Celebrating community with a Celtic touch

By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff

The Memorial Community Center in Hope wears many hats.

For one, it’s the home of the Hope Preschool, attended by both Hope and Clark Fork children. Secondly, it serves as a meeting place for fitness groups, art classes, AA meetings, the Clark Fork Valley Quilters and anyone else who’d like to rent the space for a special occasion. On top of that, MCC hosts an annual Christmas Giving Program for local families and provides a high school scholarship program. The list of hats goes on and on.

Dave and Tami Gunter, otherwise known as Bridges Home, will play in Hope Saturday, March 16. Courtesy photo.

The center is also known for its various lively community gatherings, which are a fun way to make an impact on MCC and all of the programs it supports. One such gathering is coming up next weekend: the Shamrock Social on March 16 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. will feature hearty Irish appetizers and a no-host bar, as well as live music.

The local musical duo known as Bridges Home — made up of Dave and Tami Gunter — will play at the event. Dave characterized Bridges Home’s style as “an interesting mashup of originals, Celtic influences and roots music,” and said this time of the year they like to emphasize those Celtic elements.

“March is the month where we pull out the Celtic harp and Irish drum,” he said. “It’s not the only time of year we do that, but we try to turn the spotlight on it.”

Dave said both he and Tami have Celtic ties in their ancestry, so when it comes to reflecting that in their music, they “come by it honestly.” He said they were fortunate to travel to Ireland a few years ago and play music there.

“We’ve been students of Celtic music for several years now and we’re constantly trying to deepen that musical relationship,” he said.

When it comes to live shows, Bridges Home is known to have fun. Dave said someone once complimented them for making every show, regardless of venue or size, “feel like a friendly, warm pub atmosphere.” He said he saw it as high praise, and it’s the plan to bring that same energy to the community center the day before St. Patrick’s Day.

Dave said MCC was one of the first venues he and Tami played as Bridges Home, so it has a special place in their hearts.

“We’re big believers and supporters of what the community center does for the Hope community,” he said. “We’re looking forward to an evening of great, shared fun.”

Tickets to the Shamrock Social are $20 and can be reserved by calling MCC at 208-264-5481. The community center is located at 415 Wellington Place.

For those interested in how to help MCC today, the center is kicking off an Angels of Hope Donation Drive this year, with a goal of $10,000 to support operational costs. Those who choose to donate $100 or more in 2019 qualify to receive 25 percent off all facility and equipment rentals throughout the year.

Learn more about the event and MCC in general at facebook.com/memorialcommunitycenter or memorialcommunitycenter.com. To learn more about the Angels of Hope Donation Drive, contact MCC Executive Director Carolyn Speelmon at 208-264-5481 or [email protected].