Today

3 Northwest Montana Education Cooperative management board meeting 8:30 a.m., Bridge Academy, (Linderman School,) 124 Third Ave. E., Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., West Kootenai Church.

3 Flathead Special Education Cooperative meets 11 a.m. at the FSEC office, basement conference room, 1001 S. Main St., Kalispell

3 Red Cross Standard certified course in First Aid Basics, 6:30 p.m., at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Cost $52. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Bill Rossiter hosts a presentation, "Songs for Your Supper," in conjunction with "Montana by Food: A Taste of the Past" exhibit, 7 p.m. FVCC Theater in the Arts and Technology Building. Call Librarian Michael Ober, 756-3853. Public invited.

3 Local institute of Noetic Sciences Community Group meets 7 p.m., Bohemian Grange, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, Whitefish (behind Montana Coffee Traders on U.S. 93 South). Ruth and Sam Neff present "Making A Difference in the World." All welcome. Donations appreciated. Call 862-9591 or 862-7711.

3 Helena Flats School District board holds superintendent/principal negotiations, 7 p.m. at the school.

Friday

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

3 Kalispell Fire Department and Summit Safe Kids coalition sponsor a car seat clinic, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kalispell City Fire Station 62, 255 W. Reserve Loop, behind Costco. Have your car seats inspected free by a certified child passenger safety technician.

3 Flathead Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees meets at noon, Buffalo Hill Terrace, 40 Claremont St., Kalispell. Lunch is $7.50. For reservations, call Bill Driver at 837-2744.

3 The Glacier Country Pachyderm meets noon to 1 p.m. at the Bulldog. Lunch available. Guest speaker is Ken Sugden, manager of Flathead Electric Co-op. Public invited.

3 Norma Lipp reads from her book "Profiles in Poetry," 2 p.m. Prestige Assisted Living, 125 Glenwood Dr., Kalispell. The public is welcome.

3 Whitefish Christmas Stroll, 6-9 p.m., downtown Whitefish. Santa arrives on fire engine at 6 p.m., 131 Central Ave.

3 North Valley Music School students perform tonight during Whitefish Christmas Stroll. Children's choir performs 5-6 p.m., Whitefish Presbyterian Church; guitar and piano students perform 6-7 p.m., Montana Coffee Traders.

3 "Calling All Angels" gala to introduce Intermountain nonprofit organization for children to Flathead Valley, Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell. Tickets $75. Hors d'oeuvres, dinner, live music. RSVP to Amanda Creamer, 1-888-261-6014.

3 Valley Victory Church open gym night, 7-9 p.m., 215 E. Evergreen Dr. Bring the family for finger food, volleyball and basketball. Call 257-5623.

Saturday

3 Creative Memories scrapbooking workshop 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., FVCC Arts and Technology Building, Room 122. Bring a sack lunch. Stay as long as you wish. Cost $10. Call Joyce Workman, 755-4922. All welcome.

3 Blacktail Mountain Ski Area opening day.

3 Glacier Woodturners meet 9 a.m. to noon, in the Kalispell Middle School woodshop on the north side of building. Demonstration on pen making. All welcome. Call Jim Bridger, 261-2592.

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. Call 751-4500.

3 Carroll College alumni and friends cheer on the Saints as they take on Sioux Falls Cougars in the NAIA Championship, 11 a.m. Fatt Boys, Kalispell.

3 Flathead High School students wrap your Christmas packages 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 1-5 p.m. Sunday, FHS Main Office Conference Room. Either bring own paper or let them provide. Proceeds go toward Close-Up educational student trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia. Call Kala Lougheed, 751-3462.

3 34th annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count today. Potluck follows at 5 p.m. Cost $5. Call Dan Casey of Flathead Audubon, 857-3143 evenings; 756-2681, days.

3 North Valley Music School adult harp ensemble perform 1-3 p.m., Kalispell Center Mall. Call 862-8074.

3 Glacier Lifelong Learning Center Spiral of Light Festival and fundraiser for Waldorf Kindergarten and grade school, 3:30-6:30 p.m. 435 Anderson Lane. Food, crafts, children's books for sale, face painting, storytelling, holiday music, bonfire. Admission $3 per person; or $10 per family of four. Call Amy, 862-1408.

3 Festival of Lights holiday gala 5:30-9 p.m., Bohemian Grange Hall, behind Montana Coffee Traders, U.S. 93, Whitefish. Food, live music and visit from Santa. Winners of Flathead Valley Light Up the Night holiday home decorating contest will be announced. Proceeds benefit Flathead Youth Homes.

Sunday

3 Trinity Lutheran Church Sunday School children present "The Mystery of the Manger," at 10:55 a.m. church service, 400 W. California. Everyone welcome.

3 Montanans for Ron Paul Christmas potluck, 4 p.m. Birch Grove Community Center. Call Lacey or Barry, 270-1155.

Monday

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 8:30-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. today and Dec. 18, Polson Area Senior Center.. $10 course fee. Call 883-4735 to register.

3 Children's Story Hour at 10:30 a.m., Children's Department of the Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Call 758-5822.

3 Children's Story Hour at 10:30 a.m., Columbia Falls Branch Library. Call 892-5919.

3 Flathead County Road and Bridge Department public meeting regarding 2008 spring weight limits, 1 p.m. Earl Bennett Building, second floor conference room. Call 758-5790.

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

3 Red Cross Adult CPR for the Professional two-day course, 6-10 p.m. today and Tuesday, at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433 to pre-register.

3 Teen Advisory Council for ages 12 to 18, end of year celebration with games, food and fun, 6:30 p.m., Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Call Martha Furman, 758-5713.

3 National Geographic writer Douglas Chadwick talks about his travels to Mongolia and India to learn about efforts to protect the snow leopard, and other travels, 7 p.m., Bohemian Grange, U.S. 93 South and Blanchard Lake Road, Whitefish (behind Coffee Traders.) Public invited.

3 "Changing Your Cholesterol Numbers … with Food Choices" lecture, 7 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Fee $10. Call 751-4500 to pre-register.

3 Boomers Singles Group holiday open house 7 p.m., Village Greens Community Center, West. Nicklaus Avenue, Kalispell. Snacks and beverages provided. RSVP to Syndia, 314-1884. All 40-plus singles welcome.

Tuesday

3 Flathead Democratic Party potluck dinner and presidential straw poll, 6 p.m., Village Greens Clubhouse, 500 Palmer Dr., Kalispell. Call 862-4942.

3 Special Olympics Montana Breakfast with Champions fundraiser, 7-8:30 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell. Keynote speaker is animal expert Jack Hanna. Tickets $65 each or $500 for table of eight. Call 406-216-5327.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 4-7 p.m., Lakeside Elementary.

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 Flathead Chapter of Trout Unlimited Christmas party and fly tying extravaganza, 7 p.m., Montana FWP building meeting room, 490 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Door prizes, raffles, hors d'oeuvres, non-alcoholic beverages. All welcome.

Wednesday

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Polson High School.

3 Children's Story Hour at 10:30 a.m., Children's Department of the Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Call 758-5822.

3 Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Gone Fishin' and holiday party, 5-7 p.m. at Mountain West Bank. Refreshments served. Call 862-3501.

3 Montana Department of Environmental Quality holds a meeting at 7 p.m. at Evergreen School cafeteria/gym, 18 W. Evergreen Dr., Kalispell, to seek public comment on proposed plan for clean-up of three contaminated industrial sites in Evergreen.

A Look Ahead

3 Children's Story Hour at 10:30 a.m., Dec. 20, Whitefish Branch Library. Call 862-6657.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Dec. 20, Libby VFW.

3 Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets 1 p.m., Dec. 20, Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, Kalispell. Films targeting interventions for teens struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts will be reviewed. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.

3 Columbia Falls Branch Library invites teens to open gaming with "Guitar Hero" and "Dance Revolution," 4-6 p.m. Dec. 20. Call Martha Furman, 758-5713.

3 PBS Point-of-View (P.O.V.) documentary, "The Fire Next Time" shown 6:30 p.m., Dec. 20, Flathead County Library, Whitefish. Guest speaker is Steve Thompson. Admission free. Not rated-parental discretion advised. Call Public Services Librarian Jocelyne Bodden, 758-8523.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 21, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Whitefish Moose Lodge hosts "Breakfast with Santa" 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 22, at the lodge, 239 W. 10th St. Full breakfast $6 for adults; kids are free. Everyone welcome.

3 Shining Mountains Church musical celebration and story behind story of Christmas, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23, 475 Eighth Ave. EN, Kalispell. All welcome. Call Rev. Yvonne Cottrell, 257-6539.

3 Friendship House ninth annual Light the Walk luminaria display, Dec. 23-24, 606 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. Luminarias $10. Call 257-8375.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 24, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

DOVES, Domestic Violence Education and Services, presents a workshop on "Celebrating Our Lives During the Holidays," 1:30-3:30 p.m. St. Joseph Medical Center, second floor conference room, Polson. Free. Open to Lake County and Flathead Reservation women. Call 883-3350.

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 5 p.m., Dec. 27, Our Lady of Mercy Church, Eureka.

3 City of Kalispell and Montana Department of Transportation conduct a public meeting to discuss Stormwater Management Plan, 6 p.m. Dec. 27, Kalispell Waste Water Treatment Plane conference room. Treatment Plant Road, off Airport Road. Call 758-7720.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 28, Three Rivers Bank, North Meridian Road.

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

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 31, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 First Night Kalispell 7 p.m. to 12:55 a.m. Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Alcohol-free community event featuring a variety of live entertainment at various downtown venues. Buttons $8 in advance; $10 at door. Call 758-7717.

3 "Walking the Labyrinth-A Sacred Journey Within" retreat facilitated by Roberta Silker of Columbia Falls, Jan. 4, Shining Mountains Center for Positive Living, 475 Eight Ave. EN, Kalispell. $15 donation. Call Silker, 755-6075 or Merrily, 249-1005.

Columbia Falls Community Choir begins practices Jan. 13, Columbia Falls Junior High School. Sign-in and music pick up 1:30-2 p.m.; practice 2-4 p.m. Call Ron Bond, 892-5174.

3 PBS Point-of-View (P.O.V.) documentary, "Lomax the Songhunter" shown 6:30 p.m., Jan. 17, Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Admission free. Not rated-parental discretion advised. Call Public Services Librarian Jocelyne Bodden, 758-8523.

3 PBS Point-of-View (P.O.V.) documentary, "Lomax the Songhunter" shown 6:30 p.m., Jan. 24, Flathead County Library, Whitefish. Admission free. Not rated-parental discretion advised. Call Public Services Librarian Jocelyne Bodden, 758-8523.

3 Youth Service Network meets at noon Jan. 28 at The Summit, Kalispell. Jenny Simon-Thomas will speak on "The Importance of Assessing Executive Functioning Abilities in children and Adolescents." Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.