Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Could Helena’s beloved YMCA really be forced to close its doors?

Also, don't miss Christmas Eve worship on the Helena Patch calendar

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What's up Helena! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Could Helena’s beloved YMCA really be forced to close its doors?
  • Why Helena just ranked #1 among Montana’s best places to live
  • Why did Montana’s board permanently bar this former Helena cancer doctor?

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Eve worship and 4 more events.

Find out what's happening in Helenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the windowsill say to the glass? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Helenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Monday: A morning shower; cloudy, with a high of 43 and low of 29 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Considerable cloudiness, temps: high: 43, low: 30.
  • Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 44 and low of 26 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Helena Family YMCA solicits community support (krtv.com) — Helena’s Family YMCA, the oldest Y in Montana, is warning it may have to close without a surge of local financial support, threatening youth sports, swim lessons, and after-school care many families rely on. Leaders say scholarship funds are exhausted and the Y is running a deficit, even as Helena residents like pickleball players and Capital High athletes credit the Y with shaping their health and community connections.
   

2. Five Unbelievably Great Places to Live in Montana in 2025 (wearebillings.com) — Helena tops a new U.S. News & World Report list of the best places to live in Montana for 2025, highlighted for its relatively short commutes and more attainable housing costs. The ranking compares Helena with Bozeman, Great Falls, Billings, and Missoula, giving prospective residents a quick snapshot of prices, incomes, and quality-of-life factors across the state.
   

3. Montana medical board revokes license of Helena doctor Thomas Weiner (wvnews.com) — Montana’s medical board has permanently revoked the license of a former Helena cancer doctor, barring him from practicing anywhere in the state after finding he violated professional conduct rules. The brief item also notes that the reporter covering the case for Montana Free Press, Mara Silvers, was born, raised, and now lives in Helena, underscoring the story’s local grounding.
   

4. Montana hunters play key role in chronic wasting disease tracking (kulr8.com) — From Helena, state wildlife officials report a record season for chronic wasting disease testing, driven by strong hunter participation. With more than 8,300 samples processed and 428 positives or suspects found in deer and elk, the fast turnaround on results is helping Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks better track and manage CWD risks for herds that Helena-area hunters rely on.
   

5. Bravettes second at CMR Holiday Classic (dailyinterlake.com) — A Helena Capital wrestler, Mariska Harris, is highlighted as the first-round finals opponent whom Flathead’s Bella Downing pinned to win the 120-pound title at the CMR Holiday Classic in Great Falls. The tournament recap details how Flathead’s Bravettes placed eight wrestlers on the podium, finished second in team scoring, and notes strong showings from Glacier and several other Montana programs.
   

📸 Around Helena

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Helena

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I've thrown a new batch of holiday happenings in the Helena Holiday Events group and deleted past ones.
    There's still some Santa sightings and I have a few suggestions for light shows. Feel free to post ones I've missed or message me with suggestions. I… (Nextdoor Pebble Gardens)
  • The Helena Express Singers
    performing at St. Paul’s Church, Logan St. They are beautifully performing right now. (Nextdoor Helena High Area)
  • Brink's posted a job opening for Cash Processor - Warehouse in Helena. Apply here.
  • Advantage Solutions posted a job opening for Traveling Retail Reset Merchandiser - Overnight in Helena. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Helena here.

Ok Helena! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel your pane.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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