New Year's Eve Bash - Explore Big Sky

Community
letter: BSSef fundraiser a success
The Big Sky Ski Education Foundation’s fundraiser, "Raising Cash with Cold
Hard Cash," hosted by Buck's T-4 on Dec. 10 was a resounding success. The event
was successful in raising funds, and more importantly, it was a terrific way for the
team to connect with the Big Sky community and kick-off the ski season.
The success of this event required the hard work of numerous volunteers, plus
the generous contributions of auction items from many individuals and businesses
throughout the community. Please help me extend special thanks to all
those helped.
With this event being such a great success, the BSSEF has targeted Dec. 8, 2012,
for next year’s season kick off and hope that you will join us then.
See you on the slopes!
Kindly,
Peter Bedell, Event Director
BSSEF Board Member
don’t miss the gallatin Valley
coat and boot drive
The first annual Gallatin Valley coat and boot drive is accepting gently used
winter coats and boots through the end of the year. Drop off points are in
Bozeman at Bob Wards (N. 19th) and First Montana Bank (N. 19th Ave. and
Oak St.). Gallatin Laundry will clean the coats give them to HRDC/Head
Start for distribution to families in need. Mountain 107.7 FM helped organize
the effort.
big sky fire department
happenings
By WiLLiam farhat
big sky Fire ChieF
I’m new to Big Sky, and am enjoying getting to know my co-workers at the
Big Sky Fire Department and learning about the community. As part of this
process, I’d like the community to know more about the BSFD, and thought I
should share some of my own background.
I first started as a volunteer in southwestern Michigan in 1989, and continued
as a firefighter, captain and chief officer until 2008. I worked as
a paramedic for municipal ambulance services then spent 13 years in law
enforcement in the Vail, Colo. area, and then back in Michigan. These law
enforcement positions also included fire investigation and hazardous materials
team duties, which allowed me to blend my full time work and volunteer
responsibilities throughout my career.
In 2006, I joined the University of Notre Dame Fire Department and became
chief two years later. NDFD was an interesting mix of fire service and
emergency medical responsibilities, building inspection, and fire detection
and suppression needs, along with special event coverage for up to 110,000
people during home football games. While appreciating the challenges of
this position, I realized I wanted to return to a more rural setting and be more
involved with the operations of a department rather than be an administrator
within a large organization.
In Big Sky, I’m able to fulfill that desire and live in a great setting to raise a
family. My wife Beth and I have our four daughters enrolled in Ophir School.
I’m proud to be part of BSFD, a very professional organization with a history
of exemplary service.
In future articles, I hope to share who we are, what we do, and provide information
regarding fire safety, current events and related items. In the meantime,
additional information can be found on our website bigskyfire.org and
our Facebook page.
Chief Farhat became fire chief of Big Sky in September 2011. He can be
reached at 995-2100 or wfarhat@bigskyfire.org.
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