Bigfork groups share thoughts on 2012
Editor’s note: The following is only a sampling from some of the local groups and organizations on what they thought their biggest accomplishments were in 2012. There were many more people and groups who had a major impact on our community, so if any group or person wants to make their voice heard, please feel free to email a letter to the editor or a Tip o’ the Hat submission to editor@bigforkeagle.com.
Bigfork is an unincorporated village, there is no city government to keep the gears turning and ensure the citizens’ needs are met. Instead there are many people, groups and organizations that work hard throughout the year to accomplish goals, but looking back, each one had something in particular that stood out.
BIGFORK FOOD PANTRY
The Bigfork Food Pantry’s staff of eight volunteers gave out 49,554 pounds of food, feeding an average of 250 people twice a month in 2012. This came to an average of about 70-75 families per month, up from the previous average of 24 or 25 families a month according to Bigfork Food Pantry Director Ann Tucker.
Their Christmas distribution alone added up to 6,158 pounds of food. Plus they had multiple monetary donations and volunteers assist as well throughout the year.
“I don’t know if people in Bigfork realize how much food we give out,” Tucker said. “The food pantry is so appreciative of all the help we get from the Bigfork community, we couldn’t do it without their help.”
SUMMER PLAYHOUSE AND CHILDREN’S THEATRE
The Bigfork Summer Playhouse unveiled a new logo for the first time in almost 50 years late last spring, but that wasn’t the only highlight of the year according to Brach Thomson, founder of the Bigfork Children’s Theatre.
Thomson played piano for al 84 of the summer playhouse’s performances, organized five performances with the children’s theatre, and performed in last month’s “A Touch of Christmas” concert.
But one other event struck a cord with Thomson; the Playhouse team beat the Townies in their annual summer softball game.
“It was a fast year because it was packed full,” Thomson said.
BIGFORK SCHOOLS
Superintendent Cynthia Clary said the biggest accomplishment for the Bigfork School District in 2012 was their integration of new technology. The program started in January with a trial session in the spring semester that included iPads, smartboards, Kindles and iPod touches, each installed with educational software.
“I think the thing is it is so fascinating and increases the potential to learn exponentially,” Clary said. “The other thing is the speed and ease of access to information. Gone are the days of going to library and reading a lot of material off the shelf. Kids can get a topic and research can be done in a matter of minutes.”
BIGFORK FIRE DEPARTMENT
Bigfork Fire Chief Wayne Loeffler said the fire department’s major accomplishment for the year was remodeling their facility to have sleeping quarters for the volunteer firefighters. It took the department about three months to accomplish and was completed in June.
SWAN RANGERS HIKING CLUB
The Swan Rangers hiking club did volunteer trail maintenance work with the Swan Lake and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts during 2012. All together the club did 237 hours worth of trail maintenance work.
“That’s been pretty well received and it’s a nice way to give back for the privilege to hike on public lands,” Keith Hammer said.
The club started their weekly hikes on Nov. 12, 2005 and the end of 2012 was their 370th hike. They averaged 10 people per hike and averaged one new hiker per week.
“It’s funny, you never think from the front end that it will last so long and go so well and then you look and it’s 370 outings,” Hammer said. “You never thought a hiking club would last so long.”
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A BETTER BIGFORK
It was a busy year for CFBB between installing 11 security cameras, a clock tower, and sidewalk rails in downtown Bigfork, remodeling Sliter Park’s bathrooms, and helping with the new after-school program, ACES. CFBB President Paul Mutascio and vice president Donna Lawson both said the clock tower was the group’s biggest accomplishment for 2012.
Mutascio also said assisting the ACES program was a major accomplishment for the group since it’s intended to be an ongoing program that helps local kids.
“You know, the years go by so fast you can’t remember what happened this year and the other,” Lawson said. “It seems like it was yesterday.”