Dear Bozeman Symphony Supporters,
 
Two weeks ago, the current Board of Directors of the Bozeman Symphony received a list of past allegations regarding Conductor Matthew Savery. Within hours of receiving this communication, the Board hired an impartial, third party investigator.  The investigation is ongoing.
 
Yesterday, Mr. Savery tendered his resignation, and the Board wishes him well in his future endeavors.
 
The investigator’s work is ongoing; upon completion the Board will review the report to identify opportunities to better serve musicians, staff, patrons, volunteers, and our community.  The Symphony Board deeply appreciates the dedication and professionalism our talented musicians have always shown, and especially during the past several weeks. Thank you.

 
The Bozeman Symphony has been woven into the fabric of Montana’s cultural heritage for decades.  For the past fifty years, musicians, staff, donors, patrons, community partners and volunteers have shared their love of music with residents and visitors of Bozeman. We are honored and eager to chart a prosperous, creative future for the next fifty years.

 
We will be embarking upon a national search to identify a new Music Director and Conductor in the coming weeks and months. Members of the orchestra, staff, board members, and community symphony supporters will be a part of this process.
 
Orchestra members and staff have been fervently preparing for our spring concerts in March and April, and we are delighted to have secured guest conductor Elliot Moore for the March concert dates. We hope to see many of you during the spring performances, as we celebrate the immense musical talent our community holds.

 
The Symphony is also planning our annual June fundraiser, and as plans develop for a fun evening celebrating the arts we hope you’ll consider joining us.
 
For more information or to buy tickets for our spring concert series March 2-3 and April 13-14, please visit our website at: www.bozemansymphony.org.
 
Kindest regards,
 
Bozeman Symphony Board of Directors
 

Bozeman Fire Department and other responding agencies are currently on scene at an active fire of a under construction four story apartment building known as SOBO Lofts located on Babcock St between 7th and 8th avenues. At this point no injuries have been sustained by any emergency responders or civilians. The building is still on fire and emergency responders are actively working to extinguish it.

Roads are closed in the area. 7th Street is closed from Main Street to Olive Street. Babcock Street is closed from 6th avenue to 8th avenue. Members of the public are asked to stay away for their own safety as well as the safety of those responding. Due to the nature of the fire, work will continue throughout the day. Updates will be sent out as things change.

                                                                                                                       photo: Ken Thorsen
Background:
On the morning of February 14, 2019 at 12:19 AM a 911 call was received by the City-County 911 center concerning a fire. Crews were dispatched at 12:21 AM and arrived to the scene within minutes. The first emergency responder on scene was a Bozeman Police Officer who reported fire coming from the exterior of the building.

The first Bozeman Fire unit that arrived on scene identified that the building was under construction. Due to the large amount of fire the crew made the decision not to enter the building and chose to fight the fire from the exterior of the building. Because the building was determined to be under construction, to the best of the knowledge of the Fire Department the building was unoccupied.

Fire Departments immediately called to the scene included Bozeman Fire Department, Hyalite Fire Department, Central Valley Fire Department and Ft. Ellis Fire Department. Additional resources were requested and received from Bridger Canyon Fire Department, Gallatin Gateway Fire Department, and Manhattan Fire Department.

In addition to fire response, additional support was provide by Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin Sheriff’s Office, Montana State University Police Department, Bozeman Public Works, and Northwestern Energy. Local businesses also assisted first responders by opening their doors to provide coffee and refreshments.

Moving Forward:
Fire Department crews will remain on scene throughout the day continuing to extinguish hot spots. Law Enforcement will also remain in the area and some residential streets will be closed. Members of the public can expect to see smoke but should not be alarmed.
 
A coordinated effort between the Bozeman Police Department and Bozeman Fire Department will be investigating the fire. At this point there are no determinations that can be made about the cause of the fire.
 
A huge thank you is extended to all cooperating agencies for their quick response and good work. The Bozeman community is also thanked for their continuous support.

2/21/19 UPDATE

Work on the investigation into last Thursday’s fire at SOBO Lofts continues. Insurance companies are involved and due to the large scale of the fire the investigation will include the insurance investigators.  At this point we have no information suggesting this was a criminally set fire and all involved parties are cooperating with the investigation. We haven’t taken any recent calls (this week) from the public but continue to encourage anyone with information to contact Detective Joe Swanson 582-2951

National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $27 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019.  Included in this announcement is a Challenge America grant of $10,000 to The Writer’s Voice for the 2019 High Plains BookFest. Challenge America grants support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

“The arts enhance our communities and our lives, and we look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal, and to celebrate,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The 18th annual High Plains BookFest scheduled for October 10-12, 2019 will be a three day event of free public readings, workshops and panel discussions in Billings, Montana, by contemporary authors from the American West and Canada. The BookFest is held in conjunction with the High Plains Book Awards.

More than 200 authors from seven western states and three Canadian providences will be vying for book awards in 13 categories; the three finalists in each category will be invited to the BookFest. However, none of the authors receive honorariums. A grant from the NEA will help pay for transportation costs to Canadian finalists to attend the BookFest in Billings in October.

Touring support by U.S. or Canadian publishers is rare and cross border touring is too expensive for the many authors to do out-of-pocket. Hence, new literary work, particularly international work, is seldom heard. This grant addresses that concern, and provides opportunity for more Canadian authors to share their work with audiences in Montana. Nearly 1/3 of all books entered in the Book Awards are from Canadian authors.

“Montana and Canada share a rich cultural history and several writers such as Richard Ford, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Thomas King, and Allen Safarik have explored those common themes and connections,” said Writer’s Voice director Corby Skinner, “One of my goals for the BookFest is to open the cultural highway between our two countries,” he added.

The line that divides the US and Canada is a political reality, but as Thomas King said in The Inconvenient Indian, “historical figures such as Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull and Louis Riel moved back and forth between the two countries, and while they understood the importance of that border to Whites, there is nothing to indicate they believed in its legitimacy….stories go wherever they please.”

For more information on the BookFest and Book Awards, go to www.highplainsbookawards.org

For information on this National Endowment for the Arts, visit arts.gov/news.

The City of Bozeman and the Downtown Bozeman Partnership have released the draft of the 2019 Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan.
 
The 2019 Downtown Improvement Plan builds on a long, successful planning history and lays out a clear vision and flexible framework for the next decade. The plan cohesively integrates multiple key elements including: mixed land uses; development density and form; public space activation; multi-modal transportation; continued historic preservation; and infrastructure improvements. The plan defines Downtown’s importance within the growing community and defines actionable projects for near and long-term implementation.

 
The planning process began in June 2018 with the selection of a team of national, regional and local consultants including Agency Landscape + Planning (Cambridge, MA), Leland Consulting (Portland, OR), Intrinsik Architecture (Bozeman, MT) and Groundprint (Bozeman, MT). The Downtown Plan community outreach efforts informing the draft plan included: 26 meetings with over 100 stakeholders; 8 community events with 230 participants; and nearly 2,300 individual public comments received.

 
Upon adoption in April 2019, the Downtown Plan will be a neighborhood plan within the Bozeman Community Plan which is also known as Bozeman’s growth policy. Written public comments about the plan can be sent to the City Commission at agenda@bozeman.net or the City Community Development Department at ajadin@bozeman.net. The Downtown Plan adoption schedule includes the following public meetings:

 
Downtown Urban Renewal District Board Meeting
12:00pm Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Commission Room, City Hall, 121 North Rouse Avenue
 
Downtown Business Improvement District Board Meeting
12:00pm Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Commission Room, City Hall, 121 North Rouse Avenue
 
City of Bozeman Planning Board Meeting
7:00pm Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Commission Room, City Hall, 121 North Rouse Avenue
 
City Commission Meeting
6:00pm Tuesday, April 15, 2019
Commission Room, City Hall, 121 North Rouse Avenue
 
For more information and to download the Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan visit:
https://www.bozeman.net/city-projects/downtown-bozeman-improvement-plan
https://downtownbozeman.org/plan.
 

A draft Housing Needs Assessment has been developed and will be reviewed by Bozeman’s Affordable Housing Working Group today, February 12th at 3 PM at the Bozeman Public Library (Community Room.) The group is made up of stakeholders from all aspects of Bozeman life –realtors, business owners, bankers, lenders, non-profits, government agencies—and has been tasked with providing ideas and guidance as the City of Bozeman works toward creating a comprehensive, community-wide Affordable Housing Action Plan.

 
The draft Housing Needs Assessment is a 112 page document brimming with data that paints the picture of housing in Bozeman and surrounding communities. The numbers are compiled from a variety of sources including Census data, realtor data, focus groups sessions and a survey of nearly 500 employers (representing 30% of all jobs) in Bozeman.

 
The goal of a housing needs assessment is to show the magnitude and scope of the housing challenges in an area. The draft report shines a spotlight on the societal and economic impacts of the problem in Bozeman. The resulting version of the needs assessment approved by the Working Group will be comprehensive and will set the stage for a data-driven discussion about solutions. The assessment brings reliable data to the conversation, giving community leaders a common starting point to begin the action-planning process.

 
City Commissioner Terry Cunningham – the liaison to the working group - is confident in the scope and talent of the Working Group that has been tasked with creating Bozeman’s action plan.
 
He says, “Bozeman is poised to take bold action, and that action will be informed by the working group. We are very confident that smart people looking at the same data can develop a Bozeman-specific set of tools to address this pervasive, all-encompassing issue.”
 
The draft Housing Needs Assessment can be viewed here. Comments on the draft can be made to agenda@bozeman.net or by any other methods for public comment found here.

                                                                                                                   photo from Unsplash
Clothes shopping for a plus size woman is hard enough with the majority of fashion outlets catering to smaller sizes. In Bozeman, the options may be much more limited but it’s not impossible to find cute outfits that fit, regardless of shape and size.

Where to find plus size clothing
Bozeman Magazine previously featured a junior’s clothing store that carries sizes for growing children and we need something like that for plus size women, too. Until then, curvy women will have to rely on big retailers for their clothing needs.

                                                                                                           photo: TJ Maxx Facebook
In Glamour Magazine’s list of the best stores that hold extended sizes, Bozeman has three of them, namely Macy’s, JCPenney, and T.J. Maxx. The first two department stores are a little bit more high-end, carrying brands like Calvin Klein and Michael Kors. Meanwhile, T.J. Maxx is a great source for fashionable yet affordable pieces from activewear to formal wear. Two other stores are Maurices and Target where you can find virtually all of your fashion needs for every kind of occasion.

How to dress for your size
Here are a few clothing tips that plus size women can follow to let their beauty shine through:

1. Ditch the baggy clothing. Many women think that wearing oversized clothes hides the parts of the body that they’re most insecure about. However, it can make you look more boxy or shapeless so it’s important that you choose clothes that actually accentuate your curves rather than hide them.

2. Fit over color. Forget the old rule that your wardrobe has to be composed of dark pieces to achieve that slimming effect. When it comes to clothing, it’s not actually about the color but the correct fit. You can wear light-colored tops and bottoms as much as you want as long as the clothes flatter your shape. If you’re a little bit wider in the hips, opt for tops with scoop or boat necks. To de-emphasize your midsection, high-waisted bottoms are a perfect choice, as well as tops with details near the waist. You can strap on a wide belt for more definition. When looking for denim, wide leg jeans are your best bet as Woman Within notes that the relaxed fit and added stretch can provide more comfort. The key is to balance out your proportions while wearing clothes that are neither too tight nor too loose.

3. Not all stripes are made equal. Patterns are not only playful, they can also make you look more svelte provided you choose the right ones. According to Verily Magazine, horizontal stripes are a no-no if you carry more weight on your top half. It can make you look wider. Instead, go for vertical stripes to give the illusion of length. But if you’re a classic rectangular shape, asymmetrical stripes can make you look more curvy. As for other prints, it’s better to try on an outfit to make sure that the patterns strategically play up or hide your features.

4. Vary the fabrics. If you like going for a nude or monochromatic looks, there are two basic rules you should follow. First, make sure that nude tones don’t match your exact skin color as it can be very unflattering. Shape Magazine claims that mixing up the fabrics is another golden rule. Mix denim with lace, velvet with knit, leather with silk, or any other combination. Don’t be afraid to play with textures and you’ll be surprised what works.

Every woman has the right to feel confident in the clothes that they wear. With these tips in mind, you’ll have an easier time shopping for clothes in Bozeman even with a narrower range of options.

Big Timber-area rancher, Roger Indreland, was elected on February 2 to chair Western Sustainability Exchange’s Governing Board, according to executive director Lill Erickson. WSE is a Livingston-based nonprofit that promotes regenerative agricultural methods throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Indreland and his wife Betsy own Indreland Ranch north of Big Timber and operate the Crazy Mountain Beef Company. He grew up on the ranch and has a bachelor of science degree in Farm and Ranch Economics from MSU. The Indrelands first became involved with the nonprofit when they sold their beef at WSE’s Livingston Farmers Market. His ranch later received WSE’s Sustainability Certification recognizing their outstanding management of their land. In 2008, Indreland joined the WSE’s board of directors to share his ranching knowledge and skills. “ I think I bring a family rancher’s and out-of-the-box thinker’s perspective to WSE,” Indreland says. “What I love about WSE is its ability to connect the dots between the landscape and people and the future.”

Indreland is joined by newly elected Vice Chairman Jim Evanoff. Evanoff was Environmental Protection Specialist for Yellowstone National Park for 22 years and worked at five national parks during his 32-year career at the National Park Service. He was responsible for launching a recycling and compost initiative in Yellowstone that has been replicated in many other national parks across the country. He worked with surrounding counties and the state of Montana to secure funding for a $4 million composting facility outside of West Yellowstone that accepts Yellowstone’s garbage, converting it to rich compost each year. He became active with WSE when he showcased these and other initiatives at WSE’s annual Sustainability Fairs. “What I bring to WSE is my in-depth knowledge and understanding and connections with this entire ecosystem because I cross between federal, state and local governments as well as private industry to promote environmental stewardship in this entire region…. I bring connections so that WSE can further advance its mission,” Evanoff said.

The executive board is rounded out by Board Secretary, Jessie Knowles, and Board Treasurer Dylan Hoffman. Knowles is a Business Analyst at Printing for Less. She does project management for software development, so WSE relies on her technical expertise and project management skills to further their work.

-more-
Dylan Hoffman is the Director of Sustainability at Xanterra Parks & Resorts in Yellowstone National Park. Under his steerage, Xanterra has won the National Park Service Environmental Achievement Award and the Department of Interior Environmental Award. He is most proud of Xanterra’s Canyon lodging redevelopment project, the largest sustainable design and construction project in the National Park Service’s history. Hoffman says, “We were able to provide a great enhanced guest experience while doing so with sustainable design and construction in mind.” Regarding WSE’s work, Hoffman adds, “I think that one of the biggest projects is the Montana Grassland Carbon Initiative, and that’s something that WSE, Xanterra, NativeEnergy, and our ranchers are heavily involved in and really excited to bring to fruition.” The initiative will provide carbon offset payments to ranchers who use regenerative grazing methods to increase soil and grassland health that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and sequester the carbon deep underground.

WSE’s board also added new board member Brittany Masters, a bison rancher and co-founder of Roam Free, a regenerative bison ranch and meat snack company in Western Montana. A strategic marketer by trade and entrepreneur at heart, Masters is passionate about developing brands and health-centric products. Before launching Roam Free in 2016, she spent nine years as a marketing director at the Boeing Company. During that time, she also launched a paleo food company in Dubai and finished her MBA at Seattle Pacific University. Brittany is passionate about improving our food system and regenerating our #1 most endangered ecosystem, native grasslands, which makes her a perfect fit for WSE.

For a complete list of WSE Board members see https://www.westernsustainabilityexchange.org/

About Western Sustainability Exchange (WSE)
WSE is a nonprofit organization based in Livingston, Montana and promotes regenerative agricultural practices throughout Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. WSE’s mission is to preserve the best of the west—wide open spaces, wildlife habitat, farm and ranching heritage—all while strengthening rural economies. To learn more about WSE’s programs, visit www.westernsustainabilityexchange.org.

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Renting premium Patagonia winter jackets and pants is a new concept in Montana, and a great option for families with growing kids and for those who do not have a regular need for winter gear. Whether you’re hitting the slopes, watching the wolves in Yellowstone, or just enjoying the Montana winter, Explore Rentals can help keep costs down without compromising comfort and style.

Patagonia ski and snowboard outerwear defines the industry standard in performance, breathability, and functionality. Premium Powder Bowl jacket and snowpants harness the latest in Gore-tex technology to keep you on the slopes longer. For boys and girls, the durable Snowshot and Snowbelle jackets and pants keep the little ones warm, dry, and happy.

Reservations can be made by calling the office at 406-922-0179, or booking online at explore-rentals.com/reservations.

Explore has been Montana’s home for adventure rentals since 2010, offering the largest inventory of rental outdoor gear of any business around. Rentals include rafts, travel trailers, campervans, tents, sleeping bags, bear spray, backpacks, spotting scopes, fly fishing gear, and much more from only the best brands available like Yeti, NRS, Big Agnes, Simms, Leica, Vortex, and Patagonia.

Explore is also an independent car rental agency, offering vehicles perfect for exploring Montana. Subaru Outbacks, Toyota Tacomas (with locally made GoFast Campers), Suburbans, and 4x4 Mercedes Sprinters- all equipped with upgrades that Montanans know are vital, like snow tires and four-wheel drive.

With unparalleled inventory and as the top rated rental agency in Montana, Explore Rentals is the one-stop shop for outdoor adventures- whether in the spring, summer, fall, and now winter.

Bozeman Mayor Cyndy Andrus, the City of Bozeman Police Department, Fire Department, Gallatin City-County Health Department and Bozeman Health would like to remind the Bozeman community that gun locks save lives and are free for the public at several locations across the city.
 
According to Project ChildSafe, a non-profit organization that provides free gun locks to partners across the nation including the Bozeman Police Department, safe and proper storage is the #1 way to prevent unintentional firearm discharges at home.
 
Police Captain Andy Knight says, “Safety is the number one priority when it comes to operating a gun. Securing a gun with a gun lock is a way to improve that safety.”
 
As part of a city-wide effort to share information about this free resource the Bozeman Fire Department and Bozeman Police Department have teamed up to offer gun locks at Fire Stations 1 and 3 in coordination with the Fire Department’s free child car seat installation program.
 
Fire Chief Josh Waldo says, “Now a parent can come get their car seat installed by a trained professional and get a free gun lock. It was a no brainer to combine the two ideas. We’re glad to be a part of increasing safety in and out of the home.”
 
For Bozeman Mayor Cyndy Andrus gun locks are a way for the Bozeman community to be proactive when it comes to gun safety. She says, “There are a lot of things that are not in our power to do when it comes to guns. This is one thing we can do to keep families safe.” While gun locks are the first step towards enhanced firearms safety, Aiden from ShootingAndSafety.com adds, "I am a big advocate for gun locks as the first line of defense against gun accidents, but ideally your family will also have a fully functional gun safe in the home as well. Not only are gun safes more robust, but you can rest at ease each night knowing your firearms are locked away together in one central place."
 
Gun locks are available for free to the public through many organizations in Bozeman. If interested in obtaining a gun lock community members can visit:
Law and Justice Center (main window) – 615 S 16th St
Bozeman Fire Station 1 – 34 N Rouse Ave
Bozeman Fire station 3 – 1705 Vaquero Pkwy
Gallatin City-County Health Department (main window) - 215 W Mendenhall St
Bozeman Health Pediatrics Bozeman – 937 Highland Blvd #5320
Bozeman Health Pediatrics Belgrade – 206 Alaska Frontage Rd, Belgrade, MT 59714