LOCAL ROUNDUP: Gear swap planned Saturday in Whitefish
Whitefish Parks and Recreation will host its third annual Spring Gear Swap on Saturday, May 14.
Those interested in consigning spring and summer gear can stop by Roy Duff Memorial Armory Park from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 13, to drop off their gear.
Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Any gear not sold must be picked up between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. the day of the sale. All items not picked up will be donated to the Soroptimist Thrift Store in Whitefish.
Consigners receive 80 percent back from all items sold with 20 percent of sales supporting Whitefish Parks and Recreation’s Volunteer to Ski program. The Volunteer to Ski Program enables sixth- to eighth-grade students to volunteer 20 hours of community service through the Parks and Recreation Department and receive a 2016-17 Whitefish Mountain Resort season pass.
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers for this event for both Friday and Saturday. For more information or to volunteer, call Whitefish Parks and Recreation at 863-2470.
City of Whitefish tests out bike lanes today
The city of Whitefish is celebrating National Protected Bike Lane Week and Bike to School Day today by creating temporary protected bike lanes along city streets commonly used to travel to and from school.
A map of the routes is located on the city’s website (www.cityofwhitefish.org).
These temporary protected bike lanes will give the city an opportunity to test the design and location of the bike lanes.
All members of the community will have an opportunity to ride in the protected bike lanes from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. today and provide feedback on their experience via the Connect Whitefish Facebook page (www.facebook.com/whitefishbikepedplan).
For more information, contact Karin Hilding, senior project engineer, at 863-2540.
New volunteers join child advocacy group
Thirteen community members were sworn in April 11 as Court Appointed Special Advocates volunteers.
District Judge Amy Eddy presided over the ceremony. Family and friends of the volunteers were in attendance as well as CASA board members.
A certificate for the 55 hours of training they completed was presented by Jamie Campbell, CASA for Kids executive director. Each will work as a guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children in the Flathead County foster care system. The training covered topics such as the guardian’s role, child development, domestic violence, assessing family strengths, the court process, laws relating to abuse/neglect, cultural diversity, interviewing and how to write court reports.
Last year 202 children were served by CASA for Kids. CASA’s goal is to have an advocate for every abused/neglected child who enters the foster care system. The next training cycle starts in September-October 2016. More information is available at www.flatheadcasa.org or by calling 755-7208.
Farmers Market opens Thursday in Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls Farmers Market will open for its 2016 season Thursday, May 12.
The market has a new home next to the Eagles Nest on U.S. 2 East in Columbia Falls. The market offers locally grown plants and produce and a wide variety of handcrafted items including certified Made in Montana products. It features live music and local food vendors.
The market will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday through Sept. 15.
Details can be found online at www.columbiafallsfarmersmarket.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/columbiafallsfarmersmarket.