People just love their lutefisk

Few traditions fire up the flames of Norwegian pride more than lutefisk and lefse. During the holidays, community events featuring these specialty foods start cooking across the Flathead, a regional hot-spot for those of the Scandinavian persuasion.

The northern delicacy dates back to the Vikings and is made by soaking cod fish in lye. It's typically served with hot, melted butter and a platter of lefse, a kind of potato flat bread.

There's an old Norwegian-American saying that about half the Norwegians who immigrated to America came to escape the hated lutefisk, and the other half came to spread the gospel of lutefisk's wonderfulness.

Today the traditional fare is intrinsic to many ethnic and religious celebrations, forever linked to the hardship and courage of those ancestors who brought it aboard the ships that carried them to America.

The North Valley Senior Citizens Center in Kalispell sponsored its first lutefisk dinner on Veterans Day last week, planning to serve from 40 to 45 "dyed-in-the-lye" lutefisk lovers.

The center wasn't prepared for the response from the community.

"We were overwhelmed and under-lutefisked during our lutefisk dinner," writes Gladys Shay, NVSC president. "We had 105 diners and we thank each and every one for attending. We served about 30 pounds of lutefisk and perhaps 216 Swedish meatballs during the first hour and a half."

The accepted ratio of lutefisk-to-dinner guest is 1 pound per person. Given the price of a pound of lutefisk is comparable to a pound of beef rib steak, says Shay, they bought conservatively. "What do you do with leftover lutefisk?"

Shay reports that it was the largest attendance ever at any public dinner served at the Senior Center. She thanks all the volunteers who did a "grand job" and also the area businesses that supported them.

Proceeds will pay the center's utility costs for about three months.

If you're thinking of taking a walk on the Norwegian side, Shay says the Center already is discussing plans for a lutefisk dinner on Veterans Day 2006.

"Ya sure, lutefisk … and Swedish meatballs," signs Shay.

Oct. 2 through 8 was National Long-Term Care Residents Rights Week. In a recent letter, Sherry Benner, the agency's regional ombudsman, explains the focus is to emphasize the fundamental rights of long-term care residents to be treated with dignity and respect and have a say in decisions affecting their care. These rights include freedom of choice, the right to participate in community activities, and the right to have input in their daily schedules.

Benner recognizes the dedication of Susan Kunda, the Flathead's Agency on Aging long-term care ombudsman, who works daily to advocate for residents' rights, resolve complaints and provide information to those searching for a facility. In all, the county has seven nursing homes with a total of 680 beds.

Benner encourages community members to visit someone they know in long-term care and let them know they are not forgotten.