Today

Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Eidsvold Lutheran Church, Somers.

Red Cross certified standard first aid course, 6:30 p.m., Kalispell Service Center, 126 North Meridian Road. Call 752-6433 to register.

Montana Department of Transportation director Jim Lynch discusses traffic safety issues in Flathead County. Open house 6:30 p.m.; discussion 7-9 p.m., FVCC Blake Hall, room 159. Free. Public invited. Call Paul Grant, 444-9415.

Big Sky Bonsai Society meets at 7 p.m., Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Bring your own tree for expert help. Free. Public invited. Contact Jerry Meislik at 862-0387.

Flathead Democratic Party meets 7 p.m., KM Theatre, 40 Second St. E., Kalispell. Call 862-4942.

Wednesday

Children's Story Hour, 10:30 a.m., in the children's department of the Flathead County Library in Kalispell, 247 First Ave. E. Call 758-5822.

Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the blood mobile, Meadow Lake Resort, Columbia Falls.

FVCC hosts an open house for its new Occupational Trades and Arts and Technology buildings, 2-5 p.m. today; and noon to 3 p.m. Friday. Public welcome.

Flathead Outdoor Club hikes in Herron Park. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at Herron Park parking lot, one mile past Foy's Lake on Foy's Lake Road. Bring water, snack, flashlight or head lamp. All welcome. Call Mike Spence, 857-2599.

Free Falun Dafa Quigong class, 7 p.m., community room of Kalispell branch of Flathead County Library. A self-cultivation meditation with gentle, easy exercises. Call Katherine Combes, 257-9798.

Flathead Citizens for Paved Roads meets 7:30 p.m., 578 Creston Road. Call Noel, 756-8854.

Los Angeles-based songwriter and humanitarian Daniel Nahmod, performs inspirational music, 7:30 p.m. Shining Mountains Church, 475 Eighth Ave. EN, Kalispell. Advanced tickets $12, at Books West and all Montana Coffee Traders; $15 at the door.

Thursday

AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and 1-5 p.m. Aug. 24, Bigfork Senior Center. $10 course fee. Call 837-4157 to register.

Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the blood mobile, Starbucks and Wells Fargo, Kalispell.

WIC celebrates World Breastfeeding Week with an open house, 1-4 p.m., Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Refreshments, door prizes, including a Medela electric breast pump. Call 751-8170.

Opening reception for "The Ace of Diamonds and Cowboy in the Rough," an Ace Powell art exhibit, Hockaday Museum of Art. Dr. Van Kirk Nelson opens event at 4:30 p.m.; catered reception 5-7:30 p.m. Free for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Call 755-5268.

An open house on breastfeeding is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Flathead City-County Health Department at 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell.

Friday

Car seat clinic 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kalispell City Fire Station 62, behind Costco, 255 W. Reserve Loop. Free. Call 758-7763.

Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the blood mobile, Borders Books.

FVCC hosts an open house for its new Occupational Trades and Arts and Technology buildings, noon to 3 p.m. Public welcome.

P.E.O. BY Chapter in Polson hosts a Crab Crack, 5-7 p.m., Glacier Brewery, 6 10th Ave. W., Polson. Tickets are $16 and include crab, parmesan potatoes, Cole slaw, lemonade and dessert. Beer available at brewery. Call Toni Young, 883-1676.

"Celebrating Women: An Evening of Art, Food and Wine" art quilt show and auction, 5-8 p.m. Loula's Cafe, Whitefish. Admission $10. Benefit for Violence Free Crisis Line. Call 752-4735.

Eighth annual Mash Bash, North Valley Hospital north parking lot., 1600 Hospital Way, Whitefish. Happy hour and helicopter fly-in 6 p.m.; dancing to Don Lawrence Orchestra 8 p.m. Silent auction. Tickets $65 each. Call 863-3630.