NEWS

Great Falls gives thanks

Jenn Rowell
jrowell@greatfallstribune.com

This Thanksgiving, we wanted to hear from you about what you’re thankful for in the city and surrounding area. We received a wide range of responses that show a vibrant community, and we’re sharing those with you now. You can continue to share with us using #GFThankful on social media throughout this holiday season.

What you said you’re thankful for in Great Falls:

Great Falls is a town with a heart. No matter what the cause, its people step forward to help. That’s why I’m grateful for Great Falls. It’s because of the people who live here.

—Norma Ashby, City-County historic preservation officer

NeighborWorks Great Falls is thankful for 35 years of community support, allowing us to continue our mission of building strong neighborhoods, creating successful homeowners and promoting quality, affordable housing. Home Matters! Families in stable homes are healthier, more financially capable, and have children who do better in school. Good homes contribute to economic development and make neighborhoods safer.

—Sheila Rice, NeighborWorks Great Falls

We are really thankful for how friendly and kind people in Great Falls are. We have found such great support in our 5-plus years here! Great Falls has a great heart.

—John Faulkner, Great Falls International Airport director

I am thankful for so many things here in town. The generosity of this community throughout the entire year to help others. The collective efforts of countless volunteers who step up and donate their time and talent to so many causes. The Blue Bridge. The River’s Edge Trail on an early morning run. Seeing the new goslings every spring at Gibson Park. Craft beer. The incredible teachers that gave so much to my children and thousands of others’ kids. Our access to the Rocky Mountain Front and Island Ranges.

—Bob Kelly, Great Falls mayor elect

I am very thankful for Greg Doyon, who is a great boss and had the courage to give me the opportunity to be the fire chief with the best firefighters and people I have ever known. It just don’t get any better than this!

—Great Falls Fire Rescue Chief Steve Hester

Great Falls Public Schools is thankful for teachers who care about reading even in the summer when school isn’t in session. Great Falls Public Schools is thankful for teachers who participate in professional development so they can do and be even better. Great Falls Public Schools is thankful for a community that supports science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education! Great Falls Public Schools is thankful for a community that supports the arts and events like Music in Our School Month.

—Tammy Lacey, superintendent of Great Falls Public Schools

We asked Great Falls residents what they are thankful for this holiday season.

First Friday Art Walks. Urban Art. Shopping in the Falls. Dams. River’s Edge Trail.

—Tracy Houck, newly elected city commissioner and director of Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art

I am thankful for the many people working, living and supporting downtown Great Falls. They’ve put in over 94,000 volunteer hours downtown in the last four years, while 163 building rehabs have created more than $26 million in re-investment, plus we’ve had 45 new businesses.

—Carol Bronson, with NeighborWorksGF and the Downtown Chicks

I am thankful for the patriotic support Montana civilian employers provide to our Guard and Reserve members. I am also thankful for the 20-plus volunteers and three staffers of Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve that are scattered across the state who provide support to these employers and our citizen soldiers.

—Chris Hindoien, chair, Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Doni and I are thankful we were transferred to Great Falls roughly 19 years ago. We didn’t realize at the time that we would make Great Falls home, but we simply fell in love with the community. An opportunity to go into business came up, we are Subway franchisees, and we jumped! Since then, we have both been able to get involved in the community in many different groups over the years, including the symphony, Military Affairs Committee, Montana Defense Alliance, CivAirs, Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Great Falls Development Authority, to name a few. We both are grateful to have Montana Air National and Malmstrom as such an important part of our city and our lives and have made many dear friends while gaining a greater understanding of our men and women in uniform. For us, Great Falls has been an inviting place to raise our boys, do business, be involved, and enjoy what Great Falls has to offer.

—David Weissman, Subs Inc.

As an athlete-centered, family-based, volunteer-driven and sponsor-supported movement, Special Olympics Montana has many reasons to be thankful. We are thankful for...

•Our athletes, whose courage inspires and teaches us acceptance and understanding.

•Our families, whose love, support, and encouragement fuel athlete success.

•Our volunteers, whose time, energy and commitment help bring out the champion in every Special Olympics athlete.

•Our sponsors and donors, whose generosity transforms the lives of athletes, families, and the community; and

•Our staff, whose dedication and passion support the Special Olympics Montana mission and vision.

I’m grateful for my middle-class neighborhood in northeast Riverview, where I’ve lived a total of 36 years. No one could ask for better neighbors. They are kind and considerate. They look after each other, in good times and bad. Some have lived here for more than 50 years, enjoying a relative peace. We are not wealthy as measured in dollars, but we are rich in so many other ways that truly matter.

Some of us grew up in this neighborhood, and when the opportunity presented itself, we returned. My wife and I live in the home my parents built. We have found contentment and solace. When the spring comes, and I am able to work in my garden, I am enriched beyond measure.

Recently, a young couple, with a little girl, moved next door. When the first snow of the season arrived last month, I watched her playing in the snow that blanketed her front yard, happy beyond measure in her new snowsuit. The smile on her face and the shrieks of joy said it all – the cycle of life in this neighborhood will continue for another generation, and enrich all of us who are lucky to live here.

—Bill Bronson, city commissioner

There is an underappreciation for our grocery stores and how fortunate we are to live in a state and country of such choice and abundance. Our family shops at 2J’s and the Albertsons on the west side, have since their beginning, a seemingly long time ago. As our side of the community has grown they have also grown to meet the changing times, needs and demands of their customers. I am grateful for the shelves always full and the many choices of each item. The stores, always clean to perfection and employees so polite and helpful well beyond expectation, a willingness to aid the customer find a unique item, or help carry heavy sacks of groceries to the parking area for an elderly or handicapped customer. I am thankful for the customers that will look you in the eye and greet you and mean what they say, there is a warm and cheerful atmosphere, a hometown feeling.

—Michael Winters, Great Falls mayor

I’m thankful to live in such an incredibly beautiful state.

Erin Granger, GFC-MSU marketing and former Tribune outdoors reporterI am thankful for the men and women at Cascade County Sheriff’s Office. I am thankful for their drive, dedication and commitment.

—Cascade County Sheriff Bob Edwards

Thankful for a great job, great family, great community, heck just to be alive and enjoying great reporting.

—Ron Martin, assistant fire marshal at Great Falls Fire/Rescue

I’m thankful for all the people who dog sit for me and find room in their hearts for my little pup.

—Kristen Inbody, Tribune regional reporter

I’m thankful to have the opportunity to live in such a beautiful city and state! There is always so much to do, see and explore — and it’s right outside my front door. I’m thankful for my family, friends and co-workers.

—Jenn Reichelt, deputy city manager

We are blessed to have a community that has so many outstanding features/qualities. I’ll name just a few: Our symphony and community concert series are second to none; we have mountain ranges that provide us with beauty, while at the same time sheltering us from severe weather conditions; we have outstanding civilian and veterans medical facilities; there are numerous outdoor and indoor sports and activities to accommodate a wide range of interests; but most of all I am thankful for the wonderful citizens of this great community; we don’t have all of the pretentious and plastic people that many of the large urban cities have. There is a certain legitimacy to our citizens, that make living here very warm and friendly. For the most part, our community prides itself on morals and family values.

I get confused when I hear anyone say that there is nothing to do in Great Falls; I tell them just look around at the complete picture, and you’ll see an abundance of wonderful things our community offers year around.

—Joe Parsetich, Vietnam veteran and Veteran Court mentor

I am thankful that Great Falls helped me become the person I am today, we have great public schools from the top administrators to the teachers, and I am proud that my children and I attended and graduated from them. Great Falls is centrally located and we can go to the mountains, prairies, lakes on just a short drive. Has great hunting and fishing close to town. Great Falls itself has Giant Springs, Missouri River, Lewis and Clark interpretive center, Russell museum, River’s Edge Trail, the state fair, public golf courses and public parks, all of which we take for granted. Our air quality is by far the best in the state. There are many great jobs. I am thankful that this is the town that my father and mother chose to raise me and my siblings in.

—Maureen Downey

Yes, we have much to be thankful for living in Great Falls. During the Vietnam conflict, my military husband, Neal, got an assignment to Southeast Asia. We had six children under the age of 8 living on base at Malmstrom AFB. We had to leave base housing, due to his assignment, and because we didn’t have the means for me to take our family to my home in Ireland, our children and I moved to low-income housing downtown. Despite the hardship and separation that year 1967/68 gave us many happy memories, living among people who cared for and helped each other in so many ways. We decided to come back and settle here when Neal completed his 26 years with the U.S. Air Force. We are thankful for the magnificent sunrise and stunning sunsets in our Big Sky country. So thankful for the improved River’s Edge Trail where our dogs have kept us healthy on their daily outings. We are especially thankful to live in a town where all the amenities are a mere 10-15 minute drive — airport, hospital, shopping, schools, etc. Most of all we are thankful that we live in a Christian town, where we can meet weekly in church with our extended Christian family and friends to indeed give thanks to our God who cares for us all.

—Marie Gray

I’m thankful for beautiful Big Sky views. Also, a community that knows how to make you feel at home.

—Andrea Fisher, Tribune crime and courts reporter‏

Thankful to my family for making a place today for those who live in Montana but who couldn’t travel to their own family meals.

—Travis Kavulla, Montana Public Service Commission

I’m thankful for this wonderful community and the new friends that I have made here.

—Morgan Davies, KFBB reporter

I’m thankful for living in a state where a two-headed calf passes for wall art. -Jim Strauss, Tribune publisher

I’m thankful for all the fab neighbors and friends I’ve made in my first year living in Great Falls; I’m thankful for kids riding sheep at the MT state fair rodeo; I’m thankful for the teachers/staff at Meadowlark and their support for my son’s education.

—Jennifer Sorenson, Tribune advertising director

We are grateful for our incredible students and for being part of an amazingly supportive community.

—Great Falls College Montana State University

We’re thankful for our coaches, skaters, parents and everyone who keeps our rink going.

—Great Falls IcePlex

I am thankful for all the wonderful people in our community that help out other people when they need it. I am thankful for all the nice places we have here in town and all the shopping options we have. Thankful for being able to wake up every morning and breathe the fresh Montana air. Most of all thankful for all my family and close friends and thankful to still have our son here with us and able to watch him continue to grow after two scary close calls to death. Thankful just for all the awesome people here in Great Falls and surrounding communities that are so supportive of one another and so supportive to their community during a hard time or during a death of someone in small tight knit community, it’s just amazing how people come together for the families during those hard times.

—Ange Vohs

I’m thankful for my amazing, non-trad book club! We’ve been meeting monthly now for almost eight years and these “babes” are awesome!

—Kristen Cates, Tribune education reporter

I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to work at my dream job and with a great group of people at National Weather Service-Great Falls.

—Roger Martin

Great Falls Police Department:

•We are thankful for 911 dispatchers, fire and medical personnel spending the holiday on shift with us, proud to stand with you. — GFPD

•I am thankful and feel blessed we have such amazing community support, especially in light of national events. — Police Chief Dave Bowen

•I am thankful for family, friends and to live in such a wonderful community. — Capt. John Schaffer

•I am thankful for our military, they sacrifice everyday to protect us from harm and preserve our rights. — Detective Art Schalin

•I am thankful for Jesus and Victim Witness Services, these volunteers do so much to help local crime victims. — Detective Adam Price

•Thankful for my friend that reminded me to slow down and look closely at a snowflake. — Adrienne Ehrke, volunteer coordinator