Bigfork Great for locals and visitors

 It’s encouraging to note that so many local residents attended the April 30 Business & Community meeting at the Playhouse.

 Enthusiastic and articulate Bigfork cheerleaders spoke on behalf of a variety of projects which directly benefit our town.

 Promoting Bigfork to the top tier of world class music festivals is a lofty goal. And, yes indeed, within realistic reach. Yea and cheers to Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation and their muses and inspirations. Bravo.

 Hearty applause met the suggested marketing plans which focus on the adventurers: the kayakers; the Spartan racers; the bicyclists and the sailors. Come, meet, mingle and participate here. Let’s recreate in Bigfork.

 All these efforts to attract theatre attendees, artists,  musicians, jocks, and entire wedding parties to our town will directly boost our local economy. No question.

 Let’s not forget that as we try to entice strangers to visit and spend money in our versatile village....WE, the residents, are already here.

 So, as I glanced around the audience, I noticed several attendees who regularly commute to Kalispell and Whitefish, not for jobs, per se, but they drive multiple times a week for the majority of their shopping and service needs. Hey, why not? Definitely a matter of choice. Okay.   

 Clearly, Bigfork can’t be all things to all people. Understood. Realistically, we need a nearby city which offers choice hospital and medical care; a college; top-notch symphony and theatrical venues; certainly expanded shopping opportunities; along with parks, museums, restaurants. Definitely an airport. Access to Glacier and ski slopes. Also, it’s wonderful if we cooperate for the mutual benefit of our communities.

 Please consider that if we, as individual Bigfork advocates, could quietly, tweak our daily consumer habits by just a tiny calibration...and as shoppers, enjoy the amenities available right outside our doors....we’d foster a neighbor- helping-neighbor collaborative attitude and outreach.

 Simply a reminder, but this town boasts first-rate restaurants; shops; galleries; studios; jewelers; artists of all genres; theatre/actors; a glorious lake; views; golf course; boating; fishing; saloons; boutique ales, gyms, bakeries, florists  and also, lovely accommodations. This is all touted in our advertising.  

 Also, and fortunately for us, Bigfork handily houses super salons; hairdressers; skin specialists; manicurists, herbalists; naturalists; physical and massage therapists; doctors; dentists; veterinarians; and other essential services. Yes, we have a post office, multiple banks, a car wash, hardware and automotive support and dry cleaners. Perhaps we forget to take notice of these close-by,  easy-living opportunities.

 Attention shoppers: if it’s Thursday, Harvest Foods and Bigfork Drugs extend 5% senior discounts. Note, the Dairy Queen offers 10% off.

Now, doesn’t this define “small-town friendly?”

 Another critical aspect of Bigfork’s long range influence depends upon its hardy, trustworthy band of volunteers who not only lead, but follow through as community and business visionaries.  Listen up now:  

 Kim Jones truly envisions Bigfork’s hopeful expectations.   She’s taken on the July 4th parade’s planning and its full-scale event actualization as her volunteer contribution to Bigfork for the past few years and will do so again this year. Valley wide residents and visitors look forward to this festive holiday.  

 Volunteers staff our local food bank. Harvest Foods and other bakeries donate substantially to keeping the pantry’s doors open for those in need. Thank you Ann Tucker and Lee Murphy. Community churches help secure the continuation of this vital service through ongoing volunteerism and food donations.

 Bigfork appreciates its elf teams who decorate .....and more importantly, undecorate....main street in wintery weather. 

 Summer weekends offer organic produce from local farmers. A variety of flowers, artisan jams and breads, and all manner of arts and crafts are displayed at an easy-to-get-to-location. It is fun to see your neighbors there.

 So  rah, rah, rah, TEAM BIGFORK! And let’s try to shop locally when possible.

Laura Price d’Aquin, Bigfork