Good news for Columbia Falls

GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News

Good news is announcement that North Valley Head Start will have a new home in Columbia Falls. Hope is to move in by the first of the year.

It will be located at 80 Railroad Street in the building purchased from Glacier Christian School at the north end of Nucleus Avenue.

Director Renee Funk, Northwest Montana Head Start, said children from both Columbia Falls and Whitefish areas will attend. Buses will provide transportation to the new site.

Currently boys and girls from Columbia Falls are bussed to the Head Start Center in Martin City. Whitefish children are taken to Kalispell Head Start Center.

Head Start is designed for children three to five years of age. Priority is for children from low income homes, but applications are accepted from all income levels. There is no charge. Applications are available from Renee Funk, director, Northwest Montana Head Start, Kalispell.

It is anticipated there will be 52 boys and girls at North Valley Head Start. Classes are conducted all day with literature, math, science and social sessions. These are individually designed and appropriate for the young boys and girls participating. There will be three classrooms with usually 17 or 18 students in each room.

North Valley Head Start will have morning sessions from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. with both breakfast and lunch provided. Midday schedule runs from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. with lunch and a snack served. Afternoon classes are from 12:30 until 4 p.m. with lunch and snack for boys and girls.

A fully equipped kitchen is included in plans for North Valley Head Start. Meals are served family style, with children serving themselves.

Head Start is a social service program and meals together help accomplish this objective. Renee stressed that family involvement is encouraged. Hope is for area organizations and individuals to volunteer.

Building updating at 80 Railroad Street in Columbia Falls includes commercial kitchen, laundry room, moving and adding of minor walls to create larger classrooms in various locations, add intercom service, refinish bathrooms and fixtures, associated mechanical, electrical and plumbing work, new ceiling tiles throughout, refinish all floors to VCT and Vinyl flooring, minor gypsum board touchup where required, new paint throughout, replacing all doors and hardware, update existing fire alarm service, replacing back garage door with a wall system, adding two new windows and replacing a minor number of windows that are broken.

Alternate is to add insulation, windows and minor exterior work.

Opinion of probable cost is $ 135,000 plus alternates.

There will also be renovation of the playground.

Building was first location of Glacier View Ranger District in Columbia Falls. It is across Nucleus Avenue from the Klothes Kloset.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News