Hometown Helena May 12: Helena Arts Organizations, Farmers Market Update

Hometown Helena -- Thursday,  May 12th, 7 a.m.  Live via ZOOM hosted by AZ Technology Services:


HomeTown Helena Chat May 12:

Nikki Andersen, World Montana: With the hybrid meeting, can speakers at the MC please use the microphone so those at home have good sound

Shawn White Wolf: The amount of money raised this past week is incredible despite the news of how broke we are going as a country. lol

Peter Strauss: Cannot thank Helena Area Community Foundation and Emily Frazier enough for their support and leadership in helping our local non-profits reach their goals, and make a difference for those who need help. You guys help us all move the needle and make Helena a better place to be.


Message from our host Jim Smith:

Greetings Everyone,

We’re back to the Montana Club this Thursday, along with the zoom option.  We’re working with the equipment and technology to improve the zoom experience: More Volume!  Please bear with us as we work on quality improvements for Hometown Helena.  

Greater Helena Gives' had a successful spring effort, with well over $200,000 raised to assist Helena’s non-profit organizations.  Emily Flemming-Frazier will give us an update on Thursday, with an emphasis on the Arts Organizations in the community.  And Peter Strauss will bring us up to date on the Helena Farmers Market, which is back in business this spring after the Covid hiatus.

The ’topping out’ ceremony at the Montana Heritage Center (MHC) is scheduled for May 17th at 12:30 in the afternoon.  The final steel I-beam of the new MHC will be set in place that day.  It will be an exciting, significant ceremony.  I’m sure you’ve read that the beam itself made a swing around the state and children from a number of schools were invited to ‘Sign the Beam' as it came through their town.  I gather others will be invited to “Sign the Beam’ on May 17th.  

It looks like work at the Capital Center (that’s what I’m calling it) is picking up every day.  More workers, more work, more equipment, more earth being moved every day.  That old 4-5’ concrete berm on the north side of the site is gone forever.  What an improvement that alone will be for people coming into town on Prospect Avenue.  The old Bison Engineering building on 11th Avenue, with the communications equipment on the roof, still stands.  Apparently, it will be the last to go.  

The Carroll College graduation is this weekend.  I graduated from that fine institution in 1970.  Several classes, including mine, are invited back to a Purple and Gold Reunion this weekend.  I went ahead and ordered a golden cap and gown for the graduation ceremony, and will walk the walk at Nelson Stadium this Saturday, along with some of my classmates and this years’ graduating seniors.  Our graduation in 1970 took place shortly after the tragedy at Kent State University in Ohio in which four students were killed.  We all knew what had happened at Kent State. We knew where Vietnam was.  All of us young men knew our draft lottery number, and our future plans were pretty much being made around that reality, as I recall.  It was another tumultuous time in America, to put it mildly.  I’m looking forward to being part of the celebration.

Looking forward to seeing you this Thursday and to another great Hometown Helena.  C’mon down to the Montana Club, or zoom in from the comfort of your own home.

Jim Smith



Upcoming Hometown Helena Meetings:
  • Regular Hometown Helena gatherings are currently on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Additional meetings will be announced as scheduled. 

  • May 12th -- In-person AND online. Hometown is returning to the sixth floor of the Montana Club while keeping an online Hybrid Zoom option courtesy of A-Z Technology Services. 
  • May 26, June 9, and June 23 
Location: 24 W 6th Ave, Helena, MT 59601, USA