Community news
Community choir practice
The Columbia Falls Community Choir will begin practice on Sunday, Jan. 13, for the 2013 concert season. The concerts will take place on April 20 and 21. Practices will take place at the Columbia Falls Junior High School on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Sign-in and music pick-up will take place Jan. 13 from 1:30 to 2 p.m. with practice following. For more information, call Ron Bond at 892-5174.
Chamber meets Jan. 8
The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly membership meeting in the North Valley Hospital Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue, on Jan. 8 from 11:45 a.m. 1 p.m. The topic of discussion will be winter recreation in Northwest Montana. Luncheon costs $10. Reservations are not necessary. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Carol Pike at 892-2072.
Library hours change
Service hours at the Columbia Falls Branch Library will change beginning Jan. 2, based on input from a recent community survey. The library will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday noon to 6 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday closed. For more information, visit www.flatheadcountylibrary.org.
Master gardener
The Montana State University Extension Office will offer a Master Gardener Level 1 class at the First Baptist Church in Whitefish on Jan. 17 through March 14 on Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Topics will include lawn care and maintenance, tree pruning, seed starting, container growing, vegetable gardening, soil fertility, lawn care, plant physiology and fruit production. Registration forms are available online at www.flathead.mt.gov/extension. For more information, call 753-5553.
New Year’s
in Kalispel
First Night Flathead will take place Monday, Jan. 31, at 12 venues in Kalispell with 30 performing artists playing jazz, rock, blues, country, folk and classical music from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Free family activities available at the Kalispell Center Mall from 1 to 4 p.m. include pony rides, jewelry making, face painting and a commencement parade. Admission buttons are $15 at the door and free for children 12 and under. For more information, visit online at www.firstnightflathead.org or call 253-2471.
Free meals
The Columbia Falls Community Kitchen will open their doors for free hot meals in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church from Dec. 28-31 at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Board vacancy
The Flathead Conservation District has a vacancy for Flathead County residents on its board of supervisors. Normally an elected position, the four-year volunteer term would be by appointment and end Dec. 31, 2016. Board members carry out the Montana Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act (310 stream permits). District boundaries include all of Flathead County with the exception of the 1945 boundaries of the cities of Kalispell and Columbia Falls. For more information, visit online at www.flatheadcd.org or call 752-4220. Letters of interest with background information can be sent to Flathead Conservation District, 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell MT 59901. Deadline is Jan. 10.
4-H fair
The Flathead County 2013 4-H Foods Fair will take place at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, in Kalispell, on Saturday, Jan. 26. Judging will begin at 10 a.m. 4-H members will show off their best culinary skills in more than 15 different categories, including main dishes, salads, pies, soups/stews/chowders, cookies, baked cakes from scratch, quick breads, appetizers, decorated cakes/cupcakes, side dishes, beverages and yeast breads. For more information, contact Tammy Walker at tammy.walker1@montana.edu or 758-5552.
Bark baskets
The Columbia Falls Library Association will present a free introduction to birch bark basket making by Steve Winguard at the Teakettle Community Hall, 325 Nucleus Avenue, on Saturday, Jan. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. Sign-ups will be available for future classes.