November 13, 2019

Local Announcements

The Gardiner Chamber of Commerce serves our community through developing local tourism while endorsing the stewardship of the Yellowstone Ecosystem.

A Christmas Stroll tradition is the decorating of Graham Cracker houses by the town's kiddos. To prepare for this, 60-70 houses must first get constructed. Yellowstone Forever will be hosting two house construction parties in their classrooms, Nov 21st from 2-7pm and Nov 24th from 1-5pm. All materials will be provided, no construction experience necessary, Tah will be onsite with step-by-step instructions and guidance. If you would like to attend, please RSVP Tah at (406) 223-3282.

Grizzly Grille will be running $8.50 weekly specials all winter long! Monday - Ramen, Tuesday – Tacos (3), Wednesday – Wings, Thursday – Taquitos, Friday – Shrimp Po Boy, Saturday – Ribs. We are open Monday – Saturday 8am-8pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm! We will deliver 406.848.7510!

Tomtana Janitorial Service: Specializing in providing small and mid-size office and vacation rental cleaning services. All services discussed and tailored to your needs. No job is too small! Weekly, Bi-weekly or Daily Cleaning available. Special requests available for consideration. Competitive Prices! Call or email for free consultation and quote. Tom Jessop/Owner 630-862-5458 Tomtanajanitorial@gmail.com.

Classical Ballet Lessons Akiko Ballet School is now open in Gardiner four days a week! Classes are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday starting at 4:20pm at Gardiner School. Boys, girls, adults all ages 5+ are welcome. See the 'About' menu on our Facebook page for schedules and pricing and email akikoballetdancers@gmail.com with any questions.

Your Local Real EstateMarket Experts

406-222-8700www.eragardiner.com

Call Us For All Of Your Real Estate Needs.

Residential • Land • Commercial

220 Spring Street - GardinerThree buildings on three parcels that contain

a total of ten vacation rental units. Situated on a high bank of the Yellowstone River.

$1,783,000 # 334473Call Chris 406-930-0299/ Ernie 406-220-0231

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Free family movie nights featuring many of your kid's favorite animated movies Sunday nights at 6 pm @ Gardiner Baptist Church. We will be playing "The Wizard of Oz" Sunday, Nov 17th. Bring the whole family!

Attention Yellowstone FCU members: Yellowstone Federal Credit Union will close at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 18, 2019, for system maintenance. We will reopen Tuesday, November 19th, at 9:30 a.m. Federally insured by NCUA.

Attention Yellowstone Federal Credit Union Members! Please watch your mail during mid-November for important information regarding Yellowstone Federal Credit Union’s proposed merger and vote of the membership. Please contact YFCU with any questions. Federally insured by NCUA.

Cancer Social – All are welcome. Open House discussion on any questions that you might have, either to do with life changes or cancer. Let's meet each other and know that we are not alone on this journey. Every 3rd Sunday of the month at 3pm. 401 Main Street. Questions – 406-223-5357.

The Electric Peak Arts Council presents its first visual art event on Thursday, November 14 at 7:00pm at the Gardiner School Multipurpose Room. The artist Robert Stephenson, known on stage as Rohaun, will paint a large scale piece of art in conjunction with a musical performance by Maiah Wynne. Rohaun’s work explores the depths of the human experience to tell stories that often go unheard. Twenty-two year old multi-instrumentalist, indie-folk singer-songwriter Maiah Wynne has the kind of hauntingly beautiful voice that can cause a room full of people to fall still, silently taking in every word and note.

The Electric Peak Arts Council would like to thank the following Bunsen Peak Level sponsors our 2019-2020 performance season: Alpha Graphics, Anonymous, A Stone’s Throw from Yellowstone Vacation Home, Bill & Collette, Mary Strickroth & Rick Lamplugh, Wonderland Cafe & Lodge, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Yellowstone Park Service Stations, Yellowstone Super 8. Stay tuned for more sponsor thank-you’s next month!

The monthly Gardiner Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Meeting will take place at noon on Thursday, November 21 at the Gardiner Chamber Visitor Center. The quarterly CVB (Convention Visitors Bureau) meeting will immediately follow at 1 pm. Public welcome to both meetings.

EPAC Show: Maiah Wynne & Rohaun November 14MCC Art Gallery Reception December 1Gardiner Christmas Stroll December 5

EPAC Show: Storyhill December 5NYEF Festival of Trees December 7

Book Release: Voices of Yellowstone's Capstone December 134H Senior Citizen Dinner December 15

MCC event: Chili Cook-off and Cookie Bake-off January 24

Gardiner Montana - Upcoming Events

For details and more information, visit:VisitGardinerMT.com/events-blog/events

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2020 Artist-In-Residence Applications AvailablePursue art surrounded by an inspiring landscape

West Glacier, MT – Artists are encouraged to apply for the 2020 Glacier National Park Artist-in-Residence Program. The application period will be open November 6, 2019-January 6, 2020. The Artist-in-Residence program offers artists focused time to creatively explore the park’s numerous and varied natural and cultural resources, and to share their work through educational programs. Each session will run for four weeks during June, July, and September. The sessions offer artists uninterrupted time to pursue their artistic discipline and provide artists with a furnished house located in the park. Those selected are required to present several public programs during their residency. The programs must be related to their experience as an artist-in-residence and can be demonstrations, workshops, talks, exploratory walks, or performances. As part of Glacier’s 2020 Artist-in-Residence Program, our friends in Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) invite successful candidates to visit Canada for a day to connect the two parks as the world’s first International Peace Park (1932) and UNESCO World Heritage Site (1995). The trip to WLNP will consist of a tour of Waterton as well as giving a workshop or presentation similar to the ones given in Glacier National Park. Digital images of selected work produced as a part of the residency may be used in park publications, websites and presentations for education and outreach. Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applications are available at https://www.callforentry.org. More information on the program can be found at https://www.nps.gov/glac/getinvolved/air.htm and biographies of last year’s Artists-in-Residence can be found on the park’s website. For more information contact the Volunteer Program Office at glac_volunteer_program@nps.gov, or 406-888-7851.

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A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC.

BROKER406.223.1079

Lori Hamilton

SALES ASSOCIATE406.224.1042

Scott Hamilton

217 W Park Street, Suite ALivingston, MT 59047

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Gardiner Christmas Stroll2019 ANNUAL

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 4-8 PM

Stroll, shop, snack and sing! Enjoy an evening of holiday

shopping, kids activities, food, live music, craft fair, and more!

Followed by a performance by Story Hill

at the Gardiner School.

Yellowstone Forever Raises $1 Million in Three Days for North Entrance ProjectFunds will be Matched by the National Park Foundation Bozeman, MT (November 6, 2019) – Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, announced today it raised $1 million in private funds over three days at the end of September. Those funds have been matched dollar for dollar using federal funds appropriated for the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, delivering $2 million directly to Yellowstone National Park for the North Entrance Project. The current North Entrance Station in Gardiner, Montana, is not equipped to meet the challenges of increasing visitation and traffic. Last year (in 2018), 365,397 vehicles came through this entrance, up 22% from 2013. The upcoming project will: • add an additional lane and kiosk to improve traffic flow and reduce queuing lines• replace the existing two buildings with one larger building/station and two kiosks• improve the flow of employee and delivery traffic from Robert Reamer Avenue• improve pedestrian safety by realigning parking along Robert Reamer Avenue• replace the water line along Robert Reamer Avenue “This $2 million donation helps the park reach its funding goal for the North Entrance Project,” said John Walda, interim president & CEO of Yellowstone Forever. “We would have not been able to capitalize on this remarkable opportunity for Yellowstone if it wasn’t for the support of our generous partners and donors, and we thank them for the chance to provide a lasting impact on the park.” “We couldn’t accomplish all that we do without partners like Yellowstone Forever and the National Park Foundation,” said Cameron Sholly, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. “These funds will help the National Park Service leverage the federal funding already allocated for this project.” “This critically important project demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships to accelerate investments that improve park visitor experiences in a very tangible way,” added Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. About Yellowstone ForeverYellowstone Forever is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park. We partner with Yellowstone National Park to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Yellowstone forever. Our combined operations include 11 educational Park Stores with gross sales of over $5.1 million; the Yellowstone Forever Institute, which offers more than 600 in-depth programs each year; a supporter program of 85,000 Yellowstone enthusiasts raising funds to support critical park priority projects; and an online community of over 1 million worldwide. Yellowstone Forever has provided over $106 million of cash support and over $64 million of in-kind support since 1933. Our mission of engagement and support through education and fundraising for the park will ensure Yellowstone remains for generations to come. Join the community at Yellowstone.org. About National Park FoundationThe National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.

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For RentHome for rent: $1,100 per month, $1000.00 deposit. Near Emigrant 1 unit of a 4-plex 3 bedroom, 2 bath, Electric heat and A/C. Renter to pay power. 1 small dog negotiable. Must have references. Available now. Call Kathy at 406-333-4868 or 406-223-4138.

Fully furnished winter cabin rental on the Yellowstone River through to April 30, 2020. Two master suites, two full baths, satellite flat screen TV’s, washer/dryer, fully equipped kitchen, covered patio. No pets, no smoking, limited number of occupants, $1,150 per month, plus utilities. (406) 570-4500.

Visitation statistics for October 2019MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Yellowstone hosted 170,038 visits in October 2019. This is a 22% decrease from October 2018.

So far in 2019, the park has hosted 3,977,852 visits, down 2.5% from the same period last year.

Due to snow throughout the month, some entrance stations and park roads were temporarily closed. These closures likely contributed to the decrease in visitation.

The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreational visits over the last several years (through October):

2019 – 3,977,8522018 – 4,078,7702017 – 4,084,7632016 – 4,212,7822015 – 4,066,1912014 – 3,483,608

If you plan to drive to and in the park during the fall and winter, please have flexible travel plans and prepare for changing weather conditions. Temporary travel restrictions or closures can occur at any time without notice. Visit Park Roads for the status of Yellowstone roads. Receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone, text "82190" to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).

Extensive information for planning a winter visit in Yellowstone, including information about lodging, camping, services, and activities, is available on the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/yell.

More data on park visitation, including how we calculate these numbers, is available on the NPS Stats website.

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Help WantedThe Gardiner Super 8 is seeking to fill full and part-time positions in housekeeping. Competitive wages, benefits, and potential housing is available. Only positive team players with an energetic attitude need apply in-person only at 702 Scott St. West.

The Gardiner Market is hiring a full-time, year-round stocker/cleaner. Duties include cleaning and stocking (loads on Monday and Friday nights), plus other duties as needed. Pay based on experience. Benefits include employer-paid insurance (health, vision, life, and accident), paid time off and holidays, and store discount. The right candidate must have strong work ethic, attention to detail, ability to work independently, a clean driving record, and a work history of staying at jobs 2+ years. This job is physically active. On-the-job training and room for growth! A private one-bedroom apartment is available ($625/month includes utilities). Apply online or at the store.

Full Time/Part Time position available starting immediately. Stop by Yellowstone Gifts & Sweets or go to www.Gardinergifts.com & select Join My Team.

Yellowstone releases 2018 Visitor Use Survey StudyMAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - A peer-reviewed report summarizing the results of Yellowstone’s 2018 Visitor Use Study is available online today. The National Park Service contracted Otak Inc., RRC Associates, and The University of Montana Institute for Tourism Recreation Research to conduct the study to help better understand how visitors experience the park in real time, across the summer season, and across different parts of the park. More than 4,000 people responded to the surveys, one of the largest in the history of the National Park Service.

Yellowstone visitation has substantially increased over the past 10 years, ranging from 3.2 million in 2009 to 4.2 in 2016, and 4.1 million in 2018. The survey results provide a variety of park-wide and site specific data that the park plans to use to make decisions in upcoming years. Survey results indicate that 85% of respondents thought their experience in the park was good or excellent, with the top three reasons for visiting being scenery, wildlife, and thermal features. Approximately 67% of the visitors participating in the survey were first-time visitors to the park. Overall, 92% waited less than ten minutes to enter the park and 86% waited less than ten minutes to find parking.

“This study gives us very actionable information on how we can better manage and plan for increasing visitation in Yellowstone,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly. “I largely credit the National Park Service team and our partners for the high visitor satisfaction levels. That said, there is no question that increasing visitation levels are having higher impacts on resources, our staff and infrastructure, and our gateway communities.”

While the 2016 Visitor Use Study surveyed people who visited in early August after their departure from the park, the 2018 Visitor Use Study used in-person interviews and GPS-based tablets to survey visitors in real time as they traveled through the park. It was conducted during one week of each month from May through September 2018.

Researchers summarized key findings from the study:

• Visitors to Yellowstone almost always rated their trip good to excellent.• Respondents were more likely to experience a greater sense of crowding, traffic congestion, and parking

availability at Midway Geyser Basin and Fairy Falls.• Of the more popular attraction sites in the park, respondents rated Old Faithful and Canyon Village the least

problematic, likely due to sufficient infrastructure to support a high volume of visitors.• Visitor experience and frustration ratings appear to have little to no significant correlation with GPS-based

average speeds across road segments in the park. Respondents are generally not frustrated, have high experience ratings, and do not perceive major problems on roadways.

• First-time visitors were less critical of issues at specific sites compared to repeat visitors.• The more days respondents spent in the park on their trip, the more likely they were to provide less

favorable evaluations of visitor behavior.

Yellowstone is focused to a great extent on constructing a visitor use strategy that understands and responds to increased visitation in the following key areas: 1) impacts on resource conditions; 2) impacts on staffing, operations, and infrastructure; 3) impacts on visitor service levels; and 4) impacts on gateway communities and partners. The park has and will continue to use a range of data, including this survey, to develop actions that improve performance in the four key areas. The following list includes examples of significant recent and upcoming park actions:

• Multiple major projects at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone that include Inspiration Point and Brink of the Upper and Lower falls

• Road improvement projects that include new shoulders and pullouts for visitors to safely stop• West Yellowstone Gateway Study – a study done in partnership with a primary gateway to determine best

ways to collaborate on traffic management actions• Mapping efforts that use satellite imagery and on-the-ground surveys to analyze social trails and resource

impacts• A new North Entrance station project to improve wait times and traffic flow for visitors entering the park• A range of pilot projects around the park such as altering traffic, parking, and visitor flow configurations and

adding staff to highly congested areas to, for instance, better manage roadside bear viewing• New and larger restrooms at Norris Geyser Basin and other sites throughout the park• An evaluation of the feasibility of local shuttle systems between e.g., Old Faithful to West Yellowstone, Old

Faithful to the geyser basin and back, and Canyon Village to various local attractions

Church ServicesGardiner Baptist Church Sundays: Bible Study 10amWorship 11am, lunch to followMondays: Good News Club at school 4:15-5:15Wednesdays: Bible Study 6:30pm

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Sundays: Sacrament Service 10am

St. Williams Catholic Church: Sundays: Adult Education: 9:30amMass time: 11:00am

St. John’s Episcopal Church (Emigrant): Sundays: Worship 8am

Mt. Republic Chapel of Peace (Cooke City)Sundays: Worship 8am & 10am

Gardiner Community ChurchWinter ScheduleSundays: 9:15 Sunday School10:15am Worship Service

Community Services & Committees

AA Meeting: Wednesdays @ 7pm at St. William’s Catholic Church. Contact 1-724-496-9894

AA Meeting: Wednesdays @ 7pm at Mount Republic Chapel of Peace.Cooke City. Contact: (406) 838-2397

American Legion Meeting: 2nd Tuesday @ 7pm at the Gardin-er Community Center.

Bear Creek Council Meeting: Meets monthly at the Track Ed Center, 9 Jardine Rd.For more information: 406-223-2152 https://northernplains.org/our-local-groups/bear-creek-council/

Cancer Social3rd Sundays, 3pm401 Main, 406-223-5357

Electric Peak Arts Council Meeting: Sept-May, 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm at the Gardiner Visitor Center, 216 Park St.

Gardiner Chamber of Commerce: Mon-Fri: 9am-5pmMonthly Board meeting, 3rd Thursdays at noon. Located at 216 Park Street. 848-7971.

Gardiner Community Library Tuesdays 10am-5pm, 6pm-8pm & Thursdays 6pm-8pm. 406.848.7835.Book Sale Tuesdays 10am-5pm.

Gardiner Food Pantry: Tuesdays from 1pm-6pm. 307.344.9006 Linda Gray.

Gardiner-Park County Water District Board Meeting: 2nd Tuesday @ 6pm at the District Office.

Gardiner Resort Area District Monthly meeting is held every second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Gardiner Visitor Center.

Gardiner School Board Meet-ing: 2nd Wednesdays @ 6pm in the Gardiner School Library.

Gateway Hose Company:Board of Trustees Oct 14, 2019 @7 pm at the Fire Hall.

Greater Gardiner Community Council Advisory Board Meeting: 1st Tuesdays @ 6:30pm. www.gardinermt.org

Livingston HealthCare Gardiner Rehab Outreach Clinic: M/W/F from 9am-4pm at Gardiner Baptist Church.Call 222-7231 or 222-3541.

Livingston Lodge #32 A.F. & A.M. meets 1st Tuesday at 7pm at the Livingston Masonic Temple.

Gardiner Community Newsletter InfoThe Gardiner Community Newsletter is published every Wednesday afternoon. Deadline for all newsletter ads is every Tuesday at noon. This includes payment and ad submission. There is no billing, ads must be paid for in advance. Ads submitted without full payment will not run.

Line Ad pricing:• Regular Line Ad: $7 for the first 40 words, ten cents for each

additional word.• Chamber Member Line Ad: $6 for the first 40 words, ten

cents for each additional word.• Free Line Ad: First 40 words are free, ten cents for each

additional word. Things that constitute a free line ad: Lost & Found, Thank You’s, Condolences, Memorial Services, and free things that normally have a charge (ie: giving a way a bike, or serving a meal for free). Non-profit status does not guarantee a free ad.

• Logos and bullet points available for an additional fee, please inquire for details.

Display Ad sizes and pricing:• $10/week – sixteenth page vertical – 1.8” x 3.2”• $10/week – sixteenth page horizontal – 3.7” x 1.55”• $15/week – eighth page – 3.7” x 3.2”• $30/week – quarter page vertical – 3.7” x 6.5”• $30/week – quarter page horizontal – 7.5” x 3.2”• $50/week – half page vertical – 3.7” x 13.1”• $50/week – half page horizontal – 7.5” x 6.5”• $70/week – three quarter page – 7.5” x 9.8”• $90/week – full page – 7.5” x 13.1”• $1 fee for chamber staff to build/modify/resize an ad

(this service is free for Chamber of Commerce members)

How to submit an ad:• Email ad to ads@gardinerchamber.com• Send ad to: Gardiner Chamber of Commerce (attention newsletter ads), P.O. Box 81, Gardiner, MT 59030.• Come directly into the Chamber office at 216 Park Street, or use the afterhours drop box.• Ads can not be submitted over the phone, but you can pay over the phone with a credit card. 406-848-7971.

The Gardiner Community Newsletter is sponsored by the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. Its purpose is to inform local residents and visitors regarding items of local interest. Occasionally opinions are expressed herein that do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber reserves the right to omit or edit ads/copy for length,grammar, good taste and to prevent defamation.

If you are feeling sad, as if no one cares or that life isn’t worth living any more, please call the Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)Someone does care, they will listen to your story.

VisitGardinerMT.com 406-848-7971 ads@gardinerchamber.com