NC3 lays out plans for Aug. 22 Summer Celebration at Jaycee Park

Neighborhood Council 3 (NC3) on July 2 finalized plans for an Aug. 22 Summer Celebration at Jaycee Park, agreeing on entertainment, static displays, donations and volunteer assignments.

Garri Mauch, a council member, outlined the event roster and logistics, saying Lynn DeRoche has volunteered to bring a food truck that will serve shaved ice and kettle corn and that musician Joe Ryan will perform with his fee covered by The Parts Store. Mauch said the Great Falls Park and Recreation Department (Kevin Vining) will provide a porta-potty and staff a table, and that Calumet, NeighborWorks Great Falls and NC3 Secretary Emily Bertsch will also staff tables at the park.

Mauch listed donated items and cash support for the celebration: a $500 donation from NeighborWorks Great Falls, $200 from The Parts Store to sponsor the musician, $173 from Tammy Quintrell for the bouncy house, and an intended $100 Sam’s Club gift card to buy candy, ice and water. Businesses have pledged in-kind items including lift tickets from Showdown Ski Area, a gift basket from Benefis Healthcare, popcorn from Ace Hardware, 100 McDonald’s gift cards, and bread from Great Harvest Bread.

The council also confirmed planned static displays along the street at Jaycee Park, including a garbage truck, an ambulance, a Great Falls Fire Rescue truck and the Great Falls Public Library Bookmobile. Mauch said she will bring extra tables, chairs and a canopy for the event.

Eric Peterson, NC3 Chair, will produce a framed poster promoting the NC3 pavilion fundraiser with a QR code and will then create smaller 8.5"x11" posters for neighborhood distribution. Peterson asked each council member to distribute 50 posters and said he will request the city print 250 copies once sponsors are finalized.

Peterson was assigned several follow-up tasks: pick up 100 McDonald’s gift cards from the McDonald’s office the Monday before the event; contact Malmstrom Air Force Base Public Affairs to ask whether the Base Honor Guard could post the colors; and create an invitation to city and county officials and neighborhood council members to be approved at a special meeting on Aug. 6.

Kathy Gessaman (listed in attendance earlier as Kathleen Gessaman) said she will pick up the popcorn and bread the morning of the event. Peterson and Brad Riehl will pick up the bouncy house from Strobel’s Rentals at 11 a.m. on Aug. 22.

Garri Mauch made a motion to adjourn at 4:20 p.m.; Brad Riehl seconded, and Chair Eric Peterson adjourned the meeting. The council scheduled a special NC3 meeting for Aug. 6, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Room 5, to finalize the invitation and other follow-up items.