Community briefs for Jan. 22

| January 22, 2020 1:00 AM

Spiritfest

The SNOW bus Spiritfest 2020 is Saturday, Jan. 25 from 6-9 p.m. at Grouse Mountain Lodge. The evening includes live music, light appetizers and prohibition era cocktails. The event is a fundariser for the SNOW bus. Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at Whitefish Mountain Resort information center at 862-2900, at Kalispell Sportsman and SKi Haus or at Bonsai Brewing Project, or online at bigmtncommercial.org.

Book Club

The Whitefish Community Library Book Group’s monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room. This month’s book is “1491” by Charles Mann. This book is revelations of the Americas before Columbus. A fascinating , unconventional account of Native American life in the Americas prior 1492. It is detailed and well-researched. Newcomers are always welcome. For more information, call Whitefish Community Library at 862-9914.

Film Festival

Montana Wilderness Association and the Winter Wildlands Alliance are hosting the 15th annual Backcountry Film Festival on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Doors open at 6 pm, films start at 7 pm. The festival will feature numerous short films that tell compelling and entertaining stories about backcountry, human-powered recreation and environmental preservation.

Montana Wilderness Association works with communities to protect Montana’s wild heritage, outdoor traditions, and quiet beauty, now and for future generations. Winter Wildlands Alliance is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving winter wildland and a quality human-powered snow sports experience on public lands through education, outreach and advocacy. Proceeds from the film festival benefit Montana Wilderness Association Flathead-Kootenai Chapter, and support their scholarship program along with other local Montana Wilderness Association initiatives.

Tickets are $15. To purchase tickets, go to https://impact.wildmontana.org/filmfest. This event sells out and tickets will not be available at the door. For more information, contact Allie Maloney at MWA at 406-233-9223 or amaloney@wildmontana.org.

Scholarships

Flathead Electric Co-op is accepting applications for its $500 spring student-teaching scholarship between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31. The scholarship opportunity is provided for students completing their education degree while student teaching in Montana. The funding will be distributed in February.

To be eligible, the candidate (or their parent or legal guardian) must be a member of Flathead Electric Cooperative (served by the Co-op at their primary residence), and they must be attending an accredited post-secondary education institution in Montana. FEC offers scholarships for student teachers in both the spring and fall. FEC scholarships are funded through unclaimed capital credits which are dedicated for educational purposes by Montana statute.

FEC For more information or to apply, visit: www.flatheadelectric.com/scholarships.

Boat inspections

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on making the mandatory inspection-before-launch rule for the Flathead Basin permanent, according to a recent press release.

The rule is currently scheduled to expire on March 31, 2020, and removing the expiration date will allow the rule to continue indefinitely.

The rule, which launched as a pilot program in 2018, requires vessels and equipment traveling into the Flathead basin that have been used on waters outside of the Flathead Basin to be inspected prior to launching within the Flathead Basin.

According to the press release, “the rule has been very successful and is supported by Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and other local stakeholders.” The agency has described the water inspection stations as Montana’s “first line of defense” against infestation by invasive species such as quagga mussels.

The public must submit their comments on the proposal by Jan. 24 at midnight. Public comment can be submitted online at fwp.mt.gov or can send their data, views or arguments concerning the proposed action in writing to Tom Woold, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, Montana 59620-0701.

Chef’s Table

The Culinary Institute of Montana will present several Chef’s Table events this spring in the FVCC instructional kitchen. This unique program allows guests to experience exceptional fine dining while supporting culinary arts students as they complete their first-year internships. Patrons will enjoy an hors d’oeuvre, a multi-course meal and dessert prepared, plated and served by students under the instruction of Chef Manda Hudak and Chef Howard Karp.

American regional cuisine is the focus of each of the events. Students will apply their knowledge of how geographical, cultural and economic variables combine with culinary techniques to develop America’s unique regional flavors.

Tickets are available for the following events:

- Jan. 31 – The Southland

- Feb. 14 – New England Valentine’s Winemaker Dinner (featuring wine pairings with select courses)

- Feb. 28 – Gulf Coast Mardi Gras

- March 13 – Southwestern

- April 10 - Pacific Rim Winemaker (featuring wine pairings with select courses)

All Chef’s Table events begin at 6 p.m. Reservations are required, and patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets early due to limited seating. Tickets are $60 per person for the Jan. 31, Feb. 28 and March 13 dinners and $150 per person for the winemaker dinners on Feb. 14 and April 10. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 756-3632. To view menus and purchase tickets online, visit www.fvcc.edu/chefs-table.