Community Briefs

Free Grocery Delivery Available for Seniors on Fixed Income

There are still slots available for the Roots Grocery Delivery Program for Seeley-Swan and Potomac residents. Missoula Food Bank and Department of Health and Human Services partnered to deliver a free, 30-pound monthly food package to a participants’ home.

Each package contains juice, cereal or oatmeal, boxed and dry milk, peanut butter or dry beans, rice or pasta, chili or stew, cheese, canned fruits and vegetables and a supplement of Ensure and fresh fruit or vegetables. Inventory options are limited but will try to accommodate special dietary needs.

Recipients must be 60 years of age or older and meet the income requirements. For more information contact Linda Howard with Missoula Aging Services, 406-541-7688. Applications are available at http://www.missoulafoodbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ROOTS-APP-SENIOR-2016.pdf

Swan Valley AARP Meeting, Aug. 7

Swan Valley - - The Swan Valley AARP will meet at 12 p.m., Monday, Aug. 7 at the picnic area behind Swan Valley Connections. A bring-your-own lunch will begin at 12:30 p.m.

After lunch, members will share stories about their AARP experiences. A Driver Safety Course is scheduled for Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Community Hall.

Seed Saving Workshop, Aug. 11

Swan Valley - Join Bryce Christiaens with Native Ideals Seed Farm Friday, Aug. 11 from 1-4 p.m. at the Condon Work Center and learn how to collect and cultivate native plants for your garden. Free. All are welcome.

For more information contact 754-3137 or info@svconnections.org.

Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival Baking Contest Open to All Ages, Aug. 12

SWAN LAKE - The 36th annual Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival is looking for bakers of all ages to enter the Huckleberry Baking Contest. The contest features an adult category along with a separate category for children age 10 and under. The valley’s original Huckleberry Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Montana Highway 83. There will be a pancake breakfast starting at 8 a.m.

According to baking contest chair Sylvia Eliason the rules for both children and adults are the same.

Baking contest entries must be huckleberry-based with a minimum of three servings provided. There is no registration fee and advance registration is not required.

Entries will be accepted Saturday morning starting at 10:30 a.m. Judges will begin their work at 11 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for the top three entries in each category. For more information about the contest, e-mail Sylvia at sylvia.swan@usamontana.com.

Last Chance to Share Local Resource Concerns

Missoula Conservation District is announcing a last call for Missoula County residents to share their resource concerns and needs through the District’s online survey. This brief survey is available at missoulacd.org but will close on Thursday, Aug. 10.

Missoula Conservation District is asking county residents to share the survey with all their contacts - neighbors, local landowners, land managers, farmers, ranchers, small acreage growers, any Missoula County resident who may be interested in weighing in to inform the District’s next long range plan. This plan will help guide programs that Missoula Conservation District will run or support over the next five years.

This is the last chance to enter to win one of four prizes: a fall CSA share ($280 value), a 10-lb bag of native seed mix ($200), a 1-day rental of the District’s no-till drill ($150), or a Murdoch’s gift card ($100). A raffle drawing will occur during the week of Aug. 14 and winners will be contacted soon after.

For more information, please contact Missoula Conservation District at info@missoulacd.org or call 406-303-3427.

Fire Restrictions, Evacuation Notices, Fire Updates

As of Aug. 1, evacuation warnings were in place around the Placid Lake area due to the Liberty Fire. Tuesday morning, evacuation warnings also issued for both sides of Highway 83 south of Rice Ridge Road and immediately south of Cottonwood Lakes Road east of Highway 83.

Officials have gone to homeowners and given warning sheets to residents or had them posted on the properties. Placards have also been posted on properties that have been notified. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office asks that these are not removed, as they aid officials in keeping track of which homeowners have been notified.

All residents in the Seeley Lake and surrounding areas are advised to take precautions in case of future evacuation warnings.

“It’s time to get all your stuff in order,” said Deputy Heath Hanson. “If you have pets, make accommodations for them… if it’s important to you, get it moved somewhere else and get ready.”

For the most current information about the local fires follow the Seeley Swan Pathfinder page and visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/27/

Stage 2 fire restrictions are still in place for Missoula and surrounding counties on state, federal and private lands.

Restricted activities include:

• Campfires and charcoal grills are prohibited. Only liquid propane gas stoves are allowed.

• No smoking except for in enclosed vehicles, buildings or flammable free areas.

• Motorized vehicles are not allowed off roads.

• Firewood cutting must cease at 1 p.m.

For more information and to find out what areas are included visit http://www.firerestrictions.us.