Briefs for March 14

Ireland

A program called Beautiful Ireland will be presented at the Whitefish Community Library on March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) at 1 p.m. The talk will focus on the oldest Stone Age remains in Europe, a visit to Waterford to see the home of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish patriot who died in Montana while serving as acting territorial governor, and the Waterford Crystal factory, and take a tour of many castle ruins and the Blarney Castle. The talk also covers Dublin and a visit to Kilmainhan Goal and to see where the patriots from the 1916 Rising were executed.

The Irish national anthem will be played and there’s the chance to learn some Irish words. Samples of Irish soda bread will be available.

Wave passes

Whitefish Safe Grad Night will offer 60 day temporary membership pass to The Wave as a fundraiser for the Whitefish High School annual senior party. Each pass is $50 each.

Some restrictions apply including that you must be 18 or over or a parent must have a pass also and passes must be redeemed within 30 days of purchase. Passes are only for sale through March 24.

Passes are available at Whitefish High School main office, Sprouts, Bulldog Saloon and Stumptown Art Studio. Contact parent volunteer Shawna Moore at shawnamoore@gmail.com and 261-6528 for more information.

Snow Geese

The Snow Geese, along with thousands of other waterfowl, are moving from their California wintering grounds to their arctic nesting areas. There is nothing like Snow Geese and the Rocky Mountains at the same time and place. Join the Flathead Audubon Society on March 24-25, 2018 to see the annual waterfowl migration at Freezeout Lake near Choteau. The group will meet on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., caravan/carpool to Choteau and arrive in time for the afternoon “fly-out.” After spending a night in Choteau, we will head back out just before daybreak to watch the “mass ascension” of geese from the ponds of Freezeout. After the morning’s birding, we will head home in the early afternoon arriving in Kalispell around 5 p.m. on Sunday. Bob Lee will provide a suggested schedule and route, and will be in the front of the group. Participants may choose to pursue the geese on their own. Please make your own arrangements for lodging; primitive camping is available at Freezeout WMA. Motel options include the Stage Stop (406-466-5900), Gunther (406-466-5444) and Big Sky (406-466-5318). Make your reservations early as these hotels will likely fill up. For more information, including the meeting location, contact Bob Lee at 270-0371 or RML3@centurytel.net. The field trip is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the Flathead Audubon website: www.flatheadaudubon.org.

Election judges

Flathead County is looking for folks to serve as election judges on Election Day. The responsibilities of an election judged include supervising the conduct inside polling places and helping voters cast their ballot both privately and independently. Judges must be at least 18 years of age, must be a registered voter and a resident of the county where they serve and must attend training conducted by the county election administrator.

For information, contact the Flathead County Election Administrator at 758-5535 or visit our website at flathead.mt.gov/elections.

Tree trimming

Flathead Electric Co-op work crews are set to trim and, if necessary, remove trees growing too close to power lines within the FEC right-of-way in Whitefish. Trees growing near and into power lines can create public safety hazards, start fires and cause power outages. FEC’s tree trimming program is an industry best practice designed to prevent dangerous situations and ensure electric reliability.

FEC understands members value trees (as does FEC). That’s why crews strive to find a balance between reliable power and healthy trees. All work will be completed by professionals who have been trained on safe, proper and environmentally responsible practices.

For more information regarding FEC’s tree trimming program, visit their website (flatheadelectric.com), where you can also learn more about how to plant the right tree in the right place to avoid conflicts with power lines.

Blood drive

The American Red Cross will host its next Whitefish Community Blood Drive on Thursday, March 15 at The Wave from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended and a blood donor card or a driver license is required at check-in. To schedule your appointment for March 15th, please call Jean at 406-862-4332 or go online to www.redcrossblood.org and search for blood drives in the 59937 zip code. Walk-in donors are welcome; however, there may be a short wait. It is suggested that you eat a hardy meal and drink plenty of water prior to giving blood. Snacks, water and juices will be provided for you at the blood drive.

Honor Band

The Flathead Valley Eighth Grade Honor Band Festival will take place in the Whitefish Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. This year’s guest conductor will be Russ Newbury, a well-known figure in the band world and a graduate of Whitefish High School. Newbury recently composed a band piece specifically for this event titled “Going to the Sun.” The piece representing the historic building of the National Historic Landmark route through Glacier National Park. Top student musicians representing six area middle schools will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform under Newbury’s baton during the festival. Bands will come from Kalispell Middle School, Libby Middle School, Stillwater Christian School, Columbia Falls Junior High School, Whitefish Middle School, and Bigfork Middle School.

Choir

The Columbia Falls Community Choir is gearing up for it’s annual concert. Concerts will be March 24 at 7 p.m. and March 25 at 2 p.m. in the Columbia Falls High School Little Theatre. The choir is under the direction of Steven Holte and accompanied by Dawn Hashley. Eighty-five adult voices combine to produce an amazing sound of music. Singers are from Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell, Coram, Bigfork and Olney. Guest accompanists include Jenny Krueger on piccolo and Wai Mizutani on violin. Admission is free, but a freewill offering will be taken.

Haskill Basin

The next meeting of the Haskill Basin Watershed Council has been scheduled on April 3 in the Riverside Plaza second floor conference room, 100 Second St. East, Whitefish, at 6 p.m. Enter from back of building on the second floor. For more information, contact Flathead Conservation District at 752-4220 or see the agenda posted on the website, www.flatheadcd.org.