Brandy Moses Straub and her daughter Adela on the Taylor Fork south of Big Sky. As the new conservation project manager, she will oversee stream restoration and water conservation projects for the Task Force. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDY STRAUB
BIG SKY – In January, nonprofit Gallatin River Task Force welcomed two new staff members to their ranks. Valerie Bednarski and Brandy Moses Straub will assist the task force with water stewardship projects.
Bednarski, a graduate of the marine science program at the University of California, Berkeley, came to Big Sky from Southern California as a part of the Big Sky Watershed Corps, which is an AmeriCorps program that connects young professionals to Montana’s watershed communities.
Having conducted research on coastal waters, including the turquoise currents of Tahiti, the warmer flows of the Outer Banks, and the kelp forests off of California, she said she’ll be glad to learn about the Gallatin’s freshwater. “I like winter sports and snowboarding, but I look forward to when it’s warm enough for us to go out and really examine the waterways and learn more about this watershed,” she said.
Bednarski was first attracted to Montana after taking a course at UC Berkley, taught by Arthur Middleton, who researches elk migrations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. “I just saw how beautiful Montana was,” she said. “And I was excited to live in a place with so many outdoor activities.”
Working for the task force, Bednarski will assist with data analysis and river monitoring, preparing the information in a way that can be used by the public. Currently, she is assisting with the analysis of water samples and data collected during the algae bloom that occurred late last summer.
Brandy Straub, who has lived in Gallatin Gateway for about 10 years, is stepping in as the new conservation project manager, and will help lead restoration and conservation projects pertaining to water quality and quantity.
She said over the next year, the task force hopes to begin work at the Deer Creek bridge, approximately 3.5 miles north of Lone Mountain Trail on Highway 191. In a similar fashion to their restoration work at Moose Creek Flat Campground, Straub will help arrange for parking lot improvements and restoration of the stream bank. This work is anticipated to begin in the fall.
With over a decade of experience working for Tetra Tech, an environmental consulting and engineering firm based in California, Straub said she looks forward to applying her skillset in Big Sky and on the Gallatin River, where her daughters each caught their first fish on a fly and where her husband, Patrick, operates his fly-fishing business, Gallatin River Guides.
“For me, it was just about being able to use my professional skills and background in a very local environment,” she said. “I’m most excited about the water conservation possibilities and all the collaborative effort that seems to be happening around Big Sky.
“The community as a whole seems to be working really hard to preserve water quality and quantity,” she added. “They’re setting priorities on conservation, which is a really great thing as the community continues to grow.”
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019:4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep inward journey and peak state experience. This experience can activate and clear the chakras, release trauma, reset the nervous system, connect us with higher consciousness, and help us achieve self-actualization. No prior experience is necessary. Register at santoshabigsky.com/workshops-special-events
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm