When beer fans walk into the Colorado Convention Center this week for the Great American Beer Festival they'll likely recognize the brands sponsoring the event; Blue Moon, Deschutes, Samuel Adams and New Belgium to name a few.

But one sponsor may stick out more than most, unless you're regular in the taproom on the corner of Railway St. and Central Ave. in Whitefish.

 

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Happy autumn, Flathead Valley!

One of my favorite fall traditions is Oktoberfest - a festival that celebrates beer and sauerkraut? Yes, please! - and we've got a great one here in Whitefish.

 

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Looks like the Flathead County Sheriff's Office is ready to make its national television debut.

According to Sheriff Chuck Curry, the camera and production crews from the National Geographic Channel's show, "Frontier Force," spent a week with Flathead deputies last spring to film for the Sept. 13 episode.

Here's how the channel describes the episode:

Auto theft, drug overdoses and trespassing grizzly bears are all in a days work for the Montana police serving in "America's Final Frontier" and NGC rides shotgun for the entire trip. A woman is severely injured in remote mountainous terrain, where first responders take hours to reach her. Police suspect that an Iraqi war vet needs psychiatric evaluation instead of jail time after a fight, and a man pulled over for drunken driving claims its his constitutional right to drive intoxicated.

Curry said he's seen the rough cut of the show and that it was a "little sensationalized." Well, considering how real reality TV is these days, I'm sure the show will take some creative license to add some drama to the footage.

The show will feature other law enforcement agencies as well, so it's not clear how big of a role Flathead County will play. Anyway, it should be fun, so check it out if you've got the National Geographic channel.

 

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It's always a sign of fall to get a press release from Glacier National Park about its campground transitioning to primitive status. Campgrounds in primitive status have pit toilets available, no potable or drinking water, limited number of sites and fees are reduced to $10 per night.

 

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Airport security is a necessary annoyance in air travel (though there is plenty of debate about how much of what the security officials do is necessary), and it can be a stressful, tedious way to begin a vacation or business trip.

With that in mind, Cindi Martin, director at Glacier Park International Airport, decided the Transportation Security Administration instructional video at the airportt was a little, well, boring. She turned to local favorites The Singing Sons of Beaches for some inspiration and pizzazz. Video results after the jump.

 

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When I peruse the New York Times' website, I typically hit the travel section to fuel my adventurous aspirations.

Well, imagine my surprise when I wandered over to the Times' site today and the travel feature deals with one of Montana's favorite adventure zones: Glacier National Park.

 

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If you noticed some new artwork framing trees along First Avenue West in Kalispell, it's the work of a group of teens from the Center for Restorative Youth Justice, working with art therapist Natalie Norrell, musing on the power and importance of community. It's an installation worth checking out by one of the more innovative nonprofits in the Flathead working with youths. From the CRYJ's Shareen Springer:

CRYJ recently partnered with Natalie Norrell, a studio based art therapist, to create a series of small community murals exploring experiences and images relating to connection and community. These murals were designed and created by CRYJ youth participants and are currently on display outside of Natalie’s studio on 418 1st Ave West in downtown Kalispell.

These murals served as powerful reflection opportunities for youth participants – creating a space to discuss feelings of connection and what it means to be a member of a healthy community. Rather than using words to explore, understand and heal; art therapy uses a creative process that focuses on imagery and the metaphor. Art therapy creates: significant declines in feelings of hopelessness and depression; stress reduction; validation of feelings; body image issues; fosters self-awareness; encourages problem solving and decision making skills. Natalie recently opened her private practice in Kalispell and hopes to continue her work with CRYJ and youth around the area through powerful public art projects.

CRYJ works with over 200 youth a year who are either currently involved, or are being actively diverted from, the traditional juvenile justice system. CRYJ’s programs are founded on the restorative justice approach, where justice resources are focused on determining who was harmed (vs. what law was broken), who is responsible (vs. placing blame), and what steps are needed to repair the harm (vs. inflicting punishment). Restorative community service projects such as the community mural project are aimed at “reweaving the fabric” of the relationships (community, family, peers) in ways that prevent further harm and increase community safety.

RYJ and Natalie hope to work together on several other youth mural projects around the community providing a collection of images based on self-reflection and community connection. If you have any questions about this project or are interested in learning more please feel free to contact Shareen Springer (Center for Restorative Youth Justice, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 257-7400) or Natalie Norrell (Studio Based Art Therapy, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 756-7638). Special thanks to Sherry at Costless Carpet and Susan Miller at Sassafras Gallery for generously donating materials for this Community Arts Mosaic Project.

 

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Here's some fun news about the Whitefish Winter Carnival (I swear I'm not wishing away our precious summer):

A float dedicated to the wonder and delightful weirdness that is the Whitefish Winter Carnival won some great prizes at the Calgary Stampede parade this month.

 

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