Community briefs for March 20
Scholarships
Soroptimist International of Whitefish is accepting applications for $1,000 scholarships available to both senior boys and girls at Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Glacier and Flathead high schools.
Awards are based on academic achievements, financial need and career goals in service to others. Scholarship winners will be announced in May at high school awards nights.
Applications are due April 1. Apply online at soroptimistwhitefish.org, click on scholarships tab.
Toastmasters
The North Valley Toastmasters will hold their spring open house on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 a.m. at 124 Central Avenue, upstairs from The Toggery. For more information, contact Kathy Anderson at 406-212-6292.
Canvas and Mocktails
The Whitefish Arts Council and the Stumptown Art Studio are partnering to offer a “Canvas and Mocktails” painting class at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center after the March 23 Caravaggio broadcast and then again after the last two broadcasts of the series.
From 1 to 3 p.m. on the day of the documentary, a limited number of people will assemble onstage and be guided by an instructor to create a painting in acrylics in the style of the artist just featured in the documentary — and enjoy “mocktails.” The Stumptown Art Studio will provide all the art supplies.
The fee for this two-hour “Canvas and Mocktails” event is $25 per person. Call the Stumptown Art Studio at 862-5929 to register; enrollment is limited.
FBC meets
The Flathead Basin Commission will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, March 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Whitefish City Council Chambers. The morning portion of the meeting will focus on administrative business including a review and approval of the commission’s meeting minutes, update on staff work, financials, a new website, and a two-year work plan. An overview of priority issues will be provided, including a project on incentive-based strategies for addressing septic systems by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Montana, and the Ashley Creek restoration project and outreach by the Flathead Lakers. In addition, the FBC will hear from the City of Kalispell and the Whitefish Lake Institute on a potential project related to stormwater management. All FBC meetings are open to the public and interested parties are encouraged to attend.
Iran talk
Sam and Ruth Neff will be presenting a program entitled “A Look inside Iran” at the Whitefish Community Library, 9 Spokane Ave., on Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m.,
With Iran currently in the spotlight, now is a good time to learn about this country that is being presented as our enemy. In 2008 and 2009 Sam and Ruth Neff led groups of 20 or more travelers to Iran, several from the Flathead Valley. The groups traveled to Tehran, Esfahan and Shiraz, with a short stop in the mountain village of Abyaneh. As well as seeing ancient buildings and monuments, everyone was able to interact with many Iranians in a spirit of friendship and unity.
Also in 2008, Rick Steves traveled to many of the same places in Iran, filming the PBS documentary “Rick Steves Iran.” The presentation will include parts of the documentary, supplemented with pictures and descriptions by the Neffs.
Blood drive
The American Red Cross will host the Whitefish Community Blood Drive on Thursday, March 21, in the gym at The Wave – 1250 Baker Avenue – from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The entire blood donation process takes about an hour — including check-in, a brief health review, drawing the blood and snacks afterwards.
Appointments are recommended and a blood donor card or a driver license is required at check-in. To schedule an appointment, call Jean at 406-862-4332 or go online to www.redcrossblood.org and search for blood drives in the 59937 area. Walk-in donors are welcome; however, there may be a short wait. It is suggested that donors eat a hardy meal and drink plenty of water prior to giving blood. Snacks, water and juices will be provided at the blood drive.
Gone Fishin’
The Clock Tower Plaza and four different businesses will host this month’s Whitefish Chamber of Commerce’s Gone Fishin’ after-hours mixer on Thursday, March 21 from 5-7 p.m. Located at 3949 Highway 40 East, the Plaza is home to four chamber members, including: Safeguard Storage, Medi-Lift Spa, The Blind Man and Gravity Shots photography.
Ireland
“Beautiful Ireland” will be presented at Whitefish Community Library by Kathy Borchers on Saturday, March 23, at 1 p.m. A special addition to this popular program will be Irish guitarist Maggie Ferguson who will be entertain with Irish music. The ‘tour’ begins in the oldest Stone Age ruins in Europe; visit the home of Thomas Francis Meagher, Irish patriot, and acting territorial governor of Montana. Visit includes many castle ruins and Kilmainhan Gaol where the patriots from the 1916 Rising were executed. Listen to the Irish National Anthem, learn some Irish words and sample some Irish soda bread.
Community Choir
The Columbia Falls Community Choir is gearing up for its annual concert. Concerts will be March 23 at 7 p.m. and March 24 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-two adult voices combine to produce an amazing sound of music featuring classic choral literature and a bit of jazz. Singers are from Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell, Lakeside, Coram, Bigfork, and Olney. Plan to attend this gift of music to our community. Admission is free, but a freewill offering will be taken.
Bees
U.S. Geological Survey Research Ecologist Tabitha Graves, will talk about her recent efforts to monitor and research pollinators, including the western bumblebee. Tabitha will share basic information about the interactions of bees with a few of our native plants during the Montana Native Plant Society, Flathead Chapter meeting on Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in the North Valley Community Hall located at 235 Nucleus Ave. in Columbia Falls. She’ll provide tips on how to identify bumblebees and how everyone can help us learn more about bumblebees. For more information, contact Tara Carolin at montara96@gmail.com , or view the Montana Native Plant Society website at www.mtnativeplants.org.