Community Briefs

Self-guided tour celebrates 100 years of Swan Valley schools, Aug. 4

Swan Valley – Join the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society for a 100-year celebration of Swan Valley Schools. Attendees can enjoy a self-guided tour of Swan Valley Schools Aug. 4 from 12-3 p.m. followed by Open MIC storytelling from 3-5 p.m. at Swan Valley Museum, Highway 83, mile marker 42.

For tickets, call 406-754-2745, 754-2538. There will be a lunch special for purchase at Hungry Bear Steak House mile marker 38.

“Blackfoot Challenge: Trumpeter swans great return to the valley,” Aug. 4

PLACID LAKE – Join Ovando resident Elaine Caton to learn more about the Blackfoot Challenge’s Swan Restoration Program and the exciting progress they have already made right here in our backyards. The presentation will be held at Placid Lake State Park, at the group use area (behind site 22) Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.

Caton is the Education and Swan Program Coordinator for the Blackfoot Challenge, which releases Trumpeter Swans with the intent of restoring a breeding swan population to the Blackfoot River Valley. Her research experiences include studies of a variety avian species in Glacier National Park, the Florida Everglades, Mexico, Central America and the Blackfoot Watershed in Montana. Caton’s interests in conservation, how science works, and how people learn, all merge to help her share the excitement of learning and teaching about the natural world.

This program is part of the Montana State Parks Campfire Programs. The presentation is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

The Era of Megafires - A Swan Valley community wildfire preparedness presentation, Aug. 4

Swan Valley - Swan Valley Connections, Swan Valley Emergency Services, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation – Swan Unit, North 40 Productions, and the US Forest Service are pleased to bring the “Era of Megafires” to the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon Saturday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. Questions and answers from the panel will be after the presentation. Cookies and beverages will be provided. Free. Everyone is welcome.

The “Era of Megafires” is a 60-minute presentation featuring Dr. Paul Hessburg, a research landscape ecologist with Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station. In this multi-media presentation, Hessburg explains that over the past decade, the number of large, severe wildfires has been on the rise. These megafires are wildfires that burn more than 100,000 acres. They can destroy or severely damage human communities, wildlife habitat and natural resources. This special presentation conveys the conditions that lead to megafires and how they might be managed or mitigated.

“A future without wildfire isn’t an option,” Hessburg says. “So, what kind of future do we want for our forests? The goal of this project is to share a vocabulary and increase the understanding and ability of ordinary citizens so that they can enter into local discussions and planning for a more certain future for public forest lands.” 

Since June 2016, the presentation has reached 86 cities and towns and more than 25,000 citizens. There is also an “Era of Megafires” presentation on http://www.ted.com with over 850,000 views: https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_hessburg_why_wildfires_have_gotten_worse_and_how_we_can_stop_them.

For event information visit: https://www.swanvalleyconnections.org/events.

For more information and updates on the Era of Megafires visit: https://www.eraofmegafires.com.

Swan Valley AARP meeting, Aug. 7

Swan Valley - The Swan Valley AARP will meet at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the picnic area behind Swan Valley Connections.  A bring-your-own lunch will begin at 12:30 p.m.  There will not be a presentation at the meeting. 

A Driver Safety Course is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 8 at the Community Hall from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  To sign up, please contact Joe Raible at 754-2476.