Community events

The fifth grade at Ruder Elementary will present the musical “We Haz Jazz” on Feb. 26 (today) in the gym at 1:30 p.m. There will be singing, dancing, acting and lots of fun all around. Students are exploring the history of America’s own music, Jazz.

Everyone is welcome to our free Canyon Community dinner held at the Canyon Elementary School on the last Thursday of the month (Feb. 27). This month the menu is Columbia Mountain tacos, waldorf salad, topped off with peanut butter brownies. A comfort meal you won’t want to miss. As always we serve between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Any questions call Luann 261-1083 or Flo 250-3406.

The American Red Cross will have a blood drive in Columbia Falls March 5 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the North Valley Community Center on Nucleus Avenue.

The Columbia Falls third annual Job Fair is at the high school from 1 to 6 p.m. March 5. The student job fair is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and the general public is invited from 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. To get more information, call 892-2072 or go to www.columbiafallschamber.org

Montana State Parks invites you to Wayfarers State Park on Flathead Lake for a 1.5-mile ranger-led hike from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 6 that will explore the adaptations that allow stealthy predators to hunt at night and the overall importance of darkness to our ecosystem. This will be a beginner level snowshoe hike if adequate snow is present. Rental snowshoes will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations are recommended. If snow is not present, this will be a traditional hike. Families are welcome. Please come prepared to be outside and bring a flashlight or headlamp and water. For more information and to register, call the Flathead Lake Ranger Station at (406) 837-3041.

Lone Pine State Park will be hosting a Citizen Science Training Program for a multi-year great gray owl study. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is looking for citizens to assist with data collection. Come to Lone Pine State Park on Saturday, March 7 from noon to 2 p.m. to learn how you can help collect data on these secretive raptors. The minimum commitment to participate in the study is two nights (after dark), that are at least one week apart. Surveys may require the use of snow machines, skis, and/or snowshoes to complete. For more information, please call 406-755-2706 ext. 2.