Bigfork's youth deserve the best

When I took the job here in Bigfork I had a few preconceptions about the place I would be working. I had only visited the Village in the summer but summer must end, I knew, and when that happened I feared a sleepy little hamlet devoid of anyone who isn't old enough to collect social security.

In short, I was concerned that there would be no young, active people. Only rich folks sitting on million-dollar decks playing shuffleboard.

Happily, I was wrong. Make no mistake, there are plenty of wealthy and elderly people in Bigfork. But I have also run into a startling number of people under the age of, say, 40, who contribute in all corners of the community.

There are a lot of people here who worked hard, made money and have chosen to plunk down a large amount of it to have peaceful lake views, enormous picture windows and a garage full of Mercedes. Fine. I hope one day I too can live in such a fashion in such a place.

But Bigfork's ages and economic classes have a pretty large disconnect and it doesn't make sense to this newcomer. How can a community donate thousands of dollars to improve sidewalks so that disabled people can utilize them safely and easily vote down a bond measure to improve educational facilities? How can so many people care so much about building a model subdivision in a low-impact, community-minded way but still balk when it comes to seriously addressing affordable housing concerns? Of course the school bond is a lot of money and affordable housing requires a lot of sacrifices in aesthetics and density, but these problems must be addressed.

I hear again and again that no one wants Bigfork to be "Aspen-ized," but having to bus people in from other towns where they can actually afford to rent an apartment or buy a home robs a community of some of its most valuable members.

High school students and young professionals don't detract from a community, they make a community. And they deserve the best Bigfork can give them. That doesn't mean the school bond should pass without question and it doesn't mean we should raze Sliter's Park for a trailer court. But the community does owe these issues continuing discussion.

Call Russ Kinzer down at the school district and tell him you voted no and tell him why. Let the school board know why you think the bond is a bad idea and let them try to convince you otherwise. Come to a Bigfork Steering Committee meeting and rail against condominiums or lighting standards. Write letters to the editor or columns for the Eagle. Our opinion page is not here to let you read what I think about Bigfork. It's to let you read what you think about Bigfork. Just do something.

To highlight Bigfork's youthful success stories, the Eagle will start running an occasional series profiling young people who make their mark on the community. Today we have a series of short profiles on a few of the new teachers at the elementary and middle schools, all of whom are safely under 40.

There will be plenty more to come, there's no shortage of material.

-Alex Strickland