Community news
Historical society
The Columbia Falls Historical Society will host a slide show and discussion by Bill Dakin on construction of Going-to-the Sun Road in Glacier National Park from 1910-1933. The public presentation will be held at the Montana Veterans Home Chapel on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. Dakin worked on the road’s maintenance crew for 16 years. The Historical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Playground fundraiser
The Ruder Elementary School PTO is raising money to replace a large piece of playground equipment that will be removed this summer. The playground is used by the entire community. There are two ways people can help: 1) shop online for gifts, candles, gift wrap, cookie dough and other items from www.celebratinghome.com/fundraiser/Rudder2013/OnlineFundraiserHome.aspx, with half the profits going to the PTO fund; or 2) donate at www.gofundme.com/1yix9c. For more information, call Jenny Van Westrop at 249-6635.
Sweetheart Dance
The Columbians and Don Lawrence Orchestra will hold their second annual Sweetheart Dance at the Columbia Falls High School gym foyer on Friday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. The night of dinner, music and dancing will be catered by Cimarron Deli. Tickets are $25 each for dinner, $8 for dancing and dessert only after 7 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the high school band. Tickets are available at the Cimarron Deli, Glacier Wallflower, the high school office or from band students.
Canyon fundraisers
A fundraiser for the Gateway2Glacier nonprofit group will be held at the Huckleberry Patch in Hungry Horse on Friday, Feb. 15, from 4-8 p.m. with hot soup, bread and treats. A $5 donation will go to the group, which promotes businesses in the Canyon and the proposed Coram to West Glacier bike path along U.S. 2. Another fundraiser will be held at the Belton Chalet in West Glacier with a showing of the award-winning documentary film “The Lookout” on Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m. Admission will be $6 individuals and $15 families. For more information, visit online at www.gateway2glacier.com.
Whole living
Jill Purdy will continue her free Whole Living Community Workshop vegetarian cooking school and more on Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. at the Seventh–day Adventist Church, 269 Second Avenue East North, in Columbia Falls. This months’ classes will include “Gluten-free cooking” on Feb. 19 and “Hydrotherapy” on Feb. 26.
Dental work
The Smile of Hope dental program operated by Soroptimist International of Whitefish is now taking applications for new dental patients. The program provides funds for dental care to qualifying low-income working women who are the head of their households and have no access to dental care. Application forms may be picked up at the Soroptimist Thrift Haus, 303 First Street in Whitefish or Shepherd’s Hand Clinic each Monday evening at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish. For more information, contact Joanie Sorensen at 862-3669 or e-mail scott7777_2000_2000@yahoo.com.
Art show
The Hockaday Museum of Art’s “Of the Earth” exhibit will feature well-known artists from Montana and around the U.S. who have created works using natural elements. Among the local artists on display are David Secrest, patterned metalwork; Kate Hunt, newspaper sculpture; and Lee Proctor, blown glass. A public reception will be held at the museum, 302 Second Avenue East, in Kalispell, on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 5-7 p.m. Several artists will speak about their work and inspirations. The exhibit will be on display through April 20, 2013. For more information, visit online at www.HockadayMuseum.org or call 755-5268.
Auction fundraiser
The Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country will hold its 10th annual auction and dinner at the Shady Lane Roller Rink, 155 Shady Lane, in Evergreen, on Saturday, March 16, at 5 p.m. The event will be catered by the Linda Vista restaurant. The club has been operating after-school programs in the Flathead since 1999 with more than 3,000 members and averaging 500 kids a week. Tickets are $40 individual, $75 couples and $400 for tables of eight. All money stays in the Flathead. For more information, call Alan Sempf at 261-4232.
IONS meet
The local Institute of Noetic Sciences community group will present a talk on “Life Lessons from Horses: Consciousness, Communication, Connection and Community” by Dr. Doug Hammill, DVM, at the Bohemian Grange, behind Montana Coffee Traders on U.S. 93, on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. Hammill has been driving and working horses in harness for almost 60 years and teaching horsemanship and driving for more than 30 years. A donation is requested to help defray expenses. For more information, call 862-9591 or 862-7711.
Guitar fundraiser
Singer/songwriter Chuck Suchy will present “Songs and Stories of a Prairie Troubadour” in a family-friendly benefit concert to support The Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation at the former United Church of Christ, 204 Seventh Avenue West, in Kalispell, on Saturday, Feb. 16, with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. A donation of $15 is suggested and seating is limited. Suchy has presented his songs and stories at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution and on Garrison Keillor’s radio program “A Prairie Home Companion.” For more information, visit online at www.cocguitarfoundation.org or call 406-407-5962.
Book club
The Bad Rock Book Discussion Group will discuss “Drive Me Wild: A Western Odyssey,” by Christina Nealson, at Bad Rock Books, 615 Nucleus Avenue, in Columbia Falls, on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. Nealson tells how she moved into a 35-foot motor home with her husband, cat and dog and traveled across North America, from British Columbia to the tip of the Baja Peninsula. For more information, call Carol Rocks at 892-0515.
Dance and auction
The Lighthouse Christian Home will hold its eighth annual Valentine’s dance at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell on Saturday, Feb. 16, with Big Band swing music, a silent and live auction, a pie auction, treasure chest and dessert buffet. This is the nonprofit’s main fundraiser. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The nonprofit provides a residence for adults with intellectual disabilities. Tickets are $30 for individuals or $200 for a table of eight available at Snappys Sports Senter in Kalispell, Glacier Bank, or by calling the Lighthouse 857-3276.