Today

3 Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative executive council meets 8:30-10 a.m. in the basement at West Valley School. Call 752-3302.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 18, 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' 5-7 p.m., at The Wave. Refreshments served. Call 862-3501.

3 Diabetes Support Group information session 6-9 p.m., Hampton Inn, Spring Creek Room, 1140 U.S. W., Kalispell. Topic is "Managing Your Diabetes through the Use of an Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring." Free and open to public. Refreshments. Call Shelli Hilde, 755-3592 or 1-800-MINIMED (646-4633) Ext. 2788.

3 Mothers of Multiples meet 6-8 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. The topic will be on benefits of massage for entire family. Demonstrations. Raffles. Members free, non-members $3. All welcome.

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

3 The Northwest Montana Fair board meets at 7 p.m. in the fairgrounds office.

3 Human Rights Film Series presents "Life and Debt," a film about the tourism industry's and the International Monetary Fund's troubling effects on the local economy of developing countries such as Jamaica, 7 p.m., Kalispell branch of Flathead County Library, Community Room. Discussion to follow, led by Flathead County Commissioner and local dairy farmer Joe Brenneman. Free. All invited. Parental discretion advised.

3 Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead meet 7 p.m. basement of the Eagles, 37 First St. W., Kalispell. 2007 memberships collected. Discussion of spring show. All crafters welcome. Call Sharon, 752-8404.

Friday

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

Hockaday Museum invites interested adults to a training session for The Traveling Medicine Show educational trunks, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Blackfeet artist Darnell Rides at the Door. To register, call Kathy Martin, 755-5268.

3 Glacier Country Pachyderm meet noon to 1 p.m., The Bulldog, Kalispell. Guest speakers are Sheriff Mike Meehan and Chief of Police Roger Nasset. Lunch $9. Open to public.

3 Polson Chamber of Commerce annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony, Best Western KwaTaqNuk Resort. Call Michelle, 883-5969.

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

3 Avalanche Awareness Days kick-off event 7 p.m. Craggy Range, Whitefish. Presentations about backcountry skiing by local skiers. Beverages and appetizers available. Call 758-5295.

3 Marion Volunteer Fire Department hosts a bingo night 7-9 p.m. at the Community Center. Prizes. Baked goods, pop and coffee available. Proceeds benefit fire department.

3 Whitefish Winter Carnival coronation of Prince Frey and Princess Freya, 7:15-7:30 p.m. Whitefish High School gym.

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 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. today and Jan. 22, Polson Area Senior Center. $10 course fee. Call 883-4735 to register.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Heritage of Faith Church, Polson.

3 Avalanche Awareness Days 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 20-21, Flathead National Forest and Glacier Country Avalanche Center, Big Mountain. Informational displays, videos, equipment demonstrations. Call 758-5295.

3 Humane Society of Northwest Montana Volunteer Orientation 10:30 a.m. at the Humane Society, 3499 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell. Call 752-PAWS.

3 Safe Sitter baby-sitting course for children 11-13, today and Jan. 27, The Summit, Kalispell. Pre-registration required. Call 751-4500.

3 Human Rights Film Series presents "Life and Debt," a film about the tourism industry's and the International Monetary Fund's troubling effects on the local economy of developing countries such as Jamaica, 2 p.m., Whitefish Branch Library Community Room. Free. All invited. Parental discretion advised.

Thought

"A lean sorrow is hardest to bear." n Sara Orne Jewett, American author (1849-1909).

3 Benefit for Thomas Kelly, 3 p.m., Rainbow Bar, 1520 Montana 35, Kalispell. Live and silent auctions for lumber, plywood units, 26 cubic foot side-by-side refrigerator, industrial storage building and more. Proceeds will go toward his expenses due to his Lou Gehrig's disease. Call Mary, 261-5140; or Cathy, 253-1504.

3 Whitefish Winter Carnival coronation of King Ullr XLVIII and Queen of the Snows, 7 p.m. Whitefish Moose Lodge.

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 Flathead County Democratic Women meet at 11:45 a.m., Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Helen Pilling will present a program on recycling. Cost of luncheon $10. No reservations required. All welcome.

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

3 American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR course, 6-10 p.m. today and Jan. 24, The Summit, Kalispell. Cost $85. Pre-registration required. Call 751-4500.

3 Glacier National Park Winter Speak Series presents biological technician Jamie Belt on "Common Loons and Citizen Science, 7 p.m., Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free. Public welcome. Call 756-8992.

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

3 Flathead Democratic Central Committee meets 7 p.m., basement meeting room of Flathead County Library, Kalispell. State Democratic chair Dennis McDonald will attend.

3 Columbia Falls School board meets at 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W. Columbia Falls.

Tuesday

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., at the Elks, 1820 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell. Call David Barnes at 257-6474 for an appointment.

3 Flathead Building Association "Raise the Roof" public social, 5:30 p.m., Anderson's Masonry, 16 Woodland Dr., Kalispell. Refreshments and raffles. Call 752-2422.

Flathead National Forest hosts an open house 4-7 p.m., WestCoast Outlaw Hotel, Kalispell. Information about forest's strategy to manage recreation sites including campgrounds, cabins, trailheads, river access facilities, and more. Formal presentation, 5:30 p.m. Call 758-5252.

3 ETHIC, Encouraging The Homeownership Ideals for Communities, offers a Homebuyers Certified Education Course for new or experienced buyers on budgeting, credit, loan and mortgage types and more, 6 to 8:30 p.m., 25 and 30, FVCC. Registration fee $15 per household. For reservations call 756-3832.

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 Books and Knits, 7 p.m. Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Sit, knit and enjoy hot tea while librarians Jocelyne Bodden and Martha Furman recommend winter reading material. Call 758-5713.

3 Body Image 2007 presented by Linda Fredenberg, registered dietitian and Barbi Webber, motivational coach. Learn skills for coping with stress, and nutritional awareness. Call The Summit, 751-4500.

Wednesday

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

3 Free, no-obligation homebuyer workshop sponsored by the Flathead Home Team LLC., 6:30 p.m., Whitefish Library Community Room. Seating is limited. Call 862-1000.

3 Human Rights Film Series presents "The Concrete Revolution," a film about the cost of creating "New China" for the 2008 Olympics, 7 p.m., FVCC Blake Hall. Discussion to follow, lead by Richard Smith. Free. All invited. Parental discretion advised.