Hospital stages celebration Thursday
North Valley Hospital celebrates on Thursday at its new hospital site with a blessing, community barbecue and an afternoon of family fun.
Scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m., festivities follow the theme "A New Century - A New Way of Health Care …connecting the past to the future."
Hospital officials call the event the "Celebration of the Century" to underscore this year's 100th anniversary of hospital services in the North Valley.
"We have a wonderful time line of health care," Carol Blake, head of community relations, said.
Set up inside a tent, the time line features historical pictures arranged by decades covering hospitals as well as early nurses. Blake said Whitefish's historical society helped assemble the information.
"There's also information from Columbia Falls and their community for the last 100 years," she said.
The 45-acre site for the party and future hospital lies behind a screen of trees near the intersection of U.S. 93 and Montana 40. Blake said balloons will highlight access to the location off each highway.
From U.S. 93, JP Road leads to River Lakes Parkway which leads to the site. From Montana 40, motorists may turn directly on River Lakes Parkway.
The hospital has a full slate of activities including music, demonstrations, information and ceremonies. The schedule includes:
. 1:30 p.m. Columbia Falls High School Band
. 2 p.m. site blessing
. 3:30 p.m. karate demonstration
. 4 p.m. barbecue begins
. 4:30 p.m. tai chi demonstration
Pastor John Bent of Christ Lutheran Church will deliver the blessing. The ceremony includes a welcome from Craig Aasved, North Valley's administrator.
According to Blake, people attending the celebration will find refreshments, including healthy snacks, throughout the afternoon. Porteus Barbecue will cater the free dinner from 4 to 6 p.m.
Several community groups, including the Girl Scouts and Whitefish High School Key Club, have pitched in to help with the celebration. The Kiwanis Club has volunteered to set up American flags for the event.
Along with the demonstrations, North Valley Hospital arranged for face painting and jumping balloons for the children. Adults will have both the historic time line and lots of information about the new hospital to peruse.
According to Blake, work at the site began about a week ago.
"There's a lot going on out there," she said.
Although still waiting for loan approval, the hospital board decided to proceed with site preparation. Hospital officials expect construction to take 16 to 18 months, with completion possible in December 2006.
Plans call for a 72,000 square-foot facility built on a single level. The design reflects the Planetree philosophy adopted by the board in 2002 which emphasizes a healing environment for the mind and spirit as well as the body.
As a result, the design includes features such as rooms with French doors, gardens and home-like appointments. The replacement hospital carries a price tag of about $26 million.
For more information about the Thursday celebration, call 863-3630.
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com