2nd Qtr 2020 Volume XV Number II

This isnotthenewsletter Iexpectedtobewritingforthe25thanniversaryofACarouselforMissoula.ThisnewsletterwastobefullofallofthecelebratoryeventswehadplannedoverMemorialDayweekend:ourannualKids’Day,wheneveryoneridesfreeaspartofourbirthdayparty;aFriendsandFamilyevening,withfreeridesand icecream;aVIPparty,tohonorourmostgenerousandconsistentdonorsandvolunteersofthepastquartercentury. Thisnewslettershouldalsobetellingthetaleandshowingphotosfromourspringclean-upofDragonHollow.Afteraprotractedbutverysuccessfulrefurbishmentandexpansion lastyear,wehaveafewlittlethingstotakecareoftomaketheplaygroundperfect. Itwouldhavebeenourpleasuretohandlethose itemsearlythisspring,andto install thepermanentsignagetohonordonorsandvolunteers. Wehadplansforprogramsandprojects leadinguptoourcelebrationtoengageand involvethecommunitythathassupportedussowell forall theseyears.Wewanted

(andstillwant)tohearyourstories,seeyourphotos,and learnwhattheCarouselhasmeanttoyou,personallyandasasymbolofthecommunity.Ourplanshavechanged. Wearenottheonlygroupwhoseplanshavebeenthwartedand, infact,asdifficultiesgo,ourshavebeensmall.Wehavemissedwatchingyouridethebrightlypaintedponies(anddragon),andhearingchildrenplaying inDragonHollow,butweknowthosedayswillcomeagain.Wearesorrynottobecelebratingwithyouexactly25yearsafter

ourMay27,1995GrandOpening,butwewillcelebratewhen itissafetodoso,andwewill inviteyoutodosowithus. Wearegladtodoourparttoflattenthecurvetokeepouremployeesandourvisitorssafe.Twenty-fiveyearsofbringing joytoourcommunity isabigdeal,butafterthat long,anotherfewmonthswon’tmatter.Whatmatters isthatweareallsafeandabletocelebratewhenthetime isright.Staysafe–wewillseeyousoon.

When will the Carousel and Dragon Hollow reopen?

Wegetnumerous inquirieseachdayaboutwhentheCarouselandDragonHollowwill reopen.Wewishwehadsolidanswersforyou,butrightnowwearestillworkingday-by-daywiththecurrentsituation inourcommunity,theGovernor’sdirectives, localrequirements,andthewisdomofCarouselboardmembersandstaff. WhenwetrainnewCarouselemployees,andatallouremployeemeetings,weemphasizethatthemost importantwordforaCarouselworker isSAFETY.Pre-COVID19,thisreferredmainlytocheckingbelts,keepinganeyeonriderstobesuretheywereridingsafely,andsayingat least306timeseachhour,“walk,please.” Wewillstillbedoingallofthat,butwe’llbeaddingnewprecautionstoourroutinewhen it issafetoreopen.Wewilldeterminethoseprecautionsatthetimeofopening.Herearesomethingsyoumightexpect. InsidetheCarousel,employeesmaywearmasks.Wemaybeaskingyoutowearamask,aswell, tohelpcontainthespreadofgermsasyoutalkand laugh in lineandwhileridingtheCarousel.Wewillbesuggestingthatweallcontinuesocialdistancing,andwillhavedecalsonthefloor inandaroundthebuildingtohelpdeterminehowfarsix feet is.Wewillbecleaningthebathrooms,thehorses,thegatesandothertouchablesurfacesmoreoftenandwillhavehandsanitizerstationsthroughoutthebuilding.Wemaychangetherulessoaridercanstayonthesamehorsefortworides insteadofone,reducingcontactbetweenemployeesandriders.Wewillnotbeusingrings(thedragonwillbewearingamask)andwillusepaperticketstoavoidcross-contaminationwithtokens.Wemayalsogotoshorterhourstoavoidemployeefatigueandtohelpkeepcosts in line. InDragonHollow,wewillaskthatyouremindyourchildrenaboutsocialdistancing,andhelpthemwashtheirhandsand/orusehandsanitizeroften. It just isnotpossibletocleantheplaygroundequipmentonaregularbasisandkidsforgeteasilythattheyshouldnotbesoclosetoeachother. Youmaybe100%virusfreeandnotafraidofcontractingthevirusfromanotherCarouselvisitor,butweaskthatyourespectoureffortstokeepeveryonesafe.Someofouremployeesandmanyofourvisitorsare inhighriskgroups.Wewilldoeverythingwecantokeepeveryonesafe.Pleasehelpuswithoutcomplaint,regardlessofyourownthoughtsonthematter.TheCarouselandDragonHollowaresafeandfriendlyplaces.Let’skeepthemthatway.

COMMUNITYPOWERED(* indicatesa

MissoulaGivesdonation)

$10,000+PennyOncken

$500+DanielKemmis&JeanLarsonMissoulaDowntownLionsClubKimberly&MikeRoth*

$100+BeckyByrne*RendaGreeneJim&DeeStraussMontanaSecurity&Communications, Inc Kelly&LisaGregory Phil&BrendaLandeBill&Dori JohnstonDoosyHabbeMaureen&AlexanderHoward inmemoryofLawrenceJCoanMolly&AndyNelsonKitteRobinsHarry&KariWatkinsDianeWeltyFirst InterstateBancSystemJimDunlap inmemoryofLoisDunlapDennis&AngelaLindLeonHardenGeoffBadenochHopeCampbellCatsonBroadwayVeterinary HospitalTheresaCox*Julie&JimFoley*ElizabethGrimley*KathyHarris*Pete&GingyHeylerMarjorieJacobsLandLindberghMadisonMarieMcIntoshJanelleMilodragovich*SandySMitchellCaroleMonluxBob&KimMurrayDavid&MonicaPaoliAllenPickens

David&LindaRice inmemoryofBurkeMellem*John&SueTalbotKathleenTurner*Alan&KarenWagnerJudyWhiddon

Upto$100PaintingwithaTwist*Jim&JulieFoleyTom&KathyAnderson*SharonBennett*LindaRaeBlakneyHollyBorghelloEarl&DottieCollinsMaryJaneCowdreyMarshall&WillieFarmerDianaWHatchBill&RamonaHolt*Cathy&WintonKemmisEd&CindyKurtzGary&JudyMatsonCharles&ColleenMcHughDonShattuckShirtShop–RobReesman*JMarieSmithDavid&LillianStackJoAnneStewartJim&DeeStrauss*MaryWelchJeanWhaley&ScottWhaleyPhyllis&LouWhitsellLesleyWashburn*BrittanyBroderDorisLambertMaryArchibald*Red&LindaBarringerDoloresCriswellJenniferFortinMike&DaylFredricksonKimKaufmanGlenn&NoreenKozeluhKathyLockridge*LyndaFrost*DouglasGrimmAmyHetzler*Lynea*FredLiberatoriDavidBentleyMaryYarrow-HoppeMMSarahAnderson*

GRANTS2020

Max&BettySwansonFoundation

$1800

Selma&AlvinSilvermanFoundation

$500

Ifyoubelongonanyofthese lists (includingthe listofdonorstoourmirrorreplacement, foundelsewhere inthisnewsletter)andwehavemissedyou,orwehaveyouonthewrong list,pleasecall549-8382to letusknow,sowecanthankyou,apologize,andfixourrecords!

EVENTSPONSORS

ThesebusinessesandindividualshaveagreedtosponsoraneventattheCarousel in2020.Becausewearenotyetsurewhicheventswillhappen,wearegoingtothankthemall inonespotfornowandfill inthedetailslater.

HeadwatersFoundation

FirstSecurityBank

MerrillLynchRothEicholtzGroup

MikeandKimberlyRoth

GoodFoodStore

HobbyHorseArts

PepsiofMissoula

MorrisonMaierle, Inc

WozniakFreemanJensen InvestmentGroup

BaskinRobbins

PayneWest Insurance

INKIND(ness)

BlackKnightSecurityFiveValleysRestorationP.E.T.E.S.ElectricTechnologyTCGlass

Please see the following page for information about donating or sponoring.

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DECEMBER 2020Sponsor of the Month

NeededInterested?

Call 370-3922

How to donate or sponsor an event

Likemanyothernot-for-profits,andmanyfor-profitbusinesses,theCarouselhasbeenaffectedfinanciallybyaCOVID19closure.Approximately75%ofourexpensesarecoveredbyoperating income. Ifyouwould liketohelpusmakeupforsomeofthe incomewehave lost,wewouldbemostgrateful.Wearea501(c)(3),soyourdonation isdeductibletothefullextentallowedby law. Todonate,pleasesendacheckmadeouttoACarousel forMissoula(orACFM),toPOBox3345,Missoula,MT 59806;ordonateonlineathttp://carouselformissoula.com/donate/ Whenyoudonate,please letusknowifyoudoordonotwantan“IPoniedUp” lapelpin. Wearealsoalways lookingforsponsorsforourevents,andwearecurrentlyseekingaDecemberSponsoroftheMonth.For informationaboutsponsorshipopportunities,pleasecallTheresaat370-3922.

Mirror, mirror, on the Carousel who are the fairest of them all? You are!

Morethanks!ThistimetothoseofyouwhorespondedsoquicklyandsogenerouslywhenthreeofthemirrorsontheoutsideoftheCarouselbuildingwerebroken. TCGlassreplacedthemirrorsatadiscount,andthewonderfulpeople listedbelowdonatedtherestofthefundsneededtopayfortherepairs. VisitorsoftentellustheircommunitiescouldnothavedonewhatMissouladid inbuildingaCarouselandplaygroundwithvolunteers.Weagree!Morethanthat,however,weknowveryfewcommunitieshavethewillandspirit tosustainsuchtreasures.Weareblessedtobe inMissoulawithallofyou.

AimeeRickardAllisonKellyAlyssaJohnsonAneShieldsBertaDuckheadBryanCochranClemLockmanColleenGlavinHolzheimerCourtneyClarkHodekCrystalLiberatoriDanielMichaelRobertsDariaSwiftDebbieHansonDebraOrozcoDianneRallisPetersonDonnaUpsonCorreiaFaithDukeGeoffTigerPrawnBadenochGingerYatesJamieLynnGreenwood-WilsonJeffHermanJessCoulterJessHaleJimCoulterJodiMackeyJodyDuffMcKernanJoeyDeschampsHennes

JulieFoleyKatieTenoldGuenzlerKatrinaEspinozaKelseyCoteLauraHenningLauraLeeMarilynRyanMarkJuedemanMarkRobertsMaryPittawayMeghanLamsonMelaniHansenBestMikeHaynesMountainBroadcasting-MaxMurphyNaomiLynnChamblinRummelPattyJayneRachelAlbersRendaGreeneRhondaOldHornRyanGirouardRyanYearousSeisinEyerSheilaMacSkyStolpTaraLeslieWernerTerriSullivanVoellerTessaFraser

Keeping the little ones safe

Unfortunately,wearecancellingtheFairyTaleandSuperheroFestivalandHauntedHollowfor2020.Botheventsposesignificantriskofexposuretohundredsofchildrenandtheirgrownups. Cancellingtheevents isanotherefforttokeepour littleonessafe. Ifpossible,wewillbecelebratingthethemeswithouttheevents. Preliminary ideas includeasking littleonestowearcostumeswhentheycometorideduringtheweekswhentheeventswouldhavebeenheld,postsaboutthethemeandrelatedactivitiesontheCarousel’sFacebookpage,andrequestsforkidstosubmitstoriesanddrawingsabouttheir favoritefairytalecharacters,superheroesorHalloweenhappenings. Ifyouhaveother ideastoshare,pleasesendthemtomslacarousel@gmail.com,ortellusaboutthemonFacebook.

Keeping the grownups safe, too

Allofourvisitorsandsupportersare importanttous,soalongwithcancellingsomeofourkids’events,wewillbecombiningsomeofouradultevents.Oureventsteamisbusythinking/creating/reimaginingourcombinedevent,butwearecurrentlyenvisioningaGardenParty/25thanniversarycelebration/Ride-a-Thon/RockingPonyraffledrawingevening. Wearealmostcertaintheeventwillbevirtual,becausewearecommittedtokeepingallofussafe. Youcanseewhythat’sgoingtotakesomethought. Thenextfewmonthswewillbeworkinghardtooperateonaday-to-daybasis,whileadjustingtothenewnormal,butbehindthesceneswewillbecreatingthisamazingevent.Wehopeyouwill joinusandwillcontinuetosupporttheCarouselandDragonHollowasyouareable.

A few services we can provide

Ihavemetsomeofthenicestpeoplethe last fewweeks,astheyhavechecked intosee if theycouldpurchasesomeCarouselnotecards,aposter,amagnet,orsomeminiaturestoaddtotheircollections.You’ll findapoembyoneoftheseshoppers inthenextcolumn. ThoughtheCarousel isnotopenandonlyafewemployeesandrepairpeopleareallowedintothebuilding,wearestillabletomailoutshipgiftshopmerchandise. Ifyouhavesomething inmindorneedafrequentridercardforagift,pleaseemailusatmslacarousel@gmail.com.We’llgetbacktoyouassoonaswecantomakearrangementstogetyourmerchandisetoyou.

Keeping in touch

IthasbeenprettyquietattheCarouselandDragonHollowthe lastcoupleofmonths,butourpresenceonFacebookandInstagramhasneverbeenstronger.Weareofferingactivitiesforkidstodoathome,videosfromthosewhomisstheCarousel,bite-sizedhistorylessons,andsomeshortspotswithourExecutiveDirectorandDirectorofOperations(sociallydistanced)tellingsomeofthesecretsoftheCarousel. Wewanttohearfromyou.Keep intouchwithusonFacebook(ACarousel forMissoulaandDragonHollow)andonInstagram(acarouselformissoula).

Circle of Joy by: Leon C Harden

The strains of the calliope reached deep Into the past, to that innermost secretPlace of vanquished hope and unrealized Dreams, wrapped in layers peeled from theHeart, preserved there by the salt of Long-ago tears.

The music broke the crust that sealed The memories, made them dance andJitter like coins on a pie tin in a Black minstrel’s hand, to the cadenceOf long silent songs, punctuated by the Upward surge and downward glide andRoundward whirl of the ghosts from Yesteryear.

With nostrils flared, they circle, Decked out in red and gold and silverTrappings on nature’s coats of white And black and gray between, theirHearts of wood, brought to life by Urging hands, dug in heels and slaps Of reins against shining flanks.

They rise and fall as they race ever Forward to youthful tunes of brightYoung minds and joyful hearts, who ride to a Thousand victories over imaginary foesAnd future fears, unmindful of the Barefoot boy who wistfully watchesIn outgrown clothes.

Round and round they go, carrying their Youthful burdens, who with peals ofLaughter and shining eyes, had the Price of a ride on the Carousel.

Thispoemwasprinted inthe InternationalPoetsSociety’sannualanthology,and isreprintedherewithLeon’spermission.HetellsmethatvisitingourCarouselwasaveryemotionalexperienceforhim. Leon“...wrotethepoemsomewhere inWyoming,attwoo’clock inthemorning,onanapkin. Itcapturesthatexperience.” We lovehearingstoriesofhowthisCarouselanditshistoryhavetouchedpeople’shearts.

WhenweareaskedhowthingsaregoingattheCarousel,weoftensaytheyaregoingupanddown.Likeanybusiness,wedohaveourupsanddowns,butoverwhelminglythingsareupattheCarousel.Afewexamples…

DOWN:ThreeofdecorativemirrorsattheCarouselwerebroken inmidApril,aboutamonthafterweclosedtokeepthecommunitysafe.With littlemoneycoming in,theadditionalexpenseofreplacingthemirrorswasdaunting.

UP:WepostedourmirrormisadventureonourFacebookpagewithadonatebutton,andthecommunityanswered immediatelywiththefundsneededtoreplacethemirrors.

UP:TCGlasscamethemorningafterthebreakagetoassessthedamage.Theyhavereplacedthemirrorsandhaveevengivenusadiscountonthefinal invoice.Seephotoontheright...

UP:WhenWadeHerbert,ownerofBlackKnightSecurity,heardaboutthemirrors,herealizedthe lackofactivity inCarasParkreallyputsusatriskforvandalism.He immediatelyarrangedforhisteamtopatrolaroundtheCarouseltohelpusavoidadditionalproblems.Wadeandhiscrewareprovidingtheseservicesfreeofcharge.

DOWN:Throughoutthecourseofayear,thingsgowrong. Ingeneral,when littlethingsgowrong,wewaituntil thereareenoughofthemto justifycallingaprofessional likeaplumberoranelectriciansowecangetthemostbangforourmoney.

UP:OnedayonFacebook,wefoundthatPETE’sElectronicTechnologieshadtaggedus,alongwithseveralothernot-for-profits,offeringfree laborduringtheviruscrisis.Wecalledtoscheduleonerepair,butbythetimetheyweredone,theelectricianshadfixedeveryelectronic issuewecouldthinkof,patientlyandprofessionally.Thedonated labormadeahugedifferenceonourbill.

DOWN:Asmuchaswe loveallourvisitors,wecanallagreeabuildingfullofpeople isgoingtogetdirty.WedoathoroughcleaningoftheCarouselbuildingonceayear,andkeepupaswecan,butdirtandgermsareafactof life.DragonHollowisevenmoredifficulttokeepclean.

UP:FiveValleyRestorationServiceshasofferedtodoathoroughcleaningoftheCarouselbuildingandDragonHollowbeforewereopentothepublic.OneofourDragonHollowrenovationCommitteeChairs, JohnMaki,andMattCavanaugh,ownerofFiveValleysRestoration,contactedusofferingtheirserviceswheneverwearereadytogo.WeareprettyexcitedtohaveacompletecleaningofthebuildingandDragonHollow,especiallywhensomeoneelse isdoingtheheavy lifting!

UP:RepublicServiceswasverygraciousaboutadjustingourpickupscheduleduringourshutdown,resulting inareductionofourbill fortheirservices.Thesedays, itallhelps!

UP:TheMissoulaParkingCommissionwaivedparkingfeesforaportionofthetimemanynon-essentialdowntownbusinesseswereclosed.Thiswasatremendousfinancialhelptoalldowntownbusinesses,aswellasthosewhoworkat,andthosewhousetheservicesprovidedby,downtownbusinesses.

So, inthe last fewweeks,that’sthreeDOWNsandsevenUPs,ontopofthemajorDOWNofbeingclosed,andtheevenbetterUPofhelpingkeepeveryonesafe.Looks like,asusual, theUPsareoutnumberingtheDOWNs.Thankstoalloftheindividualsandbusinesseswhoaremakinggoodthingshappen inthefaceofanunprecedentedcrisis.

ROCKINGPONYRAFFLETICKETORDER

Iwould like_________ticketsfortheRockingPony_____@ $25and/or_____setsoffive@$100

Total =__________Checkenclosed: _________ orPleasechargemycreditcard _______

Name: _________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________

CityLine: ____________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________Email: _____________________________________________

CreditCardNumber:__________________________________________________

Expirationdate: _________________ Code: __________________

Signature: ________________________________________________________________________

New (tentative) date for the Rocking Pony Raffle in Dec. 1

One-of-a-Kind Art by Larry Pirnie

and the Carousel carvers

WereyousadwhenMay23cameandwent,andnoonecalledtotellyouthatyouhadwonSpot? Wehavegoodnewsforyou!BecausetheCarouselwasclosed,andtheboardhasnotbeenabletogetoutandabouttosell raffletickets,we’vemovedtheraffle.Theticketsalreadypurchasedare,ofcourse,stillvalid,butnowthoseofyouwhodidn’tknowabouttheraffle,orforgottopurchasetickets,haveanotherchancetobuyticketstowinSpotandsupporttheCarousel. Thedrawing iscurrentlyscheduledforDec.1,butthingsarefluid,soallwecanpromise isthatwewillgiveplentyofnoticebeforeLarrydrawsthewinningticket.

There’snotimelikethepresent,though,sofeelfreetohitupaCarouselboardmember,callTheresaat370-3922,orsendacheckmadeouttoACarouselforMissoulatoPOBox3345,Missoula,MT59806.Letusknowifyouwantustosendyouthestubsfromyourtickets; ifyoudon'taskforthestubs,wewillsavethepostage. Weareworkingtosetupourwebsitesoyoucanpurchaseticketsdirectlyfromthatsite.Checkwww.carouselformissoula.com,orsendanemail tomslacarousel@gmail.com to letusknowthatyouwanttobenotifiedwhenthatoption isavailable.

Ticketsare$25each,orFIVEfor$100DrawingscheduledforTuesday,December1,2020,

atACarouselforMissoulaYoudonotneedtobepresenttowin,butyouareresponsiblefor

gettingthecompletedrockingponyfromwherewearetowhereyouare.