Pesticide training for homeowners, the general public and people wanting to earn their private applicator license will be held this spring in Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell and Miles City. A private applicator license allows individuals to apply restricted-use pesticides on land they own, rent or lease.

The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program will hold six-hour training sessions on Feb. 24 in Miles City, Feb. 25 in Billings, March 4 in Bozeman and March 26 in Kalispell. Each one is open to any Montanan.

Each program will cover integrated pest management, pesticide movement in the environment, pesticide safety and toxicity, pesticide law, calibrating ground spray equipment, understanding the private applicator license, and reading/understanding pesticide product labels.

In addition, MSU Extension Rangeland Weed Specialist Jane Mangold will speak at Bozeman and Kalispell. MSU Extension Cropland Insect Specialist Kevin Wanner will speak in Billings and Miles City. MSU Pesticide Education Specialist Cecil Tharp will speak at each location. Assisting will be local MSU Extension agents and district officers for the Montana Department of Agriculture.

Cost for the workshops ranges from $10 to $25, depending on whether or not attendees want to earn their private applicator license.

The cost is $10 for those who don’t want a private applicator license or who simply desire private applicator credits. They will qualify for a license by attending the training session, however. People holding a private applicator license can buy and use labeled restricted-use pesticides and will also be notified of future pesticide trainings in their area.

Attendees holding a current private applicator license will earn three private pesticide recertification credits by attending either a morning or afternoon session, and six credits for attending the entire day.

The training costs $25 for those who want to qualify for a private applicator license. The fee covers the six-hour training session, as well as training manuals.

A catered lunch will be available to all attendees, but they must pre-register. When pre-registering, they must say if they want to earn a private applicator license, desire private applicator credits or if they simply wish to attend the event.

For more details, pre-registration information and complete agendas, go to www.pesticides.montana.edu and select one of the workshop locations under “Regional Initial Pesticide Training Opportunities.” For additional information, contact local Extension agents or Cecil Tharp at (406) 994-5067 or ctharp@montana.edu.

There is still time to submit nominations for the eighth annual High Plains Book Awards. Nominations will be accepted through March 13, 2015.  For information on how to nominate a book, go to highplainsbookawards.org. More than 90 nominations have already been sent in, with books originating from small regional presses and major national publishers.
 
Nominations are open for the books published for the first time in 2014 in these categories:  Best Fiction; Best Nonfiction; Best Poetry; Best First Book; Best Woman Writer; Best Art & Photography; Best Short Stories, Best Culinary, Best Young Adult, Best Children's Book and Best Medicine & Science Book. Winners receive a $500 prize.
 
All nominated books are read and evaluated by community readers in the first round of the selection process.  Finalist books in each category are judged by published writers with connections to the High Plains region.
 
Winners will be announced at an awards banquet on Saturday, October 3, 2015, at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana. The Awards Banquet is a signature event held in conjunction with the 13th annual High Plains BookFest. Authors interested in participating in the 2015 BookFest should contact the Writer's Voice director Corby Skinner corby@skinnerbenoit.com.

Every year volunteers help GGUW’s Board of Directors wisely invest community funds, the resources raised from the annual campaign through an open competitive community-based process. Community Investment/Impact is an effective grant process for allocating dollars into local programs and initiatives that address Education, Health and Income, the building blocks for opportunity and improving lives.

Volunteers act as the voice of donors, the community, and work together with a focus on "community impact," to improve the lives of people who live here and create lasting change in community conditions.  Volunteer input is important and helps guide GGUW’s Board of Directors in determining what organizations and programs receive funding.

Distribution of Community Impact Funds is a decision made by the Board of Directors, the important evaluation process helps determine an organization’s and/or program’s strength, capacity, effectiveness and sustainability.  Other volunteers, CPAs and persons familiar with nonprofit financial statements and IRS 990 forms, evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the program(s), whether they meet eligibility criteria, have good financial accountability and demonstrate financial need.

"It is a rigorous application process and those that receive funding demonstrate they have solid governance, effective leadership, and ability to measure the impact of their work," said Danica Jamison, Greater Gallatin United Way President and CEO. "The community investment volunteers along with United Way Board of Directors strategically invest funds in programs that have the most impact in our community.”

To volunteer to help determine where to invest donor’s dollars into our community, contact admin@greatergallatinunitedway.org or 406.587.2194.  Volunteers review grants and/or attend presentations on the evenings of April 1 and/or 7.

To apply for funding, please visit http://www.greatergallatinunitedway.org/2015_CI_Grants.
 

BSO conductor, MAESTRO MATTHEW SAVERY to perform in New York City at Carnegie Hall on June 5th, 2015 with extraordinary solo violinist, ALEXANDER MARKOV and a STRING ORCHESTRA.  Markov most recently visited Bozeman in September, 2014 as part of the Bozeman Symphony’s 47th concert season and the Discover the Wild performance featuring Paganini’s second violin concerto.   

Now in his 21st season as Music Director of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Choir and continuing in his 7th season as Music Director of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, Matthew Savery enjoys an expanding reputation for his multi-faceted career as an electrifying performer, dedicated orchestra builder and charismatic teacher.  An internationally acclaimed conductor, Savery will be joined by world-renowned violin virtuoso and the hippest violinist on the planet, Alexander Markov, as part of Maestro Savery’s Carnegie Hall debut.
 
SAVERY and MARKOV perform at Carnegie Hall on June 5th, 2015 at 8:00pm in the Stern/Perelman auditorium (881 7th Ave, at 57th Street New York, NY 10019), collaborating with Heike Doerr on harpsichord performing Vivaldi’s epic “Four Seasons”. Other masterpieces on the program include Tchaikovsky Serenade and Vitali Chaconne.

Tickets are priced from $25-$120 and may be purchased by calling Carnegie Charge at 212-247-7800 or online at www.carnegiehall.org.  Tickets for this performance go on sale to the public Thursday, February 12th. 

Montanans who turned 62 or older by the end of last year may qualify for Montana's elderly homeowner/renter tax credit for 2014.

If you can answer "yes" to all of the following questions, then you may be eligible for the credit:

?       Were you 62 or older as of Dec. 31?
?       Did you occupy a Montana residence(s) as an owner or renter for a total of 6 months or more during 2014?
?       Did you reside in Montana for nine months or more during 2014?
?       Was your total gross household income less than $45,000 in 2014? Montana Department of Revenue’s Form 2EC contains instructions for determining total gross household income for the purpose of determining the tax credit.

Montana allows qualifying citizens a credit for a portion of their property taxes or rent paid based on their income. The credit can be used against state income liability or as a direct refund if the person is not required to file a Montana state income tax return.  Only one claim is allowed per household.

To determine eligibility, complete Form 2EC, which can be found at your local Department of Revenue office, library, post office or tax preparer’s office.  The form is also available on the web at http://revenue.mt.gov/Portals/9/individuals/forms/Form_2EC_2014.pdf

Help is available to complete Form 2EC by calling the Department of Revenue, toll free: (866) 859-2254 or (406) 444-2830 (hearing impaired only). If you are in the Helena area, call (406) 444-6900.  Or, visit the website at revenue.mt.gov

Organizers of a conference at Montana State University are seeking female professionals who can present and serve as role models for junior high-aged girls interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. The annual conference, called Expanding Your Horizons, takes place Saturday, April 11, 2015 on the MSU campus. More than 200 girls from throughout Montana will participate in engaging STEM activities ranging from robotics to fossils to astronomy.
 
Volunteers who would like to share their expertise and enthusiasm on a STEM topic will develop a 40-minute workshop and hands-on activity. Training is offered for new presenters. The event is designed to expose young women to exciting STEM careers and encourage them to pursue STEM courses in high school and college.
 
Businesses and organizations that are interested in financial or in-kind sponsorships are also encouraged to participate.
 
EYH is a national program that, since 1992, is hosted locally by MSU Extended University’s outreach program.
 
The deadline for applying to be a presenter is Jan. 22. Contact Nicole Soll with MSU Extended University at (406) 994-6633 or Nicole.soll1@montana.edu or visit http://eu.montana.edu/ContinuingEd/youth/ or http://bit.ly/MSUEYH.

The Bozeman Public Library Foundation is seeking nominations for the 7th annual Cornerstone Award.  This award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to literature, libraries, and learning in the Gallatin Valley and is presented annually at the Cornerstone Celebration: Honoring Arts and Ideas during National Library Week.  This year’s Cornerstone Celebration will be held on April 18, 2015.
 
The award was created in 2008 as a way of honoring those who have supported and helped build the rich cultural community enjoyed by residents of the Gallatin Valley.  “The Cornerstone Award has become a coveted honor, recognizing people who share the Foundation’s vision of the Library as a ‘cornerstone of our community’s high quality of life’.” said Paula Beswick, Foundation Director. “We are eager to gather nominations for the many worthy individuals among us who fit this description.”
 
The inaugural award was presented to former Country Bookshelf owner Mary Jane DiSanti in April of 2009.  Broadcast journalist and producer George Cole was the recipient in 2010 for his tireless advocacy of the library, and his continued commitment to fostering a sense of community through thoughtful and interesting civic dialogue.  Alan Kesselheim was the well-deserved winner of the 2011 award for his 20+ years of volunteering with the Library as a member of the Friends, a Trustee, a Foundation board member, and an acclaimed author of over nine books. The 2012 award went to Jan Zauha, Montana State University reference librarian and professor for her passionate commitment to bringing books, literature, and discussion to our community, as well as her continual promotion of public libraries. David Quammen, author of the critically acclaimed book “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic,” was the recipient of the 2013 award for his life contributions to literature, the library and local learning.  April 2014, Jack and Barbara Kligerman received the first joint award for volunteering at the library for the past 11 years, participating in multiple book clubs and offering classes in music and literature for Wonderlust, a program of Montana States Extended University.  As a dynamic duo, they have spent hours organizing and participating in readings at the Library featuring literary greats such as Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Mark Twain and Shakespeare.
 
Nominations are encouraged and welcome from the general public. The award is open to any Gallatin Valley resident, past or present, whose personal and/or professional experience is deemed relevant to or inherently connected with the Bozeman Public Library.  Nominations will be received beginning on January 1, 2015, through March 6, 2015.  For complete guidelines
and an application form, please visit the Bozeman Public Library website at www.bozemanlibraryfoundation.org, or contact Development & Programs Manager, Sarah DeOpsomer at 582-2425.

Bridgercare is offering free consultations with a Certified Application Counselor to enroll in a health care plan through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.
 
Are you confused by the Affordable Care Act?  Worried you will be fined, because you haven’t applied for health care yet?  Overwhelmed by the different plans and the enrollment process?

The Affordable Care Act has enabled many Americans to finally receive the medical care they need, but the experience of finding and applying for health insurance can sometimes be confusing and overwhelming.

We’re excited to announce that our support staff are now Certified Applicant Counselors (CAC) trained to assist  anyone in the community with health coverage options through the Marketplace of the Affordable Care Act, including completion of eligibility and enrollment forms on healthcare.gov.  Bridgercare provides this service free of charge. We do not receive any benefit or commission for enrolling anyone and are prohibited from endorsing any insurance agency or specific plan over another.  We can give you information about your health care options and explain the different insurance benefits. Getting a free consultation does not require you to choose enrollment through the Marketplace.  However, if you decide to enroll, we will help you through the application process every step of the way.

How can you schedule your free consultation?
It’s easy.  Just call Bridgercare at 406-587-0681 and make an appointment with any of our front desk staff who will be glad to help you.  Since all of our staff is trained, we will be able to schedule you quickly and flexibly.  Free consultations will be scheduled starting November 15th, aligning with the beginning of the open enrollment period for the 2015 plan year.

I’m not a current patient at Bridgercare - can I still schedule a consultation?
We offer this service to everyone, regardless of your patient status with Bridgercare.  As part of our overall mission to provide excellent, affordable health care, we are reaching out to anyone in our community who could benefit from this information and would like to take advantage of a trained CAC to discuss their health care options.
 
What should you bring to your consultation?
The initial consultation usually lasts about an hour and a half. It is helpful to have your login information with you, if you have already set up an account on the Marketplace website.  If you haven’t set up an account yet, we will help you do this during your initial consultation.  All you need is an email address.  If you do not have an email address, we can still enroll you via phone; just know that it will take a little longer.  You will need your social security number as well as your income information.  Any possible health care discounts are based on income projections for 2015, rather than your income from 2014. We can help with projecting your income as accurately as possible.  It is also helpful to bring a list of medications you are on and physicians you are currently seeing to ensure your new health insurance plan will cover them.  We will provide a complete check list of things to bring when you make your appointment.

What is the difference in using Bridgercare verses an insurance agency to enroll?
Because training for the Certified Application Counselors (CAC) is paid for by a federal grant and Bridgercare is a non-profit, we provide this informational service for free to our clients and any interested community members.  We are not associated with any insurance agency and will receive no monetary benefit for enrolling anyone in the Marketplace. This allows us to be neutral and simply help you understand your options and support you in whichever decision you make.  If you still have questions or would like more detailed information, feel free to call Bridgercare at 406-587-0681. We’re looking forward to speaking with you!

Trail users will notice something new starting in 2015. Local trails got a face lift over the holidays; it’s called the Extreme Totem Makeover. The Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) and volunteers replaced the way finding signs on the wooden totems at trail crossings and intersections around town. The totem signs include directional arrows to help trail users navigate the Main Street to the Mountains trail system.

The totems are an iconic part of Bozeman outdoor life. For years the totems and signs have been mismatched or damaged. With a fresh new design by Molly Stratton Design, the signs will be cohesive and accurate for trail users to easily identify as they use the trails. The trail system has over 90 totems with multiple sides which equates to over 500 signs that needed replacing.

Do you have a favorite totem sign or trail? Looking for that perfect gift for a friend? Or just want a special piece of Bozeman history? Old signs are available for a small donation to GVLT at the GVLT office, 212 South Wallace Suite 102.

Thanks to all the volunteers who made the Extreme Totem Makeover possible!