Today

3 Northridge Drive between Sherry Lane and South Parkridge will be closed during daylight hours today for utility construction by GK Construction.

3 Public is invited to a free community lecture 7:30 a.m., Pathways Treatment Center, 200 Heritage Way, Kalispell. Topic is "Clinically-based Mental Health Programs in School Setting-CSCT and Outpatient Services." RSVP to 756-3950.

3 Flathead City-County Health Department offers flu shots 9 a.m. to noon, Three Rivers Ambulance Building, 31 Seventh St. W., Columbia Falls. Cost $25 adults, $15 children; or bring Medicaid or Medicare card. Call 751-8110.

3 Buffet luncheon 11:30 a.m., Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Cost is $10. Angie's Greenhouse displays dried and silk floral arrangements for the holidays. Guest speaker is Barb Madden. 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 Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, noon to 1 p.m., North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Guest speaker Virginia Sloan of the Flathead Job Service Workforce Center discusses "The Flathead Valley Landscape. No reservations are required and lunch is available for $9. Call Carol Pike at 892-2072.

3 Flathead City-County Health Department offers flu shots 1:30-4 p.m., Golden Agers Senior Center, 121 Second St., Whitefish. Cost $25 adults, $15 children; or bring Medicaid or Medicare card. Call 751-8110.

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

3 Kathy Bolme, orthopedic nurse, gives a free presentation for men and women on osteoporosis, 3 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. All welcome.

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. in the school library.

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

3 School District 5 and Flathead High School district board meets at 6 p.m., 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 Pet Grief Support Group, sponsored by the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the conference room of Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center, 3499 U.S. 93 N. in Kalispell; call Nancy Reece Jones at 752-7297.

3 The Hands On Place, an interactive children's museum, holds an open meeting at 7 p.m. at Tyke Town at The Summit; discussion of potential exhibits, public welcome; call Courtney Rudbach at 756-7691.

3 Mission Mountain Audubon meets 7 p.m., Polson City Library Meeting Room. Rob Domenech gives a slide presentation, "Monitoring the Golden Eagle Migration along the Continental Divide." All welcome.

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

3 U.S. national spirit director of the New Kadampa Tradition-International Kadampa Buddhist Union will speak on the topic, "The Power of Compassion-Inspiring Solutions for Difficult Times," 7-8:30 p.m. Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Admission $15, students and seniors $10. Sponsored by Kalinga Buddhist Center. Call 756-8690.

3 Cayuse Prairie School board meets at 7 p.m. in the school library.

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.

Wednesday

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

3 MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Topic is Christmas craft creations. Child care provided. Call 257-LOVE (5683).

3 Brunch is offered the public at 9:30 a.m., Los Caporales, Nucleus Avenue, Columbia Falls. Theme is "Gifts Galore." Sami Shelley of Columbia Falls will offer gift ideas from her shop, Outback …The Cabin. Lisa and Gavin Lamach provide violin and flute music. Guest speaker is Barb Madden. Cost is $7 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 Ministries.

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.

Thought

"The happiest women, like the happiest nations, have no history." n George Eliot, English author (1819-1880).

3 Flathead County GIS Department 2006 GIS Day Open House 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 800 S. Main St., Kalispell. Refreshments. Presentations at noon and 2:30 p.m. Staff will discuss interactive mapping site and downloadable data and answer questions. Limited seating.

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

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

3 Kalispell Elks Lodge No. 725 annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Cocktails at 5 p.m.; turkey with all the trimmings served starting at 6 p.m. Everyone invited.

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.

Thursday

3 Flathead City-County Health Department offers flu shots 10 a.m. to noon, Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 Montana 35, Bigfork. Cost $25 adults, $15 children; or bring Medicaid or Medicare card. Call 751-8110.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., North Valley Hospital, Whitefish.

3 Flathead City-County Board of Health meets 2-4 p.m., second floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W. Kalispell.

3 Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Gone Fishin' 5-8 p.m. at Walking Man Frame Shop & Gallery, 305 Baker Ave. Participate in making a tile for Community Spirit Monument. Artist reception with Danny Krause. Refreshments served. Call 862-3501.

3 Friendship Force of Flathead Valley meets at Vista Linda, Boon Road, Somers. Cocktails 5 p.m.; dinner 6 p.m. Bruce and Winogene McIntyre will present a program on the oil fields north of Edmonton, Alberta. Call Joyce Hrouda, 756-1443.

3 Grace Hospice Project Bereavement Support Group meets 5:30 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal, 215 Third Ave. E., Kalispell. Discussion will be based on the work of author Kenneth J. Doka about "The 3 Cs of Coping with the Holidays." Anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one is encouraged to attend. Call Director Ann Staggs, 755-4923.

3 Kalispell Toastmasters Evening Club organizational meeting, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., Workplace, Inc., 1310 S. Main St., Kalispell. Learn effective communication, leadership skills. All welcome. Call 755-4884.

3 Flathead County Fair board meets 7 p.m., fairgrounds office.

Friday

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Home Depot; an employee drive.

3 Glacier Country Pachyderm meets noon to 1 p.m. at the Bulldog, Kalispell. Guest speaker is Elaine Gravely, Elections Bureau deputy for the Montana Secretary of State's office. Lunch $9. Public welcome.

3 Kitchen Store Galore Culinary Classics class featuring gifts from the kitchen, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 550 E. First St., Whitefish. Cost $35 per person with $5 going to Northwest Montana Humane Society. Call Chris Brock, 862-3050, for reservation. Seating limited.

3 Big Sky Astronomy Club meets at 7 p.m., at its new meeting place at the West Valley Fire Department fire house, 2412 Farm to Market Road. All welcome. Call Bruce at 857-3753 or Russ, 214-4248.

Saturday

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

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

3 Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative executive council meets 8:30 a.m. at West Valley School.

3 Marion Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Marion Fire Hall. Chili and cornbread available.

3 ETHIC (Encouraging The Homeownership Ideals for Communities) a nonprofit Montana organization, offers a certified program for experienced and first-time home buyers on budgeting, credit, loan and mortgage types and more, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Call 257-6627 for reservations and availability.

3 Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 640 Seventh St. W., Columbia Falls, annual fall bazaar, cookie walk and soup and pie luncheon, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3 Joannie's Souper Holiday Happening fundraiser luncheon and silent auction of holiday baskets and more, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 301 Central Ave., Whitefish. Soup lunch beginning at noon. $5 suggested donation. Proceeds will toward bone marrow transplant medical expenses for Joannie Gregg. Call 863-9717 or 862-6551.

3 Humane Society of Northwest Montana Micro-chip Mania 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Animal Adoption Center, 3499 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell. Have a microchip placed in your pet for quick identification if lost or stolen. Call 752-7297.

3 Carol Nicholson, organizing regent of the proposed Bird Woman Falls Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosts and presents information on her patriot, Capt. John Sloan, at 2 p.m., at her Columbia Falls home. Call 892-2952.

3 Eighth annual Survivors of Suicide Day Teleconference, 2:30 p.m., at Flathead-City/County Health Department, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Pre-registration requested. Call Linda, 756-7263. Sponsored by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

3 11th annual Bigfork Art Walk, 3-7 p.m. Tour the galleries; meet the artists. Refreshments and door prizes, 837-3790.

3 Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 214 E. Second St., Whitefish, toy drive and free magic show, 3 p.m. in the parish hall. Each child requested to donate one new or nearly new unwrapped toy. Books, new art supplies, 12-inch dolls and new games. All area children invited. Call 862-2863.

3 Benefit to pay medical expenses for 2-year-old Makenna Foster who was airflighted to Missoula on Oct. 10 for emergency orthoscopic surgery, 4 p.m., Moose Lodge, 230 West 10th St., Whitefish. Live and silent auction, bake sale. Dinner $10 adults, $5 children. Call 862-2669 to make a donation. Call 862-0374 or 253-3887 for information.

Monday

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Eureka High School.

A Look Ahead

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $10 course fee. Call 863-3630 to register.

3 Red Cross Infant/Child CPR class, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20, Kalispell Service Center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433 to register.

3 Flathead County Impact Fee Advisory Committee work session 7 p.m. Nov. 20, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Open to public.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Nov. 21, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 City of Kalispell and Montana Department of Transportation invites the public to a meeting to discuss the Stormwater Management Plan, 6 p.m. Nov. 21, Kalispell Wastewater Treatment Plant off Airport Road. Call the Public Works Department, 758-7720.

3 Big Sky Bonsai Society meets at 7 p.m. Nov. 21, at the Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Jerry Meislik will discuss ways to shape and improve bonsai. Free and the public is invited. Call Meislik at 862-0387.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 24, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Kalispell Christmas City of the North parade, 7 p.m. Nov. 24, downtown, Main St.

3 Buffalo Runner event and auction of 10 Spanish Mustangs, Nov. 25, Bar W. Guest Ranch, 2875 U.S. 93 S., Whitefish. Doors open 2:30 p.m. Tickets $20 per person; children free. Entertainment by Rob Quist. For reservations, call Olga, 257-1187. Fundraiser for at-risk children through Buffalo Horse Coalition, Browning, and Spanish Mustangs.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 8:30 to 11 a.m., and 1 to 3 p.m. each day, Nov. 27 and 28, Polson Area Senior Center. $10 course fee. Call 883-4735 to register.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, Nov. 27 and 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, St. John's Lutheran Hospital. Call 293-0100.

3 NorthWestern Energy distributes free "starter" weatherization kits to its natural gas customers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 27, North Valley Community Room, Columbia Falls. Call 1-800-823-5995.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Nov. 27, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Nov. 28, Miracle of America Museum, Polson.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Nov. 29, Glacier National Park.

3 Red Cross certified course in Adult CPR, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28, at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Evergreen Business and Property Owner's Association meets at 7 p.m., Nov. 28, Evergreen Fire Hall, 2236 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell. Public invited.

3 Red Cross certified course in First Aid Basics, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29, at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Greater Wood Bay Wastewater Project public meeting 7 p.m. Nov. 29, Bethany Lutheran Church, Bigfork. Results of preliminary engineering review will be discussed and open for public comment. Call 837-1102.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell. $10 course fee. Call 751-4500 to register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 30, Bigfork High School.

3 Columbia Falls Night of Lights Dec. 1, downtown Whitefish. Parade 6:30 p.m., call 892-6816; Children's Holiday Village, Marantette Park. Craft fair, North Valley Community Center, call 892-2072.

3 Kalispell Art Walk and Christmas Stroll 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1, downtown Kalispell. Trolley and shuttle rides also available from Kalispell Center Mall. Valley Voices Community Choir sings on the Hockaday steps, 302 Second Ave. E., from 6-7 p.m. Call Hockaday Museum of Art, 755-5268.

"Mystical, Magical Christmas" Dec. 1-2, Eureka. Parade of Lights 6 p.m., followed by annual tree lighting, luminaria walk on the Riverwalk, Dec. 1; Holiday bazaars, Christmas stroll on Main Street, Christmas matinee of "Snow Day" at 10 a.m. and noon, and Christmas Ball, all Dec. 2. Call Eureka Chamber of Commerce, 889-4636.

3 NorthWestern Energy distributes free "starter" weatherization kits to its natural gas customers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 4, North Valley Community Room, Columbia Falls. Call 1-800-823-5995.

3 Montana Department of Commerce and Gov. Brian Schweitzer invite the public to a meeting to discuss the direction of the state's tourism and recreation industry, 1-5 p.m. Dec. 5, Hampton Inn, 1140 U.S. 2 W.

3 Flathead County Republican Women 2006 Chocolate Extravaganza 11:30 a.m. Dec. 6, Bulldog Convention Center, WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Tickets $17, includes luncheon; Call Pamala Kasperson, 837-4428; Ralene Sliter, 755-3998; or Caroline Solomon, 837-4525.

3 Civil Air Patrol, Flathead Composite Squadron meets 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, (Dec. 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 Valley Voices Community Choir Christmas concert titled, "Sing Noel," 7 p.m. Dec. 9, Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell. Flathead Valley Homeschool Choir Select Ensemble also performs. Folk, a cappella, Latin and traditional carols. All welcome. No charge. Free will offering. Reception immediately follows.

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

3 Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 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 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.