Today

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center's new location, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., 141 Interstate Lane, behind JoAnn Fabrics, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

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

Tuesday

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

3 Buffet luncheon 11:30 a.m., Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Denise Mischke from Budget Framing presents a demonstration, "Framing Our Priceless Treasures." Guest speaker Pauletta Staley's topic is "The Secret Key." Cost is $10. RSVP to Pat at 844-2538 or Rosainne at 257-8098. Complimentary child care by reservation. Sponsored by the Kalispell Women's Connection and Stonecroft Ministries.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Flathead Electric Cooperative, Kalispell.

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

3 Kila School board budget workshop 4:45 p.m., followed by trustee meeting 5:30 p.m.

3 West Valley Fire District trustees meet at to set mill levy request and vote on resolution for election of levy increase, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15, West Valley Fire Station, Farm to Market Road.

3 Big Sky Bonsai Society meets at 7 p.m. at the Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Free and the public is invited. Jerry Meislik will lecture and demonstrate special bonsai techniques. Contact Meislik at 862-0387.

3 Hands On Place: An interactive children's museum meets 7 p.m., The Summit. Group will decide on a logo and work on business plan. All interested are welcome. Call Courtney, 756-7691.

3 Somers School board meets at 6 p.m. at Somers Middle School.

3 Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group meets at 6 p.m. for Concert in the Park, Depot Park, Kalispell. Music starts at 7 p.m. Survivors, family, friends are welcome. Call Kathy at 756-4723 or Sue at 756-4325.

3 School District 5 and Flathead High School district board meets at 7 p.m., Kalispell Junior High School library.

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, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. John's Hospital, Libby.

3 Public invited to a homemade soup and sandwich luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Valley Hospital Community Room, Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Fashion show by Klothes Kloset. Pauletta Staley will speak on "The Secret Key." Cost is $7 per person. Call Candy at 387-4119, or Sherry at 892-5990. Sponsored by the Columbia Falls Women's Connection and Stonecroft Ministries.

Lincoln Conservation District meets 4 p.m. Plum Creek Libby office. Open to public

3 Flathead Outdoor Club hikes to Skiumha Lake east of West Glacier. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at Park and Ride near rock shop in Columbia Falls to carpool to trailhead. Round trip 4-5 miles, easy to moderate difficulty. Bring rain gear, bear spray, insect repellent, water and light snack. All welcome. Call Mike Spence, 857-2599.

3 Red Cross certified course in Adult CPR and Standard First Aid, 6:30 p.m. at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Cost $30. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

Thursday

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

3 Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Gone Fishin' 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Bar W Guest Ranch. Refreshments served. Call 862-3501.

Friday

3 Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to noon p.m., Christian Center, Kalispell.

3 Lone Pine's Little Saplings program, "Midnight Munchers," for ages 4-7, 10:30 a.m., Lone Pine Interpretive Center. Stories, hands-on activities. Bring weather-appropriate clothing.

A Look Ahead

3 Seeley Lake Challenge Triathlon, Aug. 19. Registration 8 a.m. Race begins 9 a.m. Start at Riverpoint Campground. Swim 300 yards, bike 13.3 miles, run 3.3 miles. Cost $25. Fundraiser for families of spinal muscular atrophy. Call 406-677-2880.

3 Eighth annual Polson Fly-in Aug. 19 Polson City Airport. Breakfast 8 a.m.; lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3 Eureka Artists in Residence Auction of fine and folk art, 5-7 p.m. Aug. 19, Eureka Historical Village. Sarah Henderson and the Front Porch Band will play bluegrass/folk music. Hors d'oeuvres provided by Cafe Jax. Proceeds go to expansion plans for Eureka Creative Arts Center. Call Lisa Stewart, 889-3807 or 406-270-7192.

Thought

"Freedom of speech and freedom of action are meaningless without freedom to think. And there is no freedom of thought without doubt." n Bergen Baldwin Evans, American author (1904-1978).

3 22nd annual Polson Soroptimist Wine Festival 7-10 p.m. Aug. 19, Polson City Airport. Entertainment by Montana Light Jazz Trio. Live and silent auctions. Tickets $25 available at The Terrace Flowers, The Crows Nest Art Gallery, or call 883-2668 or 1-800-845-4251.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Aug. 21 at the center's new location, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

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

3 Red Cross certified course in Adult CPR, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Cost $30. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Big Sky Astronomy Club meets at 7 p.m., Aug. 22, Kalispell Junior High School library. Visitors welcome. Park in bus turnaround in front of school. Call Bruce at 857-3753 or Russ, 314-4248.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Aug. 23, at Lowe's, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross certified course in First Aid Basics, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Cost $30. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Aug. 24, in the bloodmobile, at LC Staffing, Kalispell.

3 Storyteller Glenda Bonin presents a free program, "Folktales of the West, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24, main branch of the Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Families, teachers, librarians all welcome. Call 758-5822.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 25, in the bloodmobile at Albertson's, Kalispell.

3 Seventh annual M.A.S.H. Bash, 6 p.m. Aug. 25, 1600 River Lakes Parkway. Call 863-3630 for tickets.

3 Big Mountain Trail Run Aug. 26. Registration 8-8:45 a.m. outside Hellroaring Chalet. Race begins 9 a.m. Cost $5 students, $10 adults, or $20 family. Proceeds benefit Glacier Nordic Ski Team. Call Debbie, 862-2113.

3 Back-to-School Bash for all students and families 4-8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Whitefish Armory, with music after at 8 p.m. for high school-aged students only. Raffles, potluck barbecue, dodgeball tournaments, and information of school programs, youth and teen centers.

3 "Museums and Music: A Festival of Culture." noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 27. Free admission to Conrad Mansion, Hockaday and Central School museums for an afternoon of live music with Billy Angel, David Walburn and Andre Floyd and Mood Iguana. Arts and crafts fair on Second Avenue East, food concessions and family fun. Call 755-2166, 755-5268, or 756-8381.

3 Workshop for kids and teens with diabetes, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 28. The Summit, Kalispell. Registration 9:30 a.m. Games, activities, cooking for kids, diabetes in sports and other topics will be covered. Call 751-5454.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Aug. 28 at the center's new location, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 and 29, St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby. $10 course fee. Call 406-293-0100 to register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Aug. 28, at the center's new location, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

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

3 Red Cross Pint for a Pint blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Aug. 30 at the center's new location, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Sponsored by Meadow Gold Dairy.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 31, TeleTech, Kalispell.

3 Diabetes Support Group meets 5-7 p.m. Sept. 6, The Summit, Kalispell. Topic is "Know Your Numbers," presented by Colleen Karper. Refreshments, snacks. Free glucose meters to participants. Call 751-5454.

3 19th annual Taste of Whitefish, 6-9 p.m. Sept. 7, O'Shaughnessy Center and Credit Union Park, 1 Central Ave., rain or shine. Tickets available at Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, 520 E. Second St., for $35 each. Call 862-3501.

3 Civil Air Patrol, Flathead Composite Squadron meets 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, (Sept. 7) Montana National Guard Armory, 2989 U.S. 93 N, Kalispell, north entrance. Youth ages 12 and up welcome. Aerospace lessons, march/drill exercises, fly-ins and more. Call Lt. Dave Brim, 257-7547; Lt. Kevin Kasperson, 756-5959.

3 15th annual Dayton Daze Sept. 9. Dayton Ladies Bazaar 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dayton Church, lunch served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Mission Mountain Winery wine tasting 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; sailboat rides 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; parade 3 p.m.; pig roast 4:30, $10 adults, $5 children 12 and under; live music, raffle. Proceeds go to Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department. Call Zoe, 849-5593; or Barbara, 849-5313.

3 Valley Voices Community Choir fall semester begins 6-8 p.m. Sept. 11, Stillwater Christian School Music Room, 1251 Willow Glen Drive, Kalispell. Registration and music distribution at 5:30 p.m. No auditions necessary. Call Joan Lundy, 257-3046; or Dorothy Kendall, 752-0353.

3 Red Cross certified course in Adult CPR, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Free educational seminar on "Understanding Hearing Loss," with guest speaker, Lisa MacKay, audiologist, Sept. 12, The Summit, Kalispell. Complimentary meal catered by Vista Linda. Public invited. Seating limited. RSVP required. Event hosted by Stacia Moore of Moore Hearing. Call 257-2273.

3 Red Cross certified course in First Aid Basics, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 18th annual Bigfork Ducks Unlimited banquet Sept. 14, Marina Cay Resort, Bigfork. Social hour 5 p.m. Dinner 6 p.m. Tickets $50 single; $75 per couple. Includes dinner and one year membership and entry in gun raffle. Live and silent auctions and raffles. Call John Robinson, 249-4198; or Mark Manders, 837-3242.

3 Kalispell Lions Club and KRMC's Diabetes Care Program Walk for Diabetes fundraiser, Sept. 16, Lawrence Park.

3 Red Cross certified course in Adult CPR, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Red Cross certified course in First Aid Basics, 6:30 p.m.Sept. 31 at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, 195 Cloverdell Road, Bigfork, Oktoberfest noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 1. German food, beer and wine. Music by Don Lawrence Band. Tickets available at the door. Proceeds benefit local charities. Call Dan or Donna Danz at 892-2435.

3 Civil Air Patrol, Flathead Composite Squadron meets 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, (Oct. 5) Montana National Guard Armory, 2989 U.S. 93 N, Kalispell, north entrance. Youth ages 12 and up welcome. Aerospace lessons, march/drill exercises, fly-ins and more. Call Lt. Dave Brim, 257-7547; Lt. Kevin Kasperson, 756-5959.

3 Civil Air Patrol, Flathead Composite Squadron meets 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, (Nov. 2) Montana National Guard Armory, 2989 U.S. 93 N, Kalispell, north entrance. Youth ages 12 and up welcome. Aerospace lessons, march/drill exercises, fly-ins and more. Call Lt. Dave Brim, 257-7547; Lt. Kevin Kasperson, 756-5959.