COMMUNITY BRIEFS: Posse learns about 'unsung hero' of Montana

Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners will continue reviewing historic Montana personalities at its next event Monday, Oct. 17, at the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell.

Bob Brown of Whitefish, former longtime Montana senator and current president of the Montana Historical Society, will present “Fred Whiteside: Montana’s Authentic Unsung Hero.”

In the 1870s, Whiteside was engaged in buffalo hunting, lumbering, freight hauling and as a building contractor in the Miles City area. In 1887 he was the contractor for the original Old Soldiers Home in Columbia Falls, and later was construction superintendent during the building of the historic Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium near Helena. In 1891 he moved to Kalispell where he owned several businesses, including a 50,000-tree apple orchard. From 1896 to 1918 Whiteside served in the state legislature. As a legislator, he exposed the attempt of “Copper King” William Andrews Clark to bribe his way into the United States Senate.

He is one of six great Montanans, and the only one from Northwestern Montana, to be permanently memorialized in the State Capitol building.

Brown is a local amateur historian, educator and served in public office for 30 years, including serving as president of the Montana Senate.

The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. with a grab ’n’ greet session and book signings by local authors. Dinner is at 6:15 p.m. Reservations are required and cost $19 which includes the presentation at 7 p.m. that is free for members, youths under 16, and non-members with dinner reservations. Non-members may attend for $5 (does not include the dinner).

For a dinner reservation, call 752-9642 (Leave a message with names and phone number); or send an email to kbrittonrn@gmail.com.

For further information, contact Ron at 756-8791 or email at ron.nmpw@gmx.com.

Garden work at Veterans Home

Volunteer Garden Work Days at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls are Oct. 13 to 16.

The Home Depot Foundation has donated materials to the “Onions for Autism — Veggies for Vets” garden program to build 42 raised garden beds, paved walk ways for wheelchairs and walkers, and corrals for the farm animals. Home Depot employee volunteers will be coming from Kalispell, but more volunteers are needed to complete the project in four days. Bring work gloves.

For more information, contact 406-253-4369 or leave a comment at farmingforthefutureacademy@gmail.com.

Free meals offered

The following free meals (not affiliated with Community Kitchen-Feeding the Flathead) are offered during October. All meals are at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted:

Whitefish Nazarene, 1125 E. Seventh St. — Oct. 12 (today), 19, 26

Calvary Lutheran, 220 U.S. 2 E., Evergreen (use ramp door) — Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27

St. Richard’s Catholic Church, Columbia Falls — Oct. 28, 29, 30, 31

Canyon Elementary School, Hungry Horse, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27

Whitefish leaf pick-up

The City of Whitefish Public Works Department Maintenance Division’s fall leaf pick-up schedule will be on Fridays only, beginning Oct. 14 and continuing through Nov. 18.

Call the Public Works Department at 863-2457 or 863-2460 if your bags are not picked up within two weeks or if you are interested in receiving bagged leaves for composting.

Remember the following guidelines:

All leaves must be bagged and securely tied. Bags weighing more than 25 pounds will not be picked up. Do not place animal waste or refuse products in the bags.

Bags of leaves for pick up are to be stacked on the nearest boulevard. If there is not access to a boulevard, bags may be set a minimum of 10 feet from the nearest refuse container. City employees will not enter onto private property to retrieve bagged leaves.

Leaves need to be bagged, not raked into the street. Do not place leaves into any city refuse container.

All leaves collected are being composted by the Purple Frog Garden.

The fall residential street sweeping will also commence soon.

Final farmers market Oct. 15

The Kalispell Farmers Market’s last outdoor market for the year is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Flathead Valley Community College.

The Harvest and Holiday market will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in the Expo Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. Shop indoors for fall decor and gifts, jewelry, the last of summer’s produce from pumpkins and squash to carrots, beets and greens along with fall fruits and honey.

Fresh pies, cookies and treats will also be available.