For most of us, the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year's is just about the most magical, wonderful time of the year.  It's the time when we stuff turkeys and stockings -- and more often than not, ourselves!  And what could be better this time of year than sharing a bountiful table with family and friends?  How wonderful it would be to peek inside each home at Mountain View Meadows when families gather round the table and reflect on both the fat and lean of the past year and the optimism of the coming New Year.  What we would see would be traditional families and blended families; families with two dads and two moms; extended families that cross over from one generation to the next; singles, single moms and dads, kids caring for their folks and grandparents caring for their kids.  Family is family whether we're born into it or join ranks with it. What makes it so wonderful  this time of years is we remind ourselves that we are all part of one big family and when we see others alone for the holidays or with little to share on their tables, we take a moment to make life for someone else just a little bit better.

On Nov. 18, the City of Helena met with Helena builders, engineers, architects and other members of the development community in an effort to improve relationships. The few regulations in place for development outside the city plus the County's lack of impact fees and building inspections has fueled growth beyond Helena's designated urban growth boundary at an accelerated rate of nearly six homes built in the valley to one in the city.  This imbalanced growth pattern, worse than any other city in Montana, threatens air and water quality and undermines the city tax base which supports amenities utilized by residents both in and outside the city such as parks, libraries, and the Helena Civic Center.  The meeting, led by a third-party facilitator opened the door to better communication between the development/building community and the City and is an important first step towards addressing issues that make responsible development more difficult.  Sharon Haugen, director of the city's Community Development Department said that the city used to meet with the development community once a quarter and that the city has considered restarting the process.  This is a welcomed opportunity to build a better relationship with a shared desired outcome: to build a better community that benefits all residents and guarantees quality of life for generations to come.

According the U.S. government's AirNow website, the Northwest has some of the worst air quality in the nation. Poor air quality can result from a combination of factors. Regional air quality is affected by how air behaves as a result of the interaction of topography and weather, and by the emission sources themselves. Once pollutants are emitted into the air, the weather largely determines how well they disperse. Turbulence mixes pollutants into the surrounding air. Wind speed also contributes to how quickly pollutants are carried away from their original source. However, strong winds don't always disperse the pollutants. They can transport pollutants to a larger area, such as the smoke from open burning or forest fires.

Sometimes the condition of the atmosphere is very still (stable) and there is very little mixing. This occurs when the air near the surface of the earth is cooler than the air above (a temperature inversion). This cooler air is heavier and will not want to move up to mix with the warmer air above. Temperature inversions are very common in mountain valleys, often forming during calm clear nights with light winds. Any pollutants released near the valley floor will get trapped and build up in the cooler layer of air near the surface.

Storm tracker meteorologist Mike Rawlins says valley inversions are to blame for poor air quality in Montana.   Rawlins pointed out that earlier this month several cities in western Montana were at code orange air quality meaning that particulate levels in the atmosphere were reaching unhealthy levels.  Although inversions can happen any time of year, inversion tends to worsen during the winter when pollutants from auto exhausts are combined with smoke released from solid fuel burning devices used to stay warm.  

1. It's so important we're going to remind you twice in this newsletter: MOUNTAIN VIEW MEADOWS HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST begins this month.  Judging will take place December 22 & 23 so be sure to have your lights on after dark.  If you're going to be out of town for the holidays and want to participate, send an email to Rryland@mvmeadows.com to set up an alternative time to check out your outside lights or display.  Prizes include: $100 Grand Prize; $75 Second Place and $50 Third.  Honorable mention: $20 gas gift cards.  Thanks to all of you in advance for brightening up the holiday season!

2. During the recent code orange (poor air quality alert), the Lewis and Clark County Health Department asked Helena residents to voluntarily reduce or eliminate burning wood.  The Department went on to say that if air quality conditions worsened, mandatory restrictions would be issued.  Residents at Mountain View Meadows are fortunate that homes meet strict energy codes and are easier and less costly to heat than most older homes or new homes not necessarily built to code.  And it helps to be located above the valley floor when it comes to breathing fresh air!

3.  In case you missed last month's warning about throwing salt on the sidewalks and in your driveways:  salt actually will damage the concrete surface.  Please look for alternatives to salt to deal with icy surfaces and check the labels for use on concrete.  Thanks!

A choice of new homes to meet your lifestyle and budget are ready for move-in at Mountain View Meadows with more under construction.  Visit our Information & Sales Office at 431 S. Alice Street to tour our right-now homes, view plans to build and check out lot maps.  Have your own plan, your own builder or both?  Give us a call at 406-449-0800 to arrange a meeting.  The availability of new homes and lots is subject to change so check back often. Below is a listing of some of the new homes ready for move-in or currently under construction.

Currently there are no move-in ready homes available in Antelope Trace.  Stop by the Information & Sales Office to view the wide array of plans available to build or bring in your own plan for approval.

     HOLIDAY DECORATING                     CONTEST:                  Okay, so here is the second notice in this issue!  Looking for the best decorated houses  (and/or yards) in the neighborhoods.  

First Prize: $100

Second Prize: $75

Third Prize: $50

        Honorable Mention:        $20 gift card

The best prize of all is the joy of sharing the holiday spirit!

Wow!  What a turn for the cold.  But the snow gets us up and rolling down the hills... that is if you love outdoor sports like most Montanans.  But for those of you who don't hit the slopes, there are still opportunities to stay in shape right in your own neighborhood.  We'll do our best to keep the Fun & Fitness Trail" cleared this winter. And you might find some fun exercise sledding. The trek back up a hill after sliding down can really raise your heart rate! Here are tips for staying warm while you exercise outside during cold weather.  And yes, this is a repeat from last year, but we think it's worth a reminder:

DRESS IN LAYERS that you can remove as soon as you start to sweat and then put back on as needed. One of the biggest mistakes you can make while exercising in cold weather is to dress too warmly. Exercise generates a considerable amount of heat - enough to make you feel like it's much warmer than it really is.  When you combine walking and running, you may be particularly vulnerable to the cold and will need to make adjustments throughout your exercise.