Never too late to enjoy park
It took a while — longer than ever before, actually — but the much anticipated opening of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass finally arrived on Wednesday.
The opening delivered visitors to an alpine winter wonderland in July, with deep snow everywhere as evidence of the challenges in clearing Sun Road this year. Usually, park plow crews get at least some help from the sun and snowmelt, but this year’s highly unusual, persistent snowpack led to a July 13 opening of Logan Pass, the latest on record. The previous latest was July 10 in 1943, when the park was short-staffed because of World War II.
Thankfully, no one was hurt in the road clearing effort this year, and hopefully visitation and commerce in and around the park will be vigorous in the weeks to come.
The Flathead Valley is home to many innovative entrepreneurs, and we should add Steve Dunn to that list. Dunn, of Whitefish, is the president and chief technology officer for WaveForm, an industry leader in developing new contact-lens technology.
In a nutshell, Dunn custom-makes contact lenses using emerging technology that calculates eye corrections and provides 28 times more information than traditional eye exams. WaveForm also is launching new technology for eyeglass manufacturing, too.
The company could employ up to 100 people within three years. This is exactly the kind of clean industry that fits perfectly into the Flathead economy and lifestyle. The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology has provided crucial grant funding for research and development, and our own Montana West Economic Development organization also has been assisting WaveForm.
Innovative businesses tapping into local and state resources is exactly how economic development works best.
Everyone knows how crucial the Flathead Food Bank is to community, especially in times of economic trouble such as we have witnessed the past few years.
But the same economic downturn that has meant the food bank is needed more than ever has also meant that traditional funding sources have gotten tapped out.
That’s why the Flathead Food Bank has turned to a new approach to raising money. Starting in September, the food bank will operate a new thrift store in the old Corral West store in the Gateway Community Center.
We applaud the food bank for their continuing assistance to the community and for their innovative approach to funding. Donations for the new store are being accepted now, and we are sure the Flathead will happily help the food bank to keep food on the tables for those in need.