Letter to the editor: family fun day a success

On Saturday, July 30 the Big Arm Association held its very successful annual family fun day, and we thank everyone who attended.

It was a very special joy to watch the kids play the carnival games and soak each other in the famous Water Wars as grown-ups ate lots of barbecue while some danced to great local music. Your generous support will allow us to complete more restoration work on the Big Arm historic school, so thank you.

This year, with the help from local businesses, we were able to complete a couple of major projects. Just days before the event, we laid a 20x30 foot concrete pad, graded the ground, and installed a 250-foot water line, all of which added tremendously to the success of the family fun day and will improve future events.

In these tough economic times we truly appreciate and thank the following local businesses that gave us such incredible support: LHC, Inc. Ready-Mix Concrete of Kalispell for donating time and materials; Jerry Whealon and his company for donating equipment and time to lay the concrete; Glacier Lake Sand and Gravel for donating materials; Jerry Brown for moving equipment; Ron Freiz  for loaning a mechanical lift and Jeff Meslin for loaning his backhoe and giving dozens of hours of labor.

Also thanks to Super One for working with our group to provide excellent produce and meat and a huge thanks to Tim Bruner and his crew for making the most mouth-watering barbecue. Thanks also to Rainbow Toilets and Polson Propane.

A special thanks to Wilfred Kenmille and Friends and Gil and Erma Prier of the Westernaires, who donated their time to create wonderful music for the event. A big thank you to the Salish & Kootenai Confederated Tribes and the Polson District School Board No. 23 for continuing to support our efforts to restore the historic school and turn it into a community center.

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to put on this fun community event. There are far too many of you to list, and you are greatly appreciated.

The next Big Arm community events will be a giant yard sale and pancake breakfast on Aug. 20 followed by the fifth annual barn dance Sept. 3, which will be held at the historic school this year.

For more information please call Alison at 849-6628.

Alison Meslin

Big Arm Association