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Flathead Land Trust is partnering with the Flathead River to Lake Initiative for an online auction of eight one-of-a kind wooden hand-painted canoe paddles.
The auction will raise funds to complete the Flathead River Conservation Project and permanently protect 155 acres of open space with rich farmland and valuable riparian and wetland habitat along the Flathead River. The project will add to a network of conserved lands totaling almost 12,000 acres in the Flathead Valley critical to sustaining fish and wildlife, farmland and water quality in the Flathead River and Flathead Lake.
Participating artists, who have donated time and talent in painting the paddles for the auction, include Nancy Cawdrey, Colt Idol, Nick Oberling, James Corwin, Kenneth Yarus, Susan Guthrie, Lonnie Collinsworth and Joe Bottomly.
“Each paddle is unique and beautiful, depicting scenes of our amazing Flathead River system as well as fish and wildlife of Northwest Montana,” Paul Travis, Flathead Land Trust executive director, said.
Paddles are on display at Park Side Credit Union locations in Whitefish, Kalispell and Bigfork.
The online auction runs May 6 through June 21, ending with a Summer Solstice Party hosted by Flathead Land Trust and the Flathead Lakers at the Hormuth’s Rivers End Ranch along the North Shore of Flathead Lake. The paddles will be displayed at the event and auction winners of the paddles will be announced there.
To view the paddles and access the online bidding site, go to: www.auctria.com/auction/battleforapaddle.
For information about the Summer Solstice Party or to buy tickets, go to: www.flatheadlandtrust.org/event/summer-solstice-party/.
Flathead Land Trust has secured a large federal grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to purchase a conservation easement on the 155-acre property if non-federal matching funds are obtained. More than half of those matching funds have already been acquired.
Event for veterans food pantry
The Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry will hold its eighth annual Armed Forces Day Benefit Banquet on May 18 at the Kalispell Best Western Plus White Oak Grand Ballroom. This year’s theme is “Teamed for Defense.”
Funds raised this year will go toward a new veteran camp retreat and learning center.
Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with Erik Dye on the piano. A prime rib dinner catered by Vista Linda follows at 6:30 p.m. The national anthem will be sung by Karen Weaver. Colton Raelund will perform magic, and the Swing Light band will provide dancing music throughout the evening. There will also be both a silent and live auction, and a 50/50 raffle.
Tickets are $35 per person; or $275 for a table of eight, which includes a bottle of Glory Wine.
Everyone is welcome.
Advance tickets are available at the Veterans Food Panty, 1349 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell; no tickets will be sold at the door. Call 756-7304 for tickets or more information.
Mail carriers food drive is May 11
National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct its 27th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Saturday, May 11.
Last year carriers collected 71.6 million pounds of food from local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the drive began in 1993, total donations have surpassed 1.6 billion pounds of food. The food drive has become the nation’s largest one-day food collection for needy families.
Customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox Saturday, May 11, before their letter carrier arrives. Food collected during Saturday’s drive will be delivered to local community churches, food banks and food pantries.
While all non-perishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter are most needed. Canned fruits and vegetables, whole-grain, low-sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese dinners and 100 percent fruit juice also top the list of most needed.
Community garden offers free plots
Are you interested in gardening but don’t have the space?
Glacier Community Garden has plots available for organic-vegetable growing. A community garden offers the benefit of visiting with other gardeners, both experienced or beginning, learning new methods, and sharing tips, seeds, plants and vegetables.
Glacier Community Garden is located at 690 Grandview Drive in Kalispell, across the street from Flathead Valley Community College. Most of the plots are 10 by 20 feet, however, there are a few waist-high garden boxes available and half plots can be requested. Plots will be ready for planting mid-May.
The community garden was started six years ago by Glacier Church to utilize their acreage and serve the residents of the Kalispell community. There are no fees for the plots, and there is free access to water. Participants are expected to maintain the space throughout the season and to garden without insecticides, weed repellents or non-organic fertilizers.
Those interested in obtaining a plot should contact Greg Carson at 406-250-2146 or email gregandjoy@gmail.com to reserve a plot. The contract, garden rules and approved garden products are available on the website, www.glacierchurch.org.
Authors group holding free presentations
Authors of the Flathead is offering two free presentations on writing this month. Both will take place in Room 118 of the Broussard Building at Flathead Valley Community College.
May 9, 7-9 p.m. — Bestselling mystery author Christine Carbo talks about “The Mystery Writing Life.” Carbo will attempt to demystify the path to publishing and detail her writing experience. Carbo’s mysteries are set in Glacier Park.
May 16, 7-9 p.m. Dan and Joyce Miller will provide details on copyrighting with their presentation “Copyrighting for the Author.”
Authors of the Flathead hosts an open reading session May 23. Bring up to six pages (1,500 words) of a work in progress to read aloud and receive feedback from fellow members.
The Authors of the Flathead is a nonprofit organization that supports anyone who loves writing. Members include novelists, nonfiction writers, short-story writers, screen writers, poets and journalists.
The 29th annual fall Flathead River Writers Conference is Sept 14-15 and is open to all.
For more details, visit www.authorsoftheflathead.org
Flathead Valley Bridge Center Results
April 26
North/South pairs
Bill Pellett – Carole Koch 1st A
Mamie Parpart – Marjorie Simpson 2nd A 1st B
Bob Gerhard – Judy Martinson 2nd B 1st C
East/West pairs
Mary Ann Chestnut – Robert Walstad 1st A
Shelly Arbuckle – Andrew Koch Jr. 2nd A 1st B
Laura Bean – Barbara Pellett 2nd B
John Murrey – Jeff Daniels 1st C
April 27 Novice Game
Darci Nielsen – Judy Martinson 1st
Lee Honeyman – Dana Leech 2nd
Kathleen Trautman – Marci Stein 3rd
April 29
North/South pairs
Linda Petersen – Carole Koch 1st A 1st B
Janet Weiss – Dan Shura 2nd A
Linda Malvin – Caryl Miller 2nd B
East/West pairs
Trish Eaton – Michael Boreson 1st A
Frances Ollendike – Ann Fey 2nd A 1st B
Robert Walstad – Annie Alex 2nd B
Christie Deck – Roger Brown 1st C
May 1
North/South pairs
Robert Walstad – Mary Ann Chestnut 1st A
Phyllis Ausk – Shirley Heldstab 2nd A 1st B
Linda Petersen – Carole Koch 2nd B
East/West pairs
Jim Swab – Roger Brown 1st A 1st B
Michael Boreson – Cathy Brown 2nd A
Alden Boreson – Melissa Martin 2nd B
May 1 evening results
North/South
1. Patty Daniels - Jeff Daniels
2. Mary Lincoln - Shelly Brander
3. Bob Gerhard - Bob Sleadd
East/West
1. Lee Honeyman - Dana Leech
2. John Murrey - Becky Murrey
3. Trish Eaton - Laura Bean