Community news
Arbor Day
Columbia Falls will celebrate Arbor Day at River’s Edge Park on Friday, May 2, at noon with tree planting, a presentation by the mayor and three local fifth-grade classes in attendance. Seedlings will be handed out.
Farmers market
The Columbia Falls Farmer Market committee will hold a special vendors meeting in the city council chambers on Thursday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. The Thursday market is expected to be open on May 29 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Fourth Avenue West next to the Pinewood Park pool. Mary Jo Marceau-Hawthorne is the new market coordinator. For more information, call her at 892-2072.
Trail meeting
The Gateway to Glacier Trail group will hold its monthly meeting in the basement conference room at Freedom Bank on Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. The group, which supports construction of a separated bike and pedestrian path connecting the Flathead Valley with Glacier National Park, are currently planning a Pedal for Paths fundraising event.
Chamber meets
The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their monthly membership meeting at the Teakettle Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls, on Tuesday, May 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP volunteers will be honored, 2014 state tourism material will be made available, and Jodi Smith from the Flathead Valley Community College will give a Super Host presentation. Lunch costs $10. For more information, call Carol Pike 892-2072 or e-mail cpike@centurytel.net
Quilts for kids
A quilting class for kids ages 10-14 will be offered at the Columbia Falls High School home economics room on June 16, 17, 18 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-registration is limited to 10 youths. Cost is $15. All supplies are furnished. Teakettle Quilt Guild will provide instruction.
Arts showcase
The Columbia Falls Academic Endowment Fund will hold an arts showcase show and sale, featuring a live and silent auction, at Truby’s Bar and Grill at Meadow Lake Resort, on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Featured artwork for sale will include pieces from Rusti Warner, Allen Jimmerson, Greg Trenerry and Nellie Lutz. Cost is $15 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres.
FarmHands event
FarmHands, a group of local farmers and consumers dedicated to increasing public appreciation of farming in the Flathead Valley, will hold a “Fork it Over” community night fundraiser at Three Forks Grill in Columbia Falls on Monday, May 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. The group’s detailed map and Web site shows the location and describes 50 working farms in the valley. For more information, visit online at www.whoisyourfarmer.org. To make reservations for the event, call 892-2900.
Art show
The Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Avenue East, in Kalispell, will present “Montana Artists: Innovators, Inventors and Entrepreneurs,” its first exhibition of works from the Montana Artrepreneurship Program. The program is designed to help visual artists develop a sustainable business by learning about entrepreneurship. Artists from all over the state working in diverse mediums have been juried into this special exhibit. A free opening reception will be held at the museum on Thursday, May 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit online at www.HockadayMuseum.org or call 406-755-5268.
Shoe drive
Did you know that half of the world population doesn’t own a pair of shoes? Donations of gently-used shoes and blankets will be collected at the Columbia Falls Dairy Queen weekly through May 30 for delivery to Provision International, in Billings, where they’ll be shipped to needy people worldwide. For more information, call 406-881-2909, e-mail adanac@adanacsleds.com or visit online at www.shareapair.org or www.provisioninternational.org.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County will hold its spring fundraiser at the Rack Shack on Flathead Lake in Somers on Thursday, May 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $200, which includes dinner and drinks for two and a chance to win prizes. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit’s mentoring programs. For more information, visit online at www.bbbsfc.org.
Democrat dinner
The Flathead Democratic Party and Flathead Democratic Women will hold their spring dinner and live auction at the Hilton Hotel in Kalispell on Saturday, May 3. Meet the candidates at 4 p.m., social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. U.S. House candidate John Lewis will be the featured speaker. Tickets are $60 at the door. For more information, visit online at http://flatheaddemocrats.com.