Cary Jo Hofstad

Election results are in: changing of the guard in both Kalispell and Whitefish. Kalispell has a new mayor, 33 yr old Tammi Fisher, a local attorney. Some change in the personnel on Kalispell City Councel as well. Whitefish put in new council members. It will be interesting once everyone is in office if these are changes for the better or not.

School elections in Kalispell had differing results for restoring the building funds. Elementary passed and high school failed. The way the schools are in the valley is a bit different. Elementary in the city of Kalispell would have those voters voting. For the high schools, enrollment covers quite a wide area with voting coming from voters not necessarily in town and in the town elementary districts. Is this a push back on high schools from the new construction of Glacier High and major remodel on Flathead High? District is considering going back for another vote on this later on. My take was that the taxes would not increase, just stay the same to build up the reserve.

Weather had been mild but now is getting colder. Need to start getting the snow pack built up on Big Mountain in time for an early December opening day.

by Cary Jo

Snow!! Yes, some wet stuff is falling today. A cold front is passing through and giving us a little white, so far nothing is sticking in the valley, but should be in the mountains.

Hunting season opened last Sunday. You could feel the buzz in the air. Not a lot of success, but never the less many wait months for the chance to walk around in the woods looking for game.

Successful closing on my first REO - bank owned property. I had a seller and even with the extra paper work, went very smoothly. The good thing about an REO, there is no delay in a response back from the seller (lender). In a short sale you can literally wait for months for an answer. In my way of thinking, my buyer got a great deal since this house should have been around $200k and sold for $182k.

Off to deliver home books to 2 of my new listings!

It has been a busy week in my real estate business. I have hardly put my head up to see what is going on around me in the valley. 4 new listings, 1 large commercial property, 3 more closings before the end of the month - LOTS of paperwork!! It is all good. The nice thing about being in this business for so long is referrals from past clients. 2 of those just this week.

Election for mayor of Kalispell is picking up speed as far as campaigning goes. Watching with interest to see if there will be a changing of the guard. I really have no say since I don't live in the city limits, but it does effect me anyway since I work and sell real estate in the city.

Fresh Life church is a fairly new Calvary church in Kalispell. They meet in a former movie theater in town and have just bought another, the Liberty, to do a simulcast service since they max out their space even with 3 services. Dynamic teaching and great music. Levi, the pastor, is in his 20's but definitely has a gift for teaching.

Off to take photos of a new listing. Watch my web site for the newest listings.

Sailboat came out of Flathead Lake today for the winter. The lake gets drawn down in preparation for next Spring's snow melt, so the 30' boat is lifted out and put on blocks for the winter. Always a little sad to see another sailing season pass, but looking forward to skiing!!

Kalispell and Whitefish city elections are coming up. The Daily Interlake is full of campaign news and opinions. Be interesting to see if there is a changing of the guard in November.

It appears that the long awaited Kalispell Highway 93 bypass construction will be going out to bid very soon. I have yet to hear where the funds are coming from to actually build it, but they must be there available to use.

I had lunch yesterday at Kalispell Regional Hospital with client and friend Dr. Melissa Hulvat. Melissa is the new breast surgeon at the hospital. She has been very busy speaking during this breast cancer awareness month. If you have to go through such a trauma, Dr. Hulvat is the gal you want to take care of you! I got a tour of her clinic, very homey and comfortable - for a doctor's "digs" as she calls them.

WINTER??? What is normal weather for NW Montana? Who knows. 2 weeks ago we were 15-20 degrees above normal. Now we are the same difference below normal. Snow yesterday, now today, bitter cold. My horses are putting on their winter fir as quickly as they can, but will blanket them for the next couple of days. Next week the weather promises to return to "normal" temperatures.

Kalispell Ski Club swap is this weekend at the fair grounds. Plan on getting my ski pass for Whitefish Mountain Resort photo taken so I am ready when the mountain is ready.

Winterizing the bee hives this week. They are hunkered down in the bottom feed box trying to stay warm. A lot of honey there for them to eat and get through the winter.

Flathead Valley Community College has a very well done play we saw last night, "The Art of Dining". Good for a few laughs. Great turnout. Love the new theater.

Good day for knitting. Camas Creek Yarns has a beginning class this morning. Stop by Colter Coffee for an Americano and walk down to the yarn shop to be in the cozy store and re-learn how to knit.