A year early, a community fundraising effort has paid off for music lovers in the Flathead Valley.

A campaign to pay for a Steinway concert grand piano at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center has reached its goal of $85,000 for the Steinway and a smaller Yamaha console piano.

Spearheaded by John Simpson and Miriam Singer, the Steinway Fund also raised enough money for ongoing maintenance for the classic grand piano.

This is another example of local generosity in action. Simpson and Singer hatched a plan to bring a world-class instrument to Whitefish and community support made it happen.

Congratulations to all who made this happen.

And on a related note, we should bid a fond farewell to Singer and Simpson, who are leaving the area but not before producing a legacy of impressive musical promotion spanning many years.

Shuttles rolling

It’s time for the shuttles to start running in Glacier.

Glacier National Park’s free shuttle system that provides daily service along Going-to-the-Sun Road begins today. Most people would agree that taking the shuttle is a wonderful option for sightseeing, especially during the bumper-to-bumper summer months on Sun Road.

And hikers have found the shuttle system invaluable in getting to trailheads (and not having to deal with finding those hard-to-get parking spots during summertime in Glacier).

We’re pleased to hear that some shuttle service will continue on the west side through Sept. 18 this year in response to public demand. The free shuttle buses have become an integral service in enabling visitors to access the splendor of Glacier Park.

The shuttles, which take some vehicular pressure off of Sun Road, could well be the way of the future if record crowds continue to visit Glacier.