EDITORIAL: Night to Shine is a labor of love

Our local residents with special needs will have an evening to remember on Friday when a very special event, Night to Shine, will be staged at Canvas Church. The free gathering is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and is one of more than 200 other Night to Shine events being held around the world.

Participants will get the red-carpet treatment, and each one will be crowned a king or queen as they celebrate in a prom-like atmosphere.

Thanks to Lighthouse Christian Home for taking a leadership role in organizing the local Night to Shine. It’s open to people 16 and older with special needs.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to do something special for some very special people.

Cabin Fever got you down?

Another special community event returns this weekend in the Canyon when Cabin Fever Days envelops the communities of Martin City, Hungry Horse and Coram.

At the heart of the festival are the unique but always-fun Barstool Ski Races in Martin City.

This unusual event Saturday and Sunday features all manner of contraptions racing down the hill.

That’s not all that’s going on. There are activities for all ages, including children’s races, a magic show, cupcake walk, poker run, arm wrestling and shuffleboard.

Cabin Fever Days benefits several local charities and has become a highlight of the winter in the Canyon. For more information, go online to www.cabinfeverdays.com.

Welcome, Canadians!

At Cabin Fever Days this weekend and the Montana Pond Hockey Classic next weekend, we hope to see our Canadian neighbors enjoying the festivities.

We know that the economy in Canada has taken a turn for the worse, resulting in a devalued Canadian dollar. That’s a shame for our own economy, and for Canadians who have made no secret of their love for the Flathead.

But with the exchange rate putting a damper on cross-border travel coming our direction, it’s more important than ever for local businesses to put out the welcome mat for our Canadian friends.