Community briefs for Nov. 20

Hike

Looking to spend Black Friday out on the trail with family and friends instead of in line? Whitefish Legacy Partners and REI Kalispell will host an #OptOutside guided hike on the Whitefish Trail on Black Friday.

The hike is easy to moderate and approximately 3 miles round-trip and will explore the cedar groves of Haskill Basin, ending at the scenic boardwalk at Haskill Lake. This event is free, open to the public, and is appropriate for all ages. Meet at 11 a.m. at the Big Mountain Trailhead on Big Mountain Road. Come prepared for the day’s weather and snow conditions. If needed, free snowshoe rentals will be available. To reserve your snowshoes call 862-3880.

For more information about this hike or other scheduled outings, visit www.whitefishlegacy.org or call 406-862-3880 or email info@whitefishlegacy.org.

Hockey tournament

The Glacier Hockey Association will be holding the Battle of the Border peewee tournament on Nov. 23-24 at the Stumptown Ice Den. Teams till be coming in from Canada for the tournament. In addition to great hockey play, there will be raffles prizes and a taco truck.

Writing contest

The Authors of the Flathead has opened their annual writing contest for all Flathead-area high school students, including home-schooled students. The deadline for submissions is March 13, 2020. The two categories are short story and poetry. Cash prizes are awarded. Short story first place: $400; second place: $300; third place: $200. Poetry first place: $300; second place: $200; third place: $100.

First prize winners also receive a scholarship to attend the Flathead River Writers Conference Sept. 19 and 20, 2020.

Submission guidelines and rules are available from high school English instructors and school writing centers, or on the Authors of the Flathead website at www.authorsoftheflathead.org

Pray for Snow

The annual Pray for Snow Party at the Bierstube is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30. Doors open at 7 p.m. with live music beginning at 8 p.m. Come raise a glass to Ullr in anticipation of another powder-filled winter. Enjoy live music with local legends Pedacter Project. This event is 21 and over only, and there is no cover charge.

Free SNOW bus shuttles will be running between downtown Whitefish and the Bierstube throughout the event. For more information, call the info line at (406)862-6560

Photography book

Flathead Valley Community College’s Library will host an author event with Rosella Mosteller on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Broussard Family Library and Learning Commons. Mosteller is an award-winning photographer whose latest book, “Montana: Mountains & More,” includes stunning black and white images of Montana’s wild country.

In addition to a presentation by Mosteller, the event will feature a trivia contest and opportunities to explore the outdoors using virtual reality technology.

All are welcome to attend, and there is no entrance fee. Signed books will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Susan Matter at smatter@fvcc.edu or 756-3853.

Gone Fishin’

Whitefish Pottery and the Stillwater Gallery will host this month’s Whitefish Chamber Gone Fishin’ after hours networking event on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 5-7 p.m. at their downtown gallery. Owner Tom Gilfillan and his staff will be rolling-out the red carpet, and rumor has it that Santa will make an “early appearance” to deliver some holiday-style appetizers, libations and sweets along with some great raffle prizes and biz-to-biz networking opportunities. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Whitefish Pottery/Stillwater Gallery is located at 240 Central Avenue in downtown Whitefish.

Bazaar

The Whitefish Community Center will hold its fifth annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bazaar includes photography, knit items, jewelry, baked goods, candy, kids clothes, and more. Free admission for shoppers.

Vendor spaces are available for $15-$25 by calling 862-4923. Complimentary coffee and cookies for shoppers all day. Complimentary lunch for vendors. The community center is located at 121 E. Second St.

Winter decorations

Whitefish Shines, with the help of community volunteers, Flathead Electric Cooperative and the City of Whitefish, will hang the Whitefish Christmas and winter decorations on Sunday, Nov. 24. Volunteers should meet at the corner of Third Street and Central Avenue downtown Whitefish at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers should dress for cool weather and bring gloves if they have them. Contact Chris Schustrom at 260-1198 with questions, or for more information.

Blood drive

The American Red Cross will host the Whitefish Community Blood Drive on Thursday, Nov. 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.

Bulldog Bingo

The Whitefish Education Foundation is holding a Bulldog BINGO fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 22 7-10 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center. The adults only event will include prizes, raffles, silent auction, drinks for sale and appetizers. Cost is $35 for 20 cards or a team table of eight people is $500 and a team table for six people is $400. The Wave will provide childcare from 6:45-9:45 p.m. for the event if enough children are enrolled. Preregister for childcare with Carrie at 730-6171. Price is $25 for first child, $20 for second and $10 for every additional child. Pizza dinner included. For more information or to reserve a table, visit https://whitefisheducationfoundation.org/.

Christmas trees

People planning on finding a Christmas tree on tree Flathead National Forest can purchase a $5 tree permit online or at a Flathead National Forest office in Kalispell, Bigfork, or Hungry Horse. Flathead National Forest is one of 13 national forests participating in the online permit system through Open Forest.

“I encourage families to enjoy an outing on the forest,” said Flathead National Forest Supervisor Chip Weber. “Finding the perfect Christmas tree is an important tradition for many, and the forest is an ideal place to spend a day in the woods and make holiday memories.”

Fourth graders are eligible for a free tree permit as part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative by printing out an Every Kid Outdoors pass voucher from the program’s website, and bringing it to a Flathead National Forest office to exchange for a permit. Every Kid Outdoors tree permits cannot be obtained via Open Forest.

People should pay attention to the species of trees available for cutting, and take a moment to review guidelines to ensure that harvest activities improve forest health.

Christmas tree permits purchased online must be printed and are only valid for trees harvested from Flathead National Forest.

For more information about Christmas tree permits, please call 758-520 or to purchase visit https://openforest.fs.usda.gov/christmas-trees/forests/flathead

Plant talk

The Montana Native Plant Society, Flathead Chapter, invites the public to join Teagan Hayes as she explores Arctic Wild Life: Flora and Fauna of Iceland and Greenland during at talk on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. Hayes, a former botanist by profession, but now in her final year of grad school in the Wildlife Program at the University of Montana, will talk about plants and animals adapted to survive harsh arctic realities, as well some of the fascinating human history of these sparsely populated lands. The talk is at the United Way Main Conference Room, 1203 Highway 2 West, Kalispell. Use west entrance near United Way Conference room sign. Free and open to the public.