Community Notes

On Jan. 31 there will be a free workshop for “Taking Your Food Business From Concept to Consumer” held at the Ponderosa Building at the Mineral Community Hospital in Superior. The workshop will cover a wide-range of topics including cottage food laws; food product development; business plan development; marketing food products and more. Class will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register call Jan at 406-676-5901. The class is part of the Lake County Community Development Corporation.

Forest Service seeks comments

The Lolo National Forest is asking for comments regarding the proposed Granite Creek Road Decommissioning Project located approximately 25 miles west of Lolo. These are non-system roads that were previously under the ownership of the Plum Creek Timber Company and are currently closed to motorized vehicles. Comment deadline is Feb. 12, 2018 and additional information can be found at website: fs.usda.gov/lolo.

‘My Student in Need’ has 10 Alberton requests

My Student in Need is the brainchild of Dave Snuggs and his wife Karen Schaefer. It is a website that provides a private and nurturing way for teachers and faculty members to ask for help for a Student in Need.

It is also a way for the community to give back. The website, www.mystudentinneed.org, has fulfilled over 1,500 need requests from 70 schools in Montana since its inception in Sept. 2013.

Currently the project serves over 130 schools across Montana and soon hopes to expand the program nationwide.

“Our motto is simple,” said Snuggs on their website, “by brokering the community’s kindness, we bring hope to the hopeless.”

Currently there are 10 need requests for the Alberton Joint Schools. These include a 10th-grade girl who is 16 and needs proper dress attire to attend the Business Professionals of America State Competition in March.

She is in need of black pants, dress shirts and black dress shoes and seeks a donation total of up to $125. Any amount is welcome to get to her goal. Once funds are raised, My Student in Need will buy a gift card, and her teacher will take her shopping for items needed. The identification number is for this student is Alberton Joint School District #2737.

Another My Student in Need is a ninth-grade boy who is 14 and also needs proper dress attire for the Business Professionals of America State Competition. He needs black pants, dress shirts and black dress shoes and is also hoping for $125. The identification number for this student Alberton Joint School District #2741.

Donations can be made online or mailed to their office in Great Falls. Donations are also tax-deductible.

Small business training in Helena

The Montana Department of Transportation, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and Small Business Enterprise Program along with Prospera Business Network and the Montana Women’s Business Center invite new, emerging and existing business owners to attend the Annual Small Business Summit in Helena on Feb. 6 at the Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel.

This free three-day event offers a variety of pertinent trainings and resources for small businesses, including motivational speakers, certifications, as well as trainings for human resources, QuickBooks, marketing, branding, workforce training, understanding your financials, understanding how the government can help your business, cyber security and more. Meals are also provided. For a full agenda please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1312109158934741/

Wine tasting fundraiser for Alberton Library to be held on Jan. 27

The Alberton Branch of the Mineral County Library is holding a fundraiser on Jan. 27 called “The Armchair Traveler Wine Tasting.” It’s from 4-7 at the Alberton Community Center. Tickets are currently available The event will include a wine and cheese/chocolate pairing with wine provided by Hidden Legends Winery, Ten Spoons Winery, and Missoula Winery.

Attendees can also participate in a wine pull, where you pay for a chance at a bottle of wine. Wine pull wines will feature at least one bottle of each of the tasting wines plus contributions from Valley Grocery, River Edge, Trax Bar, and community members. Several silent auction items will also be available for bidding.

Appetizers will be provided by Friends of the Library, and water and another nonalcoholic beverage will be on hand for those who just want to participate in the silent auction and enjoy the appetizers while supporting the library.

All charitable donations will go toward building new book shelves and the purchase of books and DVDs for the Alberton Branch.

Senior meals

St. Regis Senior Center serves lunch every Thursday at noon and on the fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. On Jan. 24, lasagna; Jan. 29, 3 soups: taco, chicken or beef.

The Superior Senior Center is now serving free dinners to residents who are 90-years and older. They serve dinner every Wednesday starting at 4:30 p.m.

The Alberton Senior Center serves lunches on Tues. and Thurs. at noon.

Library Storytime

Alberton Library will hold Story Time on Fridays at 10 a.m. Library hours are Tues. and Thurs. 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Mineral County Library in Superior will hold Mother Moose Tales Reading Circle on Thurs. 11 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 0-3. Library hours are Mon.-Thurs. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat. 10:30-2:30.

The St. Regis Community Library is open on Tues. and Thurs. 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Sat. 10:00 AM -1:00 PM. Story Hour and Projects Tues. and Thurs. from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM. The library is located in the school.

Exercise room

St. Regis has a new exercise room, “The Tiger Power Fitness Center” open to the public with adult hours Tues. and Thurs. 4-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-noon and Oula Exercise Classes Tues. and Thurs. 6-7 p.m.

Pot lucks

January, February and March can be brutal and boring so a group of citizens are bringing back the Community Pot Lucks at the 4-H Building at the Mineral County Fair Grounds.

The times will be 6:00 pm and the days will be on Saturdays: February 10 and March 10. Speakers will also provide 30 minute program of interest.

Coffee and lemonade will be provided along with the plates, napkins and utensils so we ask those who participate to bring an entree, dessert or salad to share. For more information, call 822-3545.

Program works to train volunteer board members

MSU Extension Mineral County, Alberton Recycling and MCEDC are co-sponsoring a program called “Leading Local” to help train volunteer board members.

This program is a new program from Montana State University Local Government Center and is led by Tara Mastel, associate specialist of the MSU Extension Local Government Center. Mastel has been with the Local Government Center since 2015 and before served as the Community and Economic Development Extension Agent for Jefferson County. She assisted with the Horizon Program, of which Mineral County was a participating county.

The program will be held at the Alberton Community Center, Feb 10, 12-4. For cost and other registration information contact Emily Park at 822-3545.