March is many things, the month of my birth, St. Patricks Day and the beginning of spring, but before spring it's Spring Break. If you aren’t taking a big trip to a far off place, you’ll be looking for some adventure in town so I’ve recycled this list of staycation ideas for any Bozemanite from a few years ago and updated it for Covid:

1. Visit a Museum
Bozeman has one of the greatest museum’s in the Rocky Mountains, the Museum of the Rockies [600 W Kagy Blvd]. MOR’s newest exhibit Savage Ancient Seas Exhibit, move over dinosaurs! Massive marine monsters have emerged from the sea to engage visitors. The MOR is open daily from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Walk-in visitors and members are welcome as long as the museum has not reached its daily capacity limit, reservations are available, and mask are required.

Sorry, but The Gallatin History Museum [317 W Main St] is currently closed. Look for them to open back up this summer with many new exhibits!

For kids 10 and under the Montana Science Center [2744 W Main St] will keep the kids entertained, and teach them something too. The number of visitors is currently limited to 25 people at one time, schedule your visit and/or check on space available in Spring Break Camp is available at https://montanasciencecenter.org/.

The American Computer & Robotics Museum [2023 Stadium Drive] is the world’s oldest continually operating museum dedicated to the history of the information Age. Closed on Mondays.

Save a little dough and check out an Explore Bozeman pass with your library card at www.bozemanlibrary.org or visit the Information Desk at the Bozeman Public Library. Must be 18+.

2. Go For a Hike
We’ve got two Top 10 Hikes Around Bozeman lists for you on our website, from 1.6 to many, many miles, we’ve got you covered. Just starting out with an easy meander, hit the Gallagator Trail easy to access and a cool way to check out Bozeman. Drinking Horse Trail & the M trail are a great way to get a good look at Bozeman from above and not too difficult a hike. South Cottonwood Creek Trail is great for hikers and mountain bikers. Hiking is always free and refreshing!

3. Go Skiing or Skating
An obvious choice for local spring breakers is a trip to Bridger Bowl and/or Big Sky Resort. March is a great time to get some spring turns in!

Both Haynes Pavilion and Ressler Motors Ice Rink at the Ice Barn [901 N. Black Ave] are available to rent for special events, subject to availability, visit www.bozemanhockey.org/privateicerental for availability.

4. Get Downtown
Downtown Bozeman has plenty of eye candy (window displays), go for a stroll and see what you find. Stop into an art gallery, retail store, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and shop until you drop. Take a pic at one of Bozeman's many outdoor art displays and save your memories forever.

5. Jump
Need to get the kids out and bouncing? Try Jump Time! Multiple adventures await, including battle beam, Storm Castle Tour, Slam Dunk Basketball, Ninja Warrior course, climbing wall and much more!

6. Get Creative
Arts on Fire is a locally owned Paint Your own Pottery Studio! You paint it, they fire it, which can take 7-10 days. Kids and adults are welcome & no reservations needed.

Whatever you choose for Spring Break we hope it’s awesome and safe, and be sure to check out our Events Calendar with all the up to date info for fun stuff anytime: http://bozemanmagazine.com/events/calendar

A wild cottontail rabbit in Yellowstone County has tested positive for rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2). This positive result is in addition to four feral domestic rabbits that tested positive in Yellowstone County in February. The four feral rabbits were part of a population of about 40 rabbits, all of which are reported to have died. Another single rabbit later tested positive from an area nearby.

RHDV2 is a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects lagomorphs (hares, rabbits and pikas). Although it is considered a foreign animal disease, RHDV2 has been confirmed in North America in domestic and feral rabbits, as well as wild jackrabbits, hares and cottontails. In the United States, RHDV2 has been detected in Ohio, Washington, New York, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Texas, and most recently, Montana.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife health team investigated this recent outbreak in wild cottontail rabbits in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

RHDV2 is highly contagious among rabbits, hares and pikas, and can be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals or through contact with infected carcasses, blood, excrement, or contaminated surfaces such as cages, food, water, bedding, clothing or shoes. Scavengers can also move the virus around on the landscape by moving infectious carcasses or carcass parts.

RHDV2 does not infect humans. However, rabbits may die of other diseases that can infect people. People should properly dispose of rabbit carcasses found within Yellowstone County.

• Wear disposable gloves
• Double or triple bag the carcass
• If possible, spray the outside of the bag with a disinfectant
• Place bagged carcass and gloves in a dumpster that will ultimately be taken to a landfill
• Wash hands after handling a carcass

To decontaminate areas touched by a dead rabbit, a bleach-water solution (1/2 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water with a contact time of 5 minutes) is the best disinfectant. Use caution as this solution is corrosive and can damage clothing. 

People are important in helping prevent the spread of RHDV2. Do not move rabbit carcasses, other than to properly dispose of them. If you find one dead, please search the area, including outbuildings, to ensure no additional rabbits remain there to infect other rabbits. If feral or wild rabbit carcasses are discovered in an area, report the event to the FWP Wildlife Health Lab (406-577-7880 or 406-577-7882). To report sick or deceased domestic rabbits, contact your local veterinarian or the Department of Livestock (406-444-2976).

Bozeman, MT— Effective March 12, 2021 at 6:00 a.m. Bozeman Commissioner Michael Wallner resigned his position as a City Commissioner on the Bozeman City Commission.
 
In an email to City Manager Jeff Mihelich, Commissioner Wallner says,
 
“Dear Bozeman City Commissioners and City Manager Mihelich, 
 
It is with a grateful heart that I hereby notify you that today I am resigning from my position on the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana. 
 
As you and I have discussed, it has been a great honor to serve with you and my fellow Bozeman City Commissioners. While my resignation may seem abrupt to some, my family, colleagues, and close friends know that it is something I have been contemplating the past several months. 
 
The amount of time, energy and effort required to meet my own high-standards in all the roles in my life require me to make this change. In short, I’m simply spread too thin. While I will miss this important role in public service, my family and my career deserve to be given my best efforts. 
 
I am concerned that my resignation may send an unintentional message to others in our community who may aspire to public service on the Bozeman City Commission. I strongly encourage my fellow citizens to continue to find ways to serve our community, including as an elected official. For my part, I was active in public service prior to my being elected on the City Commission. Now, I intend to remain active in public service as a private citizen. 

 
As always, thank you for your kindness, friendship, and understanding. 
 
Very respectfully, 
 
Michael Wallner”
 
The Bozeman City Commission will begin the process to replace the now-vacated seat. The dates for starting and completing that process have not yet been determined. The City of Bozeman will communicate the details for the process once they are set.

The process of appointing a new Bozeman City Commissioner can be viewed here:
www.bozeman.net/commission.

                                                                                                         Markus Spiske on Unsplash

There are many reasons why living a healthy lifestyle is good for you, but did you consider the financial aspect? Those in good health can experience fewer physical and mental health ailments, can be less likely to die young and tend to lead happier, fuller lives overall. The reduced cost of expenses in terms of medical services, long-term care and even unhealthy food and lifestyle habits can save you thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime. The cost of your life insurance policy is no exception. When you eat well and exercise regularly, the cost of your life insurance premiums can drop. For those who want cheaper life insurance premiums, the answer lies in leading a lifestyle that makes you an asset rather than a liability to providers.

Greater Savings and Better Food
Eating a well-rounded diet saves you money on junk food, takeout, and expensive but completely non-nutritious meals. If you've been living off frozen and pre-packaged foods for a long time, the transition to healthy eating might feel daunting. But all you need to know is that eating from the earth is the best way to care for your body; the produce section should be the most important stop when you go to the grocery store. The bulk of your meals should be fruits and vegetables with some whole grains and proteins. Opting for lean meats or even vegetarian and vegan substitutes like tofu can lower your risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Visit a local farmer's market or even start a garden to save more money on your monthly grocery bill.

Better Health and Lower Risks
When you work out at least five times a week, you can extend your life and enjoy it more. Increased strength, flexibility, endurance and energy levels can all contribute to a higher quality of life. Those who prioritize fitness tend to experience better physical and mental well-being. Start diversifying your physical activity to stay motivated and engaged. Anyone would get bored walking on a treadmill every day. Maybe you prefer swimming, hiking or dancing. Anything that gets you up and moving is a plus for your health; try working out with a friend or family member as well. It's easier to stay on top of your fitness when you have a partner who keeps you accountable.

Better Deals on Life Insurance
Selling a whole or universal life insurance policy might be right for you if you decide that your current one is no longer necessary. You should also use it for income supplementation in retirement or to cover your family after a financial hardship. The majority of proceeds are tax-free, so you can maximize on a high-quality policy's cash value without losing thousands to the IRS.

Good health can also enable you to get a lower premium on a better policy. Rather than having to compromise your death benefit or cash value just to afford premiums, you can improve your wellbeing to get much better offers. You'll find that being in shape and lowering your risks translates to greater diversity in life insurance. This means you can explore plans that actually serve as a form of investment while you're alive; in addition to providing your beneficiaries more when you eventually pass away, you'll also have the chance to cash in on a policy and enjoy it while you're alive.

The City of Bozeman has rolled out “How do YOU engage?” a community wide survey to gather input from Bozeman area residents about their preferred methods of communication and engagement. The survey will be open until the end of March and is available online at www.bozeman.net/engage. To attract a diverse audience of respondents the survey is available in both English and Spanish and can be printed and delivered to City Hall (either via mail or in person.)

Community Engagement is one of the Bozeman City Commission’s strategic plan priorities for 2021. The City Commission recently reviewed a draft of the city’s new community engagement initiative and will review the final draft later this spring. As a result of the work, the city will formalize and improve how the city engages with the public on city projects.


Melody Mileur, Communications Coordinator says, “The city’s work in engagement emphasizes the importance of a two-way exchange of information, ideas, and expertise between staff and community members. This survey helps us better understand how we can make that experience easier and more accessible for all.”

Dani Hess, Neighborhoods Program Manager adds, “The community engagement initiative and our ongoing work in diversity, equity, and inclusion are closely woven together. A major goal for each effort is to work with new and existing partners to diversify the voices we are hearing from and reduce barriers to participation for folks most impacted by city projects and policy."

The results from the community engagement survey will influence the final draft of the community engagement initiative. In addition to the survey, city staff are conducting small one on one meetings with key stakeholders across the community on how the city can improve its efforts in engagement.
 
More information about the initiative as well as links to the survey and printable options are available on the city’s website at www.bozeman.net/engage

HRDC’s Gallatin Valley Food Bank has been chosen to receive a donation of 500 hams from the Hormel® Cure 81® Hams for Hunger® program, in partnership with Albertsons and Safeway.

On Wednesday, March 10 at 10:00 am, Albertsons and Safeway will present the 500 hams to the organization at the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. HRDC and Albertsons/Safeway invite and encourage members of the press to attend. The hams will be distributed to customers as part of the organization’s emergency food box service.

“This generous donation of 500 hams from Hormel, Albertsons, and Safeway to our Gallatin Valley Food Bank will provide our customers with a tasty meat which can be enjoyed hot or cold,” says Jon Horn, HRDC’s Gallatin Valley Food Bank Operations Manager. “We are so grateful to receive this donation by Hormel's Cure 81 Hams for Hunger program and Albertsons/Safeway. Thank you for your support and commitment to giving back to our community.”

“Albertsons and Safeway are committed to our partnership with local food banks to help end food insecurity,” said Teresa Whitney, VP, Merchandising and Marketing with Albertsons Companies Intermountain Division. “We are grateful for the wonderful relationships we have with vendor partners, such as Hormel Foods. By working together, we can combine our efforts towards the same goal to battle hunger relief and to help support local families with their basic needs.”

“Hormel Foods is proud to partner with Albertsons and Safeway to support hunger-relief efforts in the communities served by the company’s Albertsons and Safeway stores,” said Kelsey Tynan, Hormel® Cure 81® brand manager at Hormel Foods. “The Hormel® Cure 81® Hams for Hunger® program highlights our long-standing relationship with Albertsons and Safeway, and we are honored to work together and make such a substantial contribution for those in need.”

Hormel Foods will donate more than 55,000 hams (an estimated retail value of $1.1 million or an equivalent of more than 1 million meals**) to charities nationwide through the Hormel® Cure 81® Hams for Hunger® program this year. ** Based on a 3-ounce portion and average boneless ham weight.

For more information about HRDC’s initiatives to address hunger, visit thehrdc.org/food- nutrition/.

Camp Big Sky is the popular youth day program designed to encourage kids to connect and experience something new and different daily. Camp provides a variety of enriching programming including, but not limited to, naturalist hikes, STEM projects, reading, creative ventures, interactive games and sports. Our campers range in age from entering 1st to entering 6th grade and are split into two camps- Pioneers for 1st-3rd graders and Explorers for 4-6th graders.

THE DREAM JOB
Camp Big Sky is looking for fun and energetic camp counselors who have experience working with children in a childcare setting. Spend your summer outside in the sun enjoying all of the classic summer camp fun. We spend our days doing themed activities and playing outside. Our campers love guided activities as much as they enjoy free-play at our various community park locations including playing in the creek and fort-building in the woods. Camp Big Sky is a wonderful opportunity to connect to the community and the next generation of excited outdoor enthusiasts. Come join our team!

To Apply:
 E-mail a cover letter and resume to Leisha Folley, Finance & Operations Director: leisha@bscomt.org. Deadline for applications is May 1st or until filled.

About Big Sky Community Organization:
The Big Sky Community Organization engages and leads people to recreational and enrichment opportunities through thoughtful development of partnerships, programs and places. To find out more about the Big Sky Community Organization visit www.bscomt.org

Montana State University Extension recently published six new MontGuides covering a variety of topics to provide unbiased information for Montanans.

As part of their outreach efforts, MSU Extension specialists and agents write MontGuides with information gathered during their research and outreach work throughout the year. The fact sheets are designed for all Montanans, including agricultural producers, home gardeners, families, landowners and other groups.

New and existing MontGuides are located online at store.msuextension.org, where they can be downloaded for free or printed copies can be ordered. For more information, call the MSU Extension Distribution Center at 406-994-3273 or email orderpubs@montana.edu.

The new MontGuides include the following:
Growing Cold-Hardy Berries and Small Fruits in Montana
This eight-page MontGuide highlights currants, gooseberries, dwarf sour cherries, aronia and haskaps (or honeyberries), which are hardy fruits that can be grown almost anywhere in Montana. The MontGuide is available at store.msuextension.org/Products/Growing-Cold-Hardy-Berries-and-Small-Fruits-in-Montana-MT202101AG__MT202101AG.aspx.

Animal Unit Month (AUM) Lease Rates
This two-page MontGuide is intended for livestock producers and landowners who are interested in simple ways to determine rental rates for grazing lands, including rangelands, forest lands, and dryland and irrigated seeded pastures. The document provides an overview and examples of how to compute AUM rental rates for Montana grazing lands. The MontGuide is available at store.msuextension.org/Products/Animal-Unit-Month-(AUM)-Lease-Rates-MT202103AG__MT202103AG.aspx.

Stigma Free Addictions Terminology for Montanans
This four-page MontGuide addresses terms used surrounding addiction, which is an umbrella term for both substance use, such as alcohol use and drug use, and behavioral addictions, such as gambling or sex addiction. It gives an overview of substance use in Montana and identifies language that can cause stigmas toward people with substance use issues. The MontGuide is available at store.msuextension.org/Products/Stigma-Free-Addictions-Terminology-for-Montanans-MT202013HR__MT202013HR.aspx.

Transfer on Death Deeds in Montana
This eight-page MontGuide explains transfer on death deeds, which allow Montanans to leave real property to a designated beneficiary upon their death without going through a probate process. The MontGuide is available at store.msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT202010HR.pdf.

Quitclaim Deeds in Montana
This four-page MontGuide explains quitclaim deeds, including what they are, when they are used, what the risks are and what some of the unintended tax consequences might be. The MontGuide is available at store.msuextension.org/Products/Quitclaim-Deeds-in-Montana-MT202102HR__MT202102HR.aspx.

Fire-Resistant Landscaping Considerations for Montana’s Wildland Urban Interface
This four-page MontGuide describes the wildland-urban interface and how many plants have developed fire-resilient adaptations. It also addresses how to create fire-resistant landscapes, which is an important component in reducing wildfire risk. The MontGuide is available at store.msuextension.org/Products/Fire-Resistant-Landscaping-Considerations-for-Montana’s-Wildland-Urban-Interface-(WUI)-MT202104AG__MT202104AG.aspx.

A new podcast series inspired by famed Montana author Ivan Doig and offered by the Montana State University Library is now available to the public.

The podcast series, called “The Wind from Eden: Montana Weather Stories,” explores how weather shaped the history, culture and literature of central Montana. The episodes include interviews with residents of Meagher and Pondera counties and use the writings of Doig as a literary lens through which to view these conditions.

The project was funded with a grant from Humanities Montana. MSU Library partnered with Jeff Rice, who edited, produced and hosted the series. Rice is an independent radio producer whose stories have appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” “Here and Now” and “The Best of NPR.” He is also the program director at the library’s Acoustic Atlas, a collection of natural sound recordings from Montana and the western U.S.  

The episodes range from five to 15 minutes in length and explore the history of ranching in the region known informally as “Doig Country,” touching on the fierce weather conditions during the early to mid-20th century. The first five episodes address the weather-related themes of wind, extreme cold, isolation, spring rebirth and the celebration of summer.

“For Montanans along the Rocky Mountain Front, weather was a factor during every season,” said Rice. “The area’s brutal winters made travel difficult and often separated families. By contrast, warm or sweltering summers were a period of celebration but brought challenges such as thunderstorms, fire and hazards for livestock.”

To enhance the interviews, Rice also spoke with meteorologists, historians and literary scholars. Doig’s widow, Carol Doig, was an adviser to the series.

“We’re pleased to work with Jeff on the podcast series,” said Kenning Arlitsch, dean of MSU Library. “By capturing these stories, we are able to preserve historic information about Montana’s rapidly changing ranching culture.”

The podcast is available at ivandoig.montana.edu/projects/sounds/, all major podcasting platforms and Public Radio Exchange (PRX), allowing for potential broadcast on radio programs throughout Montana and beyond. Audio from the podcasts is also included in MSU Library’s Ivan Doig Writer’s Quest Traveling Trunks, a learning experience designed to introduce students to the works of Doig and available for loan to 7th through 12th grade teachers throughout Montana.

Doig, who died in 2015, grew up in White Sulphur Springs and Dupuyer and set the majority of his 16 books in the Big Sky State. His first book, “This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind,” a poetic memoir published in 1979, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Doig then turned to writing fiction that perennially hit bestseller lists. Carol Doig donated his archive to MSU Library in 2015.

The Ivan Doig Archive can be accessed at ivandoig.montana.edu/.

In its essence, plagiarism is a form of theft. If you are adding someone’s ideas or words to your content pretending they are your own, it can be considered as stealing intellectual property. That’s why plagiarism is absolutely unethical.

Types of plagiarism
There are different types of plagiarism, some of which are listed below.

Direct
Direct deliberate plagiarism can be defined as the word-for-word transcription of someone else’s piece of writing without providing any attribution or quotation marks.

Self Plagiarism
Self-plagiarism occurs when an individual uses parts of his/her previous works. It also applies to publishing the same content on different platforms without pointing that out.

Mosaic
Mosaic plagiarism means borrowing someone else’s phrases without quotation marks. It also occurs when one uses the same structure and meaning of another person’s content.

Accidental
If one unintentionally paraphrases someone’s content without attribution, it’s called accidental plagiarism. It’s important to note that lack of intent does not free you from responsibility for plagiarism.

Plagiarism checker to ensure original content
Even if you are not going to use someone else’s ideas, chances are you will do it unintentionally. Even though accidental plagiarism is quite rare, it still may occur. Hence, you need to take care of checking your text for uniqueness. You can do it with the help of an online plagiarism checker for college students or some SEO tools for content writers. It’s very important not to use plagiarized content in your blog, so you shouldn’t neglect this step. Below you can read the five reasons why it’s vital to publish only unique posts.

1. Moral issues
As it was mentioned above, plagiarism literally means stealing someone else’s work. If you are using the content created by another person who was fully dedicated to its creation, you can not be viewed as a trustworthy writer. Such dishonest actions are a form of lying. By pretending that a piece was written by yourself, you are misleading your readers. They may mistakenly give you the recognition that was actually deserved by another person, which is completely unfair and unethical. So if you don’t want to act in an immoral way, publish the content created by yourself only.

2. Low ranking
SEO specialists argue that plagiarized content negatively affects the search engine ranking of your website. As Google is aimed at offering valuable top-quality content and avoiding spam, it tries to prevent information overload. Google tries not to show multiple or very similar versions of the same pages, so it simply hides content copies. As you see, using plagiarized content is pointless for your website because of Google policy. What’s more, search engines may even punish website owners who publish someone else’s pieces. This means that they may lower the ranking of your website if crawlers detect duplicate content there.

3. Destroyed reputation
Copying someone’s work can damage your reputation. In fact, plagiarizing makes an individual guilty of stealing content. This means that there is no reason for readers to trust the author. Blog visitors cannot view the source containing unoriginal content as credible. Naturally, it gets impossible for them to believe someone who steals intellectual property. So if you don’t want to disrupt your image, never use works created by others. Remember that it’s extremely difficult to recover a damaged reputation and make your readers come back.

4. Losing visitors
Website visitors appreciate original content. If you post the articles that were previously published by other bloggers, you will never have a loyal audience. Just think, why people should prefer your blog if there is nothing new for them. Users always seek innovative ideas and fresh thoughts, so they return to resources that can offer what they need. Hence, you should be creative to persuade your visitors to stay on your website for some time. If they find extraordinary materials on your pages, they will keep reading your blog with great interest.

5. Ruined career
Plagiarism can harm your career. Professionals can’t completely rely on someone’s knowledge and skills. They need to use their own experience and share their own views on particular issues instead. People want to gather different opinions and then compare them. Most of them find it right to make judgments based on an analysis of a few controversial ideas. If someone reveals that you are giving someone else’s point of view pretending it’s yours, this will make you look untrustworthy in the eyes of your readers and eventually ruin your writing career.

Final thoughts
There are various negative consequences of using plagiarized content, some of which are mentioned above. Therefore, you should always check your content for uniqueness in order to avoid undesired outcomes.

Author’s BIO
Robert Everett is a content writer and academic tutor. Robert writes articles mainly for educational platforms and study blogs. He believes that content must be not only engaging but also 100% original to bring value to the readers.