New West Network

My Page: Kerry McMannis

Travel

Most Missoula residents have done it at least once. Many do it multiple times a year. The eight- to 12-hour drive to Portland is a common ritual for our land-locked little community. So, with the holiday season unarguably upon us we thought we would put together a little guide of facts and suggestions for the familiar route. Click the still below to watch a short (about four minutes) travel video and read on for more tips for the trip.

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Election Aftermath

Missoula voters were not alone in their decision to de-prioritize adult marijuana offenses this month. The Garden City joins the ranks nine other western cities with similar measures -- possibly 10 if San Francisco passes one this week.

If the San Francisco Board of Supervisors gives it the nod, San Francisco will join Seattle, Denver, a slew of California cities and of course, Missoula.

On Election Day, Missoula County voters passed Initiative 2 with 54 percent approval. Missoula city and county leaders are still weighing options with how to handle the mandate and are concerned with some of the possible impacts on the community. [more]

elections

In this pivotal election voters in Missoula are happy to have a chance to exercise democracy.

There was no parking in a four-block radius around the Rattlesnake neighborhood polling station. The Linda Vista polling station was bustling as well with the after work crowd. In a random selection of voters leaving the Rattlesnake Middle School, the Iraq war and control of the congress were two of the issues on people's minds. At Cold Springs Elementary constituents weighed in on Initiative 2 and the Open Space Bond.

Click here to see the Rattlesnake polling station video.

Click here to see the Linda Vista polling station video.

06 Election

Montana's three big Democrats showed up for a late campaign stop on the UM campus last night. As Tester’s drive for the senate reaches its last turn into the finish line, supporters were treated to an adrenaline-boosting rally. Max Baucus, Brain Schweitzer and Senate hopeful Jon Tester filled the UC Theater to capacity while throngs of Tester supporters stood outside in the hall.

Click "more" below to see video of the rally. [more]

Growth and Development

If you want to have a say in the regulation of development around Missoula, here’s your chance. The Mayor's Office and the City Clerk's Office are taking applications for volunteer positions on the new Impact Fee Advisory Committee.

As growth continues to shape the landscape of Missoula County, appropriate allocation of resources is an integral piece of the development puzzle. Under Senate Bill 185, which legislators passed in 2005, local governments can impose fees on new development to help fund public infrastructure needed to support the development. State law requires that a local advisory committee meet when there are proposed amendments to impact fee ordinances or resolutions and thus, the creation of the nine-person committee in Missoula County.

The Mayor appoints seven committee members and the City Clerk's office appoints two. [more]

Housing and Development

In a world of pricey Prius’ and four-dollar-a-pound organic apples, “green” and affordable rarely seem synonymous. But it can be done, even right here in Missoula. A national award from the Home Depot Foundation recognizes Missoula’s homeWORD for its success in uniting economical housing with sustainable building.

“Our approach to designing and building is very holistic,” said Betsy Hands, Program Manager of homeWORD, “we’re paying attention to issues like indoor air quality and alternative transportation.”

HomeWORD won first place for its Orchard Gardens development in Home Depot’s Award of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly. Orchard Gardens breaks the curve with the addition of built-in food security and socially-inclusive design. The 4.6 acre property includes 35 rental units, a community barn, two acres of community gardens and the namesake orchard. [more]

A band. A building. Band rocks building. Building is burned down. This is the strange formula of the Burn to Shine film series produced by Fugazi's Brendan Canty. For its third installment, the series tried its recipe in Portland, Oregon. The result was twelve bands coming together for one day to rock under the evanescent roof.

The Big Sky Film series will be screening Burn to Shine, Portland, this Friday at the Wilma. The 55-minute documentary will show at 7 and 9pm in Wilma 3.

Canty along with director Christoph Green capture the bands playing in the living room of the condemned building and the subsequent demolition. The doomed structures provide a unique backdrop for showcasing a particular region's music scene. The Decemberists, including front man and Missoula icon Colin Meloy are featured in the documentary. The film also features performances by, The Thermals, Quasi, The Planet, The Wet Confetti, Lifesavas, Tom Heinl, Mirah, The Shins, The Gossip, The Ready, and Sleater-Kinney. [more]

Northern Rockies Bioneers '06

Sam Porter, the organizer of the Northern Rockies Bioneers conference talks with New West's Kerry McMannis about the growth of the Bozeman event, how it all got started and his hopes for the future.


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MISSOULA MUSIC SCENE

In the first leg of their Yell Fire! world tour Michael Franti and Spearhead rocked our little hamlet of Missoula.

“It’s inspiring to go to a place that’s not a big city, be there on a Tuesday night, and fill the house,” Franti said, “I find it really inspiring.”

The inspiration was flowing both ways. [more]

Montana Festival of the Book

There was a strong impression of community among the poets that gathered Saturday morning at the Missoula Art Museum during the Montana Festival of the Book. They read, laughed and told stories about their lives and each other.

Montana Poet Laureate Sandra Alcosser emceed the talk, joined by; Tami Haaland, Kim Anderson, Rick Newby, Beth Farris, Arlynn Fishbaugh, Lowell Jaeger, Megan McNamer, Mandy Smoker and Corby Skinner.
The audio is divided into a first and second act. For the first half click here, for the second half click here.