Today

Red Cross blood drive 12:30-5:30 p.m., North Valley Community Room, Columbia Falls.

Kila School board meets at 4 p.m. for teacher negotiations.

Friday

Big Sky Astronomy Club "comet watch" and public viewing session 7 p.m., west parking lot of Kalispell Junior High School. If skies are cloudy, the session will be rescheduled for Jan. 8. Call 250-4754.

Saturday

Sunriser Lions 34th annual Ice Fishing Derby 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Smith Lake near Kila. Prizes, hourly drawings, chili and hot dogs, warming fire. Adults, $3; Kids, $2; Family, $6.

Judy May, intuitive counselor and author presents a workshop on "Healing Your Heart: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Shining Mountain Center, 475 Eighth Ave. EN, Kalispell. Call Star Connections at 883-1829.

National Ski Fest today and Sunday, Izaak Walton Inn, Essex. Free lessons 11 a.m. each day. Games, races, demonstrations, sleigh rides. Call 406-888-5700.

46th annual Winter Carnival Merry Maker, 6 p.m. Great Northern Bar and Grill, Central Avenue, Whitefish. Dinner tickets $15 available at Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, the Whitefish Credit Union, and the Great Northern. Call 862-3501.

Sunday

National Ski Fest continues today, Izaak Walton Inn, Essex. Free lessons 11 a.m. each day. Games, races, demonstrations, sleigh rides. Call 406-888-5700.

Dance lessons to learn the waltz offered at 2 p.m. at Gore Hall, 113 Parliament Drive in Evergreen. No previous dance experience required. Singles welcome. Cost is $2.50 per person. Contact instructor Rose Coston at 755-4129.

Monday

School District 5 and Flathead High School district Finance Committee meets at 6:45 a.m. at the district office.

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

A new free Dads Group begins weekly Monday meetings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Nurturing Center's Carriage House. Call 756-1414.

Columbia Falls School board meets for an expulsion hearing at 6 p.m., folowed by a regular board meeting at 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W. Columbia Falls.

Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., USDA conference room, 30 Lower Valley Road, Kalispell.

Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited begins its annual free fly tying classes at 7 p.m., Fenders Restaurant on U.S. 93 between Kalispell and Whitefish. Call Jim Johnson at 837-3210.

New pregnancy support group monthly meetings begin tonight from 7-9 p.m., Bohemian Grange Hall, U.S. 93 behind Coffee Traders in Whitefish. Children are welcome. Snacks, coffee and tea. Hosted by Belly River Birth Service. Call 892-2784.

Flathead Audubon Society meets at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Summit, Kalispell. Featured speaker is Tim Barksdale, cinematographer with Cornell's Lab of Ornithology. Public welcome. No charge.

Tuesday

Red Cross blood drive noon to 4 p.m. First Interstate Bank of Evergreen.

Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, noon, North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. No reservations are required and lunch is available for $8. Guest speakers will be Bill Shaw, city manager; and Susan Nicosia, mayor. Call Carol Pike at 892-2072.

Flathead County Library in Kalispell invites teens 12-17 to form a Teen Advisory Group to help redesign a new second floor teen area in the library. The first meeting will be at 4 p.m. today at the library. Call Katie Boyes at 758-5713.

Flathead Municipal Airport Authority meets at 4 p.m., airport manager's office, Glacier Park International Airport.

Somers School board meets at 4 p.m. at Lakeside Elementary School.

Swan River School board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.

Flathead Family Planning Program sponsors a "Growing Up Female" Workshop for mothers and daughters, ages 9-13, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Flathead City County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Cost is $20 per family and includes dinner. Pre-registration is required. Call 751-8150.

Kila School board meets at 6 p.m. at the school.

Mission Mountain Audubon presents a free program on "Biological Analog in Robotic Evolution" by Scott Askew at 7 p.m., Polson City Library meeting room. All are welcome. Jim Rogers at 883- 6351 ext. 247.

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

Helena Flats School board meets at 7 p.m., school library.

Fair-Mont-Egan School board meets at 7 p.m. in the school library.

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

Wednesday

Bigfork ParentShare meets 9:30 a.m., at Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork. Kindermusik will give an informational presentation about their program. Call Renee Wynne at 837-2488.

A 15-week complete diabetes weight loss class taught by registered dietitian Jennifer Janetski, begins today noon to 1 p.m., Buffalo Hills Conference Center at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. To enroll, call 751-6779.

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

After-school reading time for ages 6-12, Flathead County Library, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell, 3:45 p.m. Youth services librarian Michael Hutchinson reads "The Chameleon Work Chartreuse" part one, by Bruce Hale. Call 758-5822.

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

A Look Ahead

The Flathead Valley Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management meets at noon, Jan. 13, The Summit, Kalispell. There will be an overview of the Learning for Leaders Program. Call Cindy Carpenter at Glacier Bank, 756-4233.

Red Cross blood drive 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 13, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell.

Child Find Screening 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 14 for children ages 0-5 in the areas of hearing, vision, gross and fine motor skills, speech and language cognition. Appointments required. Call 751-1111, ext. 16.

Flathead chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees meets at noon, Jan. 14, Buffalo Hill Terrace, 40 Claremont St., Kalispell.. Lunch is $7.50. For reservations, call Karen Barbee at 257-1561.

Contra dance, Jan. 14, Sons of Norway Hall, 347 First Ave. E. in Kalispell. Lessons 7:30-8 p.m.; dance 8 to 11 p.m. $6 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to 18, and free for 11 and under. Live folk music and caller. Alcohol and smoke-free. Call Christina, 212-9444; or Joe, 752-7469.

No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em Game to benefit Montana Hope Project and Kalispell Exchange Club, 9 a.m., Jan. 15, WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Registration 8:30-10:30 a.m. $100 buy-in, or pre-register by calling 752-2000.

Montana's Homeownership Education Center free nonprofit Community Partnership nationally certified program for experienced and first-time home buyers, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Jan. 15, Northwest Montana Association of Realtors Center, 100 Corporate Way, Kalispell. Call 257-6627 or 1-800-739-4692 to pre-register.

The public is invited to The Whitefish Train Depot at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 to welcome Winter Carnival's King ULLR and Queen of the Snows. Free chili and hot drinks.

Calvary Lutheran Church, 2200 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell, begins 11-week study program based on the book of Isaiah, on Wednesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. beginning Jan. 15.

Kalispell City Council meets at 7 p.m., Jan. 17, Kalispell City Hall.

Columbia City Council meets at 7 p.m., Jan. 17, Columbia Falls City Hall.

Whitefish City Council meets at 7:10 p.m., Jan. 17, Whitefish City Hall.

Buffet luncheon 11:30 a.m., Jan. 18, Kalispell Center WestCoast Hotel. Cost is $10. Presentation by Wheeler Jewelry. Guest speaker is Becky Hamilton on the topic, "Life as a Puppet. Who's Pulling Your Strings?" Complimentary child care is available. RSVP to Rosainne at 257-8098, or Julie at 837-2520. Sponsored by the Kalispell Women's Connection and Stonecroft Ministries.

Red Cross blood drive 2-6 p.m. Jan. 18, Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 19 at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 19, at Mountain View Mennonite Church in Creston. Free program and slide show on "Sensitive Plants of the Flathead National Forest. All are welcome. Call Rachel Potter at 892-2446.

After-school reading time for ages 6-12, Flathead County Library, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell, 3:45 p.m. Jan. 19. Youth services librarian Michael Hutchinson reads "The Chameleon Work Chartreuse" part two, by Bruce Hale. Call 758-5822.

The film, "Every Mother's Son" about racial injustice and law enforcement in New York will be shown at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, downstairs meeting room of the Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Free. All welcome. Call Katie Boyes at 758-5713.

Red Cross blood drive 12:30-5:30 p.m. Jan. 20, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish.

Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Gone Fishin' at Shape Up! Wellness for Women, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Jan. 20, Mountain Mall. Refreshments served. Call 862-3501.

WINGS ninth annual fund-raiser radiothon Jan. 20-21 Sportsman and Ski Haus, Kalispell.

Red Cross blood drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 21, Home Depot, Kalispell.

Seeley Lake Winterfest Jan. 21-30. Call 406-677-2880.

Flathead County Parks and Recreation and Flathead Valley Softball Association 10th annual Blizzard Bowl, Jan. 22 at Conrad Complex, Kalispell. Call 758-5800.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 24 at the center, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

Red Cross blood drive noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 25, Polson Methodist Church.

After-school reading time for ages 6-12, Flathead County Library, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell, 3:45 p.m. Jan. 26. Youth services librarian Michael Hutchinson reads "The Legend of Spud Murphy" part one, by Eoin Colfer. Call 758-5822.

Red Cross blood drive 2-5 p.m. Jan. 27, Kalispell Center Mall.

Red Cross blood drive noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 28-29, on the blood mobile at the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Family Fun Night and Carnival at Evergreen Junior High School 5:30-8 p.m. Jan. 28. Proceeds benefit the school summer fitness program. Concessions available.

Lakeside and Somers Winterfest Jan. 29.

Kalispell Center Mall hosts XMOD RC races Jan. 29. Bring your race cars to race around a 10 x 20-foot track. Warm-ups 1-3 p.m. Races 3-5 p.m. in front of Radio Shack. Call 752-2346.

John White Lecture Series, 2:30 p.m. Jan. 30, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Guest speaker George Ostrom will speak on the topic, "Glacier Park: Its History, Mountains, Trails and Future." $8 per lecture; $25 for four lecture series for Northwest Montana Historical Society members, $30 for non-members. Call 756-8381.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center, Jan. 31, 17A First Ave., Kalispell.

After-school reading time for ages 6-12, Flathead County Library, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell, 3:45 p.m. Feb. 2. Youth services librarian Michael Hutchinson reads "The Legend of Spud Murphy" part two, by Eoin Colfer. Call 758-5822.

Kalispell City Council meets at 7 p.m., Feb. 7, Kalispell City Hall.

Columbia City Council meets at 7 p.m., Feb. 7, Columbia Falls City Hall.

Whitefish City Council meets at 7:10 p.m., Feb. 7, Whitefish City Hall.

After-school reading time for ages 6-12, Flathead County Library, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell, 3:45 p.m. Feb. 9. Youth services librarian Michael Hutchinson reads "Bug Boy" part one, by Carol Sonenklar. Call 758-5822.

Contra dance Feb. 11, Sons of Norway Hall, 347 First Ave. E. in Kalispell. Lessons 7:30-8 p.m.; dance 8 to 11 p.m. $6 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to 18, and free for 11 and under. Live folk music and caller. Alcohol and smoke-free. Call Christina, 212-9444; or Joe, 752-7469.

Sunburst Beauty Pageant and Baby Contest, Feb. 12, Kalispell Center Mall.

Nurturing Center's Ski-A-Mile for a Child's Smile 2005 Feb. 13, Whitefish Lake Golf Course. Call 756-1410.

After-school reading time for ages 6-12, Flathead County Library, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell, 3:45 p.m. Feb. 16. Youth services librarian Michael Hutchinson reads "Bug Boy" part two, by Carol Sonenklar. Call 758-5822.

Kalispell City Council meets at 7 p.m., Feb. 21, Kalispell City Hall.

Columbia City Council meets at 7 p.m., Feb. 21, Columbia Falls City Hall.

Whitefish City Council meets at 7:10 p.m., Feb. 21, Whitefish City Hall.

After-school reading time for ages 6-12, Flathead County Library, 347 First Ave. E., Kalispell, 3:45 p.m. Feb. 23. Youth services librarian Michael Hutchinson reads "The Muffin Fiend" by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. Call 758-5822.

Spring Home & Garden Show, Feb. 25-27, Kalispell Center Mall.

John White Lecture Series, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Guest speaker Dr. Joseph Ashley will speak on the topic, "Northwest Montana's Auto-Related Commercial Landscape." $8 per lecture; $25 for four lecture series for Northwest Montana Historical Society members, $30 for non-members. Call 756-8381.

Contra dance, March 11, Sons of Norway Hall, 347 First Ave. E. in Kalispell. Lessons 7:30-8 p.m.; dance 8 to 11 p.m. $6 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to 18, and free for 11 and under. Live folk music and caller. Alcohol and smoke-free. Call Christina, 212-9444; or Joe, 752-7469.

Contra dance, April 8, Sons of Norway Hall, 347 First Ave. E. in Kalispell. Lessons 7:30-8 p.m.; dance 8 to 11 p.m. $6 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to 18, and free for 11 and under. Live folk music and caller. Alcohol and smoke-free. Call Christina, 212-9444; or Joe, 752-7469.

John White Lecture Series, 2:30 p.m. March 27, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Guest speaker Laurie Heupel will speak on the topic, "Lewis and Clark in Montana." $8 per lecture; $25 for four lecture series for Northwest Montana Historical Society members, $30 for non-members. Call 756-8381.

John White Lecture Series, 2:30 p.m. April 24, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Guest speaker Glenn Helms will speak on the topic, "Native Americans of Northwest Montana." $8 per lecture; $25 for four lecture series for Northwest Montana Historical Society members, $30 for non-members. Call 756-8381.

Contra dance, May 13, Sons of Norway Hall, 347 First Ave. E. in Kalispell. Lessons 7:30-8 p.m.; dance 8 to 11 p.m. $6 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to 18, and free for 11 and under. Live folk music and caller. Alcohol and smoke-free. Call Christina, 212-9444; or Joe, 752-7469.

Flathead High School class of 1985 20-year reunion is July 22-24. Call Russ Marks at 257-4796, or e-mail rnrmarks@in-tch.com.