Get ready … get set … go skiing

Usually about this time of year people look up from the valley floor and wonder if Big Mountain will have enough snow to open on Thanksgiving Day.

Not this year.

Thanks to rare (or at least rare in the past few low-snow years) early snow, the Whitefish resort is actually opening sooner than usual.

Saturday will be opening day on the mountain, five days ahead of schedule.

And although the skiing will be limited at the start, at least this is a more auspicious way to launch the winter recreation season than a prayer for snow.

Along with the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, we applaud Ivan O'Neil, who was honored last week as the winner of the 34th annual Great Chief Award.

O'Neil's accomplishments have been done quietly - he was a man who often worked behind the scenes to get things done - but the community has benefited immensely.

He may be best known as the founder of Western Building Centers, a once-small operation that he helped build into a $60 million business.

But O'Neil also was instrumental in Immanuel Lutheran Home and Buffalo Hill Terrace, was active in Evergreen business and civic groups, and as a board member was a key player in the upgrade of Glacier Park International Airport.

Those are just a few of his contributions that were deservedly recognized by the Chamber award.

The first generosity from the new Flathead Community Foundation should be delivered in December.

The intitial disbursements will be small, but they're the first concrete step to let people know the foundation is operating.

The foundation formed earlier this year with the goal of building a community endowment fund for charitable grants.

So far the effort has raised $43,500, just a start toward the foundation's ambitious target of a $5 million endowment fund.

We wish the foundation luck in its mission.

Finishing without a blemish on an undefeated season, the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs spiked their way to another Class A volleyball championship last weekend.

Whitefish maintained its dominance at the net to make it back-to-back state titles (as well as four championships in the last five years).

Congratulations on a perfect season.