Cary Jo Hofstad

It is finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! Snow is falling, everything is white in the valley. A big snow storm due to arrive in the next few hours should make Big Mountain fans smile and hit the slopes. It is cold out but that is okay as long as the white stuff keeps falling.

For all of us who live in the north end of Kalispell, good news. Super WalMart is going to be built near Costco and all the other retailers at the north end of town. This will give us a badly needed grocery store without driving into town to shop, or a convenient place to pick up groceries on the way home from work.

If vehicle traffic is any indication, there seems to be quite a lot of Christmas shopping happening in the valley. The owners of Glacier Surplus have told me that they had a couple of bang up days this week already. They sell surplus merchandise from major retailers. A great store to open in this economy. The store is next to Kalispell Center Mall so gets a lot of walk over traffic from the mall.

I have several listings coming online in the next month or two so keep checking my web site for new additions, www.kalispellcary.com.

Finally! Snow has fallen on the Whitefish Mountain Resort with more promised this week. 2 runs are open on the backside of the mountain. Got a dusting in the valley last night that looks very Christmas like.

City of Kalispell is working on a possible parking garage downtown. That would surely help with shopper and business parking issues. My office is downtown so I have the privilege of walking everywhere from my office without the worry of parking, but I know how annoying it is for everyone else.

Flathead County is actively having residents such as myself, name our private roads that extend from main roads. This will help 911 service providers locate residences more rapidly and accurately. It has always been that you can live a mile or more from a main road but that main road is still your address. Makes it easier to tell friends how to find your house as well, no more "my address is such and such but I actually live .25 of a mile from that road".

Here's to happy shopping, skiing, decorating, or whatever else may keep you busy as we get closer to Christmas!

City of Kalispell and Flathead County news from this week:

The City of Kalispell is still reviewing budget cuts. Strong stands are being made to not lay off police officers or firemen. Strong stands are being made to NOT cut in these vital areas. 550 acres have been approved for the city south of town for commercial, industrial and suburban residential uses. Part of this property has already been annexed to the city and Kalispell Council voted to change the growth policy to allow this development to become part of the city and to be developed in the approved manner.

Plum Creek has receveived a thumbs up from local planning committees to develop approximately 800 acres near Bitterroot Lake west of Kalispell. Plum Creek has done an awesome job in the past with infrastructure on small acreage parcels that were formerly logged.

Kalispell Art Walk is Friday night! Galleries and shops will be open and it should be a great pre-Christmas stroll around town.

Where's the snow??? Big Mountain has a dusting at the summit and the valley has seen some flakes but where is all the white stuff? We are supposed to see some fall tomorrow but when oh when will ski season start this year is anyone's guess.

Being from Seattle, snow was a dreaded word. Even the threat caused wide spread panic and often the flakes never materialized. Here in northwest Montana, from hunters to skiers, citizens start grumbling about the absence of snow. Apparently hunting suffered since snow is necessary for tracking the animals. We had some nice venison last night for dinner courtesy of our son-in-law, a Whitefish native and good hunter. I, who has no problem eating the beef we raise, have a little problem digesting deer meat killed that very day. A cultural thing I guess.

Shopping in the valley got off with a bang last Friday. Herbergers at the mall opened at 4am. I actually know some people who were there when it opened! Clients who recently opened L&H Surplus next to the mall had a great weekend. They sell merchandise that is returned or overstocked from chain stores such as Target. A great economy to open such a store.

Colter Coffee in downtown Kalispell is a popular hangout as the weather gets chilly. It is on Main Street in an old building, lots of character and great coffee. They will be open, along with many other galleries and shops Friday night for the Art Walk. Musicians will be at various locations and the town will be lively. Should be a good time and great for downtown merchants.

I will keep you updated with the snow report. I have a ski pass and hope to get lots of use out of it!

Whitefish has hired a new City Manager. He comes from Colorado. Kalispell has started the search for a new manager.

We have had a couple of very cold mornings and this is one of them. Cold this time of year is between 20-30 degrees. It is funny how the concept of cold changes during the seasons. This could feel warm in January! The pay off is sun and clear skies.

Hunters are hoping for snow. They may have had some in the higher elevations the last couple of days. The hunter check station west of Kalispell was very busy Sunday afternoon when I drove by. I know a few hunters who have been successful thus far - elk and deer. It is a crazy obsession among those who partake. Something longed for and planned throughout the non-hunting season.

Looks like the new Kohl department store infrastructure is in next to Lowes and Costco. Will watch for progress in the actual construction. The Whitefish Safeway and Walgreens have made a lot of progress the last couple of weeks with Walgreens looking further along.

Big Mountain frequent skier card purchases will be wrapping up on Nov. 22 with a pray for snow party on the 29th. I am hoping for another great snow year to use my season pass!