This is no way to start the Holiday Season, but some things just can't be avoided ... this year's Christmas Stroll in downtown Whitefish has been cancelled due to concerns about public health and safety as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Whitefish and beyond.

     After consulting with officials from the City of Whitefish and the Flathead City/County Health Department -- and with local business owners -- it quickly became clear that bringing thousands of people to Whitefish for an evening of eating, shopping and celebrating the holidays simply can't be done safely with the Coronavirus still in our midst.

     "It's been a difficult year for many of our most popular community events and traditions," said Chamber Director Kevin Gartland, "and it's been painful to watch.  But until we can get the upper hand on the virus, bringing the community together en masse -- and possibly exposing hundreds to COVID-19 in a single night -- simply isn't a risk we can take."

       Chamber staff are working to salvage what they can of our Christmas Stroll traditions ... especially those that help drive business to our local merchants, retailers, restaurants and bars.  One such program is what we're calling the "Christmas Tree Shopping Spree."  It's an expansion of the popular Raffle Drawings we hold at the Stroll each year, with folks earning one raffle ticket for every $20 they spend at Whitefish businesses on the day of the Stroll.  

     To make the program work, we need a dozen local businesses to sponsor (and host) one of our Shopping Spree Christmas Trees ... and to decorate it with gift cards, prizes and certificates from your business and others that you recruit to help "trim the tree."  We'll promote your tree (and your business) on our posters, social media posts and newspaper advertising, and will come to your business to do a Facebook Live event and pull the name of your tree's winner live online!

     If you're interested in sponsoring a tree, email Chamber Office Manager Debbie Webb at [email protected], and she'll fill you in on all the details!

     Plans are also under way to host the annual Christmas Stroll Window Decorating Contest, which recognizes local business owners who literally go "all out" dressing-up their storefronts for the Holiday Season.  

     Judging will take place the week of Dec. 7, with the winners announced on Friday, Dec. 11 ... once again on Facebook Live!  So if you're getting into the spirit and want to be part of the fun, email [email protected] and we'll point the judges in your direction!

     Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow will host an online meeting for business owners involved in our area's tourism industry next Tuesday -- Nov. 17 -- from 2-3 p.m.

     Mow will update attendees on the operational changes made and "lessons learned" in dealing with the COVID-19 Crisis -- and summer crowds -- this season, and will take a look ahead to what he expects in 2021.

     Among the items up for discussion:

     If you're interested in attending, please email [email protected], and include your name, the name of your business, whether you're planning to attend by computer or by phone.  Teagan will reply with meeting information and instructions on how to join the session.

     It was a long, hot summer, filled with "angry" tourists (and locals) who were more than happy to take out their personal frustrations on your hard-working employees.  The big question ... how do we prepare our staffers to turn a confrontational encounter into a positive one?

     The folks at Flathead Valley Community College have just the answer ... a one-hour online session they're offering Nov. 20 entitled "De-escalation Training -- Effective Conflict Intervention."

     The free Zoom videoconference is designed to help you (and your employees) take a pro-active approach to de-escalating another person's anger, and turning heated discussions into productive conversations.  Among the topics to be discussed by instructors Tracy Sullivan and Cory Clarke:

     CLICK HERE for more information, or to register for the Nov. 20 session.

     The Whitefish Pilot is collecting recipes for a Whitefish Community Cookbook ... set to be published just in time for the Holidays!

     Ad Director Jessica Tullos is looking for your best breakfast, appetizer, crockpot fave, dessert, cocktail ... and everything in between!  The cookbook will be a "perfect holiday gift or keepsake," Tullos said, and will be available Dec. 1; but you can pre-order today.  And best of all, a portion of the proceeds will benefit our own North Valley Food Bank!

     CLICK HERE to email Jess for more information, to submit a recipe or place an order!