Community news
Tax help
AARP Tax-Aide will provide free help to anyone of any age in preparing and electronically filing federal and state income tax returns for low to moderate income taxpayers. All volunteers are trained and certified through the IRS and must sign a confidentiality agreement. While there is no specific income limit, the program does have limits on the types of returns that the volunteers will prepare. The service is provided at the Gateway Community Center in Kalispell in the United Way Earl Bennett Conference Room on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Feb. 2 to April 14. To schedule an appointment, call 407-8355.
Senior survey
The Flathead County Agency on Aging will hold meetings around the county to gather input to guide senior services of the next four years. A meeting will be held at the North Valley Senior Center, 205 Nucleus Avenue, in Columbia Falls, on Monday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m.
Farm bill
Montana State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will host a public meeting to about the Agricultural Act of 2014 at the Hampton Inn in Kalispell on Monday, Jan. 26, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Master gardener
Montana State University’s Flathead County Extension office will offer a Master Gardener Level 1 class at the Earl Bennett Building, in Kalispell, on Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. from Jan. 15 through March 5. Topics include lawn care, tree pruning, vegetable gardening, soil fertility, plant physiology and fruit production. For more information, call Pat McGlynn at 758-5553 or e-mail pmcglynn@montana.edu.
History lectures
The Museum at Central School, 124 Second Avenue East in Kalispell, will present talks on local history and wildlife with the 13th annual John White Lecture Series. Two local couples will speak on “Flathead Memories” on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2:30 p.m. Cliff and Lynda Collins were among the founding members of the Northwest Montana Historical Society and the Museum at Central School. Bill and Lois McClaren are well known throughout the valley. Bill is the last living founder of Flathead Valley Community College. Tickets are $6 for museum members and $9 general admission available at the museum or at the door before each event. For more information, call 756-8381.
Chamber meets
The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their monthly luncheon at the Teakettle Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kellie Daniels, president and CEO of Montana West Economic Development, will be the featured speaker. Lunch costs $12.