Today

2005 Northwest Montana Fair today through Aug. 21, Flathead County Fairgrounds. Inland Empire Shows and Royal West Amusement Carnival starts 5 p.m. today, and all-day Aug. 17-20; Christian concert with the Fox Brothers, 7 p.m. Aug. 16; country concert with Tracy Byrd, 7 p.m. Aug. 17; PRCA Rodeo, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18-20; fair parade, 10 a.m. Aug. 19; 2006 Miss Pro Rodeo queen and princess coronation 6 p.m. Aug. 20; Little Miss Rode coronation, 2 p.m. Aug. 20. Demolition Derby 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Call 758-5810 or log on to www.nwmtfair.com

Kalispell Montana Women's Connection buffet luncheon, "The Wonderful World of Water Aerobics," 11:30 a.m., Kalispell Center WestCoast Hotel, $10. Call Julie at 837-2520 or Rosainne at 257-8098.

Easthaven Baptist Church hosts a Hunters Banquet, 6 p.m., 2010 Whitefish Stage Road. Troy Ruiz will give a hunting call presentation. Door prizes and drawings for a rifle, bow, hunting gear and more. Trophy mount displays. Advance and at-the door tickets are $10 and includes meal and one drawing ticket. Call 752-7021.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell.

Red Cross Infant and Child CPR certification training, 6:30 p.m. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Big Sky Bonsai Society meets at 7 p.m. at the Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Free and the public is invited. Bonsai techniques will be demonstrated. Contact Jerry Mieslik at 862-0387.

Wednesday

Food drive and patient appreciation day by chiropractor Richard Puchta, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; current and new patients may bring groceries in exchange for chiropractic adjustments. "Life Without Limits" class at 12:45 p.m. Call 752-7289.

3 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.

Hawaiian luau with Columbia Falls Women's Connection, 11:30 a.m., Columbia Falls Community Room, speaker Pat Abernathy, $7 adults, $4 children. Reservations: Candy 387-4112 or Sherry 892-5990.

Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Troy Methodist Church.

Montana Veterans Home Family and Alsheimer's Support group meets at noon in the conference room. All are invited. Cal Suzanne Dickenson, Social Services, at 892-3256.

Somers School District board meets from to 1 to 7 p.m. for a board retreat at the Bay Shore Motel in Lakeside.

Thursday

Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Libby VFW. Sponsored by the VFW and Rotary.

Whitefish Library sponsors a group reading program at Riverside Assisted Living at 1:30 p.m. Call Sandra Sesler at 862-0999 or Joey Kositzky at 862-6657.

Flathead City-County Board of Health meets 2-4 p.m., second floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W. Kalispell.

Soroptimist International of Bigfork Summer Soiree, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Harbor Village Yacht Club, 301 Eagle Bend Dr., Bigfork. International wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres. Tickets $35 available at Nan's Cafe, The Jug Tree and Bigfork Drug Store, and at the door. Call 837-0622.

Friday

Pari Mutual horse racing, 1 p.m. today through Aug. 21, Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Saturday

"Frame and Flatter your Journaling" is the theme for an album-making workshop 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Flathead Valley Community College. Learn to create decorative borders for your journals. To register call Joyce Workman at 755-4922.

Seventh annual Polson Fly-in, Polson Airport. Pancake breakfast 8 a.m. open to public. Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Experimental, antique, classics and "Warbirds," and radio controlled aircrafts on display. Free Young Eagle Flights available from 9 a.m. to noon for kids 8-17.

Dog Days of Summer 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Whitefish City Beach. Drawing for prizes at 1:30 p.m. Free hot dogs and school supplies. Call 862-4039. Sponsored by Children's Ministries of Whitefish Assembly of God.

Kalispell Rockhound Club annual Rock Show beginning at 10 a.m. today and Sunday, WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel. Admission $2 for adults; kids under 12 free. Call Karen Burkett at 837-6424.

Scandinavian Gift and Craft Sale, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sons of Norway, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell.

21st annual Polson Soroptimist Wine Festival 7-10 p.m., Polson City Airport. Tickets are $25 at Terrace Flowers, Gull Printing, Crows Nest Art Gallery. Call 883-2668 or 800-845-4251 to reserve. Proceeds benefit Soroptimist scholarships.

Thought

"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." n Henry Ford, American auto manufacturer (1863-1947).

Sunday

Kalispell Rockhound Club annual Rock Show beginning at 10 a.m. today , WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel. Admission $2 for adults; kids under 12 free. Call Karen Burkett at 837-6424.

Monday

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

Red Cross Adult CPR certification training, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

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

Lakeside Elementary and Somers Middle School new student enrollment 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. today through Aug. 24 at either school. Complete immunization records required. Call 857-3301.

A Look Ahead

Lakeside Elementary and Somers Middle School new student enrollment 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 23-24 at either school. Complete immunization records required. Call 857-3301.

Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Aug. 23, Eureka Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Red Cross First Aid Basics certification training, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Swan River School board special meeting to hire a sixth grade teacher and a paraprofessional for one year only, noon.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Aug. 24, First Interstate Bank, Main Street, Kalispell.

Farm Hands agricultural group offers a pesto workshop, 5 p.m. Aug. 24, at the Bohemian Grange Hall, behind Coffee Traders south of Whitefish. Demonstration on preparing and preserving pesto. $4 donation with pesto snack. Call Kerrie at 862-3795.

Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Aug. 25, Kalispell Regional Conference Center. Qdoba coupons will be given to donors.

Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 26, Burch's Photo Lab, Blue Cow building, Kalispell. Qdoba coupons will be given to donors.

Third Annual Art Quilts Show reception to benefit Violence Free Crisis Line, at Loula's Cafe, 300 Second St., Whitefish, 5-8 p.m. Aug. 26. Quilts sold or auctioned to highest bidder; buy $10 reception tickets from Violence Free Crisis Line. Call 752-4735.

Bethany Lutheran Church Rummage and Bake Sale, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 27, 8559 Montana 35, Bigfork, in the Ark building.

Foursquare Church 100 year anniversary celebration Aug. 26-28, 345 Spokane Ave., Whitefish. Hot dogs and refreshments 5-7 p.m. Aug. 26; Lunch noon to 3 p.m., Aug. 27 followed by activities and entertainment; worship 10:30 a.m. Aug. 28. Free and open to public. Call 862-1653.

Big Mountain Hill Climb Race 9 a.m. Aug. 27, Danny On Trail. Registration 8-8:45 a.m. at Hell Roaring Chalet. Cost is $5 for students; $10 for adults; $20 per family. Proceeds benefit the local Nordic Ski Team. Call Debbie at 862-2113.

Pari Mutual horse racing, 1 p.m. Aug. 27-28, Flathead County Fairgrounds.

New Earth Summer Expo 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 27-28, WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel. Exhibitors of health and beauty, and nutritional products, jewelry, and art. Massage and bodywork therapists and health practitioners will be on hand. Guest speakers. Free. All are welcome. Call 406-327-7977.

Fourth annual Whitefish Lake Swim Aug. 28. Call Kathryn McEnery at 257-3798.

Red Cross blood drive, 1- 6 p.m., Aug. 29, at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell. Sponsored by State Farms Neighbors for Life.

Flathead Senior Center, 403 Second Ave. W., Kalispell, Toenail Clinic, 3:30 p.m. Aug. 29. Call 257-1598.

Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 30, at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell. Sponsored by State Farms Neighbors for Life.

Red Cross Adult CPR certification training, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Aug. 31, at East Glacier Lodge, Glacier Park.

Red Cross First Aid Basics certification training, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Long Range Planning Task Force meets 4-6 p.m. Sept. 8, Earl Bennett Building, First Avenue West, Kalispell. Public invited to comment at end of meeting.

Marion area hunter education sign up 7 p.m. Sept. 1, Marion Fire Hall. Minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Call Dwyght LIndberg at 752-4368, Tom Dutcher at 756-6583, or Gerry Hurst at 854-9399.

7th annual Bead Stampede noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 10-11, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Grandstand Building. Beads and beadwork of all types and matereials. Free. Call 208-676-9957.

Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, 6 p.m. Sept. 24, Ronan Community Center. Guest speaker is Senator Conrad Burns. Military presentation. Door prizes, silent auctions, catered dinner. Tickets available at Gull Printing or call 887-2303.