Turkey bingo

In an effort to build a strong-knit community, the Ruder Elementary School PTO will hold Family Fun Nights for all ages. They will begin Friday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m. with the PTO's first annual Family Turkey Bingo in the Ruder gym. Prizes will include turkeys, gas cards, cupcakes, gourmet caramel apples, table centerpieces, free bowling and gift cards. The game will continue until all prizes are gone. Refreshments will be available.

Chamber after hours

The Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business After Hours social with Freedom Bank and Complete Restoration at Freedom Bank on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 5-7:30 p.m. with food, drinks and drawings. Military heroes can be honored by purchasing a donation card with all proceeds going to the Montana Veterans Home. Non-perishable food items or cash donations for the Columbia Falls Food Bank can be dropped off at Freedom Bank throughout November.

Bowl for kids

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County will host five Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraising events across the Flathead in November, including at Glacier Lanes, in Columbia Falls, on Saturday, Nov. 12, beginning at 3 p.m. This is Big Brothers Big Sisters main fundraiser. All proceeds directly support mentoring programs. To sign, call 752-0092 or visit online at www.firstgiving.com/bbbsfc/bfks.

Gift festival

The annual holiday International Gift Festival at Mountain View Mennonite Church, 795 Mennonite Church Road, in Creston, will take place Nov. 9-12 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Fair-trade handcrafted goods made by artisans from more than 30 Third World countries working through the Ten Thousand Villages international ministry will be for sale. Entertainment will be provided by the Crown of the Continent Choir on Wednesday at 7 p.m.; the Flathead High School Choral-Aires on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. and Off The Record on Thursday at 7 p.m. A presentation by Mountain View Mennonite Church's Work and Learn tour to Haiti from spring 2011 will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. For more information, call 755-8772 or visit online at www.mountainviewmc.squarespace.com.

Local author recognized

West Glacier author Beth Hodder recently won two book awards for her middle-grade mystery, "Stealing the Wild." The book, a sequel to her award-winning book "The Ghost of Schafer Meadows," was selected as a WILLA finalist for children's and young-adult fiction and nonfiction. The 2011 WILLA literary award winners and finalists represent the best of 2010 published literature for women's or girls stories set in the American West. "Stealing the Wild" also was awarded a Moonbeam silver medal for pre-teen fiction in the mystery category. Hodder's books are available online at www.grizzlyridgepublishing.com.

Barbershop chorus

The Flathead Valleyaires barbershop chorus will sponsor "United We Sing," a patriotic concert to benefit the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, in the Glacier High School auditorium on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. The Valleyaires will be joined by the Five Valleys Sweet Adelines, area high school choral groups and two barbershop quartets. Tickets are $10 at the door, with children under-12 free. For more information, visit online at www.flatheadvalleyaires.org or call 755-1755.

Book sale

The Columbia Falls Library Association will hold a book sale at Glacier Discovery Square on Friday, Nov. 18, from noon to 5 p.m. with fiction and nonfiction, old and new books. Proceeds will benefit the library.

Wellness fair

The Flathead Disability Health & Wellness Fair will take place at The Wave in Whitefish on Saturday, Nov. 12, from noon to 5 p.m. More than 20 federal, state, nonprofit and other groups will be represented. According to the 2010 census, more than 10,000 people in Flathead County have disabilities and 6 percent are children. Guest speakers will appear throughout the event, and prizes will be raffled off. To register, visit online at www.whitefishwave.org/disability/healthfair. For more information, call 406-249-4122.