Ski races at Essex

The Izaak Walton Inn, in Essex, will host its annual Kick Out The Kinks cross-country ski races on Sunday, Dec. 18, with 3K, 5K and 10K events. Registration will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon and costs $10, which includes chili. Racing will begin at 1 p.m. There will also be a free 1K race for children. For more information, call 888-5700.

Jazz Cafe

Columbia Falls High School's Columbians Jazz Factory & Jazz Band will perform in the gym foyer on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 7-9 p.m. with treats and dancing. Cost is $7 adults and $4 students.

Fundraiser auction

A fundraiser auction to benefit Daniel Busick that was scheduled to take place on Dec. 8 will now take place at Gardner's Auction, in Kalispell, on Monday, Dec. 19. For exact time and more information, visit online at www.gardnersauction.com or call 261-7815. Items for the auction can be dropped off at Gardner's Auction from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ruder school concert

Ruder Elementary School students will perform their Christmas programs in the gym on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15-16. On Thursday at 2 p.m., the kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade students will sing songs about snow, with lots of jingles and advice about poinsettias. On Friday at 2 p.m., the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students will perform, with a special Christmas choir and rock ‘n' roll snowmen.

Gateway school concert

Glacier Gateway Elementary School students will present combined Christmas programs in the Columbia Falls High School Little Theater on Tuesday, Dec. 20. First- and second-graders will perform at 10:30 a.m. with first-graders singing songs from rock and roll to hip hop, and second-graders singing songs from traditional to Latin music. Third, fourth and fifth grades will perform at 1:30 p.m. with rock and roll, Latin, traditional and big band Christmas music.

Senior party

Parents of Columbia Falls High School seniors will begin planning for next year's senior party during a meeting in the high school cafeteria on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. All parents of high school seniors are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Melanie White at 387-5344 or Julita Ward at 212-8211.

Sled dog racing

The fifth annual Flathead Sled Dog Days race will take place at the Olney trailhead on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m. about 18 miles north of Whitefish. Sleds with four, eight and 12 dogs will race in reverse direction the next day. The multi-day event will kick off with a vet check at Grouse Mountain Lodge, in Whitefish, on Friday, Jan. 6, at noon followed by a ceremonial parade on the nearby soccer fields at 4:30 p.m. A fundraiser and raffle will be held Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Great Northern Brewery, in Whitefish, from 4 p.m. to closing.

Christmas tale

Father Bradley Wirth will present a reading of his Christmas story, "A Christmas Offertory," at All Saints Episcopal Church on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. An offering will be taken to benefit the Humane Society, the Flathead County Animal Shelter and the Spay and Neuter Task Force. The church is located on Conn Road, off Highway 40 about halfway between Columbia Falls and Whitefish.

County board openings

There are two 3-year vacancies on the Columbia Falls City-County Planning Board for county representatives. Interested people must live within the city's two-mile planning jurisdiction but not inside the city limits.

There are also one 3-year vacancy for a Middle Fork area representative on the county's Fire Service Area Advisory Board and one 3-year vacancy on the county's Animal Shelter Advisory Committee.

Letters of interest should be sent by Jan. 5, 2012, to Flathead County Commissioners, 800 South Main, Kalispell MT 59901. For more information and to learn about other board vacancies, call 758-5537.