Today

Get your pet photos taken with Santa 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Murdoch's Ranch and Supply, 2330 U.S. 93 South, Kalispell. All proceeds benefit Human Society. Call 752-PAWS.

Kalispell Senior Citizens and VFW Post 2252 holiday brunch 10:30 a.m. to noon, 403 Second Ave. W. Call 257-1598.

Tandoor Indian Restaurant on Baker Street in Whitefish hosts a Cambodian orphanage benefit 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cambodian silk scarves and wraps, jewelry and simple children toys. Credit cards accepted and a portion of proceeds are tax deductible. Call Linda Woods, 862-2801.

Winter Host of Artists Holiday Arts and Crafts sale 11 a.. to 4 p.m. Swan River Community Hall, Montana 83 across from Echo Lake Cafe, Bigfork. Over 15 artists and craftsmen. Live music by Brett Holmquist and the Hubbard Sisters. Refreshments served.

Sweet Adelines perform Christmas carols noon to 12:30 p.m., Kalispell Center Mall.

Eureka hosts a family day of Christmas ornament or yule log making, at the Historical Village Information Center. $2 per child or donation of one new unwrapped toy/gift for Toys for Tots.

Sunday

Seeley Lake's Christmas at the Barn, sponsored by the Historical Society. Call 406-677-2880.

Flathead Audubon birding field trip to the West Valley. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks building, 490 Meridian, Kalispell. Call Leslie Kehoe at 837-4467.

The Rev. Dave Merkel performs a piano and vocal concert, 4:30 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church, 329 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. The public is welcome to attend. Donations of cash and non-perishable food appreciated for Habitat for Humanity and Flathead Food Bank. Call 257-6849.

Monday

Montana Silver Foxes Legislature meets at noon for a Christmas celebration at Perkins Restaurant conference room.

Red Cross holiday open house, 1-6 p.m., at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

Flathead County Growth Policy public meeting in Evergreen at 1 p.m. at Flathead Electric Co-op; and at 6 p.m. at Evergreen Junior High School.

Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group meets 6-8 p.m., Perkins Restaurant parking lot, Kalispell. Survivors, family, friends are welcome to come and board Eagle Transit for a tour of Christmas lights in downtown Kalispell. Cost is $4. Pie and coffee at Perkins follows tour. RSVP to Kathy or Sue at 756-4723. Call Dawn at 257-0050 for special transportation needs.

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

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

Flathead Audubon meets at 7 p.m. at The Summit, Kalispell. Wildlife biologist Dan Casey offers tips for identifying early winter birds. Free and everyone invited. An opportunity to get prepared for annual Christmas bird counts in the valley.

Marion Volunteer Fire Department meets at 7 p.m. in the Community Fire Hall. Election of officers will take place.

Columbia Falls School board meets at 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W. Columbia Falls.

West Valley School board meets at 7 p.m. in the school library.

Deer Park School board meets at 7 p.m. at the school.

Tuesday

The public is invited to a free community lecture, "Essential Resources fro Improving Wellness and Recovery," presented by Cynthia Miller of Ascent Behavioral Health Services, Meridian, Idaho, from 7:30-9 a.m., at Pathways Treatment Center, 200 Heritage Way, Kalispell.

Buffet luncheon 11:30 a.m., Kalispell Center WestCoast Hotel. Theme is "Hats Off to the Holidays." Katie Brennan, The Hat Lady from Sassafras in Kalispell, will display hats and talk about her creations. Guest speaker Karen Spaulding, registered nurse, will talk about her life choices. Cost is $10. RSVP to Rosainne at 257-8098 or Julie at 837-2520. Complimentary child care by reservation. Sponsored by the Kalispell Women's Connection and Stonecroft Ministries.

Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. No reservations are required and lunch is available for $8. Awards presentation and entertainment by Columbia Falls High School Music Department. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-5:30 p.m., Lakeside Elementary School.

Kila School board meets at 5:30 p.m. at the school.

Helena Flats School board meets at 6 p.m., school library.

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

FVCC's Multicultural lecture series continues with "My name is Santaki. I am just a porter girl in a mountain village, but I am thinking of my education," 6 p.m. Blake Hall board room. Don Nelson, co-owner of Nelson's Hardware gives a slide show about the Children of Kathmandu Organization. Free and open to public. Call Gerda Reeb at 756-3945.

"Originality and a feeling of one's own dignity are achieved only through work and struggle." n Feodor Dostoyevsky, Russian author (1821-1881).

Internationally acclaimed photographer Tom Ulrich hosts a wildlife slide show fund-raiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters, 7 p.m., The Bulldog, WestCoast Outlaw Hotel, Kalispell. Admission $5. Call 752-0092.

Mission Mountain Audubon presents "Highway 93 Reconstruction on the Flathead Indian Reservation: A More Wildlife-friendly Highway" by Dale Becker, wildlife program manager for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, 7 p.m. Polson City Library meeting room. Free and open to public.

Smith Valley School board meets at 7 p.m. at the Intermediate School.

Dr. Robert Finnegan of the University of Utah Pain Management Center presents a program "Living with Diabetic Neuropathy," 7 p.m. at The Summit conference room 3, Kalispell. Free and open to the public.

Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead meet at 7:30 p.m., Fish, Wildlife and Parks Building, 490 North Meridian Road. Elections for 2006 officers. Public welcome. Call Deborah at 892-0200.

West Valley Fire District meets 7:30 p.m. at the West Valley Fire Station on Whitefish Stage Road. All interested are welcome.

Creston Fire trustees meet at 7:30 p.m. at Creston Fire Hall.

Wednesday

Bigfork Parentshare meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Community United Methodist Church. Danielle McClenahan will talk about Stroller Strides. Child care is provided. Call Denise at 982-3257 or Dana at 837-4408.

Columbia Falls Women's Connection invites you to brunch, 9:30 a.m., Los Caporales, Nucleus Avenue, Columbia Falls. Cost $7. Program includes Grandma Betty's Scrapbooking. Guest speaker is Karen Spaulding, registered nurse. For reservations call Candy at 387-4119 or Sherry at 892-5990.

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

Lakeside Community Club meets at noon, Vista Linda. Bring a gift for West Shore Toys for Kids. Also a member gift change for those who wish to participate. Somers School provides music. For reservations call Linda Burns at 844-2433.

Whitefish Golden Agers invited to tour the train cars used for the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce's Polar Express, 1 p.m. at the Whitefish Train Depot. Those needing a ride to the depot should call the site manager. Those wanting lunch should call 862-4923 by Tuesday.

Lakeside County Water and Sewer district board meets 2 p.m., district meeting room, 253 Bierney Creek Road, Lakeside.

Red Cross blood drive, 3-6 p.m., at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell. Sponsored by D.A. Davidson.

School District 5 and Flathead High School district board Curriculum Committee meets at 5:15 p.m., at the district office.

Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m. in the administration building boardroom.

Introduction to Bahai faith 5:45-6:45 p.m., Flathead County Library, Kalispell, downstairs conference room. All welcome.

Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m. in the administration building boardroom.

Marion School board meets at 7 p.m. in the library.

Thursday

Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Libby VFW.

Kalispell Toastmasters Club invites Area 11 Toastmasters, friends and families to a Christmas potluck get together 6-8 p.m. at the home of Paul and Catherine Webber, Columbia Falls. Meat dish provided. Program features Table Topics with prizes for most creative speakers. Call Catherine at 755-4884, days; 755-6781, evenings for directions.

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

Seeley Swan High School concert. Call 406-677-2880.

Friday

Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Northwest Montana Human Resources, Main Street, Kalispell.

Eureka Christmas Ball "Dickens Christmas Stories," 8 p.m. Tickets at First Interstate Bank, Glacier Bank and Whitefish Credit Union. Cost $8 per person, $14 per couple, $20 per couple. Entertainment by Kayla and Holly Van Bemmel. Call 406-889-4636.