406 Woman Business VOL.18 No.4

One of Glacier Bank’s core objectives is to foster a strong sense of social responsibility in the communities it serves, empowering employees to pursue volunteer opportunities that are meaningful to them. When Kristen met Mark at a Kalispell Chamber event, she had already been looking for ways to get involved locally. His warm, encouraging nature immediately sparked her interest in learning more.

It was the culture of the Flathead Building Association that ultimately drew her in. “The focus of the Flathead Building Association has always been on connection— not only connecting homeowners with the professionals they need for their projects but also connecting members to one another. Executive Director Mark Freidline is a great connector,” said Kristen. “I’ve been impressed by the way the FBA creates

Kristen Hook 2025 Flathead Building Association Associate of the Year

By Mary Wallace

by Amanda Wilson Photography

Kristen Hook, a mild-mannered local mortgage loan originator at Glacier Bank, joined the Flathead Building Association in 2023. Since then, she has made a significant impact on the organization. According to Executive Director Mark Freidline, Kristen has an intuitive knack for showing up to volunteer exactly where and when she’s needed. She currently chairs both the Home & Garden Show and Parade of Homes committees, demonstrating her commitment and leadership within the association.

meaningful opportunities for members to network and learn from each other. From educational programs to networking events like Raise the Roof and Putt Putt Palooza, everything they do strengthens the bonds among local building industry professionals. It’s truly a close-knit group.”

Another key factor that resonated with her was the association’s forward-thinking approach to workforce development. By designing creative initiatives to encourage younger individuals and women to enter the trades, the Flathead Building Association is proactively addressing one of the industry’s most pressing challenges. Through strong collaboration between educational institutions and industry professionals, the association has outlined clear strategies to attract future talent and address local housing challenges.

The building industry is aging and facing a growing shortage of younger professionals. In response, the FBA has implemented new

membership tiers specifically designed for young professionals. These affordable introductory memberships create an accessible entry point for emerging tradespeople to join the association, showcase their unique skills, and be included in the registry of vetted and certified members.

Young members also gain access to a wide range of professional training opportunities, including GRIP training, CPR certification, scaffolding instruction, and other essential safety classes. New members are typically welcomed through the recommendation and sponsorship of a current FBA member, a process that helps maintain high professional standards while fostering the next generation of building industry leaders.

The FBA has also cultivated dynamic networking opportunities through its Young

New members are typically welcomed through the recommendation and sponsorship of a current FBA member, a process that helps maintain high professional standards while fostering the next generation of building industry leaders.

Professionals Group, Professional Women in Building Group, and ACE Mentorship programs. “It’s a lot of moving parts that seem to function seamlessly to keep the FBA viable and thriving,” said Kristen.

When she’s not championing the work of the Flathead Building Association, Kristen enjoys her role as a Mortgage Loan Originator at Glacier Bank. Before devoting her volunteer time to the association, she was actively involved in developing financial literacy classes focused on understanding credit and in facilitating workshops for first-time homebuyers and VA borrowers.

Kristen’s family includes her husband, Jeremiah, three wonderful kids, and their beloved red heeler pup. She loves skiing, floating the river on her paddleboard, hiking, and mushroom foraging. One day, she would like to learn to play piano. Having played hockey, she enjoys ice skating and has always thought it would be so cool to skate on Avalanche Lake. Mostly, she savors every minute on the sidelines at the kids’ ball games and watching them excel in school. She also loves watching them grow and achieve things, and her heart sings when she realizes they are learning to be kind and caring humans.

Kristen doesn’t usually wait to be asked—she just shows up wherever help is needed and jumps in whenever she can. One thing that drives her a little crazy? Hearing someone else say, “That’s not my job.” Her passion for pitching in and making a difference is downright contagious, inspiring everyone around her to do the same.

One FBA initiative Kristen is especially proud to share is Fix It Forward. This collaborative program is a joint effort of the Professional Women in Building, the Young Professionals Group, and the Flathead Building Association to provide small home repairs at no cost. Local building professionals generously volunteer their time and skills to make simple improvements that can have a lasting impact on a home—and on the people who live there. At its core, Fix It Forward is neighbors helping neighbors, one project at a time.

Lately, much of Kristen’s focus has been on the upcoming Flathead Building Association 2026 Home & Garden Show, scheduled for March 7–8 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

“The Home & Garden Show is so much more than just a gathering of building professionals. It’s an event where innovation meets inspiration,” said Kristen. “The show has grown tremendously over the past few years! We didn’t want to be limited by space, so this year we’re thrilled to expand into both the Trade Show and Expo buildings at the Fairgrounds. There will be more vendors, more food options, and visitors can enjoy all the benefits of a larger, more dynamic show!”

The Flathead Building Association’s Home & Garden Showcase connects residents with local builders, remodelers, and home service providers, offering ideas and inspiration for home improvement, landscaping, and construction projects. Hosted by the FBA, the event highlights products and services while

serving as a one-stop resource for homeown ers across Northwest Montana.

Find out about the 2026 Home & Garden Show, any of the Flathead Builders Association initiatives, or learn about the FBA Builder Connect or Fix It Forward programs at www.buildingflathead.com Glacier

t he Quiet Art of Beginning Again What Winter Teaches Us About Money, Meaning, and Renewal

By Jessa Ash, Investment Advisor –Fisher Investment Strategies

January in Montana carries a kind of stillness that feels almost sacred. The landscape softens under winter’s quiet weight, the sky lowers, and the mountains seem to pause. In this hush — this natural intermission between what has passed and what is yet to come — many people find themselves reflecting on their lives with a clarity that is harder to access in the rush of summer.

It is a season of beginning again. Not through resolutions or reinvention, but through awareness. Through the simple act of noticing what matters, what no longer fits, and what deserves more space in the year ahead.

Financial professionals often observe that this time of year brings a unique openness. People are more honest with themselves, more willing to examine their habits, and more ready to make intentional choices. According to fiduciary advisor Jessa Ash of Fischer Investment Strategies, this reflective season can be one of the most powerful moments for women to reconnect with their financial lives in a meaningful way.

Wi N ter A s A t e A cher

Winter has a way of slowing the world down. It invites rest, introspection, and recalibration. In that slower rhythm, many people begin to see their financial lives with fresh eyes — not as a list of tasks or obligations, but as an extension of their values, priorities, and identity.

This shift in perspective matters. It allows financial decisions to become less about pressure and more about alignment. Less about doing everything and more about doing what truly supports the life one wants to build.

Letti N g g o o F the Myth

o F the “Per F ect P LAN ”

There is a common belief that financial planning requires a flawless blueprint — a rigid, perfectly timed sequence of decisions. But life in Montana rarely unfolds according to a script. Weather changes. Work changes. Families change. Priorities evolve.

Financial planning is far more like tending a garden than constructing a building. It requires planting, pruning, adjusting, and trusting that small, consistent care leads to long-term growth. The goal is not perfection. The goal is clarity.

t he s tories We iN herit

Every person carries a financial story, often shaped long before they earn their first paycheck. Some grew up believing money was

scarce. Others were taught not to talk about it. Many were told they weren’t “good with numbers.” Some handled everything alone; others were encouraged to hand over the reins.

These inherited narratives influence decisions in ways that are often invisible. But they are not permanent. One of the most empowering truths FIS shares with clients is that financial stories can be rewritten at any age, in any season.

People need to remember that they are allowed to ask questions. They are allowed to learn. They are allowed to change direction. They are allowed to build a financial life that reflects their values and voice.

sMALL , Br Ave s te P s

t h At c re Ate r e AL c h AN ge

While major financial milestones often get the spotlight, the most transformative shifts usually come from small, intentional actions. These steps don’t require dramatic change — only presence and honesty.

s aving is an act of discipline. i nvesting is an act of hope. Asking questions is an act of empowerment. s etting boundaries is an act of self‑respect.

Some of the most impactful include:

• Clarifying personal priorities instead of letting circumstances dictate them

• Understanding cash flow to support intentional spending

• Reviewing accounts and beneficiaries to ensure they reflect current life stages

• Seeking clarity rather than carrying silent uncertainty

• Releasing guilt around past financial decisions

These steps create momentum. They build confidence. And they help move actions from reaction to intention.

Mo N ey A s A Mirror

Money often reflects what people value most — security, freedom, family, community, or stability. It also reveals habits, hopes, and fears. But it can be a powerful tool for practicing courage.

Saving is an act of discipline. Investing is an act of hope. Asking questions is an act of empowerment. Setting boundaries is an act of self-respect.

This is why financial planning is deeply personal. It is not simply about numbers; it is about self-trust.

Begi NN i N g Ag A i N With iN te N tio N

As the new year unfolds, Montanans are invited to approach their financial lives not with pressure, but with curiosity. Not with the expectation of perfection, but with the desire for alignment.

The most meaningful question may simply be: What do I want my life to feel like by the end of this year?

From that question, clarity emerges. Priorities sharpen. And the path forward becomes easier to see.

A s e A so N F or r e N e WAL

Winter reminds us that rest is not the opposite of growth — it is part of it. In the quiet of January, women have a rare opportunity to reconnect with their financial lives in a way that feels grounded, intentional, and deeply personal.

And with the right guidance, the year ahead can become not just another chapter, but a turning point — a season of renewal, confidence, and meaningful change.

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Angela is a Peabody award-winner and 25time Emmy nominee. She’s also chief creative officer of 9 Story media group. Now she’s out to leave a different kind of print on the world with her new book out this month, Radical Kindness: The Life-Changing Power of Giving and Receiving. It’s based off of her approach to living a healthier, more peaceful life.

“Kindness is at the foundation of every show I write. It’s how I approach my life, and it’s a world I want to live in,” Angela says. Kindness is an unsung hero and an invisible super power. It’s backed in science and research. It lowers stress levels and therefore helps cardiac health.”

Read on to hear Angela talk about the benefits of radical kindness, her honesty about feeling she has imposter syndrome and the inspiration for her hit TV shows. Then pick up a copy of her book to see why Deepak Chopra says (in the foreword), “Radical kindness is an important antidote to the poisonous times we are living in, and we can’t look to others to remedy things for us. Radical kindness begins

What Is Angela Santomero’s Secret To Success?

radical Kindness

Reprinted with permission Brianne Burrowes, I Want Her Job

Angela Santomero wanted to be a teacher. Then she had a thought: “Wouldn’t it be awesome to use the influential nature of media to educate kids?” And, off she embarked on a journey into creating children’s media.

She forever left her mark on children’s TV with the launch of the iconic Nickelodeon animated show Blue’s Clues , where she was co-creator, executive producer and head writer. She then continued to light up the minds of kids everywhere with her hit TV show, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood on PBS Kids.

with you. Realizing this has enough energy to revolutionize the way you live. Let Angela’s book help you to see how.”

What is your approach to creativity?

Creative first, and if there is a debate, then kids win. We know kids; we know what they love and what they need and then we play. Creativity is play at its best!

What is a day in the life of Angela like? h ow do you divide your time?

This is such a hard question! When I write and create I need to dedicate at least a whole day, sans meetings. It’s how I can recharge and think bigger about things.

Meetings are great for collaboration, but I believe in a creative-vision-first approach when it comes to content. So, the writing and big picture thinking needs time to percolate before and after discussions.

I also like to be home for dinner and spend time with the family. My girls are already 18 and 15 so time seems so fleeting!

h ow did you develop/co ‑ create Blue’s clues? What inspired you to develop a show so imaginary and exciting for children?

Blue’s Clues was a game show! It was an “experiment” to see if we could have kids learn by interacting with our characters. That’s why we ask kids at home so many questions — they are a main character in our show. Our goal was to create characters that kids will LOVE and to teach everything a preschooler needs to learn before they get to kindergarten.

t hen, after Blue’s clues, how did you come up with the idea for Daniel tiger’s Neighborhood?

I was the hugest Mister Rogers fan, so I was honored and thrilled (and terrified!) to promote Fred’s legacy and create a new show. I got to know Fred because we both studied child development and we both got into media to make it better. Daniel Tiger’s Neigh -

borhood is exactly how I played the show as a preschooler — all of the friends from the Neighborhood of Make Believe grew up and had preschoolers of their own. Of course, a preschool Daniel Tiger had to be the star! He was Fred’s first puppet, and my favorite!

What gave you the idea to do a different kind of writing, this time with your just ‑ released book, radical Kindness?

If we look at the world with kindness, we find the good in people and the world. We can also listen better, collaborate more and have better relationships. We can also focus on passion and intrinsic motivation vs. perfection and anxiety. I believe we need to shout about kindness from the rooftops and all pivot toward kindness if we want to see the change we want to make.

h ow would you describe the con ‑ cept “radical kindness”?

It’s seeing with your heart vs. simply seeing with our eyes. It’s leading with compassion, empathy and love vs. hate, anger and scare tactics. It’s finding a peaceful resolution where people are heard and accepted for who they are and what they bring to the world. It’s being vulnerable and real and always learning vs. searching for perfection. When kindness is at the root of all we do, we can make radical change.

What lesson do you hope a reader walks away with after finishing your book?

I hope readers and viewers of my PBS Pledge Show , The Power of Radical Kindness (check local listings) adopt radical kindness as a practice and incorporate it into their everyday lives. Just a little bit can go a long way. Think about how a tiny tack can take down a whole car. On the positive side, a tiny bit of kindness can change you and the world for the better.

As a mom of two, what tips do you have for fellow working moms?

Ask for help! It’s actually also a tenet of Radical Kindness. Asking for help doesn’t show weakness, it is imperative to our self-care. We can’t do it all. It’s a myth! I ask for help from other parents, my husband, my kids and outside help, as needed.

What is something about the work you do that might surprise us?

I still feel like an “imposter” – even after creating eight shows. Every new idea I have,

every new show or script I write, I bite my fingernails waiting for feedback on it.

What is an area of your business that is particularly exciting at the moment?

I love finding new writers, new voices and new stories that need to be told. I am also inspired by the truly interactive nature that media is taking that is innovative and breakthrough. I also love being part of the international market with our company. As CCO of 9 Story media group, I’m quite proud of the work we do, every day.

What advice do you have for others who want to work in children’s tv ?

Find your passion, do the work, get into media, do any job and scope it out. Be there, observe, understand kids and understand the media landscape.

What is something you want to learn more about?

Everything! I always have a pile of books I am reading.

Any other parting advice?

Be creative, innovative and lead. Don’t follow. I’m so proud that in a world where everything in media is getting a re-boot, I’m part of an original show that is now re-booted with Blue’s Clues

Being a follower is never as much fun and doesn’t yield as many rewards!

i believe we need to shout about kindness from the rooftops and all pivot toward kindness if we want to see the change we want to make.

i ’d love to have coffee with: Oprah. Michele Obama. Luke Perry.

t he books on my nightstand are: The Artist’s Way (by Julia Cameron) Dare to Lead (by Brené Brown) Becoming (by Michelle Obama)

My current favorite saying, or mantra, is: The Dali Lama said “Be kind whenever possible. It’s always possible.”

My favorite way to spend my day off is: Low key day with my girls and Greg.

o ne lesson i ’ve learned lately is: If you fall down, get up again!

i can’t live without: My AirPods. Music and mediation makes my travel so much better!

i feel my best when: I get a good night’s sleep!

The Further Adventures of

Stacey Ingham

2026 Edition

By Mary Wallace

Stacey Ingham might very well have it figured out: the key to a happy and successful career. “I just want my work to be in a place where I am working with people who are…well, off work.”

Her main goal is to make their guests’ leisure time at this new haven in the heart of Whitefish so inviting, so comfortable, so exciting, so relaxing, and SO delicious that their memories will bring them back again and again.

It’s almost as if Stacey’s whole life journey to date has been preparing her to be right where she is right now - which is back in her beloved Montana. Even she has to admit that her path was not exactly traditional.

Stacey has fond memories of growing up on the family farm in the Flathead Valley, doing all kinds of kid-friendly ranch things: sleeping in a stall, picking rocks in the field, riding horses. She attended college in both Arizona and Missoula, Montana, earning her degree in Business Management from the University of Montana. While attending school, she owned and operated Missoula’s Grizzly Bean Espresso in two locations (thoroughly enjoying having moments with people who were on their way to, taking a break from, or otherwise off work). She sold the business in her senior year so that she could focus on pursuing her upcoming career in finance. She had found herself intrigued by finance guru Tom Swenson, who was such a dynamic speaker in one of her classes that she found herself yearning to work for his company. Throwing caution to the wind, she called him, invited him to meet for lunch, and, at the tender age of 23, boldly announced that she would like to work for him. He invited her to start that afternoon and put her to work on a project involving a USDA application; she spent the

entire weekend getting it done. He hired her on Monday.

While she enjoyed the challenge of helping business owners secure financing for their projects, she eventually gave in to a desire to travel. While visiting her sister in Singapore and exploring many other places in Asia, she met a chef who made such amazing food that she naturally headed home to apply to culinary school in Fort Bragg.

One fateful night back home in Whitefish, she attended a party at a friend’s house and was invited to lend her newfound expertise to the evening’s menu: fish tacos. Tiffany Newman stepped in to help as well, and the two girls instantly bonded over their shared passion for creating culinary works of art and taste. Everyone else at the party faded back to witness their (according to legend) fish taco magic.

They soon found that their culinary styles both challenged and complemented each

other, and before they knew it, they had a partnership in a beautiful new sushiinspired food truck, aptly named Indah (which is Malaysian for the word Beautiful). There were all the usual struggles in the beginning, but Stacey and Tiffany’s love for what they were doing helped them coin the phrase, “Bank account empty/ hearts full!” Even so, their first summer season was decidedly a great success!

One of Stacey’s favorite things about their truck has been that it was designed so their customers could step right into the ‘Sushi Lounge’ and watch their food being beautifully prepared (once again connecting with people who were ‘off work’enjoying an event or an evening out with amazing food and great company).

One wonderful thing about a food truck is that it is mobile, so they headed South one winter, and Indah Sushi soon made as much

“ h ere i am, delighted to be in the heart of this amazing project and looking forward to what i love to do most ‑ working with people who are …well, you know…off work!” laughs s tacey, “ i couldn’t be happier!”

of a name for itself in Arizona as it had in Whitefish. Another change came when Stacey blew her knee out in a ski accident and couldn’t stand as an active chef, thus leaving Tiffany to run pop-up dinner nights with Indah Food Truck while Stacey spent her recovery in Montana. Fatefully, a Whitefish Mexican restaurant closed, and the property went on the market. The two partners were lucky enough to secure a lease and establish a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Whitefish. Indah Sushi is again thriving - with both a mobile and a full restaurant experience in Whitefish.

Along the way, Stacey enjoyed traveling as much as possible and realized she may have an opportunity to create a career in Costa Rica. With Stacey’s extensive background in real estate sales, development, commercial underwriting, in-depth financial analysis, hospitality, and restaurants, she created a business there, representing a small group of investors, analyzing and managing a real estate development project, and began spending time between Montana and Guanacaste, Costa Rica for a few years.

“I tend to trust in the universe,” she smiles, “I have nearly always just followed my passion, but I have learned to be flexible and nimble. If something becomes hard or seems clunky, maybe it wasn’t meant to be, and maybe I need to ask myself what I can learn from it. On the other hand, if an opportunity comes along and I trust in the universe and say ‘yes’, then find that everything just flows, it is likely that it was meant to be.

This past summer, when she was offered the chance to be an integral part of a new chapter of a design-forward hospitality project in the heart of Whitefish, she immediately packed her bags. “I am so excited and thankful to be back in the Flathead Valley and tasked with helping create the vision of the principal owners on this hotel project!” says Stacey.

Stacey is the new Director of Operations at Larch House, an independently owned luxury boutique hotel located in the historic Rail-

way District of downtown Whitefish, Montana. “It’s a 39-room hotel that features the design, location, sophistication, and quality of a traditional luxury hotel, yet operates somewhat in the manner of a private residence, with limited on-site management,” said Stacey.

Designed by Seattle-based architecture firm Olson Kundig, the 10-building project was conceived as both a gateway to — and a refuge from — the region’s snowy alpine landscape. With features that honor the area’s historic railway, each structure reveals a deliberate interplay of light and space, emphasizing the aesthetic interweaving of art, nature, and architecture.

“The buildings are breathtaking,” said Stacey, “With the floor-to-ceiling windows throughout much of the project, the landscape and lighting are incredible!” Situated at 304 East 1st Street in Whitefish, the property offers exceptional walkability to downtown Whitefish, the Whitefish River, and Whitefish Lake, giving guests direct access to the town’s most beloved amenities.

LARCH HOUSE

The Larch House blends the amenities of a boutique hotel with an unmistakable Whitefish, Montana spirit, balancing mountain adventure with the dining and nightlife of the town center and the warmth of nearby residential neighborhoods.

“Here I am, delighted to be in the heart of this amazing project and looking forward to what I love to do most - working with people who are …well, you know… off work!” laughs Stacey, “I couldn’t be happier!”

Her best advice? “Life is short, so do something you love.”

Larch House opened in late December for hotel guests and dining. The hotel comprises 10 buildings and features three restaurants: the main dining room - Enga; a speakeasythe Antler Room; and an intimate dining room for private partiesthe Oak Room. Plans also include a Spring opening for the new outdoor restaurant in the courtyard.

Enga is open daily from 4 pm, with dinner service from 5 pm to 9 pm. Watch for news of an Open House welcoming valley locals and travelers alike to tour the property and enjoy the ambiance, hospitality, libations, and culinary delights at Larch House. All are welcome!

www.larchhouse.com

sisters Around the World, Chapter Three The Heart of Healthcare

“The sun does not forget a village just because it is small.”

— African proverb

Sarah and I returned from nine days in Kenya’s Magadi region in March 2025 carrying unforgettable images: hundreds of teenage girls and women walking miles beneath the blazing sun—the teens eager to learn about their bodies and their health, and the women, resilient and hopeful, seeking knowledge to better care for themselves and their babies.

Magadi is a land of striking beauty and strength. But access to healthcare—or the lack of it—shapes quality of life here and often determines life or death.

When the opportunity arose to take a decisive next step—establishing a permanent healthcare facility in Magadi—we took another leap of faith, the same kind that first carried us to Kenya.

Fro M eD uc Atio N to Access

Sisters Around the World and Sisters Around the World: The Next Chapter tell stories of powerful connections among women in Montana, Washington, and rural Kenya, rooted in knowledge and empathy. Education is our superpower—honoring women’s fertility through dignity, prevention, and information shared woman to woman.

But education alone is not enough without access to care.

Since 2018, Team Agape Kenya and the Rotary Club of Sumner (Washington) have supported mobile health outreach throughout the Magadi region, reaching communities that otherwise had no access to care. Yet between visits—or when the jeep broke down, fuel was unavailable, or weather made roads impassable—illnesses went untreated, pregnancies went unmonitored, and injuries went untended.

Our strategic visioning session with public health promoters and nurses sounded a clear and unanimous call. Magadi needed

a centrally located, brick-and-mortar clinic that could provide continuity of care and serve as a hub for public health education and outreach.

The next chapter of our work began when that vision started taking shape. Partners in Kenya and Montana collaborated to build a clinic in the Maasai village of Kajiado, in remote Magadi country. Modest in size but ambitious in purpose, the clinic is designed to bring healthcare and hope to more than 8,000 people in surrounding underserved communities.

s te P B y s te P

Sarah and I are committed to growing the clinic responsibly.

Our team mantra, “One step at a time” is guided by our professional experiences, and the critical insights and wisdom of our Kenyan partners.

i n Magadi, access to care is not a convenience; it is survival.

Our clinic project priorities: hiring skilled local staff; equipping an exam room and laboratory; installing a solar array; constructing a security fence and locked storage; stocking essential medicines and supplies; purchasing a motorbike for emergencies and outreach; and planning for a maternity ward. Each step supports sustainability and reflects the clinic’s service capacity.

Progress has been swift! In March, Kajiado’s village Chief offered to lease his former office building and renovations began in April. The clinic saw its first patient in late May and by December had reported nearly 400 patient visits.

t he h e A rt o F h e ALthc A re

If you came to the clinic today, you would see patients sitting quietly on plastic chairs in a tiny waiting room. No humming machines, no long corridors, no glossy magazines. Many patients will have walked for hours—some of them all day—trusting they

will find someone to listen and treat them with compassion and skill.

This is the heart of healthcare in Magadi, and one of its most beloved names is Purity.

Purity is the clinic’s registered nurse. She rents a small place near the clinic so she can respond to calls day and night. She treats infections, delivers babies, tends wounds, and reassures anxious parents. Purity knows her patients—their families, journeys, and hardships. When someone comes to the clinic in the middle of the night, she answers.

She was weak, feverish, vomiting, and severely dehydrated. Asked her age, she said she had never known her birthdate, but thought she was “around 28.”

Purity immediately began treatment – IV fluids, antibiotics, and fever-reducing medication. When evening came and the woman was still too weak to walk home, a clinic volunteer offered the couple a place to sleep. The next day, compassionate clinic staff purchased the maize they had carried so far, ensuring food for the family.

One dark morning before dawn, a young woman and her husband began a 25-mile walk across the escarpment and over mountains. The husband carried a 65-pound sack of maize he hoped to sell to feed their five children. When they arrived at the clinic around noon, the woman could barely stand.

“Without care,” Purity reported, “she might not have lived.”

t r AN s F or MAtive

A clinic means access to care before infection spreads, before labor becomes an emergency, before treatable conditions become

Magadi

needed a centrally located, brick ‑ and ‑ mortar clinic that could

provide continuity of care and serve as a hub for public health education and outreach.

life-threatening. As CFF Director Andrew Mungai says, “In Magadi, access to care is not a convenience; it is survival.”

For women especially, healthcare costs are measured in more than money – in miles walked while ill or pregnant, lost income, and time away from their children. Too often, women delay care until they are in crisis.

A local clinic reduces these barriers and makes early intervention and education possible. When girls understand their bodies and women receive accurate information about pregnancy, hygiene, and illness, knowledge becomes a lifesaving resource. Access to skilled care makes that knowledge actionable.

By Western standards, the Magadi Clinic is modest. By community standards, it is transformative.

g e N erosity At the h e A rt o F h e ALthc A re

The heart of healthcare also beats in the generous hearts of friends in Montana and Washington—donors who give with compas-

sion, joy, and clear understanding of the extraordinary impact a U.S. dollar has in a place like Magadi.

The Rotary Club of Sumner Washington is enlisting neighboring Rotary clubs to fund a water filtration system for the new clinic—essential for safe deliveries, wound care, sanitation, and infection prevention.

In Montana, our steadfast champion and cheerleader, Steve Lull, has embraced this work from the start. Steve has engaged his philanthropic network wholeheartedly to expand our circle of friends and supporters. His personal generosity funded the clinic’s new motorbike and the entire solar array that now powers the clinic and laboratory.

Before Steve’s Solar installation, Purity treated patients at night by the light of her headlamp. Today, the clinic has ‘round the clock lighting, refrigeration for medicines, and power for essential equipment.

Steve’s great friend, Brogan Thomsen, stepped forward with equal enthusiasm and generosity. Thanks to Brogan, the clinic has a fully operational laboratory and skilled lab techni-

friends and supporters

cian, a water catchment system, and sustaining support for operations.

An anonymous donor made a transformative gift to build, equip, and staff a dedicated maternity ward—addressing one of the region’s most urgent needs and ensuring safer births, and preand post-natal care for mothers and babies.

These caring donors are the generous hearts of healthcare whose gifts are changing lives— for good, forever.

Sarah and I are deeply grateful for this opportunity and this work. It is a privilege to share what we have learned, to walk alongside these communities, and to help them lay the foundations for a healthier future.

Please visit www.teamagapekenya.org for project updates – and travel with us as the next chapter of Sisters Around the World unfolds!

With gratitude and love, Sarah Rolfing and Lucy Smith Team Agape Kenya

At Meraki Movement, we believe that exercise should feel nourishing—not punishing. It should support a lifestyle rooted in longevity, vitality, and alignment. And importantly, it should build community—because movement becomes more powerful, more sustainable, and more joyful when we do it together.

This is the heart of low-impact training, and why it is the future of women's wellness.

Low-Impact, H I g H -Rewa R d: tH e

Po W er o F r ege N er Ative Fit N ess

Low-impact doesn’t mean low intensity—it means low strain and high intelligence. Regenerative fitness is built on the principles of restoring, strengthening, supporting, and energizing the body in ways that enhance rather than deplete it.

Why LowImpact Training Is the Future of Wellness r eframing Workouts as r egenerative Movement

By Meraki Movement (www.merakimovementmt.com)

For decades, the fitness industry has celebrated “no pain, no gain” as the path to results. Many of us grew up believing that exercise must be intense to be effective, that sweat equaled success, and that the best workouts were the ones that left us exhausted. But as more women seek sustainable wellness, hormonal balance, nervous system support, and meaningful community, a new paradigm is taking center stage: regenerative, lowimpact movement.

r egenerative movement:

• reduces joint stress

• supports the pelvic floor

• increases mobility and stability

• strengthens slow-twitch muscle fibers

• trains posture and alignment

• minimizes inflammation

• improves recovery

Instead of pushing the body into fatigue, regenerative fitness builds it up. It creates strength that carries into everyday life—whether you're climbing stairs, skiing in the mountains, hiking trails, or simply getting through a busy day with energy to spare.

And this approach is especially essential for women, whose bodies rely on hormonal harmony—not chronic stress—to thrive.

h or M o N es, eN ergy, AND Low- c o R t I so L m ovement

Women today are overwhelmed with pressure—professional demands, motherhood, relationships, emotional labor, and the expectation to “do it all.” Many women are unknowingly living in a chronically elevated cortisol state, driven by stress, lack of sleep, under-eating, overtraining, or high-intensity exercise performed too frequently.

h igh ‑ cortisol patterns can lead to:

• burnout

• irritability

• hormonal imbalances

• midsection weight gain

• disrupted sleep

• fatigue

• irregular cycles

• decreased motivation

• supporting progesterone balance

• improving insulin sensitivity

• reducing systemic inflammation

• improving deep core and pelvic floor function

• calming the sympathetic nervous system

Women often notice better energy, improved mood, deeper sleep, and more consistent motivation when they shift away from constant intensity and toward intentional, controlled, low-impact training.

Move M e N t A s We LLN ess, Not Pu N ish M e N t

Traditional fitness taught us to approach our bodies with force—push harder, burn more, and earn your rest. But low-impact training reframes movement as wellness, a gift we offer ourselves rather than a penance for what we ate or how we feel.

Movement becomes:

• grounding rather than draining

• strengthening rather than stressful

• empowering rather than overwhelming

• presence-building rather than perfor mance-based

The slower pace and controlled patterns of low-impact training encourage a deeper listening. You feel how movement travels through the body. You notice subtle changes in alignment.

Low ‑ impact training reframes movement as wellness, a gift we offer ourselves rather than a penance for what we ate or how we feel.

You recognize where you hold tension—and where you release it. In this awareness, transformation becomes more than physical. It becomes emotional, mental, and energetic.

t he M A gic o F Movi N g i N c o MM u N ity: Better t ogether

One of the most powerful aspects of wellness is community. Humans are wired for shared experiences, shared challenges, and shared joy. At Meraki Movement, we witness this daily: people showing up for themselves but also showing up for each other.

Low impact fitness naturally fosters connection through:

• shared vulnerability ("we're all learning together")

• shared growth ("we’re getting stronger every week")

• shared accountability ("I’ll meet you at class")

• shared encouragement ("you inspired me today")

When we move together, something sacred happens. The room becomes a space of support, not comparison. The mission shifts from perfection to presence. Laughter, breath, effort, and release become the threads of connection.

In community, movement becomes easier—because you’re not carrying your wellness journey alone.

And accountability becomes natural—not forced—because being part of something bigger than yourself simply feels good.

Side by side, people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities move through a shared journey of strengthening and softening, challenging and restoring, grounding and expanding.

There is no deadline.

There is no “before and after.” There is only becoming.

This is the beauty of collective wellness: your strength reinforces mine, and mine reinforces yours.

A Future Bui Lt o N iN te N tio N AND Lo N gevity

Low-impact, regenerative training is not a trend—it is a return to what truly supports long-term vitality. It is fitness that considers hormones, joy, community, the nervous system, and the realities of modern life. It meets us where we are and helps us grow from there.

Instead of working against the body, let’s work with it. Instead of draining ourselves, let’s restore. Instead of isolating, let’s connect. Instead of punishing, let’s empower.

D y

wants them…but they happen

Sexually Transmitted Infections noB o

Written by Shawn Shanahan

Although sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) are preventable now more than ever, the number of persons in the United States with an STI has risen 13% to 2.2 million in the past decade according to the Center for Disease Control’s provisional data report of 2024. In particular, congenital syphilis, i.e. syphilis in a newborn contracted from its mother during pregnancy, has risen 700% in that same time frame. The high mortality rate in fetuses and newborns caused by the rise in syphilis constitutes a major public health emergency. Montana is not exempt from the rise in congenital syphilis and ranks among the highest states in prevalence.

There are over 100 species of viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause human STI’s. The single most common STI in the world is human papillomavirus (HPV). Some subtypes cause cancer of the genitals, anus or throat when the infection is persistent and not subdued by a strong immune system. Other subtypes cause warts. While symptoms of HPV can be treated, a cure does not exist. HPV is often detected on a routine Pap smear without any outward symptoms. There is not a male equivalent test to a Pap smear, so many men may carry HPV and unknowingly pass it on when not using barriers during sexual activities. HPV has an incubation period of 1 to 20 months before any symptoms may develop. The good news is that a vaccine is available to males and females ages 9-45 years old to prevent transmission of the nine most prevalent subtypes of HPV that cause cancer or warts.

Most STI’s are not legally required to be reported to the state health department or Centers for Disease Control for statistical purposes. Like HPV, a significant number of sexually transmitted in-

fections may be present without any symptoms initially. Chlamydia is the most common legally reported STI in Montana currently. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are reportable bacterial infections that respond to antibiotics once identified. However, if left unchecked, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease that may lead to hospitalization for intravenous antibiotic therapy or surgery. Due to the fact that sexually active youth are the highest risk population for these infections, the CDC recommends that all sexually active people under 25 be screened annually for chlamydia and gonorrhea either through urine, off a Pap smear, or from a cervical or vaginal swab available at health clinics. Annual physical exams provide a convenient time to have this screening done.

Hepatitis C is another STI that should not be ignored. It can be spread not only by sexual contact, but by sharing needles. Symptoms may include poor appetite, clay colored stool, nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain, fever, joint pain, dark urine, and jaundice – a yellowing of the skin and eyes. While

it may be carried long term without recognition, it can alternately damage the liver even leading to death. Therefore, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all adults aged 18 to 79 obtain a blood screening from their provider at least once.

Another population identified for routine STI screening is pregnant women. STI’s can cause serious, life threatening and even lifelong infections for babies of infected mothers. For example, syphilis can cause preterm labor resulting in the many complications for an immature newborn, and in a surviving infant it can affect the brain, eyes, ears, heart, teeth, bones and skin long term. Chlamydia and gonorrhea may also contribute to preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes leading to low-birth weight infants, or these diseases may prompt miscarriage. Chlamydia present during delivery may cause eye infection or pneumonia in the newborn, while gonorrhea present during delivery may cause blindness, joint or blood infections in the newborn. Two viral STI’s that can necessitate delivery by C-section are genital

Anyone

at risk for sti ’s should be screened routinely for infection.

warts, if they are so large as to block the birth canal, and genital herpes, which can cause serious or even life-threatening damage to the newborn’s lungs, kidneys, liver or central nervous system as well as sores on the skin and eyes. Medication is routinely prescribed for a woman with a history of genital herpes to take daily for a month prior to delivery to avoid a herpes outbreak at the time of delivery allowing the mother to deliver vaginally rather than by C-section. This practice speaks to the importance of early and regular prenatal care to ensure a pregnant woman’s history is known and screening to detect unrecognized infections is done in time for adequate management. Antibiotics are also routinely administered to newborns’ eyes to prevent eye damage from possible exposure to bacterial STI’s.

Anyone at risk for STI’s should be screened routinely for infection. Some risk factors include having multiple partners, having a partner who has other partners, sexual activity without condoms, sexual activity with a new partner, males having sex with males, beginning sexual activity at a young age, having a partner who uses injectable drugs or who trades sex for drugs or money. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is most prevalent in men having sex with men, bisexual men, people who inject drugs and their partners, people who trade sex for drugs or money, transgender individuals, and in people with other STI’s.

Recommendations for reducing risk include communicating with potential partners to know their risk of spreading disease to you. Use internal (female) condoms or external (male) condoms with new partners. Internal condoms provide a greater surface area of coverage and barrier to contact, but they are not as widely available in local stores as external condoms. Use barriers with all sites of sexual activity. Limit the number of sexual partners. Avoid sexual activity with a partner who has symptoms. Insist that partners be checked before engaging in sexual activity with you. Obtain the HPV vaccine and complete the series of injections. The Gardasil HPV vaccine is most effective when given at the youngest age possible. If you participate in activity with high risk of contracting HIV, talk to your care provider about taking medication that is available to prevent HIV.

You should feel comfortable talking with your care provider openly about any symptoms you are experiencing or other concerns you may have. Your care provider is there to help you, make you feel better and assist with the concerns you have. Contact your care provider if you experience any symptoms of sores, bumps, rashes, discharge, odor, pain, urinary urgency or frequency, bleeding, nausea, clay-colored stools, yellow skin, weight loss, night sweats, or excess fatigue. When in doubt, call your provider, your local health department, or seek urgent medical attention at an urgent care clinic or emergency room. I could go on as there is much more to say about STI’s, and I would be happy to discuss this topic further with you. To conclude, you can call us at Kalispell OB/GYN 406-752-5252 – our mission is to provide the best care for women in all stages of life!

Websites: www.CDC.gov - www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org www.flatheadhealth.org - www.acog.org

A laser, such as a broadband laser (BBL), can be a great adjunctive therapy for managing brown spots, sun damage and broken capillary beds. t he best feature of this laser is that it has very minimal downtime.

The 2026 Skin Reset

The Treatments Everyone Should Start Now.

Written by Dr. Courtney Austin, MD

Fro M c orrectio N to c o NF i D e N ce: Why L A ser s e A so N s tA rts i N Wi N ter

Wintertime in Montana is beautiful and full of other challenges, but skin care should not be one of them. One of the best maintenance routines to start during your winter season is maintenance skin therapy with restorative lasers. The winter season is the safest time for us to use corrective laser treatments because we have a very low UV index and the risk of sun exposure is low. This decreases the reactivity of your skin which can lead to improved long-term results with regard to pigment deposition and collagen regrowth.

A laser, such as a broadband laser (BBL), can be a great adjunctive therapy for managing brown spots, sun damage and broken capillary beds. The best feature of this laser is that it has very minimal downtime. Most patients have a limited amount of redness and darkening of pigment that eventually flakes away with normal skin care routine over a few days. It is a great way to brighten up your face especially during our dull and gloomy winter months. Patients can expect to have clear, bright skin as well as more even skin tone. It is a great way to counteract sun damage that we will all have experience with after beautiful summers in Montana. For my patients, I typically recommend that they do 3 sessions separated by about a month each for the best results.

Another great winter laser treatment is laser hair removal. It is always best to remove unwanted hair when you have skin that has not been tanned or exposed to UV. A complete laser hair removal treatment is usually 6-8 sessions, making wintertime the best time to start treatment and also preparing you for a more confident summer season.

As we recognize the importance of a good maintenance routine for proper skin care, we will be starting a new BBL membership in January 2026 at Glacier Med Spa. This will make it easier and much more affordable to maintain your results year-round. Keeping up with hyperpigmentation will also make it easier to protect higher level laser treatments that we also offer, such as the Fraxel.

As with all of our treatments, please feel free to reach out to us for consultations regarding the best laser treatment package for you.

W hy W i N ter is the i D e AL tre At M e N t se A so N

Winter is the safest and most effective time for corrective treatments because UV exposure is low and the skin is less reactive. It also makes it easier to commit to a full treatment series, leading to better long-term results when pigment and collagen are treated early in the year.

BBL c orrect:

y our Wi N ter Pig M e N t s o L utio N

WHAT IT TREATS: Brown spots, freckles, sun damage, redness, broken capillaries

WHY NOW: Skin has minimal sun exposure, allowing safer, higher-yield settings

DOWNTIME: Downtime is minimal — most patients experience only mild redness and darkening of pigment that flakes off over the next few days. You are free to wear makeup after the first 24 hours!

WHAT TO EXPECT: Expect clearer, brighter, more even-toned skin with a visible reduction in brown spots, redness, and sun damage. It is recommended to complete 3 sessions, 4-6 weeks apart for best results.

P Ro T IP: Glacier MedSpa will be launching new BBL memberships in January 2026. This will make it easier (and more affordable) to maintain results year-round. This is the ideal maintenance to protect your Fraxel investment.

L A ser hA ir r e M ov AL : s tA rt No W F or s u MM er r esu Lts

WHY NOW: Untanned winter skin is key for a more effective treatment

WHAT TO EXPECT: A complete LHR treatment is 6-8 sessions making winter the best time to start treatment, prepping you for a more confident summer season.

M icro N ee DL i N g : t he Wi N ter c o LLA ge N Bui LD er

WHAT IT TREATS: Fine lines, acne scars, enlarged pores, uneven texture, and early laxity.

WHY NOW: Cooler, drier weather keeps skin calm and reduces the chance of posttreatment irritation. It’s also the perfect time to complete a full 3-treatment series before summer.

DOWNTIME: 24–48 hours of redness (similar to a sunburn) with light dryness or flaking for a few days. You are free to wear makeup after the first 24 hours!

WHAT TO EXPECT: A gradual improve ment in skin smoothness and firmness as collagen rebuilds. It is recommended to do 3 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart.

P Ro T IP: Add-on Ariessence PDGF+ to your treatment to boost results, speeding up healing time, and enhancing collagen production. Patients typically see up to 20–30% better improvement in firmness and radiance when growth factors are added.

Y o UR J an U a RY –J u N e tre At M e N t PLAN

January–February: Correct

Start with BBL and Laser Hair Re moval to target pigment, redness, and unwanted hair while skin is at its least sun-exposed.

March–April: Rebuild

Begin your microneedling series to smooth texture, refine pores, and stimulate fresh collagen.

May–June: Maintain & Glow

Finish with light BBL touch-ups, clinical facials, and a strong SPF + antioxidant routine for bright, healthy summer skin.

and free consultations , it’s the perfect moment to begin your Winter Skin Reset and step into summer with clearer, smoother, healthier skin.

g lacier Med s pa 1111 Baker Ave, Whitefish MT www.glaciermedspa.com

Call or text 406.862.5174 for more information or to book your free consultation!

c o N siste N cy c re Ates r e AL c h AN ge Winter is the window to achieve true skin transformation. With our seasonal promos

Q&A WITH Aimee Zupicich, A g NP Nurse Practitioner, Logan health heart & vascular

Where are you originally from?

I’m half Montanan. My ancestors settled in Montana 100 years ago. I was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, and moved home to Montana 20 years ago.

What is your specialty?

The heart has both a plumbing and an electrical system. I specialize in the electrical system, called cardiac electrophysiology.

What kind of conditions do you treat?

We treat electrical rhythm disturbances from the heart chambers, such as atrial fibrillation and flutter, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), and ventricular tachycardia (VT) with medication or cardiac ablation. We also implant devices such as Watchman devices and pacemakers/defibrillators.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

What makes me come to work every day is a genuine interest in connecting with patients and helping them navigate their cardiac health.

What is your background?

I’ve had a wonderfully winding path of a career. At nine I started playing viola, eventually getting a music teaching degree from Arizona State University. Although I didn’t pursue teaching as a career, my background in music taught me skills that I continue to utilize: persistence, how to prepare my work for presentation, how to teach others, how to work through challenges, how to work independently and in a group, and to create beauty.

Having put myself through cosmetology school in Arizona, I ran my own booth rent stylist business for 20 years, retiring just this year. My salon business afforded me a flexible schedule so that I could raise my children and then later

pursue my Bachelor’s and eventually Master’s degree in nursing.

20 years ago, I did hair for people’s weddings, then saw their families grow and have children of their own and did their children’s hair, as well. Going from big city living to small town living has given me the opportunity to establish a community of which I’m proud to be a part. My cardiology colleagues also count as family and I’m very proud of the work that we do to serve our community.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I've now played the viola with Glacier Symphony for nearly 20 years.

I’ve been fortunate to travel internationally and have worked with many foreign nationals through my mother’s foreign language company. I am pleased to always find commonality between people wherever I go. A recent joy was walking the Camino de Santiago in Portugal and Spain. My mother and I walked 180 miles from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It's a journey that we continue to remember fondly.

Comprehensive Heart Care, Close to Home

Contributed by Logan Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Among women, it claims more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined. Despite how common it is, heart disease is not a single condition with a single solution. It presents differently from patient to patient and often evolves over time, requiring advanced treatment and long-term support. Addressing complex conditions like this requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach to heart care.

Logan Health Heart & Vascular is designed to provide that full spectrum of care — from prevention and diagnosis to some of the most advanced cardiac procedures available today. Built on collaboration, experience and nationally recognized quality, the program brings together multiple cardiac specialties to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time — all in northwest Montana.

Today, Logan Health Heart & Vascular includes more than 30 providers — physicians and advanced practice providers — supported by nurse navigators, nurses and specialized support staff who play a critical role in coordinating patient care.

For most patients, heart care begins with referral to Logan Health Heart & Vascular where they establish care with a general cardiologist. These specialists play a central role in prevention, diagnosis and long-term management of cardiovascular disease. Patients are evaluated for common conditions such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure and arrhythmias. General cardiologists — along with their care teams made up of advanced practice providers (APPs) and nurse navigators — serve as the coordinators of care, building long-term relationships with patients and guiding next steps when additional treatment is necessary.

When advanced evaluation or treatment is required, general cardiologists work side by side with cardiology subspecialists within the same Heart & Vascular clinic, allowing care to evolve without disruption. With teams dedicated to interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, structural heart care, cardiac surgery and cardiac rehabilitation, Logan Health offers a depth of cardiac expertise that is rarely found in communities the size of Kalispell. These subspecialties each play a distinct role within the program, supporting patients at different stages of heart disease.

i nterventional c ardiology

Interventional cardiologists focus on the heart’s arteries and blood flow. These specialists diagnose

and treat coronary artery disease, which occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. Using minimally invasive, catheter-based techniques, interventional cardiologists can open blocked arteries, restore blood flow during a heart attack and treat complex coronary disease without open surgery.

s tructural h eart c are

Structural heart care focuses on the heart’s valves and internal structures that control how blood moves through the heart. Specialists treat valve conditions using advanced cardiac imaging and minimally invasive techniques, often providing alternatives to open-heart surgery.

e lectrophysiology

Electrophysiology focuses on the heart’s electrical system and the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation. Specialists use advanced testing and catheter-based procedures to diagnose and correct abnormal heart rhythms, helping the heart beat more effectively and reducing the risk of complications.

c ardiac r ehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation supports patients as they recover from heart attacks, cardiac procedures and heart surgery. Through supervised exercise, education and lifestyle guidance, cardiac rehab helps

Logan h ealth has consistently received more of these awards than any hospital in Montana, reflecting a sustained focus on quality across multiple areas of cardiovascular care.

patients rebuild strength, reduce risk factors and support long-term heart health. In Kalispell, this service is integrated into the Logan Health Medical Fitness Center.

In addition to care provided at the clinic in Kalispell, Logan Health offers outreach and telehealth cardiology services in Cut Bank, Eureka, Libby, Polson and Shelby. This expands access to specialty heart care in rural communities that would otherwise require patients to travel much farther distances.

Supporting that expanded access is an ongoing investment in advanced treatments and technology. Logan Health Heart & Vascular has continued to invest in advanced treatments that expand options for patients in northwest Montana — so patients can receive specialized heart care without leaving the Flathead Valley.

One key advancement came in 2016 with the introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This minimally invasive procedure allows doctors to replace a narrowed aortic valve without open-heart surgery, offering an important option for patients who may not be candidates for traditional surgery. Since performing the first TAVR in November 2016, the team has continued to grow rapidly, now averaging about 70 procedures a year. The team celebrated their 500th TAVR in early 2025.

In April 2025, the Electrophysiology team conducted the first pulsed field ablation (PFA) procedure to treat atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder. PFA is a newer approach designed to target abnormal heart tissue while reducing the risk of damage to surrounding structures. By November 2025 — just seven months later — they had completed their 100th PFA procedure.

The rapid adoption of both TAVR and PFA highlights the importance of recognizing emerging patient needs and moving quickly to make high-quality treatment available locally. That commitment to timely, high-quality care is reflected in national recognition for quality and outcomes. Each year, the

American Heart Association recognizes hospitals through its Get With The Guidelines® programs, which measure adherence to evidencebased care for heart and stroke patients. Logan Health has consistently received more of these awards than any hospital in Montana, reflecting a sustained focus on quality across multiple areas of cardiovascular care.

In 2025, Logan Health was also one of just 158 hospitals nationwide to receive the American Heart Association’s Commitment to Quality Award, recognizing long-term consistency in delivering guideline-directed heart and stroke care.

expanding access to advanced cardiovascular care as the community’s needs continue to evolve. This includes strengthening vascular services, continuing to add subspecialty expertise and investing in technology and facilities that support high-quality, patient-centered care — all with the goal of keeping advanced heart care close to home.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of illness and death, but access to coordinated, high-quality care can make a meaningful difference. Through a comprehensive, team-based approach and continued investment in advanced treatment options, Logan Health Heart & Vascular is ensuring patients in northwest Montana have access to the care they need — now and into the future.

Use It or Lose It

By Dr. John F. Miller DDS - SMILE MONTANA

Moms are the heroes of Christmas. I don’t think I’m going to get any push back on that opinion. In fact, that sentence might be the most agreed upon stance in... America at least. When we can’t find common ground, we can agree upon how clutch moms are at Christmas. And dads aren’t even #2, because that undoubtedly belongs to the maternal grandmother followed by the paternal grandmother. So, dad might be able to secure 4th position depending on the aunts on the mother’s side.

I don’t feel like I’m hurting anyone’s feelings because I imagine the vast majority of you all reading this are moms and you said to yourself after reading that first sentence, “Damn Straight!” While I do feel like I’m getting better every year I still fall very short of equality and on behalf of mostly all dads I want to express both our gratitude and apology. Now I said “mostly all” because I’m

sure there are those outlier dads who just crush Christmas and again, the rest of us would just like to say to those dads, “maybe chill bro?!?” (I would put a winkie tongue out emoji right here to indicate I’m mostly joking.)

If moms are the Heroes of Christmas kids are the Magic. I have three teens and a tween. A few days prior to Christmas, give or take, I was with my three youngest kids and they were just so juiced up with anticipation. I asked if they were excited and you could just feel it like the excitement wanted to burst from their bodies it was almost too large to contain. I relayed to them that that is exactly how I remembered Christmas when I was their age. I too had a heroic mother.

Trying to keep things as optimistic as possible I told them to enjoy it because Christmas hits a little differently as a 44-year-old parent of four. I told them it’s still my favor-

ite time of year because of them, but I’m not buzzing with eagerness and anticipation. I’m feeling a deep sense of joy and peace that I’m in some way partially (that’s redundant but I'm leaving it) responsible for their happiness and excitement that will be bordering on delirium come Christmas Eve. It could also be the vacation from work but I think it’s mostly the kids.

Right now, you’re thinking, “where is he even going with this?” I’m thinking the same thing. Jinx. But honestly I had the concept of gift cards in my head when I sat down to type this out. I would assume the holidays is the time of year that the most wealth (or debt...who knows?) gets transferred onto so many different gift cards. I myself received a few and gave a lot.

A favorite stand up of mine, Mitch Hedberg (R.I.P.) shares his thoughts on gift cards when he said, “You took money that could be used everywhere, and ruined it. Just give me the twenty, the universal gift certificate.” It’s hard not to agree with him a little bit, but at the same time the thoughtful gift card

Dental i nsurance

is like a gift card.

A

gift card that expires.

giver in a way forces the gift card recipient’s hand in where the money is spent. In other words, facilitating a way for that individual to receive or experience something that they wouldn’t have otherwise spent the money on...for their benefit ideally.

At least they hope that they spend it because if you are like me and my wife you have a stack of unused gift cards just waiting to get used. Quite often to never get used. A quick google query tells me that 6% of gift cards simply never get used while 20% of the total value placed on gift cards goes unspent. In other words, a gift card is used but not to its full value...money remains. Companies know this and love to issue gift cards.

Alright, we made it. We have arrived. Where might you ask? To the point of these ramblings where I relate it to the art, science, and practice of dentistry. Specifically the “practice” of dentistry in this case. Dental Insurance is like a gift card. A gift card that expires.

88% of Americans have some level of dental insurance coverage. The majority have it through their employment as a benefit or perk. The second largest source of insurance is through government assistance programs such as Medicaid. And then there are individuals who simply pay for it themselves. Insurance companies are big business. They are in the business of making money for their shareholders. A lot of number crunching goes into determining monthly premium amounts that ensure that the money paid out is less than the money paid in. Medicaid might be a different story...who knows.

Of that 88%, 40% do not receive their routine preventative dental care which is covered at 100% (no copay in other words) for the vast majority of insurance plans. This is fresh on my mind because I'm sitting here just a few days into 2026 and I have just seen the usual and inevitable mad dash that patients perform at the end of the year to make the most of their benefit. This becomes problematic because it coincides with a time of year where dental offices are quite often observing Christmas and New Year’s. They are not open in other words.

This is why I have landed on this subject matter for the January issue of 406 Woman. It’s the beginning of the new year. If you failed to make the most of your insurance dollars last year, get in front of it this year. Those unused insurance dollars didn’t disappear, they went towards the insurance executive’s yacht, jet, Ferrari, Rolex, some fancy dog that ends in “oodle,” etc. It’s your money, you earned it. So, use it. We look forward to your call.

Please everyone have an amazing 2026 in northwest Montana. I am truly blessed to be in my 15th year as a dental provider in the Flathead Valley and to be in the service of so many neighbors and friends. Y’all make me Smile so Thank You!! God Bless.

woman

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Read Mary Wallace's story about the further adventures of Stacey Ingham's amazing career in our business and health side page 18.

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Barstools, skis, and Winter s henanigans

Cabin Fever Days in Martin City, Montana

By Mary Wallace - Photos by Casey Kreider

Urban Dictionary defines ‘cabin fever’ as a form of extreme restlessness, most often from being stuck indoors for too long, leading to a strong urge to get out, or even to do something irrational. Such was the situation in Martin City, MT, one fateful day in the late 1970s.

Jerry Downing and his friend, known as Southfork Ike, were drowning their sorrows at the Southfork Saloon and lamenting how stir-crazy they were feeling. Jerry suggested that they go skiing, but Southfork Ike refused to leave his barstool. A friendly challenge ensued, and the next thing anyone knew, skis had been affixed to a couple of barstools, and the popular Barstool Ski Races were born. There is no official record of who won.

The bar decided to make the races an annual event, with the first boasting just eight participants. It soon evolved into Cabin Fever Days, an annual winter festival featuring the now-famous Barstool Ski Races on Sugar Hill in Martin City, Montana. For nearly 50 years, the annual event has brought local canyon residents together to celebrate winter, share their community spirit, and have fun. And yes, if some funds are inadvertently raised, so much the better.

Despite its rather modest and random beginnings, the annual event has grown year after year. The early Cabin Fever Days were organized by the Trapline Association, and at some point, collectible buttons were designed to promote the event, with proceeds earmarked to support children’s programs in

the canyon area. Eventually, the event and its proceeds grew exponentially, enabling the group to expand its circle of support to also benefit the Martin City Fire Department & First Responders and other community initiatives. So, three years ago, the organizers filed for 501 (c) (3) status under a new name, the Bad Rock Council.

But Cabin Fever Days is not just about the Barstool Ski Races! The weekend has expanded into a Winter Festival filled with a myriad of organized activities in the Bad Rock Canyon, such as a Poker Run, Snowshoe Softball, a Kid’s Carnival, an Arm Wrestling competition, a Community Table Buffet Dinner at Park Provisions (reserved seating), an Outdoor Vendor and Food Truck Fair, Kid’s Sled Races, the highly competitive Roshambo Tournament, and new this year - a Silent Auction. Local businesses in Hungry Horse, Martin City, and Coram also join the festivities over the three-day bash - offering food & drink specials, dart & pool tournaments, and live entertainment at the Stonefly Lounge, Packers Roost, Southfork Saloon, Deerlick Saloon, Paul Bunyan Bar, Dew Drop Inn, and the Tex & Jerry's Saloon.

This year’s Cabin Fever Days are slated for Friday, February 13th, through Sunday, February 15th, with the World Championship Barstool Ski Races scheduled Saturday, February 14th, on Sugar Hill, as always.

It takes a team of dedicated volunteers to execute the annual Cabin Fever Days festival. The Bad Rock Council works year-round to conceptualize, coordinate, and handle the logistics, budgeting, marketing, and management of the annual Cabin Fever Days Winter Festival. They all wear several hats.

There is Ben Shafer, President, Fearless Leader, and Official Barstool Inspector. Next are Co-Vice Presidents, Sam Haverstock & Mallory Mumma, who coordinate the team of volunteers, Mary Ann Donovan, who is the Council Secretary, and Sarah Beaudette, who serves as the Treasurer and coordinates the Snowshoe Softball among other things. In addition, Melissa Ellis manages the vendors and the merchandise tent, Sara Steffke wrestles the Kids' Carnival, and Raye Lynn Goodson serves as the media and marketing chair. There are also approximately a dozen other volunteers on hand to keep the entire weekend's events running smoothly, year-after-year.

Spectators may not be aware of the logistics leading up to the moment they line up on either side of Sugar Hill to watch the now-famous Barstool Ski Races. A county permit is required to close the road for the races. The county road department stockpiles snow for the event, and dump trucks and loaders are hired to deliver and build the racecourse. A tech team arranges to provide live updates of race activities and results direct to the Cabin Fever Days website. The raceway is lined with hay bales to keep the crowds outside the race zone.

Barstool Ski Race contestants can pre-register and pay the $20 participation fee at www.cabinfeverdays.com/get-involved/. There are four classes:

• Traditional - Solid stool affixed to two (left/ right) non-movable or flexible skis.

• Steerable - Solid stool affixed to skis, 2 side by side, with a means of flexing left to right only.

• open - Anything mounted on a ski or skis.

• Show - Build your wildest sled and go to the show! Judged by the racers at the top of the hill.

This year's registration deadline is January 31, 2026. There were about 60 racers in the 2025 World Championship Barstool Ski Races. Winners in each category receive $400 team cash prizes per category, an engraved miniature whiskey barrel (courtesy of Glacier Distilling), and eternal bragging rights by way of having their names added to the Barstool Ski Race Winners Wall in the Southfork Saloon.

The collective community excitement leading up to Cabin Fever Days is contagious! The Poker Run is scheduled to begin a week ahead of the event. The commemorative Cabin Fever Days buttons and tshirts are sold at area bars and businesses. Some people plan for their proper Cabin Fever Days attire (which is basically ‘Anything Goes’ and limited only by a thorough analysis of both the weather forecast and their wildest imagination).

KN oW BEFo RE Yo U G o: Anyone planning to attend can purchase their $5 Cabin Fever Days 2026 All-Access Button at Canyon area businesses and bars in the weeks prior to the event, and they can also be obtained on arrival at the entrance at Martin City. (Buttons are required to enter all events.) Plan to dress for the weather, as most festival activities are outside. Parking is available in designated spots in Hungry Horse, at Cenex, at the Stone Fly Lounge, at Packers Roost, and at the Dew Drop Inn. A free continuous

t his year’s c abin Fever Days are slated for Friday, February 13th, through s unday, February 15th, with the World c hampionship Barstool s ki r aces scheduled s aturday, February 14th, on s ugar h ill, as always.

shuttle service will run all day on Saturday. Food vendors will be on-site. The Sheriff’s Posse will be on hand to provide safety and crowd control services throughout the weekend.

Although the main focus of Cabin Fever Days is the cherished tradition that brings residents and visitors together to celebrate winter, the event continues to raise funds. Last year, the Bad Rock Council distributed upwards of $10,000 to support the annual Trunk or Treat at Halloween, the Martin City Fire Department & First Responders, and the Canyon Clean-up Committee, which stages an annual Spring Cleanup Day.

By now, some might be wondering, “What in the world is Roshambo?” The answer is as iconic as the heart of this close-knit Canyon community. It is an old-fashioned game of Rock, Paper, Scissors (on steroids), typically held at the Stonefly Lounge, and believe me when I tell you that the locals take their Roshambo very seriously. The event includes a live announcer as well as video hand-cam close-ups broadcast on the bar's big screen for all to see. Wondering what spoils go to the victors of this most revered competition? I suppose we will all just have to go to Cabin Fever Days to find out.

Those looking to assuage their inner cabin fever by doing something slightly irrational in midFebruary can find more information about the 2026 Cabin Fever Days February 13-15, 2026 at www.cabinfeverdays.com or emailing badrockcouncil@gmail.com with questions.

In the Kitchen with Lane

Sponsored by

By Lane Smith

Sometimes it just needs to be easy. With the holidays behind us, and football playoffs in full swing, the heart of winter begs for things to be easy. Shoveling? Nope, definitely not easy. Putting away the Christmas decorations? Again. Nope, not easy... and preparing for taxes... sigh. You get the point; I know a lot of people that use the winter months to hone their more complex recipes. The layered soups that begin with mirepoix, the all-day simmers to find depth, and the occasional pot of birria are all staples when there is snow on the ground. But what if there is a playoff game to be watched? And what if your family is coming and they expect food?

Time for easy.

I grew up a Packer fan (and I am an owner), I became a Mariner fan (Ichiro), and by virtue of 4 years of my life, I am MSU Bobcat. If it wasn’t for the latter, this winter would be a total bust, but I digress. Invariably I have kids, grandkids, friends and family over for games for any of the above. Regular season I have no issue cooking and watching, but when the playoffs hit... it’s time to bust out the time savers. An added bonus, all of the recipes you see in these pages are kid friendly (and approved!). To be completely honest, as you have often seen, I love cooking with kids. More often than not, having kids help cook makes everything taste better.

Gameday food is about adaptability. Got an extra 5 people coming? Double the recipe. Smoker out of pellets? Use the Oven. No disposable forks? Well, EVERYTHING is

finger food if you are brave enough. Forty years at hunting camp has taught me a lot about “overcoming food adversity.” Raucous game days pale in comparison to having 70 people, 70 miles from nowhere, waiting for homemade Mac and Cheese and the oven doesn’t light... deep fried Mac and Cheese balls anyone? The key is to roll with it. Having an extra 5 people show up may require a bit of creativity and extra napkins, but in the end, people just want to eat while staring at your TV.

When the day came to do the photoshoot, my two helpers were completely unaware of what was going to be asked of them. Wide eyed and bit nervous they were both a bit apprehensive of my “a little of this, and a little more of that” cooking style. I did not bring measuring cups, spoons, or recipes to refer to either. To say they were skepti-

cal at the start would be an understatement. Lissy and Ella stared wide eyed at me when I told them we were making Pickle Wings, Shotgun Shells and Hawaiian Meatball Sliders. Exchanging a quick look between themselves then returning their now confused gaze to me, we began our afternoon with giggles and a healthy dose of what the heck.

“You want me to mix it how?” Ella, 14.

“With your hands” I replied.

“But how much of the spice rub?” Ella, the perfectionist.

“As much as it needs.” I replied.

Imagine the first time you ever carved a pumpkin, that feeling of sticking your hands inside to get the seeds out. That was Ella’s reaction to stick ing her hands in bowl full of raw sausage, cream cheese, and an ‘Ella Approved’ amount of spice. You could literally see the wheels turning with re gard to how she got talked into “In the Kitchen with Lane.”

Then there was Lissy. A bit of backstory. Lissy joined our family as a German exchange student some 7 years ago and has since become one of our “kids.” Returning every couple years on holiday to her “Montana Family.” Lissy is a girl's girl. Perfect make up, hair, nails, outfits, and always smiling. When I told her about joining me for this, her first words (after the giddy squeal) was “What’s the plan?”

Being a Berliner, Lissy always has a plan.

“You’ll see.” I casually replied. Knowing full well that I didn’t have any details other than what I wanted to cook.

On the day of the photoshoot, Lissy had had enough of “her father’s” vagueness.

“Why do you have one of Mom’s frosting bags?” she asked while holding a well-loved piping bag.

“You are going to use that to put the sausage in those.” I replied, pointing at the manicotti shells with a smile.

“But it’s for frosting!”

Conversations about how to do certain things, how much spice, what temperature to set the oven to and the occasional ‘did you see my nails?’ (Not mine! Lissy’s) filled the afternoon with laughter. In the end, we all sat around eating everything with our hands, hunting for napkins, and being quite proud of what we had accomplished with a couple bowls, a spoon or two and not one printed recipe.

Cooking does not have to be hard or complicated. Life outside the kitchen has that handled. Go Cats Go!

And a Quarter.

Kings hawaiian Meatball sliders

Ingredients

Hawaiian sweet rolls

12 Pre-cooked Italian meatballs (or homemade)

Melted butter

½ tsp garlic salt

½ tsp Italian seasoning

Marinara sauce (I made my own but store bought works great!)

Mozzarella cheese

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350°.

Cook frozen or homemade meatballs.

Cut the middle out of the buns.

Melt butter and add the garlic and Italian seasoning and brush it over the buns.

Place buns in the oven for 7 minutes (toasting the rolls prior will prevent the sliders from being soggy).

Put marinara sauce in each bun cavity.

Put meatballs in each bun.

Top with cheese.

Place in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown.

Serve with additional marinara sauce.

i shou LD h Ave P ic K e D P i P i N g.

t here i was, in the kitchen, marinating in my own thoughts and feelings while squishing sausage, cream cheese, and a bunch of spices together. All while trying not to get food on my sleeves. s hot gun shells a perfect super bowl snack but be warned ‑‑t hey are messy!!!!

oven Baked shotgun shells

Ingredients

2-8 ounce box of manicotti shells

1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed ½ medium onion, finely diced

1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese

4 ounces cream cheese

1 tsp of your favorite BBQ rub (I used Kosmos Honey Killer Bee)

2 tsp of SPG (Salt Pepper Garlic Rub— I used Kosmos)

2 Tbsp barbecue sauce

1.5 lbs of THIN sliced bacon

Additional barbecue sauce for coating

Directions

Please Note. PREFILLING the Manicotti Shells and wrapping them with Bacon the night before and putting them in the refrigerator is HIGHLY recommended. You CAN do it the day of, but allow 4 hours in the refrigerator to allow the Manicotti to soften!

Preheat the oven to 300° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Set aside.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, except bacon and extra barbecue sauce.

Gently stuff uncooked manicotti shells from both ends ensuring there are no air pockets. A piping bag makes this easy!

Wrap bacon around each shell covering the length of the pasta. Brush additional barbecue sauce over both sides and place on prepared baking rack.

Bake for 60 minutes, then flip shells over, add more barbecue sauce and bake for another 60-70 minutes or until the bacon is nice and crispy.

Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Dill Pickle Wings

Ingredients

3-4 pounds chicken party wings

2 cups dill pickle brine (I used Spicy Pickle Brine)

1 Tbsp cornstarch

2 tsp Kosmos Dirty Bird BBQ Rub (more as needed)

Directions

Combine the chicken wings and pickle brine in a Ziploc bag, (try to get as much air out as you can!) and refrigerate for 4 hours or up to overnight (Overnight is HIGHLY recommended).

Remove the wings from the marinade, discard liquid, and pat wings dry.

Combine the BBQ rub and cornstarch sprinkle over the wings and toss well to coat.

Preheat smoker to 225°F and smoke the wings for about 60 minutes or until they reach 165°F on a digital meat thermometer.

Remove wings from smoker to pellet grill and turn heat to 450°F.

Cook the wings at 450°F for 3-4 minutes per side to crisp them up.

Serve with ranch!

Note: You can do this in a conventional Oven as well. I have found that 300° until 165° internal, then 450° For 3-4 minutes each side to crisp works well.

By CT Morris

Swiss Steak

I was browsing through old cookbooks and stumbled across a recipe that was my go-to whenever I was having company (many, many years ago). The recipe was like seeing an old friend. Surprise your family and friends with the personification of a comfort food!

Ingredients

2 lbs. ½-inch-thick eye round steaks

mixed together

1/2 cup flour

2 Tbsp. kosher salt

2 tsp. black pepper

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbsp. salted butter

Directions

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. paprika

1 1/2 cups beef broth

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Pound the steaks on both sides with the spiky side of a meat tenderizer until they are ¼-inch thick. Place the flour in a shallow bowl, add the salt and pepper. Dredge both sides of the steaks with flour, shaking off any excess.

In a large oven safe skillet (with a lid) heat the vegetable oil over mediumhigh heat. Cook the steaks until golden brown. Set on a platter.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter, celery, and onion. Cook, stirring frequently until vegetables are softened and golden. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika. Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes, and bring to a boil. and add the steaks and any juices. Place the steaks in the sauce so they are submerged and covered with the onion and tomatoes.

Cover the skillet and place it in the oven. Cook until the steaks are tender and easily cut with a butter knife, (approximately 2 hours). Season to taste.

Delicious served with mashed potatoes or rice.

make the cabbage slaw: combine the cabbage, onion, tomato, cilantro, jalapeño fused olive oil, lime juice, and salt in a large bowl. toss well, then set aside.

Make the crispy fish: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, chili powder and baking powder. Add the liquid and whisk until smooth. let sit for 15 minutes.

Crispy Halibut Tacos with Spicy Habanero Avocado Crema

IngredIentS:

cabbage SlaW

½ head green cabbage, finely shredded

½ medium red onion, small diced

2 medium tomatoes, diced

¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 Tablespoon Jalapeno Olive Oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

Salt to taste

crISPy FISh

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon chili powder

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sparkling water or beer

Ultra-Premium Extra Virgin Olvie Oil, for frying

1 lb. fresh cod, halibut, or other firm fleshed white fish cut into 1-inch (2-cm) thick strips

2 medium avocados

1 Tablespoon Habanero Fused Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Garlic Infused Olive Oil

1 cup sour cream

¼ cup lime juice

Salt to taste

Heat the oil in a large pot until it reaches 350°f (180°c).

Coat the fish in the batter, then transfer to the oil and fry until golden on the outside and cooked through, 5-7 minutes. drain the fish on a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

make the avocado crema: Add the avocados, sour cream, lime juice, garlic olive oil, habanero olive oil salt to a blender and blend until smooth.

to assemble the tacos, add a bit of cabbage slaw to a warmed tortilla. top with a piece of fried fish, avocado crema, and sliced radish.

Ask the Butcher

TheWoman on Fire

By Mandie Robertson

Stars light up the night. She gazes at the cosmos using the cards of Urania to look for answers in the heavens while showers of stars fall around her.

One star makes it way to earth sparking and igniting the timber she prepared as an offering. Eyes drawn to the embers, she studies the colors. Reds, yellows, oranges. Mesmerized, she begins to dance

Body and spirit flowing drifting among the flames selling of her life. Each rendition of herself a movement

A child in awe of the world around her. Dancing with the angels under the pine trees.

A teenager questioning what she is told to believe. Knowing love is the universal truth.

A groupie dancing in front of the speakers like no one was watching.

A young mother believing it was time for her child to come into the world.

A student preparing herself to live as a public servant.

A wife acting upon the expectation that she would marry… until it was no longer hers to keep.

A mother once again balancing a life of family and career. Never really giving enough time to her children

An explorer looking for answers to life’s toughest questions. Tutoring needed to the lessons.

A teacher shaping the minds of her students. Encouraging them to better their corner of the world.

A gypsy in awe of the beauty around her. Gathering stories from each place she goes. She is here now. Among the stars. Dancing around the fire.

“As she grew, she learned As she learned, she burned Until combustion....reaching climax”

~ Sean Jones

She spins, reaching up.

Letting go of her mistakes, regrets, and faults Giving thanks for it all. Each rotation shedding her armor, allowing her heart to open, Welcoming new wisdom and new growth

She whirls becoming lighter and lighter with each turn. Reds, yellows, oranges

Illuminating the skies

Until….combustion! Cadmium blue erupts in a swirl of sparks. Transcendence.

She dances around the fire no longer. For now she is the fire.

The Woman on Fire

~ Mandie Robertson

All Accordi N g To Pl AN Amazing Events at The Lodge

There is something so wonderful about attending a wedding. The dressing up, the music, the food, all the timeless traditions and the unique ways those traditions are expressed from couple to couple. Celebrating the coming together of two people, surrounded by loved ones is always a special time.

Planning a wedding, however, is a whole different ball game. You’ve got the venues to book, menus to create, outfits to try on, and so much more--the to-do list is daunting! How does one do all of this and still have a great time? The celebration of true love can be truly overwhelming.

Assistant Director of Event Sales, Morgan Nordahl, and her team at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake understand the complexities couples face when planning their wedding—and are committed to guiding them through every step of the journey with expertise and care. Now in her third season at The Lodge, Morgan brings a long history in the event industry to the table, specializing in the planning and execution of high-end occasions and weddings. After relocating to the area a few years ago, joining one of Northwest Montana’s most prestigious resorts was a natural fit.

Located just north of downtown Whitefish, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is impossible to miss. Nestled between the shores of Whitefish Lake and

the backdrop of Whitefish Mountain, the property features a collection of stately buildings, uniquely connected by its iconic bridge that drivers pass beneath as they arrive. Inside, the Lodge feels like a grand yet inviting cabin—currently adorned with festive holiday décor and glowing Christmas trees—designed to make even the grumpiest humbug feel at home. Even the Lodge’s slogan offers an instant sense of calm: “Just BE, we’ll take care of the rest.”

Whether you are planning a big, boisterous bash or a quiet, more intimate affair, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake offers a variety of wedding packages that can be customized to fit the vision of your special day. Venue options range from stunning lakeside lawns and a charming pavilion to elegant ballrooms and intimate wooded spaces—making the property ideal for couples who want the best of both refined indoor settings and Montana’s breathtaking outdoors.

No matter the occurrence, it is often the experience that matters most. And the experience Morgan and her team strive to create for their couples is nothing short of magnificent. “We want it to feel like high-end luxury—we don’t want our couples to have to think about anything we’re doing,” Morgan explains. “It’s about anticipating their needs. We’re fortunate to have an incredible team of professionals who have spent many years in the wedding and luxury events industry. They know the questions to ask before couples even realize those questions need to be answered.”

As one of the most sought-after wedding destinations in the Flathead Valley—and as a full-service resort—securing a date at The Lodge can feel like an event in itself. According to Morgan, wedding dates are often reserved up to two years in advance, reflecting both the demand for the venue and the level of planning required. Once a couple commits, they enter a carefully guided planning process that can span as long as two years, encompassing detailed coordination, design decisions,

No matter the occurrence, it is often the experience that matters most.

and financial planning. Throughout each phase, Morgan and her team remain closely involved, offering consistent, hands-on support to ensure every couple feels informed, confident, and fully supported.

For The Lodge, weddings—regardless of size—are inherently multifaceted, and need every operation working together like a welloiled machine. Transportation must be planned out and organized, guest accommodations noted and filled, dining experiences curated at the Boat Club Restaurant, and the spa transformed into a space of calm and preparation for wedding parties and guests alike. With celebrations taking place nearly every weekend throughout the summer months, the pace can be pretty demanding. Still, for Morgan, the complexity and scale of these events reinforce exactly why the work remains so rewarding.

“A large part of what we do is just reassuring our brides: ‘Hey, we’ve got you,’” Morgan explains. “We are the experts, and it’s about trusting your planning team. We want their dream for their special day to come true, just as much as they do. All our clients are so lovely that even when things get challenging, seeing their happiness makes it all worthwhile. We’ve been able to work with some of the sweetest couples, and you can’t help but want to see them smiling from ear to ear- the joy at the end is truly unparalleled. For me, it’s all about, ‘Look what we created. Look what we did for these people—they’re never going to experience this anywhere else.’”

Beyond the events themselves, Morgan treasures the rela tionships that develop over two years of planning. Going from strangers to a place where she’s adjusting a bride’s veil as she walks down the aisle is, in her words, “truly spe cial.”

While some weddings are on the horizon—several of which will be featured in this issue—winter is generally a quieter season at The Lodge. During these months, guests are more likely to be visiting for family gatherings, holidays, business trips, or skiing adventures. Yet familiar faces often return.

“We’ve seen so many couples come back for their first anni versary, their honeymoon, or even a family reunion,” Mor gan says. “It’s truly special to witness, and to know that we played even a small part in one of the most important days of their lives.”

Visit www.lodgeatwhitefishlake.com for more information.

Lauren &Jack

September 20th,

It was the most beautiful, sunny, fall day. But our small intimate ceremony is something I will forever cherish.

Lauren was born and raised in Whitefish. She has worked as an esthetician for 5 years. Jack was born in California and moved to Montana in 3rd grade, which is when Lauren and Jack met! They started dating when they were 16 and have been together ever since! Jack works remotely as a Human Data Manager for xAI and has been in the AI industry for about 3 years. After spending a few years away from the area, they live in Kalispell now.

Lauren – What is the trait that you most admire in Jack?

Jack is the easiest person to get along with and be friends with. As a husband he is the most generous person and partner, his personality is kind, caring, and fun. I feel very lucky to be married to Jack!

Jack is the easiest person to get along with and be friends with. As a husband he is the most generous person and partner, his personality is kind, caring, and fun.

Jack – When did you realize you wanted to get married to Lauren? I am not sure if there is one moment, but I always knew we were going to get married. After we both started our careers and started our life together it was very clear we would get married!

Why did you choose the venue where you got married?

We were lucky enough to have very generous family friends to let us get married on their property in beautiful Whitefish with a view of the mountains on a gorgeous sunny day!

Lauren – What did you enjoy most during your wedding day?

It was the most beautiful, sunny, fall day. But our small intimate ceremony is something I will forever cherish. Getting to marry Jack with our closest family and friends was so special.

Jack – What is your favorite activity to do as a couple?

Boat days in the summer, game nights, and skiing in the winter!

Wedding Details…

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