Community news
Senate debate
Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg, candidates in this year’s U.S. Senate race in Montana, will debate at Grouse Mountain Lodge, in Whitefish, on Sunday, June 24, beginning at 9 a.m. The debate is hosted by the Montana Broadcasters Association, which will hold their annual convention in Whitefish on June 23-24.
Therapeutic oils & speaker
Columbia Falls Women’s Connection, affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries, will hold their luncheon at the Teakettle Community Hall, 235 Nucleus Avenue, on Wednesday, June 20, at 11:30 a.m. Megan Petty will talk about essential therapeutic oils. The speaker will be Lois Olmstead. Cost $8 per person. For more information, call Candy at 387-4119 or Janet at 892-3621.
First farmers market
The Columbia Falls Farmers Market will start up at Glacier Discovery Square on Thursday, June 14. The market will be held every Thursday evening this summer from 5 to 7:30 p.m. featuring locally grown produce, herbs, bedding plants and flowers, locally made crafts and artisan edibles, live music, food and children’s activities hosted by Stumptown Art Studio.
Anyone with excess produce from their garden may donate it to the Columbia Falls Community Garden vendor table to benefit the community garden. Remaining produce will go to the Columbia Falls Food Bank. EBT/Montana Access Cards are now accepted at the market. For more information, visit online at www.firstbestplace.org.
Garage sale
The North Valley Senior Center, on Nucleus Avenue, will hold a garage sale on Friday and Saturday, June 15-16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items for sale will include furniture, snowblowers, small household appliances, picture frames, clothing and much more.
A dinner for the garden
First Best Place will host a dinner event at Glacier Discovery Square on Saturday, June 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. to support the Columbia Falls Community Garden at River’s Edge Park, now in its second growing season.
A local donor has offered a matching grant for the project of up to $5,000, so every dollar raised will be doubled. Tickets for the dinner event are $30, available at Cimarron Café or online at www.firstbestplace.org. For more information, call 892-1363.
IONS meet
The local Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) community group will meet at the Bohemian Grange, directly west of Montana Coffee Traders on U.S. 93 in Whitefish, on Thursday, June 14, at 7 p.m. Jack Kuehn will talk about “What can honeybees teach us?” For more information, call 862-9591 or 862-7711.
Nonprofits meet
The Nonprofit Development Partnership will host a free brown bag workshop with the Montana Nonprofit Association at the Museum at Central School, in Kalispell, on Thursday, June 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. MNA executive director Liz Moore will provide an overview of the current work and focus of MNA, as well as facilitate discussion about nonprofits in the Flathead. RSVP by e-mailing rsvp@npdp.org or call 756-3618.
Flathead Spay & Neuter will hold its first annual Doggie Dash race at the Hugh Rogers WAG Dog Park, in Whitefish, on Saturday, June 23, with sign-in from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and racing beginning at noon. Entrance fee is $5 per dog. There will be contests for Best Dressed Dogs and Owner/Dog Look-A-Like at $1 per dog. All proceeds will benefit the Task Force. For more information, call Terry at 892-1100 or Renee at 756-2121.
Ham radios
The Flathead Valley Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Relay League will host the 78th annual Amateur Radio Field Day in the Glacier High School parking lot over a 24 hour period starting Saturday, June 23, at noon. The general public and community leaders are invited to drop by and experience the fun and utility of amateur radio.
Patriot camp
Registration has started for a Kid’s Patriot Camp to be held at Glacier Discovery Square on June 25-29 from 9 a.m. to noon. Using curriculum from the organization Constitutional Champions, the camps will teach kids about flag etiquette, the meanings of the Pledge of Allegiance, the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and about early U.S. leaders. Volunteers are needed. Costs are $10 per child or $20 per family. Space is limited to 60 children. Pre-registration is required by using forms at the Columbia Falls library or by calling 892-1363 or 249-4575.