Today

3 Free public 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.

3 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.

3 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 at 892-2072.

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

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

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

3 School District 5 and Flathead High School district board meets at 6 p.m., Kalispell Junior High School library.

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

3 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, 756-3945.

3 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.

3 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.Open to public.

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

3 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.

3 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.

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

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

Wednesday

3 Evergreen Water and Sewer District board meets at 7 a.m. at the district office, 130 Nicholson Dr.

3 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.

3 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.

3 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.

3 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.

3 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Thought

"A society in which men recognize no check upon their freedom soon becomes a society where freedom is the possession of only a savage few." n Judge Learned Hand, American jurist (1872-1961).

Thursday

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

3 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.

3 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.

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

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

Friday

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

3 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.

Saturday

3 32nd annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count. Call Dan Casey of Flathead Audubon to participate. Call 756-2681, days; 857-3143, evenings. Cost $5. Potluck at 5 p.m. at Bigfork Senior Center.

3 16th annual Christmas Dinner at Our House, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., National Guard Armory, 2989 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell. Hosted by 495 Transportation Battalion and 639th CS Company of the Montana National Guard. Santa visits 1-3 p.m. Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down will provide surplus military winter clothing.

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

Sunday

3 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

3 Flathead County Democratic Women annual holiday luncheon noon, Vista Linda Restaurant, 240 Boon Road, Somers. Installation of new officers and entertainment by Marcia Siblerud and Mary Reckin. Reservations requested. Call Karen Richardson at 857-3351.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 1-6 p.m., at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell. Sponsored by St. Matthew's Church.

The Rev. Bradley Wirth reads from his novella, "A Christmas Offertory," 7 p.m. Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 216 E. Second St., Whitefish. Benefit for Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Ovando. Admission free. Donations to the animal sanctuary are welcome. Refreshments. Call 862-2863.

A Look Ahead

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Dec. 20 at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

3 Swan Valley Elementary School concert, Dec. 20. Call 406-677-2880.

3 Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited annual Christmas fly tying extravaganza, 7 p.m. Dec. 20, Bohemian Grange Hall, behind Coffee Traders on U.S. 93, south of Whitefish. Snacks, coffee and tea provided. Guests may bring own beverages. Demonstrations by local expert tiers. All are welcome.

3 Whitefish Golden Agers host a dramatic reading of "Polar Express" at 1 p.m. Dec. 21, at the Center, 121 Second St. Free. All are invited.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Dec. 21, First Interstate Bank, Main Street, Kalispell.

3 Seeley Lake Elementary School concert, Dec. 21. Call 406-677-2880.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 22, Kalispell Regional Medical Center conference center.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 23 at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Dec. 27 at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 28, Three Rivers Bank, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Dec. 29, Eureka Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

3 Boomers Singles Activities Group social hour, 6 p.m., followed by dinner buffet at 7 p.m., Dec. 30, Whitefish Ballroom, 430 Third St., Whitefish. RSVP by noon Thursday by calling Bill at 257-1313 or Marilyn at 862-9747. All are welcome.

3 Seeley Lake New Year's Eve bonfire and midnight ride sponsored by Driftriders Snowmobile Club.

3 Annual Flathead Audubon Christmas bird count Jan. 1. Call Dan Casey to participate. 756-2681, days; 857-3143, evenings. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Finnegan's.

3 Annual Polar Bear Plunge begins with a parade at 1:45 p.m. Jan. 1, The Raven, Woods Bay, Flathead Lake. Families welcome to attend. Call Lisa Cloutier at 837-5472.

3 Orientation class for those interested in volunteering for DREAM Adaptive Ski Recreation program 7 p.m. Jan. 11, FVCC Science and Tech (SAT) building, room 148.

3 Orientation class for those interested in volunteering for DREAM Adaptive Ski Recreation program 7 p.m. Jan. 12, Whitefish Library board room.

3 West Valley Neighborhood Planning Committee meets 7 p.m. Jan. 19, West Valley School library.

3 Boomers Singles Activities Group social hour, 6 p.m., followed by dinner buffet at 7 p.m., Jan. 27, Whitefish Ballroom, 430 Third St., Whitefish. RSVP by noon Thursday by calling Bill at 257-1313 or Marilyn at 862-9747. All are welcome.

3 Blacktail Mountain Ski Area Winterfest Jan. 28. Family Cup ski and snowboard races, ice sculpting, sleigh rides, kids' games, snow golf, snowmobile poker run and more. Call 844-3715.