Monthly Archives: March 2013

Bridger Canyon Natural History Evening, March 29

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To the Residents of Bridger Canyon,

A number of people, in conjunction with the the Bridger Canyon Historic Preservation Association and the Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS), have volunteered their time and expertise to enjoy and explore with Bridger Canyon residents an evening of “Bridger Canyon Natural History”. We would like to enhance this presentation with a display of photos or photos of artwork (no originals) from YOU, BC residents, which depict unusual/interesting natural history features of Bridger Canyon – geologic or water formations, birds, animals, plants both common and rare, etc.

This community event for Bridger Canyon residents will be at the Fire Station MARCH 29th, 7pm. If you have photos you’d like to contribute, please send them at your earliest convenience to:

Kathrin Olson-Rutz at : olsonrutz (at) netzero.net.

She will print 8 1/2X 11″ copies for the display. (You may also mail or deliver 8 ½ X 11” photos to MOSS, located at the Fish Hatchery). Please provide a few words that describe your contribution (what, general location, when) along with your name and contact information (email and phone number). This information will be printed out along with your photo to accompany your contribution. Feel free to provide several photos. We will display as many as we reasonably can. (No copyrighted material please.)

This spring, we would like to take the pictures we have printed out and assemble them into several “Bridger Canyon natural history notebooks” to be kept at the MOSS facility. These notebooks will be available to MOSS students and Bridger Canyon residents to identify and learn about Bridger Canyon plants, animals, water and geology. Residents are welcome to submit additional information specific to Bridger Canyon for these notebooks and can do so through MOSS.

For those unfamiliar with MOSS, it is dedicated to help children gain meaningful appreciation of the natural world around them through various educational projects (K-12 and some adult classes). MOSS takes the classroom to the field with trips to National Forest lands in Bridger Canyon, as well as to some private lands onto which they have been specifically invited for learning opportunities.

I hope you find this of interest! For more information, contact Ellen Trygstad (582-7624) eltjupiter (at) earthlink.net Thank you!

To the Residents of Bridger Canyon,

UPCOMING EVENT! A number of people, in conjunction with the the Bridger Canyon Historic Preservation Association and the Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS), have volunteered their time and expertise to enjoy and explore with Bridger Canyon residents an evening of “Bridger Canyon Natural History”. We would like to enhance this presentation with a display of photos or photos of artwork (no originals) from YOU, BC residents, which depict unusual/interesting natural history features of Bridger Canyon – geologic or water formations, birds, animals, plants both common and rare, etc. 

This community event for Bridger Canyon residents will be at the Fire Station MARCH 29th, 7pm. If you have photos you’d like to contribute, please send them at your earliest convenience to: 

Kathrin Olson-Rutz at :  olsonrutz@netzero.net.

She will print 8 1/2X 11″ copies for the display. (You may also mail or deliver 8 ½ X 11” photos to MOSS, located at the Fish Hatchery). Please provide a few words that describe your contribution (what, general location, when) along with your name and contact information (email and phone number). This information will be printed out along with your photo to accompany your contribution. Feel free to provide several photos. We will display as many as we reasonably can. (No copyrighted material please.)

This spring, we would like to take the pictures we have printed out and assemble them into several “Bridger Canyon natural history notebooks” to be kept at the MOSS facility. These notebooks will be available to MOSS students and Bridger Canyon residents to identify and learn about Bridger Canyon plants, animals, water and geology. Residents are welcome to submit additional information specific to Bridger Canyon for these notebooks and can do so through MOSS.

For those unfamiliar with MOSS, it is dedicated to help children gain meaningful appreciation of the natural world around them through various educational projects (K-12 and some adult classes). MOSS takes the classroom to the field with trips to National Forest lands in Bridger Canyon, as well as to some private lands onto which they have been specifically invited for learning opportunities.

I hope you find this of interest! For more information, contact Ellen Trygstad (582-7624) eltjupiter@earthlink.net   Thank you!

Commissioner Murdock Resigning

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County Commissioner Bill Murdock will be resigning next month. He will surely be missed in Bridger Canyon. He has often been a lonely voice on the commission in favor of the good land use planning that has kept the Canyon beautiful. From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:

Editorial: Murdock was county’s voice for responsible planning

Posted: Sunday, March 17, 2013 12:15 am

The departure of retiring Gallatin County Commissioner Bill Murdock next month will mark the end of an era. For 16 years, Murdock has been a voice of moderation in what tends to be a conservative office.

County commission elections are dominated by the rural vote, which tends to be quite conservative on land-use and planning issues. And that vote is rarely overcome by the pro-planning faction among the county’s only real urban voters in Bozeman.

Murdock has long battled the headwind of those conservative tendencies. He has contributed heavily to successes in land-use planning and regulation as well as open-space preservation. He has also been a stalwart enforcer of policy in the face of frequent and well-financed challenges from real estate developers.

That influence will be missed.

Murdock’s term doesn’t end until the end of next year. His resignation triggers a process that will name his replacement on the commission – a person that will take the advantage of incumbency into the 2014 election.

law, the remaining two commissioners, Republicans Steve White and Joe Skinner will name Murdock’s successor from a field of three candidates suggested by state GOP leadership because Murdock is also a Republican.

Murdock’s departure and the process for replacing him have the potential to push the commission hard to the right. And that would not bode well for the future of some land-use issues in Gallatin County.

Republican leaders and White and Skinner are urged to consider all the county’s constituents as they appoint Murdock’s replacement. Filling the seat with another advocate for land-use planning and open-space preservation will maintain a healthy balance on the commission and stimulate vigorous debate on these very important issues.

Quality of life is what has drawn many immigrants to Bozeman and Southwest Montana. A big part of that quality of life is the open countryside and expansive views of our rural areas. And the County Commission plays a major role in preserving those amenities.

Choose Murdock’s replacement carefully. Find another powerful voice for smart planning and open-space preservation.