95-year-old fitness guru shares secrets to top health
By POLLY KOLSTAD For the Tribune
To say that Jack LaLanne is a physically fit 95-year-old would be a vast understatement.
Some 80 years after he joined the business, the nationally recognized fitness expert is still at it, lifting weights, swimming and encouraging Americans to make exercise and proper nutrition part of their lives.
“Get it out (of your diet),” LaLanne declared during a phone interview from the San Francisco Bay area, referring to cakes, pies and junk food.
He knows this all too well.
As a teenager, LaLanne was addicted to sugar and was sickly and depressed. When his mother took him to a lecture given by fitness advocate Paul Bragg, LaLanne learned how to turn his back on sweets.
He became a football star and a wrestling champ, and at age 22, opened the Jack LaLanne Physical Culture Studio in Oakland, Calif.
LaLanne studied the anatomy of the human body and concentrated on body building and weight lifting, something that was totally new then.
“I was the first one to have women, the elderly and athletes working out with weights,” he said. “At the time all we had were solid dumbbells.
LaLanne said he also was the first to put exercise machines into motion. The leg extension machines, pulley machines using cables and weight selectors used at local gyms today were some of his first innovations.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wilmington, NC Travel Story
Wilmington article for your writer's website
Great Falls 12/13/2009, Page P20
History is at home in Wilmington
A wedding can take you to places you’ve never been.
Recently, my husband and I attended a ceremony in southeastern North Carolina and discovered Wilmington, a city rich in history. It’s nestled between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Coast.
Although it does not border the ocean, the city overlooks the sound, the IntracoastalWaterway and barrier islands that lie between.
Long ago, sailors described the river as the “Cape of Fear” because the high winds raised havoc with ships.
The old part of the port city rises from the river walk where voices of the past whisper from the remains of shipyards, the Cotton Exchange, the city market, and restaurants and shops in refurbished wharf buildings.
Friendly guides tell Revolutionary and CivilWar history from horse-drawn carriages, trolleys and even Segways.
Before the CivilWar, Wilmington was an active seaport, shipping great quantities of nav al stores (tar, pitch and turpentine), wood products and rice to Charleston, Baltimore, New York and the West Indies.
The war changedWilmington as it became the Confederacy’s main blockade running seaport. The Union took over the area but eventually the southern families who owned property were able to move back and restore their fine homes, churches and mansions.
Wilmington has the largest number of National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina, and one of the largest in the U.S. Today, visitors tour the old district, walking along charming brick-lined streets.
Stories unfold on the plaques that grace grand porches and holy steeples, structures maintained as they were in antebellum days. The city is proud of its historical committee, which is diligent about keeping up the street side and iron-gated properties.
Built in 1848, our bed and breakfast, the Rosehill Inn, has been restored by innkeepers, Tricia, Bob and Sean Milton. The two-story white Georgian-style house was once the home of Henry Bacon, who in the 1880s, served as the government engineer in charge of the Cape Fear River improvements. He was the father of Henry Bacon II, who later became the architect who designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Only a heavy sleeper could snooze through the melodic carillon, regularly rung from the First Presbyterian Church down the street. The church, with its finials and soaring stone spire, topped with a metal rooster, can be seen from many vantages. It is said that the Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, pastor from 1874 until 1885, was not proud of his son, Tommy’s, slingshot antics as he shattered neighbors’ windows. But ThomasWoodrowWilson did grow up to be the 28th president of the United States.
On Market Street is the pre-CivilWar Bellamy mansion. Built for the family of physician Dr. John Bellamy, the house was seized and used as the Union militar y headquarters at the end of the war. In September 1865, the U.S. government pardoned Dr. Bellamy for his allegiance to the Confederacy and allowed him to return home with his family. The tale is still told how the last surviving Bellamy daughter refused President Taft entry when he knocked and asked to have a look at the grand home.
Restored to its palatial style, the mansion is a museum. Basketball fans know Michael Jordan grew up inWilmington. He played for Laney High School, though he was cut from the varsity squad as a sophomore. He eventually made the team, leading them to the state championship. Today, the high school gym is named after Jordan.
The river walk is the heart and soul of the downtown Wilmington wharf.
As we strolled along, we came upon Scotsman Darrell Chambers, polishing the engraved silver on his bagpipe. A member of a well-known pipe band, Chambers showed us the intricate parts of his tartan instrument. He briefly boasted that “there are more Scots here in Wilmington than in Scotland.”
Walking along the Cape Fear River, it’s hard to avoid the foghorn of the Capt. J.N. Maffitt, a tour boat. Across the river, the battleship North Carolina rested in calm waters, making World War II history come alive during narrated tours. A well-known sideshow to the battleship is “Charley,” an aging 12-foot alligator, who surprises tourists approaching the battleship.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF POLLY KOLSTAD
The Bellamy Mansion Museum and the battleship North Carolina, both in Wilmington, N.C.
On the Road
— Polly Kolstad
Powered by TECNAVIACopyright (c)2009 Great Falls Tribune 12/13/2009
Great Falls 12/13/2009, Page P20
History is at home in Wilmington
A wedding can take you to places you’ve never been.
Recently, my husband and I attended a ceremony in southeastern North Carolina and discovered Wilmington, a city rich in history. It’s nestled between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Coast.
Although it does not border the ocean, the city overlooks the sound, the IntracoastalWaterway and barrier islands that lie between.
Long ago, sailors described the river as the “Cape of Fear” because the high winds raised havoc with ships.
The old part of the port city rises from the river walk where voices of the past whisper from the remains of shipyards, the Cotton Exchange, the city market, and restaurants and shops in refurbished wharf buildings.
Friendly guides tell Revolutionary and CivilWar history from horse-drawn carriages, trolleys and even Segways.
Before the CivilWar, Wilmington was an active seaport, shipping great quantities of nav al stores (tar, pitch and turpentine), wood products and rice to Charleston, Baltimore, New York and the West Indies.
The war changedWilmington as it became the Confederacy’s main blockade running seaport. The Union took over the area but eventually the southern families who owned property were able to move back and restore their fine homes, churches and mansions.
Wilmington has the largest number of National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina, and one of the largest in the U.S. Today, visitors tour the old district, walking along charming brick-lined streets.
Stories unfold on the plaques that grace grand porches and holy steeples, structures maintained as they were in antebellum days. The city is proud of its historical committee, which is diligent about keeping up the street side and iron-gated properties.
Built in 1848, our bed and breakfast, the Rosehill Inn, has been restored by innkeepers, Tricia, Bob and Sean Milton. The two-story white Georgian-style house was once the home of Henry Bacon, who in the 1880s, served as the government engineer in charge of the Cape Fear River improvements. He was the father of Henry Bacon II, who later became the architect who designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Only a heavy sleeper could snooze through the melodic carillon, regularly rung from the First Presbyterian Church down the street. The church, with its finials and soaring stone spire, topped with a metal rooster, can be seen from many vantages. It is said that the Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, pastor from 1874 until 1885, was not proud of his son, Tommy’s, slingshot antics as he shattered neighbors’ windows. But ThomasWoodrowWilson did grow up to be the 28th president of the United States.
On Market Street is the pre-CivilWar Bellamy mansion. Built for the family of physician Dr. John Bellamy, the house was seized and used as the Union militar y headquarters at the end of the war. In September 1865, the U.S. government pardoned Dr. Bellamy for his allegiance to the Confederacy and allowed him to return home with his family. The tale is still told how the last surviving Bellamy daughter refused President Taft entry when he knocked and asked to have a look at the grand home.
Restored to its palatial style, the mansion is a museum. Basketball fans know Michael Jordan grew up inWilmington. He played for Laney High School, though he was cut from the varsity squad as a sophomore. He eventually made the team, leading them to the state championship. Today, the high school gym is named after Jordan.
The river walk is the heart and soul of the downtown Wilmington wharf.
As we strolled along, we came upon Scotsman Darrell Chambers, polishing the engraved silver on his bagpipe. A member of a well-known pipe band, Chambers showed us the intricate parts of his tartan instrument. He briefly boasted that “there are more Scots here in Wilmington than in Scotland.”
Walking along the Cape Fear River, it’s hard to avoid the foghorn of the Capt. J.N. Maffitt, a tour boat. Across the river, the battleship North Carolina rested in calm waters, making World War II history come alive during narrated tours. A well-known sideshow to the battleship is “Charley,” an aging 12-foot alligator, who surprises tourists approaching the battleship.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF POLLY KOLSTAD
The Bellamy Mansion Museum and the battleship North Carolina, both in Wilmington, N.C.
On the Road
— Polly Kolstad
Powered by TECNAVIACopyright (c)2009 Great Falls Tribune 12/13/2009
Look for health guidance in print article
Great Falls 11/24/2009, Page H12
Look for health guidance in print
Exercise, eating, family, advice abounds between the covers of many books
By POLLY KOLSTAD For the Tribune
Think healthy when doing your holiday shopping this year. Whether you’re looking for a present for yourself or something for friends or family, a wide variety of nutrition and fitness books are available for those looking to make healthy start in the year ahead.
Longtime fitness expert Jack LaLanne released his fifth book in October. “Live Young Forever, 12 Steps to Optimum Health, Fitness and Longevity” chronicles the prospects for a vibrant, stress-free and sexually active life ($19.95). Who would knowbetter than LaLanne, who continues to work out every day at the age of 95?
Jorge Cruise offers his “Body at Home” ($26.99). A two-in-one book, “Body atHome” promises to rev up readers’ metabolism through exercise and to deliver result s in two weeks with no equipment. The book is geared for both men and women.
Those who would like to combine diet and exercise might want to give Jillian Michaels’ book a try. Michaels is best known as a trainer and life coach on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”
Now she has written a winner in “Master Your Metabolism” ($26). She tries to inspire others to create a comprehensive program of exercise routines and eating guidelines, and she reveals her diet secrets.
Another good seller packed with sound information is “The Flat Belly Diet” ($29.95), which was first released through Prevention Magazine and focuses on health and fitness issues. The book is co-written by Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass. The “Flat Belly Diet Cookbook” ($27.99) also is in bookstores now. Great Falls Hastings book manager, Elisha Foster, said it has been so popular it’s been displayed in the featured areas throughout the store.
Other top-shelf best-sellers in the diet and workout category are “The Eat Clean” series by author, columnist and realityTV showstar Tosca Reno. Reno offers sound nutritional information, weight-loss techniques and exercise plans. The “Eat Clean Diet,” “The Eat CleanWorkout” and the “Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids” are $19.95 each.
Bill Phillips, Muscle Media magazine editor, has written the “Body for Life” series. “Body for Life” and “Body for Life for Women” are endorsed by Oprah. ($29.99). Phillips writes a straightforward physical fitness manuscript based on his journey through life and tells the story of how he has touched the lives of professional athletes and celebrities.
ShapeMagazine fitness expert and model, Gabby Reece, recommends a new release, “Force of Nature,” by Laird Hamilton ($22 bn.com). Laird calls it a “life manual,” and it includes workouts, healthy recipes and i nspiring anecdotes about fear, family, success and taking calculated risks.
Revolutionary chef Tal Ronnen, who has been featured on Oprah, just released a fullcolor cookbook, “The Conscious Cook.” The book aims to satisfy every omnivore’s dilemma. Ronnen, a former meat eater, has created a diverse menu of hardy vegan dishes ($29.99).
Best-sellers at Barnes and Noble include: “The Eat This And Not That!” series, written by two experts from Men’s Health Magazine, David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding. The series is enjoying tremendous success. Most recently released was “Eat This and Not That! 2010 The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution” ($12).
“The China Study” by health researcher Dr. T. Colin Campbell cites project findings in rural China and details the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes and cancer ($17.99).
“You Staying Young,” by Dr. Mehmet C. Oz and Michael F. Roizen ($29.95), is a popular book that tests your knowledge of aging, diet and staying healthy. Dr. Oz, famous for his television show and Discovery Health specials, is a professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University in New York. He was namedTimeMagazine’sMost Influential Scientist and Thinker in 2008.
In her two books, “The Schwarzbein Principle I” and “The Schwarzbein Principle II,” endocrinologist Diana Schwarzbein spells out her belief that poor eating and lifestyle habits, not genetics, are the cause of degenerative disease.
“People are really into this,” Barnes & Noble bookseller Jackie Bourret said.
Also available at Barnes and Noble is “Brainpower Game Plan,” by Cynthia R. Green and the editors of PreventionMagazine. The book concentrates on foods, moves and games to clear brain fog, boost memory and age-proof your mind. Readers are showing particular interest in books that link brain fitness and body fitne ss.
Offerings at the Peak Health andWellness gift shop include: “Take a Load Off Your Heart,” Joseph C. Piscatella and Barry A. Franklin. The book lists 109 things you can do to prevent, halt and reverse heart disease. ($14.95).
“Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy Until You’re 80 and Beyond,” by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge, M.D. (paperback, $12.95; hardcover, $24.95).
“Younger Next Year forWomen,” Crowley and Lodge, ($24.95).
TRIBUNE PHOTOS/LARRY BECKNER
ABOVE: Elisha Foster, book manager at Hastings Books Music & Videos, stands among the store’s health/fitness stacks. RIGHT: Health and fitness book picks from Hastings.
Powered by TECNAVIACopyright (c)2009 Great Falls Tribune 11/24/2009
Great Falls 11/24/2009, Page H12
Look for health guidance in print
Exercise, eating, family, advice abounds between the covers of many books
By POLLY KOLSTAD For the Tribune
Think healthy when doing your holiday shopping this year. Whether you’re looking for a present for yourself or something for friends or family, a wide variety of nutrition and fitness books are available for those looking to make healthy start in the year ahead.
Longtime fitness expert Jack LaLanne released his fifth book in October. “Live Young Forever, 12 Steps to Optimum Health, Fitness and Longevity” chronicles the prospects for a vibrant, stress-free and sexually active life ($19.95). Who would knowbetter than LaLanne, who continues to work out every day at the age of 95?
Jorge Cruise offers his “Body at Home” ($26.99). A two-in-one book, “Body atHome” promises to rev up readers’ metabolism through exercise and to deliver result s in two weeks with no equipment. The book is geared for both men and women.
Those who would like to combine diet and exercise might want to give Jillian Michaels’ book a try. Michaels is best known as a trainer and life coach on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”
Now she has written a winner in “Master Your Metabolism” ($26). She tries to inspire others to create a comprehensive program of exercise routines and eating guidelines, and she reveals her diet secrets.
Another good seller packed with sound information is “The Flat Belly Diet” ($29.95), which was first released through Prevention Magazine and focuses on health and fitness issues. The book is co-written by Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass. The “Flat Belly Diet Cookbook” ($27.99) also is in bookstores now. Great Falls Hastings book manager, Elisha Foster, said it has been so popular it’s been displayed in the featured areas throughout the store.
Other top-shelf best-sellers in the diet and workout category are “The Eat Clean” series by author, columnist and realityTV showstar Tosca Reno. Reno offers sound nutritional information, weight-loss techniques and exercise plans. The “Eat Clean Diet,” “The Eat CleanWorkout” and the “Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids” are $19.95 each.
Bill Phillips, Muscle Media magazine editor, has written the “Body for Life” series. “Body for Life” and “Body for Life for Women” are endorsed by Oprah. ($29.99). Phillips writes a straightforward physical fitness manuscript based on his journey through life and tells the story of how he has touched the lives of professional athletes and celebrities.
ShapeMagazine fitness expert and model, Gabby Reece, recommends a new release, “Force of Nature,” by Laird Hamilton ($22 bn.com). Laird calls it a “life manual,” and it includes workouts, healthy recipes and i nspiring anecdotes about fear, family, success and taking calculated risks.
Revolutionary chef Tal Ronnen, who has been featured on Oprah, just released a fullcolor cookbook, “The Conscious Cook.” The book aims to satisfy every omnivore’s dilemma. Ronnen, a former meat eater, has created a diverse menu of hardy vegan dishes ($29.99).
Best-sellers at Barnes and Noble include: “The Eat This And Not That!” series, written by two experts from Men’s Health Magazine, David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding. The series is enjoying tremendous success. Most recently released was “Eat This and Not That! 2010 The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution” ($12).
“The China Study” by health researcher Dr. T. Colin Campbell cites project findings in rural China and details the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes and cancer ($17.99).
“You Staying Young,” by Dr. Mehmet C. Oz and Michael F. Roizen ($29.95), is a popular book that tests your knowledge of aging, diet and staying healthy. Dr. Oz, famous for his television show and Discovery Health specials, is a professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University in New York. He was namedTimeMagazine’sMost Influential Scientist and Thinker in 2008.
In her two books, “The Schwarzbein Principle I” and “The Schwarzbein Principle II,” endocrinologist Diana Schwarzbein spells out her belief that poor eating and lifestyle habits, not genetics, are the cause of degenerative disease.
“People are really into this,” Barnes & Noble bookseller Jackie Bourret said.
Also available at Barnes and Noble is “Brainpower Game Plan,” by Cynthia R. Green and the editors of PreventionMagazine. The book concentrates on foods, moves and games to clear brain fog, boost memory and age-proof your mind. Readers are showing particular interest in books that link brain fitness and body fitne ss.
Offerings at the Peak Health andWellness gift shop include: “Take a Load Off Your Heart,” Joseph C. Piscatella and Barry A. Franklin. The book lists 109 things you can do to prevent, halt and reverse heart disease. ($14.95).
“Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy Until You’re 80 and Beyond,” by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge, M.D. (paperback, $12.95; hardcover, $24.95).
“Younger Next Year forWomen,” Crowley and Lodge, ($24.95).
TRIBUNE PHOTOS/LARRY BECKNER
ABOVE: Elisha Foster, book manager at Hastings Books Music & Videos, stands among the store’s health/fitness stacks. RIGHT: Health and fitness book picks from Hastings.
Powered by TECNAVIACopyright (c)2009 Great Falls Tribune 11/24/2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Far East meets Wild West in Fort Benton
Far East meets Wild West in Fort Benton: Kimonos & cowboys
Grand Union event puts spotlight on Asian cooking, art
By POLLY KOLSTAD For the Tribune
The Wild West and the Far East merge this weekend at the historic Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton, and the results promise to be quite tasty.
The Grand Union’s Kimonos to Cowboys event showcases Asian art, Western and Far East cooking classes and the culinary creations of guest chef Barry Shinto, who comes to Fort Benton from the Cliff House restaurant in San Francisco.
Shinto teams up with Grand Union chef Nick Mehmke for Far East and Wild West menu tastings on Saturday and Sunday evenings and a Sunday morning brunch.
The tasting menu includes shrimp and crab pot stickers, boar satay, crispy duck breast and confit leg, ginger pork loin and roasted pheasant. Entrees range from $19 to $32.
Saturday’s tasting begins at 5 p.m. Lewistown’s Silver River band will play afterward. Sunday’s event begins at 5:30 p.m.
Costumes from the Far East and the Wild West are encouraged both nights, and reduced room rates are being offered.
Sunday’s brunch, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., features five-spice French toast, shitake mushroom omelet, sourdough ricotta pancakes and pan-roasted trout. Prices range from $19 to $24. Reservations are recommended.
Shinto is a graduate of the Los Angeles Trade Technical Culinary Arts Program and has worked with Wolfgang Puck at Chinois Restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif., owned the Piranha Restaurant in Santa Barbara, and currently is working at the Cliff House in San Francisco. He will focus on Asian cuisine, primarily Japanese, Thai and Chinese.
He will lead a cooking class on Asian appetizers at noon on Monday. The class costs $70, and according to organizers, it’s filling up fast. At the end of the class, participants will sample what they’ve prepared.
A shuttle will take class members to the Riverview Green House for an Asian flower arrangement lesson.
Mehmke will offer his cooking class at noon on Tuesday, helping participants to create a four-course Montana meal with a French twist. The class costs $100 and also is filling fast. Students get to chow down after the class.
Asian art on display The Grand Union will offer a feast for the eyes as well this weekend. Inspired by the beautiful art she has seen during her travels to Asia, Grand Union Hotel owner Cheryl Gagnon will feature Montana’s Asian artists and those who create Asian art. Gagnon’s husband, Jim, works in Hong Kong.
Gagnon discovered Chiyoko Lewis, a Japanese artist who has mastered “Chigiri,” the Japanese art of making pictures from torn pieces of paper. Lewis lives in Livingston with her husband, country musician Jimmy Lewis. They met in Kumamoto, Japan, when he played a concert there with Rob Quist. Lewis’s life has been featured in the documentary “Someday Flowers Bloom.”
Jewelry designer Toni Patrizio will show her line of jewelry, combining jade, coral, turquoise and Asian artifacts with a New Age contemporary twist. Patrizio has designed for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and numerous boutiques worldwide.
The interior of the hotel will be decorated with large paper kimonos done by local artist, Vickie Meguire.
Event: East meets West in Fort Benton this weekend. She created the stylized gowns after a month-long stay in Japan.
Chinese porcelain, Japanese watercolors, Japanese rice paper, and Western oils, watercolors, pottery and photography will be on display from Billings, Bozeman, Lewistown and Stanford artists.
The art will be on display all weekend with a special viewing on Sunday from noon to 5 at the hotel with Asian tea and cowboy coffee.
Fort Benton and the Far East Fort Benton’s long history has several ties to the Far East.
The Asian presence in Fort Benton flourished in the 1870s and 1880s when the river town featured several Asian restaurants. Some of the town’s earliest Chinese residents clustered on Main Street, the site of a laundry for many years. A silk and tea merchant named Frank Lee Hung made his home there.
Japanese-American Tommy Masumoto came to the U.S. in 1900 and built the Club Cafe in Fort Benton. Later, he moved to Great Falls to open the popular Club Cafeteria.
For a complete schedule of Kimonos to Cowboys events and for reservations, call the Grand Union Hotel 406-622-1882
Grand Union event puts spotlight on Asian cooking, art
By POLLY KOLSTAD For the Tribune
The Wild West and the Far East merge this weekend at the historic Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton, and the results promise to be quite tasty.
The Grand Union’s Kimonos to Cowboys event showcases Asian art, Western and Far East cooking classes and the culinary creations of guest chef Barry Shinto, who comes to Fort Benton from the Cliff House restaurant in San Francisco.
Shinto teams up with Grand Union chef Nick Mehmke for Far East and Wild West menu tastings on Saturday and Sunday evenings and a Sunday morning brunch.
The tasting menu includes shrimp and crab pot stickers, boar satay, crispy duck breast and confit leg, ginger pork loin and roasted pheasant. Entrees range from $19 to $32.
Saturday’s tasting begins at 5 p.m. Lewistown’s Silver River band will play afterward. Sunday’s event begins at 5:30 p.m.
Costumes from the Far East and the Wild West are encouraged both nights, and reduced room rates are being offered.
Sunday’s brunch, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., features five-spice French toast, shitake mushroom omelet, sourdough ricotta pancakes and pan-roasted trout. Prices range from $19 to $24. Reservations are recommended.
Shinto is a graduate of the Los Angeles Trade Technical Culinary Arts Program and has worked with Wolfgang Puck at Chinois Restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif., owned the Piranha Restaurant in Santa Barbara, and currently is working at the Cliff House in San Francisco. He will focus on Asian cuisine, primarily Japanese, Thai and Chinese.
He will lead a cooking class on Asian appetizers at noon on Monday. The class costs $70, and according to organizers, it’s filling up fast. At the end of the class, participants will sample what they’ve prepared.
A shuttle will take class members to the Riverview Green House for an Asian flower arrangement lesson.
Mehmke will offer his cooking class at noon on Tuesday, helping participants to create a four-course Montana meal with a French twist. The class costs $100 and also is filling fast. Students get to chow down after the class.
Asian art on display The Grand Union will offer a feast for the eyes as well this weekend. Inspired by the beautiful art she has seen during her travels to Asia, Grand Union Hotel owner Cheryl Gagnon will feature Montana’s Asian artists and those who create Asian art. Gagnon’s husband, Jim, works in Hong Kong.
Gagnon discovered Chiyoko Lewis, a Japanese artist who has mastered “Chigiri,” the Japanese art of making pictures from torn pieces of paper. Lewis lives in Livingston with her husband, country musician Jimmy Lewis. They met in Kumamoto, Japan, when he played a concert there with Rob Quist. Lewis’s life has been featured in the documentary “Someday Flowers Bloom.”
Jewelry designer Toni Patrizio will show her line of jewelry, combining jade, coral, turquoise and Asian artifacts with a New Age contemporary twist. Patrizio has designed for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and numerous boutiques worldwide.
The interior of the hotel will be decorated with large paper kimonos done by local artist, Vickie Meguire.
Event: East meets West in Fort Benton this weekend. She created the stylized gowns after a month-long stay in Japan.
Chinese porcelain, Japanese watercolors, Japanese rice paper, and Western oils, watercolors, pottery and photography will be on display from Billings, Bozeman, Lewistown and Stanford artists.
The art will be on display all weekend with a special viewing on Sunday from noon to 5 at the hotel with Asian tea and cowboy coffee.
Fort Benton and the Far East Fort Benton’s long history has several ties to the Far East.
The Asian presence in Fort Benton flourished in the 1870s and 1880s when the river town featured several Asian restaurants. Some of the town’s earliest Chinese residents clustered on Main Street, the site of a laundry for many years. A silk and tea merchant named Frank Lee Hung made his home there.
Japanese-American Tommy Masumoto came to the U.S. in 1900 and built the Club Cafe in Fort Benton. Later, he moved to Great Falls to open the popular Club Cafeteria.
For a complete schedule of Kimonos to Cowboys events and for reservations, call the Grand Union Hotel 406-622-1882
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Flathead River cruise filled with fun, information
Flathead River cruise filled with fun, information
by Polly Kolstad
Nineteen of us piled into the Labatt Blue Heron, a comfortable pontoon vessel docked at Eagle Bend Marina on the north end of Flathead Lake. Music rose from the boat’s speakers as we began our 25-mile journey along the Flathead River, which twists and turns like taffy.
As we floated along the pristine waters, historian Fred Laroque shared the history of the area.
Thousands of years ago a glacier carved out the area that is now Flathead Lake. Much later, the Salish, Kootenai and Pondera Indians moved to the west shore of the lake. Jesuit fathers and French Canadian fur trappers eventually settled in the area and white encampments soon followed, occupying this fertile valley.
Logging ensued, propelled by “really tough guys wearing hobnail boots,” Laroque said. These men were known as “river pigs” as they maneuvered timbers across the lake.
Early freight shipments were hauled by wagons and by boats, which found their way up the Flathead River to settlements such as Lees Landing (Holt) and Demersville (Foys Bend).
A few miles up the river, in 60 feet of water, we came upon the remnants of an old pier still nodding in the boatdriven waves. This was where the ferry boat, Helena, once docked.
Nearby, sat what’s left of the general store at Holt. Across the way, a decaying roof still holds up parts of the dance hall.
And not too far from there you’ll find Kehoe’s Agate Shop, owned by a family that has helped document the history of the area.
As we meandered along the calm emerald waters, Mother Nature served up a treat. To the left, blue heron nests loomed high in the branches of riverside trees. The rookery boasts 12 nests, and a few of the birds hovered restlessly.
Now and then, a quizzical doe and fawn appeared in the fields. On the shoreline were small farms and lovely homes.
Finally, projecting out from the muddy shore, we spotted the spindly spires of a sunken dock, the remains of the boom-and-bust town of Demersville.
The story goes that Jack Demers, a French businessman, established a trading post here in 1887 that became a flourishing port. Demersville was the terminus of the freight boats that traveled the Flathead River.
From 1887 to 1891, the town grew, anticipating the arrival of the railroad. Downtown Demersville boasted the Cliff House Hotel, lake steamboats, a military post and lots of people.
Charles E. Conrad, owner of the Kalispell townsite, plotted a new community just three miles north of Demersville. In 1890, the railroad chose Kalispell thanks in part, many believe, to Conrad’s wealth and political influence.
When this decision was made, the buildings of Demersville were literally picked and moved to Kalispell, leaving only an old pier.
We disembarked and climbed the riverbank to see the Demersville cemetery, near U.S. Highway 93.
Turning around, we launched down river, our focus turning to art as we cruised up Rose Creek to artist Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey’s home, studio and gallery. Nancy and her husband, Steve, graciously waved us into their dock and warmly welcomed us.
Nancy led us to her studio where she demonstrated painting on silk with dyes. With her brilliant use of the brush, Nancy brought horses, foxes and flowers to life.
Hailing the discoveries of the day, we sailed back to the marina.
by Polly Kolstad
Nineteen of us piled into the Labatt Blue Heron, a comfortable pontoon vessel docked at Eagle Bend Marina on the north end of Flathead Lake. Music rose from the boat’s speakers as we began our 25-mile journey along the Flathead River, which twists and turns like taffy.
As we floated along the pristine waters, historian Fred Laroque shared the history of the area.
Thousands of years ago a glacier carved out the area that is now Flathead Lake. Much later, the Salish, Kootenai and Pondera Indians moved to the west shore of the lake. Jesuit fathers and French Canadian fur trappers eventually settled in the area and white encampments soon followed, occupying this fertile valley.
Logging ensued, propelled by “really tough guys wearing hobnail boots,” Laroque said. These men were known as “river pigs” as they maneuvered timbers across the lake.
Early freight shipments were hauled by wagons and by boats, which found their way up the Flathead River to settlements such as Lees Landing (Holt) and Demersville (Foys Bend).
A few miles up the river, in 60 feet of water, we came upon the remnants of an old pier still nodding in the boatdriven waves. This was where the ferry boat, Helena, once docked.
Nearby, sat what’s left of the general store at Holt. Across the way, a decaying roof still holds up parts of the dance hall.
And not too far from there you’ll find Kehoe’s Agate Shop, owned by a family that has helped document the history of the area.
As we meandered along the calm emerald waters, Mother Nature served up a treat. To the left, blue heron nests loomed high in the branches of riverside trees. The rookery boasts 12 nests, and a few of the birds hovered restlessly.
Now and then, a quizzical doe and fawn appeared in the fields. On the shoreline were small farms and lovely homes.
Finally, projecting out from the muddy shore, we spotted the spindly spires of a sunken dock, the remains of the boom-and-bust town of Demersville.
The story goes that Jack Demers, a French businessman, established a trading post here in 1887 that became a flourishing port. Demersville was the terminus of the freight boats that traveled the Flathead River.
From 1887 to 1891, the town grew, anticipating the arrival of the railroad. Downtown Demersville boasted the Cliff House Hotel, lake steamboats, a military post and lots of people.
Charles E. Conrad, owner of the Kalispell townsite, plotted a new community just three miles north of Demersville. In 1890, the railroad chose Kalispell thanks in part, many believe, to Conrad’s wealth and political influence.
When this decision was made, the buildings of Demersville were literally picked and moved to Kalispell, leaving only an old pier.
We disembarked and climbed the riverbank to see the Demersville cemetery, near U.S. Highway 93.
Turning around, we launched down river, our focus turning to art as we cruised up Rose Creek to artist Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey’s home, studio and gallery. Nancy and her husband, Steve, graciously waved us into their dock and warmly welcomed us.
Nancy led us to her studio where she demonstrated painting on silk with dyes. With her brilliant use of the brush, Nancy brought horses, foxes and flowers to life.
Hailing the discoveries of the day, we sailed back to the marina.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Desert Sun sparkles on Chihuly's glass art
Great Falls Tribune, April 12, 2009
Desert Sun sparkles on Chihuly's glass art
Imagine unpacking 750 crates of Dale Chihuly original hand blown glass and then, installing his innovative sculptures in a Sonoran desert setting for six months.
Finally, after long term planning, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, is excited to display the unique works of the renown artist.
“This is a dynamic space for Chihuly’s artwork, and he took a leap of faith to do this,” said Elaine McGinn, the Garden’s Director of Planning and Exhibits, alluding to the fact that art venues worldwide would love to have it.
“In the garden world, this is the blockbuster,” adds McGinn.
Exhibitions of Chihuly’s work have been mounted in conservatories and botanical gardens elsewhere, but this is his first installation entirely within a desert garden environment.
Over a period of two years, Chihuly and his site design team made three visits photographing the 145 acres of the Garden which display 50,000 desert plants along thematic trails. They took notes and pictures back to the planning board in his studio on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington.
Ultimately, Chihuly created three desert wildflower towers just for this exhibition which were packed along with other grand scale vibrant colored sculptures into five semi load trucks for the trip to Arizona last November.
A team of twenty took twelve days to install the seventeen major installations, and seven other small areas with placed glass. It took six days alone to put together the Sun which has 1200 individual pieces. Some of the chandeliers took half a day to hang.
As you stroll through the Garden, you see how Chihuly’s shapes of glass reflect imaginary plants and monumental organic shapes, large creations that seem impossible to build. Through his plan they are placed in interesting places.
A boat full of celestial blue pieces is unique in that it is placed under a tree, not on water. “
Chihuly liked the idea of suggestion of water in this space,” explains McGinn.
Yet, in another area, floating polyurethane cubes mystify a marshy desert grass area.
“How in the world do they bring these pieces in without being broken,” asks Al Bauer, who drove from San Jose, California just to see the exhibition. “This is way off the scale I’m so impressed by the glass sculptures and every cactus perfectly placed, but naturally where it should be.”
It is no surprise that Chihuly likes to display his art in nature’s settings. Many of his glass orbs and shapes look like flowers and stocks of plants, so the glass and the garden seem to fit together.
Over the years, Chihuly’s creations have spanned a wide vocabulary of forms such as baskets, seaforms, Ikebana, and chandeliers. His new flower forms are reminiscent of early pieces that he made at the Pilchuck Glass School which he cofounded in 1971 near Stanwood, Washington.
Originally from Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly began blowing glass in 1965. He earned a BA from the University of Washington, and finished his graduate studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1968, he received a Fulbright scholarship to study at the Venini glass factory in Venice, Italy. It was at Venini that he learned and developed the team model of blowing glass. Having lost an eye in an automobile accident, and later injuring a shoulder, Chihuly eventually gave up being the “gaffer,” the master blower. Today, his practice of collaborative teams enhances his creative process.
Chihuly’s structures start out as hundreds or even, thousands of individual pieces of glass. Then, the glass pieces are attached to enormous metal structures. (armatures, that look like steel skeletons) It takes many people, to create these beautiful glass sculptures from start to finish. Putting them all together for an exhibition takes specialists in lighting, neon towers, and installation.
With a smile and a sense of pride, McGinn relates,“In a world class garden, it feels right to be hosting a world glass garden. We will all be sad when it leaves. Since it opened in November, the show has exceeded all expectations.”
If you go:
Chihuly: The Nature of Glass through May 31
Exhibition Hours: 8 am – 8 pm
Timed Admissions: 8 am – 12 pm; 12 – 4 pm; 4 – 8 pm
Advanced reservation is required.
Prices for non-members are: Adults: $15; Seniors: $13.50; Students:$7.50; Children: $5
Phoenix Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008
To purchase admissions log on to dbg.org or call: 480-481-8188.
Desert Sun sparkles on Chihuly's glass art
Imagine unpacking 750 crates of Dale Chihuly original hand blown glass and then, installing his innovative sculptures in a Sonoran desert setting for six months.
Finally, after long term planning, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, is excited to display the unique works of the renown artist.
“This is a dynamic space for Chihuly’s artwork, and he took a leap of faith to do this,” said Elaine McGinn, the Garden’s Director of Planning and Exhibits, alluding to the fact that art venues worldwide would love to have it.
“In the garden world, this is the blockbuster,” adds McGinn.
Exhibitions of Chihuly’s work have been mounted in conservatories and botanical gardens elsewhere, but this is his first installation entirely within a desert garden environment.
Over a period of two years, Chihuly and his site design team made three visits photographing the 145 acres of the Garden which display 50,000 desert plants along thematic trails. They took notes and pictures back to the planning board in his studio on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington.
Ultimately, Chihuly created three desert wildflower towers just for this exhibition which were packed along with other grand scale vibrant colored sculptures into five semi load trucks for the trip to Arizona last November.
A team of twenty took twelve days to install the seventeen major installations, and seven other small areas with placed glass. It took six days alone to put together the Sun which has 1200 individual pieces. Some of the chandeliers took half a day to hang.
As you stroll through the Garden, you see how Chihuly’s shapes of glass reflect imaginary plants and monumental organic shapes, large creations that seem impossible to build. Through his plan they are placed in interesting places.
A boat full of celestial blue pieces is unique in that it is placed under a tree, not on water. “
Chihuly liked the idea of suggestion of water in this space,” explains McGinn.
Yet, in another area, floating polyurethane cubes mystify a marshy desert grass area.
“How in the world do they bring these pieces in without being broken,” asks Al Bauer, who drove from San Jose, California just to see the exhibition. “This is way off the scale I’m so impressed by the glass sculptures and every cactus perfectly placed, but naturally where it should be.”
It is no surprise that Chihuly likes to display his art in nature’s settings. Many of his glass orbs and shapes look like flowers and stocks of plants, so the glass and the garden seem to fit together.
Over the years, Chihuly’s creations have spanned a wide vocabulary of forms such as baskets, seaforms, Ikebana, and chandeliers. His new flower forms are reminiscent of early pieces that he made at the Pilchuck Glass School which he cofounded in 1971 near Stanwood, Washington.
Originally from Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly began blowing glass in 1965. He earned a BA from the University of Washington, and finished his graduate studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1968, he received a Fulbright scholarship to study at the Venini glass factory in Venice, Italy. It was at Venini that he learned and developed the team model of blowing glass. Having lost an eye in an automobile accident, and later injuring a shoulder, Chihuly eventually gave up being the “gaffer,” the master blower. Today, his practice of collaborative teams enhances his creative process.
Chihuly’s structures start out as hundreds or even, thousands of individual pieces of glass. Then, the glass pieces are attached to enormous metal structures. (armatures, that look like steel skeletons) It takes many people, to create these beautiful glass sculptures from start to finish. Putting them all together for an exhibition takes specialists in lighting, neon towers, and installation.
With a smile and a sense of pride, McGinn relates,“In a world class garden, it feels right to be hosting a world glass garden. We will all be sad when it leaves. Since it opened in November, the show has exceeded all expectations.”
If you go:
Chihuly: The Nature of Glass through May 31
Exhibition Hours: 8 am – 8 pm
Timed Admissions: 8 am – 12 pm; 12 – 4 pm; 4 – 8 pm
Advanced reservation is required.
Prices for non-members are: Adults: $15; Seniors: $13.50; Students:$7.50; Children: $5
Phoenix Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008
To purchase admissions log on to dbg.org or call: 480-481-8188.
Spend a day in Spokane's park
Great Falls Tribune, July 26, 2009
Spend a day in Spokane's park
I thought that Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington would be just an afternoon “walk in the park,” to lollygag and enjoy a restful hour along the Spokane River.
It is that, and much more.
Sitting on a park bench enfolded in the larger than life shadow of artist Ken Spiering’s Radio Flyer Red Wagon, my mind wandered from the rapid glee of children sliding down the twelve foot high wagon handle to the crashing sounds of nearby white water.
Activity and energy surrounded me on these 100 acres of land where the Native Americans once gathered and fished; where pioneers settled and started the city of Spokane; and, where eventually, the city’s growth was fueled by the railroad industry. As history progressed, rail yards covered Havermale Island, the present site of Riverfront Park.
When Spokane became the site of Expo ’74, “The World’s Fair,” the rail yards were removed leaving only the Clocktower from the 1902 depot.
Today, you can set your watch by the clock tower looming 155 feet in the distance. Once a week, a technician climbs five stories to rewind the gigantic time piece.
A second glance lured me closer to the water and the spectacular Spokane Falls SkyRide. There‘s no better view than the fifteen minute ride in the all weather enclosed cabin that fearlessly glides high over the tumbling falls. The calculated slow pace moves you past art deco City Hall, and then, with mist spitting water circles on the cable car window, it gradually drops down 200 feet over the Huntington Park Natural Area. After several stops which allow fantastic photo ops, the SkyRide continues under the historic Monroe Street Bridge with a return to the Riverfront Park.
With my feet on the ground, but not for long, I waited briefly in line to board the Loof Carrousel, a 1909 hand carved carrousel that features: 54 horses, one giraffe, one tiger, and two Chinese dragon chairs. Feeling like a kid again, I swung my leg over the long necked giraffe and claimed my steed for several up and down laps on this animated merry go round. But, I wasn’t quick enough to catch the golden ring (like some of the younger riders) for a free second ride. Nevertheless, I hesitated in dismounting for a long last look at the beautiful animals, preserved so well that they merit a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
I waived the temptation for cotton candy and ice cream cones as the extended carrousel exit queue satisfies the sweet tooth for many riders.
But, my appetite for art was met as I stumbled upon the nearby Sculpture Walk which highlights seventeen original sculptures placed throughout the park. Most prominently viewed, and and easily seen by motorists, are David Govedare’s metal people which depict runners of all kinds celebrating the Spokane tradition of Bloomsday, one of the largest 12K road running races in our country. Spokane’s Vietnam Veterans are respectfully remembered in the engraved pedestal of Deborah Copenhaver’s memorial sculpture. One can’t help but smile at Sister Paula Turnbull’s corten steel sculpture of a goat. The popular statue, usually surrounded by children, will eat small pieces of trash with the aid of its vacuum digestive system. The Sculpture Walk continues along the Centennial Trail with many equally inspiring and thought provoking pieces.
At the south entrance to Riverfront Park, artist, Harold Balazs, “Rotary Fountain” invites all park goers to beat the summer heat. Five stainless steel columns support a 30 foot diameter ring that contains 40 overhead jets. The jets spray towards the middle of the fountain producing a dome of water and a waterfall in the fountains. If you don’t care to get wet, it is just entertaining to admire the beauty of the fountain and watch the dancing waters soak up the dashing bodies of children and adults, as well.
And, oh, yes, there still is a train in Riverfront Park. The Spokane Falls Northern Railway Tour Train makes a forty minute loop through the park. You can relax and enjoy the ride as the conductor highlights points of interest and historical facts.
The hour stretches into a day at Riverfront Park as there is much more to catch: a movie at the IMAX theater, amusement rides, and mini golf. Even a planned picnic or a sandwich from the Pavilion’s catering menu will satisfy one’s desire to stay.
Riverfront Park is a popular gathering place for locals, like Pam Leonard who describes it as a “must see” for anyone living in Spokane or just visiting.
Sometimes our adventures aspire us to chase melting glaciers and shoreline seas.
With white water, fountains, carrousels, trains, and art, Spokane’s Riverfront Park is something to remember.
Spend a day in Spokane's park
I thought that Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington would be just an afternoon “walk in the park,” to lollygag and enjoy a restful hour along the Spokane River.
It is that, and much more.
Sitting on a park bench enfolded in the larger than life shadow of artist Ken Spiering’s Radio Flyer Red Wagon, my mind wandered from the rapid glee of children sliding down the twelve foot high wagon handle to the crashing sounds of nearby white water.
Activity and energy surrounded me on these 100 acres of land where the Native Americans once gathered and fished; where pioneers settled and started the city of Spokane; and, where eventually, the city’s growth was fueled by the railroad industry. As history progressed, rail yards covered Havermale Island, the present site of Riverfront Park.
When Spokane became the site of Expo ’74, “The World’s Fair,” the rail yards were removed leaving only the Clocktower from the 1902 depot.
Today, you can set your watch by the clock tower looming 155 feet in the distance. Once a week, a technician climbs five stories to rewind the gigantic time piece.
A second glance lured me closer to the water and the spectacular Spokane Falls SkyRide. There‘s no better view than the fifteen minute ride in the all weather enclosed cabin that fearlessly glides high over the tumbling falls. The calculated slow pace moves you past art deco City Hall, and then, with mist spitting water circles on the cable car window, it gradually drops down 200 feet over the Huntington Park Natural Area. After several stops which allow fantastic photo ops, the SkyRide continues under the historic Monroe Street Bridge with a return to the Riverfront Park.
With my feet on the ground, but not for long, I waited briefly in line to board the Loof Carrousel, a 1909 hand carved carrousel that features: 54 horses, one giraffe, one tiger, and two Chinese dragon chairs. Feeling like a kid again, I swung my leg over the long necked giraffe and claimed my steed for several up and down laps on this animated merry go round. But, I wasn’t quick enough to catch the golden ring (like some of the younger riders) for a free second ride. Nevertheless, I hesitated in dismounting for a long last look at the beautiful animals, preserved so well that they merit a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
I waived the temptation for cotton candy and ice cream cones as the extended carrousel exit queue satisfies the sweet tooth for many riders.
But, my appetite for art was met as I stumbled upon the nearby Sculpture Walk which highlights seventeen original sculptures placed throughout the park. Most prominently viewed, and and easily seen by motorists, are David Govedare’s metal people which depict runners of all kinds celebrating the Spokane tradition of Bloomsday, one of the largest 12K road running races in our country. Spokane’s Vietnam Veterans are respectfully remembered in the engraved pedestal of Deborah Copenhaver’s memorial sculpture. One can’t help but smile at Sister Paula Turnbull’s corten steel sculpture of a goat. The popular statue, usually surrounded by children, will eat small pieces of trash with the aid of its vacuum digestive system. The Sculpture Walk continues along the Centennial Trail with many equally inspiring and thought provoking pieces.
At the south entrance to Riverfront Park, artist, Harold Balazs, “Rotary Fountain” invites all park goers to beat the summer heat. Five stainless steel columns support a 30 foot diameter ring that contains 40 overhead jets. The jets spray towards the middle of the fountain producing a dome of water and a waterfall in the fountains. If you don’t care to get wet, it is just entertaining to admire the beauty of the fountain and watch the dancing waters soak up the dashing bodies of children and adults, as well.
And, oh, yes, there still is a train in Riverfront Park. The Spokane Falls Northern Railway Tour Train makes a forty minute loop through the park. You can relax and enjoy the ride as the conductor highlights points of interest and historical facts.
The hour stretches into a day at Riverfront Park as there is much more to catch: a movie at the IMAX theater, amusement rides, and mini golf. Even a planned picnic or a sandwich from the Pavilion’s catering menu will satisfy one’s desire to stay.
Riverfront Park is a popular gathering place for locals, like Pam Leonard who describes it as a “must see” for anyone living in Spokane or just visiting.
Sometimes our adventures aspire us to chase melting glaciers and shoreline seas.
With white water, fountains, carrousels, trains, and art, Spokane’s Riverfront Park is something to remember.
Evolving from Nature: Sculptor Tom Dean brings exotic wood to life
Big Sky Journal Arts 2009
Evolving from Nature: Sculptor Tom Dean brings exotic wood to life
“I want to become the best at my art,” says Thomas Milo Dean, of Milo Creek Carvings, as he peers over a ten foot by four and a half foot sculpture made of African Bubinga, Oregon Manzania, and Montana Juniper wood. Tipped at thirty degrees, the grand hand carved piece eventually will make a whole river environment with fifteen to twenty fish, frogs, cattails, and dragonflies.
The monumental project, Dean’s “signature piece,” in the works for over a year, will soon be permanently displayed at Big R Supply in Great Falls, Montana.
As CEO Wayne Wike relates, after seeing some of Dean’s work, “it is a great fit for what the fly fishing shop needed as part of our outdoor story.”
Dean aims to bring the outdoors in for a growing audience that appreciates the remarkable, real life beauty, of his carvings made from exotic woods.
Hovering intently over other designs in his Great Falls studio/garage, Dean takes pride and ownership in an emerging art career that has eclipsed his years of working in pharmaceutical sales and orthopedic appliances.
He launches his story of a passion that subliminally yearned within him for years.
When he quit working for Merck Pharmaceutical, “it was the scariest thing he had ever done.” No paycheck, a wife, and a family to support. Then, his sister from Seattle, sent him an old dremel tool. He got out a piece of pine and carved out a prototype of a paddle fish, and other small projects. But, he wasn’t making any money, so he went back to work 24/7 for Zimmer, an orthopedic product manufacturer.
When he had time, he kept carving.
A friend saw some of his fish carvings and encouraged him to enter a Christmas art show. She wanted twenty of them, but all he could make was one, which he sold for sixty dollars.
Told with riveting candor, he laughs: “I still have the three twenty dollar bills.”
That was the kicker. He thought “wow” if he could sell one, he could sell others.
The “wow” was in others eyes, like the “one that got away,” relates Jan Robitaille, who bought that first piece as a Christmas gift.
“There’s something remarkable about his work that immediately drew me in: the feel, the look, the beauty of it. Our son-in-law loved the piece and it is a treasure for our family to have. I just hope that one day I’ll own something of his.”
Soon, he was working in the garage for hours. Patti Jo would have to rescue him for dinner. He would be back carving at six in the morning.
He had a feeling in his soul, that he could be successful. He believed in himself, knew his genre, and had over one hundred ideas.
However, his personal vision was met with some paternal skepticism from his father, Dr. Bob Dean, a retired pediatric dentist, and, an artist who has worked in many media. Dean pursued despite his father’s doubt believing that “there is one thing in each and every one of us, a gift in life, and if it is presented at the right time, we can do it.”
For Dean, that time was now, forty-five years later.
“I knew that Dean was born with a special talent,” said art collector, Mike Goss, who prominently displays a Dean sculpture of a brown trout going after a dragonfly in the reeds, titled: “Last Call.”
“Through his younger years, he was fishing, hunting, enjoying other things. Now, he has taken his talent into his hands and is sculpting so we all can enjoy it. Until you share your talent, you don’t understand the impact you have on people. His talent is not something he picked up, but something he was born with,” attests Goss.
For the lanky, friendly, blue eyed Dean, there are discoveries to be made in life, often underscored by life’s experiences.
Today, Dean speaks in a long dialog about his work and the vivacity of his imagination.
He has been serious about his art since March 2007 when he sold some pieces in a dealer’s room at the C.M.Russell Art Auction.
Dean has no formal art training, rather, he likes to think that his art is continually evolving from his understanding the anatomy of his subjects.
He grew up in Great Falls, and learned to fly fish with a bamboo rod given to him by his grandfather, Milo. The family had a cabin on the Smith River, and as a young boy, Dean recalls his grandfather’s stories that drew him in about life and the outdoors. Milo Creek Carving is a tribute to that “wonderful, decent, honest man, who always had time for me,” he says.
Pulling out one of his first fish silhouettes, a flat sided swimmer, Dean brandishes the framework of his early efforts.
He explains that his work is subtractive art. He starts backwards. He makes the components like a puzzle, and then, puts them together.
Dean immerses himself in each original project. If he makes a fish, he first decides on the size, and the shape. Then, he finds a wood that is just right for the characterization. He hand draws the outline of the fish. He cuts the fish out from a big block of dense, strong, exotic wood: Tigerwood, African Mahagony,Koa, Bubinga, Jatoba, Zebrawood, Beruvian Rosewood. He likes to work with the natural beauty of the wood. No painting or fillers are applied.
His tool bar includes: a dremel, knife, band saw, aggressive bits, several sanders, including the Guinevere, an inflatable rubber sander. Indeed, Dean credits his silky smooth surfaces to the Guinevere, a tool invented by Arthur Aveling of King Arthur’s Tools. In return, Mr. Aveling lauds Dean’s exquisite wood carvings in his national advertising.
Aveling describes Dean as a “magnificent artist” who captures the beauty of fish. He is proud to have an artist of Dean’s caliber using their products. Dean’s fish carving,” Brown on the Smith River” sits proudly on Aveling’s desk in Tallahassee, Florida.
A fly fisherman for forty years, Dean draws the viewer into an underwater scene that may include water weeds, insects, and aquatic animals. He adds Montana juniper where appropriate, having collected the twisted wood from eastern Montana.
In his work, he tries to capture that one “moment in time,” capturing the “really big one.”
Kent Klewein of Reel Job Fishing in Georgia, casts numerous nods to Dean’s work. Klewein uses a picture of one of Dean’s carved fish in his blog that touts his guiding business.
Occasionally his clients want a replica mount of their fish, and “Dean is the only guy that does one of a kind pieces out of exotic wood,” said Klewein.
Dean acknowledges that there is a lot of versatility in his art.
This year, 2009, Dean was nominated for the Montana Circle of American Masters. An honor he humbly acknowledges. Because of the distinction, he has been encouraged to teach his wood carving art for the betterment of cultural history.
Ever evolving, Dean refers to his inner voice that says you’ve never reached your pinnacle.
Mention his inspiration, and he always comes back to his family.
“I really do this for Patti Jo and the kids, and I aim to be the best,” he concludes.
Evolving from Nature: Sculptor Tom Dean brings exotic wood to life
“I want to become the best at my art,” says Thomas Milo Dean, of Milo Creek Carvings, as he peers over a ten foot by four and a half foot sculpture made of African Bubinga, Oregon Manzania, and Montana Juniper wood. Tipped at thirty degrees, the grand hand carved piece eventually will make a whole river environment with fifteen to twenty fish, frogs, cattails, and dragonflies.
The monumental project, Dean’s “signature piece,” in the works for over a year, will soon be permanently displayed at Big R Supply in Great Falls, Montana.
As CEO Wayne Wike relates, after seeing some of Dean’s work, “it is a great fit for what the fly fishing shop needed as part of our outdoor story.”
Dean aims to bring the outdoors in for a growing audience that appreciates the remarkable, real life beauty, of his carvings made from exotic woods.
Hovering intently over other designs in his Great Falls studio/garage, Dean takes pride and ownership in an emerging art career that has eclipsed his years of working in pharmaceutical sales and orthopedic appliances.
He launches his story of a passion that subliminally yearned within him for years.
When he quit working for Merck Pharmaceutical, “it was the scariest thing he had ever done.” No paycheck, a wife, and a family to support. Then, his sister from Seattle, sent him an old dremel tool. He got out a piece of pine and carved out a prototype of a paddle fish, and other small projects. But, he wasn’t making any money, so he went back to work 24/7 for Zimmer, an orthopedic product manufacturer.
When he had time, he kept carving.
A friend saw some of his fish carvings and encouraged him to enter a Christmas art show. She wanted twenty of them, but all he could make was one, which he sold for sixty dollars.
Told with riveting candor, he laughs: “I still have the three twenty dollar bills.”
That was the kicker. He thought “wow” if he could sell one, he could sell others.
The “wow” was in others eyes, like the “one that got away,” relates Jan Robitaille, who bought that first piece as a Christmas gift.
“There’s something remarkable about his work that immediately drew me in: the feel, the look, the beauty of it. Our son-in-law loved the piece and it is a treasure for our family to have. I just hope that one day I’ll own something of his.”
Soon, he was working in the garage for hours. Patti Jo would have to rescue him for dinner. He would be back carving at six in the morning.
He had a feeling in his soul, that he could be successful. He believed in himself, knew his genre, and had over one hundred ideas.
However, his personal vision was met with some paternal skepticism from his father, Dr. Bob Dean, a retired pediatric dentist, and, an artist who has worked in many media. Dean pursued despite his father’s doubt believing that “there is one thing in each and every one of us, a gift in life, and if it is presented at the right time, we can do it.”
For Dean, that time was now, forty-five years later.
“I knew that Dean was born with a special talent,” said art collector, Mike Goss, who prominently displays a Dean sculpture of a brown trout going after a dragonfly in the reeds, titled: “Last Call.”
“Through his younger years, he was fishing, hunting, enjoying other things. Now, he has taken his talent into his hands and is sculpting so we all can enjoy it. Until you share your talent, you don’t understand the impact you have on people. His talent is not something he picked up, but something he was born with,” attests Goss.
For the lanky, friendly, blue eyed Dean, there are discoveries to be made in life, often underscored by life’s experiences.
Today, Dean speaks in a long dialog about his work and the vivacity of his imagination.
He has been serious about his art since March 2007 when he sold some pieces in a dealer’s room at the C.M.Russell Art Auction.
Dean has no formal art training, rather, he likes to think that his art is continually evolving from his understanding the anatomy of his subjects.
He grew up in Great Falls, and learned to fly fish with a bamboo rod given to him by his grandfather, Milo. The family had a cabin on the Smith River, and as a young boy, Dean recalls his grandfather’s stories that drew him in about life and the outdoors. Milo Creek Carving is a tribute to that “wonderful, decent, honest man, who always had time for me,” he says.
Pulling out one of his first fish silhouettes, a flat sided swimmer, Dean brandishes the framework of his early efforts.
He explains that his work is subtractive art. He starts backwards. He makes the components like a puzzle, and then, puts them together.
Dean immerses himself in each original project. If he makes a fish, he first decides on the size, and the shape. Then, he finds a wood that is just right for the characterization. He hand draws the outline of the fish. He cuts the fish out from a big block of dense, strong, exotic wood: Tigerwood, African Mahagony,Koa, Bubinga, Jatoba, Zebrawood, Beruvian Rosewood. He likes to work with the natural beauty of the wood. No painting or fillers are applied.
His tool bar includes: a dremel, knife, band saw, aggressive bits, several sanders, including the Guinevere, an inflatable rubber sander. Indeed, Dean credits his silky smooth surfaces to the Guinevere, a tool invented by Arthur Aveling of King Arthur’s Tools. In return, Mr. Aveling lauds Dean’s exquisite wood carvings in his national advertising.
Aveling describes Dean as a “magnificent artist” who captures the beauty of fish. He is proud to have an artist of Dean’s caliber using their products. Dean’s fish carving,” Brown on the Smith River” sits proudly on Aveling’s desk in Tallahassee, Florida.
A fly fisherman for forty years, Dean draws the viewer into an underwater scene that may include water weeds, insects, and aquatic animals. He adds Montana juniper where appropriate, having collected the twisted wood from eastern Montana.
In his work, he tries to capture that one “moment in time,” capturing the “really big one.”
Kent Klewein of Reel Job Fishing in Georgia, casts numerous nods to Dean’s work. Klewein uses a picture of one of Dean’s carved fish in his blog that touts his guiding business.
Occasionally his clients want a replica mount of their fish, and “Dean is the only guy that does one of a kind pieces out of exotic wood,” said Klewein.
Dean acknowledges that there is a lot of versatility in his art.
This year, 2009, Dean was nominated for the Montana Circle of American Masters. An honor he humbly acknowledges. Because of the distinction, he has been encouraged to teach his wood carving art for the betterment of cultural history.
Ever evolving, Dean refers to his inner voice that says you’ve never reached your pinnacle.
Mention his inspiration, and he always comes back to his family.
“I really do this for Patti Jo and the kids, and I aim to be the best,” he concludes.
Exotic Morocco captures the hearts of travelers
Great Falls Tribune, August 16, 2009
Exotic Morocco captures the hearts of travelers
Earlier this summer, pianist, Su Suits sat in a courtyard in Fez, Morocco, playing a Robert Schumann piece. The impromptu musical moment happened to be at the Museum of Andalusian Music and the director came running out, applauding. His ears were more tuned to the darbouka (drums), the bendir (tambourines), the kamanja, and the ud (lute): the music of northern Africa. The melodies coming from the piano delighted him.
He was just one of the many friendly and hospitable Moroccans that extended a welcoming hand to Su and husband, Thad, on their adventure into ancient Morocco.
The journey to northern Africa was something that Thad had dreamed for a long time. Immersed in the study of the Arabic language, he wanted to go where even a taxi cab ride would be a linguistic opportunity.
Arabic is the native language of Morocco; the sounds of which he recognized as soon as he and Su boated from the south of Spain to Tangiers.
Upon landing, it was a step back in time, “another world later,” observed Su. The country of Morocco, somewhat bigger than the size of California, includes the barren Sahara desert, and still yields to the old ways, as they have since the time of the Romans. Donkeys pull plows or carry wheat in carts that has been harvested by hand. People greeted you, vibrant people, ready to access you. The street scene was a bustling barometer of markets where bartering is expected, an intrinsic part of the culture. Salesmanship is a “fine art,” describes Su,one that immediately invites you to participate. And she did, ignoring the first price of dirhams (their monetary system) the merchant put forward, ultimately making the advantageous purchase in English, and, achieving a surprising compliment.
“You bargain like a Moroccan woman,” declared one of the local vendors.
Immersed in the rich and colorful life of the day to day rhythms, Morocco was the most exotic place the Suits had ever visited.
“It made me nervous,” said Su. “Life happens in the streets, vendors, souks (markets), tanneries, minarets calling to prayer five times, but the day goes on as usual.”
Yet, at the same time, when they ventured out on their own, people were friendly, “excessively friendly,”.
They were sensual and visual.
According to Su, “they touched my heart.”
Moroccans speak Arabic and French, a leftover influence of the 1912 Treaty of Fez which made Morocco a protectorate of France. Although, Morocco gained independence in 1955, France continues to be their primary trade partner. The government is a constitutional monarchy (King Mohammad VI) with a parliament. People still learn French which is more widely spoken then English.
Women have equal rights, “at least on paper,” adds Thad, and they are allowed to work out of their homes.
To the Suits, global influence was apparent in Morocco.
Yet, they are still trying to figure out what this mystical area is about. Moroccans do not like to have their picture taken. They saw shrouded women in burqas, and some in western clothing. Most women wear a hijab to cover their hair, but not their face. Kiosks boasted The New York Times and world- wide news, while preserved meat sat in markets unrefrigerated, not far from piles of spices, and dates. But then you would notice the cell phones and the daily cry of the minarets.
While in Fez, the third largest Moroccan city, a cab driver took them to the gate of Medina, the original old walled city of one million people. Here they were to meet the man of the house where they were staying, Habid. He would walk them through the labyrinth of ancient crowded streets where no autos are allowed.
“Habid, he’s my best friend,” declared the driver.
“A one chance encounter in a thousand,” thought Thad, but, it was true.
Habid met them, and led them to their riad, a traditional Moroccan home where they stayed for five days. Stained glass windows, mosaic floors and old wood, accented the house, called, Dar Bennis, which had been beautifully restored to its original Moroccan architecture.
Even the first day, and each day following, their outings were only in Arabic, often with Habid in the lead. But sometimes, they ventured out on their own, and in doing so they found plenty of friendly folk to ease their path. Interestingly, Thad sought and found some Arabic language instruction from an American teacher who taught at Dartmouth.
There was lots of give and take, but, “I held my own,” said Thad. Even the ticket agent at the train station opened his eyes wide and gave him a “thumbs up” after he was trying to figure out the schedule.
“I had spoken Arabic, and he liked that.”
In Morocco, it is quite common to see henna on women’s hands and feet for weddings, special occasions, or even just for a treat. It is applied for luck as well as joy and beauty. Henna, a native plant, is used to dye the skin in orange and brown intricate patterns that last for two weeks. The pale paisley remnants on Su’s hands revealed the treatment of an artist that came to their Dar one afternoon and applied the modern mystical adornment. Su enjoyed the experience, one that she wouldn’t pass up, as it was part of just celebrating being in Morocco.
Those beautiful hands went right into the food as they both smiled and explained the cuisine of Morocco.
Declaring “one third of the world comes to the table with knives, forks, and spoons; one third takes on chopsticks; and one third (including Moroccans) eat with their hands,” Thad tells it like it was.
They describe evenings of sitting on cushions at low tables, enjoying couscous, vegetables, and meat food served from dome topped tajines (clay pots). Mint tea is the ever popular drink, which one must always take time to partake. It is the hallmark of Moroccan hospitality.
The fresh ingredients for meals come from the lively markets (souks) where nearly everything is sold. Shopkeepers and artisans daily appear to hawk their wares among throngs wending their way through crowded narrow ways.
One of the most unusual souks, is the famous Dabbaghine, a tannery which has been in use for over a thousand years. As Su and Thad approached the tannery, they were given sprigs of mint to sniff to ward off the pungent smell from the processing solution of salt, lime, and pigeon excrement (which contains ammoniac to make the leather soft). The steps in the tanning process take many, many coats of dipping in huge vats which look like giant water color pools. The atmosphere is enhanced by the finished tanned hides hanging out to dry from nearby terraces.
Experiencing the exhilaration of Moroccan traditions and mingling among the daily crowds of jalaba robed masses, the Suits looked around for foreigners. There were not many; and, certainly, very few Americans.
“We didn’t feel like we were in a tourist zone,” said Thad, adding he “never saw a McDonalds.”
But, they felt the soul of Morocco and the last bastion of what it is.
Exotic Morocco captures the hearts of travelers
Earlier this summer, pianist, Su Suits sat in a courtyard in Fez, Morocco, playing a Robert Schumann piece. The impromptu musical moment happened to be at the Museum of Andalusian Music and the director came running out, applauding. His ears were more tuned to the darbouka (drums), the bendir (tambourines), the kamanja, and the ud (lute): the music of northern Africa. The melodies coming from the piano delighted him.
He was just one of the many friendly and hospitable Moroccans that extended a welcoming hand to Su and husband, Thad, on their adventure into ancient Morocco.
The journey to northern Africa was something that Thad had dreamed for a long time. Immersed in the study of the Arabic language, he wanted to go where even a taxi cab ride would be a linguistic opportunity.
Arabic is the native language of Morocco; the sounds of which he recognized as soon as he and Su boated from the south of Spain to Tangiers.
Upon landing, it was a step back in time, “another world later,” observed Su. The country of Morocco, somewhat bigger than the size of California, includes the barren Sahara desert, and still yields to the old ways, as they have since the time of the Romans. Donkeys pull plows or carry wheat in carts that has been harvested by hand. People greeted you, vibrant people, ready to access you. The street scene was a bustling barometer of markets where bartering is expected, an intrinsic part of the culture. Salesmanship is a “fine art,” describes Su,one that immediately invites you to participate. And she did, ignoring the first price of dirhams (their monetary system) the merchant put forward, ultimately making the advantageous purchase in English, and, achieving a surprising compliment.
“You bargain like a Moroccan woman,” declared one of the local vendors.
Immersed in the rich and colorful life of the day to day rhythms, Morocco was the most exotic place the Suits had ever visited.
“It made me nervous,” said Su. “Life happens in the streets, vendors, souks (markets), tanneries, minarets calling to prayer five times, but the day goes on as usual.”
Yet, at the same time, when they ventured out on their own, people were friendly, “excessively friendly,”.
They were sensual and visual.
According to Su, “they touched my heart.”
Moroccans speak Arabic and French, a leftover influence of the 1912 Treaty of Fez which made Morocco a protectorate of France. Although, Morocco gained independence in 1955, France continues to be their primary trade partner. The government is a constitutional monarchy (King Mohammad VI) with a parliament. People still learn French which is more widely spoken then English.
Women have equal rights, “at least on paper,” adds Thad, and they are allowed to work out of their homes.
To the Suits, global influence was apparent in Morocco.
Yet, they are still trying to figure out what this mystical area is about. Moroccans do not like to have their picture taken. They saw shrouded women in burqas, and some in western clothing. Most women wear a hijab to cover their hair, but not their face. Kiosks boasted The New York Times and world- wide news, while preserved meat sat in markets unrefrigerated, not far from piles of spices, and dates. But then you would notice the cell phones and the daily cry of the minarets.
While in Fez, the third largest Moroccan city, a cab driver took them to the gate of Medina, the original old walled city of one million people. Here they were to meet the man of the house where they were staying, Habid. He would walk them through the labyrinth of ancient crowded streets where no autos are allowed.
“Habid, he’s my best friend,” declared the driver.
“A one chance encounter in a thousand,” thought Thad, but, it was true.
Habid met them, and led them to their riad, a traditional Moroccan home where they stayed for five days. Stained glass windows, mosaic floors and old wood, accented the house, called, Dar Bennis, which had been beautifully restored to its original Moroccan architecture.
Even the first day, and each day following, their outings were only in Arabic, often with Habid in the lead. But sometimes, they ventured out on their own, and in doing so they found plenty of friendly folk to ease their path. Interestingly, Thad sought and found some Arabic language instruction from an American teacher who taught at Dartmouth.
There was lots of give and take, but, “I held my own,” said Thad. Even the ticket agent at the train station opened his eyes wide and gave him a “thumbs up” after he was trying to figure out the schedule.
“I had spoken Arabic, and he liked that.”
In Morocco, it is quite common to see henna on women’s hands and feet for weddings, special occasions, or even just for a treat. It is applied for luck as well as joy and beauty. Henna, a native plant, is used to dye the skin in orange and brown intricate patterns that last for two weeks. The pale paisley remnants on Su’s hands revealed the treatment of an artist that came to their Dar one afternoon and applied the modern mystical adornment. Su enjoyed the experience, one that she wouldn’t pass up, as it was part of just celebrating being in Morocco.
Those beautiful hands went right into the food as they both smiled and explained the cuisine of Morocco.
Declaring “one third of the world comes to the table with knives, forks, and spoons; one third takes on chopsticks; and one third (including Moroccans) eat with their hands,” Thad tells it like it was.
They describe evenings of sitting on cushions at low tables, enjoying couscous, vegetables, and meat food served from dome topped tajines (clay pots). Mint tea is the ever popular drink, which one must always take time to partake. It is the hallmark of Moroccan hospitality.
The fresh ingredients for meals come from the lively markets (souks) where nearly everything is sold. Shopkeepers and artisans daily appear to hawk their wares among throngs wending their way through crowded narrow ways.
One of the most unusual souks, is the famous Dabbaghine, a tannery which has been in use for over a thousand years. As Su and Thad approached the tannery, they were given sprigs of mint to sniff to ward off the pungent smell from the processing solution of salt, lime, and pigeon excrement (which contains ammoniac to make the leather soft). The steps in the tanning process take many, many coats of dipping in huge vats which look like giant water color pools. The atmosphere is enhanced by the finished tanned hides hanging out to dry from nearby terraces.
Experiencing the exhilaration of Moroccan traditions and mingling among the daily crowds of jalaba robed masses, the Suits looked around for foreigners. There were not many; and, certainly, very few Americans.
“We didn’t feel like we were in a tourist zone,” said Thad, adding he “never saw a McDonalds.”
But, they felt the soul of Morocco and the last bastion of what it is.
Selstad aces as he ages
Great Falls Tribune Sports, August 27, 2009
Selstad aces as he ages
It’s not unusual for Tom Selstad to shine as an athlete.
He has been a contender for titles throughout his life playing basketball, and football; won many handball matches, and hits the golf course twice a week.
Now, at age 82, he is a “come lately” tennis champ.
Recently, Selstad won the silver medal in the 80-84 Mens Tennis Singles at the Summer National Senior Games held on the Stanford University campus.
Selstad played seven matches (singles and doubles) in five days to reach the singles finals against Dr. Eyup Tanman, of Maryland.
Though he lost in two sets, getting that far in the competition was a high point in his life.
“It was really a thrill, I didn’t think that I would make it that far,” said Selstad, who had to extend his plane and hotel reservation for the final match.
A showcase for senior athletes, the Summer National Senior Games brings together thousands of 50 + men and women. This year, from August 1 – 15, over 10,000 participants, competing in twenty-five events, descended on Palo Alto, outside of San Francisco, for the competition.
To participate, men and women must first qualify at state and regional meets, also known as the Senior Olympics, by taking one of the top three spots in their event or by meeting minimum performance standards.
Selstad qualified a year ago at the state meet in Butte, for the national event.
Truth be known, it was Selstad’s fifth National Senior Games. He has qualified and played in the biennial event since 1997, reaching the quarterfinals twice.
Though the Selstad name is well known in tennis circles, it has been Tom’s son, Scott, and granddaughter, Samantha, who are usually in the spotlight.
Scott has been, and is, a Meadow Lark champion, and holds many state indoor and outdoor titles. Daughter, Samantha, a former local high school standout, played tennis on this year’s MSU Billings women’s team that for the first time ever qualified for the national competition in Division II.
Tom, toted Scott to tennis meets from the time he was eight years old, and even built a clay court for him to practice on.
According to Scott, he would hit with his dad, now and then.
However, Tom didn’t start playing tennis seriously until twenty years ago, at age 62.
When he decided to hit the courts, Scott gave him some advice on how to learn to play the game.
“You’re too old to have lessons, just have fun,” he said.
With that in mind, Tom watched what other people did on the court, and through the years, friends played the game with him. He does admit to a couple of instruction sessions, but doesn’t play with his son.
“Scott’s too good for me,” he laughs.
Tom Selstad graduated from Great Falls High School in 1945 with athletic scholarships to both MSU and UM. He went on to play basketball and football for UM lettering four years in basketball and three years in football. He has owned, and continues to operate, the Selstad Sod Farm, for fifty-five years.
A mild mannered, soft spoken, gentleman, the only big stick he carries is his WEED tennis racquet. He’s a vegetarian, takes no medication, and weighs five pounds less than he did in college.
His secret to longevity and athleticism is his stamina. He usually can outlast his opponent, yet, he admits, “I don’t heal up as fast as I used to.”
The “horrendous part” of his recent victory was some pulled quad muscles early in the competition.
Nevertheless, he just iced up, and continued playing.
Going over that final match where he lost the gold medal, Selstad describes his opponent’s winning drop shot, masterfully done.
“But he didn’t hit hard, and I handled the ball well.”
That defeat won’t stop him from playing in the next National Senior Games in Houston.
“I’ll be 84 then, those old jocks are so tough,” he said, “but, I’ll be back.”
Selstad aces as he ages
It’s not unusual for Tom Selstad to shine as an athlete.
He has been a contender for titles throughout his life playing basketball, and football; won many handball matches, and hits the golf course twice a week.
Now, at age 82, he is a “come lately” tennis champ.
Recently, Selstad won the silver medal in the 80-84 Mens Tennis Singles at the Summer National Senior Games held on the Stanford University campus.
Selstad played seven matches (singles and doubles) in five days to reach the singles finals against Dr. Eyup Tanman, of Maryland.
Though he lost in two sets, getting that far in the competition was a high point in his life.
“It was really a thrill, I didn’t think that I would make it that far,” said Selstad, who had to extend his plane and hotel reservation for the final match.
A showcase for senior athletes, the Summer National Senior Games brings together thousands of 50 + men and women. This year, from August 1 – 15, over 10,000 participants, competing in twenty-five events, descended on Palo Alto, outside of San Francisco, for the competition.
To participate, men and women must first qualify at state and regional meets, also known as the Senior Olympics, by taking one of the top three spots in their event or by meeting minimum performance standards.
Selstad qualified a year ago at the state meet in Butte, for the national event.
Truth be known, it was Selstad’s fifth National Senior Games. He has qualified and played in the biennial event since 1997, reaching the quarterfinals twice.
Though the Selstad name is well known in tennis circles, it has been Tom’s son, Scott, and granddaughter, Samantha, who are usually in the spotlight.
Scott has been, and is, a Meadow Lark champion, and holds many state indoor and outdoor titles. Daughter, Samantha, a former local high school standout, played tennis on this year’s MSU Billings women’s team that for the first time ever qualified for the national competition in Division II.
Tom, toted Scott to tennis meets from the time he was eight years old, and even built a clay court for him to practice on.
According to Scott, he would hit with his dad, now and then.
However, Tom didn’t start playing tennis seriously until twenty years ago, at age 62.
When he decided to hit the courts, Scott gave him some advice on how to learn to play the game.
“You’re too old to have lessons, just have fun,” he said.
With that in mind, Tom watched what other people did on the court, and through the years, friends played the game with him. He does admit to a couple of instruction sessions, but doesn’t play with his son.
“Scott’s too good for me,” he laughs.
Tom Selstad graduated from Great Falls High School in 1945 with athletic scholarships to both MSU and UM. He went on to play basketball and football for UM lettering four years in basketball and three years in football. He has owned, and continues to operate, the Selstad Sod Farm, for fifty-five years.
A mild mannered, soft spoken, gentleman, the only big stick he carries is his WEED tennis racquet. He’s a vegetarian, takes no medication, and weighs five pounds less than he did in college.
His secret to longevity and athleticism is his stamina. He usually can outlast his opponent, yet, he admits, “I don’t heal up as fast as I used to.”
The “horrendous part” of his recent victory was some pulled quad muscles early in the competition.
Nevertheless, he just iced up, and continued playing.
Going over that final match where he lost the gold medal, Selstad describes his opponent’s winning drop shot, masterfully done.
“But he didn’t hit hard, and I handled the ball well.”
That defeat won’t stop him from playing in the next National Senior Games in Houston.
“I’ll be 84 then, those old jocks are so tough,” he said, “but, I’ll be back.”
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