Community Briefs: New chair at The Bray, students honored, events and more
New board chair at The Bray
Brooks Oliver is the new chair of The Bray board of directors.
He is an assistant professor of ceramics at the University of North Texas and a studio artist based out of Denton, Texas. He completed a long-term residency at The Bray.
"I am beyond honored to continue my board service as chair," he said in a news release. "The Bray is an amazing and transformative place and there is no other organization that I would more willingly serve and give my time to."
He said the Bray provided him with a safe space where he could experiment and dive into independent research while also being part of a supportive and collaborative artistic community.
"The experience taught me how to navigate life as a professional artist and introduced me to a wonderful community of makers and creative minds," Oliver said.
In 2017, he was named an Emerging Artist by the National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts. He received degrees from The Pennsylvania State University, Southern Methodist University and Syracuse University.
He taught in Jindezhen, China, in 2016 with West Virginia University and regularly teaches workshops in and out of university settings.
Boyce receives founders' award
Trinidy Boyce has been awarded the Montana Learning Center Founders' Scholarship.
Boyce, a sophomore at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, is pursuing a major in aerospace engineering with a focus on space exploration, satellites and rocketry. She is also earning a minor in propulsion, with ambitions to contribute to NASA or SpaceX's mission of space exploration.
The $5,000 MLC Founders' Scholarship, supported by Merrilee Alexander Kick, the Helena entrepreneur behind BuzzBallz cocktails, honors outstanding MLC students. Candidates are recognized for their critical thinking, passion for STEM, and leadership qualities, as well as their potential to create innovative ideas that can positively impact the world.
Kick established the scholarship in honor of her parents, Gil and Marilyn Alexander, award-winning science educators who founded the precursor to MLC, the Montana Science Institute, in the mid-1980s.
Boyce's journey with MLC began in 2017 as a seventh grader. She returned each summer, becoming a Scholar in 2022. Her participation in the Montana Aerospace Scholars program, an initiative developed by MLC in partnership with NASA, proved pivotal in setting her on her current academic path. Through MAS, Boyce earned opportunities to visit Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she decided to pursue her aerospace engineering degree.
"Participating in the MAS program set me on the path to aerospace engineering," said Boyce. "Without the MLC, I wouldn't be at Embry-Riddle. I cannot thank the MLC and its supporters enough for all they've done to shape my future."
Ryan Hannahoe, executive director of MLC, praised Boyce's achievements.
"Trinidy has been an invaluable part of the MLC community for years," he said. "We are thrilled to see her receive this well-deserved honor and look forward to continuing to support her as she pursues her dreams."
The MLC Founders' Scholarship will be presented at the annual fundraiser, An Evening Under the Stars, on Sept. 28.
For event details, visit the MLC website or contact Hannahoe at .
Nelson welcomed to Oro Fino
Linda McCurdie Nelson of Clancy was installed in Oro Fino Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution at a September ceremony.
Chaplain Melinda Russell led the ceremony, Regent Gale Kramlick presented a gift bag containing a DAR pin, yearbook and other membership papers, and Registrar Jane Lee Hamman gave Nelson's lineage from Patriot George W. Stewart of Virginia that was approved by the society's genealogists and national board.
Oro Fino Chapter, a nonprofit and nonpolitical service organization in the four-county area of Broadwater, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark and Meagher, is one of more than 5,000 chapters in the US and 14 other countries comprised of descendants of the American Revolution who are dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. To learn more, see or www.dar.org .
DesRosier gets gold star at The Citadel
Carson DesRosier of Helena is one of the more than 620 cadets and students at The Citadel recognized for their academic achievements during the spring 2024 semester.
Gold stars are awarded to those who achieved a 3.7 grade point average or higher. They are also placed on The Citadel's dean's list.
Those cadets may wear gold stars on their uniforms throughout the semester following their academic achievement.
The Citadel, located in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a classic military college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction.
Shields get grant from PEO
Helena-based P.E.O. Chapter BK recently hosted a reception for East Helena resident Isabella Shields, a student in the Helena College Cosmetology Program.
Shields was awarded a $3,100 grant from the Program for Continuing Education to help her to meet her educational goals.
PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) has been celebrating women helping women reach their educational goals for more than 155 years. Since its inception in 1869, the nonprofit organization has helped more than 125,000 women by providing nearly $432 million in educational grants, scholarships, awards and loans. The Sisterhood also owns and supports Cottey College.
To learn more about P.E.O., visit peointernational.org .
How will you vote in November?
The League of Women Voters and Lewis & Clark Library are co-sponsoring "Do You Know What You're Voting For?," which explores the implications of CI-126, CI-127 and CI-128.
The event is 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at 120 S. Last Chance Gulch. The public may attend. This is a hybrid meeting, both on Zoom and in person. Register in advance for this webinar at .
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The in-person event is at the library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch.
CI-126 would create an open primary system in Montana, allowing voters to choose any candidate on the primary ballot regardless of the candidate's party affiliation.
All candidates would appear on one ballot in June rather than separate party ballots, with the top four candidates for each office going on to the general election in November.
CI-127 would require that the winner of the general election receive a majority of the votes – more than 50%.
Frank Garner, a former Republican state representative from Kalispell and board member with Montanans for Election Reform (a coalition of Republicans, Democrats and third-party advocates), will speak in support of the two initiatives.
Speaking in opposition to these two initiatives will be former Republican Montana legislator and Bozeman attorney Matthew G. Monforton.
Betsy Brandborg, retired General Counsel of the Montana State Bar, will explain the effect of constitutional amendments generally. She will also discuss the reason that CI-128 is on the ballot. C1-128, if passed, would provide a right for women to obtain a pre-viability abortion.
Buddhist author to give public talk
Flowing Mountains Sangha, a community of mindful living in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, will sponsor a public talk by educator, psychotherapist, and Dharma Teacher Jo-ann Rosen at 7 p.m. Thursday at Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S. Oakes St.
Rosen is the author of "Unshakeable: Trauma-Informed Mindfulness for Collective Awakening." Her talk will focus on the neurobiology of mindfulness practice and how Buddhist practices within the Plum Village tradition established by Nhat Hanh affect emotions, which helps lessen our experience of suffering and increase our experience of happiness and peace. These practices offer "a firm foundation to meet the challenges of our times," according to Rosen.
Rosen became a Dharma teacher in 2012 and helps lead local sanghas in central California.
Grant teaches music, art to refugee kids
The United Church of Christ – Global HOPE team of Cleveland, Ohio, recently awarded the Outreach and Social Justice Committee of Plymouth Congregational Church of Helena a $7,380 grant to support music and art instruction for Helena's refugee children.
The funds come from the Refugee Community Program Seed Grant. Plymouth requested funds on behalf of the Helena Area Refugee Resettlement Team (HARRT) and in collaboration with the Helena public school system, volunteers, as well as instructors from the community.
After-school instruction began Sept. 19 and will continue for 10 weeks. If you have questions or interest in assisting with this effort, call Plymouth Church 406-442-9883 or Valerie Hellermann at 406-422-1199.
Input sought on Canyon Ferry uses
The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana is doing a study on recreation use at Canyon Ferry Reservoir.
It is hosting three virtual listening sessions next week to allow folks to learn more about the project, meet the research team, and gather insight.
This study aims to understand the characteristics of visitors and recreation at Canyon Ferry Reservoir and estimate visitor use of its day-use and overnight sites. Throughout the upcoming year (October 2024 - September 2025), ITRR will use a variety of research methodologies to gain a deeper understanding of visitor behavior and recreation patterns at Canyon Ferry.
Head Start fundraising event Oct. 3
The Rocky Mountain Development Council's Head Start Program invites the community to support their vital work at the Friends of Head Start Extravaganza fundraiser.
Festivities start at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Delta Hotels Helena Colonial, 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena. Tickets are $30 and available at www.rmdc.net .
This event features live music, hors d'oeuvres, a no-host bar and auctions, with all proceeds benefiting the Head Start Program.
Rocky's Head Start Program provides comprehensive early childhood development to low-income families across Lewis and Clark, Broadwater and Jefferson counties. The program aims to ensure that all children, regardless of their family's income, have access to the resources and support they need for vital early childhood development.
Contact Steven at or by phone at 406-457-7377 for more information.
Deadline nears for property tax rebate
Qualified Montana taxpayers have until Oct. 1 to file a claim for their 2023 property tax rebate.
The fastest way for taxpayers to claim the rebate is online at getmyrebate.mt.gov. Mailing a paper application form will add processing time.
This year's rebate claim application process has been streamlined. Rebates are being issued via paper check. Most electronically filed rebates are issued within 30 days of filing, while paper-filed rebates may take up to 60 days to process.
Intrepid helps foster kids
The Department of Public Health and Human Services recently received donations from Intrepid Credit Union and Toys for Tots that will help hundreds of children in foster care throughout Montana.
"We are extremely thankful for the generosity of these organizations," said Rob Lawler, coordinator of the Office of Faith and Community Based Services (OFCBS) at DPHHS.
Intrepid Credit Union, with offices in Helena, Bozeman and Billings, donated 83 large duffel bags, each containing a bear, blanket, coloring book, brus, and crayons. Lawler said the bags will be dispersed to DPHHS Child and Family Services Division (CFSD) field offices.
"The success of this project underscores the positive impact we can make in the lives of children when we all work together," said Kimberly Worthy, Vice President of People and Culture at Intrepid Credit Union.
Hasbro, one of America's largest toy companies, recently donated $1 million in toys to the Toys for Tots Foundation. Two truckloads of toys were delivered to Helena. One truckload of 26 pallets of toys was delivered to Family Services at the Montana National Guard at Fort Harrison. The other truckload of toys for children in foster care included 10,494 toys on 26 pallets, each stacked 8 feet high.
To date, toys have been distributed in Red Lodge, Lame Deer, Broadus, Baker, Wibaux, Sidney, Savage and Glendive. Lawler said he is arranging for more toy drop-offs at locations throughout Montana.
More information about OFCBS may be found on the Faith and Community Based Services (mt.gov) website page. The OFCBS is a DPHHS liaison to faith and community organizations across Montana.
The Montana 68th Legislature 2023 Session, SB 163, established a volunteer program within DPHHS to support the Child and Family Services Division. Those interested in registering with the OFCBS should visit the Child Welfare Volunteer Portal.
AARP has driver safety classes
An AARP Driver Safety class will be offered 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at First Interstate Bank; 2728 Colonial Drive.
Participants receive updates on the rules of the road and learn driving strategies to adapt to the effects of aging and to reduce chances of having a crash. This 4.5-hour course was developed for participants age 50+; but is open to all ages.
The course fee is $25 ($20 with AARP Membership Card). Auto Insurance Companies in Montana provide a multi-year discount to participants 55 years of age and older.
To register: 406-457-4712. Find more classes at aarp.org/driversafety .
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