Community Briefs

Death Notice – Steven Johnstone

SEELEY LAKE – Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a call Saturday April 22 at the Wolf Ridge Apartments. Steven Johnstone was found dead in his apartment.

Deputy Mike Sunderland said, “He died of natural causes. Nothing was deemed suspicious.”

Movie Night at the Seeley Lake Fire Hall May 6

SEELEY LAKE – The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and Seeley Lake Rural Fire District invite youth and families to the Seeley Lake Fire Hall May 6 starting at 6:30 p.m. Tacos will be served before the featured movie “Moana” on the big screen in the fire bay.

While the event is geared towards elementary students, youth in high school and families are welcome as well. Children in kindergarten or younger must be accompanied by an adult.

The movie starts at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite movie snacks to eat or share. Also, bring a comfortable chair, blanket or pillow. Popcorn and drinks are provided.

Transportation can be provided if needed. Call Missoula County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Sunderland for more information or to arrange a ride, 406-531-0766.

Seeley Lake Fire District and Missoula County Parks & Trails Lead Council Agenda

SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Community Council will host the Seeley Lake Fire Chief and Missoula County Parks and Trails at their May 8 meeting. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

Fire Chief Bob Vanden Heuvel will give an update on the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District.

Garrick Swanson and Dale McCormick with Missoula County Parks and Trails will discuss the requested 60-foot wide public access and utility easement through Memorial Park. This would allow ingress/egress and commercial access off Highway 83 (pending development of available services)for Alpine Trails, a 30-lot proposed subdivision adjacent to the county-owned parcel.

Like always, there will be an opportunity for public comments on non-agenda items.

The informal part of the meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. next Monday, at the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitors Center, 2920 Highway 83, with pizza and sodas.

For more information call Vice Chair Jack Greenwood at 210-1213 or email jgreenwood@seeleylakecommunitycouncil.com

Local Vendors Sought for Bob Marshall Music Festival

SEELEY LAKE —The Seeley Lake Community Foundation seeks local vendors to participate in the Bob Marshall Music Festival. Vendor applications and information is available at http://www.thebobmusic.com. Local food or artisan vendors receive a discounted vendor fee but must register and drop the applications by the Seeley Lake Community Foundation office by May 15.

The Bob Marshall Music Festival is a weekend full of adventure and good music. Held in scenic Seeley Lake, this festival celebrates Montana’s crown jewel, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, to which Seeley Lake is the gateway.

This is a three-day experience that includes adventures such as mountain bike races, 50k, 10k, 5k foot races, paddleboard races, yoga on the lake, organized hikes and pop musical jam sessions. As well as music from around the country, including many up and coming artists.

Seeley Lake is a community that gives and this festival embodies that spirit by supporting Seeley Lake’s non-profit organizations as well as Seeley’s various businesses.

Swan Valley Community Library Highlights

Swan Valley - The book chat at Swan Valley Library will be Wednesday, May 17 at 1 p.m. The group will be discussing “Winter Wheat” by Mildred Walker who lived in Montana where she wrote nine of her 13 novels.

“Winter Wheat” is about 18-year-old Ellen Webb coming of age on a dry-land Montana wheat farm and then experiences life and love as she moves on to attend college and later to teach in a one-room school.

Reviewers said that Walker’s descriptions help readers relate to and experience the farm and the elements.

An excerpt from “Winter Wheat”: “September is like a quiet day after a whole week of wind. I mean real wind that blows dirt into your eyes and hair and between your teeth and roars in your ears after you’ve gone inside. The harvesting is done and the wheat stored away and you’re through worrying about hail or drought or grasshoppers. The fields have a tired peaceful look, the way I imagine a mother feels when she’s had her baby and is just lying there thinking about it and feeling pleased.”

Webb in the story finally realizes that love, like winter wheat, requires faith and deep roots to survive the many hardships that threaten its survival.

Preschoolers and homeschoolers are welcome to come to Story Time held every Friday at the Swan Valley Library at 11 a.m. Youngsters hear a story and then participate in an art project to take home or leave for library decoration.

If a patron has a question about downloading ebooks from the Missoula Public Library at http://www.missoulapubliclibrary.org, there is a resource person that can help navigate the process. Call the Swan Valley Community Library at 754-2521 for an appointment.

The Swan Valley Community Library is located next to the Swan Valley Community Hall. It is open Mondays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.