Glacier AIS Program 2019

The park’s AIS program will remain the same as it was last year, with one, possibly two changes. The changes being electric motors under 15 horse power will be allowed back on Bowman and Two Medicine Lakes with a same day inspection and permit, and it is likely, although not official yet that motorized boats will be allowed back on Two Medicine Lake by early July with the inspection and 30-day quarantine we require for motorized boats in Lake McDonald. Park waters will open for all boating Saturday, May 11th. Here is a refresher in the park’s boat inspection policies:

Trailered watercraft with gas-powered motors are permitted on Lake McDonald after an inspection and after being quarantined for 30 days prior to launch. Boats will be sealed to the trailer after inspection and seals will be removed by park personnel following the 30-day drying time. Non-motorized watercraft, and non-trailered electric motorized watercraft will also be permitted, and do not require the quarantine period.

Non-motorized watercraft and non-trailered electric motorized watercraft are permitted same day launch on Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake, Two Medicine Lake, St. Mary Lake, and Swiftcurrent Lake, after inspection and permit issuance by NPS staff. They will not require a 30-day dry time because the motors are not water-cooled and therefore are classified as lower risk, similar to hand-propelled water-craft.

Kintla Lake is open to hand-propelled watercraft, after inspection. All boat Inspections for the North Fork area of the park (Bowman and Kintla Lakes) are performed at the Apgar Village permit station.
*Boat inspections are not available in the North Fork area.

You may want to get a hold of Amy Secrest to find out more about the proposed plan to use Rotenone to kill off non-native fish in the Camas drainage starting this August, because she is the one who wrote it… but here is an MTPR article that summarizes the plan nicely:

https://www.mtpr.org/post/glacier-park-plan-would-give-native-fish-boost

Credit: Julie Nelson, Glacier Park Service

Winter Ball at the Hall on February 16

A fairly new North Fork tradition is the Winter Ball in February.  For the third year in a row, the culmination of weekly winter dance lessons is the glamorous Winter Ball at the Hall.  For all of its glitz and glitter, the Winter Ball is funky and in keeping with North Fork lifestyles.  Ladies comb through ball gowns in local thrift stores searching for just the right outfit and everyone brings refreshments to share.  Debo provides the music which is mostly along the lines of two step, waltz, and swing dance music……sometimes there is line dancing too.

The entire community is invited to this event which starts at 7:00.

Even if you don’t want to dance, it is a great opportunity to visit with neighbors and see what North Forkers have been learning in the winter dance classes.

Winter 2019 Interlocal Meeting – Updated

The Winter 2019 Interlocal Meeting will be hosted by Flathead County. It is scheduled to be held from 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20 at the Flathead Forest headquarters building, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901. (The Forest Service volunteered to supply meeting space.)  The meeting will be in the 3-Forks Conference Room.

David Prunty, Flathead County Public Works Director has included the attached agenda.
North Fork Interlocal Meeting Agenda – Winter 2019
Interlocal Issues – Winter 2019
David’s email address is: dprunty@flathead.mt.gov

As a convenience Bill Walker is serving as a central point of contact for issues that North Fork organizations would like to see addressed by the various government agencies represented at the meeting. If you can send him your issues by the afternoon of Tuesday, February 5, he will pass them on to the various organizations in enough time for them to prepare their presentations. 

Bill’s contact information is:
William K. Walker
11233 North Fork Road
Polebridge, MT 59928-9611
(406) 407-2764
e-mail wkwalker@nvdi.com

Thank you,
Vernon

Winter Dance Classes Continue in Preparation for Winter Ball

Weekly dance classes at the Hall are continuing leading up to the Winter Ball on Saturday, February 16.  The dance class date fluctuates each weekend so be sure to get on the dance contact list by sending an email to Debo at debopowers@gmail.com.  Every attempt is made to have dance classes on weekends when dancers who work in town will be in the North Fork.  You can also check the calendar of events on this website for up-to-date information.

The next dance class is Saturday, January 12 at 6:30.  We have added beginning West Coast Swing as a new dance (along with Waltz, Two Step, and East Coast Swing).

Weekly Winter Dance Classes in December at the Hall

A big crowd of dancers met at the Hall last Friday to learn (or review) the basic steps for Waltz and Two Step.  Many first-time dancers were there and by the end of the class, everyone could waltz and two step!

Weekly classes will resume on Friday nights in December leading up to the New Year’s Eve Party.  Classes will start on Friday, December 7.  [Only one week will the class have to shift to Thursday because Christmas Caroling will be happening on Friday night.] Beginners are always welcome!

December Dance Class Dates:  December 7 (Friday), December 13 (Thursday), December 21 (Friday), December 28 (Friday).

Thanksgiving 2018

Smiles, laughter and holiday greetings mingled with delicious aromas Thursday at Sondreson Hall. Steve and Christina Berg along with Mark and Margaret Heaphy graciously hosted the Polebridge community Thanksgiving Dinner attended by more than 100 neighbors and friends. Guests came from all over the Northwest and points beyond to celebrate here in Polebridge.

The hall welcomed us with a harvest themed display of straw bales, pumpkins and cornstalks on the porch and candlelit tables. Beautiful snowflakes fell intermittently throughout the evening adding to the rustic charm.

Dinner was served promptly at 4pm after Mark Heaphy offered thanks for the blessings we enjoy. Three Hutterite turkeys and a ham headlined the menu and North Fork cooks filled every remaining inch of the buffet line with fabulous side dishes, breads and salads. The dessert table boasted many local favorites including Ray Hart’s pecan pie and Joe Novak’s chocolate mousse. Neighbors enjoyed visiting and a chance to catch up with those we hadn’t seen over the summer. We sampled each other’s cooking and made multiple trips to the dessert table.

This annual tradition is a wonderful reminder to stop and be thankful for our community, neighbors and the wonderful valley in which we live. Many thanks Bergs and Heaphy’s and everyone who contributed to create another special North Fork holiday memory.

NFLA Website Administrator Change

Recently I learned that NFLA Website Administrator, Patti Craig-Hart, planned to step down, my first thought was, “Wow, she has completed so much work with the site and her effort has truly been a wonderful source of information for issues relevant to our North Fork community.” As a NFLA member, I want to personally thank Patti for her consistent efforts to keep us informed about current North Fork issues via the NFLA website. Thank you! You will be missed!

I asked Lois Walker for any historical information & background on the NFLA website and who the site administrators have been in the past. Here is what I learned.

Richard Wackrow originally setup the site in 2007. At that time he handled both the website and newsletter. In 2009 he resigned and Patti Craig-Hart took over the website admin role and Jon Elliott took the newsletter. During the last 9 plus years, Patti has expanded the breadth and scope of the site and focused on keeping members current on NFIA/NFLA events, and issues of interest (roads, river, weather & fire information) with the help of community leaders and land owners in the valley. In addition she maintained the NF News website, which has been another source of news for many in our valley.

Looking forward, I am excited to be the NFLA website administrator for our community. If you have photos, news, events or information to share with the North Fork community please send it to me at Vernon@petteyfamily.org.

 

 

North Fork Neighborhood Plan Update

Our North Fork Neighborhood Plan and ensuing zoning regulations are required to be reviewed every ten years. Our committee recently facilitated a meeting to comply.  At that meeting both landowners in the audience and members of the committee determined that there were no substantive issues that led to thinking that the Plan needed amending.  The committee will continue to meet as factual updating of the plan, along with other issues, need to be discussed.  We will keep everyone apprised as this endeavor continues.  Please review our meeting minutes and memo to the County Planning Board and contact me if you have any questions. 

Randy Kenyon
NFLUAC Minutes October 2018, NFLUAC Review Memo Oct 2018

October 1 Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

Here is the October 1 Wildland Fire Potential Outlook:  https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Not much of a surprise here.  As I was discussing with Lynn Ogle last week, we haven’t had a “season-ending” event, but the door is slowly closing on the fire season in the North Fork.  Note the forecast for warmer temperatures and below average snowpack for the Northern Rockies over the winter.

So, watch out for your burning conditions – we could still have warm, windy days where fires could escape in light flashy fuels.  Always do your test fire (with water handy) to see how it carries in the fuels surrounding your burn piles.  That will tell you a lot.

Thanks to all of you.  Have a great burning season, and a good winter!  Allen

North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee

This coming Sunday October 14th the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee will be meeting to discuss and review our Neighborhood Planning and Zoning as required every ten years. It will be held at 5:00pm at Sondreson Hall, just prior to the regular NFLA monthly meeting.  This is an opportunity to give input on this plan developed many years ago to preserve and protect our unique way of life. If there are any questions or comments please contact me at kenyonnorthfork@gmail.com or (406) 640-3184.  We hope to see you there!

Randy Kenyon

NFLUAC Chair