Community Briefs

Cakes for Canines to Support Local Animal Shelter April 3

SEELEY LAKE - Join the crew from Paws Up Animal Shelter from Potomac at Pop’s Place Monday, April 3 for the annual Cakes for K9s event. This is a donation breakfast complete with pancakes, bacon and eggs. All proceeds benefit the shelter.

There will also be a board with 40 squares; $5 per square or 5 for $20. There are many prizes to be won including a diamond ring, 1968 proof set of coins, one of Juan de Santa Anna’s photos, Neman Marcus unisex bathrobe and a 16X20 photo of your pet or of you and your pet.

“Don’t miss out on the camaraderie, Tim and Connie’s [owners of Pop’s] hospitality and helping the pets of the Paws Up Animal Shelter,” said Elinor Williamson supporter of the shelter. “Donations are so appreciated and needed after the long winter!”

Along with monetary donations, donations of dog and cat food and dustless kitty litter is also welcome.

“It’s Your Town, It’s Your Party” Fourth of July Planning Meeting, April 4

SEELEY LAKE – Join the Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce to plan the best Fourth of July that the Seeley Lake Area has ever seen. The community meeting is April 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Filling Station.

At the meeting, attendees will choose this year’s theme, set up extra activities, discuss the fireworks, offer opportunities to help with the parade and much more.

“The community of Seeley Lake takes the Fourth of July celebration extremely seriously. And we want you to be a part of it,” said the Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to bring a friend.

Movie Night at the Seeley Lake Fire Hall, April 8

SEELEY LAKE – The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and Seeley Lake Rural Fire District invite youth and families to the Seeley Lake Fire Hall April 8 starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be a spaghetti feed along with the featured movie “Planes 2 – Fire and Rescue” on the big screen in the fire bay.

While the event is geared towards elementary students, youth in high school and families are welcome as well. Children in kindergarten or younger must be accompanied by an adult.

The movie starts at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite movie snacks to eat or share. Also, bring a comfortable chair, blanket or pillow. This month, there will be mats laid down for anyone wanting to watch from the floor.

Transportation can be provided if needed. Call Missoula County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Sunderland for more information or to arrange a ride, 406-531-0766.

Kitchen Table Conversations Provide Direction on Talking with Loved Ones About End of Life Wishes

MISSOULA - The week of April 16-22 celebrates National Healthcare Decisions Day for 2017. Providence Health & Services and Missoula Aging Services are collaborating again this year to offer the Kitchen Table Conversation class free in Missoula.

This event is a two-part workshop held at Providence Palliative Care, in the Missoula Medical Plaza (Adjacent to Providence Center), 900 N Orange Street, Suite 203A, Missoula, MT 59802. The dates for this Kitchen Table Conversation series are Monday, April 17 and Tuesday, April 18 from 2-4:30 p.m. Please plan to attend both workshop sessions. Only 16 spots are still available.

Kitchen Table Conversations provides a hands-on approach where attendees learn about and practice how to engage with loved ones on the subjects of illness and death as an integral part of advance planning. Choices for advance care directives and proxies will be reviewed.

The sessions are led by Brian Derry and Kathy Derry. The Derrys are community volunteers who encourage community members to have conversations with their loved ones about their end of life wishes. Kathy is a retired therapist and Brian is retired from manufacturing management.

Admission includes coffee or tea and snacks. Discussions are facilitated in small groups like their own Kitchen Tables.

If you need additional information, email Classes@MissoulaAgingServices.org or call (406) 541-HELP.

Swan Valley Community Library Highlights

Swan Valley - Spring has made its debut in the Swan Valley with mud and rain so there is good reason to come in and browse our extensive DVD collection including selections for kids, movies, travel logs and documentaries. There is something for every taste.

If your fancy turns to cooking, there are many cookbooks to choose from ranging from diet cookbooks such as a new selection entitled “The Whole 30” cookbook to “Garden Fresh Vegetable Cookbook,” “Herb Garden Cookbook,” “Garden Way’s Joy of Gardening Cookbook.”

All those garden cookbooks may lead to perusing gardening books with titles that tempt you to start thinking of the day when you can begin your outdoor garden. A few of the many titles available at the Swan Valley library include “Gardening in the Northwest” and “Successful Container Gardening.”

The Swan Valley library has four public-use computers along with a printer and a copy machine available for ten cents a printed sheet. There is Wi-Fi for those who bring their own device.

Our next book chat is set for Wednesday, April 19 at 1 p.m. We will be discussing “Winter Garden” by popular author Kristin Hannah.

Hannah’s novels “Home Front and “Night Road” appeared in the number one spot on five New York Time best seller lists at the same time.

“Winter Garden” is the story of two sisters who, as children, heard a Russian fairy tale from their mother Anya. Their father on his deathbed asked that the fairy tale be told all the way to the end. It was the story of Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad more than fifty years in the past. The secret the daughters learn will shake them and change who they believe there are.

Books are available at the Swan Valley Library.

Preschoolers can come to Story Time on Fridays at 11 a.m. to listen to a story and participate in an art project.

The Swan Valley Library is open Monday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.