Today

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 The Glacier Country Pachyderm Club meets noon to 1 p.m. in the Bulldog at the WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Guest speaker is Susan Burch, economic development officer at FVCC. Lunch $9. Public invited.

3 Open house from 4-8 p.m. Country Fair Kitchen, Flathead County Fairgrounds. Open to public.

3 Bigfork Community 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.

3 Alano Club hosts a dance from 8:30-10:30 p.m. A disc jockey will play music for all ages. Drug and alcohol-free environment. Public welcome to bring chips, cookies or snacks to share. Located in long, brick building behind Loose Change Casino and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kalispell. Call Dianne, 837-5512 or 261-9637.

Saturday

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

3 Creative Memories holiday scrapbooking workshop 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eagles Nest, FVCC. Learn how to use Power Pallette system and digital software. All welcome. Call Joyce Workman, 755-4922.

3 33rd annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count. 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, 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 Flathead Mothers of Multiples holiday silent auction fundraiser, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 16, The Summit, Kalispell. Numerous auction items, Two raffles with drawings at 4 p.m. All are welcome.

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

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

Sunday

3 Kalispell Elks Lodge, 1820 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell, hosts a "Party with Santa" 1-3 p.m. All kids welcome.

3 "Countdown to Christmas" 30-minute puppet musical, 3 p.m., The Church at Creston, across from Creston School on Montana 35.

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

Monday

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 Whitefish Visitor Bureau board meets at noon, small meeting room of Mountain West Bank, 601 Spokane Ave. Call 862-3390. Open to public.

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

3 Democratic Central Committee meets 7 p.m., basement of the Flathead County Library, Kalispell.

Tuesday

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

3 Somers School board Facilities Planning Work Session at 6 p.m., followed by regular meeting at 7 p.m., Somers Middle School.

3 Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Christmas Party and Fly Tying Extravaganza, 7:30 p.m., 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.

Thought

"Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad."

. Christina Rosetti, British poet (1830-1874).

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Sponsored by Discovery Developmental Center. To schedule an appointment, call DDC at 756-7295.

3 Lakeside County Water and Sewer district board meets 2 p.m., district meeting room, 253 Bierney Creek Road, Lakeside.

Thursday

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

3 Conrad Mansion will host a visit from Santa from 3-7 p.m. Photos available by Karen Weyer Photography. Cost $6 per child, $3 per adult. All proceeds support Conrad Mansion Museum. Call 755-2166 to reserve a time.

A Look Ahead

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

3 Friendship House, 606 Second Ave. W., Light the Walk with Luminarias fundraiser Dec. 23-24. For $10 a luminaria will be lit with your name or the name of someone you choose. Call Sherry, 257-8375.

3 Rose Crossing residents and friends will display 1,500 luminarias from 5 p.m. until midnight Dec. 24. on the two mile stretch between LaSalle and Whitefish Stage. Public is invited to drive the route.

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 American Karate Academy New Year's Eve Party, 8 p.m. Dec. 31 to 9 a.m. Jan. 1, in the Whitefish Mountain Mall, for ages 4-12. Dinner and breakfast, martial arts and games, movie, party favors. Call 862-7722.

3 Columbia Falls Community Choir begins practicing 2-4 p.m. Jan. 7 at Columbia Falls Junior High School. Sign-in and music pick-up 1:30 p.m. Call Ron Bond, 892-5174.

3 The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., Jan. 8, 141 Interstate Lane, behind JoAnn Fabrics, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

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 Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative offers training for current and future substitute teachers 5-8 p.m. Jan. 17, West Valley School basement, 2290 Farm to Market Road, Kalispell. Bring your own dinner if you wish. Register by calling 752-3302.

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