Community news
Close-up auction
The Columbia Falls High School Close-Up club will hold its annual fundraising auction at the Blue Moon Nite Club on Friday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. For 20 years, the club has raised money for expenses to travel to Washington, D.C., where they will meet with Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Rep. Steve Daines, and New York, where they will see a Broadway show and visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Chamber meeting
The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their general membership meeting at the North Valley Hospital Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue, on Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Columbia Falls city manager Susan Nicosia will present a new video promoting the city. Luncheon is $10. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, call Carol Pike at 892-2072.
Sweetheart Dance
The Columbians and Don Lawrence Orchestra will hold their second annual Sweetheart Dance at the Columbia Falls High School gym foyer on Friday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. The night of dinner, music and dancing will be catered by Cimarron Deli. Tickets are $25 each for dinner, $8 for dancing and dessert only after 7 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the high school band. Tickets are available at the Cimarron Deli, Glacier Wallflower, the high school office or from band students.
Free meals
The Columbia Falls Community Kitchen will offer free hot meals in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church from Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 30 and 31, starting at 6 p.m.
Health movie
The movie, “Black whole: We are all connected to the stars” will be presented by IONS and Imagine Health at the Imagine Health office in Columbia Falls, 305 First Avenue West, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. A $5 donation will be requested. For more information, call 892-4406 or visit online at www.imaginehealth.net.
Whole living
Jill Purdy will continue her free Whole Living Community Workshop vegetarian cooking school and more on Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. at the Seventh–day Adventist Church, 269 Second Avenue East North, in Columbia Falls. This months’ classes will include "Cooking With Millet" on Feb. 5, “Simple Survival Kits” on Feb. 12, “Gluten-free cooking” on Feb. 19 and “Hydrotherapy” on Feb. 26.
Sheriff’s academy
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for the spring session of the 10-week Sheriff’s Citizens Academy, which will be held on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning March 27. Space is limited to 30. Another session will be held in the fall. For more information, visit online at www.flatheadcountysheriff.com. Deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
Pancakes
The Men of All Saints Episcopal Church, 2048 Conn Road, will hold their annual Shrove Tuesday free pancake supper in the Parish Hall next to the church on Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 5 to 6 p.m.
North Fork meeting
The interlocal agreement meeting for the North Fork, hosted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, will take place in the Community Building in Glacier National Park’s headquarters area on Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will include North Fork Compact, North Fork Land Owners Association, North Fork Preservation Association and North Fork Road Improvement Coalition, along with Flathead County commissioner, Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, U.S. Border Patrol, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and U.S. Geological Survey. For more information, call Rox Rogers, at the Creston Fish and Wildlife Center, at 758-6880 or rox_rogers@fws.gov.
Dance and auction
The Lighthouse Christian Home will hold its eighth annual Valentine’s dance at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell on Saturday, Feb. 16, with Big Band swing music, a silent and live auction, a pie auction, treasure chest and dessert buffet. This is the nonprofit’s main fundraiser. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The nonprofit provides a residence for adults with intellectual disabilities. Tickets are $30 for individuals or $200 for a table of eight available at Snappys Sports Senter in Kalispell, Glacier Bank, or by calling the Lighthouse 857-3276.
Syrup tapping
The Columbia Falls Library Association will present a free talk on maple syrup tapping by Kathie Lapcevic in the Teakettle Community Hall, 325 Nucleus Avenue, in Columbia Falls, on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
Abbie Shelter
A fundraiser for the Abbie Shelter will be held at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish with a presentation of “The Vagina Monologues 2013” on Feb. 6 and 7, with doors and cocktail hour with designer purse silent auction at 6 p.m. and the performance at 7:30 p.m. A celebration and dance party will follow.
Scrabble tourney
Literacy Volunteers of Flathead County will mark their 25th anniversary with its annual team Scrabble tournament fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 9, with games at 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. at the Museum at Central School in Kalispell. A grand prize for money raised and top scores will be awarded, along with door prizes and food. For more information, call 257-7323 or visit online at www.literacyflathead.org.
Free tax help
Flathead Valley Community College in partnership with Community Action Partnership will provide low-to-moderate income individuals, families and senior citizens with free tax assistance and preparation from Feb. 8 through April 12 on the FVCC campus, in the Arts and Technology Building, Room 236, on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 756-3372.
Free CPR
The Summit Medical Fitness Center will host a free CPR class in Conference Room 3 at The Summit, in Kalispell, on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The noncertification course will include basic CPR for all ages. Registration is required. For more information, call 751-4500.