North Fork stalwart and NFPA board member Alan McNeil dies

Alan R. McNeil – courtesy Cecily McNeil

The North Fork Preservation Association has a story about Alan McNeil that begins… Alan Rideout McNeil died of a heart attack on the 29th of December, 2017. The family wish to thank the neighbors, the Sheriff’s department, and the Coroner, all of whom were most helpful in the midst of the recent blizzard conditions. Read the full story here.

There will be a gathering on the North Fork this summer in Alan’s memory. Alan will certainly be missed.

Alan McNeil has Passed

We just received word that Alan McNeil, dear friend of the North Fork, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Friday. Our hearts go out to Cecily, Bruce, and especially Alan’s daughter Fiona. Alan was a good neighbor and active member of the NFLA. He will be greatly missed.

Champion of the North Fork John Frederick dies

John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade
John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade

John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July paradeJohn Frederick, champion of the North Fork and a founder of the North Fork Preservation Association, died today following a long illness. John passed away peacefully, his final weeks filled with the affection, laughter and tears of friends, family and well-wishers.

Here is John’s obituary, written by long-time friend and North Fork historian Lois Walker.

Long-time Polebridge resident and champion of the North Fork, John Frederick, Jr., passed away on November 15. He was 74.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1943, to John and Betty Watson Frederick. He attended school in Marion, Ohio, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from The Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969, stationed for almost two years in Alaska. Continue reading Champion of the North Fork John Frederick dies

Family, Forests and the Future

From the Flathead Beacon

The Flathead Beacon has a wonderful article about our good neighbors the Chrismans and the good work that they’re doing. It starts… NORTH FORK — To accompany siblings Allen Chrisman and Kari Wiley in the Chrisman Family Forest is less of a nature walk than it is a meander through the woods to meet old friends. Read the full story here.

2017 NFLA Fall Newsletter

The 2017 NFLA Fall Newsletter comes to you courtesy of the North Fork Landowners Association (NFLA).  A copy of the newsletter is sent out every fall to NFLA members reminding them to renew their membership and includes a membership renewal form as well as a letter from the NFLA President.

We invite you to join us! Membership dues are only $15 a year per person. Your dues are important to us. They help us maintain the Community Hall and organize lots of exciting activities that bring the community together. We have activities for everyone, whether you are interested in reading, gardening, hiking, biking, dancing, birding, or floating the river.  We hope to see you at NFLA activities this fall/winter including Thanksgiving day dinner.  More information about joining the NFLA may be found here.

Get a copy of the current newsletter and access to past newsletters on the NFLA Newsletter page.

2017 Annual Financial Report Available for Review

Treasurer Chris Heitz reports that the Annual Financial Report for the 2017 fiscal year has been audited and is now ready for your review. Read the full report here.

Thank you, Chris, for all of your hard work throughout the year. And thanks to the Audit Committee who performed the audit!

Don’t forget, you can get access to all of the associations documents including this report on the Documents/Meeting Minutes page.

Thank You for the Sunshine Committee

Here’s a message from Tom Marx… Thank you, Bonnie Ogle, of the Sunshine Committee for the Card and thoughts. I crashed a motorcycle on the first day of my “Once in a Lifetime” trip through the Alps. I managed to ride an hour and a half into a two week trip. It still was “A trip of a Lifetime”. I am in physical therapy now for a stretched and twisted left knee and ankle. Thanks again for the card and for thinking of me.

Final NFLA Business Meeting of the Year – Oct. 8

Message from Treasurer Chris Heitz… Our last NFLA meeting of the season is Sunday, Oct 8.  Larry Wilson will be showing some of his wonderful slides at 7PM, and the meeting will be at 8PM.  We are asking our members to bring donations of canned goods for the Food Bank or the Veterans Pantry, and of course, monetary donations are also welcomed.  This 70th Anniversary summer has been one of the best and we hate to see it end, but our new Board is already planning events for next summer!  If anyone has ideas or suggestions for next year, please email Chris Heitz at treasurer@nflandowners.org and they will be forwarded to the Social Committee.  Thank you so much for your past support, and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 8, and next year.

Food Drive for the NW Montana Veterans Food Pantry

Larry Wilson announced at last night’s NFLA Business Meeting that we will once again be conducting our October food drive.

The annual food drive, originally proposed by Bob Grimaldi years ago, is a way for the NFLA members to get involved in a community service project and provide others with a small share of our good fortune. North Forkers set aside appropriate items while cleaning out and closing their North Fork homes for the season and bring them to the Sondreson Hall during the final business meeting of the year.

This year we’re collecting for the NW Montana Veterans Food Pantry. According to their website, “You can help by donating coffee, canned and boxed goods, juice, frozen meats, grains, cereal, produce and peanut butter.” They’ve provide a Food & Nutrition Chart as a guide to what might be most appropriate to donate.

If you want to write a check, you can give it to one of the Board members and they’ll see that it gets turned in with the food. For those who want a receipt that they can use for tax purposes, just let Larry or someone on the Board know and they’ll make that happen.

In years past we’ve collected over 100 pounds of food. We can do it again! So gather up your food donations and either bring them with you to the hall for the Sunday, October 8th, Business Meeting or drop it off with a neighbor who will be coming.

Crazy Hat Square Dance 2017

A good time was had by all at this year’s Crazy Hat Square Dance. Here were some of the hat entries.

This year Karen McDonough took home the pie prize.

Crazy Hat Square Dance 2017

Then the square dancing began, with Debo Powers  doing her usual excellent job of teaching and dancing. With enough people to form four squares and folks left over, it was not only the best square dance of the season but one of the best ever!