Issuu

406 w o m a n

22. Profile

16. KENDRA BURTON

Food &Flavor 18.COCKTAIL CORNER 22. IN THE KITCHEN 28. ASK THE BUTCHER 30. NORDIC FISH CHOWDER

Local Author

32. THE GRUMPY WUMPUS Julia Shaw

Love Stories 36. AMANDA & JORDAN

Experience The Flathead’s Best In

Fine Consignment

2699 HWY 93 SOUTH, KALISPELL 756-8526 CREATE YOUR OWN INDIVIDUALITY

SouthsideConsignment

Celebrating 35 Fabulous Years!

& antiques

Decor & Fine Collectibles

Over 6,000 Square Feet of recycled treasures

LET US CONSIGN YOUR TREASURES l LET THE GALS HELP YOU WITH DECORATING IDEAS

Publisher's Note As summer winds down and the crisp air signals a new season, we welcome the shift in pace and the momentum it brings across our valley. This issue of 406 Woman is designed to carry you into autumn with practical inspiration and substance. Inside, you’ll find seasonal recipes, fresh style ideas, and features on local women leading the way in business and community life. Whether you’re setting new goals, refreshing your routine, or simply taking a quiet moment to read, we hope you find something within these pages that speaks to you. Thank you for being part of the 406 Woman community. Enjoy the transition, support local, and have a great season ahead. Warmly,

Cindy and Amanda

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Congratulations Earl James Reynolds and family! Earl was named a 2026 finalist: best chef in the Rocky Mountain Region by the James Beard Foundation. We invite you to enjoy his passion for great food with your family here at 101 Central in Whitefish.

101 CENTRAL AVE, WHITEFISH, MT 59937

WWW.101CENTRALWHITEFISH.COM

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publisher

Cindy Gerrity

cindy@montanasky.net

business manager Daley McDaniel

daley@montanasky.net

managing editor

Kristen Hamilton

montanakristen@gmail.com

View current and past issues of 406 Woman at

creative & social media director Amanda Wilson

afwphotography@me.com

design

Sara Joy Pinnell

sara@mrsandmrpublishing.com

photographers

Daley McDaniel Photography Amanda Wilson Photography Picture Montana

Want to know about great events, open houses, and more? Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/406 Woman 406 Woman is distributed in Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Missoula, Whitefish and every point in between. Check out www.406woman.com for our full distribution list. Have a great story idea or know someone that we should feature? Email us with your comments & suggestions. Interested in increasing your business and partnering with 406 Woman? Check out www.406woman.com.

featured} food}

Behind the Bar with

Kendra Burton On her favorite cocktails, and how she builds them By Author Jess Villaire Photography by Jessica McCollam

Ask Kendra Burton for a good cocktail and she'll hand you one built on a spirit she helped make. Burton is the mixologist behind Glacier Distilling's Tasting Room in Coram, and a few years ago she took on something most bartenders never get the chance to: developing her own bitters recipe, now used in-house and behind several of the tasting room's signature drinks. “The bitters are particularly meaningful to me because I helped develop them,” Burton says. “Developing them gave me another opportunity to think about cocktails from the ground up. They may only be used in small amounts, but they can completely change the personality of a drink.”

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Kendra Burton, Mixologist and Whiskey Slinger, behind the bar at Glacier Distilling's Tasting Room in Coram, Montana.

When Burton started at Glacier Distilling, the distillery had four spirits to work with. Today it has roughly 40. “Every new spirit created another opportunity,” she says. “A new whiskey could inspire a different interpretation of a classic. A fruit-forward spirit could change the direction of a cocktail. Gin could introduce an entirely different world of botanicals. Suddenly the question wasn't what we could make. It was what we couldn't make.” That growth runs alongside a philosophy she's built around ingredients with a sense of place - Montana-grown grains, wild huckleberries, Flathead cherries, glacial spring water. “A bottle isn't just a bottle when you know where it came from,” Burton says. “When someone visits Glacier Country, they aren't necessarily looking for a cocktail they could have ordered anywhere. They want something they can't quite recreate at home. That's the challenge I enjoy. How do you put Montana in a glass?” In recent years, that question has pulled her toward the culinary side of the craft, through cocktail dinner pairings with local chef Melissa

Mangold. “Instead of asking ‘What drink should I make?’ I started asking ‘What belongs with this food?’” she says. “That's when I really began to see cocktails as part of the culinary world, rather than simply something served before or after a meal.”

Her Process

Ask Burton what makes a cocktail exceptional, and she doesn't start with a spirit or an ingredient. She starts with a word: balance.

“You can have the best spirit in the world and still make a bad drink if the flavors aren't working together,” she says. When she's building a drink, she's thinking about five things - spirit, sweetness, acidity, bitterness and texture. “The spirit is the foundation. That's where I start. Once I understand what it brings to the glass, I can decide what it needs, and just as importantly, what it doesn't.” Freshness matters too - fresh citrus, fresh herbs, local fruit. And so does knowing when to stop. “It's easy to keep adding: another syrup, another liqueur, another garnish,” Burton says. “But com-

food}GLACIER DISTILLING TASTING ROOM

Kendra Burton with a Red Meadow Spritz at the Glacier Distilling Tasting Room.

plexity doesn't automatically make a cocktail better. Sometimes the best drink is the one where you can identify every ingredient, but nothing feels out of place.”

KENDRA'S FAVORITES

Trapline Old Fashioned

Burton's version starts with Trapline Rock & Rye and her own house-made bitters. “Rather than trying to cover up its character, I want the cocktail to showcase it,” she says. Local raw honey rounds out the sweetness. “You want the guest to taste the Trapline Rock & Rye first,” Burton says. “Then the layers begin to reveal themselves — the bitters, the sweetness, the warmth and the finish. It's a slow-sipping cocktail. A conversation cocktail.”

Sometimes the best drink is the one where you can identify every ingredient, but nothing feels out of place. Amaro, fresh orange, and house-made sparkling tonic.

“It's bright without being overly sweet, refreshing without losing its character,” she says. “My tastes change with the seasons … but for now, if you ask me what I'm drinking this summer, there's a pretty good chance you'll find a Red Meadow Spritz in my hand.”

Clover Club

Starting out, Burton keeps it simple: a good jigger, a stainless-steel shaker, a Hawthorne strainer, a bar spoon, and a citrus juicer. “That's enough to start learning the fundamentals and making a huge range of classic cocktails,” she says.

“And remember - the tool doesn't make the bartender. Learn to measure. Learn to taste. Learn what balance feels like. Pay attention to your ice and your dilution. Use fresh ingredients when you can. Then practice. That's where the real craft begins.”

Every Bottle Has a Story

Built on Evergreen Gin, house raspberry purée, fresh lemon, egg white and fresh sage. “It's bright, vibrant and layered, but the ingredients aren't there just for looks,” Burton says. Each one has a job: the gin as the botanical foundation, raspberry for fruit and sweetness, lemon for acidity, egg white for a silky, shaken texture.

“Every bottle has a story,” Burton says. “Every ingredient has a connection to this place. Every person who walks through the door brings a story of their own. Somewhere between the first pour and the last sip, those stories tend to meet. That's the magic of the cocktail. It's not just what's in the glass. It's where it came from, who made it, who you're sharing it with, and the place you happen to be standing when you take that first sip.”

“The aroma of the fresh sage reaches you before the first sip,” she says. “That's a small detail, but those are the details I think about when I'm creating a drink.”

The Drink She's Reaching For This Summer

Ask Burton to name a single favorite cocktail and she'll tell you it's nearly impossible. But this summer, she keeps coming back to the Red Meadow Spritz - the tasting room's house

Kendra's Tips for a Home Bar

A Trapline Old Fashioned at the Glacier Distilling Tasting Room, built on Kendra Burton's housemade bitters blend.

The Glacier Distilling Tasting Room is open daily, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through mid-October, then noon to 6 p.m. through the winter, at 10237 Highway 2 East in Coram — seven miles from Glacier National Park's west entrance. No reservations are required for tasting flights or cocktails, and Burton's house-made bitters are available for purchase at the bar.

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food} IN THE KITCHEN

In the Kitchen…

Consistency By Lane Smith

Photos by Jessie Mazur, Picture Montana

Sponsored by

I am a big fan of consistency. Although I am fond of a perfect pancake batter (Who isn’t?) I am talking about consistency in our day-to-day lives. I thrive with the routine of weekdays, having the exact same cup of tea from Lilly at my local coffee shop, but most importantly being exactly who I am, every day. Maybe it’s an old guy thing. To be clear, I am not talking about reliability. That’s an entirely different conversation. Reliability is a fool proof bread recipe and knowing without a doubt that if I call one of my brothers for help, no matter the time or circumstance, they will be there. Consistency is the unchanging approach to life, love, and family in a steady, unwavering way. I suspect that if you look up consistency in the dictionary, you will find a couple examples. Smith Hunting Camp and Somer Treat.

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Somer Joy Treat came into my life through our work. A five foot something wisp of lady whose passion for EVERYTHING shined as steadfastly and brilliant as The Lookout she calls home on starry night. A builder, a photographer, a budding bbq chef, the consummate host and dedicated runner, Somer’s approach to everything in her life is...well, consistent. I could wax quixotic about many facets of her life, but there are a couple “consistencies” where we absolutely align, and they are the biggest reasons we are friends. We both have amazing families, and those families love food.

Somer’s family is the OG Canyon family. Her grandfather was the head of the road department in Glacier Park for 45 years dating back to the 1930’s, and she has family that originated in Whitefish even earlier! Little known fact, I have had family in the “Canyon” since the 30’s as well. To this day a lot of her family lives just outside West Glacer on what Somer calls the “family compound.” Apropo in the Canyon. So, when she invited me to her “significant” birth-

day party some 8 years ago, I did what I was raised to do. I brought food. More specifically, I brought Carne Asada. Little did Somer and I know, but a tradition was born.

For the last eight years, Somer’s birthday has become “THE” food event of the summer at the Lookout. Per Somer, the attendees include: “My parents, my aunts and uncles and cousins, all the family visiting in Montana for the summer, several of my closest friends and several sets of our Old Montana Clients. Friends I have had since college try to come. My brother and sister-in-law when they can. We usually average what…30-40 people or more? Not sure how you want to say that…but some of those people have never missed a year since you started the tradition…probably the core group of 25 or so has stayed the same…only you keep adding to the people trying to come.” Heady praise indeed. Over the years her family has often heard of the “Smith Hunting Camp Cookshack.” It was finally decided that I would bring “The Shack” for this year’s birthday extravaganza so everyone could see where I learned to cook for so many people.

food} IN THE KITCHEN

The Cookshack was born out of necessity—and consistency. There’s that word again. More than a tool used to cook for large groups of family, it is instrumental in making sure that everyone through its doors get two things: fed the same as everyone else and comfort. The latter is from a multitude of things. The walls are signed each year by attendees; guest cooks have everything they need and on cold late fall nights the Shack is ablaze with light and heat. It’s like sitting in your favorite chair after a long day. Each and every time. Somer’s birthday menu has been the who's who of BBQ throughout the last eight years. Brisket, Pork Butt (Her family still giggles at that nomenclature), burnt ends, etc. But with the presence of the Shack, it was high time to bring back Somer’s favorite. Carne Asada. And for a new twist, Pork Belly Burn Ends. When explaining Burnt Ends to Somer and her family, I often refer to them as “Meat Candy.” Giggles ensue, and after a taste...the look of understanding crosses every one of their faces. If you haven’t made them...do. But, as always, it was the Carne Asada that was the star of the show. As you can see in the pictures, it was another birthday celebration filled with laughter, love, memories and full bellies. Just like the prior 8 years.

When I asked Somer if I could use her birthday bash for 406 Woman magazine, she didn’t hesitate. It had NOTHING to do with being in a magazine. It was about the food and the people. She did have one caveat; this article was absolutely NOT supposed to be about her. It was to be about the food and the Cookshack. My attempt at accomplishing said caveat was as consistent as the perfect pancake batter. I try. But rarely succeed. 18 years, 9 months---3 miles a day, never inside, always outside— no matter the weather. Somer Treat has ran that much and never missed a day. A better definition of consistency I will never know. I will keep trying on the pancake batter though. #And A Quarter

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food} IN THE KITCHEN

Carne Asada Recipe Ingredients

3/4 cup orange juice

happy with the results (and no need to tenderize).

1/2 cup lemon juice

Directions

1/3 cup lime juice 1/3 cup tequila 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped 1/2 cup soy sauce 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon ground paprika 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon finely chopped canned chipotle pepper 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 cup olive oil 3 lbs Skirt Steak from Chopp Shoppe in Whitefish You can also use Flank Steak but be sure to tenderize between 2 sheets of plastic wrap prior to marinade. I prefer Skirt Steak and have been

Combine orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice and tequila for marinade in a large non-reactive bowl. Add cilantro, soy sauce, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, black pepper, chipotle pepper, and oregano; stir to combine.

Slowly whisk in olive oil until well combined. Reserve 1 cup of the marinade. Place steak in the marinade in the large bowl, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours. When Ready to cook, preheat your griddle, grill or pan over medium high heat and cook to desired doneness. I like medium rare.

Slice thin across the grain, drizzle reserve marinade over cut steak and serve on street tacos, rice or on its own.

Pork Belly Burnt Ends Ingredients

ing with apple juice every 45 minutes or as needed if the pork starts to look dry.

1 (5-7 lbs) skinless pork belly, cut into 1-inch cubes Meat Church Honey Hog 1 cup apple juice, for spritzing 1 1/2 cup your favorite BBQ Sauce (I used a jazzed up Sweet Baby Rays—Bourbon added) 1/2 cup honey 2 sticks of butter 1 cup of brown sugar (packed)

Directions

Set Smoker to 275° F

Arrange the pork belly cubes on a wire rack, fat-side down, then place the rack on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook until the internal temperature reaches 190-195°F, about 3 hours, spritz-

Transfer the pork belly to a half-size (9 x 13-inch) disposable aluminum pan. Season and toss the cubes with more Meat Church rub.

Cover the pork belly cubes with the "augmented" BBQ Sauce. Drizzle the honey over the top, then toss until the pork is well coated. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the top of the coated pork, then top with butter in 1/4" Pats.

Place the pan, uncovered, on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook for another hour, or until all liquid has reduced and caramelized. Let the burnt ends cool to set the glaze for about 15-20 min. Serve to preference.

RECIPE SPONSORED BY

Genesis Kitchen

270 Nucleus Columbia Falls, MT Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm 406-897-2667 - Info@genesis-kitchen.com

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Chopp Shoppe No hormones or antibiotics Choice to Wagyu Grade Hours 9am-7pm…all week long 721 Wisconsin Ave in Whitefish

Toasted Sesame & Honey Ginger Slaw Great For Weekly Meal Prep INGREDIENTS: l 3 cups chopped green cabbage l 3 cups chopped red cabbage l 3 cups loosley packed de- stemmed

chopped kale

l 2 carrots chopped l ½ a cup chopped cilantro l ½ a cup toasted cashews (or peanuts) l 2 Tablespoons EVOO l 1 tablespoon Toasted Seasame Oil l 2 Tablespoons Honey Ginger White

balsamic

l Juice from 1 lime l ½ teaspoon salt (to taste) l Fresh cracked pepper to taste l OPTIONAL for the heat lovers add a

dash or three of Seed Ranch Umami Reserve Hot Sauce

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. In a large bowl, combine cabbage, kale, bell peppers, carrots, cashews, and cilantro. 2. In another bowl, whisk together the olive oil, toasted sesame oil, honey ginger white balsamic, lime juice, salt, and pepper. 3. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to coat. Chill and serve. 4. TIP: if you are wanting to eat this over a weeks span don’t pour dressing on greens till the day that you are eating. This is a great dish for lunch add a protein or serve over our Buckwheat Soba Noodles for dinner.

food} ASK THE BUTCHER

Ask the Butcher

By Collin “Sonny” Johnson, Chöpp Shöppe at Alpine Village Photos by ACE Photography & Design

Total Recall...no not the movie. The food industry.

This year has been a banner year for food recalls. It seems like every two weeks we are warned of yet another food or product recall. These recalls can turn a fun dinner party or restaurant outing into a nightmare. Sickness usually sets in within 24 hours and can be mild to severe for days, sometimes lasting up to a month. As a recent graduate from the University of Montana MEAT microbiology course, I have seen germs at work firsthand. You are more likely to be sickened by produce than any other consumer products. So, produce washing is a must before consuming...lettuce and fine leafy veggies need a good soak in warm water with some type of commercial organic cleaner or spray...then another cold water rinse immediately after...which will still not guarantee your safety...but will definitely increase your chances of staying healthy.

Chopp Shoppe THE FLATHEAD’S PREMIER BUTCHER SHOP No hormones or antibiotics Choice to Wagyu Grade Mon. - Sat. 9am-7pm Closed on Sunday 721 Wisconsin Ave in Whitefish

406-609-9500

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With hearty big or stout veggies, they must also be washed then usually cooking or boiling to safe temp will kill bacteria. Do not freeze directly…that will only freeze the problem...cook then freeze if you must. Always clean hands and surfaces to keep cross contamination at bay. Keeping foods below 40° and cooking to at the very least 145° also helps as well. Meats and produce all included…check the CDC and/or the USFDA websites... they are very prompt with information and through with directions...be safe... eat clean and enjoy. Sonny and the Chopp Shoppe team

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food}

Nordic Fish Chowder By Justin Pinnell

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food} NORDIC FISH CHOWDER What I appreciate most about this chowder is that it's an anything-goes type recipe. While my wife is a baker who meticulously follows rules, my approach to cooking involves a pinch of this and a dab of that. In short, nothing is ever quite the same with any given dish I make. To begin, you'll need fish—any kind will do, no rules. In the old days, as winter lingered, two dependable things were fish from the ocean, lake, river, or stream, and cream from your cow, making it a must for this chowder. Choose some stock, be it chicken stock, vegetable stock, or a fish stock made from the bits and pieces of past meals (cooked down and heavily salted). After this, there are no rules—have fun and do as you like. I use bacon to sauté the potatoes, onions, etc., but any oil will work fine. Any vegetable goes well, so clean out the vegetable bin in your refrigerator. Below is how I like the chowder, however, as it's said in the old Nordic tongue, “alt er betra” (anything is better). Have fun and make it your own.

Ingredients

• 4 strips of bacon • 4 tablespoons butter • 1 fennel bulb, quartered, with fronds reserved for topping • 1 cup chopped shallot • 3 carrots, sliced into rounds • 4 cloves garlic, minced (increase if you're battling a cold) • 1 cup white wine (the cheaper, the better)

• 1/2 cup clam juice • Juice from a whole lemon • 1 pound gold potatoes, unpeeled and cut into large chunks • 4 cups chicken stock • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 pound cod, cut into large pieces • 1/2 cup heavy cream • Salt and plenty of pepper, to taste

Feel free to adjust according to your preferences, and happy cooking!

Cooking Instructions:

• First, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the crispy bacon and leave the rendered fat in the pan. Crumble up the bacon and set it aside to sprinkle on top of the chowder.

A luxury bridal hair studio based in Kalispell, Montana, Cabello Vida Salon focuses on timeless styling and a love for evolving techniques. I work alongside professional makeup artists, we deliver a cohesive, elevated beauty experience tailored to each client. We love to travel anywhere in Montana & beyond!

Testimonials

Jamie is the BEST! Jamie has been my hairstylist for years, so having her do my hair and all of my bridesmaids' hair on my wedding day in October was an easy choice. She was amazing from start to finish-so talented, organized, and calm, which made the whole morning relaxed and fun. She listened to what everyone wanted and executed every style perfectly. My hair and my bridesmaids' hair held up beautifully all day. Jamie is also just wonderful to be around-so friendly, kind, and easy to get along with. I couldn't recommend her more, especially for a wedding day.

• In the grease, add the fennel bulb, shallot, carrots, and garlic. Sauté until glossy and softened, around 5 minutes. • Once the shallots are soft, stir in the white wine and reduce by half. After the reduction, add the clam juice and lemon juice.

• Add the potatoes, cayenne pepper, and cover with the broth of your choice. Bring it to a boil until the potatoes are tender, but not completely softened. • Next add the butter, fish, and heavy cream. Simmer until the fish is opaque and the potatoes are very soft, approximately 10 minutes.

• Remove the chowder from the heat and let it rest. Season with salt and pepper to taste. To serve, garnish with fennel fronds. 406

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Jamie was above and beyond for me as a bride. Even when I didn't know what I wanted, she guided me with confidence. She made my hair do things I never thought it could!! She made sure I felt beautiful and comfortable. Jamie was so accommodating, and helped me find another stylist for my bridesmaids. Her experience is amazing!

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local author}

The Grumpy Wumpus By Author Julia Shaw Book Review by Kristen Hamilton

I admit that with five grandkids, I buy and read a lot of children’s books. It’s always fun to find a book that engages them and keeps them entertained through the last page. The Grumpy Wumpus picture book is one of those books. With relatable passages, it helps kids navigate their overwhelming feelings that they don’t always understand but know that something isn’t quite right. It was fun to read with my granddaughters who have very different personalities and deal with emotions very differently. The story allowed us to notice individual tough emotions and talk about them.

It was fun to hear each of them relate to the Grumpy Wumpus entering their world. Instead of trying to fix overwhelming feelings, the story let the girls identify powerful emotions and work through them.

Julia Shaw

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Julia Shaw lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband, their two daughters, a cat, and a dog. She is a knitter, maker, gardener, cancer survivor, and freelance proofreader.

The soft illustrations are comforting and the illustrations of the furry Wumpus are adorable.

In a previous life, she studied at Georgetown University and worked in publishing at Penguin Random House.

The Grumpy Wumpus is the first in a planned series exploring different emotional experiences through the Wumpus character, with additional titles forthcoming later this year.

Her writing is shaped by both the ordinary intensity of early parenthood and the harder seasons that ask you to slow down, pay attention, and hold on to what matters most.

The book includes a letter to grownups at the end reinforces the book’s core message: that connection remains, even in the hardest moments.

The book is available now. Visit your local bookseller or order online.

For more information, follow along on Instagram at @TheWumpusLady.

love} stories

Amanda & Jordan August 22, 2026 - Photographs by Rachel Jobst Photography The Barn at Finley Point

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love} stories

Amanda has always pictured getting married under or near weeping willow trees. The venue was perfect!

Jordan and Amanda moved to Montana from Wyoming in 2021. Jordan works in the construction industry as an operations manager. Amanda owns a marketing agency in the Flathead Valley offering websites, social media, SEO, marketing strategy, branding, and events. They live in Kalispell and love it in the Flathead Valley. They enjoy camping, hiking, exploring new territories, and attending all the local events and fun in the valley.

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love} stories

What did you enjoy most during your wedding day?

Spending the day with all our loved ones and finally being married to the man of my dreams.

Amanda - What is the trait that you most admire in Jordan?

He is very kind to others and caring.

Jordan – When did you realize you wanted to get married to Amanda?

After our first date, I even told my mom all about it.

Why did you choose the venue where you got married?

We met on a golf course and there are golf carts for us to use at the venue (lol), a beautiful landscape for the perfect outdoor wedding, and the bride has always pictured getting married under or near weeping willow trees. The venue was perfect!

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

Spending the day with all our loved ones and finally being married to the man of my dreams.

Jordan – What is your favorite activity to do as a couple? We love camping and hiking!

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love} stories

Why did you choose the venue where you got married?

“We met on a golf course, so the beautiful landscape felt like the perfect setting for our outdoor wedding.”

Wedding Details… Venue The Barn at Finley Point Rentals Celebrate Event & Party Rental Caterer Waters Edge Winery & Bistro Kalispell and some items from Bonjour Bakery & Bistro

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Dress Hannah Jane Couture Tuxes/Suits Calvin Klein (purchased from designer) Animals (horse, highland cows, and beverage burros) - Montana Luxe Events Photographer Rachel Jobst Photography (racheljobst@gmail.com)

Cake/Dessert Bonjour Bakery & Bistro

Flowers Bloom Briar

Music Our playlist :)

Gifts Montana Fragrance Co.

Love at First Light, oil on canvas, 20x24

137 CENTRAL AVENUE WHITEFISH, MONTANA ~ 406.862.2751 GOINGTOTHESUNGALLERY @ GMAIL.COM ~ GOINGTOTHESUNGALLERY.COM

Belligerent Bison, oil on canvas, 8x10 Early Morning Majesty, oil on canvas, 18x24

The Fast And The Furious, oil on canvas, 18x24 Her Knight In Shining Armor, oil on canvas, 18x24

Proudly Presents

Man Of The Hour, oil on canvas, 18x24

Dallen Lambson

FINE ART - BRONZE SCULPTURE - JEWELRY - MONTANA SAPPHIRES MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 10AM TO 6PM - SUNDAYS 11AM TO 5PM

406 w o m a n

From Podcast to Trailhead Your Next Great Hike Starts Here

10. Explore Glacier National Park with the Hiking Fools! Josh and Sarah share trail tips, wildlife stories, park history, and expert advice. Tune in, get inspired, and remember: “Always Go!”

Featured Episodes Bear Safety and Awareness and Introduction to Hiking in GNP

Profile

6. MICHELLE MAHALEK 10. ROSE RILEY 14. THE ABBIE SHELTER 22. JESSICA SAYLOR 35. HELEN FAGRELIUS

Recreation

18. SHAYLA PARADEIS

@hikingfoolsmt

Finance

26. HOW TO CHOOSE A FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Health

30. KALISPELL OB/GYN 36. LOGAN HEALTH 40. DR. MILLER

406

Listen every Saturday/Sunday at 8:35am on KJJR 880AM and 107.9FM

w o m a n

View current and past issues of 406 Woman at

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Strong Hands, Creative Energy, Full Heart!

Michelle Mahalek By Mary Wallace

Tuesday Morning. Her capable hands have been non-stop occupied getting 5-year-old Maeva & 3-year-old Sonny fed, dressed, hugged, and out the door to spend the day with Grandma. Now her hands are itching to pick up her silversmithing tools. Grabbing another cup of coffee, she heads out to her backyard studio, settles at her workbench, and exhales in gratitude...her happy place. Now her hand reaches for a natural stone; she holds it quietly and stills her mind long enough to let it tell her what it wants to become. This particular sapphire is giving vibes toward one of her Crown of the Continent ring designs. Her hands swiftly set to work. For Michelle Mahalek, it was the love of working with her hands that started it all. A metalsmith artist, she creates one-of-a-kind jewelry and works mainly with silver, but she occasionally uses gold fill or brass. Her pieces are inspired by her northwestern Montana surroundings and influenced by the seasons. Using different mediums and stones, such as Montana agate, sapphires, turquoise, and opals, she joyfully spends her days crafting a wide range of pieces.

Growing up in Whitefish, Michelle took advantage of a Flathead Valley Community College program called Running Start, which gives high school students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits at the same time. It was there that she took her first metalsmithing course and discovered a natural affinity for— and a deep love of—creating handmade, oneof-a-kind jewelry. Michelle graduated from high school and attended the University of Montana in Missoula, earning her degrees in French and education in 2014. Fresh out of college, she accepted a position as a French teacher at Flathead

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High School and enjoyed growing into her ‘teach- something with my own two hands that feeds my soul,” said Michelle, “I feel like I’ve also grown erhood’ during her seven years there. into my own style. I can finish a piece and stand During summer breaks, she picked up her metal- back to look at it and know that it is definitely smithing tools and rediscovered her passion. She ‘Bad Rock.’” sold a few pieces… gave some to friends. Their enthusiasm nudged at her to take a new path. Each piece bears the evidence of her touch: a After her daughter was born, she found herself little imperfection, a hand-finished edge, a texwith a decision to make. The thought of leaving ture that could never have come from a machine. the security of her full-time teaching job was all Her hands don’t simply make jewelry; they give kinds of scary. Yes, she was anxious, but in her it character. gut, she yearned to explore the possibility of becoming a real, true metal artist. And it just felt so How does one get started in a metalsmithing totally right - for her passion and for her family. business? What does one need? “The need for tools is endless,” quips Michelle, “Every year I’ve Her supportive husband, John, built her the stu- bought new things for my metalsmithing habit dio in their backyard, and Bad Rock Metalworks tumblers, equipment, different mediums to use was born. She’s been working at her craft for on new techniques.” over five years already; Maeva is going to kinderThere has been a lot of trial and error - she garten this year. quickly learned that silver is a finicky medium, Being able to do what she loves has made all the and a little too much torch fire can melt a piece, difference for her - she is so grateful to live and or a slip of the hand can crack a stone, and you’re work here. “There is something about making back to square one. Even after five years, she still

profile} MICHELLE MAHALEK

Each piece bears the evidence of her touch: a little imperfection, a hand-finished edge, a texture that could never have come from a machine. Her hands don’t simply make jewelry; they give it character. realizes that she has so much to learn. She is grateful to have many friends in the metalsmithing world because they ‘get it’ and they are great mentors. Being a maker and being surrounded by the making community is a magical thing.

feeds her creativity and her love of the craft. Winter passion projects fuel her soul. She also likes doing custom pieces because each is sentimental to her customer. They are always special pieces that they will hold on to - like the gentleman who saved the ivories from one, that she was previously a French teacher “I feel like I’ve begun to inherently know what an elk he harvested. He brought them to Michelle and two, that she was a competitive ice skater people will want,” adds Michelle. Her customer to make earrings for his wife, and on the back he during her teen years. base is mostly women who enjoy adventure. had her stamp lyrics from their wedding song. Her bucket list includes finding more opportu“One of my favorite moments at a vendor fair is seeing one of my pieces resonate with someone.” Of course, some days are good, and some days nities to travel, since that has been put on hold nothing goes right. Sometimes there's a delicate while having kids and growing a business. She She does a limited number of customs each balance between her productivity and her fam- would also love to go to metalsmithing school or workshops to learn more techniques. year. A current trend is gifts for wedding parties ily life. including bolos or earrings for a bridal party. “These pieces take a while to design and get the But life is good! Michelle loves that her studio al- Michelle’s heart swells when she holds a perfect stones for, so it is best to inquire at least lows her to be home with the kids. Her husband, finished piece in her hand and realizes that 6 months ahead …,” warns Michelle. She sources John, is a welder - specializing in custom gates she has just had the privilege of giving new her stones at gem shows and from lapidary art- and railings and he has his shop on their propists, and from Kehoe’s agate shop. erty, too. They both like that they can make their life to what was found in the earth. That a schedules work around the kids' needs. Lately, part of her spirit resides in it. Her handmade Her creative side likes that she can sit down both children have taken up making their own pieces are made more for customers whose and make what she feels like. Small-batch work jewelry projects with kid-friendly supplies, and lives are like her own - they are less posed, that makes her heart sing. Michelle feels so fortunate more real life. They reflect her day-to-day that her family is such a family life, her love of the outdoors, of Big huge support. Her parents Mountain, of camping, of Flathead Lake. love being with the kids She savors the moment, then she is ready several times a week, and that is a win all the way to release it to a new owner. around. Any advice for 406 readers? “In the world of She loves to garden and social media, it is so easy to fall into the trap reap the harvest of their of thinking everyone else has it all figured out. small orchard of cherries, They don’t! So, even when things get hard, keep plums, and apples. They going!” live a stone’s throw from the river so they like to Check out Michelle’s handmade pieces at spend time there. She also https://badrockmetalworks.com/. There are likes all that this area of- currently several one-of-a-kind items listed on fers - skiing, hiking, camp- the website. One can also find Bad Rock Metaling, picking huckleberries, works at the Whitefish Farmer’s Market during the summer months, and on display at The Togpickling, preserving. gery or Haskill Creek Dispensary in Whitefish, Two things not many peo- and the Fireweed Shop in Driggs, Idaho. People ple know about her are can always come see her in person to shop.

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Photos by Amber Siderius Photography

profile}

Creating a Life with Nature in Mind

Rose Riley,

Founder of Stoner Creek Apothecary and More! By Kristen Hamilton Photos by Caleb Riley

Rose Riley was born and raised in Montana by parents that believed in a natural and holistic approach to life and health. Using that inspiration, this motivated young woman decided that a career centered around those principals was the best choice for her. WHAT MAKES ROSE’S BUSINESS UNIQUE She lives in what she jokingly refers to as “our family compound in Lakeside” with her parents and multiple cousins. She said, “A multi-generational family homestead, if you will!

“A beautiful creek called Stoner Creek runs through the land, and it's actually where the name Stoner Creek Apothecary comes from. The ‘Apothecary’ portion of my business name reflects my passion for natural, holistic healing and creating products that help people care for themselves using simple, natural ingredients. “I make herbal tinctures, teas, wellness products, postpartum care items, handcrafted soaps, and seasonal foods, all inspired by the resources around me and the belief that nature provides so much of what we need.

“I'm also a licensed massage therapist hoping to soon specialize in prenatal and postpartum massage, and I recently had the honor of being nominated as one of the Flathead Valley's Best Massage Therapists.”

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FROM OTHERS OFFERING SIMILAR PRODUCTS IN THE AREA?

“I think what makes Stoner Creek Apothecary unique is the rare piece of land I've been fortunate to call home. Our acreage on Blacktail Mountain has an incredibly diverse abundance of wildflowers, herbs, trees, and native plants. Alfalfa, mullein, clover, and countless other plants support the wildlife, our bees, ducks, chickens, and pigs, while also providing many of the herbs I use in my tinctures, teas, salves, and other apothecary products.

“Everything I do begins on this same property. The farm stand, creekside massage space, beehives, gardens, and the land where I harvest herbs are all connected. Even the lumber used to build parts of the farm stand and outbuildings came from trees milled right here on our property, and we heat our homes with firewood harvested from the land as well. As a family, we've always tried to be good stewards of this place, caring for it responsibly so it can continue to provide for future generations.

“Wanting to work from home so I could raise my toddler led me to build Stoner Creek Apothecary almost entirely on my own. As a single mom, I bake every loaf of sourdough in my little cottagestyle kitchen, create my herbal products from scratch, and even incorporate lard from our own pigs into some of my soaps. I love that everything feels connected to the land and to the life we're building here. “I'm also a beekeeper, and I love incorporating our raw local honey and beeswax into many of my products while continuing to learn more about beekeeping and all the ways bees contribute to a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.”

Rose’s Postpartum Baskets have become popular with her customers. They are homemade locally sourced gift baskets specifically catering to a new mom. She notes that “everyone wants to hold the baby but no one wants to hold mom.” These special baskets do just that and can include items like herbal tea blends, sitz baths, lard soap, perineal blends, baby bottom spray, honey, and cookies but essentially can be customized truly any way you’d like.

profile} STONER CREEK APOTHECARY

As a family, we've always tried to be good stewards of this place, caring for it responsibly so it can continue to provide for future generations.

Stoner Creek Apothecary

www.stoner-creek-apothecary-llc.square.site

Farm Stand

1260 Blacktail Rd., Lakeside MT 59922 2.5 miles up from the town of Lakeside on the left Open Saturday & Sunday from 8:00am-8:00pm through November Opens again for the season in April

What is offered?

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF ROSE’S WORK WEEK?

Besides her adorable 2-year-old son, Maverick, she said...

“Massage therapy is still one of my favorite parts because I genuinely love helping people feel better.” She also loves Saturday mornings at the farm stand. “After spending the week baking, harvesting, and preparing everything, I get there early to stock the shelves before opening, and there's often already a small line of customers waiting.” They get there early to grab fresh sourdough before it sells out. “Seeing people excited enough to wait for something I made with my own hands is one of the most rewarding parts of my week.”

WHO INSPIRES ROSE TO EXCEL? “Definitely Maverick…everything is for him.

“As a sole provider every part of Stoner Creek Apothecary has been built with the

hope of creating a life that allows me to provide for my son while also being present with him. Each piece of my business, from massage therapy to baking sourdough, caring for bees, making herbal products, and running my seasonal farm stand, has grown organically from that goal. It's been my way of building a business that reflects my values while making thoughtful use of the resources our land provides.”

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR ROSE’S FUTURE?

“Looking ahead, I hope to continue expanding both the wellness and homesteading sides of my business. One dream is to offer educational homestead tours and workshops where visitors can experience life on the property, learn about beekeeping, see the sawmill in action, meet the animals, harvest honey, render lard, and discover how many of my products are made from start to finish.”

● Micro bakery featuring sourdough products including bagels, cookies, bread and cinnamon rolls ● Raw wildflower honey collected by Rose and her dad ● Lard soap that Rose harvests herself ● Beef tallow face cream ● Tea, tinctures ● Beeswax candles ● Chicken & duck eggs ● Fresh cut wildflower bouquets as well as flowers Rose’s mom has grown ● Raw milk from Lovenwater Farm in Kalispell ● Custom scented candles based off things on the property (wildflower honey, Stoner Creek, cozy cottage) from Woodrick’s Wood Wicks ● Thrifted vintage treasures from The Velvet Mallard ● Beeswax lip balms from Freyja‘s Magic Apothecary

Massage Therapy with Rose on the beautiful family property are available by appointment on Mondays & Tuesdays. Call or text 406-2128198. Massages with Rose are also available at Zen Den Spa in Lakeside every Thursday.

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profile}

Executive Director Kristen Schepker

The Day In 1976 That Women Took Matters Into Their Own Hands By Mary Wallace

It’s a startling statistic: one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. But fifty years ago, a determined group of Flathead Valley women saw the need for change—and decided to take matters into their own hands.

MEET ANOTHER 2026 PARK SIDE PARTNER - The Abbie Shelter

For 50 years, Abbie Shelter has pro- when 25 percent of women were experiencing ● Telephone Helpline - The Abbie Shelter sexual violence in their lifetimes, and 90 percent vided support, advocacy, and resourc- of those women were highly discouraged from Helpline is the first step to getting support es for survivors of intimate partner talking about it, Abbie wanted to listen, and she in all the different ways the organization a way of making them feel safe sharing their provides. violence and sexual assault through- had experiences. She often went to court to advocate out Flathead County. The Abbie Shel- for clients she met through the helpline, and she ● Shelter/Temporary safe housing - The ter serves people impacted by sexual was one of the catalysts who pushed the limits of Shelter is in a confidential location, and it the services that the Helpline could offer by conhouses people in Flathead County who are violence or assault. tinually offering more. The Abbie Shelter opened its doors in 1994, but its mission began long before that. In 1976, a group of passionate, devoted volunteers worked hard to give voice and support to survivors, and they established a 24-hour helpline, then called the Kalispell Rape Crisis Line, for women who were trying to escape and recover from intimate partner violence. What began as a grassroots effort with a handful of all-volunteer women supporting survivors soon grew into a formal nonprofit organization. In 1980, their first paid staff member, Sally Cameron-Russell, was hired as Executive Director, marking an important new chapter in the organization’s evolution and its commitment to serving survivors in the Flathead Valley.

In August of 1991, Abigail Frederick was struck by a car and killed while bicycling home. Her Helpline friends were devastated, but amid their grief, they found a way to honor Abbie’s life and carry on her commitment to helping others. They doubled down on their efforts and set a new goal: to acquire a private facility where survivors could find safety and shelter. In 1994, they succeeded, and the Abbie Shelter opened its doors.

in danger from their intimate partner.

● Court Advocacy - Victim Advocates help survivors know their rights and navigate the legal system. ● Mental Health - The Shelter has an extensive list of trusted providers for individual counseling and offers limited scholarships for those who need them, as well as a weekly support group facilitated by a trained professional.

Today, the organization’s work of promoting nonviolence and justice in all its parts is done in honor of all the brave and creative women who refused to be silent about intimate partner violence and sexual assault, and in honor of the strength and courage of all survivors of violence. ● Community Outreach and Education

- The organization provides educational Volunteer Abigail Frederick dedicated much of The Abbie Shelter is so much more than shelpresentations in schools and to community ter. Five core programs operate under the Abbie her time advocating for those who fell through the cracks of a non-peaceful system. In a time Shelter roof. organizations.

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profile} THE ABBIE SHELTER

Abbie Shelter staff and board members Current staff at Abbie Shelter

You matter, you have value, and we see you! You deserve our support! With a background in anthropology and graduate studies in health, Executive Director Kristen Schepker began her career serving individuals navigating homelessness in the San Francisco area. She developed a particular passion for supporting children, so she found her initial calling working mostly within family shelters. She followed her heart (who is now her husband) to the Flathead Valley in 2019.

She joined the Abbie team as the Shelter Operations Director in 2023, drawing on many years of experience in the nonprofit social services field. She became Executive Director in the summer of 2024. She's passionate about finding ways to amplify the voices of those in our community whose stories often go untold. Besides Kristen, the Abbie Shelter currently has six other employees who oversee the countless volunteers who (among other things) faithfully staff the Helpline Monday-Friday from 9 am to 9 pm. The culture of the organization is still very much like it was when the Helpline started in 1976. “We all love that we get to honor the legacy of that initial group of brave, creative, and fierce women who refused to be silent about intimate partner violence and sexual assault, and to continue to honor the strength and courage of all survivors of violence,” said Kristen.

If they would like the public to know anything else, it is that someone does not have to be in a dire situation to get guidance or services. The Helpline is the front door to all the services the Abbie offers. From the first minute, it offers a nonjudgmental and confidential listening ear. It all starts with an initial call to 406-752-7273. Even if someone has just begun to sense that something in their relationship is not quite right, they can call for support and guidance. If someone notices that a friend or loved one seems to be in an unhealthy situation, they can call the Helpline or visit abbieshelter.org to find resourc-

es on how to bring it up and gently coach their As one might imagine, the work of the team may loved one to seek guidance from the advocates at sometimes feel heavy, but the staff and volunteers open their hearts to celebrating small and the Abbie Shelter. large successes and savoring little glimmers of Kristen loves that the work they do truly mat- hope as they appear. They also find ways to creters. “I get to devote my time knowing that it is ate joy as much as possible. impactful in the community. Some might think to themselves, ‘My situation is not that bad, and One such event is on the horizon - The Abbie I don’t want to take up space when there may be Shelter’s Stayin’ Alive Celebration! The whole team is having a blast planning for their upcomothers who need help more than me.’ ing fundraiser - a Disco-inspired anniversary “To them I say, NO! You matter, you have value, party to celebrate 50 years of Abbie Shelter services to the Flathead Valley. It’s an evening filled and we see you! You deserve our support!” with delicious food, entertainment, raffles, a One thing that surprises people is that being well- disco dance party, and more! The event is slated off financially is no protection against domestic for Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 5 pm violence. Neither is being a man. (Yes - men are at the Wachholz Center. Tickets are available at survivors of abusive situations, too.) There are abbieshelter.org/events. never any race, age, gender, or financial restrictions that would preclude anyone from receiving Visit abbieshelter.org for a robust list of resources and guidelines to help someone in an services. unhealthy situation, and how to support them The Abbie Shelter can currently accommodate as they recover. Also, learn more about getting five family units. That could be any combination involved, whether by donating, volunteering, of a family unit - such as a mother with two chil- hosting a fundraiser, or hosting a community dren, a young single woman, a man with a tod- outreach event. dler, an older woman, or a family of five. Sometimes, they may have to get creative and switch Any words of advice? “You are enough,” said bedding around, but they always make it work. Kristen, “When it comes down to it, you have What everyone finds most challenging is when already survived. Even the strongest hearts the Shelter is full, and they have to turn someone need support, and we are honored to give it away. Even then, the Abbie staff and volunteers where we can. We are here for you - come have a toolbox of other resources, such as help- as you are.” ing arrange temporary lodging, encouraging them to attend support group meetings, and ad- The Park Side Partner Program is a communivocating for them if they need to file for an or- ty initiative that celebrates and raises awareder of protection or have other needs. They also ness of local non-profit groups by providing work closely with the Samaritan House and the financial support, cross-promotion, shared Flathead Warming Center. advertising, and employee volunteer groups. The program’s overall goal is to support, elThe board and staff of the Abbie Shelter have re- evate, and raise awareness of six nonprofits cently worked together to craft a 5-year strategic in western Montana each year. The Park Side plan. They are seeking grant funding to explore Partner Program has supported 80+ nonprofexpanding their facility and services to accom- its and shared over $400,000 over the past modate the growing needs of the community. 15+ years. 406 oman.com 63

549 Electric Avenue, Bigfork, Montana 837-6444 - Open Every Day

r o f s e i r o s s e c c A h & t i l e w r n Appa en and Wome ry M ontempora a C n Lifestyle. r e t s e W

206 Central Avenue, Whitefish, Montana 862-6333 - Open Every Day

profile} SHAYLA PARADEIS

A Life Measured in Trail Markers

Shayla Paradeis By Rachael Seymour

When the modern world gets too much, sometimes it’s good to opt out of the rat race for a short time and go on a hike. Whether that time is just for a few hours, or maybe a few days, or even a week or two. Sometimes the best way to embrace society is to (temporarily) forget about it completely. That’s what typically helps the average hiker, and Shayla Paradeis is not your average hiker. For a little over 15 years, Shayla has become an accomplished hiker, hiking thousands of miles and trekking all over the U.S. on enormous iconic trials such as the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail (otherwise known as the Triple Crown of Hiking) and the Te Araroa of New Zealand (spanning the entire length of the country). All done solo, without even a smartphone to navigate. When we met up to talk, the air was thick with wildfire smoke and bathing the sky in a pinkish hue. Not the best outdoor conditions, so we were both happy to sit in a clean, airconditioned cafe.

Shayla’s love for the outdoors began when she was 14. Her family was invited by friends to come out from her town in Brainerd Minnesota to vacation in Polebridge. During that time, they got to visit the soaring peaks and crystal waters of Bowman Lake. From there on out, according to Shayla, “Life was divided into time in Glacier, and time away from Glacier.” While Shayla had to discover her love for hiking, she always knew she was an artist. Growing up, her feet moved to the sound of music and dance, and she wanted to be a Broadway star. She worked hard, getting a scholarship for acting and went to the Perpich Center for Arts Education, followed by the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

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But as time went on, Shayla began to feel more and more like a cog within a hidden machine. One day, standing in line amidst hundreds of others for an audition, she felt something snap. She looked out into one, singular window in the studio and could see blue sky. And all she could think about at that moment was Glacier National Park. So she left, and never looked back.

She got a job at Lake McDonald Lodge and returned to the love she’s always known. Slowly, she began to settle back into the outdoors. As time went on, she stayed out longer, realizing how much more she preferred being outdoors alone than being a part of everyday society. That first summer, Shayla walked over 500 miles of trail. The next one, over 900. Shortly after that, Shayla was given Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering American on the Appalachian Trail as a gift. Upon learning about the famous trail, Shayla was fascinated by its enormity.

“I had never heard of it before, and so as soon as I found out there was a place where you could walk all summer in one continuous line, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I'm doing that. It's just a matter of when’…What could be better than being able to walk all summer long on one trail?” Sure enough, Shalya found herself in the Appalachian wilderness 2 years later.

When she first started distance hiking, Shayla felt like it was for the wrong reasons. She wanted to push herself into achieving it, and push against the obstacles in her life. Now, she’s learned to use this time for joy, and to cut back on anything that felt unnecessary. She thinks about how clear it was to her when she first realized it. “I was like ‘This is all I want! I just want to live in the woods. I want to think about food, water, and shelter, and it feels so clean and so life-giving and straightforward. I don't want to go back to thinking about my cell phone bill.’”

profile} SHAYLA PARADEIS

She was hooked. The world of hiking became her life, spending the warm summer months moving through the American wilderness and falling further in love with its beauty.

For Shayla, her life rotates between absorption and creation. During her time hiking, she absorbs the wild world around her and how it reflects on herself and her thoughts. She decompresses from the craziness of the modern world. The next year, she spends resting, planning, and creating. She spends time with friends and family and enjoys her life and, even the artist, she creates. She writes and performs her songs and writes. Spurred on by her brother, she was even able to write a book, Footprints of the Heart. She also gets to spend time with her family and reflect on the good things she has in life, even in the regular modern world.

“There are days that I'm sitting in a comfy chair with a blanket on my lap, like eating a bowl of ice cream, and I'm like, ‘Wow, we have so much. We are rich beyond our wildest dreams’. I really appreciate how going without gave me so much gratitude for what we have.” This year is an off year for Shayla. But this time around, things are a little different. This time, she’s helping make a movie.

This is all I want! I just want to live in the woods. I want to think about food, water, and shelter, and it feels so clean and so life-giving and straightforward.

Inspired by the first time she ever had to not finish a trail due to an encounter with a heat stressed bear on the trail. Shayla thought about how much the bear was suffering due to both the weather and how there wasn’t enough space for her and the bear in that area of the woods to peacefully coexist. These thoughts turned into a script that she’s collaborating with local artist Melissa Bloom of Sisters Bloom Studios in trying to get the work off the ground. It’s a story about a group of North American animals traveling though the US Wilderness. With this movie, their goal is to bring to light the positive impact human infrastructure can bring to connect land and animals with things like wildlife overpasses.

Before long, it’ll be that time again for Shayla to feel that need again, to turn her phone off and to go into the woods to only think about food, water and shelter. But for now, she’s with us sharing her gifts with the world, and we are so grateful for that. Website: www.atkiddo.com Insta: @greatgreyendeavors Youtube: @shaylaparadise1873

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profile} JESSICA SAYLOR

All In The Family With

JESSICA SAYLOR By Mary Wallace

Jessica Saylor, general contractor and owner of Saylor Construction, is following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather. When clients choose Saylor Construction, they’re tapping into a legacy built over generations. Jessica grew up in Whitefish and Kalispell, often joining her dad on what she and her siblings still jokingly call “running a loop with Dad.” What began as an invitation to run one errand usually turned into stops at lumberyards, trips to pick up or drop off blueprints, and visits to job sites—but always ended with doughnuts. Today, Jessica carries on the tradition with her sons, Dawson and Gavin, who now ask whether one errand will turn into “a whole loop.” Jessica’s parents were both teachers, but building ran deep on both sides of her family. Her paternal grandfather was a commercial builder, while her maternal grandfather was an educator, skilled woodworker, and carpentry instructor through Job Corps. He gave Jessica’s father a copy of Modern Carpentry, which he read cover to cover before getting a “wild hair” one summer and deciding to build a spec house while off from teaching. He studied each phase the night before tackling it on the job site. That single house earned him more than a full year of teaching, and he quickly realized he had found his calling. All three Saylor siblings would eventually find their own way into the building industry, although Jessica’s path back to the family business was anything but direct.

One thing that not a lot of people know about Jessica is that she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of California, Irvine. She put herself through college by working as a grocery store checker, cleaning her dad’s active job sites and completed homes, and handling his administrative and bookkeeping work in the evenings. After graduation, she and her sister spent the summer at their mom’s home on Lake Blaine. Jessica found herself at a crossroads, deciding whether to pursue a career in law enforcement

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or attend law school, when she unexpectedly started a business.

When Jessica returned to the Flathead Valley after 10 years in California, she recognized a need created by the growing number of second homes around Flathead Lake and started Flathead Home Watchers. What began as a onewoman operation grew to include full-time crews caring for 125 properties. A request to provide home checks for a condominium association later led her to launch JES Management, a professional HOA management company that eventually served 35 homeowners associations. She operated both businesses simultaneously for several years before selling Home Watchers when she became pregnant with her first son, Dawson. When Jessica found herself a single mother with two young sons, her priorities shifted. She sold JES Management and stepped away from business. For a time, she found joy in simply being a mom. Jessica’s path into construction began with Bernie Slogotski, a friend and former client who became one of her greatest mentors. When he asked what she would do with the final unsold lot in one of his local developments, Jessica

envisioned a single-family home in place of the multifamily residence originally planned. Given free rein, she worked with an architect to develop the plan, and her first building project—nicknamed “Jessica’s Barn”—was soon underway. Completed as demand surged during COVID, the home received multiple offers and sold above the asking price in less than 10 days.

Jessica’s Barn also caught the attention of a woman searching for property in Montana. Although the house itself wasn’t what she was looking for, she loved Jessica’s design and finish selections, specifically asked to meet her, and ultimately hired Jessica to build a custom home on another property.

Jessica values the knowledge and experience of the subcontractors with whom she works. “I learn from our subs every day. If I don’t understand something, they are good at walking me through it,” she says. Although construction remains a male-dominated industry, Jessica says many of the men she works with have been some of her greatest supporters. “My love for what I do is twofold,” Jessica says. “I love being able to create something from nothing and to curate spaces specifically for

profile} JESSICA SAYLOR

I want to create not just their home, but their sanctuary—a place that supports the life they want to live and the memories they will make there. each client. I want to create not just their home, but their sanctuary—a place that supports the life they want to live and the memories they will make there.”

and fostering meaningful conversations. Together, members learn how to advocate for themselves, navigate challenges, and create opportunities rather than waiting for them. They also bring their tools and skills to pubShe likes nothing better than continually being lic events, including a recent BuildHER Basics presented with more unique and challenging hands-on workshop that gave local women an building projects. opportunity to learn practical building techJessica finds far more satisfaction than chal- niques. lenges in her business but admits that one ongoing challenge is working on her own. “I don’t The PWB’s first Break the Bias fundraiser was have a business partner to rely on, but I do have held at Bias Brewing, where $1 from every a group of like-minded women in the local Pro- pint sold supported the council’s mission to fessional Women in Building Council to bounce empower, educate, and engage women in the building industry. The third annual Break the ideas off of.” Bias event will return to Bias Brewing on October 1, 2026.

Jessica was a charter member and the first co-chair of the Flathead Building Association’s Professional Women in Building Council, founded in 2024. FBA Executive Officer Mark Freidline brought together a small group of women working in the local construction industry and asked whether they would consider forming a local PWB council.

The National Association of Home Builders’ Professional Women in Building Council supports and advances women in the residential construction industry. Members work across all aspects of building—from construction and design to sales and marketing—while building relationships, confidence, and opportunities for women.

Joining the Flathead Building Association was a natural fit for Saylor Construction. Jessica is proud that the association’s standards of ethics and excellence reflect the values her family has carried through generations. In 2025, she was named the FBA’s Builder of the Year.

was showing its age—with lots of ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s layers—when she purchased it. The remodel became a true family project, beautifully preserving the home’s original lakeshore charm while giving it the refresh it so desperately needed. More importantly, it transformed the cottage into a place where her family could make new memories.

Jessica’s two sons, Dawson, 20, and Gavin, 17, have each played a part in the family story. Dawson led the demolition work on the cottage with help from his brother and has since started his own window-washing, pressurewashing, and gutter-cleaning business. Gavin is a senior at Bigfork High School. Both boys have also spent plenty of time cleaning Jessica’s job sites, just as she once did for her dad.

When not working, Jessica loves to travel, spend time on the lake—which is literally outside her back door—hike, and watch her dog, Ruby, play fetch by herself: dropping her ball off the dock, waiting for it to float away, and then jumping into the lake to retrieve it. Her The excellence is never more apparent than love language is quality time, so she especially the Flathead Building Association’s Parade of enjoys being with the friends and family she Homes, which is slated for September 18–20, loves. 2026. It’s their annual showcase of exceptional homes built by local builders throughout the Flathead Valley. Visitors can tour a variety of If Jessica were to give any advice, it would be newly constructed homes, explore the latest in to never abandon yourself. Having recently design, craftsmanship, materials, and technol- found her way back to a life that finally feels ogy, as well as gather ideas and inspiration for their own homes. It’s also a great opportunity genuinely her own, she realized she hadn’t to meet the local builders and professionals felt like simply “Jessica” since college. “You who bring these homes to life. can be kind, you can give grace, and you

The local PWB supports women throughout Jessica’s own home has been one of her fathe building industry by offering workshops vorite projects. The 1970s-era lake cottage

can be loving—but never at the expense of abandoning yourself in the process.” 406

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By Jessa Ash, Investment Advisor – Fisher Investment Strategies

How to Choose a Financial Advisor

You Can Truly Trust

Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most meaningful decisions you’ll make for your long term financial wellbeing. Your advisor becomes a partner in your future — someone who helps you navigate retirement, protect your wealth, plan for life transitions, and make confident decisions in a world that often feels overwhelming. With so many titles, credentials, and compensation models out there, it’s natural to wonder who is genuinely working in your best interest.

This fall, I want to help you cut through the noise. Whether you’re preparing for retirement, managing investments, or simply seeking more clarity around your financial life, understanding how advisors are compensated — and what fiduciary duty really means — can empower you to make a confident, informed choice.

WHAT IS A FEE ONLY FIDUCIARY ADVISOR?

A fee only fiduciary advisor is paid solely by you, the client. That means:

• No commissions • No kickbacks • No incentives to sell products •No compensation from insurance or investment companies

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Instead, fee only advisors charge a transparent fee — often a flat rate, hourly rate, or a percentage of assets under management. Because their only financial relationship is with you, they are legally required to act as fiduciaries, putting your interests ahead of their own at all times. Their recommendations are based on your goals, your needs, and your financial picture — not on what earns them the highest commission.

FEE ONLY VS. FEE BASED:

Why the Difference Matters

Although “fee only” and “fee based” sound similar, they represent two very different compensation models. Fee Only Advisors

• Paid only by clients • Transparent pricing • No product commissions • Always fiduciaries

Fee Based Advisors

• May charge fees and earn commissions • Can receive incentives from third parties • May sell insurance, annuities, or investment products • Not fiduciaries

Fee based advisors can absolutely provide excellent service, but their compensation structure can introduce potential conflicts of interest. It can be harder to know whether a

Photo by Rusty Cash

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recommendation is based on your needs or influenced by commissions. At Fischer Investment Strategies, we are proud to be a NAPFA Certified Fee Only firm, meaning we never earn commissions, sell products, or accept incentives of any kind. Our loyalty is — and always will be — to our clients.

WHY FIDUCIARY DUTY MATTERS

When you’re trusting someone with your financial future, you deserve to know they’re legally and ethically committed to acting in your best interest. That’s what fiduciary duty provides. A fiduciary advisor must:

• Put your interests first • Disclose all fees and conflicts • Provide objective, unbiased advice • Act with loyalty and care • Avoid or mitigate conflicts of interest

When interviewing advisors, three questions reveal more than any brochure ever will:

• Are you always acting as a fiduciary? • How are you compensated? • Do you or your firm earn commissions on products?

These questions quickly clarify whether an advisor’s recommendations are aligned with your goals — or influenced by incentives.

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Transparency You know exactly what you’re paying and why.

• What is your approach to retirement and wealth planning? • How do you structure fees, and are there any potential conflicts of interest? • How often will my plan be reviewed? • How will we communicate? • Can you share examples of clients with similar goals?

Clarity Recommendations are based on strategy, not sales incentives.

These questions help you understand not just the advisor’s expertise, but their philosophy, communication style, and commitment to transparency.

Choosing a fee only fiduciary advisor offers several meaningful advantages: Alignment Your success is your advisor’s success.

Trust You can feel confident knowing your advisor is legally obligated to put your interests first. For many families, this alignment creates a stronger, more comfortable long term partnership.

At Fischer Investment Strategies, we encourage clients to review our Form CRS, which clearly outlines our fiduciary commitment and compensation structure.

HOW TO TELL WHETHER AN ADVISOR IS TRULY FEE ONLY

If you’re unsure whether an advisor is fee only or fee based, here are simple steps to find out:

Check Form ADV Every registered investment advisor must file this with the SEC. It outlines compensation, conflicts, and business practices. Look for NAPFA Membership NAPFA requires strict fee only compensation and fiduciary standards.

Ask Directly Advisors should be clear and upfront about how they’re paid. If the answer feels vague or complicated, that’s a red flag.

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN INTERVIEWING ADVISORS

Here are helpful questions to bring to your next advisor meeting:

• Are you a fee only fiduciary, and what does that mean in practice?

HOW FISCHER INVESTMENT STRATEGIES SUPPORTS CLIENTS

With offices in both California and Montana, Fischer Investment Strategies provides fee only fiduciary guidance to clients across the country. We work with pre retirees, retirees, and small business owners to:

• Protect and manage wealth responsibly • Plan for retirement income and long term financial security • Navigate investment decisions with clarity and confidence • Build financial plans rooted in transparency and trust

Our commitment is simple: Your goals come first. Always.

A WELCOMING INVITATION

Finding the right financial advisor doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. When you prioritize fee only fiduciary guidance, you’re choosing clarity, objectivity, and a long term partnership built on trust. If you’re ready to explore your retirement planning, investment strategy, or long term financial goals with a fiduciary advisor who puts your interests first, I’d love to connect. Schedule a complimentary consultation with me, Jessa Ash at Fischer Investment Strategies, and let’s build a financial plan that supports your life — today, tomorrow, and for decades to come.

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health} KALISPELL OB/GYN

Nobody Warns You About the Trampoline Written by Kaycee McIntosh, PA-C

You’re out back with the kids. Some- Every cough, sneeze, laugh, jump and heavy lift Chronic coughing, constipation and straining, exincreases pressure inside your abdomen. Your cess body weight, high-impact activity and previbody yells for a double bounce. You go urethra—the tube urine travels through—is sup- ous pelvic surgery can also contribute. up, you come down, and somewhere posed to stay closed, with help from the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding connective tissue. COMMON, YES. NORMAL, NO. in there, you leak. When that support can’t keep up with the pressure, urine gets out. That’s stress urinary inconOr it’s mile two of a run. Or you’re dragging a bag tinence, or SUI. of dog food out of the truck. Or your sister says something so funny you have to grab the counter, It’s different from urge incontinence, which and right in the middle of that laugh, there it is. causes that sudden, get-me-to-a-bathroom feeling that can sometimes end in leakage. Plenty Then comes the part nobody mentions. You pee of women have both, called mixed incontinence, before the workout, then again in the parking lot, and knowing what type you’re dealing with matjust to be safe. You keep liners in the glove box. ters because we treat them differently. You cross your legs before you sneeze. You swap the box jumps for the rower. Eventually, you decide running was never really your thing anyway. WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? Pregnancy and vaginal delivery are well-known Women are remarkably good at quietly building risk factors. Pregnancy loads the pelvic floor for a life around a leaky bladder. What many don’t do months regardless of how you deliver, while vagiis say it out loud. I’ve had women bring it up with nal birth can stretch the muscles, connective tisone hand already on the exam room door, after sue and nerves involved in continence. we’ve covered everything else. But childbirth isn’t the whole story. Women who’ve never been pregnant get stress incontiTHE NAME IS TERRIBLE nence too, including young athletes. Age changes “Stress” incontinence has nothing to do with your muscle and connective tissue throughout the job, your teenager or your inbox. It means physi- body, and the pelvic floor isn’t exempt. Menocal pressure. pause can change the surrounding tissues further.

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If you leak, you have a lot of company. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that approximately half of women experience urinary incontinence. What I hear surprisingly often is, “Well, I’ve had three kids. I figured this was just how it is now.” It doesn’t have to be.

Incontinence often changes women’s lives in ways nobody else sees. You stop going to the class with jumping. You quit running and walk instead. You worry about coughing through a cold or laughing too hard in public. You think about bathrooms before a long drive or hesitate before picking up a child. You may not even realize how many little decisions you’re making around your bladder. There’s nothing shameful about leaking, and not every woman who leaks needs treatment. But if

health} KALISPELL OB/GYN your bladder is making decisions about what you can and can’t do, it’s worth knowing you have options.

NOBODY’S SENDING YOU STRAIGHT TO SURGERY

Bringing up bladder leakage doesn’t commit you to a procedure. It starts a conversation— and sometimes a fairly long one because there are several ways to treat stress incontinence.

We start by figuring out what kind of leakage you’re having, when it happens, how often, and most importantly, how much it bothers you. Your goals matter. Someone who occasionally leaks during a hard workout may make a very different choice from someone who leaks every time she coughs or lifts a child.

Pelvic floor physical therapy is often part of that discussion, and it’s more than simply doing Kegels on your own. Not every pelvic floor is weak. Some muscles are too tight; others have poor coordination or timing. A pelvic floor physical therapist can evaluate what’s happening and tailor treatment accordingly. We can also address things that increase pressure on the pelvic floor, such as chronic coughing and constipation.

IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH

Some women get where they want to be with conservative treatment. Others want something more.

A continence pessary is a device worn in the vagina that helps support the urethra. Some women use one primarily for exercise or activities that trigger leakage. Urethral bulking involves injecting material into the wall of the urethra to help it close more effectively. It’s a relatively small procedure with a quick recovery, although repeat treatment may be needed.

Midurethral slings are among the most extensively studied surgical treatments for stress urinary incontinence, and other surgical approaches are available as well.

This is why the conversation can take time. We’re talking about how much leakage affects your life, what you’ve tried, what you’re comfortable with, and the advantages and disadvantages of each option. There isn’t one correct treatment for every woman.

THE MENOPAUSE PART

As estrogen declines around menopause, tissues of the vagina, urethra and bladder can become thinner, drier and less elastic. These changes, called genitourinary syndrome of menopause, can contribute to urgency, burning, discomfort and recurrent urinary tract infections. Local vaginal estrogen can improve those tissues and may help some urinary symptoms, but it isn’t a stand-alone cure for stress incontinence. For some women, it’s one part of the plan.

WHEN TO BRING IT UP

Whenever it bothers you. You don’t have to reach a certain number of leaks per week before you’re allowed to ask about it. Some symptoms deserve evaluation regardless: blood in your urine, pain with urination or pelvic pain, recurrent urinary tract infections, difficulty emptying your bladder, vaginal pressure or bulging, or a sudden unexplained change in bladder function. Otherwise, start with one sentence at your next visit: “I’ve been leaking urine, and I’d like to know what my options are.” That’s enough.

Whether your goal is running three miles, getting through a workout, picking up a child, laughing without crossing your legs or simply getting through your day without thinking about your bladder, you shouldn’t have to quietly rearrange your life around it.

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profile} PROVIDER PROFILE

Q&A WITH Helen Fagrelius

Research Coordinator, Logan Health's Hematology and Oncology Clinic Where are you from? Minneapolis, Minnesota

Q: What is your background?

My educational background is in biology, sociology, and pharmacy. I began my career in oncology working with the blood and marrow transplant team at the University of Minnesota, which sparked my interest in research. My early work was focused on Acute Myeloid Leukemia in early phase clinical trials with the cell, gene, and immunotherapy team. I transitioned to working alongside physicians doing translational research in solid tumors, building a biospecimen “bank” for future studies. In the summer of 2024, we moved to the Flathead Valley after I accepted a role as a clinical research coordinator for our hematology/ oncology department at Logan Health.

Q: What inspired you to become involved with clinical trials?

I am a young adult survivor of ovarian cancer. I started getting involved in AYA (adolescent and young adult) advocacy work about a decade after my diagnosis. Meeting other survivors and learning more about the needs of the cancer community really drove me towards an interest in clinical trials. I take my personal experience with me and use it as motivation to lead with empathy and compassion in my professional work.

Q: What is the best part of your job?

Connecting with human beings every day and being able to sit with them and help them during one of the most challenging times of their lives.

Q: How can learn more about clinical trials?

Anyone wanting to learn more about clinical trials has numerous resources at their fingertips! It can be overwhelming, but that is why I am here to act as a “dot connector” and make the information feel more tangible. A few websites to help start your search are listed below: logan.org/services/research/ clinicaltrials.gov cancer.gov

Q: What do you like to do outside of work?

I like to spend time outside with my fiancé and our dog, Teton. We love exploring new parts of the Flathead Valley and camping at Glacier National Park. We are quite fond of Grand Teton National Park as well, where we plan to get married in the fall of 2027.

Brought to you by

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health} LOGAN HEALTH

Unpacking

for a New Chapter Story and photos provided by Logan Health

At 65, Margaret felt like she had the world by the tail. Horses had shaped much of her life. Before moving to Montana in 2000, she ran a riding school in Ohio with 15 horses and about 60 students. In northwest Montana, she continued teaching riders throughout the Flathead Valley. Margaret was active, independent and deeply rooted in her community and faith. Then she found a lump. Cancer didn't run in her family. Illness wasn't something she expected. Suddenly, the woman who had spent decades confidently guiding horses and riders faced something she couldn't control. "I was astonished," she recalled. "It was shocking. Just shocking." What happened next moved quickly. Margaret was referred for breast cancer care, underwent genetic testing and was connected with oncology. By the end of July, little more than a month after her June diagnosis, she had begun chemotherapy. The diagnosis was frightening: an aggressive form of breast cancer. Margaret began doing what she naturally does when faced with a problem—asking questions and learning everything she could. But she didn't face it alone. "There was a team," Margaret said. "So many people showed up and said, 'Okay, now this. Okay, now this. Okay, now this.' Because I didn't know anything about cancer." That team extended beyond the hospital. Her husband, family, friends and church community rallied around her. At the center was a faith that helped Margaret confront even the possibility that treatment might not work.

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Choosing Care Close to Home

Margaret knew people who responded to cancer diagnoses by traveling to major medical centers in Texas, Seattle and elsewhere. Friends and family outside Montana questioned whether sophisticated cancer care was available in a rural state.

Margaret studied survival statistics and confronted the possibility that she might die. She made end-of-life plans and even wrote her own obituary. "I wanted the last word," she joked. Behind the humor was a deeply held conviction.

But people Margaret knew who had sought treatment elsewhere came home with an important message.

"I purposely chose to put my faith in God and say I've been put here for reasons," Margaret said.

"The care here is as good, if not better," she said. "I took that to heart."

Her faith didn't remove the fear or make treatment easy. It gave her a foundation from which to face both.

She chose Logan Health. Her treatment included chemotherapy, immunotherapy, oral medication and a double mastectomy. Her cancer proved difficult to treat, and chemotherapy didn't produce the response initially hoped for. During treatment, she also became seriously ill with COVID-19 and required hospitalization.

Her care team provided another source of strength. Margaret remembers the infusion nurses, warm blankets, hot soup and small acts of kindness during hours-long treatments. "Nobody's writing me off here," she remembers thinking. "So I guess I can't write myself off."

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Our purpose here is to help others along the road. Someone in Her Corner

Early in treatment, Margaret was offered something she might not have expected to find close to home: participation in a clinical trial. She said yes. That decision brought Helen into her life. Helen is a research coordinator for Logan Health's hematology and oncology clinic. Her job is to understand the research protocol, track Margaret's progress and help her care team navigate the trial. But their relationship became more personal. With her own experience as a cancer survivor and patient advocate, Helen understood that sometimes a patient needs someone reminding her that her voice matters. "I want to always be in the patient's corner," Helen said, "to allow them to feel the space to really stand up for themselves and to advocate for themselves." Margaret remembers Helen repeatedly encouraging her to ask questions. "She was always in the background saying, 'It's about you. It's about you,'" Margaret said. Over two years, their relationship grew beyond appointments and protocols. They talked about life and shared pictures of their dogs. Margaret has even spotted Helen walking down the street and stopped the car to say hello. Helen still tracks symptoms and follows the research protocol, but she believes cancer care requires something beyond the science.

"There's also a humanness to the work," Helen said.

Staying the Course

For Margaret, participating in the clinical trial gave the difficulty of treatment greater purpose. When treatment became grueling and others questioned whether she should continue conventional medicine, the trial helped her remain committed to the path she had chosen. The information gathered from her experience might also help someone else someday. Margaret describes a convergence of support that carried her through cancer: skilled medical professionals, Helen's encouragement, family and friends, her community and prayer. "My team saved my life. Prayers, family and friends saved my life for a reason," she said. Surviving created another question: What should she do with the life she had been given back?

Unpacking the Bags

Today, Margaret is approaching an important milestone; it’s been nearly two and a half years since her diagnosis. Her cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes, and treatment and surgery worked. But survivorship hasn't meant returning to the woman she was before cancer. "I have shape-shifted," she said. She still deals with the effects of treatment. She cannot spend long days riding horses as she once did. Her last horse is gone, closing a chapter that defined much of her life.

"I've had to recreate who I am and what my life is about now," she said. "We'll see what God has in store for this chapter." For another Montana woman beginning a cancer journey, Margaret's advice comes from everything she learned along the way: Ask questions. Be your own advocate. Search and research, then commit to the process you've chosen. Treatment can be grueling, and there may be detractors along the way. For Margaret, the clinical trial encouraged her to stay the course because the data collected could conceivably help others. Cancer reinforced something she already believed: Our purpose here is to help others along the road. And for women wondering whether a breast cancer diagnosis in rural Montana means leaving home to find advanced care, Margaret's experience offers reassurance. "Boy, you're in a good place here," she said. "You've got good help." Margaret stayed in Montana. Here, she found multidisciplinary cancer treatment, clinical research and medical professionals who paired expertise with compassion, all within the community where she had built her life. Now, after preparing herself for the possibility that there might not be another chapter to life, Margaret faces the unexpected task of living it. "My bags were packed," she said.

Now she is unpacking them, surrounded by faith, friendship and gratitude, and waiting to see where the road leads next. 406

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The Art of Selling Out By Dr. John F. Miller DDS - SMILE MONTANA

Every time I sit down at my computer to tap out one of these articles I have to think up some sort of introduction that will pique the reader’s interest. I have in my mind some idea of the main point the article will make, and my intro has to wind its way into a relevant segue to that point. It’s very meta of me to be talking about writing my introduction as my introduction by the way. So, my big worry is that I will write an intro very similar to one I've done prior. Plagiarize myself basically. I had that worry today especially so I simply looked back at July’s intro and May’s intro and they are not similar to what I’m considering so that’s good enough for me. So here it goes.

I often picture a scenario where I, in my present stage in life, could go back and sit down

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with 15-year-old John Fairbanks Miller. So bang on 30 years ago. In addition to me looking drastically different than anything he could’ve imagined; the things I would tell him would blow his mind. I would inform him that the Canadian girl he had a huge crush on over the summer is now his wife. I would describe his four amazing children to him...through tears I'm sure.

I would tell him his favorite band, Deftones, are still together and more popular than ever. I would tell him that you can play any song you want by simply calling out to Alexa or Siri. He’ll ask, “where are they?” I’ll respond, “where AREN’T they?” I tell him he lives in the Flathead Valley (he would be hyped on that no doubt). I would tell him that he still plays his bass guitar...like a lot, but not the one he has then, but a Stingray (he’s lost consciousness at this point his mind is so blown). I would tell him, “things are pretty cool bud.” Inevitably I would show him “our” Instagram and mention something about “our” algorithm. He’ll stop me and say, “our what?!?” I’ll respond, “Oh yeah, the algorithm. How... can I explain this?”

My favorite movie is The Matrix; that’s no secret here as I’m sure I’ve mentioned it in my prior ramblings. There is a scene within that reminds me of the algorithm. Neo, the show's protagonist, is apprehended by Agents who are part of a computer program, the matrix as it’s known. They take him into a classic style police interrogation room and they drop a thick stack of paperwork on the table while saying, “As you can see, we've had our eye on you for some time now.” That stack was Neo’s algorithm.

What would be in your stack of papers? What do they know about you? Based on my feed (my visual representation of my “algorithm”) they know I’m a spouse/parent, they know I practice dentistry, they know I play the bass guitar, and they know I love art. Obviously there is a lot more in there and we would all have things we’d cringe at, but I'm pretty happy with what the robots are feeding me. As sad as that sounds. I really wanted to be a Rockstar. I worked hard at it, composing with the band, recording in the studio, playing awesome gigs, playing crappy gigs. However, I really wanted to have a family too. And as I matured, I real-

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It didn’t take long during my first few days in dental school to realize, “oh, dentistry is very artistic. ized I wanted that the most and I should probably shift my mindset and actions in a direction that would facilitate success in that regard. Having a lot of dentist uncles, I decided I would pursue dentistry at 22 years old.

At first this was a hard decision for me, and I considered myself somewhat of a sell-out. I was a creative right brained artsy fartsy long haired bass player. Telling a 15-year-old me that I was a dentist might be the only thing that he wouldn’t be hyped on? Regardless, I set out to pursue a career in dentistry. During that pursuit I indeed met Juli ZoBell who I would marry in 2003. She finished out my undergraduate studies with me in Tempe and then we continued on to San Francisco for dental school with our 1st child Nayvee Lee. It didn’t take long during my first few days in dental school to realize, “oh, dentistry is very artistic.” We are sculpting, we are creating curves and angles, we are establishing contours that reflect light appropriately, we are mixing and matching shades, we are mixing and matching translucencies, we are designing and milling ceramics, we are staining, glazing, and firing ceramics, we are artists.

In addition, being an entrepreneur was pretty much forced upon me. I found myself in the very rare scenario of being a business owner immediately upon graduation from dental school. If that’s not punk rock I don’t know what is. Juli and I were offered the opportunity to purchase a great dental practice in Columbia Falls so we loaded up the U-Haul and pointed it North by Northeast, with Nayvee and her little brother Banks. What do business owners get to do? They get to promote their business. Also known as marketing. Those who have followed along the Smile Montana growth arc since 2011, know that I have a lot of fun doing this part of the job. It scratches that creative itch. Writing for 406 Woman is part of that marketing. I don’t really see it that way as I really just love writing, but as they say, “everything is marketing.” As a result, I absolutely love being a dentist. Especially the fixing teeth part. It is a creative and artistic challenge. It gives me deep self-worth and value to have a skill that can benefit my community. It also brought me success in my desire to have a family that I can provide for. This family now also has Maxwell and Lennon to round things out at six members.

So yeah, my algorithm knows that I’m a dentist. But it also knows that I’m a creative right brained artsy fartsy long haired bass player too. I’m cool with that. With all this algorithm talk, remember to get outside and connect to the nature around us and our community. I have been in the Flathead Valley permanently for over 15 years and have seen a lot of changes but I tell people this all the time, “I love this place more now than I ever have!”

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