailing local businesses, making it sound like they are affiliated with Bozeman Magazine and the Bozeman's Choice Reader Poll. These companies are in NO WAY affiliated with Bozeman Magazine and are attempting to trick businesses into buying very expensive, phony awards.

We offer Bozeman's Choice certificates both framed and unframed for $5 and $10 respectively. We have NEVER been out to gouge our advertising clients and do not partner with businesses that would overcharge for products.

If you would like to order an official Bozeman's Choice certificate please email us with your request.

A group of individuals and organizations from across Montana, led by Montana State University Extension, are collaborating to provide resources and solutions for farmers and ranchers under stress.

“We know from various research that there is a high level of stress in life, specifically among farmers and ranchers in rural areas like Montana,” said Michelle Grocke, health and wellness specialist with MSU Extension and assistant professor in the MSU Department of Health and Human Development. Stress can be caused by a range of issues, she said, from commodity prices, weather and crop yield to debt load, passing a farm or ranch to the next generation, family issues, and injuries or illness. She added that it can lead to mental illness, increased risk of suicide and other health issues.

Now, a team of Montanans known as the Montana Farm/Ranch Stress Prevention Advisory Council is working to create a new website that will host resources to help farmers, ranchers and other community members better understand the causes of stress – as well as how to manage it. The website is expected to launch this summer.

“Ultimately, we hope these resources will lessen the risk of mental illness and suicide among Montana’s farming and ranching communities,” Grocke said.

The website is a direct response to a need MSU Extension staff continue to hear about from people across the state, said Suzanne Stluka, associate director of MSU Extension.

“MSU Extension staff began to share tough stories of how chronic stress was impacting agriculture producers,” she said. “We knew we needed to do something.”

The team working on the website is composed of more than 20 members representing agricultural, health, tribal, veteran, local government and MSU communities. Project leaders are Grocke, Stluka and Alison Brennan, MSU Extension mental health specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Development. In addition to the MSU Department of Health and Human Development and MSU Extension, partner organizations include Montana Farm Bureau, Custer County Commission, Garfield County Commission, Montana USDA Farm Service Agency, MSU Extension Local Government Center and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Grocke noted that an important component of the project is its accessibility: Individuals can access the resources anywhere there is an internet connection, whether it’s the library or their own homes.

The project is funded by a $32,737 grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation.

“We feel really grateful and excited that they felt this was of value for them to support,” Grocke said. “A lot of the projects this foundation supports are collaborative in nature, innovative and forward-looking. We were thrilled to have them think this is a project deserving of their funding.”

The advisory council hopes the resources and materials will spark discussions about the causes and effects of stress — and, in the process, remove stigma associated with the topic, according to Brennan. They also hope it will equip community members with evidence-based farm stress and mental wellness resources to assist them in managing their stress. 

“There is, in fact, quite a lot of stigma still surrounding discussions about mental health, mental illness, mental disorders and suicide,” Brennan said. “My hope is that by providing a centralized location for relevant information running the gamut of topics —  from plant diseases, weather and financial management, to stress management techniques, to suicide prevention best practices —  we can start some crucial conversations about mental health in rural Montana, reduce stigma and save lives.”

Darla Tyler-McSherry, a member of the Montana Farm/Ranch Stress Prevention Advisory Council and director of student health at Montana State University Billings, said goals for the website include bringing attention to the issue of suicide in Montana’s farm and ranch communities and giving people practical, easy-to-incorporate strategies to improve their mental health.

“Additionally, I want to communicate the message that if you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you are not alone and effective help is available,” Tyler-McSherry said. “Lastly, I want this project to help confirm the notion that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather, a sign of incredible strength.”

More information is available at montana.edu/wellness_extn/stress-management/mt_farm_stress_clearing_house/project_page.html. To learn more or to offer feedback on the website, contact Grocke at 406-994-4711 or michelle.grocke@montana.edu.

Recreationists in southwest Montana reported having more encounters with grizzly bears in 2019 than in recent years.
 
Montana’s portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem saw 18 potentially dangerous encounters between humans and grizzly bears mostly in non-residential areas last year. In those encounters, five people were injured and two adult bears were killed. Fortunately, none of the human injuries were fatal.


Last year’s 18 incidents happened in the Madison, Gravelly, Absaroka and Beartooth mountain ranges, with 14 of them occurring after Sept. 1.
 
Most attacks from grizzly bears happen in surprise close encounters with people. Grizzly bears often attack defensively when encountering people in dense brush or timber, at the site of an animal carcass or when cubs are present.
 
Grizzly bears are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, the U.S. Forest Service and Tribal lands who conduct the investigations and management actions. However, grizzlies have expanded well beyond recovery zones and become more densely populated in southwest Montana. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s grizzly bear population, which includes portions of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, is estimated conservatively at about 750 bears.

 
Preparing for 2020
 
March is typically when bears start emerging from hibernation, and by April, most, if not all, bears are active again. This is also when residents and recreationists are spending more time outside.
 
Residents can help minimize bear attractants by doing a spring cleanup of their yard. Bird feeders, pet food, garbage and other attractants should be stored securely. Bear-resistant garbage containers are available to residents in many areas.
 
If a bear finds an artificial food source during the bear activity seasons, it is likely to return to the same place to look for food and lose its natural drive to find food in the wild. Situations like these can create risks for humans and property and require problem bears to be relocated or destroyed.

Recreationists should always be prepared to handle a bear encounter. Carry bear spray and travel in groups; these two factors proved essential for people who survived bear attacks last year. Casual noise can help alert bears to your presence. Animal carcasses can attract bears, so avoid them. Follow food storage orders, which went into effect on Mar. 1 for public lands in Montana.

For more information on avoiding negative encounters with bears, visit igbconline.org/bear-safety.

REACH Inc. is thrilled to announce that Dee Metrick accepted the Executive Director position, and will take over when Rob Tallon retires on July 1, 2020. Dee has worked at Reach for the previous 21 years, and is currently the Community Relations and Development Director. She began as a Work Services Specialist in 1999, and in her time at Reach also served as a Contract and Business Development Specialist and Staff Development Specialist. Dee will lead our organization forward with her dedication to our clients, passion for our mission, and extensive knowledge of Reach's operations.

Sweet Pea Festival is sponsoring its annual t-shirt art contest for the 2020 festival season. All ages and expertise are welcomed to enter.

The two categories for entrants are: Category 1 (ages 5 through 13) and Category 2 (ages 14 and older). Each category will have a prize winner with the prize for Category 1 being $250 cash and the prize for category 2 being $1000 cash.

The deadline to enter is 5pm, Friday, April 3rd and deliveries will be accepted by hand or via mail to the Sweet Pea Office at 424 E. Main Street, Suite 203B, Bozeman, MT.

All entries must be mounted on a firm backing and have the signed entry form securely attached to the back. A parent or guardian must also sign the entry form for any entrants under the age of 18. To see entry specifications and to print your t-shirt contest entry form please visit:
https://sweetpeafestival.org/applications/2020_tshirt_art_contest_application/.

Please contact the Sweet Pea office with any questions at 406-586-4003 or visit their website at https://sweetpeafestival.org/.

ABOUT SWEET PEA FESTIVAL:
The Sweet Pea Festival is a three-day festival of the arts held in Bozeman, Montana, since 1978. This year’s Festival dates are August 7,8,9 with other events, such as Chalk on the Walk, starting off the festivities of Sweet Pea Week on August 4th.

The festival includes everything from music, theatre and dance, to children’s activities to adult painting workshops. Sweet Pea is committed to its mission statement of “promoting and cultivating the arts.”

Hundreds of volunteers run and organize this annual event, a testament to the community’s desire for its ongoing success. All the money raised above what is needed to operate the Festival is given back to the community in the form of grants for the arts, art education, and special projects in the Bozeman area. Where art and community meet.