Today

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

Friday

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

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.

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.

Saturday

Sunriser Lions sponsor their 35th annual Ice Fishing Derby from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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.

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

Sunday

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

Annual Polar Bear Plunge begins with a parade at 1:45 p.m., 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.

Monday

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

Tuesday

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

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

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. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Wednesday

MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Program is "Fitness Without a Gym" with Rose Nicholson and Kate Sorensen. Wear comfy clothes. Child care provided. Call 257-LOVE (5683).

Alpine Spinners meet to spin at 10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Bring a sack lunch. Call 257-9119.

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.

A Look Ahead

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.

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

Chiropractor Richard Puchta offers a free class, "Life Without Limits," to maximize your quality of life at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 5, Ashley Square conference room. Call 752-7289; or log on to www.total-healthchiropractic.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thought

"The wise man must be wise before, not after." n Epicharmus, Sicilian Greek comic poet (? - c.450 B.C.)

AARP Seniors Driver Safety Program for all drivers 50 and over, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Jan. 10 and 12, at North Valley Senior Center, Columbia Falls. Instructor Dick Taylor. Cost is $10. Call 892-4087.

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

Anyone wishing to volunteer as a driver for the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program which transports cancer patients to and from their treatments at Kalispell Regional Medical Center is invited to a free one-hour training at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 10, at The Summit in Kalispell. Snacks and refreshments. Contact Corey Campbell toll-free at 1-877-488-7723, option 3.

Public growth policy meeting 6 p.m. Jan. 10, Smith Valley School.

Red Cross First Aid Basics certification training, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead meet at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 10, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Building, 490 North Meridian Road. Public welcome. Call Don at 862-6955.

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

Bigfork Parentshare meets at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Community United Methodist Church. Sharon Vonk, certified financial planner will be guest speaker. Child care is provided. Call Denise at 982-3257 or Dana at 837-4408.

Hanneke Ippisch of Big Arm, author of "Sky and "The Spotted Bear: A Rocky Mountain Folktale," will speak at 1 p.m. Jan. 11, in the Vanderburg Building on the Salish Kootenai College in Pablo. Call Carole at 275-4875.

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

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.

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

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

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

Public invited to a showing of the film, "Strange Fruit," in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., 7 p.m. Jan. 12, Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Sponsored by the library and the Montana Sustainability Fund. Free.

Bigfork Parentshare meets at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 13 at the Community United Methodist Church. Child care is provided. Diane Mikelson of Kindermusik will give a demonstration.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Public invited to a showing of the film, "Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin," about the activist who led the peace march in Washington, D.C., in March 1963 and influenced Martin Luther King Jr., 7 p.m. Jan. 17, Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Sponsored by the library and the Montana Sustainability Fund. Free.

MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 18, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Berta Duncan from the Tranpsortation Awareness Program talks about Amber Alert and MDOT. Child care provided. Call 257-LOVE (5683).

Alpine Spinners and Weavers meet at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell. Bring a sack lunch. Call 257-9119.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Greater Woods Bay Sewer Committee, Woods Bay and Sheaver's Creek Water and Sewer Districts will hold a public meeting regarding the proposed wastewater project at 7 p.m. Jan. 20, in the basement of Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 Montana 35, in Bigfork.

Ruder Elementary School students and the Missoula Children's Theater present "Robin Hood," at 3 and 7 p.m. Jan. 21, Columbia Falls High School's Little Theater. Tickets are $3 for children; $5 adult; $15 for a group of six.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 1, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Rev. Darrold Reiner of Church at Creston discusses, "How to Get You Kids to Cooperate." Child care provided. Call 257-LOVE (5683).

MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 15, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Mary Kay Wilson talks about "How We Live a Life Fully Engaged." Child care provided. Call 257-LOVE (5683).

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

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

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