Volunteers help at Discovery Square

A host of volunteers began work on a new bakery at Glacier Discovery Square last week.

The kitchen will be located in the former First Citizens Bank's drive-up window. Baker Jean Flynn will run the kitchen once it's completed, said Barry Conger, director of the First Best Place Task Force. The bakery will primarily feature pies. Flynn is a pie maker and interior designer.

The idea, Conger said, is to make the bakery into a working classroom, where high school and Flathead Valley Community College students can learn a trade and how to operate a small business.

The project got a significant kick-start last Friday when volunteers from Leadership Flathead began work on the kitchen. The organization is supported by FVCC and the Kalispell Chamber Foundation and promotes and encourages emerging and existing leaders to participate in community projects and service.

The volunteers also painted, made repairs to benches and trash bins and generally spruced up Discovery Square.

Conger said the hope is to have the bakery up and running by the end of this month. Equipment for the nonprofit bakery was donated by Meadow Lake Resort and Montana Coffee Traders. F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. and Western Building Center also chipped in materials for the project.