Farm Fresh: Community Supported Agriculture in Bismarck

PAGE 11
Where is the State Surplus?
PAGE 4
Smoking Vote April 19
FREE
Est. 2007 • Vol. 5, Iss. 2 • April 2011
Farm Fresh: Community Supported
Agriculture in Bismarck-Mandan
By Beth Schatz Kaylor
When Brian and Angie McGinness
moved back to North Dakota to start
Riverbound Farm, the neighbors quickly noticed that the McGinnesses weren’t
your typical farmers. As practitioners of
biodiversity and organic farming methods, the McGinnesses planted a mix of
twelve different grasses and plants in
their feed plot.
“Some others in the area were
scratching their heads at the sight of all
those plants mixed together,” explains
Angie with a chuckle. “They’re so accustomed to monocultures.”
Riverbound Farm, located south of
Mandan, is part of the growing Community Supported Agriculture movement, more commonly known as CSA.
To summarize how a CSA system operates, community members pay a CSA
farmer for a share of his or her crop. In
turn, the CSA farmer raises food (typically fruits and vegetables), then distributes the harvest throughout the growing
season to members. The system helps
ensure the CSA farmer gets paid a fair
wage for his or her product, while the
CSA member gets a steady supply of
BSC Hosts ArtsQuest
National Headliners Come
to Bismarck
Page 5
Photo provided by Brian and Angie McGinness
Brian and Angie McGinness from Riverbound Farm pose with some of their fresh
produce.
fresh, local produce. CSA also supports
local economies while contributing to a
food production system that is kinder to
the environment, with less transportation and packaging of food required.
During the school year, Jay Basquiat
is a professor of philosophy and English
at Bismarck State College. During the
Continued on page 8
Vintage Guitar Oil Patch Landowners
Celebrates 25th Concerned About Impact
my biggest contention is that it’s been
By Maxine Herr
Anniversary
two years – which is way too long – and
By Mike Swenson
Celebrating it's 25th anniversary,
Vintage Guitar magazine is proving to
be one of the nation's top sources for
stories about both old and new guitars.
The magazine was founded in 1986
by Bismarck native Alan Greenwood as
an eight-page print and fold paper. It
has now grown into a magazine with a
subscriber list of nearly 40,000 and continues to expand its reader base across
the globe. What started as a personal
hobby for Greenwood is now a growing
business. Vintage Guitar currently employs nine people in their Main Street
office, as well as over 40 freelance writers within the music industry. "Everyone can appreciate a vintage guitar,"
says Greenwood. "Whether you're a
musician or hobbyist, our magazine
gives readers a chance to explore something new," he added. For some, vintage guitars are a dream come true, for
others, a solid investment. A late 1930s
Martin D-45 acoustic guitar can sell for
Continued on page 6
When Daryl Peterson agreed to let
an oil company drill on his property, he
understood it meant sacrificing some of
his land for the economic good of his
home state. But he didn’t expect to lose
additional farmland and be left with a
mess to report to officials.
“I do promote oil and gas exploration in North Dakota. But I think there
has to be balance,” Peterson said. “We
can’t completely wreck our farmland in
the process, and we see evidence of that
more and more all the time.”
A saltwater disposal tank overflowed
on Peterson’s property near the well,
seeped beyond a dike, and contaminated his farmland. It’s been over two
years and the oil company has not remedied the spill. Peterson was recently
informed the company plans to remove
the affected soil, replace it and build a
new dike this spring. But he’s not satisfied with the testing that’s been done
because he believes the extent of the
contamination is beyond current plans
for reclamation.
“Regulators have told me whatever
it takes they will require. But I guess
cleanup still hasn’t taken place, and I
think harm from the spill will be a lot
greater than if it was cleaned up right
away,” Peterson said.
Industrial Commission’s Oil and
Gas Division Director Lynn Helms said
North Dakota has a short window of
reclamation opportunity – sometimes
only June through September – due
to the state’s climate. Though it takes
time, Helms believes his department
ensures the job is done thoroughly.
“We scrape up melted snow and soil
that is thawed out by saltwater, so the
contaminating element is removed before spring comes around. But the complete reclamation of a saltwater spill
takes a long, long time,” Helms said.
But farmers and ranchers in western North Dakota believe more could
be done to protect their land. The desk
of Rep. Kenton Onstad of Parshall is
overflowing with hundreds of letters
and emails from concerned landowners
describing incidences of oil companies
not following the rules and leaving surface owners without any recourse.
Continued on page 12
BisMan Bombshellz
The Inside Scoop
Page 10
Index
Opinion Page
Pages 2
A Film Unfinished Review
Page 5
Toasted Frog Leaps Into
Downtown
Page 9
Northern Plains Dance
Presents Snow White
Pages 8
Columns
Page 12-13
The Buzz
Page 14-15
OPINION PAGE - LET TER TO THE EDITOR
House Committee Hijacks Peace
Resolution
Dear Editor,
On March 24, seven legislators of
the House Government & Veterans Affairs Committee adopted amendments
that drastically reverse the intent of
SCR 4015, also known as North Dakota’s Peace Resolution. If the committee disagreed with the resolution, it was
within their rights to vote against it. But
to make it into its opposite is a misuse
of legislative power.
A resolution to prepare for peace
has been turned into a piece of paper
to fan the flames of conflict. Nearly
every line has been replaced with language that is opposite of the original
language. The word “peace” has been
removed. The amendments suggest
that we maintain a military presence
in Iraq and Afghanistan indefinitely.
The amendments remove real support
for community-based efforts to bring
peace in these countries, and now the
word “evil” is introduced.
These amendments are disrespectful to those who have who have bravely
served our country and to those who
have dedicated their lives to peace.
Many North Dakotans testified to Senate and House committees in support of
the resolution. Not one person testified
in opposition in the House. What am I
to say to the 50+ citizens who attended
the hearings on SCR 4015? What do I
say to veterans who have told us of the
real costs of war – in lives lost, physical
injury, and mental health effects? What
do I say to Sister Maris Stella Korb,
from the Sisters of the Presentation,
April
2011 •l22•lPrairieIndependent.com
July 2010
PrairieIndependent.com
Senator Tim Mathern
DNPL-Fargo
about this disrespect shown to her and
other faith leaders?
Many legislators and private citizens attended a recent news conference. While we found our places in
front of the cameras, I heard a peacemaker say, “It’s good to see legislators
actually making room for North Dakota citizens at the Capitol!” This put the
whole thing in perspective.
I encourage each person reading
this letter to remember that this is your
state. The government belongs to North
Dakota’s people. It doesn’t just belong
to those who have power or access. It
belongs to all of us. I am grateful to the
peacemakers of North Dakota for having the courage to speak up and get involved. I am proud to consider myself
one of you. You should consider running for public office. We need more
people like you at the Capitol.
Saturday, April 30, 7 p.m.
Belle Mehus Auditorium
Tickets available at the following
Bismarck locations:
Eckroth Music, The Rainbow
Shop, Boneshaker Coffee Company, Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church.
Compassion International Presents:
Shelter Me Tour - Featuring Selah,
Aaron Shust and Shaun Groves
All tickets general admission. $22
individual or $20 each for groups
of 10 or more
By Ben Patrie
If We Stick We’ll Win
If we stick we’ll win.
Stick like a stick in the mud,
Stick like an oak seed in the soil,
Stick like a sapling in the stream,
Stick like the first tree felled for the
dam,
to Stick and stem the tide;
Stem:
Transitive Verb
to check
or go counter to,
to make headway against
(as an adverse tide,
current,
or wind)
from
Middle English--stemmen
to keep a course,
from stem (of a ship).
mocracy
to pay sacrifice to their other gods.
Have some faith!
If we stick we’ll win!
Stick it out. Get stuck in.
If we want to slow the flow
we will have to be boulders in the
stream
immovable
a shear mass
against the gravity
of the slippery slope argument
and the mountainside rush
of hate ads and false logic.
To stay this course,
brothers and sisters,
though its opposite the tide,
against the current,
and
into the wind,
we may have to
paddle
or portage,
but if we stick
we’ll win.
Stick to it,
do not lose hope,
though the mountains
loom heavy before us.
Stick together,
for those who seek to move mountains
must start by taking away small
stones.
Many hands make light work
and soon our pile of pebbles will
dam the stream.
We will lift one another
like sand in the straight and strong
wind
of our work.
Stick up
for the beaten down and they may yet
beat back these boots—
an upward rising of the downtrodden
stepped on by the
parade of panderers—
the procession
of political prostitutes
we’ll stick them in their tracks.
Brothers and Sisters
Stick to your guns
we have not yet begun to fight
backs against the wall
but eyes still on the light.
These words our charge
through the night, the din,
hear me now—
IF WE STICK WE’LL WIN!
Stick out from the crowd,
the false prophets of profit,
the forked tongue purveyors of policy, we see now
hawking pews from the church of de-
Ben Patrie is a student at Minnesota
State University – Moorhead and a
graduate of Bismarck High School.
Bismarck Figure Skating Club Scores
Sixth at National Competition in California
The Capital Ice Chips Intermediate Synchronized Skating team from
the Bismarck Figure Skating Club and
sponsored by Schumacher Diamond
Cutters, brought home the Platinum
medal from the 2011 Midwest Synchro-
April 2011 Vol. 5, Iss. 2
1849 Heritage Ave., Bismarck, ND 58501
701.527.0060
www.prairieindependent.com
[email protected]
Published by: The North Dakota Center for the Public Good
Member of
nized Skating competition in February,
which earned them a trip to the 2011
US Figure Skating Synchronized Nationals competition in Ontario California, where they placed 6th. The team is
coached by Becky Gallion of Bismarck.
Photo by Becky Gallion
Front row, from left to right: Alandra Williams, Annie Nelson, Karlie Goldade, Ellie
Klose, Katelyn Castle, Robyn Markhouse and Selena Morris.
Back row, from left to right: Hayley Bortke, Halsey Thompson, Karly
Knudson, McKell Teske, Jenna Goecke, Katie Nelson, Kristen Bortke, Lexi
Anderson, Taylor Goven and Jasmine Bernhardt.
Child Development Center
Re-dedication Program
Center to be Named for Grace and Arthur Link
You’re Invited!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
10 a.m.
Prairie Independent
Managing Editor: Linda Garding
Capital Ice Chips Synchronized Skating
Team Places at Nationals
Child Development Center
Preschool, Bldg. 100
Fort Berthold Avenue
United Tribes Technical
College
Please join us for a program to
honor two, dear friends of United
Tribes as we re-dedicate the college’s Child Development Center
for Grace and Arthur Link.
The center is located on Fort
Berthold Avenue adjacent to the
UTTC Cafeteria.
More information: Lisa Azure,701-255-3285 x 1407, [email protected].
Production Editor: Chelsea Watterud
Editorial Board: Don Morrison, Brian Palecek, Hollis Mackintosh, Barb Price,
Katie Patrie, Mike Swenson, Beth Schatz Kaylor
The Prairie Independent delivers to the Bismarck-Mandan area and is
available for free at designated distribution points. Limit one copy per person.
Subscriptions available for $30/year. No portion of this newspaper may be
reproduced or reused without prior permission.
© 2007-11 The North Dakota Center for the Public Good. All rights reserved.
The opinions expressed in the Prairie Independent are those of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board or the North Dakota
Center for the Public Good.
Letters and Op-Ed Submission Policies:
Letters are subject to editing and will be published in the order received, space
permitting. Letter-writers are encouraged to keep their letters brief. Letters
containing offensive or false material will not be published at the discretion of
the managing editor. Send letters to [email protected] or mail
them to: Prairie Independent, 1849 Heritage Ave., Bismarck, ND 58501.
April
2011•
3 •lPrairieIndependent.com
July
2010
3 l PrairieIndependent.com
Vote Set for April 19 on
Smoking in Public Places
The City of Bismarck will be holding
a special election on April 19 to address
the issue of smoking in public places.
Below is information on voting hours,
sites and qualifications. A sample ballot is also included.
Voting hours on Election Day, April
19, are from 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M.
Voting will take place at special sites as
described below.
Precinct #1
All that portion within the corporate
limits of the City of Bismarck North of
the center line of Divide Avenue
Polling Place:
VFW Sports Center
North Entrance - Rink #2
1200 N Washington St
Precinct #2
All that portion within the corporate
limits of the City of Bismarck south of
the center line of Divide Avenue
Polling Place:
Bismarck Civic Center
SW Entrance - Main Arena
601 E Sweet Ave
Citizens are reminded that ND State
Law requires all voters to provide identification showing your residential address. You must be a U.S. citizen, at
least 18 years old on the day of an election, a legal North Dakota resident, and
a resident in the precinct for 30 days
preceding the election.
Absentee Voter Ballots Available
for April 19 Special Election
Absentee voter ballots are available
to qualified electors of the City of Bismarck from the Burleigh County Auditor, P.O. Box 5518, 221 N. 5th Street,
Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5518. Phone 701222-6718. An application for an Absent
Voter Ballot must be on file with the
Sample Ballot
Burleigh County Auditor before an absent voter ballot can be delivered.
Absentee ballots can also be obtained in person at the auditor’s office
during normal business hours.
POINT
COUNTERPOINT
Locals Weigh In on Smoke
Free Election
Vote Yes on April 19
By Pat McGeary
A special election on April 19 will
give Bismarck residents a chance to
cast their vote for health and growth for
the city. A comprehensive smoke free
ordinance was passed by the Bismarck
City Commission during the summer of
2010, expanding a limited 2005 smoke
free ordinance to now protect workers
at bars, truck stops, hotels and clubs.
After the ordinance was passed, the required signatures were collected for a
referral vote which will be held April
19.
A public opinion survey by the
American Lung Association in North
Dakota showed 72% of Bismarck vot-
X
ers support a
comprehensive
smoke free ordinance and 92.25% said they would go
out to smoke-free bars and restaurants
as much or more than they currently do.
Mayor Warford, one of the four city
commissioners to support passage of
the ordinance stated, “I am supporting
this ordinance because I think it is the
right thing. It is our job as a city commission to look at the big picture from a
health and safety standpoint.”
Now it’s your job, to cast the same
vote YES on #1 to assure that all workers have the right to breathe clean air!
Say No to the Smoking Ban
By Mike Swenson
With the special ballot coming up
soon, I want every person in Bismarck
to use their voice on this matter.
I believe you should say no to the
ballot because it should be the bar owners right to choose how they run their
business. Less than 25% of our bars allow smoking as it is, none of which are
family oriented. It is your choice, as a
consumer, whether or not you want to
go into that establishment. If you don't
smoke, or don't like smoke, don't go
there. It's as simple as that.
As a smoker, I like being able to
have a beer and cigarette someplace
other than my home. And during our
eight months of winter, stepping outside sometimes isn't an option. I think
an easy to read sign on the front door
that says "People are smoking inside"
would suffice. I think forcing a law
that requires every smoking business to
send their customers outside between
drinks and bingo games is just stupid.
Also, keep this in mind; it is the smokers who are keeping those bars in business. Bismarck has more than enough
non-smoking options, let's leave it that
way. Vote no!
Photo by Brian Palecek
Kris Kitko, director of BakkenWatch fields dozens of comments and questions
about hydraulic fracturing (fracking) at a BakkenWatch event, Saturday, March
26. The newly formed non-profit provides information on the health and environmental effects of the process and raises funds to support families needing health
related tests.
First
Presbyterian
Church
Sunday Morning
Services at 10
Wednesday Programs Starting at 5:15
Third & Thayer, Bismarck
701-223-6091
April
2011 •l44•lPrairieIndependent.com
July 2010
PrairieIndependent.com
The Movie Page
Todd Ford
and
Cinema 100
A Film Unfinished
Nazi Video Revealed as Propoganda
In a tenement building in the Warsaw
Ghetto, Jews are shown living merrily
day to day, their courtyard filled with
an ever growing mound of human feces
as they toss garbage from their tenth
story windows, appearing to enjoy living amongst filth.
This scene from the extraordinary
documentary A Film Unfinished both
reminded me of and trumped what has
long been my most indelible portrait of
the possibilities of hatred and the powers of propaganda to cloud minds. As
a child, my grandfather would sit in
his big, puffy easy chair – me on one
knee and my sister perched on the other – telling us how the black neighbors
didn’t even use the bathroom. They
would just “go all over the house.”
He wanted us to think in the most
unforgettable way possible to our impressionable young minds that blacks
were animals.
A Film Unfinished makes a truly
unique use of a fortuitous discovery.
Ten years after the end of WWII, researchers began to sift through the racks
of footage left behind by the Nazi propaganda machine. An odd, hour long
film was discovered showing the daily
lives of Jews. Its editing was rough as
if something abandoned. It had no titles
or credits and the cans bore the simple
title “The Ghetto.”
The film’s scenes juxtapose wealthy
Jews living a comfortable existence
and poor, starving Jews wandering and
panhandling and often dying in the
streets. The footage was long considered a valuable document of how things
really were during those dark times.
Two discoveries in the years since
have revealed this footage to be something else entirely. A document was
discovered bearing the name of one of
the cameramen, Willy Wist, and he was
located and interviewed. And a never
meant to be seen reel of outtakes was
found. These two documents combine
to show “The Ghetto” to be a most sinister and carefully constructed lie, the
propaganda purposes of which we can
only now surmise.
Healthy looking Jews, the few remaining, were costumed and placed in
carefully redecorated and plush rooms
and ordered to eat extravagant meals.
They were ordered to walk down the
sidewalks past starving Jews – themselves ordered to extend their hands
begging for handouts – and callously
place nothing in their hands.
Photo from Oscilloscope Laboratories
A scene from A Film Unfinished, a documentary based on an unfinished German
propoganda film about the Warsaw Ghetto.
Corpses were arranged on the sidewalks by laughing Nazi soldiers while
“rich” Jews were ordered to walk past
them carrying packages of food for
their evening feasts without so much as
glancing downward.
We learn of these filmmaking details
from Wist. We learn just as much from
viewing the outtakes. In scenes left on
the cutting room floor, people are seen
looking down at those corpses in horror
– one particular little boy in disbelief. A
scene of two filthy young boys looking
into a shop window as a woman strolls
inside to make her purchase is repeated
four times until the filmmakers were
satisfied with the illusion of authenticity.
The makers of “A Film Unfinished”
have added one more layer to their presentation. Survivors, young children at
the time, now in their 70s and 80s, are
shown watching and commenting on
the footage, the light flickering across
their faces, fingers often covering their
eyes. Watching a funeral scene, one
woman says with disgust, “But Jews
don’t bury their dead in coffins.”
Those scenes of Jews living amongst
feces and garbage are revealed in the
outtake footage for what they really
are. A filmmaker is shown carefully,
aesthetically arranging and rearranging a pile of garbage and toying with
the idea of propping up a photograph of
an elderly Jewish man atop the refuse,
before casually tossing it aside.
(Todd Ford has been a film nut since
1981. He watches far too many movies
through Netflix and enjoys a home life
with his wife, two daughters, two dogs,
and five cats.)
BSC Brings In Headliners for ArtsQuest 2011
Blood Brothers
April 6-10
BSC's spring musical tells the story
of the Johnstone twins, Mickey and
Eddie, and their ill-fated lives after
being separated at birth due to family
poverty. British playwright Willy Russell explores class differences in Blood
Brothers and a nature versus nurture
plot complicated by the twins' unwitting friendship later in life. Nominated
for six Tony Awards and winner of best
book, Blood Brothers continues today
as one of London's longest running musicals. BSC performances are 7:30 p.m.
April 6-9 and 2:30 p.m. April 10 in Sidney J. Lee Auditorium.
From www.bismarckstate.edu
Chris Brubeck's Warren St. John Von Glitschka
April 20
Triple Play
April 19
April 16
Triple Play members, Chris Brubeck,
Peter "Madcat" Ruth and Joel Brown,
are virtuoso solo musicians with national and international credits. Chris
Brubeck, son of legendary jazz artist
Dave Brubeck, leads Triple Play on piano, trombone and bass. Ruth holds title
as one of the best harmonica players in
the world. Guitarist Brown has recorded with the London Symphony and performed in Carnegie Hall. The dynamic
ensemble plays everything from jazz
and blues to folk, funk and the classics
in a cross-generational style.
New York Times feature writer Warren St. John discusses his 2009 bestselling book, "Outcasts United: An
American Town, a Refugee Team, and
One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference," in conjunction with BSC's Campus Read. His book was read throughout campus last fall. St. John talks
about the inspiring story of how a youth
soccer team of resettled refugees transforms a resistant Georgia town into a
diverse community. He also shares lessons from the team and town residents
and how fresh perspectives of newcomers and volunteerism can bridge a social divide.
A leading illustrative designer, Von
Glitschka is principal of Glitschka Studios, a multi-disciplinary creative firm
in Salem, Ore. Glitschka has worked
in the communication arts industry for
22 years and earned numerous awards.
Clients include Microsoft, Merck, Pepsi, General Motors and Hasbro. His
work has appeared in leading graphic
arts publications and will be featured
during his "Creating 5ive-Alarm Concepts" presentation.
April
2011
• 5 l• PrairieIndependent.com
July
2010
5 l PrairieIndependent.com
What Does It Mean To Be Me by the
Group That Opened The Box
By Katie Patrie
The Group That Opened The Box
started two years ago with a set of
young women that were in a writing
group. The name came from several
ideas, the main being that items were
chosen out of a box to be the topic of
the groups writing. The other idea is
the legend of Pandora’s Box. Pandora
was the first human according to Greek
mythology. Zeus gave her a "box,” actually a large jar, which contained all
the evils of the world. When Pandora
opened the jar, the entire contents of the
jar were released, except for one – hope.
Although today opening Pandora's box
usually means to create evil that cannot
be undone, this group of talented young
women are dealing with the evils in society by trying to foster hope.
This is a must see/hear group. Even
with the loss of several members of the
“original group,” these young women
embody strength and confidence, while
trying to bring hope and brightness into
the future.
The next performance will be “Who
We Were Gonna Be” on Saturday, May
6, 7:30 p.m. at the Sidney J. Lee Auditorium on the BSC campus. The original
Photo by Katie Patrie
The current Group That Opened the
Box
Front L-R is Breeanna DuFrame and
Caitlyn Taix
Back L-R Rachel Heiden, Sugar
Barnes, Ashley Griffin, Haliegh Bryson,
Alexis Hellman
readers theatre version of this production asks, “What does it mean to be...
me?” And those things answers range
from Werewolves to Miss Universe.
This show is a play off that concept.
This production is directed by Karen
Van Fossan and Dr. Kathy Blohm, but
the stars are The Group That Opened
the Box (teenagers changing the world,
one gutsy show at a time).
Join
Satrom Travel!
Exciting! Fun! Great Values! Hosted!
Twin Cities Tour
Twin Cities
Mid Summer Theatre
Aug. 26-28 Twins vs. Detroit
July 17-18 Eastern ND
Sept. 14-18 Fall for Duluth The
Be
Sept. 19-Oct 5 NE Fall Foliage st!
Branson
Oct. 30-Nov 6•Nov. 5-11•Nov. 16-22
Dec. 1-4
Twin Cities Christmas
Dec. 1-4
New York Theatre
June 24-26
July 15-17
Premiere
Premiere
Tour!
Tours!
258-5000
800-833-8787
Since 1978
[email protected]
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2011 •l66•lPrairieIndependent.com
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25 Years Have Brought Big Changes
Continued from page 1
nearly $400,000. Granted, there are
very few who can afford a guitar like
that. However, there are many who are
happy with being able to read about
it. On the low end, a 1950's Fender
Telecaster electric guitar can cost between $30,000-$50,000 depending on
the market. Much like classic cars, or
sports memorabilia, guitars can hold
their value over many years. Magazine
readers can always get the information
they need about classic guitars.
Running a magazine like Vintage
Guitar also has some welcomed perks,
such as traveling the country, and being able to meet musicians of all types
over the years. "I've had a lot of great
memories, but I don't know if there's
any one standout," Greenwood commented. "Billy Gibbons, of ZZTop,
has expressed his appreciation for the
magazine by appearing on the cover
and offering a look into his own personal collection.” Vintage Guitar also
co-sponsors about 20 different guitar
shows around the country, giving them
a chance to expand their audience as
well as introduce old treasures to a new
generation. In an age of digital distribution, print magazines are slowly on
the decline; however, Vintage Guitar
can only get bigger because of its following.
Greenwood is also focused on Bismarck's music scene, being a member
of the Belle Project, as well as other
organizations to help provide music appreciation. His local efforts will also
generate more readers for Vintage Guitar. Issues of the magazine are available monthly via subscription or at local
music stores.
Photo by Mike Swenson
Alan Greenwood founded Vintage Guitar magazine in 1986.
Theodore Jamerson Elementary School
Student Places First At National American
Indian Science Fair
UTN - Taylahni Jackson,
a fifth grade student from
Theodore Jamerson Elementary School, took first
place in the National American Indian Science and
Engineering Fair.Taylahni
competed in the Physics
and Astronomy category
during the March 24–26
event in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Forty-seven
schools were represented
and over 500 projects.
Taylahni’s project was titled: Depth of Field: Pinhole
Lens versus F2.5 Large
Format Lens. She took
and developed film photographs using two different
camera lenses. One was a
pinhole lens that she built
and affixed to a 4 x 5 view
camera. The other was a
WWII era Aero Ektar f4.5
lens, also on a 4 x 5 view
camera. She compared the
results of the photographs
and demonstrated her understanding of the optical
properties known as “circle
of confusion” and “depth of
field.”
Taylahni presented her
project in two previous
science fairs. She participated in the TJES Science
Fair and took first place in
the North Dakota Native
American Science Fair to
become eligible to participate in the national event.
To enter she was required
to write a scientific abstract
in APA style using a minimum of five literary references. As a further requirement, her project also met
the standards of the Intel
International Science and
Engineering Fair.
“I plan to attend again
next year,” said Taylahni.
Photo from UTN
“It was fun to meet people Taylahni Jackson, a fifth grade student at TJES,
from all the United States is from the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
and Ontario, Canada. I
saw projects from all over.”
Bismarck. Taylahni’s science coach
Theodore Jamerson Elementawas Mark Anderson, TJES Gifted
ry School is located on the United
and Talented instructor.
Tribes Technical College campus in
How ‘G reen’ Is
Your L awn?
By Jeff Eslinger
Friends, have I got a deal for you. A
miracle cure for your lawn. The do-all,
end-all for a greener, thicker, and less
weedy yard. But don't take my word
for it, this product is used by the finest parks and golf courses in the nation!
This miracle elixer is called...(drumroll,
please)...grass. That's right, your grass
needs grass. Tiny, chopped-up bits of
grass, also known as mulch.
Let it lay is not the way.
Let’s get right to the bad rap that
mulching is messy. If you're blowing
the clippings out the side of the mower,
you're not mulching. Proper mulching traps grass under the mower to get
chopped into small bits that will soon
drop down to the soil. If you water your
lawn right after mulch-mowing, the
clippings disappear even faster. I hope
that puts your mind at ease.
If not, take my word for it as the son
of a mulcher (who owned a hardware
store). I’ve been mulching successfully
for decades. Or go visit a golf course.
Not all green is Green.
Among the many benefits for the environment, a healthy lawn works round
the clock capturing carbon and storing
it in the soil. It captures and filters rain
water, hosts an incredible habitat of
living things--many of which are food
for our favorite birds--and it even cools
your family’s favorite living area: your
back yard.
Unfortunately, lush, deep green
lawns are not always “Green;” that is,
environmentally responsible. I won’t
condemn all use of chemicals, but I
think we can all agree that if we can
get the same results without chemicals,
it makes sense to at least give it a try.
Besides, whenever I fertilize, it immediately rains for 40 days and nights,
washing it all away.
Green saves green.
Sometimes, going Green costs more,
but this is a case where it actually saves
money.
The tons of chemicals people dump
on their lawns costs tons of money.
Mulchers spend very little on lawn
care. Mulch is a perfect fertilizer, be-
cause the grass you're cutting already
holds the nutrients your lawn needs.
But wait, it gets better! The composting
process also activates all kinds of microbes that do amazing things I am not
scientifically qualified to describe. All I
know is that they're so good at it, your
lawn bags are hot with chemical activity by the time they get to the recycling
station. Remind me again why I should
work so hard to haul that away?
Full disclosure: I often use a chemical fertilizer with crabgrass preventer
in the spring, but I rarely fertilize again
for the rest of the summer. The fertilizer mafia may bury me under heavy bags
for this, but I’d rather do a little FREE
fertilizing every week. Yes, fertilizers
work. I’m just not convinced they’re absolutely necessary, at least at the level
some people use it.
Mulch right.
Part II of this article will cover how
mulching controls weeds and saves
water. Until then, here are five tips for
proper mulching:
1. Ideally, you should use a mower
that is made for mulching. They have
more powerful motors and specially designed decks that enhance the repeated
cutting action. If you're not ready to upgrade your mower, at least get a mulching blade, which is designed to create
more turbulence and will likely have
multiple cutting surfaces. Chop, chop,
chop!
2. Mow more slowly to get a good
mulch. If you’re getting clumps of long
blades, you're going too fast. You’ll
still get the job done faster because you
don’t have to empty the bag or go to the
recycling center.
3. Mow a little more often, preferably when the grass is dry as possible.
Keep your blades sharp. (Good advice
for cutting your own hair, too, but I no
longer recommend that.)
4. Keep your mower deck clean.
Hose it thoroughly after every mowing,
but be careful about sticking your garden hose under a running mower. That
can get ugly.
(Jeff Eslinger is a freelance writer,
weed assassin and certified hammock
inspector who lives in the country
where four horses and a mule eat most
of his grass. Disclaimer: The author is
not a scientist or lawn-care professional. This article is written from the perspective of personal experience only.
Soils and grass types vary.)
Photo by Jeff Eslinger
This lawn was almost completely destroyed while building the retaining wall, but filled in almost completely in just 2 months
thanks to mulch mowing.
Tired of cookie cutter radio?
Sick of hearing the same songs over and
over and over again?
Don’t tune out…. log in!
Check out the area’s only locally owned radio station, URL
Radio, at www.urlradio.net. Since we’re locally owned we can
play songs no one else can play and say things no one else
can say. We have over a dozen live and local shows and take
song requests all day Monday-Friday.
The future of radio is here...at www.urlradio.net!!
Listening is as easy as 1-2-3:
1. Go to www.urlradio.net
2. Click listen at the top.
3. Click play
That’s it! Enjoy! We play music from
the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, today, rock, indie,
alternative, blues. We even play local
and regional artists!
If you have a smart phone,
take a picture of this barcode
with a free barcode reading
app and start listening now!
Experience New York City’s
Metropolitan Opera in Bismarck
By Mike Swenson
In order to see a live production
of the Metropolitan Opera, a person
would have to fly to New York, book
a hotel, find a taxi, get to the Lincoln
Center on time, and spend about $1500
for the trip.
An easier and cheaper way to see
a live Opera performance is to attend
"The Met: Live in HD" at the Grand
Theater in Bismarck. Paying a ticket
price of $25, allows the viewer a chance
of seeing the opera like they've never
seen it before. It's up close and personal
from one of the theater seats.
Joyce Tello, a longtime opera enthusiast, has been helping to build up the
opera community and bring awareness
to the centuries old art-form. During
intermission the Bismarck audiences
sees interviews with the actors. Joyce
said, "It's a very personal experience,
giving me access to the actors, and the
production that goes into it.”
The idea of bringing a live opera
production to Bismarck would be financially difficult as well as challenging in
terms of weather and other logistics.
However, thanks to technology and a
dedicated fan-base, the broadcasts will
continue on. Grand Theater owner,
Jerry Brekke, has shown his dedication
for the arts, despite the broadcasting
fees associated with the shows. The
broadcasts are presented by FathomEvents, a digital distribution company,
who sends the feed via satellite to select
theaters around the nation. The picture
is shown on a full scale curved screen,
giving the audience a perfect view of
everything going on, in great clarity.
Another benefit of seeing it in the theater is that the audio is pumped through
20 surround speakers, unlike in person,
where it would sound different depending on a person's seat and distance from
the stage. Up until a few years ago,
people would have to travel to Fargo or
Minneapolis to see a live opera performance on screen, but with the help of
local opera lovers, Brekke was able to
get the proper equipment installed to
present the monthly opera series. The
word and reputation of the shows is
spreading through the community. "Attendance has doubled moving into our
second year" said Russ Fix, a manager
at Grand Theater. "I think people appreciate it more since it's usually a one
time event". In order to boost audience
size each season, Tello has sponsored
showings for college students interested
in the performing arts. It also offers the
students a chance to learn more about
the history behind the performances.
Operas can last up to 4 hours with
intermissions and are subtitled for audience members. The next shows are
April 19 Rossini’s “Le Comte Ory,”
April 23 Strauss’s “Capriccio” and
April 30 Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” For
more information and a schedule for
upcoming shows, visit grandtheaters.
com and fathomevents.com
April
• 7l• 7PrairieIndependent.com
July2011
2010
l PrairieIndependent.com
Northern Plains Dance Partners With
Peacock Alley To Make a Night Of It
Northern Plains Dance is presenting Snow White Friday, May 20 at 7:30
pm, and Saturday, May 21 at 2:30 pm
at the Belle Mehus Auditorium. Snow
White is the third and final production
of NPD’s 2010-2011 season.
This year, in conjunction with Snow
White, Peacock Alley is hosting “Make
a Night of It.” Dale Zimmerman, owner
of the Peacock Alley, has done similar
events with Dakota Stage over the past
year. “We believe the Peacock Alley is
the cornerstone of downtown Bismarck
literally and figuratively.” Zimmerman
said. “Our location is ideal for being a
part of different local community art
events since we are close to the Belle,
the civic center and Dakota Stage.
When you combine our location with
our long history of being the cornerstone of the downtown it only seems
natural that we would want to help out
any local event be more prosperous.
We are looking forward to being a part
of the upcoming Snow White performance. There are very few choices in
downtown Bismarck for families to go
and have dinner or lunch before or after
an event.”
The packages available with Snow
White include a dinner on Friday night,
and a lunch on Saturday. “We are offering an experience in a historic setting that features great fresh food that
has been inspired by the show. Parents
and kids will both be able to be a part
of this experience which is very exciting to us. Melodie and I have 4 children
and 1 grandchild and are honored to be
a part of this family production.” Zimmerman said. The menu for the event
will be determined soon and will be
available at Northern Plains Dance.
Presale tickets for the “Make a Night
of It” package are available at Northern Plains Dance from April 11-23. The
Friday “Make a Night of It” Dinner
Package includes a four-course meal
(salad, appetizer, entrée, dessert), complimentary beverage, tax, gratuity, and
a Level C ticket to Snow White on Friday, May 20 at 7:30 pm. The Saturday
“Make a Night of It” Lunch Package
includes lunch, complimentary beverage, tax, gratuity, and a Level C ticket
to Snow White on Saturday, May
21 at 2:30 pm.
Farm Fresh CSA
Continued from page 1
spring and summer months, however,
Basquiat rolls up his sleeves and works
a large vegetable plot near Mandan for
“Make a Night of It”
his Baskets of Plenty CSA members.
“I’ve been doing the CSA model in
Package Pricing:
Bismarck-Mandan for four years,” explains Basquiat. “Interest has grown
Friday, May 20th
rapidly in that time with people finally
understanding the difference between
Dinner seating begins at 5:30 pm
community garden and Community
Adults: $40.00
Supported Agriculture.”
Seniors: $37.00
Baskets of Plenty distributes produce
to its members from July through
Children: $18.00
October with shares starting at $270
for the entire 14-week season. “At its
heart, (a CSA membership) is an investment in relationships knit together
Saturday, May 21st
by food, an act that sustains healthy
Lunch seating begins at 1:00 pm
culture, body, and mind,” says BasAdults: $25.00
quiat.
Back at Riverbound Farm, the McSeniors: $22.00
Ginnesses are preparing for another
Children: $15.00
growing season. “We’re hoping to
have 75 households this year,” says
Angie. Thanks to growing season extending techniques Brian and Angie
Regular ticket sales begin April
learned from their years of farming in
25th. All tickets available at
Vermont, the Riverbound Farm CSA
distribution season runs from June
Northern Plains Dance at 1125 E
through December, with shares startMain Ave. or by calling 530-0986.
ing at $450.
General Admission tickets avail“We come up to Bismarck on Thursable at all Bismarck/Mandan
days for share distributions, but members are also welcome to come to the
Dan’s Supermarkets.
farm to select their produce, meet the
animals, and pick their own strawberries and tomatoes,” explains Angie. “We also raise
pigs and chickens, and our members get first priority
in purchasing the meat and eggs.”
If the McGinness’s neighbors thought mixed grass
in the feed plot was eccentric, they’d better hold onto
their feed company hats when they find out these organic farmers are doing next. “This year, we’re getting rid of the tractor and going horse-powered,” says
Angie with a smile.
For more information, visit:
Baskets of Plenty – web.me.com/basketsofplenty
Riverbound Farm – www.riverboundfarm.com. Look
for more information on their May 7 Open House on
their website too.
Photo by Jay Basquiat
Below is a look at Baskets of Plenty during growing
season.
April
2011 •l88•lPrairieIndependent.com
July 2010
PrairieIndependent.com
Toasted Frog Leaps Into Downtown Bismarck
New Restaurant Offers ‘Upscale, But Not Uptight’ Atmosphere
By Amanda Mack
If you have downtown Fargo envy,
get your fix right here in Bismarck at
the Toasted Frog, a bar and restaurant,
at the corner of 4th and Broadway.
Jonathan Holth, co-owner of both
the Grand Forks and Bismarck locations of the Toasted Frog, was the Hotel
Donaldson bar and restaurant manager
when the boutique hotel, bar and restaurant opened in 2003. His business
partner, Shawn Clapp, was the general
manager. From there, the two launched
their first business venture together
opening the Toasted Frog in downtown
Grand Forks in 2006.
“We were really a part of Fargo
and Grand Forks during their coming
of age. [The Toasted Frog] was one of
two or three restaurants in Grand Forks
when we opened. Two years later, there
were eleven…Looking for another location, we really saw that opportunity
in Bismarck.”
The Toasted Frog opened its doors
on December 7, 2010. Located next
door to Patisserie on Fourth, across the
street from Pirogue Grille, and across
the street and around the corner from
Blarney Stone, Toasted Frog is in the
heart of downtown’s up and coming
after-hours culinary scene.
“We like to think that we are sort
of upscale but not uptight. There is a
little something for everyone,” says
Holth about the restaurant’s concept.
“It’s the type of place where you can
come down and have a lobster tail
and a bottle of wine or wings and a
beer. It’s a ‘make it what you want
to make it, spend what you want to
spend’ kind of place.”
However, at the end of the day, “it
always comes down to the quality
of the food,” says Holth who credits
their executive chef in Grand Forks,
Scott Franz, as the creative genius
behind the food and concept for the
restaurant. Chris Schultz, the executive chef in Bismarck, studied under
Photo provided by Jonathan Holth
Franz for five years before coming to
Downtown Bismarck jumps up to destination status with the addition of the Toasted
Bismarck.
Frog.
Although they reevaluate their
menu a couple times a year, there
cheesy pickles appetizer. The pickles artists in the bar and restaurant and in
are a few items that will always stay and cheese are wrapped in an egg roll each hotel room, the Toasted Frog is
the course. Holth says that three out of wrapper before they are fried and are dedicated to supporting the arts as well.
four tables order their signature fried- served with srirancha, a spicy chili The exposed brick walls, high ceilings
sauce. Other popular menu items
are fish tacos and wood-fired pizzas.
“We have fresh fish flown in
from Hawaii a couple times a
week,” says Holth. “[The Honolulu
Fish Company] calls us up, just
off the boat, and tell us what they
caught that day. They usually give
us three options. This week we
ordered 20 pounds of ono. Other
times it’s ahi tuna, hamachi or amber jack.”
The ono special that week was
prepared as follows, “a 7 oz. filet of
fresh ono, dusted with cinnamon
and clove, grilled rare to medium
rare, and topped with a blood orange salsa.”
Fresh fish enthusiasts have reason to get down to the Toasted
Frog. While there, be sure to take
in the art gallery too.
Similar to the Hotel DonaldPhoto provided by Jonathan Holth
son that features the work of local
Diners enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the Toasted Frog in Bismarck.
Inclusive Child Care for ND Families - Is as Easy as 1.2.3.
The legislature has budgeted
The legislature has cut
$500,000,000,
funding for Senate Bill 2298
yes half a billion, on tax
on inclusive child-care from
reductions for individuals and
$750,000 to $50,000.
corporations so far this session
Some legislators hope to
cut more!
1.
Contact your Representative
2. Contact your Senator;
Help us Spread the word!
and gallery-style lighting offer a great
venue for showing local artists’ work.
“Ninety-five percent of the art in
here is for sale,” Holth says. “We keep
a price list that is available upon request. If we sell [a painting], the artist
can hang another.” Adam Kemp, Julie
Neidlinger and Ali Larock are some of
the North Dakota artists currently featured in the Toasted Frog’s Bismarck
location.
Holth and Clapp bought the downtown restaurant site in 2009. Since
moving to town in 2010, Holth oversaw
the renovation, got married, launched a
business, bought a house and is expecting a child. For Bismarck, it doesn’t get
any better.
“People have given us a great reception – my wife and me as a couple and
the customers,” says Holth. “It validates
us, the reasons we came here.”
It is well deserved. With the opening of the Toasted Frog, downtown
Bismarck has achieved critical mass to
make it a destination. A night out at the
Toasted Frog and surrounding bars and
restaurants feels like a weekend getaway to Fargo minus the gas money and
lodging. No, really, thank you!
ND FAMILIES NEED CHILDCARE!
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD AND
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!!!!!
3. Ask them to Vote Yes on SB 2298;
LET’S MAKE SURE OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS KNOW WHERE WE STAND AS
PARENTS, GRAND PARENTS, CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, TEACHERS and EMPLOYERS.
Contact Your ND Legislator Today Click Here or Phone: 1-888-635-3447
April
• PrairieIndependent.com
July2011
2010• 9l 9
l PrairieIndependent.com
Inside Local Roller Derby:
BisMan Bombshellz
By Katie Patrie
The BisMan Bombshellz are a premier flattrack roller derby team
in central North Dakota.
The team is skater owned
and operated. They depend on dedicated volunteers, business, and vendors to continue to grow
and offer central North
Dakota something truly
Photo from Katie Patrie
exceptional.
Elizabeth Franks Anderson shoves Misti Schellin as
The BisMan Bombthey round the bend.
shellz mission is: “We
the knowledge gained and relationships
want to create a team that
represents class and integrity. We will formed, proved that there were no lospride ourselves on our teamwork and ers.
Liz Anderson, the team captain, said
dedication, as well as creating a posi”Across
city and state lines the was a
tive and honest environment. Our goal
great
showing
of respect and support
is to reach out to others and to our community by helping in whatever way we for all the teams there. It is a very emcan. We will pay back our many fans powering sport to be involved in beand community by putting in the hard cause there are no hard feelings after
work needed to create an awesome the bout, no matter where team is from
derby league! We ARE Bismarck/Man- they want the best out of you.”
Throughout the season the Bombdan!”
The Bombshellz lived up to that shellz anticipate seven local bouts with
statement at Central Dakota’s first roller teams from around the region. They
derby doubleheader held March 26th at also expect to travel to mixers around
4 Bears Casino & Lodge. The first bout the area and help raise money for a lowas the Deadwood Renegade Regula- cal community group. To find out more
tors against the Billings Roller Derby about the Bombshellz, their bouts or
Dames. The second bout was the Bis- how to become involved find them on
Man Bombshellz in their debut bout Facebook or on the web at www.bisagainst the Rimrock Mafia Rollers. manbombshellz.com
Although they came home with a loss,
Director of Public Works
Talks Recycling
Prairie Independent had a chance to
talk with Jeff Heintz, Director of Bismarck Public Works – Service Operations about recycling.
Prairie Independent: What's the
status of the Pay As You Throw proposal recommended to the City Commission in 2009?
Jeff Heintz: This recycling incentive program was recommended to the
commission and is waiting for the Solid
Waste Facility long range master plan
to be completed to help put a value on
recycling and waste reduction. This
study is still underway, hopefully with
a completion date of fall 2011.
PI: What's the status of curb-side
recycling becoming a reality in Bismarck?
JH: This is being studied in the long
range plan with feasibility and financial
considerations. Our recycling volumes
continue to improve and a curb-side option would only increase that volume
and save space in our landfill.
PI: Does the city make or save any
money with the recycling program?
JH: Presently we sell our recyclable
materials on the open market. This
helps us to recover some of ourcosts but
recycling revenue doesn’t cover all of
the input costs to operate our program.
Our long range master plan will reveal
the true value of the airspace in the
landfill that is being saved by recycling.
Once we have this number calculated,
it will show us the complete economic
picture of recycling and what it saves us
in landfill space. Since 2004, we have
recycled enough material from our
waste stream to fill the Bismarck Civic
Center Exhibition Hall twice. That’s a
tremendous amount of material we have
diverted, recycled and reused over the
past six years and a huge value in landfill airspace that has been saved.
PI: Any problems with the recycling program that need more public
awareness?
JH: Our problem is a positive one, as
we have had a groundswell of support
which ultimately puts stresses on our
passive program. Cardboard recycling
sites always seem full so we ask users
to flatten boxes before placing them into
trailers. The new larger dumpsters used
for plastic recycling have worked well.
They are easier to put plastics in for
the public, and we can hold much more
than the old round containers used to. If
folks use common sense and treat the
recycling sites like their own, we can
continue to keep Bismarck clean and
have a successful recycling program.
For more information on recycling in
Bismarck, including recycling site locations, visit the Public Works Department online at bismarck.org.
Photo by Beth Schatz Kaylor
Story ideas?
Want to Advertise?
Want more?
Email [email protected]
and check out the Prairie Independent online at
www.prairieindependent.org
Workers Memorial Day Observance
Thursday, April 28, 2011
5:30 p.m. at the Steps of the Capitol
Speaker: Tom Deutscher, Area Director OSHA
The names of the 14 workers who died on the job
in 2010 will be read.
Social to follow at the
House of Labor - 1323 E Front Ave – Bismarck
Sponsored by Missouri Slope Central Labor Council
April
2011 •l10
July 2010
10•lPrairieIndependent.com
PrairieIndependent.com
Where Did the State Surplus Go?
Is a “Shell Game” Preventing Most North Dakotans from Benefiting?
By Don Morrison
Just a few months ago, North Dakota’s robust economy was the toast of
the country and state politicians were
glowing about a $1.2 billion state surplus. Now, some legislators say there
is not enough money to improve the
state’s efforts for children, health care,
college tuition, the state’s highway patrol, tax credits for low income workers
and many other popular efforts.
What happened?
“It’s a shell game,” according to
April Fairfield, the senior policy analyst
at the North Dakota Economic Policy
Project. She said legislators are “moving money out of funds that are accessible and into funds that are not accessible. Not much of this is going to help
make low or moderate income people’s
lives better.”
At the beginning of April with a few
weeks remaining in the 2011 Session,
legislators faced a general fund deficit
after giving away over a half a billion
dollars in tax reductions and exemptions.
The Senate’s Majority Leader, Bob
Stenehjem (R-Bismarck), appeared to
confirm Fairfield’s assertion when he
said, “We have to get more of this money off the table because people want to
spend it all.”
In addition to squirreling away the
money, legislators have defeated or dramatically reduced many proposals to
invest some of the surplus in children,
students, safety and other people-oriented efforts.
Sen. Ryan Taylor (DNPL-Towner),
the Senate Minority Leader, said, “It
is good to save for the future, but we
shouldn’t be sitting on money instead
of having an earned income tax credit
or supporting college students with a
tuition freeze or a lower increase in tuition.”
House Majority Leader Al Carlson
(R-Fargo) said the state budget includes
$1 billion for human services and he
thinks that is enough. He suggested
people who want to fund something additional or at a higher level should find
the money for it by looking in the Human Services Department budget for
something to cut.
Stenehjem and Carlson said they are
concerned that the state is spending
too much and they are worried about
sustaining increased spending for ongoing programs.
Carlson said funds are needed for a
long-term commitment to infrastructure all across the state. He pointed out
that $700 million of the surplus has
gone to the inaccessible Budget Stabilization Fund and to property tax reductions in this and future biennia. Carlson
said the surplus (or reserve) at the end
of the 2011-2013 Biennium won’t be
very big.
Fairfield said, “It’s all artificial.
They’re saying program cuts are necessary in order to fund needed efforts, yet
they are considering a half a billion dollars in tax reduction? Spending on the
Children’s Health Insurance Program
(CHIP) did not cause the general fund
deficit. Legislative leaders are deciding that it’s more important to give tax
breaks to corporations than to do something about working families being able
to afford health care for their children.”
Rep. Jerry Kelsh (DNPL-Fullerton),
House Minority Leader, said, “Businesspeople tell us they want infrastructure. For most people the tax cuts won’t
amount to much. Farmers and business
owners tell us they’d rather have their
roads fixed than get a tax cut.
Rep. Corey Mock (DNPL-Grand
Forks) said other states have cut taxes in
good times and it is “not sustainable.”
North Dakota’s corporate and individual income taxes are some of the lowest in the country. Mock said, “Lowering rates in good economic times is a
short-sighted policy. The people haven’t
asked for it and in fact they rejected it in
“Let’s Talk”
A half-hour discussion of community issues from faith perspectives
April 10, 17, 24
Host Don Morrison talks with
Rev. Jim Moos
Bismarck United Church of Christ
Talking about global justice issues and Rev. Moos’ nomination to
the 2008 vote on Measure 2.”
What Kind of Tax Cuts?
Mock is disappointed that Majority
Leader Carlson rejected the proposal
from Democratic-NPL legislators to return $46 million to taxpayers in a tax
rebate. Mock said, “The proposal would
have used $46 million for more tax reduction to 90 percent of North Dakota
taxpayers than those taxpayers will get
from the Republicans’ $150 million
proposal.” Every individual North Dakota taxpayer would have received $167
and couple $250.
Taylor said while the Republicans
“are pushing $150 million in corporate
tax cuts, financial institutions tax cuts,
wealthy individual tax cuts, Democratic-NPL senators support roads, health
care, safety, and decent water to drink
and bathe in.”
“We’ve fought for many ways to
lower taxes,” Taylor said. These include
a state earned income tax cut for low
to moderate income people, sales tax
breaks, small business income tax cuts
and an income tax rebate to all taxpayers. Taylor said, “People getting an
EITC will plough it right back into the
community by buying goods and services from local businesses. Why give
the top brackets cuts they haven’t even
asked for?”
What Kind of Spending?
Taylor said his caucus’s goals are
to get money to where it will do some
good. He said that is “more important
than building up a trust fund that will
sit there.”
“For years the standard line has been
‘we simply can’t afford to make these
investments,’” Fairfield said. “Now
when the state is in a position where we
can afford to invest in children, roads,
infrastructure, water, education, safety,
they are busy hiding money or giving
it away in tax breaks. By strategically
moving accessible funds to restricted
funds, they tie the hands of future legislators.”
Kelsh said, “Hard working families
don’t get enough through their jobs to
pay for health insurance. People who
need help should not have to go without
medical and dental so the more fortunate can get tax cuts. There are a lot of
hardworking families working at $12 an
hour. That’s not enough to live on.”
But, Stenehjem said, “It isn’t the government’s job to provide health insurance.” While acknowledging that health
care costs are a problem he said, “Each
individual should look to their personal
health decisions. People need to make
better life decisions.”
North Dakota’s Children’s Health
Insurance Program ranks as the most
restrictive of all states. Even with the
budget surplus this session, legislators
may not let more working families be
eligible for the state’s CHIP. Carlson
said “until CHIP is 100 percent utilized, we’re at the right level.”
Mock said, “You make CHIP available because there is a need. Just because someone who is currently eligible
doesn’t use it, you shouldn’t punish
another person who is just outside the
eligibility guidelines who does need it.
We have a chance to do what’s right and
we’re not doing it.”
“The contrast in economic situations
is so disheartening,” Fairfield said.
“North Dakota is prospering, leading
the nation, and the state’s fiscal situation is healthy. Yet, poverty in the state
is not going down and several leading
indicators show increased poverty in
the state. The fact is, everyone is not doing better in North Dakota. Investing in
people would improve the economy. Investing in people who struggle to make
ends meet does more to strengthen the
economy than do tax breaks to wealthy
out-of-state corporations.”
She said, “Having enough in reserve
for economic downturns and unexpected expenditures is wise.” But, she said
the majority leadership has “made conscience effort to use revenues so they
are not available to spend.”
According to Carlson, “Money is
safer in the hands of people than government. The government doesn’t create jobs or create wealth; the private
sector does.” And Stenehjem defended
the Republican policies saying “It’s
time for the person who is paying the
tax to have more of the money.”
However, Mock said, “The prosperity of our state is only sustainable as
long as we take care of the people who
live in North Dakota. When we’re flush
with a resource [oil] and its dividends
we have an obligation to ensure that
the quality of life is as high as it can
be across the state. If we don’t use the
resources we have for roads, housing,
water and other needs, than our oil will
be a one-time harvest.
As for the surplus, Fairfield said,
“Carlson should be concerned that there
might not be enough in reserve, but he is
the leader and is responsible for spending down the accessible reserves in tax
giveaways and playing Russian roulette
with the future of this state.”
direct Wider Church Ministries of the National United Church of Christ
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April
2011
• 11l •11
PrairieIndependent.com
July
2010
l PrairieIndependent.com
Landowners in Oil Country
Concerned
Continued from page 1
Onstad is concerned the Industrial
Commission hasn’t been a neutral party
when it comes to issues between surface owners and oil companies.
“They’re supposed to help out in
these situations and they’re not,” Onstad said. “They go on the side of the oil
company…and that’s frustrating.”
Helms said nothing could be further
from the truth.
“My job is to deal with the facts and
the science and protect everybody’s
property rights. Those landowners have
a property right, those mineral owners
have property rights, and so do the people who invested money to drill an oil
well and construct it,” Helms said.
With the landscape dotted with oil
rigs in western North Dakota, the state
is currently second in the nation for oil
exploration. No one will dispute that
regulating it is a hefty job.
Myron Hanson, president of the
Northwest Landowners Association,
said he will be the first to admit the
Oil and Gas Division is probably overwhelmed with the oil activity.
“When you get out in western North
Dakota and see what’s going on, it’s
incredible,” Hanson said. “With 5,000
existing wells to monitor, another 170
wells every 45 days, and you have to sit
there and monitor those drilling operations, it’s a complicated job. But we’d
like to see them be more aggressive in
their pursuit of enforcement of regulations.”
Helms currently has 14 full-time
inspectors to oversee this activity, but
he’s been granted an increase to 21 inspectors, and if the drilling and well
count continues to climb at its current
pace, the number will be bumped to 25.
Landowners hope it will be the start
to better enforcement, and in turn, result in fewer losses of their property.
“It’s not all about the money; it’s
about what we’re going to leave our
children and the future generations,”
Peterson said. “Every time you wreck
three acres of land, it’s a scar that’s
there forever.”
DYER &
SUMMERS, P.C.
Edwin W.F. Dyer III
and Anne E. Summers
Attorneys at Law
• Adoptions
• Family Law and Divorce
• Bankruptcy
• Social Security Disability
701-223-2099
888-695-4936
www.dyersummers.com
Nothing Too Random
By A nnette M artel
Parenthood Means Finding More
Than Just Cheerios
L
ife unfolds in mysterious
ways, and every part of it can
change on a dime before you
even notice. For instance, I cry when
I put clothes in boxes now. Which is
strange because I’m pretty sure I never
used to do that.
I cry when I put my daughter's
clothes away that don't fit her any more.
It makes it real for me that she's getting
bigger and isn't the tiny baby she was
eight months ago. She’s not even the
tiny baby she was a month ago. It’s as
if she doubles in size every fortnight.
Which is wonderful, of course, but sad,
too. She’ll never be this size again.
And I cry when I put my old clothes
into boxes now, too. Partially because I
wonder how I ever fit into something so
tiny, but mostly because I don't feel like
I know the person who used to wear
these clothes any more.
Life was completely different as recently as a year ago. It was just me, my
husband, Sweet Kelly the newspaper
columnist, and our dog, Boof. But that
all changed last summer with the birth
of our daughter.
Before Flippyhair Gigglepants (not
her real name) was born, I was told by
dozens of people, "Having kids changing everything." Well, it turns out, dozens of people are right. I feel like my
life has been divided into two eras: Before Flippyhair Gigglepants (BFG) and
After Flippyhair Gigglepants (AFG).
BFG: Cheerios were a breakfast cereal that helped lower cholesterol.
AFG: Cheerios are a magical, mystical thing that appear as if from nowhere
in nearly every room of the house and
sometimes even appear when I pick up
my baby after changing her diaper. How
does that happen? For all I know, she
stores Cheerios in her little arm folds.
The girl has guns. The muscular kind,
not the weaponry kind -- that would be
terrible.
BFG: 9 p.m. was about the time I
started to wonder, "What should I do
tonight?"
AFG: 9 p.m. is about the time that I
start to think,"Why am I not sleeping
yet?"
BFG: I would Tweet up a storm on
Twitter and bury my face in Facebook.
I even had the opportunity to live-Tweet
my wedding. In other words, I had some
time on my hands.
AFG: Now, I’m lucky if I have time
to go to the bathroom. That’s something I always wondered before I had
kids -- how do people with babies go
to the bathroom, especially if the baby
cries every time you are more than five
feet away from her. Well, it turns out
that it helps if you have a very supportive partner in caring for the baby.
But Boof, unfortunately, passed away a
couple of months after Flippyhair was
born, so that left me stuck with my
husband. Sweet Kelly lives up to his
name, though. He is extremely helpful and even invented something to
help with the problem of how to go to
the bathroom while watching the baby,
alone. The Potty Perch (patent pending) is essentially a Fisher Price playyard he set up just outside the bathroom
door where the kid can stay within
your reach but you stay out of their
sight while business is being attended
to. There’s even a jingle for it. “If leaving your baby leaves you in a lurch, get
yourself a Potty Perch.”
Yes, a lot of things have changed
over the last nine months and I’m sure
there are more changes in store. But
the biggest change is that I now have a
tiny hybrid of myself and my husband
who teaches me see the beauty in every moment, love like my heart is going
to burst, and makes me cry when I put
clothes in boxes, because it’s all going
by way too fast.
And, oh look, I just found another
Cheerio.
(Annette Martel is a student advisor at
Bismarck State College and freelance writer, who lives in Bismarck with her husband,
Kelly, and daughter, whose real name shall
remain a mystery. She can be reached at
[email protected].)
April 10 - “Home at Last” by Brian Palecek
April 17 - “Sprouting the Seeds: How to Grow Belief” by Tim Hathaway
April 24 - “Happy UU Easter: It’s our Holiday Too” by Rev. Lyn Burton
May 1 - “Celebration of May Through Birds” by the UU Birding Com-
munity
April
2011 •l12
July 2010
12•lPrairieIndependent.com
PrairieIndependent.com
The Art of Peace
By K aren Van Fossan
Time
and
Again
By Betty Mills
Betty: #1 in “Not Your Average Damsel in Guatemalan Journey: Getting More
Distress,” a Series
I
keep staring at this picture of
Grandma Van with her 1960s bowling team, trying to discern why I
love it so much.
I carry the photo in my satchel these
days, just like my grandma used to
carry photos of me – in that pressed
leather wallet with the photo-holding
insert. Even Grandma’s photos were
well-dressed.
At the time of this picture, she must
have been roughly the age I am today
– with a ‘60s lift to her hair, more lipstick on her lips. But that’s not the thing
I love about this picture.
In the background, you can read the
names of two of the women’s bowling
teams: “Galloping Ghosts” and “Fire
Flys.” Was one of these her team? No
one seems to know these days.
My Grandma stands in the middle,
two teammates on one side, two teammates on the other. I recognize one of
the teammates. Or anyway, I think I do.
Maybe I just recognize her placement
in this picture. My grandma’s face is
the only face I can name.
Grandma’s ball is blue, her fingernails are red, the embroidery on her
bowling shirt says, “Betty.” I never saw
my grandma bowl, not once. And yet, I
have inherited this picture – along with
Grandma’s cheeks, the color of her
Than I Bargained For
eyes, her iron will.
When one of Grandma’s neighbor’s
went to jail for too much drinking,
Grandma bailed him out. On the drive
home, he started to cuss and complain
about this and that. So Grandma told
him to hush his mouth, or she’d take
him back where she found him.
Grandma could look ahead and see
the future, now and then. As a teen, my
dad wanted to go out riding with his
friends. “Ran, you’re not going,” she
said. “Those boys are going to get into
a wreck!” Wouldn’t you know, that’s
exactly what they did? This uncanny
skill of Grandma’s left my teenage dad
at a loss; it’s tough to know, as a teen,
that your mother is probably right – and
possibly psychic.
Looking at this picture, I imagine
Grandma Van was a pretty fierce bowler. I imagine she knew exactly what
she wanted from the ball. I imagine she
knew how to use her steady body.
I imagine she looked ahead, down
that long, long lane, and she said to herself, “Betty, you can do this.”
I imagine those on either side loved
her very much.
(Karen Van Fossan is a playwright,
peace activist, and dance/movement therapist. She blogs at www.peacetheater.
blogspot.com and can be reached at [email protected].)
Photo provided by Karen Van Fossan
Photo of Grandma Van (center) with her 1060s bowling team.
Dr. Eliot’s Twice Sold Tales
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701-330-2685
T
here is something about walking
into the middle of another country’s sprawling garbage dump
that alters one’s perspective, especially
if there are residences located amidst
the debris complete with several generations including a small baby.
“Who would choose to live in such
a place?” I asked myself while hoping
I didn’t look too much like the stereotypical rich American out slumming,
which I decidedly was not. The answer,
as it turned out, was that this was where
they earned a living by collecting the
plastic discarded there and re-selling it.
The rent was free, the building material available—lathe and plastic sheeting, discarded boards—also without
charge. Presumably you get used to the
smell, just as they do in Hershey, Pennsylvania where the odor of chocolate is
airborne full time.
We were nearing the end of a week’s
stay, my daughters and I, in Antigua,
Guatemala, where my grandson Charlie works for the God’s Child Project, a
non-governmental organization founded by Bismarck native Patrick Atkinson
over 20 years ago to help the poverty
stricken children of that area.
Antigua is in a beautiful place up in
the mountains with a mild climate year
round. Three volcanic mountains form
a backdrop, one of them frequently
puffing white smoke, part of the picturesque quality of this heritage city
with its cobblestone streets, multiple
churches and long history.
I’m not sure what I expected as we
embarked on this journey, but I ended up with more than I bargained for
certainly. It began the first day when
we toured the project’s main campus.
When the guard opened the gate as
we rang the bell, it was like stepping
unexpectedly into a green and peaceful world with the sound of children’s
laughter in the background. Trees and
flowers are everywhere, and water
gushes in small fountains scattered
among the walkways. Whatever the
home situation of these children, this
peaceful place provides beauty along
with meals, medical and dental care,
and education.
A line of small children about to
brush their teeth, posed gleefully for
a picture, providing a stark contrast to
the those we met later at the Jackson
Center which cares for babies suffering
from acute malnutrition.
We spent several sessions helping
with those babies at the Jackson Center, and my first reaction was dismay
at the unfairness of it all. How has the
world descended into such a state that
these helpless babies are launched into
the world with so many strikes against
them? The contrast between their lives
and that of my great granddaughter
back home, who is roughly the same
age as several of the babies there, was
heart breaking.
Then, of course, my grandson reminded me that at least now they had a
chance. Whatever failures of care had
been their lot in life is being remedied
as much as possible, and who knows?
Maybe one of them would someday
add to the well being of the world in
ways not fathomable now.
The Jackson Center wraps its care
around not just the babies, but their
families, providing education in nutrition and health. When the families
come in for their weekly sessions, they
leave with a large bag of food to take
home.
“Most families have six children at
least,” Charlie explained, “and if we
change the lives of those six children,
when they become parents, their six
children will be better off, and eventually you will have 36. We take the long
view.”
With Charlie once again as mentor,
I handed out food to homeless men at
another God’s Child Project. “What are
the chances they will someday lead a
better life?” I asked him during a lull.
“Not great,” he replied. “Many of them
are addicts, strung out on wood alcohol
or glue sniffing, but tonight they have
food, a warm place to sleep, and someone to talk to if they want, and they’re
safe.
The God’s Child Project has also extended its reach with a drug and alcohol
rehabilitation center and a school for
older children, clearly taking seriously
President Kennedy’s admonition that
“Here on earth God’s work must surely
be our own.”
His brother Robert F. Kennedy said,
“Each time someone stands up for an
ideal, or acts to improve the life of others, or strikes out against injustice, he
sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” Admittedly it is difficult to see how a tiny
ripple can create much change for the
poverty stricken in third world countries, and maybe a better image is that
of the story of the man standing amidst
thousands of starfish stranded on a
beach.
As he was throwing one of them
back into the water, a passerby pointed
out that he really couldn’t make much
difference to all those starfish, and the
man replied, “I can to this one.“
The baby we met at the garbage
dump was admitted to the Jackson Center the next day.
(Betty Mills has been a newspaper columnist in Bismarck for 26 years.)
NorthDecoder.com
North Dakota’s Most Influential Political Blog
April
• PrairieIndependent.com
July2011
2010• 13
l 13
l PrairieIndependent.com
Th e Bu z z
SUNDAY
•
B i s m a r c k- M a n d a n C o m m u n i t y Ca l e n d a r
MONDAY
•
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
7
Regional WDA Music Festival –
United McCabe Methodist Church
Job Service Construction and
Trades Job Fair – BSC NECE 4:00
– 7:00 PM
Blood Brothers – BSC – Sidney J.
Lee Auditorium – 7:30 PM
Everlasting Moments (Swedish
film) presented by Cinema 100 –
Grand Theater – 3:00 & 5:30 PM
2nd Annual Poetry Slam hosted by
Mathew Lippman - U-Mary Heskett Hall - 7:30 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Brian Gray - Bruno’s
- 5:30 PM
10
Mandan Lions Breakfast –
Mandan Moose Club –
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
11
Parents Forever –
Morton County Courthouse –
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Bismarck Kiwanis Club
Pancake and Sausage Breakfast
– Bismarck Country Club –
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
12
ArtsQuest: David Pelzer,
author of Help Yourself Program
and Training – BSC Sidney J.
Lee Auditorium – 7:00 PM
13
Century, Simile and Horizon Jazz
Concert – Century High School –
7:30 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Mike Swenson Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
Visiting Scientists Series
Presents “Feeding Ourselves
First: The Importance of Bioregional Food Sufficiency” – BSC
NECE, Room 304 – 7:00 PM
Blood Brothers – BSC - Sidney J.
Lee Auditorium – 2:00 PM
Bluegrass (acoustic) Jam Session
– Former Governor’s Mansion –
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Wachter 7th Grade Band Concert
– Wachter Middle School –
7:00 PM
LIVE MUSIC: McMahon Bros. and
friends - The Walrus - 9 PM
The Secret of Kells (Irish animated
film) presented by Cinema 100 –
Grand Theater – 3:00 & 5:30 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Nolyn Falcon Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
Fairyland – Let’s Dance Studio –
Belle Mehus Auditorium – 1:00 PM
A Collage Concert – BSC - Sidney
J. Lee Auditorium – 7:30 PM
Woodwind and Brass Students
Present Chamber Music Concert –
U-Mary - Heskett Hall – 3:00 PM
17
14
Compassionate Friends
Support Group – Medcenter
One College of Nursing – 7:00 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Brian Gray Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
18
19
AIHEC Student Conference – Bismarck Civic Center
AIHEC Student Conference –
Bismarck Civic Center
Special Election in Bismarck (see
page 4)
Mandan Special Olympics
Benefit Breakfast – Christ the
King Parish Life Center –
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
BSC Wind Ensemble Concert
– Sidney J. Lee Auditorium –
7:30 PM
ArtsQuest: Warren St. John,
author of Outcasts United – BSC
- Sidney J. Lee Auditorium – 7:30
PM
20
ArtsQuest: Illustrative designer
Von Glitschka, Creating
5ive-Alarm Concepts – BSC,
NECE, Room 304 – 7:00 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Mike Swenson Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
21
Earth Day Festival – Raymond
J. Bohn National Guard Armory –
3:00 – 7:30 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Brian Gray Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
Century High School Band Spring
Concert - CHS Auditorium - 7:30
PM
LIVE MUSIC: Luke Graner - The
Walrus - 9 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Nolyn Falcon Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
24
25
Silver Roots: Classical and
Folk – U-Mary - Heskett Hall –
7:30 PM
26
BSC Chamber Winds Concert –
BSC - Sidney J. Lee Auditorium
– 7:30 PM
27
LIVE MUSIC: Mike Swenson Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
28
UTTC Art/Art Marketing 13th Annual Sidewalk Art and Art Show/
Sale - 4th and Broadway,
Downtown Bismarck 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Dakota Discussions – America by
Food – Bismarck Public Library
Red Roaster Coffee Shop – 6:30 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Nodat Summit Band
- The Walrus - 9 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Nolyn Falcon Bruno’s - 5:30 PM
BSC Guitar and Percussion
Ensemble Concert – BSC - Sidney
J. Lee Auditorium – 7:30 PM
Gabriel Iglesias: Fluffy Shop Tour
– Belle Mehus Auditorium –
8:00 PM
LIVE MUSIC: Brian Gray - Bruno’s
- 5:30 PM
April
2011 •l14
July 2010
14•lPrairieIndependent.com
PrairieIndependent.com
A p r il 2 011
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
8
9
S’mores and Much More Gala – Bismarck Country Club –
6:00 PM
2011 University of Mary Optimist Club Speech and Essay Contest –
U Mary, Butler Hall – 10:00 AM
Blood Brothers – BSC – Sidney J. Lee Auditorium –
7:30 PM
Breakfast at the Dakota Zoo – 9:00-11:00 AM
Fairyland – Let’s Dance Studio – Belle Mehus Auditorium –
7:00 PM
Animal Ed-Ventures: Busy Bunnies – Dakota Zoo – 2:00-4:30 PM
Women’s Ground Defense Class – 303 1st Street NE, Mandan –
2:00-4:00 PM
Blood Brothers – BSC – Sidney J. Lee Auditorium – 7:30 PM
Fairyland – Let’s Dance Studio – Belle Mehus Auditorium –
1:00 & 7:00 PM
Intro to Improv: Shade Tree Players Spring Class –
Dakota Stage Theater – 1:00 – 3:00 PM
COME IN ON ANY
TAPPER TUESDAY
AND GET
$5 OFF!
*
*$30 minimum purchase,
show this ad to your server
thewalrusrestaurant.com
GOOD FOOD. GOOD DRINK. GOOD TIMES.
15
Action News – Simile Auditorium – 6:00 PM
Willie Nelson, Bismarck Civic Center - 8:00pm
16
American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)
Student Conference – Bismarck Civic Center
Dakota Zoo’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt – Dakota Zoo –
1:00-3:00 PM
Swampfox Harescramble Motorcycle Race –
Missouri Valley Fairgrounds – 9:00 AM
Bolero and More! – Bismarck Mandan Symphony League –
Belle Mehus Auditorium – 7:30 PM
Welcome to Shade Tree Players Class – Frances Leach High
Prairie Arts and Science Center – 1:00-3:00 PM
ArtsQuest: Chris Brubeck Triple Play Trio Concert –
BSC - Sidney J. Lee Auditorium – 7:30 PM
Concert for Courage: Tune Out Violence, plus Bean Bag
Tournament. LIVE music: Kris Kitko, Blackout, Bob Tekippe,
Somebody’s Luggage, Jazmine Wolff, & Billy Luetzen Free concert to raise awareness of violence in our community in
honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. - Capt Freddy’s 4:00 PM - 1:00 AM
22
29
23
30
UTTC Art/Art Marketing 13th Annual Sidewalk Art and Art
Show/Sale, 4th and Broadway, Downtown Bismarck 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
UTTC Art/Art Marketing 13th Annual Sidewalk Art and Art
Show/Sale, 4th and
Broadway, Downtown Bismarck, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
BSC Jazz Ensemble Concert – BSC - Sidney J. Lee Auditorium
– 7:30 PM
Dakota Rivers Runners Race for Parkinsons – Sertoma Park –
7:00 – 10:00 AM
2011 Bismarck-Mandan Arthritis Walk & 5K Run – Medcenter
One Women’s Health
Center – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Shelter Me Tour, Belle Mehus, 7:00pm
In Arrowhead Plaza 1136 N. Third Street
Bismarck, ND P: 701 250 0020
W a n t Yo u r
E v e n t L i s t e d?
Email
editor@
p r a i r i e i n d e p e n d e n t. o r g
Ben Suchy: Six
Years of Live
Music at East 40
By Mike Swenson
For over six years, East 40 Chophouse has had acoustic music in the bar
every Monday night with Ben Suchy
dubbed "Sushi and Suchy," which is the
longest running weekly gig in town.
From 7:30-9:30 p.m. diners have been
entertained with original and cover
tunes by one of Bismarck's most active
musicians, and there's no plan to stop.
Going into his seventh year, Suchy has
made East 40 his spot to relax and take
a break from DJ'ing on weekends for
private events. "We take each night and
roll with it," Suchy said. "Sometimes
it's a bar crowd, sometimes it's a dinner
crowd," he added, "It's nice being able
to mix it up."
In the last year, the East 40 has added instrumental music on Wednesday
nights with Nolyn Falcon from 7-8:30
p.m. And "Tavern Jam" Thursday
nights with Arnold Jordan 8-11 p.m.
Each musician brings a different style
to the table, so to speak, giving customers a reason to stop in three times a
week and enjoy the music.
East 40 has a long standing tradition of fine dining. And by adding live
entertainment to the mix, it's become a
place for travelers and locals to come
back to time and time again. For more
information visit www.east40chophouse.com
April
July 2011
2010• l1515• PrairieIndependent.com
l PrairieIndependent.com
BSC ArtsQuest Events – For more information on ArtsQuest events, visit bismarckstate.edu/artsquest
April 6-10 ����� Spring musical, “Blood Brothers,” Wed� - Sat�, 7:30 p�m�,
Sun�, 2:30 p�m�, SJL
May 2 ����������� 12 to 3 p�m� – Tie-dye activity and pottery sale, south of library
(weather permitting)�
April 12 �������� David Pelzer presentation, author of “A Child Called It,”
7:30 p�m�, SJL
May 3 ����������� 12 to 3 p�m� – RAIN DATE for tie-dye activity and pottery sale�
April 14 �������� Collage concert, 7:30 p�m�, SJL
April 16 �������� Chris Brubeck Triple Play Trio Concert, 7:30 p�m�, SJL�
Free general admission tickets required� Tickets
available April 4 at BSC Bookstore and Eckroth Music�
April 18 �������� Wind Ensemble concert, 7:30 p�m�, SJL
April 18-21 ��� Graphic Design and Communications Spring Show,
Kirkwood Mall
April 19 �������� Warren St� John, author of “Outcasts United,” as part of
BSC Visiting Writers Series, 7:30 p�m�, SJL
April 20 �������� Von Glitschka, graphic design speaker, 7 p�m�, NECE
Auditorium
April 26 �������� Chamber music concert, 7:30 p�m�, SJL
April 28 �������� Guitar Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble concert,
7:30 p�m�, SJL
April 28 �������� Visual Art Student Exhibit Open House, 4-7 p�m�,
Gannon and Elsa Forde Galleries� Exhibit runs through
May 13�
April 29 �������� Jazz Ensemble concert, 7:30 p�m�, SJL
May 1 ����������� 7:30 p�m� – Student recitals, Sidney J� Lee Auditorium�
May 1-3�������� 2 to 6 p�m� Sunday, 10 a�m� to 5 p�m� Monday, and 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday – Outdoor raku firing, students
and community, west of library (weather permitting)�
BHG
April
2011 •l16
July 2010
16•lPrairieIndependent.com
PrairieIndependent.com
5 p�m� – Student readings from “Figments of Imagination”
literary and visual arts journal, BSC Library�
7:30 p�m� – BSC choral concert, “Cross the Wide Missouri,”
featuring professional guest basso profundo vocalist Mark
Christianson, Bemidji, Minn; off-campus at Cathedral of the
Holy Spirit, 519 Raymond Street�
May 4-5�������� 3:30 p�m� and 7:30 p�m� – BSC Festival of Short Plays, Sidney
J� Lee Auditorium, featuring plays by Matthew Fotis, 2011
playwright award winner at regional American College Theatre
Festival, Ames, Iowa�
May 6 ����������� 7:30 p�m� – The Group that Opened the Box (teenagers
changing the world, one gutsy show at a time), “Who We
Were Gonna Be,“ directed by Karen Van Fossan and Dr�
Kathy Blohm, Sidney J� Lee Auditorium� Free admission�
Conversations at BSC
The Distinguished Scholar
of the Humanities Lecture Series. More at bsctalk.com
May 15 �������������Conversations at BSC, “The Ten Greatest Places in
North Dakota,” 3 p�m, SJL, public welcome
LOCATIONS KEY
NECE........National Energy Center of Excellence
SJL ...........Sidney J. Lee Auditorium