Community Briefs

Death notice for Donald Schaff

SEELEY LAKE - Donald J. Schaff, 88, of Seeley Lake, died Jan. 17 at The Living Center in Stevensville, Mont. A memorial mass is pending for Feb. 10 in Seeley Lake at Living Water Catholic Church with a reception to follow. Time TBA

Bridge players wanted

SEELEY LAKE – A Chicago-style Bridge group is looking for full-time or substitute card players to join their group. They meet at the Seeley Lake Senior Center Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. The group includes beginners and is not very serious.

Anyone interested is encouraged to call Natalie at 677-1130 or 210-2153.

Free tax assistance offered at UM starting Feb. 1

MISSOULA – The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be available to help those with low to moderate income ($56,000 and below) prepare their tax returns every Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. starting Feb. 1 through March 7 in the Gallagher Business Building, Room 209 at the University of Montana. Certified volunteers from the UM will assist the public at no cost. First come, first serve. No appointments available.

For more information and to ensure you bring all the required documentation and information visit https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers

Mountain Caribou at Community Potluck, Feb. 5

Swan Valley - Swan Valley Connections’ February Community Potluck Dinner will be held Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon. Join SVC for delicious food and wildlife photographer Cory DeStein for an evening of images and stories from his recent trip to northern British Columbia to document the mountain caribous, a critically endangered species who once roamed the Swan Valley.

Swan Valley Connections’ monthly potlucks are held on the first Wednesday of every month. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Potluck dinner at 6 p.m. followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m.

This event is free and everyone is welcome. Bring your own reusable plate and silverware and you will be entered into a raffle. Contact Lindsay at 406-754-3137 or lindsay@svconnections.org for more information or if you would like to be a presenter.

Nonprofit board of directors training, Feb. 20 & Feb. 24

SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Community Foundation is hosting board training for nonprofit board of directors Feb. 20 and Feb. 24 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the west wing of the Foundation building. The two sessions build upon each other. Participants are encouraged to attend both evenings.

This dynamic workshop facilitated by Ned Cooney helps the board understand their roles and responsibilities, and how to work with the Executive Director and other staff.

This is a free training, provided in partnership with Healthy Start Missoula, a community coalition based out of the Missoula City-County Health Department.

Please RSVP to cmuller@slcfmt.org or 406-677-3506 by Feb. 14. For more information about Cooney visit https://nedcooney.com/board-of-directors-roles-and-responsibilities/

Swan Valley Community Library Highlights

Swan Valley - Anyone interested in reading and discussing books and literature is welcome to attend the monthly Book Chat meetings at the Swan Valley Library. An email is sent to interested participants about future meetings. To be put on the list call the library at 754-2521.

“The Bluest Eye” by Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winner Toni Morrison will be discussed at the Swan Valley Library’s Book Chat Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.

The novel is the author’s first and is set in Morrison’s hometown of Lorain, Ohio. It takes place in 1941 when the marigolds didn’t bloom in the garden. As the narrator says, “the soil will not nurture certain seeds, certain fruit it will not bear.” It also pertains to the main character in the story, 11- year-old African American Pecola Breedlove. She prays for her eyes to be blue so she can be as happy and loved as all the blond, blue-eyed children in America.

The reviewer said, “The Bluest Eye” remains one of Toni Morrison’s most powerful, unforgettable novels and a significant work of American fiction.”

Story time along with an art project to take home is held every Friday at 11 a.m. All ages are welcome but it is geared for preschoolers.

The Swan Valley Library is located on Highway 83 in Condon and is just north and adjacent to the Swan Valley Community Hall. The library is open Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more information call 754-2521.

Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Call Activity Jan. 20 – Jan. 26

• 1/20, 8:45am, 31XX Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Suspicious Activity

• 1/21, 8:54am, 5X mile marker Highway 83, Salmon Prairie: Accident - Injury

• 1/21, 3:38pm, 19XX Blaine Road, Potomac: Contempt of Court

• 1/22, 7:26pm, 31XX Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Shoplifting

• 1/24, 7:43pm, 2X mile marker Highway 200, Greenough: Accident – Injury

• 1/24, 11:54pm, 1X mile marker Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Slide-in No Property Damage

• 1/25, 36XX Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Theft

• 1/26, Kendall Creek Road, Greenough: Accident - Injury

Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Response Log Jan. 20 – Jan. 25

Total calls 2018: 261; Total calls 2019: 305

• 1/20, Spruce Street, Seeley Lake: Medical

• 1/21, School Lane, Seeley Lake: Medical

• 1/21, Leota Peak Court, Seeley Lake: Structure Fire

• 1/23, Elk Creek Road, Seeley Lake: Medical

• 1/24, Double Arrow Road, Seeley Lake: Medical

• 1/24, Highway 200, Greenough: Injury Accident