Community Briefs: Independence Day celebrations, Family Fun Fest, student honors, and more

The Old Glory Landmark Committee is inviting Helenans to a free, family-friendly Fourth of July celebration on July 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Centennial Park.

The celebration is now in its 13th year. This year's program will begin at 11 a.m. and will be emceed by former Mayor Jim Smith. Current Mayor Emily Dean will also share remarks, and two local children will lead the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance.

There will be bounce houses, the Balloon Man, free hot dogs, root bear floats and water, hand-out flags from the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a showcase of emergency vehicles.

The Dan Henry Band will have live music throughout the day, and a Montana DNRC helicopter will deliver a new 30-foot-by-50-foot American flag, which will be raised by veterans and Boy Scouts.

July 8 event to mark first reading of Declaration of Independence

The city of Helena will have a celebration to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 at 3:30 p.m. at the Montana State Capitol.

There will be live music, performances by the State Capitol Band, food trucks, guest appearance by Paralympian Katie Verderber and more. The Declaration of Independence will be read at 4 p.m. in conjunction with other communities nationwide.

"The Declaration of Independence remains one of the most enduring expressions of American ideals," said Helena Mayor Emily Dean. "This event offers out community an opportunity to reflect on our nation's history and celebrate the principles that unite us."

Mountain View Meadows 4th of July Community Celebration

Mountain View Meadows is hosting a series of events on July 4 to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary with its 11th annual Independence Day event.

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., activities include the ‘“Chalk Up the Block” Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition and Display and the Basketball “Best of 10” Showdown. Prizes are awarded to the winner in each of six age categories for the Chalk Art and each of five age categories for the basketball competitions.

Evening activities kick off at 6 p.m. with the Kids Push, Pull & Pedal Parade with a $250 grand prize to the best parade entry. The theme this year is "A Spiffy 250!" Each entry must include at least one child under 12 and one adult to participate. For more details regarding judging criteria and registration, please reach out to the event coordinator at april.mvm@hotmail.com.

Later in the evening, starting at 7 p.m., the Friendly Horseshoe Tourney welcomes two-member teams to compete for a chance to win a $100 cash prize. Participants must be age 16-plus and register before 8:30 p.m.

Pre-registration for activities is preferred but not required. For questions regarding the event, activity details, or for registration forms, please email April, the event coordinator, at april.mvm@hotmail.com before noon on Saturday, July 4.

Also, in the evening, come get an airbrush tattoo or your face painted by Soulfire Unlimited while you listen to live music by the Brett Mondie Band, and picnic on the lawn. You can bring a basket or check out the great food vendors including Habana406, Charm City Made and Coffee & Cream.

Registration opens for St. Peter's Family Fun Fest

St. Peter's Health recently announced that registration is open for its Family Fun Fest on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Centennial Park and the Great Northern Town Center. 

Billed as Helena's premier health and wellness event for children and families, the free event will begin with a 1-mile kids fun run and continue with educational booths, interactive games, prizes, community resources and family-friendly activities designed to make learning about health lifestyles fun and engaging, a news release from St. Peter's states.

“Our mission is to help improve the health of our communities and partnerships like this help make that possible,” said Amy Emmert, senior director of population health at St. Peter’s Health. 

Intrepid Credit Union is the presenting sponsor for this year’s event and has committed to continue its sponsorship through 2030.

To learn more and register, visit sphealth.org/family-fun-fest. Registration is required to participate.

City launches special event permitting survey

The city of Helena is inviting residents, event organizers, businesses, community organizations and other stakeholders to participate in a public survey aimed at improving its special event permitting process. 

Feedback collected in the survey will help city staff identify opportunities to streamline procedures, improve communication and better meet the needs of event organizers and the community, the city said in a press release.

"Special events bring our community together, support local businesses, and enhance our quality of life," said City Manager Alana Lake. "We're asking everyone who has experience with hosting community events to share their perspectives so we can continue improving our permitting process."

The survey will be available through July 31 and can be completed online at beheardhelena.com.

Helena student honored at SkillsUSA event

Tithen FitzGerald, an MSU-Northern student from Helena, was recently awarded the college bronze medal in technical drafting at the National Leadership & Skills Conference held June 1-5 in Atlanta. 

FitzGerald was among 7,000 students who competed in the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships at the conference, which is the largest gathering of future skilled workforce, according to a news release. 

A total of 1,224 gold, silver and bronze medals were presented to student winners in 115 hands-on career and leadership competitions across middle school, high school and college/postsecondary divisions. Many winners also received industry prizes, tools of their trade or scholarships. 

To be invited to the SkillsUSA Championships, students first had to win their state-level competition, demonstrating their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills. 

"This showcase of career and technical education demonstrates SkillsUSA at its finest," said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. "Our students, instructors and industry partners work together to ensure that every student excels."

The next NLSC will be held June 21-25, 2027, in Atlanta. Learn more about SkillsUSA at www.skillsusa.org.

Heritage Tourism Council announces new directory

The City of Helena/Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council recently announced the availability of the new Historic Preservation Resource Directory. 

The directory can help people looking for an architect, help with listing a building on the National Register or finding someone to work on woodwork or windows, and more, according to a news release from HTC. The directory contains information for a variety of historic preservation contractors in the Helena and surrounding areas. 

The directory is available online at www.lccountymt.gov/historic.

For more information, please email kmacefield@lccountymt.gov or call (406) 447-8342.

City closures on July 3 and 4

City of Helena administrative offices, the Civic Center, Municipal Court, Capital Transit and the Transfer Station Administrative Office will be closed Friday, July 3 for the holidays.

Residential and commercial garbage collection will operate on its regular schedule.

The Transfer Station and Last Chance Splash Pool will be open July 3 but closed July 4.

Bill Roberts Golf Course and Muni's Restaurant will maintain their regular hours on both days.

Grasshopper campground improvements

The Grasshopper Campground, located in the Castle Mountains, will undergo a series of improvements this summer and fall, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest announced in a press release. 

The campground will be closed from July 27 through Nov. 1 to complete the work safely and efficiently.

Campsites will be expanded to accommodate modern camping equipment, new culverts will be installed to improve drainage, picnic areas will be improved and new signage will be installed. 

The improvements are made possible through funding from the Great American Outdoors Act.

For questions or more information, contact the Belt Creek–White Sulphur Springs Ranger District at 406-547-3361.

AARP commits $180K to Montana communities

AARP recently announced 14 organizations that will receive Community Challenge grants for 2026. 

The grants are part of AARP's $8.3 million commitment to fund 750 quick-action projects aimed at making communities more livable for people of all ages, with a focus on the needs of older adults, AARP said in a news release. 

"AARP Montana is dedicated to partnering with community leaders, stakeholders and policymakers to enhance the vitality of Montana’s communities, ensuring they thrive for residents of all ages, particularly those 50 plus," said Tim Summers, AARP Montana state director.

In the Helena area, grants include: $14,484 for the city of Helena Parks and Recreation department to upgrade popular trails with smoother surfacing, gentler slopes and rest areas; $2,500 for the Whitehall Community Center to conduct a walk audit to assess sidewalks and infrastructure; and $2,500 for BCDC Trails Committee in Townsend to engage older volunteers in walk audits to identify barriers and guide future pedestrian safety improvements. 

View the full list of grantees and their projects at aarp.org/communitychallenge. Learn more about AARP’s work to support livable communities at aarp.org/livable.

Carroll appoints new director for Master of Social Work program

Carroll College has appointed Dr. Jean Ollis as program director and department chair of its Master of Social Work program effective July 1, 2026, the college announced in a press release.

Ollis joined Carroll in 2022 as an associate professor for social work and has been instrumental in the development of the program, the release states. She is a licensed clinical social worker with more than three decades of experience, and has taught across the curriculum, mentored students and faculty, and provided clinical supervision for graduates pursuing licensure. 

Before joining Carroll, Ollis spent 12 years at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio, where she served as MSW program director and department chair in addition to roles as field education director and assistant professor, the release states. 

"Dr. Ollis has been an invaluable member of our faculty and brings the experience and leadership necessary to guide the next chapter of our Master of Social Work program," said Carroll College President Dr. Jennifer Glowienka.

Ollis succeeds founding director Dr. James Petrovich, who concluded his tenure on June 30. The college said it thanks Petrovich for his vision and leadership building the program.

To learn more about the program, visit carroll.edu/msw.

Helena launches survey on Parks & Recreation Master Plan update

As part of the city of Helena's launching of a Parks & Recreation Master Plan update, which will serve as a 10-year roadmap for the city's parks and recreation system, the city mailed a survey to a random sample of Helena households to get statistically valid feedback from people in different neighborhoods and demographic groups.

All residents can also participate in the survey at helenaparksurvey.org.

The project team is also holding stakeholder meetings and will launch a pop-up booth at the Helena Farmers Market on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fuller Avenue.

Comments and questions can be sent to parksmasterplan@helenamt.gov.

Comments sought on proposed I-15 fence project

The Montana Department of Transportation is inviting the public to comment on a proposal to replace the highway fence on both sides of Interstate 15 from the Lewis and Clark-Jefferson County line all the way north to the mouth of Wolf Creek Canyon.

The new fencing would be updated to current standards and would replace old and worn fencing along the interstate. MDT is asking the public to provide ideas and comments and the project.

Comments can be submitted online at mdt.mt.gov/contact/comment-form.aspx or in writing to Montana Department of Transportation, Great Falls office, PO Box 1359, Great Falls, MT 59403-1359. Please note that comments are for project UPN 10307000.

The public is encouraged to contact Great Falls District Project Development Engineer Jim Combs at 406-454-5900 or Project Design Engineer RJ Snyder at 406-459-5294 with questions or comments about the project.

AARP Driver Safety class

The remaining 2026 AARP Driver Safety class in Helena has been rescheduled at the Disability Rights Montana Building at 1022 Chestnut St., a news release states.

Participants will receive updates on the rules of the road and learn driving strategies to adapt to the effects of aging and to reduce chances of having a crash. This 4.5-hour course was developed for participants age 50-plus, but is open to all ages. The fee is $25 ($20 with AARP Membership Card). Auto insurance companies in Montana provide a multi-year discount to participants 55 years of age and older. Here's the August class schedule:

• Thursday, Aug. 6, at Disability Rights Montana; 1022 Chestnut St.; 11 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. 

To register for a class call (406) 457-4712. Find additional classes at aarp.org/driversafety

Lewis and Clark County board vacancies

The Lewis and Clark County Commission is seeking interested citizens to serve on the following boards:

• Augusta Solid Waste Board
• Board of Adjustment
• City-County Parks Board – Lincoln Representative
• Fairgrounds Advisory Board
• Forestvale Historic Preservation Committee
• Human Services Task Force
• Lewis and Clark County DUI Task Force
• Lincoln Parks Board
• Lincoln Solid Waste District Board
• Mosquito District Board – Helena Valley, Craig/Wolf Creek
• Noxious Weed Board – Augusta, Wolf Creek, Birdseye
• Open Lands Citizens Advisory Committee
• Planning and Zoning Commission SZD #34
• Scratchgravel Solid Waste District

Applications are available at http://www.lccountymt.gov/Government/Commission/Boards or by calling 447-8378 and can be submitted to the Commissioner’s Office, 316 N. Park Ave., Room 345, Helena, MT 59623. All positions are open until filled. The required advertisement period is 30 days, at which time applicants for new listings will be reviewed.

Nar-Anon Family Group meets

The Helena Nar-Anon Family Group is a 12-step support group for friends and family of someone who has experienced drug addiction.

The group meets 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at Susanna’s Place, 512 Logan St. next to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Contact helenanaranon@gmail.com for more information.