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ROADSIDE CHATS: New monthly publication written by teenagers for teenagers: The Toast Factory
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| By Shannon Selway |
The Toast Factory is a monthly publication that just cranked out its fourth issue this June. The idea was born last January when two teenage sisters, Angel (15) and Ashley (14) Arellano of Hamilton, Montana, decided it would be a cool idea to come up with a publication of their own - a publication for teenagers, by teenagers. They wanted to create something addressing teenagers’ concerns as well as something fashioned with fun and information.
“The Toast Factory randomly popped into my head,” Ashley said.
The namesake at first comes off rather strange – but then we’re talking about young teenagers and their perspective – and then it rather makes sense! The Toast Factory’s name evolved from a concept of where a teenager exists in the stage of life.
Imagine a human as bread. Teenagers are not dough anymore (childhood); nor are they toast yet (adulthood). They are in The Toast Factory! See? The wacky name truly has meaning!
Ashley and Angel basically put together the publication themselves, but rely on some assistance from their mother, Sarah Monson. When I say their mother assists, it’s strictly for guidance without interference. Sarah does contribute a smidge in her “Words of Wisdom” column (the only adult contribution to the paper), but that’s it.
It was Sarah that had the training and software that helped make her daughters’ dreams a reality. She occasionally contributes to the Clark Fork Journal, designing ads and writing. So when Angel and Ashley came up with the concept of the publication, Sarah, who homeschooled her daughters, made sure they learned the programs thoroughly as well as other “behind-the-scene” concepts. They put together a media kit which explains what the paper is about to potential advertisers. They learned about the cost of production, promotion, layout and distribution.
When they were fully educated about producing a periodical, they decided to include some friends’ submissions. The paper not only reflects some of the interesting and idiosyncratic experiences of Angel and Ashley, it also includes those of their peers. Some of the young authors who found themselves to be a part of the first copy of The Toast Factory (March) have remained as one of the paper’s staples.
There’s the “Ask Luna” column, where kids (and sometimes adults) write in for advice. Who Luna is will remain a mystery as the wise-beyond-her-years teen answers and addresses questions anonymously. Every issue has the “Random Column - stuff from the mind of a teenager” which features off-the-wall quotes, statements or maybe an odd picture or two.
Ashley writes her “Things to Ponder” column, reflecting quirky issues of life – such as: “Why is the person who invests all your money called a broker?” Angel writes “Kaiju The Awakening Spirit,” which is a continuing story about a lonely little girl that befriends a great wolf, Ai. The photographs taken for the paper are by Ashley.
The Toast Factory is loaded with all sorts of tidbits - some serious, some not.
In the first issue Angel addresses a concern to both teens and adults: meth. She penned this poignant poem:
Inspired By FEAR
I’ll tear you down, I’ll make you cry
I’ll hurt your family, you’ll want to die
I’ll bend you, I’ll break you
You’ll be no more
I’ll tear you away to your core
I’ll be your life; I’ll be your pain
You will never be your self, you’ll go insane
You’ll sell your soul, you’ll get into fights
That’s what you’ll do
To get me for the night
You’ll sit alone, awaiting your death
That’s all I bring, because I am Meth
“Ashley is really witty, and that comes out in the column,” Sarah said.
It is often thought that Ashley is the shy one and Angel is the extraverted one, but Ashley has something to say about that.
“I’m not shy; it’s because Angel won’t shut up!” Ashley jokingly said.
“I’m glad I have this awesome sister, Ashley. Really! It’s been really fun to write some articles and design ads, and lay out the paper…learning how it all works, how much is into publishing!” Angel replied.
The cost of a copy of The Toast Factory is currently 35 cents, but the girls hope one day to offer it for free when they secure more advertizing accounts.
When Angel and Ashley began their paper, it was intended for their home-schooled peers. Each paper published could be found with various links to a homeschooled audience that is larger than you think. There are about 500 homeschooled teens from Sula to Missoula. The online groups it goes out to every month are:
bvhomeschool@yahoo.com
montanahomeschooling@yahoo.com
MissoulaAreaHomeschoolNetwork@yahoo.com
House-in-MT@yahoo.com
Hardcopies are distributed monthly at Impressions Hair Salon in Corvallis (356 Woodside Cutoff) and they will also be going out through the Hamilton Farmers Market over the summer.
The Toast Factory is open for submissions from teens. They invite teens to submit articles, jokes, or even have their art on the front cover. They also welcome anyone who wants to be an advertising salesperson for their paper. They encourage teens to see how the business works! Those interested can e-mail them at: thetoastfactory@yahoo.com or call 406-363-5225.
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HISTORY: A Rendezvous In the Bitter Root
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| By Wm. W. Whitfield |
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If you’ve visited the Ravalli County Museum lately, you probably know about our “From Wilderness to Rails” exhibit, which runs until the end of July. The following story is the third in a series of articles related to the exploration of a proposed northern railroad route to the Pacific. If you’re interested in Montana history, you should really take the time to see this exhibit and view all the color lithographs made thirty years before the arrival of the railroad. One of the more challenging obstacles confronting the U. S. Pacific Rail Road Survey was in providing adequate provisions for an expedition of such magnitude and scope. The job of transporting supplies to the rendezvous site at Fort Owen in the Bitter Root Valley, fell into the capable hands of Lieutenant Rufus Saxton. Saxton’s journey began on the 5th of May 1853, in New York. From New York City he booked passage on a ship to the Isthmus of Panama, and after crossing overland from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific, he continued his journey on board another vessel setting sail for the port of San Francisco. Arriving in California on the first day of June, Lt. Saxton attempted to recruit the essential men and materials needed for his mission.
Almost the entire month of June was spent procuring equipment for the expedition. As far as the task of recruiting men went, he wasn’t quite as successful. In his report to Governor Stevens, who led the main expedition westward, Saxton admitted “the abundance of gold in California, and the consequent high price of labor, made it very difficult to procure men for the expedition, even at the highest rates. But for the assistance afforded by the Hudson’s Bay Company, I should have been unable to organize a party at all. I applied to Governor Peter Ogden, the chief factor of the company, for aid, which he very readily granted. It is worthy of remark, however little flattering to American pride, that the power of that company over the inhabitants of the country over which I traversed is greater than that of the government of the United States. Even the Quartermaster’s department is obliged to depend on them for the transportation of troops and army supplies.” It’s interesting to note that the most powerful influences on the west coast at that time were the lure of gold, and the Hudson’s Bay Company, especially when you consider that a number of American settlers living in the Willamette Valley of Oregon had been petitioning the U. S. government for territorial status since 1843. Oregon was eventually established as a territory in 1848, and yet five years later, according to Lieutenant Saxton, an English fur trading company still controlled the movement of American troops and provisions for the entire region! Fortunately, the Hudson’s Bay Company proved to be very accommodating to the railroad survey crews throughout the duration of the expedition. All of what is now western Montana was part of the Oregon Territory from 1848 until 1853, when it was then incorporated into the newly formed Washington Territory, to which President Franklin Pierce appointed Isaac Ingalls Stevens as governor.
It was July when the men and supplies actually started moving up the Columbia River on their way to the Bitter Root Valley. Saxton says that the company depended entirely on the good graces of the local Indians who provided them with the necessary horses, even amidst rumors that the soldiers were fitting up a war party against them. The animals they received from the wary natives were still wild and unaccustomed to packing heavy loads, which caused a further delay in the transporting of their goods. By the third week in July the supply unit had reached the John Day River, where their dehydrated animals plunged headlong into the river before the men could get the packs off of their backs. Unfortunately, the troupe lost some of their precious supplies in the process. Meanwhile, the temperature stood at 106 degrees in the shade, and Saxton complained that the packsaddles he had procured in San Francisco were of an inferior quality and so poorly manufactured that they injured the backs of the horses.
Near Walla Walla the party met with a large band of Nez Perce Indians who had come to ask why they wished to travel through their country with so many men and horses. The Nez Perce had heard the rumors of war that were flying ahead of the slow moving caravan, and wanted to pass judgment on the situation for themselves. Saxton told them the true nature of his mission, and smoked the pipes of peace with them, promising that he meant no harm to any Indians, and wished only to promote a lasting peace amongst all the western tribes. Within a week the entire scenario was repeated when the party met a band of Spokane Indians who had heard the same unjustified rumors of war. Saxton said “the Indians passed the night with us, and in the evening danced a war dance, in which some of our men joined, and manifested a decided talent for that sort of gymnastics. At this place I met Mr. Owen, who, with his brother, had spent several years at St. Mary’s Village, engaged in raising stock and trading with the Indians. They have at length abandoned the place, deeming it unsafe to remain longer on account of the Blackfeet Indians. They are encamped about fifteen miles from us with all their stock, on their way to Oregon. Our coming will enable them to return and re-establish their trading post.”
A few days later, accompanied by Francis B. Owen, the expedition came into contact with a large band of Pend d’Oreille Indians. The Indians were just returning from a successful hunt on the Missouri, and were heavily loaded down with buffalo robes and dried meat from their excursion. According to Lt. Saxton “they were perfectly civil, and seemed to feel proud, rich, and independent. They report that a large party of white men are coming from the east, to make peace with the Blackfeet.” Though Saxton felt their statements were vague and unsatisfactory, the Indians had accurately reported the facts. Several separate divisions of the railroad expedition were gradually approaching from the east, promoting the same message of peace to all of the Indian nations they met along the way.
By now many of Saxton’s animals were giving out, and a good portion of the supplies had been lost along the treacherous route. Wasps and hornets stung the horses, sending them into frantic stampedes through the thick forest, damaging packs and animals in the process. To make things even worse, the grass had been recently burned and no feed could be found along the trail, which meant that they had to spend more time looking for proper forage for their stock of animals. The weather continued hot and dry, and many of the men “took a silent vow never to work for Uncle Sam again.” Lieutenant Saxton acknowledged the fact that at seven dollars a month, the soldiers were poorly compensated for the extreme hardships that they were expected to endure. It was late summer when the pack train finally came into the Missoula Valley, and on the 28th of August they arrived at St. Mary’s Village, which at that time was located just west of Fort Owen. Saxton gives us a good description of the scene as he found it. “St. Mary’s or Flathead Village is situated near the western base of the Rocky Mountains, on the St. Mary’s Fork of the Bitter Root River. It was laid out by the Jesuit missionaries, and completed by its present occupant, Mr. Owen. The Flatheads have a considerable village of log cabins around Fort Owen, and own a large number of cattle. They are now absent on a hunt across the mountains. St. Mary’s is at present deserted by the priests, to whom the Indians are indebted for much of the knowledge and many of the comforts of civilized life, which they enjoy. I saw a considerable amount of wheat, just harvested, and they have also eggs, milk, potatoes etc.”
Even with all the setbacks along the way, Saxton’s party had arrived a full month before Governor Stevens eventually made his way to St. Mary’s Village. In order to preserve the remaining provisions, Lieutenant Saxton sent most of his men back to Fort Vancouver along the northern Nez Perce Trail. Another small group was left in charge of the goods stored at Fort Owen, which Saxton described as “something over two thousand rations to leave in depot for Governor Stevens’s party, together with sixty-five disabled horses, and a quantity of ammunition and quartermaster property.” On the 2nd of September Saxton set out to cross the Continental Divide, continuing his journey eastward towards Fort Benton on the Missouri River. He had a guide named Antoine Plante, and seventeen men with him. He says that he would have taken fewer men “but Antoine, entertaining his old dread of the Blackfeet, refused to accompany me with any fewer men. He is an old mountaineer, and his services are invaluable. The companions of our long and weary march, from whom we separated at this place, gave us three hearty cheers as we parted from them, they would have willingly gone on with us, but the scarcity of provisions would not permit it.”
After crossing the divide on September 8th, Saxton met up with a group of surveyors who were coming from the east, and he noted that they all instantly “felt the plan of our operations had been successful, and the object of the expedition accomplished, as a party from the Atlantic, and one from the Pacific, each in search of the other, had met after traversing thousands of miles of unknown country, at the foot of the great dividing ridge between the oceans.” The two parties spent the day in camp, celebrating their reunion.
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OUTDOORS: Packing a Raft
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| By Michael Garcia |
Most people struggle when choosing a raft. It’s a big choice that you don’t want to have to make by yourself. Having sold rafts for over 30 years, I have some fairly good advice to offer. Also, the advice you can gain from your local boating store can be invaluable in making the decision to purchase a new raft. Ask lots of questions and come prepared to tell your friendly salesman the activities you intend to do with your new boat.
The first aspect to consider is size. My advice is to buy as much boat as you can for your budget and floating plans. If you’re a day floater in a small fishing stream, you need a smaller boat. A 12- or 13-foot boat will do because you can operate the boat with shorter oars down smaller rivers. If you fish, but also want some overnighters with the family or a few buddies you’ll need to size up to your gear load; the more gear, the larger the boat you’ll need. An overnighter calls for at least a 13-footer. A better choice would be a 14-footer if you would like extra cargo room.
Now let’s consider a longer trip: if you’re going for several days the cargo will increase and the space will decrease. I have seen fully loaded 14-footers excel in pretty big whitewater, but you should move to a 15-footer if you want to manage your cargo better. Overall, I think a 15-footer might be the single best size for all around use in multiple scenarios. Most rafts in the 16- to 18-foot range are best suited to floats down the Salmon or Colorado Rivers or for commercial use.
Fabric is another consideration. You want to purchase a raft that is durable enough to last 20 years, is easily maintainable and carries an industry-standard warranty of at least five to 10 years. You should also know that quality materials need regular preventive maintenance. The sun can ruin your boat if you do not protect it properly and an application of 303 Aerospace Protectant is required periodically.
In regard to frames, I have always believed that you don’t just buy a frame, but plan a frame based on the needs of your raft trips. If you are fishing from your raft you’ll want to add options to your frame that will make your fishing guests more comfortable. If you’re doing multi-day trips you’ll want defined space to store camping items and to create room so you can move around the boat. Make sure there is room for one or two dry boxes, plus a large cooler. Dry boxes are versatile tools that will add storage space and double as seats for your fellow floaters.
If you’re struggling with making a choice, look carefully at all the options and make an honest assessment of your needs and priorities. If camping and multi-days are important, but you also fish, you can start with a cargo frame and then add fishing stands at either or both ends.
Whatever you decide, make sure you talk to your local boat salesperson and let them guide you through the process. They will help you build your dreamboat and physically assemble it. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you buy quality products that last, and be sure to buy from a local, knowledgeable shop.
Mike Garcia is a self-proclaimed river fanatic who has been buying, selling and running rafts for over 30 years. He is the former owner of Northern Lights Trading Company in Bozeman, which has since become an affiliate of Pipestone Mountaineering in downtown Missoula. Mike continues to consult in the boating department for Northern Lights and Pipestone.
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BUSINESS: Water wise and fungal friendly
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| By Rod Daniel |
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Homeowners looking for drought-tolerant, native landscaping might be interested in a research trial at an agriculture research station in the Bitterroot.
Government researchers at the Western Agriculture Research Center in Corvallis, in cooperation with Great Bear Restoration, are studying the effects of a microscopic fungus on the growth of five different native shrubs. The results, thus far, suggest that endomycorrhizal fungi could play a key role in low-water landscaping.
Jim Miller, a Montana State University plant pathologist, began the trial three years ago at the request of Tim Meikle, a restoration ecologist and general manager of Great Bear. Meikle had been conducting his own research with mycorrhizae for a number of years and needed an unbiased third party to add legitimacy to his findings.
The replicated trial would compare the growth of five different native shrubs – sumac, Wood’s rose, cinquefoil, choke cherry and silver sage – half of which would be inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungi and half of which would remain untreated. No fertilizer would be used in the trial, and the plots would only be watered three times a year.
“The results after one year were dramatic,” Miller said, “Much more so than we had anticipated.”
Three of the species – sumac, rose and chokecherry – showed big differences between the inoculated and non-inoculated plants, Miller said. Cinquefoil showed small but significant differences, and silver sage showed no difference.
After two years, half of the plants were harvested and measured for plant height, stem caliper, top weight, and root weight. The roots were also examined under a microscope to verify presence or absence of the fungus.
“In some cases we observed a doubling of the top weight (in the inoculated plants) and a 50 percent increase in root weight,” Miller said. “We expected to see a difference, but we didn’t expect it to be so dramatic.”
Ancient fungi
The word “mycorrhizae” literally means “fungus root,” and it’s used to describe an ancient fungi that exists symbiotically in the roots of most plants.
Fossilized mycorrhizae have been discovered from as far back as 350 million years ago, and it’s believed they enabled early plants (algae) to make the transition from water to land, Miller said.
Plants benefit from the fungal relationship in a number of ways, the most striking of which is the ability to utilize water. Because the fungal mycelium grows far beyond the normal root system of a plant, it taps into water sources that would otherwise be unavailable, Miller said. This leads to incredible drought tolerance.
“Mycorrhizae also solubilize nutrients that would otherwise be unavailable to the plant,” he said. “They especially aid in the uptake of phosphorus.”
Most mycorrhizal fungi fall into two categories: ectomycorrhizal and endomycorrhizal. Ectomycorrhizal fungi can be seen with without a microscope and live on the outside of the root. About 5 percent of plants – mostly conifers and oaks – are ectomycorrhizal.
Endomycorrhizal fungi colonize almost 90 percent of all plants, including all perennial grasses. They are microscopic and colonize the inside of a root.
The reforestation industry, for years, Miller said, has used ectomycorrhizal fungi on conifers and other forest species. But the use of endomycorrhizae has taken much longer due to the difficulty in producing mass cultures of the fungus.
“Endomycorrhizae are just starting to become commercially available,” Miller said. “It’s an exciting field right now.”
Commercial avalaiblity
After experimenting with mycorrhizae for almost 10 years, Meikle is so sure of its benefit on trees and shrubs that using it in his company’s potting soil has become standard practice.
“We grow primarily for reclamation on sites with little or no soil and very little water,” he said. “(Mycorrhizae) is definitely a benefit under those conditions.”
The commercial use of endomycorrhizal fungi is a relatively new phenomenon, Meikle said.
“Compared with five years ago, the mycorrhizae available are much better quality and they’re much easier to get,” he said. “Five years ago, only three labs were growing mycorrhizae on a commercial scale. Now these labs are producing and packaging the product for a number of different companies.”
Meikle said he’s been convinced of the benefit of mycorrhizae on scarred mine sites for years, but only recently has he realized its benefit for small-scale landowners.
“Mycorrhizae are most effective on plants in a low-water, no-fertilizer situation,” he said. “So for someone who wants a more natural look to his yard with no maintenance and less water, plants inoculated with mycorrhizae offer a very sensible choice.”
Demonstration trial
Most of the relevant data from the mycorrhizae trail has been recorded, and the differences in the sizes of the plants are less striking after three years, Miller said.
“The non-inoculated plants are catching up (to the inoculated ones),” he said. “I think the mycorrhizae is now in the soil and thus is available to all the plants.”
Still, the simple trial serves as a valuable demonstration for anyone wishing to see it. The healthy native shrubs are located on the southeast part of the agriculture research center and can easily be seen from Quast Lane. They’re right next to another trial demonstrating the attributes of dryland grasses.
The Western Agriculture Research Center will host a field day in August, when people are encouraged to come view the many research trials underway. For information, call the research center at 961-3025
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| Freshen up the Flyline |
| By Robert Gary |
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Now that the local rivers and creeks have decided to drop a bit so we can all think about trout again it’s time to look over the gear and see if everything is intact for the summer. No leaks in the waders, new laces for the boots, floatant and fresh tippet and so on down the list. There is however one item that probably isn’t always looked at in the early season before we hit the water.
Our fly lines from the previous season can sometimes be a bit beat up from all of the handling with dirty hands sometimes covered with mosquito juice and sun tan lotion causing cracking, especially 20 to 40 feet up the line where it’s mostly handled while casting. We look at the front of the fly line as it sits on the reel and it looks pretty good, so we go with it, but as soon as we strip some line off for the first cast, we notice that just under that top layer of line, the mostly handled section is almost black and cracking in a bad way. Also, the front ends of our lines over the last few years have been sinking at the tip more often after a couple of uses. This is due to the ends of the fly lines being open on the end where we tie on our butt sections or leaders and water wicks up the core usually for at least a foot or two.
Quality fly lines such as Rio and Scientific Anglers over the last two years have began to put a small welded loop on the end of the lines to prevent this wicking problem, thus keeping the front of our lines nice and high on the water. Most manufacturers of tapered leaders now have a loop on the butt end which makes for an easy connection to these new lines and makes the use of a butt section unnecessary and also a quick change on the river of a new leader.
If you have a fly line that does not have one of the new loop connections, it is always a good idea to seal your nail knot with a flexible adhesive of some type to help keep the water from creeping up the core of the line. It is wise to examine this joint often when fishing frequently through the season.
The best way to maintain your existing fly lines, which admittedly is something most of us are too tired to do after a full day of fishing, is to wipe the used portion of the line with a clean/wet cloth to remove any dirt or sand particles that have collected during the day then applying a modern cleaning solution to the area. Most line manufacturers now make water based solutions for cleaning your fly line and help to maintain its floating qualities. These same manufacturers do not recommend the old grease type of fly line dressings as they tend to remove the manufacturers new floatation formulas and will also collect more dirt and debris. Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations for extending the life of the fly line.
Most importantly, get them out – get them cleaned and GO FISHING! SEE YOU ON THE WATER !!
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| Summer Insect Stings and Bacterial Infection |
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| By Rob Downey MD Florence Family Practice |
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Sting time. I have two children, 6 and 9, and when I hear a howl from the yard now my first thought as I run is the assumption that a kid just got tagged by a yellow jacket or bee.
Most stings do fine with being kept clean, watchful waiting, perhaps an over-the-counter antihistamine for an angry-looking, itchy or painful site. Most Montanans are experts already at routine sting management via first-hand experience.
The most common reason patients are brought to me for sting evaluation is because the patient or parent is concerned the site may be infected with bacteria. Sting site infections are one of the most common secondary complications at these sites. Site infections are also among the most dangerous medical events that can be triggered by stings. Today’s article describes how to tell the difference between a normal localized sting response versus an infection.
A normal sting reaction is a few days (2-to-5ish) of swelling, mild redness without a sharp border, mild warmth and itching / burning ranging from mild to severe.
An infected sting can reveal itself by being on an improving trend and then developing a worsening trend or simply failing to continue to improve each day. This is the most common criteria that prompts me to put patients on antibiotics that will knock out Staph and Strep bacteria that normally colonize the skin but which like to get into the deeper fatter skin layer and create havoc. Cellulitis is the formal term for these fat-layer skin infections and if they proceed unchecked they can ultimately claim a limb or, rarely, a life. Hospitalization with intravenous antibiotics is sometimes necessary to turn around large or angry cellulitis infections that are not responding to antibiotics by mouth- The physical exam give-aways to cellultis are, frustratingly, the same signs as sting reaction but more more more. More red, more hot, more swollen late in the game should always prompt concerns that hiding bacteria are thwarting healing. Signs of cellulitis that are not seen with normal response include fever or red-streaking in the skin.
Getting lots of rest, exercising and eating right all support a healthy immune system and support your body’s magnificent first-line troops for Staph and Strep destruction: immune cells that go right to the target and kill the bacteria as they make their bid to get in.
One over-the-counter remedy pharmacologic agent eclipses all other for simplicity, utility and strength- diphenhydramine (“Benedryl”) by mouth. It is safe down to young ages, is among the most potent among its antihistamine cousins, is widely available over-the-counter, fights itching, fights pain, fights the allergy histamine response head-to-head and is dosed to give frequent repeat strong doses if sting site is not turning around. This medicine causes drowsiness and should not be used beyond the dose on the bottle. However, it is most effective if the dose is pushed to the maximum allowable for 24 to 48 hours if individuals are very uncomfortable or if there are many stings.
Unresponsiveness to diphenhydramine raises concerns that a local allergic reaction could be present that is so strong it will require a prescription immune-suppressing antiinflammatory or that a bacterial infection could be present.
Regarding prevention, control of nests near houses is a good idea and watching sugary drinks closely for attracting hornets or bees near (or IN) the can.
Here’s to you and a hopefully howl-free summer.
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