Community news

Chamber luncheon

The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual Christmas luncheon at the Teakettle Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students from the Columbia Falls High School music department will perform, and the Chamber will present First Buck Awards, Community Pride Awards, new Chamber board members and officers. Luncheon costs $10, and reservations are not necessary. For more information, call Carol at 892-2072.

Christmas store

The Christmas Store at the Klothes Kloset in Columbia Falls will take place on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Proceeds from sales will be given to Energy Share. Items not sold will be given to the American Legion Auxiliary for their Christmas Store at the Montana Veterans Home to provide gifts for family members of those staying at the home.

Senior party

The Class of 2013 parent planning meeting for this year’s senior party will take place Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at All About Memories, 3585 Highway 40 West, in Columbia Falls. This will be the first meeting to discuss the evening’s events, and many parents are needed to participate. For more information, call Kathy Price at 253-3775.

Women’s Connection

The Columbia Falls Women’s Connection, affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries, will hold their Christmas Tea at the Teakettle Community Hall, 235 Nucleus Avenue, on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 11:30 a.m. Chris from Chris’ Tea Cottage will provide facts about tea. The speaker will be Rosainne Taylor. Cost $8 per person. Free childcare is available by reservation. For more information, call Candy at 387-4119 or Janet at 892-3621.

Toys for Tots

Professional Therapy Associates will hold a Toys for Tots charity event at all of their clinics, including the one at 1850 Ninth Street West, in Columbia Falls, on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. Anyone who donates will get a card for a free pain and injury assessment from PTA.

Historical Society ball

The Columbia Falls Historical Society will hold its first annual Christmas Ball at the historical chapel at the Montana Veterans Home on Saturday, Dec. 29, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $30 each or $50 couples, which includes an old-time photo, available at The Shops at Station 8. Dance music will be played by The Mountain Meadow String Band. Prizes will be offered for the most authentic 1800s-era costume. For more information, call 892-0178.

Holiday concert

The Columbians, Penny Chisholm and Sandee Bauer will perform in the Spirit of Christmas Concert in the Glacier High School auditorium on Monday, Dec. 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. Other performers include the Glacier High School Echoes, Natalie Law, Kendrick Lee and Christian Diaz. Admission is one $12 ticket and a food donation. All proceeds benefit Flathead CASA For Kids and the Flathead Valley food banks. Tickets are available at Glacier Bank, Laurie’s Deli and Freedom Bank in Columbia Falls. For more information, visit online at www.flatheadcasa.org.

‘The Messiah’ at three venues

The Glacier Symphony and Chorale will perform George Frideric Handel’s iconic choral work “Messiah” on Dec. 7-9 at three venues in the Flathead Valley — the sanctuary of Blessed Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, in Bigfork, on Friday Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., the Whitefish Middle School auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m., and the Flathead High School auditorium on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. Tickets are available in a range of prices. For more information, visit online at www.gscmusic.org or call 257-3241. No free youth tickets will be available for this concert.

Smith’s Foods donations

Smith’s Food & Drug is inviting customers to donate $5, $10 or $15 to their grocery purchases through Dec. 29 as part of their “Bringing Hope to the Table for the Holidays” program. All contributions will be converted to Smith’s gift cards and given to local food banks for turkeys, hams and staple food items like peanut butter and tuna. Participating food banks Columbia Falls. Last year, Smith’s four Montana stores donated enough food to create 33,000 meals for the hungry, the great majority of whom are single women with children.