Over 400 colonies of approximately 45,000 Hutterites live in Western Canada, Montana, the Dakotas and other various places. Many look at the Hutterites with awe and fascination. Their traditions, old-fashioned ways, communal lifestyle and Hutterish accent set them apart from the rest of us, but little is known about them.

Some may inaccurately depict them on tv shows and in paperback romances. Many will say one thing, yet others will say something different. Really, few know.

Nine ex-hutterites try to describe how life really was for them in their book Hutterites: Our Story to Freedom ( available online or in bookstores).

Each tell his or her story through their own eyes. They relate their struggles and victories, and their ultimate discovery - Jesus Christ.

Most of The Nine are related by blood or marriage. All left because of their faith, and some were excommunicated and forced to leave their homes in Manitoba and North Dakota. Most of the Nine live in the States now.

Though life does vary from colony to colony, they expose the basics of a Hutterite life. Some may think their story is too harsh and unjust, or overly dramatized, but those that are familiar with the Anabaptists will see just how real their stories are.

The Nine share how they each were able to find a fulfilling life, and use the gifts and talents they were given to please God, others, and still be joyful and satisfied. They take pleasure in being creative with their time and dress, and consider the little things we take for granted miracles, such as swimming, horseback riding, driving or shopping.

As they explain in their book, the jobs that each one is assigned for life in the Hutterite colonies depends on their status or relationships with those in charge. Jason Waldner, one of the nine, had always been interested in construction and graphic-design. He was not consulted or asked what he wanted to do with his life, but assigned to work in the chicken barns. Not that this job in and of itself was bad, but it was not something that fit his personality or interests.

But, as they will say, these weren’t the only reasons they left. Far from it. They said “Many youth leave to work and make money, and find freedom, and soon return.Without Jesus, you won’t have a successful life anywhere.”

The book tells how the Hutterites aren’t what they started out to be. In the 16th century, Jacob Hutter, their founder, travelled and preached, and was burned to death for doing so. Nowadays, the Hutterites do not try to share the gospel, and most consider themselves holyier than the “English” world. Also, the early founders were against drunkenness, and this now is very common among the Hutterites.

Their book is a heartfelt plea that should be heard and appreciated. They want others - Hutterites and non-Hutterites - to know that there is always another way. Sometimes it may take great sacrifice and perseverance, but in the end it is well worth it.

They hope that you will be encouraged, and maybe even be inspired to help others.

When asked if many leave the Hutterites; “Yes, especially in the last decade” said Sheryl, Karen and Cindy Waldner, three of the nine. “Two families left just this last couple of weeks.”

There will be some that will be bothered by the Nine’s decision to press a lawsuit against one of the colonies. They said “We did everything we could biblically. We tried to talk to them, but they would not listen. And already they had made it very clear that they did not want to be our brethren. We felt that we could make them hear us in the courtroom.”

According to the Bible, it is wrong for one Christian to sue another Christian. We should be more willing to be hurt ourselves rather than to hurt another. That is where much trouble comes. Who is or is not a Christian? A brother or sister in Christ?

If we remember the parable of the Good Samaritan, we should treat all good..not just those that are similar to us, or even just those that like us.

Also in the story of Cain and Abel, Abel never did anything back to Cain. It was Cain who killed his brother and said “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Something evil never makes up for many good deeds. And, yes, maybe the Hutterite life is not fair, but if one chooses it, it is their life, and they should be allowed to live how they see best for themselves and their family.

Despite their mistakes, you can see that The Nine are trying to serve their Lord with all their might. Besides reaching out to those here, they have traveled to Liberia to help the people there. They are active in their ministry and church. Their utmost goal is to bring peace and freedom to everyone.

The Nine also stress the importance of forgiveness. They say that they hold nothing against their Hutterite friends. In fact they say that they did learn many good things from the Hutterites, such as working hard and cooking well.

“No, it was God’s plan for us to be born there” they answered when asked if they felt their time with the Hutterites was wasted. “Even though we may not understand His reasons, it was God’s specific plan for us.”

To get the other side, I called a Hutterite relative in Manitoba. When asked what his opinion was on how the Nine live their lives and why they left, he answered “I have no association with them. They left and made their decision. You would have to ask them why they left.”

They are currently working on their second book Since We Told The Truth which will be available in bookstores and online July 1.

The Nine are having a book signing in Bozeman at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, May 10, 2pm-4pm. If you have any questions, or just want to see them, be sure to stop by.

Visiting Bozeman's new teahouse will bring instant calm to anyone walking in. No one is in a hurry in Townshend’s Tea and the relaxing vibe is pervasive. The open and inviting room smells earthy and herbal and there is an assortment of vintage chairs seating hip-looking Bozemanites sipping various brews. This shop is the Bozeman offspring of a popular Portland tea shop. Connection with the Oregon locations give Townshend's access to more teas, better prices, and a house line of kombuchas. Scott and Melissa Herron, the husband and wife team who own and operate the shop, provide a local flavor that makes the teahouse feel right at home in downtown Bozeman. 

Walking up to the counter and scanning the wall filled with many different varieties of bulk teas can be intimidating. So can the 20-page menu filled with numerous categories: black, green, white, oolong, rooibos, chai, máte, herbal & apothecary, kombucha, and bubble teas. Luckily the warm, helpful staff is there to help you make an informed decision. If you are, say, looking for something simple, like an Earl Grey or English Breakfast, they have it. If you are looking for something a bit more complex, possibly a specific chai blend or an exotic Chinese varietal, the Townshend’s staff is more than happy to help you find what you are looking for.  Scott and Melissa have put in solid work helping their staff understand the lengthy, and possibly daunting, menu. They are also both at the shop during business hours if you have a particularly esoteric question.  

Another way Townshend’s ensures you know what you are ordering is the wall of smell-able samples. Each of the drinks on the menu has a number. The number corresponds to a small glass jar with the tea components in it. I can easily imagine myself coming here in the winter to check out their apothecary teas in an effort to find relief from the inevitable cold.
 
Scott, Melissa and the staff are more than happy to give you an in-depth understand of what you order. After asking about brewing techniques I was given a detailed description of the specific times and temperatures that the different teas require.  Any time an establishment pays that much attention to the little details, you can be assured that the product you are drinking is top notch.
 
On my first visit I tried two of the Brew Dr. Kombucha flavors; Lemon Ginger Cayenne and Superberry. The Lemon Ginger Cayenne had excellent bright lemon rind and ginger spice with a hint of red pepper from the cayenne, and none of the searing heat normally associated with the spice. The Superberry tasted strongly of sweet, fresh, dark fruits with a pleasant offsetting acid. Both of the kombucha varieties I tried had an excellent balance of sweet and acid that is commonly lacking in most store bought kombucha. On my second visit I tried two of the chai varieties on offer; Masala and Yerba Máte. Both were head and shoulders over comparable chai offerings from other coffee and tea shops I’ve visited over the years. There are numerous dairy and non dairy milk options for the milk component of the chai, from whole milk to coconut to almond.
 
The laid-back vibe of the shop makes it a great place for quick business meetings, informal dates, writing the great American novel or, alternately, a convenient spot to break up with your significant other, (“Don’t make a scene!  We’re in a tea shop!”).  It offers a nice alternative to the many coffee shops that populate the area. With the knowledgeable and dedicated owners and staff, excellent selections, and high quality products, Townshend’s Tea, (named after the author of the act that precipitated the Boston Tea Party,) is an excellent addition to the growing downtown strip.

National Trails Day: Every year, GVLT participates in a nationwide event called National Trails Day. On June 7th, Bozeman community members will volunteer their time to work on the Main Street to the Mountains Trail system.  This year’s volunteer work projects include new trail construction at Highland Glen Nature Preserve and family-friendly trail resurfacing around Lindley Park. Volunteers will meet at 9:00am at the Lindley Park Pavilion to get tools and trail assignments.

Projects will wrap up around 12:00 and lunch, donated by Baja Fresh, will be served at the pavilion at 12:30pm.  There is no registration necessary for this event and it is free and open to the public.  Volunteers are asked to bring sunscreen, layers for weather, sturdy shoes, hat, and gloves. GVLT will provide some tools, but if possible volunteers are asked to bring shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows.

Many thanks to generous sponsors: Rocky Mountain Credit Union, 360 Pet Medical, Allegra Marketing, Amatics CPA, Baja Fresh, Crowley Fleck Attorneys, McKinstry, Stockman Bank and others.

Longest Day of Trails: Join GVLT supporters for a dawn-to-dusk biking celebration on June 20th.  The event kicks off at Montana Aleworks with guided bike rides throughout the day on various town loops from sunrise (6:00am) to sunset (9:00pm).  Rides vary in ability and length. Spin around the Main Street to the Mountains trails for a few miles, a single loop, or the entire day. $35 GVLT memberships are encouraged for participants.  Members receive gift certificates to a number of other local businesses at the event. From 4pm-10pm, riders and onlookers will enjoy music from Jawbone Railroad and outside dining at Aleworks.

For more information on either of these upcoming GVLT events, please contact EJ Porth at ej@gvlt.org or 406-587-8404 ext. 8.

Bozeman just officially gained its first new park using the Trails, Open Space and Parks bond funding. In December 2013, the Bozeman City Commission unanimously approved using approximately $600,000 funds from the Trails, Open Space and Parks Bond to purchase nine acres of land just north of Bozeman Pond Park. Yesterday the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) sold the land to the City of Bozeman.

Recognizing the land as critical open space in an underserved and quickly growing part of town, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) purchased the land in December using financing from The Conservation Fund and privately raised funds. GVLT filled a unique role in this transaction by stepping up to swiftly purchase the land, which had other offers from residential developers, and aligned partner nonprofits to help create even greater public benefit. HAVEN has purchased 3 acres of the 12 acre parcel as a site for a future new shelter for domestic violence victims. Run Dog Run has agreed to create a fenced, off leash dog park on another portion of the park.

What’s next? The City of Bozeman has taken over ownership of the property as a city park. GVLT will remain an integral part of the next stages of the design and planning process and has long held a vision for trail and park connections in the area of Bozeman Ponds to provide recreation, transportation, and safe non-motorized routes to schools and other community services.

The City of Bozeman’s Park and Recreation Advisory Board has begun coordinating the master planning process. A public survey will be released in May and two public meetings will be held at City Hall on May 20 and May 27. The community is encouraged to participate and provide input about the development of the new parkland. An additional $400,000 of Trails, Open Space, and Park Bond funds have been allocated to improve the parkland for public use. GVLT, Run Dog Run, and other partners have matched a total of $130,000 privately funded dollars to create additional improvements in the park.

Current proposals for the park include a natural area, paved and natural surface trails, stream enhancements, picnic facilities, and a natural playground. It will also include a paved parking area and restroom facilities. Additional acreage will be dedicated to a fenced off-leash dog park. Trails will connect the current park with the newly acquired park land totaling a combined 24 acres, to create one of the largest city parks in Bozeman.

The public is invited and encouraged to participate in the master planning process. Kelly Pohl, Associate Director of GVLT, says “we’re excited that this project is moving forward so quickly. We anticipate that this park will be the first TOP funded projects that the public can use and enjoy.”

For questions or comments, please call Penelope Pierce at 406-587-8404 ext. 5 or penelope@gvlt.org.

Big Sky Resort Golf Course opens for public play Friday, May 23, 2014, along with the Bunker Bar and Grill. The 18-hole Arnold Palmer designed resort course is the closest Montana golf course to Yellowstone National Park’s West Entrance. Big Sky Resort Golf Course hosts seven tournaments, women’s and men’s clinics and offers online tee time booking.

“The course crew has done a fabulous job bringing the golf course out of its winter slumber,” says Mark Wehrman, PGA Head Golf Professional at Big Sky Resort Golf Course. “The greenside bunkers have all been upgraded with lighter quality sand and the fairway bunkers will be completed this year.”

Course tournaments will increase this summer with the new Two Player Spring Draw Tournament on Saturday, June 7, 2014 which is a 27-hole tournament with the first 18 holes as a Two Player Better Ball and the last nine holes as a blind draw partner scramble. The season long Match Play tournament signups begin opening day for a 32 player field and each player is guaranteed two matches.

Wehrman coaches 13 weeks of golf clinics with the Saturday clinic open to all at 12:00pm, Ladies’ clinic each Tuesday at 10am or 5:30pm and Men’s clinic each Wednesday at 5:30pm. Drop-ins welcome and discounts are available when purchasing the 13 week clinic series. Wehrman also provides quick golf tips via YouTube at Big Sky Resort Golf with new tips being added throughout the summer.

“I believe in building upon the natural swing and ability of the golfers who take my clinics,” said Wehrman. “I don’t overload my student with too much information. Swing and shot diagnosis will be made through ball flight tendencies, divot examination and a strong focus on the fundamentals. I explain what they need to do, to improve, and how to execute it. It’s about the long-term enjoyment of the game through short-term results and success.”

Big Sky Resort Golf Course received the 2012 GRAA Top 50 Range in the Public Category award and Wehrman received the PGA Horton Smith Award recognizing PGA Professionals who are model educators of their fellow PGA Professionals. The golf course is 6,600 feet above sea level offering longer drives, spectacular views of Lone Peak, and winds along the banks of the West Fork of the scenic Gallatin River.
Contact the Pro Shop at 406-995-5780 or visit www.bigskyresort.com/golf for more information. Tee times can be made online at www.bigskyresort.com/teetimes.

Athletes and sports fans alike will benefit from the $3.2 million upgrade of the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse arena that begins in May. The renovation calls for a complete new running surface, upgraded seating, new sound system and venue curtains.

Mental illness is a worldwide epidemic that does not discriminate against anyone whose path it crosses. It could be seen as the high school student battling depression who feels that the only way to be heard is to search for his/her parent’s firearm. It could be the anxiety stricken neighbor who has been considering suicide for the past year. Or even your best friend, who is afraid that you will look at them differently if they tell you that they have been sad for a long time.

National debates continue to grow in regards to the public safety of children and adolescents within schools amidst the tragedy of shootings in Aurora, CO and Sandy Hook Elementary school. Not to mention the 13 school shootings that have ensued within the first 6 weeks of 2014.

The question is, what is actually being done to address this growing epidemic?

We need to take this opportunity to educate ourselves on an important piece of legislation that is being considered in Congress as we speak. It is called H.R. 320- Student Support Act.

The Student Support Act is a revision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The Bill states that if passed into law the Secretary of Education will match grants of up to $1 million for the additional hiring of school social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists across the nation. The purpose of the addition is solely to aide in the support and wellbeing of children and adolescents suffering with a multitude of mental health issues. Across the nation, the current average caseload of children to support staff is 471 to 1. If passed, the additional funding will cut the insufficient ratio by nearly half.

The Surgeon General of Public Health and Human Services has found that one in every ten children in the United States is suffering with a mental illness. Of that, only one in three are receive the treatment needed to help them succeed. The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) suggests that one half of chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14.

Some would argue that the passage of this Bill would be costly on taxpayers, however the American Medical Association found that with the rise of individuals with mental health concerns from 1996 to 2006, the projected cost of care went from $35 billion to $58 billion. If that trend continues, it will cost American’s $81 billion in 2016 to fund the treatment of mental health disorders as opposed to the $1 million to aide it its recovery.

We sit in front of our televisions at night hearing about the latest school shootings and feel such sorrow for those who have been affected. We discuss it almost as if it has become a normal occurrence in our society as we stride along throughout our day. We hear the latest reports as the days pass, hoping that events so horrendous never happen to the 22,393 K-12 students who reside within Gallatin County.

But how do we know it won’t? How do we know that our schools are sufficiently staffed with those who have been trained to work with student’s anger, frustrations, and anxieties?

Now that you know what mental illness looks like, what resources could be available, and how much we would be saving in long run, I encourage you to act.

Timing is everything and the time to act on behalf of our Montana children and adolescents is now.

The month of May begins Mental Health Awareness Month. I encourage you to learn one new thing about mental illness and pass it along to just one person. Pass along the fact that NAMI-Bozeman holds a connection support group every month. For more info call Alicia at (406) 600-8102 or (406) 994-9134. Or become an advocate for the importance of this issue by taking 5 minutes out of your day to contact our Montana Representatives and tell them that you are in support of H.R. 320. Follow this link to find our state Representatives and Senators contact information. If you or someone you know is suffering in silence with a mental health disorder, know that you are not alone. There are fellow community members that care and want to help.

Interchange is a festival inspired by a series of chaos and imperfect moments. We all have closets, stories and social trauma. The profiled, the homeless, veterans, rape victims, being gay/transgendered, being bullied or telling someone you may die. We all have it. It’s the alternative to pushing away for fear of un acceptance. This year our topics include Racism, Human Trafficking, Women’s Rights, Homelessness, Veterans and the LGBT movement. This June 25-29, we’ll feature a Film Festival, Leadership Summit, The Remix Runway Show, Parade, Garden Party and Concerts featuring Paul Oakenfold, People Under The Stairs and more!
 
Check out our Kickstarter campaign “Planet Of Misfits”: This is a social investment and we risk the wages of obsession. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and acknowledging that our greatest fear is what we desire most.  Like a kaleidoscope, we find the wonderfully complex grey area and smother ourselves in it.  The wallflowers. If we invest in social experience and develop empathy into our leaders, into everyone, we all learn, we all win. www.iaminterchange.com/kickstarter

The Sewing Academy On The Road is a traveling series of workshops on 19^th century dressmaking and Living History research & interpretation techniques.  These workshops will cover a variety of wardrobe construction techniques, demonstrations and hands-on instruction as well as take home materials. You may take one session or take them all. Please visit http://www.thesewingacademy.com/workshops/1890smt/ to register for workshop sessions.

Registration deadline is May 1, 2014.  MOR Living History Farm volunteers receive a discounted fee for this program.