Today

3 City of Kalispell Solid Waste Division will not be picking up 90-gallon containers today due to the Christmas holiday. Today's route will be picked up on Tuesday. Have containers out by 7 a.m.

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

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

Thursday

3 Those interested in the future of Demersville School are invited to discuss possibilities at 10 a.m. at Snappy's Sports Center's conference room. Call 257-1932.

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

Friday

3 North Valley Senior Center, 205 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls, early New Year's Party, today at noon. Jammers will entertain. Refreshments served at 1:30 p.m. Dancing, cards. Free and public is invited. Call 892-4087.

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

A Look Ahead

3 Sunriser Lions sponsor their 35th annual Ice Fishing Derby from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 31 at Smith Lake near Kila. Prizes, drawings, Lions trailer with hot drinks, chili, hot dogs. Warming fire. Adults, $3; kids, $2; families, $6. All proceeds benefit Sunriser Lions kids' fish pond projects.

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. On the day of the event, call 837-2836.

3 City of Kalispell Solid Waste Division will not be picking up 90-gallon containers today, Jan. 2, due to the New Year holiday. Today's route will be picked up on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Have containers out by 7 a.m.

3 AARP Seniors Driver Safety Program for all drivers 50 and over, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 3 and 5, at The Summit, Kalispell. Instructors Bob Redinger and Jack Crandall. Cost is $10. Call 751-4500.

3 Public growth policy meeting 1 p.m. Jan. 3, Earl Bennett Building, Kalispell, and 6 p.m. Marion School.

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

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

3 Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Jan. 5, Columbia Falls Community Room. Sponsored by First Citizens Bank and Columbia Falls Rotary.

3 Public growth policy meeting 1 p.m. Jan. 5, North Valley Hospital, and 6 p.m. Earl Bennett Building, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross Infant and Child CPR certification training, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 1-5 p.m., Jan. 6, Whitefish Mountain Mall.

3 47th Whitefish Winter Carnival Merry Maker, 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at Great Northern Bar and Grill, Central Avenue. Dinner tickets are $15. Call 862-3501.

3 Monster Truck Show, Jan. 7, Majestic Valley Arena, Kalispell.

3 Flathead Valley Wedding and Event Professionals Association annual Wedding and Event Expo 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 7, Flathead County Fairgrounds. Free admission for bridal couples and children under 12. General admission $5. Prize drawings. Grand prize a $1,000 three-diamond pendant. Log on to www.flatheadvalleywedding.com

3 Public growth policy meeting 1 p.m. Jan. 9, Moving Image, Columbia Falls, and 6 p.m. Lakeside Chapel.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 9 at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

3 Red Cross Adult CPR certified review course, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at 30 Lower Valley Road in Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 10, Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell.

Thought

"Christmas has come and gone, and I - to speak selfishly - am glad of it. The season always gives me the blues in spite of myself, though I manage to get a good deal of pleasure from thinking of the multitudes of happy kids in various parts of the world." n Edwin Arlington Robinson, American poet (1869-1935).

3 Red Cross blood drive, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Jan. 11, Libby High School.

3 Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 in the administration building boardroom.

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 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 12, Polson High School.

3 Public growth policy meeting 6 p.m. Jan. 12, North Valley Hospital Lake Room.

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

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 14, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell.

3 Columbia Falls Community Choir begins weekly practices Jan. 15. Sign up at 1:30 p.m. Practice 2-4 p.m. at Columbia Falls Junior High School until spring concert April 9. Call Ron Bond at 892-5174.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 17, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Columbia Falls.

3 Public growth policy meeting 6 p.m. Jan. 17, Moving Image, Columbia Falls.

3 Red Cross Adult CPR certification training, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2- 6 p.m., Jan. 18, Kalispell Center Mall.

3 Public growth policy meeting 6 p.m. Jan. 18, Swan River School.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Jan. 19, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish.

3 Red Cross Infant and Child CPR certification training, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

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

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 20 at the center, 17A First Ave. E., Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 23, at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

3 Valley Voices Community Choir spring semester practices begin Jan. 23. Practices will be 6-8 p.m. Mondays until May 6 concert. Come at 5:30 first practice for sign up and music distribution. Open to teens and adults. Call Joan Lundy at 257-3046.

3 Red Cross Adult CPR certified review course, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 24, Christian Center, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross First Aid Basics certification training, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Jan. 26, bloodmobile, Polson Wal-Mart.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 27, noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 28, bloodmobile, Kalispell Wal-Mart.

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 Kalispell Boat Show, Jan. 27-29, Majestic Valley Arena, Kalispell.

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.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 30, at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 31 at the Polson Methodist Church.

3 Hunting/Fishing Expo, March 10-12, Majestic Valley Arena, Kalispell.

3 Cowboy Down Benefit, April 8, Majestic Valley Arena, Kalispell.

3 ALERT Benefit, April 22, Majestic Valley Arena, Kalispell.