Thursday!Fest a first step in energizing downtown.

What has been a slightly sleepy downtown Kalispell is beginning to wake up.

It starts with this week's inaugural Thursday!Fest and stretches into the possibility of a rejuvenated Liberty Theatre for live performances.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/07/01/news/local_montana/news_8753576063_05.txt

Despite slower-than-usual runoff, officials say Flathead Lake is on pace to reach full pool by mid-June. The one thing that can push that back – and did, just last year – is the threat of flooding.

The National Weather Service, however, say flood risks look low this year.
Snow pack levels are lower, and the warm-and-cool trends of the past few weeks have delivered a more relaxed release this spring compared to last year's dramatic runoff.

To read the full text of this article online, click here:
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/flatheads_waters_rising_on_schedule/10728/

As a 3 day weekend approaches it's obvious from the frenzy that folks are trying to make the most out of it. I mean its supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, whats not to like?

Whether that means staying home and catching up on yard work, or heading out of town I hope your weekend is everything you want it to be. Tell us about your weekend -- we all have reasons for living in the Flathead Valley, what did you do Memorial weekend?

Finally the bikers of Flathead Valley are hearing good news -- "roads are starting to open up in the park". NOT to motorized vehicles, but to bikers. Its a tradition for many folks to ride the roads of Glacier National Park, its far better if there are no cars to avoid.

Currently you can drive to Avalanche Lake parking area and ride Going To The Sun Road to the Loop. This is approximately a 16-mile round trip with gentle grade to start leading to steep grade right before the Loop. Take your family it's a great outing.

My friends and I rode up Route 7 this past weekend. It runs parallel to the Camas Creek Road except its pretty narrow and mainly gravel. Route 7 runs from Fish Creek campground right into Polebridge if you care to travel that far. It was an adventurous ride as there were numerous trees down across the road that you had to lift your bike over, but made for a full body workout. The weather was gorgeous and the views even better.

It’s shaping up to be a busy year – and most likely three years – for roadwork in Montana.
So the good being repaired roads making travel within our State easier and of course jobs for many Montanans.
The bad being delays which can tick-off even the most patient of us.

The Department of Transportation is in the bidding stages for a number of its 69 projects identified as candidates to receive a portion of the state’s $211 million of transportation infrastructure funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The highway and bridge funds represent a major percentage of the $800 million total the state has in stimulus money.

For the full story visit:  http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article

In the tiny town of Simms, just west of Great Falls, a rural rugby tradition was born.

That was 2004. Five years later, the burgeoning U-19 Montana Youth Rugby Association still calls Simms home, but it has also welcomed five new teams, including a squad from the Flathead called the Black and Blue. The other four are Drummond, Missoula, Frenchtown and Helena. There will likely be more in coming years.


Our very own Realtor, Rich Lapp is proud to be apart of the Flatheads organization and is happy his son Hunter Lapp is following in his footsteps. Contact Rich at 253-5263 if you would like more information on the Black and Blue of the Flathead.

To read the full text of this article online, click here:
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/montanas_emerging_rural_rugby_tradition/10023/

Glacier National Park plow crews may be in for a setback, with the National Weather Service saying the park will take the brunt of an incoming winter storm. Heavy snow is expected today along the Continental Divide, with a winter storm warning in effect for Glacier Park through Wednesday morning.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/04/28/news/local_montana/news_8759114212_02.txt

Bitterroot Lake has finally defrosted, leaving the white ice behind, and welcoming the deep blue liquid.  This weekend I passed several hardy souls who pulled their trailer to the lake, to launch and begin their boating season.  No doubt they were disappointed to have to wait another week, but that will make their first journey out on the lake all the sweeter.  My husband and I said a sad farewell to the ice fishing, trading it for a day on Flathead Lake last week.  With both of us catching good sized Mackinaw, a friendly competition was on for the biggest catch.

The valley is teeming with wildlife this spring, and it seems as if everywhere you turn, there are new wild faces gazing at you.  While speaking on the phone to a client the other day, two cow moose trotted down our fence line, causing our horses to tag along to see what these odd creatures were up to.  The deer are happily munching the new grass, and the squirrels and chipmunks delight in antagonizing our dogs. 

The larch trees are getting bright green needles, once again, while the deciduous varieties are showing off their new spring buds.  Pretty soon the forest wildflowers will dazzle us with their color, and we’ll be off hiking new spots in Glacier Park or the Jewel Basin.   We’re all making plans for the summer, and with so much to do, we need a few more weekends to squeeze it all in!

Think about a visit, to experience some of our summer events such as art walks in Bigfork, sky diving at Lost Prairie, float trips down the Flathead, or a day trip to Wild Horse Island.  There’s always Glacier Park to visit (which is fabulous!), and the National Bison Range for a real adventure.  Then whet your whistle, and appease your appetite at great places to eat, such as the Mackinaw Grille in Somers.  If you need some good ideas, give me a call and I’ll see what I can do to help. 

When you fall in love with Montana, and can’t bear to leave, I’ll be at your service to find you that perfect property to call your own!

Call Carmen Hobson at 406-871-8760 or email carmen.hobson@coldwellbanker.com

During recent cross country skiing outings I have come across a moose every time. Now in Glacier National Park I was not surprised to finally meet up with the moose that had been leaving footsteps meandering over the road as it foraged for leaves to eat. But while skiing at Whitefish Golf Course I was most surprised to have a moose watching over me as I turned a corner in the course. Oh the moose was happy, lying in a grove of trees and not worried by my presence, but still I made quick haste outta there. Now I read in the Whitefish Pilot that the poor ol' 900 pound, 3-year old bull moose had to be relocated before the golfing season opened. According to Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials the relocation went without a hitch and now ol' moosy is living back up in the hills out of skiers and golfers ways.