Annual auction benefits community

Do you ever wonder how Bigfork gets along without a local government?

In part, the town thrives because of local organizations like the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork, formerly known as the Bigfork Development Company.

A fund-raiser auction to help the community foundation begins at 5 p.m., Sept. 15 at the Garden Bar. There will be free beer, wine and Hale's Island Noodles.

Also, bid on auction items donated by local businesses. The live auction begins at 7 p.m., with such items as a Seattle Seahawks package including airfare, lodging and tickets to the Oct. 23 game against Dallas, buffalo hunt in Dupuyer, the original new Bigfork Christmas card painting by Toni Whitney, vacations in La Quinta and Fountain Hills, a Flathead Valley helicopter ride, jewelry and much more.

"It just keeps getting bigger and better every year," organizer Donna Lawson said.

Credit cards will be accepted at this year's auction.

The foundation supports its work through the annual fund-raising silent auction, memberships and donations from individuals, businesses and professional organizations. Some of what has been accomplished includes:

?Building and maintaining the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center, which includes a Flathead County Library branch

?Swan River Nature Trail maintenance and project management

?Helped develop the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts

?Ongoing support of numerous community activities including the Bigfork Elf Force and its holiday decorating activities

?Funded and donated two emergency heart defibrillators and located them in downtown Bigfork

?Installation and maintenance of the stylish streetlights on Grand and Electric avenues

?Installation and maintenance of the downtown sidewalks

?Designed and erected directional signage

?Ongoing planning with the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce to develop better parking availability downtown for visitors and employees

?Support an array of community recreational activities by offering financial and maintenance support to Sliters Pak, Harry Horn State Park, The Community Nordic Center, Bigfork's public pier and dock, Bigfork's community and public tennis courts and neighborhood parks.

The foundation is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of life and general welfare of the Bigfork community. The foundation was originally formed to save the old Bigfork Playhouse building.

Since, the foundation has worked to give Bigfork many assets and amenities not often found in small Montana communities.

For more information call 837-5888.