Live Olde Time Music by The Unstrung String Band at Sondreson Hall on June 22 at 7:00pm.
Debo Powers will lead the dancing, suitable for all ages and abilities. Dance, listen to fantastic music andmeet your neighbors. Bring your favorite finger foods and drinks to share.
We are requesting a $5 or $10 donation for the band, but this is not required.
COVID-19 is now considered a global pandemic with cases rising exponentially around the world. This disease can cause pneumonia and death and there is no vaccine against it and no cure. People over 60 are most at risk. There are probably many more infected with the virus in the U.S. than has been reported due to the lack of testing across the country.
In Montana, as in many states in the country, schools are closed and events have been cancelled in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming our hospitals which is happening in Italy right now.
The North Fork is a good place to isolate oneself and many North Forkers have prepared to “shelter in place” for the duration of the threat. However, as North Forkers continue to travel and make trips to town, the chances increase that the virus will find its way to the North Fork. Please exercise precaution when returning to the North Fork and delay getting together with friends and neighbors until you are certain you haven’t brought home a nasty souvenir.
North Forkers who have gone to town have reported empty grocery shelves and a long line at Costco as people stock up.
Below is the latest notice from Governor Bullock regarding the coronavirus.
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Message from Governor Bullock:
This week, I announced a set of directives and guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable Montanans, including closing our public K-12 schools, adhering to social distancing, and limiting visitation at nursing home facilities.
I have directed Montana’s public K-12 schools to close starting March 16 until March 27. During this time, schools will engage in planning to provide arrangements to provide free meals to students who need them, pursuant to a waiver obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture, and to provide for all other matters and services that students need in the event of future or ongoing closure.
I recognize that our schools often serve as a lifeline for families and that this decision is going to have disruption on Montanans over the coming weeks. I’m committed to working with schools, communities and public health to minimize the impact. I encourage businesses to do everything they can to support families as well.
I am strongly recommending that the public limits all gatherings, especially no more than 50 people, in every community across the state. I am also recommending that individuals over the age of 60 or who are immunocompromised or with chronic health conditions do not participate in gatherings of more than 20 people. I also recommend that parents should avoid, if possible, placing children for childcare with grandparents or individuals over the age of 60 or immunocompromised persons.
I have suspended visitation in Montana’s nursing homes except for certain compassionate care situations. People who meet the exception for visitation will undergo a screening to determine whether they have traveled in the last two weeks, are residing where community spread is occurring, or if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
As governor, it is my top priority to protect the health and safety of Montanans, particularly our most vulnerable, at a time when we face the potential for extraordinary health risks from coronavirus in our state. Social distancing is one of the most important primary protective measures to flatten the curve of this virus. I cannot underscore the seriousness of following these measures to help our neighbors, friends, and families.
If you have any symptoms, pick up the phone and call your doctor or local public health provider for consultation, instead of driving to the doctor’s office or emergency room.
You can contact your local county or tribal health departments by finding their contact information through the online map HERE.
The coronavirus Task Force has launched an informational phone line at 1-888-333-0461 and Montanans can also email questions to covid19info@mt.gov.
A website has also been set up to keep Montanans apprised of Task Force actions at COVID19.mt.gov. You can also visit the DPHHS website at www.dphhs.mt.gov for the most up to date and timely health information related to the coronavirus.
Remember the simple steps you can take:
· Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your sleeve
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds
· Avoid touching your face
· Stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Thank you for making the tough, but correct decisions each and everyday. It’s going to take all of us working together to overcome these challenges and dynamic times. But as Montanans, I have no doubt that’s what we’ll do.
Sincerely,
STEVE BULLOCK
Governor
Hello North Fork Dancers!
Our last dance class before the Winter Ball is Sunday, February 9 at 6:00pm at the Hall. The Winter Ball is on Friday, February 14 at 7:00pm.
Inexpensive ball gowns ($5-10) are available at the thrift store on the right as you enter Columbia Falls (before the Post Office), but they are only open on Tuesday and Thursday…..They have put their dresses out early because of the NF Winter Ball!
Debo
Hello North Fork Dancers!
Here’s a fun way to spend Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart…
Join us at Sondreson Hall for the Winter Ball on Friday, February 14 at 7:00. Be sure to bring drinks and finger foods to share…and your dancing shoes. Invite anyone who you want. This is open to everyone (even if they don’t dance!)
There are only two more dance classes to get ready for the Winter Ball: Friday, January 31 at 6:00 and Sunday, February 9 at 6:00.
Hope to see you there!
Debo
The last two dance classes of the season will be on Friday, January 31 at 6:00pm and Sunday, February 9 at 6:00pm. Invite anyone else who might be interested. If your spouse/partner can’t come, come anyway! The first hour of the class is geared for total beginners. The second hour is dance moves beyond the basic steps. We are learning to waltz, two step, and swing dance. Everyone is welcome.
The first weekly winter dance class was held last weekend with more than 20 people in attendance!! The next dance class will be on Sunday, December 8 at 6:00pm. Invite anyone else who might be interested. If your spouse/partner can’t come, come anyway! The first hour of the class is geared for total beginners. The second hour is dance moves beyond the basic steps. We are learning to waltz, two step, and swing dance. Everyone is welcome.
On a gloriously sunny day last Saturday, a smaller than usual crowd showed up for the annual Hall Clean-up at Sondreson Hall. The North Fork Dancers (those who participated in the winter dance classes) made up most of the group. Much was accomplished and everyone had a good time. Firewood was chopped and stacked; the fence was repaired; the outhouses, generator shack, and Hall were thoroughly cleaned; and kitchen supplies were re-organized. Rachel and Alan Peura provided the lunch by grilling hamburgers and serving side dishes. The lunch table was set up on the front porch in order to enjoy the perfect spring day!
Thanks to all of the folks who organized the cleanup and everyone who came to help. The hall is now ready for a summer of serious business and serious fun.
Spring cleaning is lots of fun when it is accomplished in a community.
Nineteen North Forkers gathered on Saturday, May 27, for the annual Hall Clean-up. Wood was split and hauled into the Hall for both wood stoves. Rafters were dusted and windows were washed. The kitchen was cleaned and re-organized. The floor was vacuumed. The outhouses were scrubbed and new paint was added. Fences were repaired. The generator shed was swept. A fallen tree was cut up for firewood and brush was stacked on the burn pile.
With so many helpers available, the work was accomplished quickly with lots of time for visiting and sharing news. Lunch was prepared by Alan Peura who cooked burgers and veggie burgers on a grill to add to the assortment of salads and cookies.
The knapweed at Sondreson Meadow was under attack on Thursday by the North Fork Weed Wranglers, a committee of the North Fork Landowners Association. The weed pull was organized by Donna Harrison, committee chair. Kat Pine, the Education/Compliance Officer from the Flathead County Weed Department joined the group under cloudy skies to add her expertise to the search and eradication of knapweed. Many bags of knapweed were hauled away by Kat.
On Tuesday, July 19th, is the Annual Weed Roundup. Meet at Sondreson Community Hall at 10AM. There will be weed identification in the morning and weed pulling in the afternoon. Bring your own weeds for identification. Please bring water, lunch, gloves, and garbage bags.
The Weed Wranglers would like to remind landowners that we are responsible for controlling noxious and invasive weeds on our properties.
On Saturday, a large number of North Fork landowners participated in the annual Hall Cleanup Day at the Sondreson Community Hall in the North Fork. Equipped with gloves, tools, and cleaning supplies, landowners washed windows, tables, counter tops, floors, outhouses and everything else they could get their hands on. In addition, wood was chopped and stacked, rafters were dusted, yard debris was burned, and noxious weeds were pulled. There were so many volunteers that the work was finished quickly and everyone enjoyed a lunch prepared by NFLA board members.
We want to thank all the volunteers who came to help!
Click on a photo to see a slide show of the cleanup.
