Today

FVCC President Jane Karas hosts a breakfast public forum on plans for the college, its new facilities and programs 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., the Nite Owl Cafe, Columbia Falls. Reservations requested. Call Carolyn Shriver at 756-3801.

Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell, offers free admission today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. courtesy of Glacier Bank. Call 755-5268.

Storytime with Glacier Park International Airport Director Mike Daigle at 10:30 a.m., Flathead County Library, Kalispell, as part of National Library Week. All are welcome.

The Pachyderm Club meets at noon in the Bulldog at the WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Special guests are President Joe Briggs, Lt. Governor Karl Ohs and former governor, Stan Stevens. Public invited.

Flathead Seniors, 403 Second Ave. W., Kalispell painting class and oil painting demonstration by new instructor Barbara Abbott. Call 257-1597.

Storytime with FVCC President Jane Karas at 4 p.m., Flathead County Library, Kalispell, as part of National Library Week. All are welcome.

Glacier Twins fund-raising live and silent auction, 6:30 p.m. Blue Moon Nite Club and Grill, at the junction of U.S. 2 East and Montana 40 in Columbia Falls. For more information, call 863-4808.

Montana Lutherans for Life seminar on abstinence 7-9 p.m. Teens invited for performance from Hope Pregnancy's SPAM team. Free will offering. Call 892-5700. and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 16 at Our Redeemer Lutheran church, 640 Seventh St. W., Columbia Falls.

Saturday

United Way hosts Christmas in April today, a day of community volunteerism to assist senior citizens. Call 752-7266 to register.

Montana Lutherans for Life seminar on abstinence 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran church, 640 Seventh St. W., Columbia Falls. Free will offering. Breakfast and lunch and babysitting are available. Call 892-5700.

FVCC logger sports team competes in Stumpjumper Days 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flathead Valley Community College. Pole climbing, axe throwing, sawing and chopping competitions. Free admission.

Mountain Mall and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks sponsor a free Kids Fishing Derby 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mountain Mall Whitefish. Bring your poles and parents. Prizes for kids 12 and under. Call 862-6255.

Big Sky Astronomy Club and FVCC celebrate Astronomy Day on campus. Astronomy-related activities begin at 9 a.m. including safe solar viewing. Club President Mark Paulson presents "Wonders of the Universe" at 10:30 a.m., a one-hour guided tour of our solar system, Milky Way and the universe. NASA administrator's fellow and Salish Kootenai College math and pre-engineering instructor Scott Askew gives the keynote talk on "Robonaut: NASA's Humanoid Robot." Free and open to the public. Call Paulson at 257-7261 or Bruce Ruby at 857-3753.

St. Joseph Medical Center sponsors a women's symposium on "The Healthy Woman: Nothin is More Important than Health," 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the KwaTaqNuk Resort in Polson. Tickets are $5 and include lunch. Keynote speaker is Deborah Sybrant from the International Heart Institute in Missoula. Call 883-8416.

Spring flea market and garage sale 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Sunday, Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo Building. Call Leslie at 261-4560, or the fairgrounds at 758-5810.

Jump Start Health Fair, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Kalispell Center Mall.

Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell, offers free admission today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. courtesy of Glacier Bank. Call 755-5268.

CPR/First Aid instruction for adults and children, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Glacier room, North Valley Hospital. Cost is $50. Call 863-3513 to register.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program will thank their volunteers for the many hours of time they give to the community at at 10:30 a.m. at the RSVP Love Day Recognition Luncheon will be held. The Sweet Adeline Quartet will entertain. Lunch will be provided by the Bulldog in the WestCoast Outlaw Hotel.

Halfway House at Essex potluck dinner 4 p.m. QRU building, Essex. Mini raffle and drawing for ongoing raffle. Proceeds go to rebuilding the Halfway House. Call George or Mary Bolta at 888-5562.

Kila School Silent Auction. A taco dinner will be served at 5 p.m. The cost is $3.50; auction at 6:30 p.m.

West Valley School Bingo Night. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Bingo begins at 6 p.m. Theme baskets, door prizes, silent auction. Concessions will be available. Proceeds go toward a new sound system for the gym.

11th annual Flathead County Tavern Association fund-raiser, WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Cocktails, 6 p.m.; dinner 7 p.m. Deluxe door prizes, live and silent auctions. Live comedy show featuring Jay Wendell. Calcutta prizes. Call 862-3281.

Kila School fifth grade Big Creek taco dinner fund-raiser, followed by eighth grade Seattle Fund-raiser auction at 6:30 p.m., at the school.

Sunday

Flathead Valley Archers host their 21st annual Lone Pine 3-D Shoot at Lone Pine State Park, Kalispell. Registration at 8:30 a.m. Two loops with 20 targets each. Scorecards due by 3:30 p.m. Concessions available. Observers should stay on the main trail for safety. Call Rochelle Pope at 755-2706 or Dave Landstrom at 755-4574.

Monday

St. Joseph Medical Center, Polson, third annual Baby Blanket Day beginning at 10 a.m. in the hospital conference rooms. Volunteer to cut, iron and sew baby blankets for the newborns. Bring your sewing machine or serger if you have one. Call Toni Young at 883-1676.

Flathead County Republican Women meet at noon at the WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Lunch is $8. Guest speaker is Mick Holm, superintendent of Glacier Park. Call Marcia Daigle at 257-7697.

Flathead Conservation District has a special meeting to consider application FL-049-2000 at 1:30 p.m., 30 Lower Valley Road, Kalispell.

Red Cross blood drive 2-6 p.m., at the center, 17A First St. Ave., Kalispell.

Red Cross certified review course in Adult CPR, 6:30 p.m. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Democratic Central Committee meets in the basement of the Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Executive board at 6 p.m.; general meeting 7 p.m.

Somers Townsite Association meets at 7 p.m. at Somers School. All interested residents are invited. Call Dennis Hatton, 857-3398.

Tuesday

AARP Seniors two day Driver Safety Program 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., today and April 21, The Summit, Kalispell. Instructor is Jim Scalf. Cost is $10. Call 751-4500.

Brunch is offered the public at 9:30 a.m., Los Caporales on Nucleus Avenue, Columbia Falls. Latest fashions in affordable costume jewelry. Guest speaker is Norma Guttenberg of Glasgow. Cost is $7 per person. Free child care by reservation. Call Bernadette at 892-0316, or Sherry at 892-5990. Sponsored by the Columbia Falls Women's Connection and Stonecroft Ministries.

Buffet luncheon 11:30 a.m., Kalispell Center WestCoast Hotel. Tami Eigeman-Thomspon of Woolen Collectibles demonstrates using designer yarns. Guest speaker Norma Guttenberg of Glasgow, owner of Knits by Norma. Cost is $10. Complimentary child care is available. RSVP to Rosainne at 257-8098. Complimentary Sponsored by the Kalispell Women's Connection and Stonecroft Ministries.

Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Eureka.

North Valley Hospital volunteer recognition luncheon/auxiliary meeting at noon April 19, Lake Room, North Valley Hospital.

Somers School board meets at 6 p.m. at Somers Middle School to work on a principal salary matrix, followed by a regular board meeting at 7 p.m.

Free workshop on budgeting and consumer rights 6:30-8:30 p.m., North Valley Senior Center. Call Roxy Larsen at 892-4087.

Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited features Montana State University graduate student Andy Dux discussing his research and video footage of spawning bull and lake trout in Lake McDonald, Glacier Park. at 7:30 p.m., Bohemian Grange Hall, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, south of Whitefish, behind Montana Coffee Traders. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday

MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support), 9:30-11:30 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Rev. Darold Reiner of the Church at Creston discusses " Twelve Rules for Raising Delinquent Children." Child care provided. Call 257-LOVE (5683).

Children's Story Hour at 10:30 a.m., Children's Department of the Flathead County Library in Kalispell, 247 First Ave. E. Call 758-5822.

Kalispell Kiwanis Noon Club program featuring Paul Rana on his recent trip to Africa, at noon, WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Public invited. RSVP at 261-2767 as seating is limited.

Montana Senator Conrad Burns' field representative, Denise Smith, will hold community outreach hours 1:30 to 3 p.m., at the North Lincoln County Annex Conference Room 152, Montana 37, Eureka. Call Smith at 257-3360 or (800) 344-1513.

Swan River School board meets in special session at 3:30 p.m. for the purpose of gym.

After-school Storytime for children 6-12, 3:45 p.m., Children's Department of the Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Call 758-5822.

Red Cross certified review course in Infant and Child CPR, 6:30 p.m. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium presents "The Dollars and Non-sense of Defense Spending," by Karen Adams University of Montana Department of Political Science, 7 p.m., WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel ballroom. Free and open to the public.

Dale Johnson presents a slide program on "Spring Mushrooms of Western Montana," at the Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society meeting, 7 p.m., Mountain View Mennonite Church in Creston. Everyone also invited to general chapter meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday

Whitefish Chamber of Commerce invites you to Gone Fishin' at Master Suite B & B, 354 Browns Road, Kalispell, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Call the chamber at 862-3501 for directions.

Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative Governing Council meets at 8:30 a.m. April 21, 2290 Farm to Market Road, Suite A, Kalispell.

Swan Ecosystem Center presents mycologist expert Larry Evans to discuss early spring mushrooms, 7 p.m. at the center, U.S. 83 in Condon. Call 754-3137 to register.

A Look Ahead

Kila School board special meeting at 7 a.m. April 22 at the school to discuss step wage grievances; at 7:30 a.m. for an expulsion hearing.

Fair Trade International Gift Festival 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 22; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23, Mountain View Mennonite Church, 795 Mennonite Church Road, Creston. Village Cafe open for lunch. Benefit for third world artisans.

Flathead Valley Community College Local Topics/Global Issues film series presents "Invisible Children," a documentary about the children in civil war ravaged Uganda, noon to 1 p.m. April 22 at LRC room 134. Discussion will follow. Free and the public is welcome to attend. Call Gerda Reeb at 756-3945.

Kalispell Montessori Elementary School annual auction/dance 6 p.m. April 22, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Country Kitchen. Music by Grin and Bear It. Free admission. Proceeds benefit the school's scholarship fund. Call 755-3826.

27th annual Eureka Rendezvous April 22-24. Barbecue at Lake Kookanusa Arena, Bop-a-Dips concert, April 22. Craft fair, parade, live entertainment April 23. Mud Bog 1 p.m. April 24.

The public is invited to "Clean the 'Fork" 8 a.m. to noon April 23. Pancake and ham breakfast provided by Flathead Bank at 8 a.m. Bring brooms, flat shovels and rakes. Wear gloves and appropriate clothing. Call the Bigfork Chamber at 837-5888.

The public is invited to an album-making workshop 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 23, FVCC in the Eagles Nest. Theme is "Sense of Style" and will include traditional, enhanced and decorative techniques and styles. Call Joyce Workman at 755-4922.

12th annual American Legion Baseball Golf Tournament April 23, 75 Woodland Dr., Kalispell.

Big Sky Pro Racing Association event April 23, Polson Fairgrounds. Swap meet 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Valley Cruisers show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Outlaw cart racing 1-4 p.m. laps, 7 p.m. race. Call 406-261-6592 to pre-register or log on to www.bigskyracing.net.

The Parade of Children crafts and activities will be noon to 3 p.m., and Dreambuilders Playhouses drawing 3:30 p.m. April 23, Kalispell Center Mall, Call the Nurturing Center at 756-1414.

Columbia Falls Kiwanis Mountain Madness Motocross event Hungry Horse Motocross track. Registration 6-9 p.m. April 23, 6:30-8 a.m. April 24. Race time 8 a.m. April 24. Admission $7, adults; children 12 and under accompanied by a parent, free; Call 892-7283 or 892-1000.

Taste of Bigfork 2005 2-6 p.m. April 24. Tour fine cuisine of Bigfork and benefit for Habitat for Humanity, Bigfork Senior Center and Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce. Live music by John Floridis, LeftOver Biscuits and a Dylan Dwyer's jazz combo. Raffles. Tickets are $40 each available at Electric Avenue Books in Bigfork, the Stone Chair in Kalispell and Montana Coffee Traders in Whitefish. Call 837-5888.

John White Lecture Series, 2:30 p.m. April 24, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Guest speaker Glenn Helms will speak on the topic, "Native Americans of Northwest Montana." $8 per lecture; $25 for four lecture series for Northwest Montana Historical Society members, $30 for non-members. Call 756-8381.

Harlem Globetrotter Alumni charity basketball game featuring former Globetrotter legend Curly Neal, 6 p.m. April 24, Flathead High School gym. Tickets are $15 which admits one adult and two children, 12 and under, available at Town Pumps, Sunshine CDs, WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel. Benefit for DARE Program and Crimestoppers.

Red Cross blood drive 2-6 p.m. April 25, at the center, 17A First St. Ave., Kalispell.

Kila School board Budget Committee meets at 5 p.m. April 25 at the school.

Eric T. Young,former U.S. State Department diplomat and current government contractor, will talk about the war on terrorism in the Middle East and Asia, at 6 p.m. April 25, in the Blake hall board room as part of FVCC's Local Topics/Global Issues lecture series Free and the public is welcome to attend. Call Gerda Reeb at 756-3945.

The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m. April 25 at 30 Lower Valley Road in Kalispell.

Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 26-27, Flathead High School.

FVCC inaugural coffee and conversation meeting for Ambassadors and Alumni Association, 10 a.m. April 26 at Bibler Home and Gardens, Kalispell. Free but reservations required. Call Sue Dennis at 756-3963.

Lake County Democrats meet for a social half hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by business meeting at 7 p.m., April 26, at the Ninepipes Lodge. Agenda includes upcoming precinct committee members nomination and election. All are welcome.

Red Cross certified course in ACPR, 6:30 p.m. April 26. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Deep Bay Retreat and Conference Center in Lakeside hosts FVCC instructor, poet and scholar Lowell Jaeger at 7 p.m. April 26 with a program titled, "Losing Your Mind: How to Read Poems/How to Make Them." Free and open to the public. The program is sponsored by the Montana Committee for the Humanities Speakers Bureau. Call Rose Simon at 844-2611.

Free Christian Science lecture on "The Healing Power of Forgiveness" at 7:30 p.m. April 26, ballroom B, WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel. Free child care provided. Call 752-5506.

Evergreen Business and Property Owner's Association meets at 7 p.m., April 26, Evergreen Fire Hall, 2236 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell. The proposed sewage treatment plant and forming an Evergreen Community Council will be discussed. The public is invited.

Flathead resident and human rights activist Linda Regnier will discuss her work with children of the northern hill tribes of Thailand before and after the December 26 tsunami, as part of the Local Topics/Global Issues lecture series at 6 p.m. April 27 in the Blake hall board room. Free and the public is welcome to attend. Call Gerda Reeb at 756-3945.

Red Cross certified course in First Aid Basics, 6:30 p.m. April 27. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium presents "Public Opinion and the Media: Looking Glasses of Funhouse Mirrors?" by Christopher Muste, University of Montana Department of Political Science, 7 p.m. April 27, WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel ballroom. Free and open to the public.

The Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell, presents a program, "Troubled Trust: Lewis & Clark's Legacy and the Indian Frontier," writer, teacher, performing artist and interpretive guide Ritchie Doyle at 7:30 p.m. April 27. Free and open to the public. Call 756-8992.

Red Cross blood drive, 1-5 p.m., April 28, U.S. Post Office on Meridian Road, Kalispell.

Flathead County Library board meets at 3 p.m. April 28 at the Flathead County Library meeting room, Kalispell. Contact Kim Crowley, library director, at 758-5826.

Dr. Patrick Burns of Sleep Medicine Center, presents a free talk on sleep apnea, 7 p.m. Lake Room, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish.

Kila School board 2005-06 budget meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 28 at the school.

The Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell, presents a program, "In Greatest Harmony: medicine Songs of the Lewis & Clark Trail" with singer, actor and teacher Joseph Mussulman, at 7:30 p.m. April 28. Free and open to the public. Call 756-8992.

The City of Kalispell Tree Commission celebrates Arbor Day April 29. Following a ceremony at 12:40 p.m. featuring a video of "It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown," and other activities, two trees will be planted by Trinity Lutheran School's third graders at 2:30 p.m. on the nearby boulevard. Call Parks and Recreation at 758-7715 or Bette Albright at 752-4836. Public is invited.

14th annual Flathead Valley Community Prom sponsored by the junior class of Columbia Falls High School, 8-11 p.m. April 29, CFHS gym.

Big Wheels "Basket Ball" 8-11 p.m. April 29, Elks Club, Kalispell. Live music by Loose Caboose. Raffle, silent auction, food. Admission by donation.

Big Wheels 19th annual Basketball Tournament 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30, Edgerton School gym. Free admission. Proceeds benefit Special Friends Advocacy Program for those with disabilities. Call 756-5488.

Montana Woman Magazine hosts a "Clothes Closet" from 1 to 5 p.m. April 30, Valley Fitness for Women (next to Joann's Fabric in Evergreen.) Donations of like new professional work clothes accepted. All are welcome to shop the sale. Refreshments, drawings. Proceeds go to Montana Woman of the Year Scholarship. Call Cindy or Bonnie at 755-5753.

Rites of Spring Benefit Wine Tasting and Auction, 6-10 p.m. April 30, Mountain West Bank, Whitefish. Auction items include pieces by Mark Ogle and Joe Abbrescia, West Taxidermy, celebrity items and more. Call Nancy Cohn at 892-3581 or Donna Johnson at 892-3099 for tickets or to make a donation.

The City of Whitefish Public Works Department will pick up organic debris such as leaves, grass clippings and tree branches May 2-May 6. Leaves and clippings must be bagged and tied. Trim branches to 4-foot lengths and bundle. Place debris on nearest boulevard for pickup or at least 10 feet from nearest refuse container. Call 863-2460.

Internationally acclaimed photographer, Tom Ulrich, presents a slide show of his photographs of wildlife from around the world at 7 p.m. May 3 at the WestCoast Outaw Hotel. Admission $5 per person (Big Brothers and Little Brothers admitted free.) Proceeds benefit BBBS of Flathead County. Call 752-0092.

Kila School board special meeting at 7:30 a.m. May 4 to canvass election votes.

American Heart Association Heartsaver Program offers CPR instruction, 1-4 p.m. May 4, West Wing, North Valley Hospital. Cost is $35. Call 863-5313 to pre-register.

Republicans Bridge Marathon 11:30 a.m. May 5, Black Angus Restaurant in the Red Lion Hotel. Lunch, prizes. RSVP to KathyBarkus at 755-8362.

Internationally acclaimed photographer Tom Ulrich presents a slide show of his photographs of wildlife from around the world at 7p.m. May 5 at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. Admission is $5 per person (Big Brothers and Little Brothers are admitted free. Proceeds benefit BBBS of Flathead County. Call 752-0092.

FVCC President Jane Karas hosts a breakfast public forum on plans for the college, its new facilities and programs noon to 1:30 p.m. May 6, the Spruce Park Cafe, Columbia Falls. Reservations requested. Call Carolyn Shriver at 756-3801.

Tole Booth Spring Bazaar 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 6-7, 515 First Ave. W., Kalispell (behind Flathead Travel.) Handpainted and handmade decorative items, shabby chic furniture, Mothers and Fathers Day gifts. Coffee and cookies.

Kalispell Regional Medical Center's Baby Fair, May 7, Kalispell Center Mall.

Bibler Home and Gardens Spring Tours May 7-8. Tours on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets $8 adults, $3 children. Call the FVCC Foundation office at 756-3963.

Kila School board meets at 10 a.m. May 10 to reorganize.

Flathead Regional Business Center, 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, hosts a free Brown Bag Series discussion by facilitator Dana Jefferies on the topic, "Drug Testing: An Employer's Perspective," noon to 1 p.m. May 11. RSVP to Mora McCarthy at 758-6241.

North Valley Hospital centennial celebration 1-6 p.m. May 12, in Whitefish. Site blessing at 2 p.m. Barbecue at 6 p.m. Activities, demonstrations, free food and giveaways.

Whitefish/Kalispell North KOA, 862-4242, and West Glacier KOA, call 387-5341, offer free camping to the public May 13.

Contra dance, May 13, Sons of Norway Hall, 347 First Ave. E. in Kalispell. Lessons 7:30-8 p.m.; dance 8 to 11 p.m. $6 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to 18, and free for 11 and under. Live folk music and caller. Alcohol and smoke-free. Call Christina, 212-9444; or Joe, 752-7469.

Red Cross CPR/First Aid instruction for adults and children, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 21, Glacier Room, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. Cost is $50. Call 863+3513 to pre-register.

AARP Driver Safety Program for drivers ages 50 and over, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 24-25, Glacier Room, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. Cost is $10. Call 863-3630 to pre-register.

Whitefish High School has a class reunion July 15-16 at Majestic Valley Arena for 1960s classes. Classes from 1930 to 1959 are also invited, along with 1970-1999. To register or for information, call John Kajiwara at 907-248-1756, 230-0352 (cell) or e-mail WHSReunion2005@GCI.NET.

Mountain Madness Air Show 2005 July 30-31 featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Call 758-2800; or log on to www.kalispellchamber.com/airshow/home.html

Flathead High School class of 1985 20-year reunion is July 22-24. Call Russ Marks at 257-4796, or e-mail rnrmarks@in-tch.com.

Fiberfest Eureka 2005 July 23-24, Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Livestock, fleece and skein judging, workshops, demonstrations. Free. Call Joy at 406-297-7656; or Lee at 406-882-4939.

Cruisen' By the Bay 2005 Aug. 12-14, Polson.