Chamber meets

The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its general membership meeting at the Teakettle Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue, in Columbia  Falls, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Speakers will include representatives from Glacier National Park, Glacier National Park Conservancy and Xanterra Parks and Resorts. Lunch costs $10. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Carol Pike at 892-2072 or cpike@centurytel.net.

Park history

The Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society will present a free and public talk by Rachel Potter on “Botanical Expeditions in Glacier National Park, 1909 and 1910” at the Museum at Central School, 125 Second Ave. East in Kalispell, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. Potter will trace trips made by Morton Elrod, Glacier Park’s first naturalist, and botanist Marcus Jones, using their written accounts, historic and modern photos and, of course, lots of wildflower pictures.

Plum Creek grant

A $2,500 grant from the Plum Creek Foundation will help the Nurturing Center in Kalispell update its computer software to improve services to families in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties. The Nurturing Center provides 10,800 clients with educational programs and supportive services along with training for professional child care providers. For more information about the Nurturing Center, visit online at www.nurturingcenter.org.

Women’s Connection

The Columbia Falls Women’s Connection, affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries, will host a luncheon at the Teakettle Community Room, 235 Nucleus Avenue, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $8 per person. All women are welcome. Diane Dobson will talk about handmade soy candles, and the speaker will be Dawn Tinkham, author of “When Thunder Rolls.” For reservations, contact Candy at 387-4119 or Janet at 892-3621.

Court hours

The Columbia Falls City Court of Record is open on Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Fridays. Arraignments are held on Mondays at 9 a.m. except on federal holidays. Non-mandatory appearances and contract payments can made online at www.citypayusa.com. For more information, call 892-4340.

History Society

The Columbia Falls Historical Society will meet in the old chapel building at the Montanan Veterans Home on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. The public is welcome. For more information, call 892-5894.

Special Olympics

Special Olympics Montana will celebrate 19 years at Whitefish Mountain Resort with the 2014 State Winter Games on Feb. 23-25. Athletes train for a minimum of eight weeks in alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing to prepare for the games. More than 300 athletes are expected, along with 150 coaches from 25 communities across Montana and nearly 250 volunteers. The Parade of Athletes will take place on Central Avenue in Whitefish on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 4 p.m. Businesses or individuals interested in tournament sponsorship can contact Jim Lawrence at 406-216-5327 or jlawrence@somt.org.