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Letters to the editor Skate Club thank you

| January 20, 2005 11:00 PM

On behalf of the Whitefish Figure Skating Club, its members and Board of Directors, we would like to thank the community for its generous support of, and attendance at, our holiday ice show last month. The turn out was excellent and the skater's performances were top notch. Most importantly, the skaters and the audience were able to pay tribute to Logan Taylor, a great young man who was a fine representative for the quality of young people growing up and living in Whitefish. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Although a few weeks have passed since the Whitefish Figure Skating Club (WFSC) hosted its Holiday Ice Extravaganza at the Stumptown Ice Den (December 18, 2004), the Board of Directors would like to like to extend our gratitude to a variety of people, businesses and organizations who helped support this show and helped us to bring home Willie Traeger and her pairs partner, Konstantin Emshanov, to entertain the over 400 folks who attended the performance.

For their generous monetary donations, we would like to publicly thank the following donors: Whitefish Youth Opportunity Corporation (Montana Espresso); Dr. David and Beth Sobba; John Kramer; Don Kaltschmidt and Don K Chevrolet; Greg Burger and Dire Wolf; Whitefish Sports Facility Foundation. Also, WFSC extends its gratitude to the Taylor Family and the Traeger Family for their contributions of time, money and support for the skaters and the themes of the show.

For equally as generous in-kind donations and support, WFSC would like to thank Dan Keyes and the City of Whitefish Park and Recreation Department; members of the City of Whitefish Parks Board; Stumptown Ice Den rink Manager Andy Hergesheimer and his great staff; and the board and members of the Glacier Hockey Association.

As always, a successful show takes quite a bit of hard work. The Whitefish Figure Skating Club would like to recognize the diligent and creative efforts of ice show director Carol Anderson and the club's skating coaches Jennifer Boye, Kathy Ruggles and Jane Moody. Their hard work and choreography made this show one of the best yet!

Finally, thank you to the skaters, the parents and family members who volunteered their time and worked very hard to make this show happen.

While WFSC is aware that seating and parking were both issues for those of you who purchased tickets, please know all of the rink groups are working toward improving both.

With so few events at the Stumptown Ice Den requiring a large capacity for seating, it is difficult to justify funding the over $25,000 it takes to add another 140 plus seats.

The parking is tight right now but the City of Whitefish has plans to modify the existing property to add parking for next winter season, which should ease overflow parking on to other private properties. When attending an event at the Stumptown Ice Den, please be patient with both the seating and parking and perhaps plan to arrive a bit earlier than usual.

The next event for the WFSC and Stumptown Ice Den is the Winter Carnival Ice Show on Saturday evening, January 29, 2005.

The show will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will feature members of the WFSC and Marnie Wilson, a Canadian coach and competitor who now resides in Fernie, British Columbia. There are limited tickets for the 140 or so available seats at $8 each and standing room tickets are $5 per person. Look for additional announcements and posters for more details.

Respectfully,

David S. Grady, President

Whitefish Figure Skating Club

Downtown Christmas decorations have new home

A huge debt of gratitude is owed Gary Stephens and his son Trek, from the Whitefish City Christmas Lights Volunteers, for the gift of 20 years of use of the Toggery Basement for year-round storage and fall refurbishment of the City Christmas decorations.

It was a sacrifice for the Toggery, as it was space that could have been put to other income-producing uses long ago. Fortunately, we are now able to use the old shooting range room, out at the Roy Duff Armory building for the Christmas Lights project, and have relocated all of the decorations to there for the future. The new space should work well for us.

If you have enjoyed the Christmas Decorations over the years, next time you see Gary or Trek, Please let them know.

Thanks very much,

Bruce Tate and the City Lights Volunteers

Local hero

I would like to tell about a local hero here in Flathead Valley. He is Roger Carlson of Polson, MT.

A few days before Christmas…my 2 sons (ages 11 yrs and 14 yrs) and I decided to make a trip to Missoula to give them the opportunity to do some "real" Christmas shopping.

"At a REAL Mall…, MOM!"…..anyhoo….we drove thru Polson early that morning and made a pit stop at the local McDonalds. We spent the rest of the day……sloshing thru the big town….and returned to Whitefish….late that evening.

The next day….I received a call at work from this person, Roger Carlson. He stated that he had found a wallet, belonging to my 14 yr old son in the drivethru at Mickey D's. I ask if he would mind returning it VIA U.S. Mail…..to us since it contained my son's…most recently purchased….ID.

Sure enough….Roger return the wallet, promptly….but to our surprise…..it also contained a $20 dollar bill that my eldest son (who is in the U.S. Airforce ) had given his younger brother for Christmas. My 14 yr old had forgotten the money was in the wallet.

Now….when I spoke with Roger on the phone….he did not mention that the wallet also contained money. He could have kept the money….and we wouldn't have known the difference. How honest can you be?

Well….in my books…..and in both my sons' eyes……this man is a true; dyed in blue; Honest HERO.

My sons believe in being Honest, True, and Benevolent in all things…..and Roger Carlson has renewed their faith….(and mine) in our "Fellow Man".

Sincerely

TM Wingate

Tsunami Relief

Thank yous

Thank you to the following businesses whose generosity helped make the Tsunami Relief Concert a success:

Andrea Dunn Scarves & Hats , Artistic Touch , BaaBaa Knitting Studio

Barbara Ivachek - astrology, Bear Grass Gardens. Big Mountain Tire, Big Sky Martial Arts, Bookworks, Callie Hulslander-Cooper, Carin Cross Interior Design and Feng Shui, Carrie & Tom Bowman, Christa Jacobs at Salon Central in Kalispell, Christi Masters - acupuncture, Montana Coffee Traders, Corner House Grille, Dwyer's Gallery, Ed McGrew, Edwin Fields - private tai chi sessions, Flannagan's Central Station, Gerda Reeb - Italian lesson, Good Medicine Massage, Greg Wieting - Reiki seesion, Heather Candles, Heidi Haugen, Icon Interior - Olwyn Bell, Imagination Station, Ina Albert, Inkworks Design, Jeanne Tallman, Kelly Nelson Photography, Kintla Printers, Little Doodlebugs (Tracy Anderson), Mark Holston, Markus Foods, McKenzie River Pizza, Melissa Franklin/ Clip Joint, Michele Carbery painting, Midway Rental, Myni Ferguson, Nelson's Ace Hardware, Outback Ski Shack, Pat Muri, Pocket Wackos in Kalispell, Purple Frog Gardens, Reccia's Salon, Red Meadows Chalet in Polebridge, Rolling Mirror Wellness Center, Sage Spa, Sappari, Shawna Moore - yoga instructor, Ski Mountain Sports, Small World Knits, Sonja Burgard, Photographer, Sportsman Ski House, Stephanie Sunshine - massage, The Toggery, Towne Printer, Truby's, Tupelo Grille, Velvet Sullivan - reflexology, Vicky Bernstein - Pilates instructor, Village Shop, Wasabi, Wendell Dunn, Attorney , Whitefish Lake Golf Course Restaurant, W2 Microproductions, Walking Man Frame Shop and Gallery, Whitefish Pottery, Whitefish Property Management, Whitefish Sea Kayaking, Whitefish Yoga Center and Winter Sports, Inc. (Big Mountain).

All proceeds went to Save The Children.

Jopek missing home and working hard

Pam and I have spent the better part of 18 years together. Leaving love and family for a 4-month stint at the State Capital was a difficult task.

I thank the community for the support, encouragement and attire, which makes the transition from a local farmer to State Legislator a little easier. I hold Whitefish, my friends and family dear in my heart during these days.

The first days in the House were difficult at best. The entrenched GOP pulled out all the trump cards the first day to elect their choice for Speaker of the House. It seems like GOP leadership is worried that Democrats cannot be given a two-year opportunity to set the agenda for Montana.

While I find the new Speaker to be a fair man, he was not the choice of the democratic caucus, but rather elected by the Republicans. The days ahead will demonstrate his leadership. I have the faith to trust that he has the ability to look out for one Montana.

With the House evenly split 50-50 on the floor and in all committees, exemplified are the campaign slogans of working together for the families, small businesses and retirees of Montana. I urge GOP leadership to put aside partisanship, gridlock and work for the common good of Montana. Montana deserves no less.

I am finding that professional politicians do not think like real people. They seem to worry more about the party and the wood shed than about the good, hard working folks back home. We need to get back to the days where family, faith and community were honored.

I will honor my pledge to work together with everyone, (in-spite of our differences). I find my self to be more and more independent-minded each day I am here.

I will work hard to define and fund our quality education system without raising taxes. I have introduced bills aimed at reducing property taxes for Montanans.

I have a basic health insurance bill, surface water access and water monitoring bills, and more tools for local government. I have begun renewed discussions on how to keep our public land in public hands.

A lot of this legislation is available on the web at www.leg.state.mt.us where you can also catch live feed audio of meetings. I have been selected for Local Government, Natural Resource, and Business and Labor committees.

I trust that the good folks of Whitefish are cherishing the winter months. My days here are long and mostly seated. My hearth and thoughts are with you all.

Ski a little for us down here in Helena this winter. We need it. It seems that if lawmakers could shred a few turns daily, the state would be better served. There is nothing like a little fresh air in the great outdoors to clear the mind and bury old ways.

There are some 2000 plus bills which will get debated. Some will make it, while others will find their way into the trash. Looking out for Whitefish, both new and old, both urban and rural is paramount in my mind. If at any time you would like to chew my ear for a while please do not hesitate to call me at 444-4800 or on my cell during non-meeting times at 250-1184 or email me at mjopek@mt.gov.

Pam, I'll be home soon, thanks for petting the dogs and cats and feeding the chickens. Your sacrifice for our community and State does not get recognized often enough. Hugs and kisses from Helena. I'll bring in the firewood next time I'm in town. I will honor the confidence, which you and Whitefish, have entrusted in me. My heart remains at home.

Mike Jopek