Community news

Elementary concerts

Glacier Gateway Elementary School’s first and second grades will present a Christmas program in the Columbia Falls High School’s Little Theater on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 10:30 a.m. First-graders will sing songs ranging from rock and roll to hip hop, and music for second-graders will include Latin and Jamaican. Third, fourth and fifth grades will perform at 1:30 p.m., with rock and roll, traditional and big band Christmas music.

Junior high concerts

The Columbia Falls Junior High School’s sixth and seventh grade band will perform their Christmas concert on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The eighth grade band will follow at 7:30 p.m. The Treble and sixth grade choir will perform on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. The seventh and eighth grade choirs will follow at 7:30 p.m.

High school concerts

The Columbia Falls High School chorale, Sonifers, percussion group, band ensemble, wind ensemble and Columbians will perform at the high school’s Little Theater on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. The Jazz Cafe will perform in the gym foyer on Friday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.

Historical society

The Columbia Falls Historical Society will meet in the chapel building at the Montana Veterans Home on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in local history is welcome to attend. The history society’s second annual Cowboy Christmas Ball will take place at the chapel building on Saturday, Dec. 28, from 8 p.m. to midnight with music by Steve Stafford and Friends. Stafford is a six-time Montana State Fiddle Champion. Admission is $30 per person or $50 for couples, which includes dancing, refreshments and a free photo by Shirley Reynolds of Old Time Photos. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 892-0178.

Obamacare assistance

The Dec. 23 deadline for registering with the Health Insurance Marketplace, which will be effective Jan. 1, 2014, is fast approaching. Certified application counselors will be available to help individuals in the Teakettle Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue, in Columbia Falls, on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 3 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 758-2165 or e-mail outreach@flathead.mt.gov. The Flathead Community Health Center will have certified application counselors available to assist individuals with registering for the marketplace and selecting a plan that best fits their needs and budgets. Scheduled times include Dec. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Flathead City-County Health Department, 1035 First Avenue West, Third Floor Conference Room, and Dec. 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Flathead County Library, 247 First Avenue East, in Kalispell. Appointments are also available by calling 758-2165 or by e-mailing outreach@flathead.mt.gov.

Women’s Connection

The Columbia Falls Women’s Connection, affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries, will have a Christmas Tea with special music at the Teakettle Community Room, on Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $8 per person. Jennie Rogers will speak on going from abandonment to acceptance. For reservations, call Candy at 387-4119 or Janet at 892-3621.

Toastmasters

The Columbia Falls Speaks Toastmasters club will meet in the Freedom Bank basement meeting room on Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Monthly meetings take place on the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of each month. No meeting will take place Dec. 31. For more information, contact Kristi Hatfield 892-2868 or visit online at http://798772.toastmastersclubs.org.

Veterans wreaths

The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony honoring and celebrating America’s veterans will take place at the Montana Veterans Home Cemetery in Columbia Falls on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. The 25-minute ceremony will include placement of ceremonial wreaths representing all branches of the military plus a special wreath to honor MIAs. The Glacier Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution is organizing and planning this annual event. The wreaths were purchased through donations contributed by Glacier Chapter SAR, Bird Woman Falls Daughters of the American Revolution and area residents and businesses.

Flathead County board positions

Flathead County is seeking volunteers to fill board and committee vacancies for the Agency on Aging, Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, Columbia Falls Cemetery Board, Fire Service Area Advisory Board, Port Authority, RSVP Advisory Council and the Transportation Advisory Board. Letters of interest, including name, address, daytime phone number and qualifications, can be mailed to Flathead County Commissioners, 800 South Main, Room 302, Kalispell MT 59901. Deadline is Jan. 3, 2014. For more information, call 406-758-5537.

Military grad

Air Force Airman Nathan Luke recently graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. He completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. He is a 2006 graduate of Columbia Falls High School.