Today

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 NorthWestern Energy distributes free "starter" weatherization kits to its natural gas customers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., North Valley Community Room, Columbia Falls. Call 1-800-823-5995.

3 Daughters of the American Revolution, Chief Ignace Chapter, meet at noon at the home of Pat Bass for a potluck lunch, followed by a meeting at 1 p.m. Program is "Christmas in Northwest Montana." For transportation, call Helen Steinke at 257-1632.

3 Red Cross Holiday Open House blood drive with KOFI Radio, 1-5 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group meets 5:30-7:30 p.m., to carol at Brendan House, then refreshments at KRMC cafeteria. Special meal menu available for $4.50. Bring a wrapped white elephant gift from home. Survivors, family, friends are welcome. Refreshments. Call Sue at 756-4725 or Kathy at 756-4723.

3 Flathead Audubon meets 7 p.m., Community Room, The Summit, Kalispell. Susannah Casey gives a presentation on winter bird counts, in preparation for Bigfork Christmas bird count on Dec. 16. Free. All welcome.

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

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

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

3 West Valley School board meets at 7 p.m. in the school library.

Tuesday

3 Buffet luncheon 11:30 a.m., Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Program is "Singing a Merry Christmas." Holiday music. Guest speaker is Linda Chenard of Bigfork. 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.

3 Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Entertainment by Columbia Falls High School Music Department. Program honors President Gary Sparr and board members, and Eagle Scout Weston Bartkoski. No reservations are required and lunch is available for $9. Call Carol Pike at 892-2072.

3 Kalispell City Parks and Recreation annual Senior Christmas Dinner Party, 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., Buffalo Hills Golf Course. Cost $18 per person. Call 758-7848 or 758-7778.

3 Montana Association of the Blind, Lelia Proctor Memorial Chapter, meets 1:30 p.m., Northridge Lutheran Church, 323 Northridge Dr., Kalispell.

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

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

3 Swan River School board meets at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in the school library.

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

3 School District 5 and Flathead High School district board meets at 6 p.m., Dec. 12, Kalispell Junior High School Library Media Center.

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

3 J and L RV and Snowmobile Rentals sponsors an Avalanche Awareness Class 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 5410 U.S. 2 W., Columbia Falls. Flathead National Forest and Glacier Avalanche Center instructors will give a PowerPoint presentation. Refreshments. Call 758-5204 or 892-7666.

3 Mission Mountain Audubon program "Fire on the Land: A Tribal Perspective," with Germaine White, Information and Education Specialist for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes, at 7 p.m. Polson City Library Meeting Room. Free. All welcome.

3 DREAM Adaptive Ski Program volunteer orientation, 7 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Call 862-1817.

3 Smith Valley School board meets at 6 p.m. in the library.

3 The Northwest Montana Fair board meets at 7 p.m. in the fairgrounds office.

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

3 West Valley Fire District trustees meet at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 12, at the West Valley Fire Station on Whitefish Stage Road.

Thought

"The people who think they are happy should rummage through their dreams." n Edward Dahlberg, American author and critic (1900-1977).

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, 2-5 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Sponsored by D.A. Davidson.

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

3 Barry Schieber and his therapy dog, Moritz, visit Whitefish branch of Flathead County Library, 6:30 p.m. Shieber reads from his new book, "An Open Heart: A Story about Moritz." Call 862-6657. All welcome.

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

3 Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m., Flathead County Library basement meeting room, Kalispell. Bonnie Eckert will talk about her group trip staying in a hostel operated by former Columbia Falls teachers, and hiking in the Chilean Andes. Coffee and tea served. Door prizes. Everyone welcome. Call Mike Spence, 857-2599.

3 Polson Rural Fire District trustees meet 7 p.m., Polson City Hall Conference Room. Public welcome.

3 DREAM Adaptive Ski Program volunteer orientation, 7 p.m., Whitefish Library board room. Call 862-1817.

Thursday

3 Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative executive council meets 8:30 a.m. in the basement at West Valley School. Call 752-3302.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at CenturyTel.

3 Columbia Falls Veterans Home joins a nationwide remembrance ceremony as part of Wreaths Across America, 10 a.m. at the cemetery, just west of the home on Talbot Road. Mayor Jolie Fish will attend. A color guard will present arms and play taps. Eureka Vietnam veteran Joe Forrest will sing. Active military encouraged to wear uniform. All invited.

3 Flathead County Area IX on Aging Advisory Council informational meeting for those interested in serving on council, 2 p.m., basement of Kalispell Senior Citizen Center, 403 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Jim Atkinson, 758-2481 or 758-5730.

3 Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Gone Fishin' 5-8 p.m. at Mountain Sports Cycle & Ski and Whitefish Property, 20 and 242 Central Ave. Refreshments served. Call 862-3501.

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

Friday

3 Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Northwest Montana Human Resources, Main Street, Kalispell.

3 Brunch is offered the public at 9:30 a.m., Los Caporales, Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Connie Barker of the Country Rockit group sings Christmas music. Guest speaker is folk artist Linda Chenard of Bigfork. Cost is $7.50 per person. Free child care by reservation. Call Candy at 387-4119, or Sherry at 892-5990. Sponsored by the Columbia Falls Women's Connection and Stonecroft.

3 Christmas Concert 7 p.m., Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church at 7465 Montana 35, Bigfork, (North of Streeter's corner.) Sixty-voice choir sings favorite music of the season. Free. All welcome. Call 837-0246.

A Look Ahead

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16, The Summit, Kalispell. $10 course fee. Bring a brown bag lunch. Call 751-4500 to register.

3 Creative Memories scrapbooking workshop 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Eagles Nest, FVCC. Theme is "Getting Ready for Christmas." All welcome. Call Joyce Workman, 755-4922.

3 33rd annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count Dec. 16. Call Dan Casey of Flathead Audubon to participate, 756-2681 days; 857-3143 evenings. $5 per adult. Potluck at 5 p.m., at Bigfork Senior Center following count.

3 Have "Breakfast with Santa" 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 16, Moose Lodge, 230 W. 10th St., Whitefish. Santa will have gifts and candy for the kids. Full Breakfast $5 per person, kids 6 and under free.

3 Carroll College alumni and friends invited to a gathering 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 16, Fatt Boys Bar and Grille, 1307 U.S. 2 W., Kalispell.

3 Big Arm Association meets for a potluck at 5 p.m., Dec. 16, Big Arm Fire Hall Great Room; followed by caroling at 7 p.m. All welcome. Call 849-6628.

3 Christmas Concert 4 p.m. Dec. 17, Community United Methodist Church, 750 Electric Ave. Sixty-voice choir sings favorite music of the season. Free. All welcome. Call 837-4547.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Dec. 18, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 19, Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

3 Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Christmas Party and Fly Tying Extravaganza, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Bohemian Grange Hall, off of U.S. 93 south of Whitefish, behind Coffee Traders. Door prizes, raffles. Finger foods and soft drinks. Bring other refreshments if you wish.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Dec. 20, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Sponsored by Discovery Center.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Dec. 21, Libby VFW.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 22, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Dec. 26, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 27, at Three Rivers Bank, Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Dec. 28, Eureka Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 29 at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Annual Kalispell Christmas Bird Count Dec. 31. Call Dan Casey of Flathead Audubon to participate, 756-2681 days; 857-3143 evenings. $5 per adult. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Finnegan's Restaurant.

3 Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m. Jan. 10, Flathead County Library basement meeting room, Kalispell. International photographer and instructor Nick Fucci will show some of his work and over tips on travel photography. Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Mike Spence, 857-2599.

3 Horse Play Therapy, Learning and Healing Through Equines open house 3-6:30 p.m. Jan. 13, Palomino Pastures, 300 N. Somers Road, Kalispell. Raffle, 50/50 pot, refreshments, guest speakers. Call Alisha, 406-253-3761.

3 DREAM Adaptive Ski Program volunteer orientation, 7 p.m. Jan. 16, Whitefish Library board room. Call 862-1817.

3 DREAM Adaptive Ski Program volunteer orientation, 7 p.m. Jan. 18, The Summit, Kalispell. Call 862-1817.