Category: Committees

Thanksgiving at the hall was rich in community spirit

NFLA Vice President Donna Harrison recently attended Thanksgiving at the hall and sent in the following story…

Numbers were small, but community spirits high on a snowy Thanksgiving Day. The challenge of an icy, rutty parking lot was met with neighborly good
cheer as vehicles were pushed in to parking spaces.  The Hall was warm and lovingly decorated by volunteers who arrived early to make it a welcoming place.

Three turkeys and a beautiful ham donated by Steve and Christina Berg were prepared in the homes of several generous folks.  These and delicious dressings, scrumptious mashed potatoes and gravy, tasty casseroles, and salads awaited the line of diners. Of course, the beautiful table of pies
and cakes and other goodies tempted everyone and caused many to overeat (including me).  The smaller crowd made visiting easier, and lots of folks caught up with neighbors while enjoying food and fellowship in our unique North Fork way.

Thanks to everyone for a wonderful time.

Thank you Donna for sending in the story. Don’t forget, if you have something to contribute to the website, don’t hesitate to send it in using the NFLA contact page.

North Fork History Project has some new interviews

The North Fork History Project members were busy this summer interviewing more folks from the North Fork.  Here’s what’s new:

  • Esther Chrisman – Esther was born in Illinois in 1927 to parents who were immigrants from Norway.  She met her husband, Baird, in college and they were married in 1948.  They started traveling west together to visit the Rockies.  They visited their friends, Orville and Helen Foreman, who had purchased the Petersen homestead in 1948.  Esther and Baird camped at Avalanche Lake and did lots of hiking in Glacier Park.  They bought the Bart Monahan homestead in 1958 when their son Allen was three months old.  They knew many of the original homesteaders.
  • Bud & April Evans – Bud and April’s parents, Frank and Edna Evans, bought the Panorama Ranch near Polebridge from Bill Adair in 1946.  As children, Bud and April spent their summers in the North Fork and winters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  Frank had come from Illinois to work as a naturalist for Glacier National Park.  He started a hiking concession in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.  Edna came to Montana to work as a nurse in his business.  They fell in love and married.  The Panorama Ranch later became headquarters for their hiking trips in the Park.
  • Naomi Hoiland – Naomi was born in a log cabin in 1935 on Half Moon Lake near Belton.  She first came to the North Fork when she was four years old and started school a year later at the Ford schoolhouse.  She has fond memories from that time.  She was raised by her grandparents, Ruth and Bert Conn and they lived near the Holcolms.  Her Grampa Bert worked seasonally for the Forest Service as a smoke chaser, lookout, and on the trail crew.   She knew many of the original homesteaders.

You can get access to these interviews on the North Fork History Project page under Oral History Interviews.  Our many thanks to Debo Powers, Tom Edwards, and Karen McDonough for conducting these interviews and to Debo for writing up the summaries.  And of course our sincere thanks to Esther Chrisman, Bud & April Evans, and Naomi Hoiland for agreeing to share their early North Fork memories with all of us.

Backwoods Booklovers looking for suggestions

Although the snow is flying, it’s not too soon to be planning for next summer. The Backwoods Booklovers are soliciting suggestions for 2014 books.  Two fiction and two non-fiction books are included in the schedule.  Please send your suggestions, with a review if you have read the book, to Gerry Stearns at gsmontana@hotmail.com.  If you don’t have suggestions but would like to have a say in what books are read, please send your e-mail address and note to Gerry.

Flathead Forest Friday Focus: Weeds

Everyone Invited for a Breakfast Chat on Friday, September, 20th

KALISPELL, MONT. – Nearly 30 species of invasive plants, or weeds, can be found on the Flathead National Forest. Each year forest employees strategize when and where to put its resources in the fight against these invaders. The tools used to kill the weeds are constantly changing as botanists consider everything from plant sniffing dogs to plant eating insects. Come chat with us about our efforts. Continue reading Flathead Forest Friday Focus: Weeds

Good turnout for astronomy night

Astronomy nightAbout 30 people came to the Kinsolvings for the first astronomy night of the year.  Our presenter and guide to the stars, Mike Hawkaluk, came early and set up two large telescopes so that we could take a peak at the setting sun.  We were actually able to see several sun spots on the sun’s surface.  Once the sun went down, Mike gave an interesting slide presentation that provided great context and background for what we were going to be seeing in the night sky.  Then he led us to the Kinsolving’s field where the telescopes were set up and showed us double stars, nebula, star clusters and more.  Mike had this terrific laser pointer that enabled him to show us exactly which stars and constellations were under discussion including Capella, Cassiopeia, the Great Square of Pegasus, and the summer triangle.

The second astronomy night of the season is scheduled for Saturday, September 28th on the Hart’s deck.  Mike will return with a new presentation, so you don’t want to miss it.

Fire Mitigation Committee update, August 2013

The Fire Mitigation Committee held its annual Firewise Day workshop on July 10, 2013, before the Inter Local meeting.  The focus of the workshop was the Wedge Canyon Fire, ten years later.  Over fifty people attended.   The response was enthusiastic, particularly to presentations by Allen Chrisman and Wally Bennett.

Allen spoke about climate change and its effects on fire behavior and frequency in the Northern Rockies.  Basically, we’re likely to experience more fires and more intense fires as temperatures rise.

Wally Bennett took over as Type 1 Incident Commander the day after the Wedge Canyon Fire made its big run on July 24, 2003.  He recently visited the North Fork to see the public and private fuels reduction work that’s been accomplished since the fire.  He remarked at the workshop that the work has made a big difference and that he’s proud of what we’ve done.   He also spoke about ingress and egress and how important it is to firefighters to turn their equipment around.

In addition, Michael Dardis discussed the major fuels projects undertaken by the U.S. Forest Service on the North Fork since the Wedge Fire.  Brian Manning did the same on behalf of the DNRC.  Federal and State efforts complement those of private landowners.

Otherwise, it appears that the North Fork will be awarded another fuels reduction grant, this one in the amount of $91,000.  We don’t have a formal agreement yet but if it happens, monies will still be available on a 75-25 basis, with the grant paying 75% and the landowner paying 25% of the cost of a project.  That’s increasingly rare; many grants now require 50-50 contributions.   There will be a focus on Trail Creek Road as an exit route in the event other routes aren’t available.

Finally, speaking of the ten years that have passed since the Wedge Canyon Fire, it’s also been ten years since the Fire Mitigation Committee was appointed.  Ed Heger, Lynn Ogle, Molly Shepherd, Jerry Wernick and Larry Wilson have served from the beginning.  Allen Chrisman joined the committee a few years ago, after her retired as Fire Management Officer for the Flathead Forest.

Molly Shepherd, Chair
North Fork Landowners’ Association’s
Fire Mitigation Committee

Line dancing at the hall

Come join Debo Powers and all your North Fork neighbors at Sondreson Community Hall next Friday, August 30th, for an NFLA-sponsored line dancing event. Beginners are encouraged to attend because Debo will show us how it’s done.  The fun begins at 8PM.  And don’t forget to check the NFLA calendar for all the latest North Fork events.

Square dance was old-fashion fun

Last night friends and neighbors gathered at the Sondreson Community Hall to celebrate a North Fork tradition, an old-fashioned square dance. And this one was the best ever. With just enough people to make up two squares, everyone had a chance to dance all night long. Folks were prepared for each move thanks to Debo Powers who had spent time breaking down each song step-by-step so that we were able to practice before the music began. As a result, we not only did old favorites like the grand right and left but ventured into new territories with a Texas star and grand chain. Debo also gave a quick lesson on the waltz. Finally, she and Ed Neneman showed us how the West Coast Swing is done. The dancing continued until midnight and a good time was had by all.

If you missed last nights square dance, don’t despair. Debo is leading us all in line dancing on Saturday, August 30th at Sondreson Hall starting at 8PM.

NFLA Garden Tour

On Monday, August 5, the NFLA held its second annual North Fork Garden Tour.  Over thirty people attended the tour which visited five gardens.  These gardens were different from the seven gardens that were featured on the tour last year.  North Fork gardeners must contend with a short growing season and frost that can occur on any night of the summer.  Many North Fork gardeners use a combination of outside gardens for hardy crops and greenhouse space for more tender crops.   There was much discussion about soil, fertilizers, mulch, and pests, including critters that eat gardens like ground squirrels and deer.  Snacks were available at most gardens, including fresh apricots from the Wernick’s greenhouse-protected fruit trees.