The Gallatin Valley Land Trust has worked hard over the last 26 years to build an extensive 80 mile trail system that connects Main Street Bozeman to the Mountains that surround us. The Main Street to the Mountains trail system has trails for all abilities and they are accessible from neighborhoods all over town. Yet the trail system can be daunting and confusing to the newcomer or novice user. And even the experienced trail users in Bozeman are probably unaware of all the trails right there in our backyard.

In order to help people explore the great community trail system, GVLT hosting the second season of Discovery Walks: Trail Exploration Series. Join GVLT volunteers to walk, talk, and explore on the trails while meeting new people and learning something new along the way. These one-hour, guided, educational walks are totally free and open to the public. Volunteers and local experts will be hosting short talks and activities during the walks about topics such as yoga, bird identification, wildflower identification, bouldering, art, and more! Many of the walks are geared toward families and kids such as the kid’s nature walks with the Montana Outdoor Science School. All participants will get a free trail map at the end of the walk so they can find other trails to explore on their own.

Trail walks do not require an RSVP. Dogs are not allowed on walks. The full schedule for May, June, and July is located online at www.gvlt.org/events/discovery-walks. Meeting locations for walks and Google maps are also located on the website.  For more information or to volunteer, email EJ Porth, ej@gvlt.org or call 406-587-8404 ext. 8.

Gallatin Valley Land Trust builds, maintains, and enhances trails on the Main Street to the Mountains trail system in Bozeman, MT.  The Main Street to the Mountains trail network boasts over 70 miles of trails that connect throughout town. For more information or to find out how to purchase a trail map, visit www.gvlt.org.

A local tradition! The Bozeman Kiwanis Club will provide 100 children’s sandboxes built by Club members, to given to families free of charge, sand included! The sandboxes will be distributed at the Dinosaur Park off Davis Road in Bozeman, on two Saturdays in June the 4th and 11th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Thursday, June 9 from 6-8 p.m. They are available on a first come, first served basis, until all are distributed. Be sure and bring a vehicle that can accommodate the 5” by 5” boxes and over 1,000 pounds of sand, and a plastic liner.  A drop cloth in your vehicle is recommended for transporting.  Sandboxes encourage our children to be outside, socializing, and developing creative and constructive skill sets.

The Sandbox Project is one of many the Bozeman Kiwanis Club provides to give back to the community through various outreach programs.  The sandboxes are made possible by the club with support from community donations to purchase materials. Other projects include: Eliminate, through Kiwanis International has made great strides to eliminate maternal neonatal tetanus.  Local Club support is also provided for Eagle Mount Camp Braveheart, Big Sky Cancer Kids Spaghetti Feed, Hope for the Holidays, Kids in Crisis Backpacks, Fix-Up Festival, playground equipment, park pavilions, and others.  For more information about the Bozeman Kiwanis Club please go to www.kiwanisbozeman.org or “Bozeman Kiwanis” on Facebook.

This year, Reach Inc. is hosting their 9th annual Reach Inc. Race for Independence on Sunday, July 4th, starting at 8:00AM.  As in past years, this race features a 1K, 5K, and 10K.  The fun begins and ends at the Reach Inc. Work Center at 322 Gallatin Park Drive, follows a gorgeous course mostly on trails, and raises funds to help adults with developmental disabilities in our community to live as independently as possible.

Reach Inc. is a local, private, non-profit that provides care to 116 adults with developmental disabilities.  Their services include vocational, residential, and transportation supports to assist their clients in achieving their individualized goals and aspirations.

The 10K will start at 8:00AM, The 5K will start at 8:15AM, and the 1K will start at 8:30AM.  Sorry, no dogs.  Race directors and volunteers ask that you literally keep one ear open for people who want to pass.  Due to the narrowness on parts of the trail, and the hope of creating greater opportunities for faster folks to pass, “tuning out” your fellow runners by plugging both ears with music is discouraged.

This course is flat and fast.  Registration is $25 per person for the 5K and 10K, and $15 per person for the 1K.  All children who finish the 1K will receive a medal.  Sporty, snazzy, wicking tee-shirts are available for an additional $10 each.  Medals are given out three places deep for each age group and gender.  Register at Reach Inc. 8am to 5pm (322 Gallatin Park Drive) or on-line at www.reachinc.org or https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Bozeman/ReachIncRaceforIndependence.  For more information, to volunteer, or to help sponsor the event, contact Dee Metrick at dee@reachinc.org or 406-587-1271.

Host families are needed for 22 Japanese youth and two adult chaperones who will be visiting Montana from July 23 through Aug. 18. Families can be located anywhere in the state and should have a child at home who is between the ages of 9 and 16. The visiting youth will know some English but are not fluent. The purpose of the exchange is for both the family and the guest to enjoy cultural immersion while learning from one another.

The application deadline is Wednesday, May 25. To apply, go to http://www.states4hexchange.org/host-families/ or contact Stephanie Davison, program coordinator in the 4-H Center for Youth Development, at (406) 994-3502 or sdavison@montana.edu.

Bridgercare now offers hormone therapy for trans* patients on a sliding fee scale.
57% of transgender and gender diverse patients report being refused health care.

Bridgercare offers LGBTQIA inclusive and competent reproductive healthcare and education and has expanded services for trans* patients to include hormone therapy and support resources.  Bridgercare provides hormone therapy services on a sliding fee scale.

Transgender patients have elevated needs for sliding fee scale services such as Bridgercare’s.
Trans* individuals are unemployed at a rate of 13%, more than twice the national average, due in part to workplace discrimination.  Among employed trans* individuals, over a quarter make less than $20,000 a year.  Ensuring affordable access to healthcare for this extremely vulnerable population is important to Bridgercare.

Fewer trans* individuals are covered by employer insurance than the general population.
Only 40% of transgender employees have insurance in their workplace compared to 62% of the general population. Bridgercare employs five certified application counselors who help individuals enroll in health insurance through the Marketplace and Medicaid for free. Last year, Bridgercare CACs were able to help over 400 patients enroll in health insurance.

About Bridgercare:  
Bridgercare provides excellent, affordable reproductive and sexual healthcare and education in a safe, supportive, empowering atmosphere.  We are an independent, non-profit, family planning clinic that provides services to everyone regardless of income, insurance coverage, sexual orientation and gender. Bridgercare focuses on reducing barriers to healthcare and education access for patients who are especially vulnerable due to their economic circumstances or discrimination. Bridgercare strives to create a healthier, happier community where everyone has access to high quality, compassionate and affordable healthcare.

Please visit www.bridgercare.org to find out more. Bridgercare is a member of Montana Shares and the Montana Nonprofit Association.

Sources for statistics in this press release:
The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (2009) by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center Transgender Equality.
When Health Care Isn’t Caring: Lambda Legal’s Survey of Discrimination Against LGBT People and People with HIV (2010).

The City of Bozeman’s Sustainability, Neighborhoods, and Solid Waste Divisions partnered with the Bozeman Beautification Advisory Board to host the 32nd Annual Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 23. Over 500 police, neighbors, and friends were out in the community collecting trash and recyclables to keep Bozeman as the Most Livable Place.

The event kicked off at the Bozeman Public Library with a Welcome from Deputy Mayor Cyndy Andrus. “Picking up garbage and litter in our community is not something everyone likes to do but it’s something that’s really important” said Andrus.

As a result of the event 114 bags of trash, 27 bags of recyclables, and 30 bags of compost were picked up from streets, alleys, and parks in Bozeman.

Now community members won’t need to wait until the next annual event to cleanup because the City of Bozeman has decided to extend Cleanup Day to everyday. The City of Bozeman Solid Waste Division’s new program, Cleanup Bozeman, offers individuals and groups a chance to cleanup whenever it’s convenient. The Solid Waste Division will provide everything you need to get the job done. To sign‐up call 582‐3236.

For more information and to sign up for the cleanup, please visit www.bozeman.net/CleanupDay or contact Jessica Johnson, Bozeman Neighborhood Coordinator at 582‐2274 or jjohnson@bozeman.net.

Ever wanted to be a little savvier in local railroad history?

 If you don’t quite become the envy of your friends, you can still impress them with more than they knew before – as a newly-minted savvy museum volunteer.

The Livingston Depot Museum is hoping for additional volunteers to help with its summer visitors’ season.  The museum will open Friday, May 13 – a lucky day for those  broadening their horizons – and has several half-day shifts available.  

“There’s a kind of camaraderie in helping as a volunteer,” said Museum Director Diana Seider.  “It’s fun to share the experience of local history with visitors, and most of our volunteers have that in common with each other.  It’s a good chance to make new friends and meet people visiting from far and wide. ”   

Seider said volunteers help out at the front desk taking tickets and answering general questions, as well as in the gift shop.  Schedules can be flexible but usually involve just one 3.5-hour morning or afternoon shift a week.  Openings are currently available for both weekdays and weekends.

Volunteers also help with other occasions such as the Depot Foundation’s summer and winter events including its Festival of the Arts pie booth, Roundhouse Roundup outdoor barbecue, film nights, Wine and Beer Tasting, and more, but there are usually still last-minute vacancies with summer museum positions.

“It’s not that demanding, but volunteers enjoy visiting with people, answering questions, and learning new things themselves,” she said.  “We always train people for the basic tasks, but the main things are an interest in helping visitors learn and a friendly face.   

General information is available on the Depot’s website at www.livingstondepot.org, and anyone interested in signing up is invited to reach the Depot at (406) 222-2300.

The Montana Preservation Alliance (MPA) has extended its search for five artists interested in participating in our Summer 2016 Reimagine Montana Artist-in-Residence program. The deadline for postmarked applications is May 3.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded funding to MPA for Reimagine Montana: National Parks, Historic Landmarks, Trails and Monuments Across Time, a project to support artists in creating artwork for a traveling exhibition. The work will celebrate nationally-significant parks and historic places in Montana by reimagining signature places depicted by artists in the past.

Five artists will be selected for four-week residencies at five settings in Montana. Each will be provided with lodgings and a modest stipend for expenses. By inviting artists to visit such locations and to reimagine their meaning, we support the creation of meaningful new artwork and provide a chance for today's people to reflect on these places and their cultural meaning.

Locations include:
Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
Virginia City National Historic Landmark
Butte-Anaconda National Historic Landmark
Glacier National Park
Traveler's Rest State Park National Historic Landmark

For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions flyer or to apply for the program, please click Apply Now below.

Craft brewing is a booming business in the US, and Bozeman & Belgrade, Montana are no exception. Each Bozeman Brewery has it's own special atmosphere, taste and history. We've listed them from oldest to newest.

Bozeman Brewing Company ("The Bozone")

Bozeman Brewing has been creating tasty brews on Broadway Ave in Bozeman, Montana since 2001. This intimate tap room is home to North side locals, weary travelers and beer aficionados looking for great tasting Montana beer. Our favorite Bozone brew is the Hopzone IPA.

Madison River Brewing Co

We can't leave MRB off the list, even though they are located in neighboring Belgrade, Montana. Madison River has been around a long time and continues to brew some of the most delicious Montana craft beer available. Regular tasting room visitors enjoy hand blown glass steins to drink from. Our favorite Mad River brew is Hopper Pale Ale.

406 Brewing

406 built their first large Bozeman tasting room in 2011 off Oak St in Bozeman, Montana. The brewery is moving to Manahattan, Montana in 2020.

Outlaw Brewing

Outlaw Brewing began brewing in 2011 with Bar 3 BBQ in Belgrade, in 2014 they created their own space in Northwest Bozeman, Montana. Old West tradition inspires the brews and ambiance of Sheriff Henry Plummer’s Outlaw Brewing. Our favorite Outlaw brew is Passive Aggressive Pale Ale.

Bridger Brewing Co

Bridger Brewing was founded in March 2013 just across from the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, Montana. Serving delicious pizza and amazing beer Bridger Brewing is a huge hit. Bridger Brewing has been voted Bozeman's Choice  in each years Reader Poll. Our favorite Bridger Brewing brew is Antilogy Black IPA.

MAP Brewing Co

MAP Brewing's mission is simple: craft and drink great beer. Since Oct 2015 folks have been drinking MAP beer in their spacious, two-story tasting room adjacent to the East Gallatin Recreation area. The views can't be beat, and the beer ain't bad either. Our favorite MAP brew is Destination Session IPA.

The Bunkhouse Brewery

Open since February 2016, Bunkhouse, near the campus of Montana State University is rooted in Montana traditions and is proud to be a part of the Bozeman community. Our favorite Bunkhouse brew is Remittance Ale.

Mountains Walking Brewery

Since September 2017 Mountains Walking has been pouring a wide variety of craft brews from their tasting room in Northeast Bozeman. They encourage visitors to "Discover the "True Nature of Beer" through the cultivation of the mystery of fermentation." A favorite of ours is the Twisted Karma, Raspberry Sour.

Nordic Brew Works

In the fall of 2018 Bozeman's first Westside Brewery - Nordic Brew Works opened in what is now called The Market. The open, bright setting creates a comfortable in-town getaway. They brew small-batch, one-of-a-kind craft beer, our favorite is whatever seasonal IPA is on tap.

Union Hall Brewery

Union Hall Brewery is Bozeman, Montana's newest brewery. Serving up craft beer and delicious food right on Main street, Union Hall's motto is “In beer we trust." Our favorite UH beer is Plow Chaser IPA.

Cheers!

Montana State University affiliates have garnered 18 regional Emmy nominations from the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The winners of the awards will be announced June 4 in Seattle.

MontanaPBS earned 13 nominations for its programming over the last year, while KXLF earned four and MSU’s University Communications has received one.

The nominations span 11 different categories including documentary, commercial, writing, photography, editing, directing and audio.

“Finding Traction,” the story of Montana ultra-runner Nikki Kimbal, received six nominations, including one in the audio category for Jeremiah Slovarp, an instructor in the MSU School of Music. “Finding Traction” follows Kimball as she attempts a grueling run across the nation’s longest hiking trail.

“Concussion: Answers in the Blood?” a documentary that follows two University of Montana scientists who received funding from the NFL for their research on concussions, received two nominations.

“Backroads of Montana,” a production of MontanaPBS, had a nomination in the arts and entertainment— feature/segment category for a piece on centenarian bugler Ray Zell of Shelby.

“11th and Grant with Eric Funk,” a program curated by MSU School of Music instructor Funk that gives local musicians a chance to showcase their talent to a statewide audience, also received two nominations, including another nomination for Slovarp. The nominated episode featured the School of Music’s Angella Ahn and Julie Gosswiller.

MSU graduates from television station KXLF received four nominations for “On the Mountain,” a documentary that tells the story of the construction of the 90-foot statue known as “Our Lady of the Rockies.”

“MSU Unbranded,” produced by MSU University Communications Marketing and Creative Services department and other MSU staff, faculty and alumni, was nominated in the commercial single spot category

Lastly, “Bard in the Backcountry,” a film that chronicles a summer season of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, received two nominations, recognizing Cindy Stilwell, an MSU film professor who co-directed the film.

For a full list of the nominees and the categories, please see below:

Arts/entertainment - feature/segment
Backroads of Montana, featuring centenarian bugler Ray Zell -- John Twiggs, producer

Arts/entertainment - program/special
11th & Grant with Eric Funk featuring Angella Ahn and Friends -- Scott Sterling, director; Aaron Pruitt, executive producer; Paul Gomez Routhier, producer; Eric Funk, artistic director; Jeremiah Slovarp, audio director

Audio
Finding Traction --  Slovarp, sound re-recording mixer
Bard in the Backcountry -- original music, Ian Hatton, composer
11th & Grant with Eric Funk featuring Angella Ahn and Friends  -- Slovarp, audio director

Commercial single spot
MSU Unbranded -- Dennis Aig, director, producer, writer; Scott Chestnut, director, editor, cinematographer; Julie Kipfer, executive producer, writer;  Phillip Baribeau, cinematographer, talent; Andy Hahn, special effects

Director - post production
Finding Traction -- Jaime Jelenchick Jacobsen
On the Mountain  -- Shawn Newton, Carley Rainey

Documentary – cultural
Bard in the Backcountry -- Cindy Stillwell, director; Tom Watson, director; Aaron Pruitt, executive producer; Chris Seifert, executive producer

Documentary – historical
On the Mountain -- Shawn Newton, producer, director, writer, editor; Carley Rainey, director; Andrew Preston, producer

Documentary – topical
Concussion: Answers in the Blood? -- John Twiggs, producer
Finding Traction -- Jaime Jelenchick Jacobsen, director; Aaron Pruitt, executive producer; Charles Dye, director; Rick Smith, director of photography; Daniel Schmidt - director of photography

Editor – program  
Finding Traction -- Stefanie Watkins
Concussion: Answers in the Blood? -- John Twiggs
On the Mountain -- Shawn Newton

Photographer – program
Finding Traction -- Daniel Schmidt, Rick Smith

Writer – Program
Finding Traction -- Jaime Jelenchick Jacobsen, Stefanie Watkins
On the Mountain -- Shawn Newton

MontanaPBS is comprised of KUSM-TV Bozeman and KUFM-TV Missoula, each a non-commercial educational licensee of Montana State University - Bozeman and The University of Montana - Missoula, respectively.

For more information, please contact Slovarp at (406) 586-5262 or jeremiah@jerecostudios.com.