Today

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

3 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.

3 Flathead County Democratic women meet 11:45 a.m., Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Hilary Barshay, Violence Free Crisis Line community educator, will talk about her group's advocacy for victims of domestic abuse and violence. Lunch $10. No reservations required. All invited.

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

3 Big Arm Harvest Potluck, 6 p.m. Big Arm Fire Hall. Live music. All welcome. Call 849-6628.

3 Columbia Falls High School freshman student/parent orientation 6-8:30 p.m. Students in grades 10, 11 and 12, and parents encouraged to attend.

3 The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

3 Columbia Falls School board Transportation Committee meets at 6:30 p.m., followed by a board work session at 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W. Columbia Falls.

Tuesday

3 Evergreen Junior High School boys and girls athletic physicals and general health screening, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the junior high gym. $15 payable at time of exam. Parent must be present.

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

3 Flathead County Solid Waste District board meets 5 p.m. at the landfill office.

3 Flathead Building Association "Raise the Roof" public social, 5:30 p.m., Whitefish Title Service, 903 Spokane Ave., Whitefish. Refreshments and raffles. Call 752-2422.

3 Wellness Education Center's Healthy Potluck Supper, 5:30-6:30 p.m., 103 Ponderosa Lane, Kalispell. Families welcome. Bring a healthy dish to share. Call the Wellness Center at 755-8423.

3 School District 5 and Flathead High School district board special meeting 5:30 p.m., Flathead High School Library Media Center.

3 Somers School board special meeting at 5:45 p.m., followed by Facilities Planning Work Session at Somers Middle School.

3 Red Cross certified course in infant and child CPR, 6:30 p.m., Kalispell Service Center, 126 N. Meridian Road. Call 752-6433 to register.

3 North Fork Landowners' Association business meeting and annual election of officers, 7 p.m., Sondreson Community Hall, (North Fork Road at Whale Creek).

Wednesday

3 Kalispell Middle School invites students and parents to tour renovated building with students' schedules, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

3 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.

3 Red Cross blood drive for Lake County employees, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Polson.

Thursday

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church.

A Look Ahead

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 31 at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Root beer float day.

3 Flathead-Glacier Booster Club pre-game barbecue 5 p.m. Aug. 31, Legends Field. Cost $5. Public invited.

3 Benefit for Bigfork QRU 8 p.m. to midnight Aug. 31, Swan Lake Community Hall. Live music by Roy Wilhelm and company. Potluck dinner at 10 p.m. Admission by donation. Call 837-3625.

3 Seventh annual Labor Day Huckleberry Pancake Breakfast 8 a.m. to noon, Sept. 1-3, Laughing Horse Lodge, Montana 83, mile marker 71.5, Swan Lake. Cost $7. Proceeds will be distributed by Red Cross to aid with wildfire victims. Call 886-2080.

Thought

"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion." n Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, German philosopher (1770-1831).

3 12th annual Show and Shine Car Show, Sept. 1-2, Stanton Creek, on the way to Essex. Prizes, food and drink, music. All welcome.

3 Montana Dahlia Society flower show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 1-2, Kalispell Center Mall.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Whitefish CARE Back to School Bash fundraiser, 5-8 p.m. Sept. 5, Smith Field Complex. Kids carnival, food vendors, raffles, dunk tank. Free. Call Michelle Kuntz, 862-3533.

3 20th annual Taste of Whitefish 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 6, O'Shaughnessy Center and Credit Union Park, rain or shine. Tickets $35 per person includes food, wine and beer. Call 862-3501.

3 19th annual Bigfork Ducks Unlimited Banquet, 6 p.m. Sept. 6, Brumar Estate, Bigfork. Tickets $50, $75 couple, includes dinner and one year membership and raffle entry for new gun. Call John Robinson, 837-7362.

3 Kalispell Art Walk, 5-8 p.m. Sept. 7, downtown Kalispell galleries. Live music, art and food.

3 St. Luke Foundation's seventh annual dinner fundraiser, 6 p.m. Sept. 7, Ronan Community Center. Vigilante Theatre Company presents "Murder at Lone Wolf Ranch." Silent auction. Limited seating. Tickets $50 each, advance purchase only. Call Paula Gillette, 406-258-5324.

3 Bead Stampede, noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 7; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8-9, Grandstand Building, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Admission $3, good for all three days. Bead of all types and materials for sale. Call 752-6669.

3 "Living by Water" workshop about erosion control for property owners who live near water or riparian areas, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 8, Whitefish. Includes tour of Haskill Creek to show stream restoration techniques. Enrollment limited. Lunch provided. Call Patti Mason, Flathead Conservation District, 752-4220.

3 Nature Energy Universe (NEU) hosts a Body, Mind and Spirit Fair, Sept. 8-9, Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Health consultation, rejuvenation technologies, yoga, feng shui, massage workshops and videos and more. Call Barb and Mike Thomas, 406-227-8401.

3 18th annual Friendship House pig roast and silent auction, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 8, basement of Eagles, 37 First St. E., Kalispell. Roast pig, baked potatoes, coleslaw, fruit salad, rolls and ice cream. Cost $10 adults; $5 children under 12. Call 257-8375.

3 Dayton Daze Parade 3 p.m. Sept. 8, Dayton. Dayton Church bazaar and lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; wine tasting, Dayton Winery; sailboat rides, Dayton Yacht Harbor; roast pork dinner, 4:30 p.m. Idle Spur. Live music, kids' games. All welcome.

3 Valley Voices Community Choir fall semester begins Sept. 10, Stillwater Christian School Music Room, 1251 Willow Glen Dr., Kalispell. Practice 6-8 p.m. Come at 5:30 p.m. for sign-up and music distribution. Open to all teens and adults. Call Joan Lundy at 257-3046 or Dorothy Kendall at 752-0353.

3 Public is invited to a free community lecture 7:30 a.m., Sept. 11, Pathways Treatment Center, 200 Heritage Way, Kalispell. Topic is "Roots of Love and Violence: Neurobiology of Attachment."

3 Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11, North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Guest speaker is Michael Nicosia, superintendent of School District 6. New teachers will be welcomed. No reservations required. Lunch available for $9. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.

3 Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12, in the administration building boardroom.

3 Diabetes Care Program charity walk and fair for diabetes 10 a.m. Sept. 15, Lawrence Park, Kalispell. Silent auction begins at 9 a.m. Pick up registration and sponsor sheets at KRMC's Diabetes Education office., The Summit, or any Glacier Bank.

3 Responsible Dog Owner Day, 10 a.m. Sept. 15, Kalispell Center Mall. Canine good citizen testing, parade of breeds, costume contest, games. Call Ginny Traeger, 756-6378.

3 Whitefish Garden Club invites the public to visit two members' gardens, 7 p.m., Sept. 15, the first at 307 Blanchard Hollow. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Whitefish Library; or call Shirley Rogers at 863-9113 or 270-9846 for directions.

3 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group meets 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 21, Northridge Lutheran Church, 323 Northridge Dr., Kalispell. Call Marylane, 257-5793.

3 26th annual Flathead Quilters Guild Common Threads with Asian Influence quilt show Sept. 21-23, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 21-22; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23. Raffles, merchant mall, food, silent auction, members' boutique, and quilts for sale. Admission $3. All welcome.

3 Competitive trail horseback riding poker run Sept. 30. Call Chris Degenhardt, 257-7424.

3 Flathead-Glacier Booster Club cross-town pre-game barbecue 5 p.m. Oct. 12, Legends Field. Cost $5. Public invited.

3 Seeley Lake Tamarack Festival Oct. 13-14. Arts and crafts fair, live entertainment, fun run, bike tour. Call 406-677-2880.