Business Buzz: Chili cook-off, East Missoula People’s Fair

Cranky Sam Public House in downtown Missoula is hosting their second annual chili cook-off on Sunday, Nov. 17, from 3-7 p.m. at 233 W. Main St. They’ve got chefs from 12 different restaurants who’ve created their own unique chili recipes for guests to sample. Tickets are $30 and come with a free beer and chili samples. For more information visit online at CrankySam.com/events.

The first-ever East Missoula People’s Fair will be held Saturday, Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ReStore, located at 3655 Hwy 300 E. The event is hosted by Missoula Public Health to offer a variety of free services. Staff will be on hand to offer free Narcan, gunlocks, medication lockboxes and tobacco cessation products. Nurses will be available to provide flu and COVID immunizations. Anyone wanting a vaccine is asked to bring a photo ID and their insurance card. A sliding fee scale will be available for those without insurance.

Visitors will also be able to learn about disaster preparedness, emergency alerts and nutrition services. 

“Residents are invited to shop for handmade goods from a variety of local vendors, view the work of local artists who will compete for cash prizes during the East Missoula Art Challenge, enjoy live music from local musician Bob Wire and receive a free haircut from Lady J’s Barbershop,” a press release from the county stated.

“The main theme of the fair is building community in a do-it-yourself way and educating ourselves to empower neighbors,” said Richard Fifield, a community activist who helped organize the event. “The art competition and the vendors are tied into that theme — making the most of what we already have, and learning to see the possibilities in things we take for granted. ReStore was our bridge. People can buy used materials at affordable prices to build something. We want to build an empowered community that has access to the tools to create relationships and create communication. Our best resource is our people, and that will never change.”

The former HuHot Mongolian Grill restaurant building is for sale, according to local real estate agent Jessie Eagen. The building is at 3521 Brooks St., and it is 4,000 square feet. The listing price will be $2.5 million and it sits on .8 acres of land.

Daily’s Premium Meats in Missoula won the Circle of Excellence Award at the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce’s recent banquet.

“The Circle of Excellence award is the Chamber’s most prestigious award given to a business which meets high standards of community involvement and social responsibility,” the Chamber wrote in a press release. “With a legacy dating back to 1893, Daily’s has been a consistent provider of quality products and stable employment in Missoula.”

The Chamber said that Daily’s has supported the community through various initiatives, such as significant donations to local food banks, sponsoring community events like the Agri-Business Banquet and the Red Ripper Golf Tournament and actively participating in local charities.

“Their dedication to the Missoula community, combined with a culture that encourages employee involvement in volunteer activities, exemplifies the high standards set by this prestigious award,” the Chamber said.

The Small Business Award went to Hellman Insurance Agency, and the Kim Latrielle Scholarship went to Irene Griswold of Big Sky High School. The Nonprofit of the Year award went to the Missoula Children’s Theater and the Steve Clawson Award went to Kim Latrielle. John Brauer was appointed as the new chair of the board of the Chamber.

A new family medicine practice called Sentinel Health is opening in Missoula. Located at 6995 Linda Vista Blvd., the practice will be operated by Dr. Geoffrey Holman and Dr. Amanda Hartman. The Direct Primary Care model at the practice will allow patients to access primary care with a monthly membership. 

“By eliminating the role of insurance in primary care, DPC offers patients a straightforward and affordable approach to healthcare that includes unlimited office visits, no co-pays and direct access to your physician,” the doctors said in a press release.

The nonprofit Missoula Makers Collective recently opened its new location at 112 W. Front St. in the historic Florence Building. They’ve got products from 70 different local makers.