Player's auditions will be held this SATURDAY (January 9) at 10am. If you are interested in participating in the Winter Players' Show, please plan to attend. The show will be Black Diamonds, a period piece set in 1884 in Bozeman City, Montana Territory. Performances are scheduled for February 19, 20, 26, 27 & 28.  Many roles for high school and middle school actors. Some roles for elementary ages as well. Click to learn more.

Students in the Winter Players' Show need to participate in at least one after school class.

CLASSES BEGIN THE WEEK OF JANUARY 11.  Be sure to check out our new offerings! Dance for the Stage Class focusing on tap, but also teaching other dance form basics, will also resume on Thursdays from 4-5. Already enrolled CLUB Kaleidoscope families, please let us know which classes you will be taking this session.

The Inaugural Bozeman's Choice Readers' Poll results are here, and they're all yours!

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The key to rehabilitating wounded wildlife is understanding the extent of an animal’s injuries. At the Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC), this step just got a lot easier thanks to the non-profit’s new digital x-ray machine.



When an injured raptor is admitted, MRCC staff stabilize it and perform an initial assessment, which most often involves an x-ray, explains Director Becky Kean. “The images produced by digital x-ray are far superior to those produced on traditional film, which allows us to really target our efforts. Hollow bird bones shatter on impact and leave lots of tiny fragments. With this technology, we can see the fine detail and determine a plan of attack,” she says. The plan could involve setting the bone with splints and tape or surgically with pins.

A golden eagle with a shoulder fracture was one of the first patients to be diagnosed using the new x-ray technology. “We were able to see through the scapula and coracoid into the joint to identify the damage—the detail was impressive,” Kean continues. “Having that visual really helped us set the joint and give the eagle a better chance at recovery and release.”

The digital x-ray is also efficient, adds MRCC Assistant Director Jordan Spyke. “In the past, we’d have to develop film and drive it to the vet for analysis. Now, we can e-mail a digital image in less than half the time. That shortens the entire diagnostic process, and gives us more time to tend to the birds,” he says. “It also saves on supply costs because digital x-rays aren’t developed with chemicals like film is.” Both Spyke and Kean appreciate the reduced exposure to harsh chemicals and radiation associated with traditional x-ray.

“Despite offering both clinical advantages and operational efficiencies, MRCC is the only raptor rehabilitation center in the state with such a high-tech tool, and that’s largely because of the purchase price,” explains MRCC Board President Rick Sanders. “We are fortunate that so many supporters helped us take this significant step. The Gallatin Valley really ‘gave big’ for the digital x-ray this spring, which was a huge push toward our goal.”

Sanders explains that a majority of the funds needed to purchase the technology came in during the inaugural Give Big Gallatin Valley, a one-day community fundraising event that brought in more than $235,000 for 100 local non-profits. “The increased awareness from that day gave us the momentum we needed to meet our goal,” says Sanders, noting that additional funds came from generous matching funds, individual donors, and our friends at the Sacajawea Audubon.

“Although it required a large investment, we’re certain this technology will be worthwhile in the long run,” Sanders continues. “It saves on two critical resources: money and time. And, that efficiency makes it possible to care for more birds.”
The advantages couldn’t have come at a better time, according to Kean, since MRCC is on pace to break every admission record since it was founded in 1988.  “We have treated 230 this year,” she says. “That’s up almost 25% over 2014 when we treated a total of 190 raptors.” It’s difficult to tease out what’s driving the increase—changes in breeding and migration patterns, increased awareness about the Center, or something else—but Kean and Spyke are prepared to rehabilitate and release as many wild birds of prey as they can.

“Thanks to everyone out there who supports us,” Kean says, “2015 has been a great year and we couldn’t do it without you!”

Over 7,600 Scouts in Montana were able to experience adventure, learn life-long skills and positively impact their families and their communities this year.  The Boy Scouts endeavor to build the best possible leaders, neighbors and citizens for our communities.
 
We recently helped Eric, a first-class scout attend Summer Camp at K-M Scout Ranch near Lewistown with a campership.  Eric comes from a single-parent home and they don’t have the financial means to participate in Summer Camp.  While at camp, he earned five merit badges and participated in other camp adventures.  Without donations, Eric would not have had the financial means to attend camp.  Today, as a Star Scout, he is helping younger Scouts learn the skills they will need to succeed.  Each day, your support would make stories like Eric’s possible.

We are launching our 2015 Year-End Campaign.  Our goal is to help an additional 80 scouts realize their potential through the Scouting program.  You see, even though we helped over 7,600 Scouts so far this year, there are still scouts in need of our support.  The Montana Council invests $250 per Scout per year offering the best possible program to our youth.

That’s why our goal for this campaign is to raise $21,000 by December 31st for the Mountain Valley District.  If we raise that amount, we’ll be able to support 80 more scouts.  FIRST, we need your help to make it happen.
 
Would you be willing to make a donation now to help us meet our goal and support more Scouts?  We simply can’t do it without you.  Your support will make a real, lasting impact in the lives of those who are still in need.
 
You can donate online at www.montanabsa.org/support.  Please make your donation today.  The impact you make on our communities is lasting.

Community Café hosts Bozeman High School ProStart culinary students as guest chefs. The Community Cafe is part of the HRDC’s Emergency Food and Nutrition Initiative, working to improve food security in SW Montana. The Café has been providing hot, nutritious meals to the community since 2012. As Montana’s only “Pay What You Can” Café, you pay whatever you feel the meal is worth. If you can pay more, please do. If you have a little less, pay what you can and enjoy!

This Friday, December 11th, the meal is being prepared in partnership with Bozeman High School’s ProStart Culinary Program. The ProStart Program helps develop aspiring culinarians in high schools across the nation, and hosts an annual state and national invitational competition. Last year, the program’s culinary students won the State Invitational after working at the Café, a feat we hope to help them to repeat.

This partnership supports provision of the Café’s three tenets of food, opportunity, and education by offering participants an opportunity to develop as a team while providing delicious, nutritious meals for our community. The meals being prepared by the students can be enjoyed from 5-7 pm at the Community Café, located at 302 N. 7th Avenue in Bozeman, December 11th, February 5th, March 4th and 25th, and April 15th and 29th.

The Community Cafe is part of the HRDC’s Emergency Food and Nutrition Initiative, working to improve food security in SW Montana. The Café was founded when an increase in families needing emergency food boxes was observed at the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. The Community Café is Montana’s only Pay What You Can restaurant, open 365 days a year for dinner from 5-7pm. The HRDC was established in 1975 and serves Gallatin, Park, and Meagher Counties in southwest Montana.  HRDC is a non-profit community action agency, dedicated to strengthening community and advancing the quality of people’s lives.  

Bozeman's 7th annual Baby Formula drive is about to kick off. Infants from the age of 1 day old to around 6-8 months rely solely on their mother’s milk or baby formula for food. Mothers who need to immediately return to work, have medical complications or can’t breast feed for one reason or another are forced to take up the very expensive option of formula. 

Our local food bank has an overwhelming need for formula, it is increasingly common for mothers on welfare to “stretch” their formula by adding too much water and subsequently hospitalize their children. Mothers don’t do this out of neglect; they just couldn’t afford to purchase more and don’t realize the consequences of thier actions.

The fact is, very few people donate formula to food banks. The Gallatin Valley Food Bank says that when they are lucky enough to receive any, it is usually off the shelves seconds after they put it on. It is one of the hardest items for them to stock.

So, in your holiday giving as you are looking over your list of charities, please pick up a can or two of formula and help us get these babies the food they need. I will be collecting formula from December 5th – December 20th to be delivered to the food bank. But, don’t forget you can also drop a can in the any Food Bank collection bin year round.

This year, Altitude Gallery (134 E. Main St.- drop off hours are 11:00-4:00 Mon.– Sat.) has been nice enough to act as a public drop off for any purchased cans. Or, feel free to call Kama at 509-939-5383 and I can come collect it from you.

Opening a Montana medical care savings account by Dec. 31 to help with medical expenses not covered by a health insurance policy or flexible spending account can help individuals save on taxes, according to Marsha Goetting, a family economics specialist with Montana State University Extension.

Up to $3,000 of a deposit into the account, per taxpayer, is deductible from an individual’s 2015 Montana adjusted gross income, thus reducing taxes, Goetting said.

"This tax advantage does not apply to your federal income taxes, however, and should not be confused with the Federal Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Federal Flexible Spending Plans (FSAs)," she said.

To establish a medical savings account, individuals should contact their financial institution, such as a bank, savings bank or credit union, Goetting said. She added that a Montanan with taxable income over $17,100 could save about $207 in state income taxes by depositing the maximum $3,000 in a Montana medical savings account.

"It doesn't matter if you have already paid your 2015 medical bills either by check, credit or debit card," said Goetting. "You can add up those eligible expenses, make a deposit by Dec. 31 of this year and reimburse yourself from your Montana MSA as late as Jan. 15, 2016."

The key word is “paid,” Goetting said.

“You can reimburse yourself for paid eligible medical expenses as late as Jan. 15, 2016. But if you haven't yet paid those bills because your health insurance company hasn't sorted out what it will pay and what you still owe, you still can reimburse yourself for those 2015 expenses after Jan. 15, 2016.”

The amount available to reduce your Montana income is the total deposited, not the amount used for medical expenses during the tax year, Goetting said.

“For example, if you deposited $3,000 in an MSA but only used $100 for eligible medical expenses during 2015, you still get to reduce your income for Montana income tax purposes by $3,000. The remaining $2,900 is available for paying medical expenses in future years.”

A married couple who individually establish medical savings accounts can receive a $6,000 deduction if they file a joint Montana income tax return, Goetting said, and the couple will then save about $414 on their state income taxes. However, joint medical savings accounts are not allowed.

Medical savings account amounts held in the name of a husband or wife can be used to pay the medical bills of either spouse or their dependent children, Goetting said.

“For example, if a husband had $6,000 in medical expenses during 2015, $3,000 from his own MSA and $3,000 from his wife's MSA could be used for his bills,” Goetting said.

Eligible expenses include medical and dental insurance premiums, long-term care insurance, dental care (including orthodontists), eyeglasses or contacts or prescription drugs that are paid during the year. Not covered are medical-related bills that have been already covered by a supplemental, primary or self-insured plan.

Goetting said that Montana generally accepts as eligible expenses any that are listed in the IRS 502 Publication, "Medical and Dental Expenses," which is on the Web at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf.

An MSU Extension MontGuide can help individuals decide if they would benefit from a Montana medical care savings account.  The publication (MontGuide 199817 HR) is free if picked up from a local MSU County Extension office. Or, it can be downloaded for free from the Web at http://msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT199817HR.pdf.

The Artists Gallery in the Emerson Cultural Center will feature the work of Janel Acheson, Marie Melton and Tom Wolfe during the month of December. The show will include a Featured Artist Reception where you can meet the artists and share a glass of wine.



Janel Acheson grew up in Montana and was inspired by her mother’s creativity and artwork along with the outdoors she spent a great deal of time in. It is important to Janel that her work captures honest and unfiltered moments within nature. “Through my artwork I strive to bring a level of respect to my animal subjects, large, small, feathery and fuzzy. I am especially interested in capturing their ‘reality’, which includes every quirk and imperfection.”

Marie Melton was born in Montana but has lived all around the world. She was a photographer for forty years but always enjoyed working with her hands: oil and watercolor painting, wood carving and making jewelry. Marie’s latest interest is the exploration uniting fibers and textiles.



Tom Wolfe’s intent is to forge items that serve a purpose, are pleasing to the eye, and invite touch. After 30 years as head of MSU’s Farrier School, Tom’s interest in traditional blacksmithing has broadened from practical and therapeutic horseshoeing to creating functional art for the home and garden. Tom’s work focuses on traditional blacksmithing techniques. Joinery is done through the use of rivets, collars, mortise and tenon joints and forge-welds.

Teams of Montana State University business students turned $25 into more than $5,500 in just three weeks, and the students then donated those funds to three local non-profit organizations.

The students were participating in the “Entreprentice Challenge,” part of an upper-division class on entrepreneurship in the MSU Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship. As part of the course – which is taught by management professor Brent Rosso – student teams were given $25 in start-up capital and asked to launch real businesses that were as profitable and impactful as possible in just three weeks. Rosso challenged the students to act entrepreneurially and grow those funds for local causes.

The student teams launched a variety of creative ventures, including a homemade bike taxi, a mobile photography service and a dog walking service, among others. Other teams manufactured and sold products like metal bottle openers, apparel, furniture, stickers and jewelry. Some of the ventures continued on as real businesses even after the class project had concluded.

Steel Anderson, a member of the student team that created metal bottle openers to manufacture and sell, said the team’s biggest challenge was the short time period.

“It was a race against the clock to make a profitable venture happen in only a couple weeks’ time,” Anderson said. “At the same time, it was a very rewarding moment when we realized just how much money we had made under the time constraint. Thanks to our creative financing strategies, we were able to sell nearly $1,500 worth of product before we had to shell out any cash for manufacturing.”

Anderson added that there were a few obstacles along the way, but the team “improvised and kept forging ahead, keeping our eye on the end goal."

By the end of the designated three weeks, the student teams had raised a combined total of $5,525 in profit – a record amount since Rosso created the Entreprentice Challenge at MSU five years ago. Contributions from the Entreprentice Challenge to local non-profits over the last five years now totals more than $20,000.

This year, the student groups chose to donate the funds to three local organizations: Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Family Promise of Gallatin Valley and the Community Café.

Gallatin Valley Land Trust received a donation of more than $2,800 from the challenge. The funds will be used to install a bench at the newly expanded Bozeman Pond Park and to provide funding for the development of the park, including a playground and trails, according to Kelly Pohl, associate director of the land trust. Pohl added that the class’s name and year will be engraved on the bench.

“We are so grateful to receive the funds from the Entreprentice Challenge,” Pohl said. “We were inspired by the creativity and vision of (the students’) start-up businesses. The funds they raised will have an impact right here in our community by helping GVLT develop the newly expanded Bozeman Pond Park. We’re excited to have these future entrepreneurs in our community, making this a better place to live.”

Rosso noted that the goal of the project is for students to experience the full entrepreneurial journey.

“They demonstrated a lot of ingenuity and resourcefulness, and I think they surprised themselves with how much they could accomplish with so little,” Rosso said. “It was really meaningful for all of us to see how doing well and ‘doing good’ can go hand-in-hand.”

Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service