April 14 - 27, 2017 Volume 8 // Issue #8 Resort tax meeting addresses ‘Penny for Housing’ failure Local freeriders finish season strong LPHS senior reflects on Nepal service trip Big Sky Resort puts a wrap on winter Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 #explorebigsky explorebigsky explorebigsky @explorebigsky ON THE COVER: Big Sky ski patroller, Jeff MacPherson, along with Leela, his avalanche rescue dog in training, enjoy the spring sun at Big Sky Resort on April 4. PHOTO BY WES OVERVOLD TABLE OF CONTENTS April 14 – April 27, 2017 Volume 8, Issue No. 8 Section 1: News Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana Resort tax meeting Opinion.............................................................................4 PUBLISHER addresses ‘Penny 11 Eric Ladd Local.................................................................................6 EDITORIAL Montana.........................................................................13 for Housing’ failure MANAGING EDITOR Tyler Allen Regional.........................................................................15 SENIOR EDITOR Amanda Eggert Section 2: Environment, Sports, Health & Dining Local freeriders ASSOCIATE EDITOR 23 Sarah Gianelli Environment..................................................................17 CREATIVE Sports..............................................................................21 finish season strong LEAD DESIGNER Business........................................................................26 Carie Birkmeier Health.............................................................................28 VIDEO DIRECTOR Wes Overvold Dining.............................................................................30 LPHS senior reflects VIDEO EDITOR Ryan Weaver Section 3: Outdoors, Fun & Back 40 on Nepal service trip 9 SALES AND OPERATIONS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Outdoors........................................................................33 Megan Paulson Fun...................................................................................47 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SALES AND MARKETING Big Sky Resort puts E.J. Daws Back 40.........................................................................48 39 a wrap on winter EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Section 4: Arts & Entertainment.................49 Alexis Deaton MEDIA AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Ersin Ozer Celebrate Earth MARKETING COORDINATOR Day on April 22 Amy Delgrande 3 DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR Doug Hare CONTRIBUTORS Mark Birkmeier, Bella Butler, Bobby Caina Calvan, Lucia Cherciu, Tyler Close, Jackie Rainford Corcoran, Jeff Daniels, Justin Felisko, Tom Holland, Sepp Jannotta, Tallie Lancey, Donna Lawson, Derek Lennon, Luisa Locker, Stephani Lourie, Shannon May, Anna McKay, Scott Mechura, Freddy Monares, Brandon Niles, Gabe Priestley, Cooper Raasch, Matthew Siebert, Patrick Straub, Marshall Swearingen, Nina Tucciarelli, Matt Volz, Eric Walnum, Jack Welty, Cody Whitmer, Todd Wilkinson, Ciara Wolfe, Jessianne Wright, Kristen Wyatt EDITORIAL POLICY Outlaw Partners, LLC is the sole owner of Explore Big Sky. EBS reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or its editors. EBS will not publish anything discriminatory or in bad taste. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters, and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to [email protected] ADVERTISING DEADLINE A sunny spring day offered the perfect opportunity to stroll along Big Sky’s Ousel Falls Trail on April 2. Sounds of flowing water and birds chirping are For the April 28, 2017 issue: surefire signs of springtime in the mountains. PHOTO BY SHANNON MAY April 19, 2017 CORRECTIONS Please report errors to [email protected]. Do you want to see your photography in the pages of EBS? Submit a maximum of three OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 images via email to [email protected] or use #explorebigsky on social media to be (406) 995-2055 • [email protected] eligible. One photo per issue will be chosen for the opening shot. © 2017 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited Explore Big Sky April 14 - April 27, 2017 3 FOBSE awards $46,500 in scholarships to Lone April is Fair Housing Month Peak seniors MONTANA BOARD OF HOUSING EBS STAFF April is Fair Housing Month, commemorating passage of the federal Fair Friends of Big Sky Education awarded $46,500 in scholarship funds to Lone Peak Housing Act as part of the 1968 Civil Rights Act. High School seniors on April 6 at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center. The ceremony was followed by an informal breakfast where scholarship sponsors could The Housing and Community Development divisions at the Montana meet the recipients of their scholarships. Department of Commerce work with property owners, landlords, developers and other private partners to make sure all the associated Twelve of the 18 LPHS seniors, with GPAs ranging from 3.0 to 4.2, applied for housing programs comply and continue to follow Montana laws. 28 of 29 available scholarships, all of which were awarded. Students garnered multiple scholarships amounting to funds ranging from $1,500 to $5,500. In acknowledgement of Fair Housing Month, the Montana Board of Housing recognizes three important housing actions: The scholarship donations came from more than 100 individuals, eight businesses, four foundations and four organizations in the Big Sky community, and were need - In 2016, the Montana Department of Commerce assisted approximately and/or merit based. They were either offered in a general category or in support of 9,000 individuals or families to access affordable housing through monthly specific disciplinary interests. rental assistance, homebuyer assistance and reverse annuity mortgages. “During this third year of the program, we found that the number of businesses and people in Big Sky who are eager to sponsor a scholarship or donate to one is - In April of 1968, Congress passed the federal Fair Housing Act. Its growing,” said Anne Marie Mistretta, who leads the Community Scholarship primary purpose is to protect people from seller or landlord discrimination. Program initiative with her husband Jerry Mistretta. “People are pleased with our graduates’ admissions to college, and they understand that a strong community - In Montana, housing discrimination is against the law. The Montana supports students.” Human Rights Act states that it’s unlawful to make decisions about housing based on a person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, Lone Peak High School anticipates 26 students will graduate in the class of marital status, age, disability or familial status. 2018 and fundraising efforts to replenish the FOBSE scholarships for next year’s graduates are already underway. Visit housing.mt.gov/fairhousing or call (406) 841-2840 for more information. To learn more about Friends of Big Sky Education, visit friendsofbigskyeducation.org. March for Science in Yellowstone part of Gardiner celebrates Earth Day with free music, worldwide protest barbecue EBS STAFF GARDINER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Michelle Ciotta, co-organizer of a March for Science event that will be held at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, estimates hundreds of On Saturday, April 22, area scientists, experts and community members will people will attend the April 22 march, based on the response she’s gotten celebrate Earth Day in Gardiner, Montana. from people employed in and near the park. Ciotta said she expects free admission to the park that weekend will also boost march attendance. Activities include a community cleanup; fast-paced talks about land, water and wildlife; as well as live music and a barbecue. Children can participate in face According to a press release from March for Science, more than 400 painting, crafts and a trash-sculpture contest. events will be held across the world on Earth Day to “defend the vital role science plays in everyday life, including in health, safety, economies and The event will be held in Arch Park, which was recently renovated and improved governments.” for the 2016 centennial celebration of the National Park Service. A rainy-weather backup location is at the Gardiner Community Center. Ciotta, who bartends at the Snow Lodge in Yellowstone, said she was inspired to organize the event by President Donald Trump’s climate Food will be available from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the form of a zero-waste barbecue change policies and spending priorities. “The budget cuts that were laid hosted by the park’s official concessioner, Yellowstone National Parks Lodges. forth by our president really took aim at the Department of Interior,” Ciotta said. She organized the event with Alexandra O’Connor, who New this year is soul-thumping music from Satsang, whose socially conscious lead works for the National Park Service in Yellowstone’s maintenance division. singer found inspiration for much of his creative energy in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains. The family friendly band has toured the U.S. and shared the stage with a Ciotta said she’s frustrated that Trump and his administration are