Community Briefs

Swan Valley AARP Meeting Feb. 1

Swan Valley – A month’s journey in Germany, France and Italy will be the Monday, Feb. 1 program for the Swan Valley AARP Chapter. Local residents Steve and Betsy Ellis will show color slides of their recent trip.

The group will meet at noon for potluck at 12:30 p.m. The program will start at 2 p.m. The Ellises will be the host for the occasion. The public is invited.

Artist-Wilderness-Connection, Artist-in-Residence Program Application Period Open

KALISPELL - The Flathead National Forest, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Hockaday Museum of Art, and Swan Valley Connections invite artists to apply to the program that connects artists and local communities with public lands of the Flathead National Forest in Northwest Montana.  The application deadline for the 2016 Artist-Wilderness-Connection, Artist-in-Residence Program is Friday, Feb. 19.

 Professional working artists of various disciplines, media and styles spend up to two weeks in a remote forest cabin on the Flathead National Forest to focus on their respective art.  The program connects artists with wild lands like the Bob Marshall, Great Bear and Mission Mountains Wilderness Areas. 

After completing the residency, artists select a format to share their talents and residency experience with the community and donate a representative piece of their art to the Artist-Wilderness-Connection Program. 

 The online application for the program is available at http://hockadaymuseum.org/ under Artist Opportunities, Artist-Wilderness-Connection.  Individuals and group collaborations are invited to apply. 

 For more information about the Artist-Wilderness-Connection Program, contact Teresa Wenum at the Flathead National Forest, 406-758-5218 or Carol Treadwell with the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, 406-387-3847.

New Seeley Lake Community Foundation Board Members Elected

SEELEY LAKE — The Seeley Lake Community Foundation is pleased to announce its newly elected officers: Board President, Carla Schade; Vice President, Kevin Wetherell; Secretary, Lee Boman and Treasurer, Scott Kennedy.

The Foundation also welcomes new board members Ken Barber, Jack Copps, Jenny Ellinghouse Lindemer and Emily Rindal. The new directors supplement the talent, energy and community expertise of existing board members, Addrien Marx, Chris Stout, Klaus von Stutterheim and Mark Williams.

There are many ways to give to a community foundation. The Seeley Lake Community Foundation values financial contributions but also time and talents of energetic volunteers.

Seeley Lake Community Foundation was founded in 1999 by a handful of local residents who wanted to give back to their community. What started from a single, $250 donation has now grown into an endowment of more than $525,000 dedicated to the Seeley Lake Community.

To learn more or contribute, visit http://www.seeleylakecommunityfoundation.org

Seeley Lake Library News

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Library Book Club will be discussing Katherine Boo’s “Behind the Beautiful Forevers” Thursday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m.

In this work of nonfiction, Boo reports on the lives of the people who live in Annawadi, a makeshift slum near Mumbai’s airport. Winner of the 2012 National Book Award, this book has been described as one that simultaneously informs, agitates, angers, inspires and instigates. All are invited to join in the discussion. Books are available at the checkout desk.

Food for Fines takes place Feb. 21-27. Patrons who bring non-perishable food items to the library that week will have their overdue fines waived. This does not apply to fines incurred for lost or damaged items. The food will be donated to the Seeley-Swan Community Food Bank.

The Seeley Lake Library is a branch of Missoula Public Library located at Seeley-Swan High School. The library is open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Story Time takes place on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Children of all ages are welcome. 

Ringers Needed for Bell Choir

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Mountain Bells, a local community handbell choir, is starting its spring season and has room for additional members.  There are two criteria to join: 1. Plan to have fun and 2. Already able to read music, even if just slightly or very rusty. 

Never even seen a handbell?  Not a problem.  It’s easy to learn and a ton of fun.  The group practices in the Seeley Lake Elementary music room at 3:15 p.m. for 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoons.  They will host a spring concert around the first of May, and then stand down for the summer. 

If interested, come to a practice and give it a try.  Warning, it can be addictive.  Contact Joann at 406-677-4424 for additional information.

Senior Scholarships Opportunity

SEELEY LAKE - Loving Hearts is proud to announce their third annual scholarship fund for exceptional Seeley Lake students heading for higher education in the fall of 2016. They believe that investing in students who are leaders, both academically and in service to others, will result in a positive, lasting change for the community.

To qualify for the Loving Hearts $1,000 and $500 scholarships, applicants must write an essay describing their role at home and within the Seeley Lake community. Applicants also include all extracurricular activities and work experiences and describe what they have learned from their involvement and experience, as well as how they plan to use their experience in their higher educational plans.

With the essay, applicants should include the acceptance letter from the chosen higher education center, current high school transcript and two letters of recommendation with one from a current high school teacher.

Chosen applicants should be available to have their scholarship presented in person at the Loving Hearts Fashion Show May 21.

All scholarship applications are due no later than March 31, 2016. Please mail all information requested to: Loving Hearts Scholarship Committee, Mission Bible Fellowship, P.O. Box 68 Seeley Lake, MT 59868.