Today

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., The Wave, 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 Organizational kickoff meeting to develop new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy plan and document, 4-6 p.m., WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Call Lil Dupree, Northwest Montana Human Resources, 752-6565.

3 Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Gone Fishin' 5-7 p.m., at Mountain Mall Food Court. Big Mountain Publishing, Five Star Rentals, Frazier Appraisal, JD Embroidery, Luizanne's and MicroSolutions represented. Refreshments served. Call 862-3501.

3 Flathead City-County Board of Health invites EMS organizations and providers to a meeting on the topic, "Overview and Analysis of EMS Strengths and Weaknesses," 5:30-8:30 p.m., Earl Bennett Building second floor conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Refreshments. RSVP to Tonya Passwater, 751-8109.

3 Mothers of Multiples meet 6-8 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Topic will be "Keeping Your Family Safe." Members free, non-members $3. All welcome. Call 755-5389.

3 Whitefish Winter Classic Celebrity All-Star Basketball Game, 7 p.m. Whitefish High School. Free. Public welcome.

3 Montana Conservation Corps informational meeting, 7 p.m. meeting room of Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Refreshments. Call Erin or Prairie, 755-8089.

3 Flathead Chapter, Montana Society of American Forester, hosts a discussion with Kate Kendall, U.S. Geological Survey bear researcher, on status of grizzly bears in Glacier Park/Bob Marshall Wilderness area, 7 p.m. Montana Logging Association Building, 2224 Montana 35 E., lower level. Park in front and enter at back of building.

3 Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead meet at 7 p.m. at the Eagles, 37 First St. W., Kalispell. Final applications for the spring show will be received. Guests welcome.

Friday

3 Whitefish Winter Classic autograph signing session, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Summit House, Big Mountain. Free. Public welcome.

3 The Pachyderm Club meets at noon in the Bulldog at the WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Guest speaker is Darlene Schottle, superintendent of School District 5. Public invited.

3 FVCC multicultural event on "Joining the Peace Corps" a presentation by Steve Anderson, former Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, noon, Blake Hall. Pamphlets will be available. Free. Public welcome to bring lunch. Call Gerda Reeb, 756-3945.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 1-4 p.m., Kandahar Lodge, Big Mountain.

3 St. Patrick's Day Dinner and Business Fair, March 16, FVCC Blake Hall and Eagles Nest Cafeteria. Business fair 4-8:30 p.m.; corned beef and cabbage, and homemade pies served 5:30-8 p.m. Quarter auction 7-8 p.m.; bid on items for 25 cents. All proceeds support Alex Rudolph in People to People Ambassador Program. Contact Brenda Rudolph, 872-1052.

3 Flathead County 4-H Interstate Exchange program spaghetti dinner and pie auction 5-7:30 p.m. at The Christian Center, 255 Summit Ridge Dr., Kalispell. Fiddle and guitar entertainment. Cost $6 per person, or $15 per family. Call the Extension Office at 758-5553 for advance tickets. Tickets also available at the door. Fundraiser for Flathead 4-H trip to Corpus Christi, Texas.

3 Whitefish Winter Classic VIP Dinner and Auction 5:30 p.m., The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Tickets $75; $700 sponsor table. Reservations required. Call 862-8146.

3 Evergreen PTO Family Bingo Night, 5:30 p.m. Evergreen Junior High School gym. Public welcome. Bike raffles, concessions, silent auction. Proceeds go toward reader boards at both elementary and middle schools. Call Darla Harmon, 752-3255.

3 Mountain Dreaming: A Dream Workshop by author and international presenter of dreams, gives an introductory talk, 7-9 p.m. Rocky Mountain Lodge, 6510 U.S. 93 S., Whitefish. Cost $10. Saturday workshop 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 1515 Trumble Creek Road, Kalispell. $100, includes lunch. Call 862-9591.

3 Celtic Cross Dancers perform Irish step dancing 7:30 p.m., Faith Free Lutheran Church, 405 Liberty St., Kalispell. Group dancing taught and lead by Sally Conrad. Alcohol and smoke-free event. Admission $5, or $20 per family. Call 270-3055.

Saturday

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 to register.

3 Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage science and math careers for girls in grades 6-8, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Columbia Falls Junior High School. Nationally recognized keynote speaker is Marian York. Sponsored by local Soroptimist International clubs and Girl Scouts. Contact Diane Yarus, 751-2175.

3 Flathead Audubon wetlands field trip to Somers and Lower Valley. Meet to carpool at 8:30 a.m., at Somers Park 'n' Ride, intersection of U.S. 93 and Montana 83. Bring lunch, binoculars or scope and appropriated clothes. Free. All welcome. Call Bob Lopp, 257-6886.

3 Izaak Walton Inn annual Snow Rodeo today and Sunday, Essex. Rodeo-style events on skis and snowshoes including goat roping, steer dogging, bareback bronc, chuckwagon and barrel racing. Kids treasure hunt March 18 for rodeo participants. Spectators welcome. Call 888-5700.

3 Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry fourth annual attic sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Flathead County Fairgrounds grandstand building, Kalispell. Art and antiques, collectibles, jewelry, household, furniture and more. All proceeds go to pantry. Call 756-7304.

3 Benefit sale for Ashley Benavides to help transport and set up her single-parent household with three children, at Naropa University, Boulder, Colo., and for her tuition and books, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday, and March 24-25, 2210 N. Mission Dr., Kalispell. Call 212-8867.

3 Whitefish Winter Classic Snow Picnic, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17, Big Mountain off Gray Wolf Run ,hosted by Flathead Snowmobile Association. Free. Meet visiting sports celebrities. All welcome. Association will also have their Family Day Run.

3 Glacier Pilot Club of the Flathead Valley safety presentation and bike helmet give-away to preschoolers and toddlers, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 17, Kalispell Center Mall. Brain Minder Buddy puppet shows will be performed.

3 Human Rights Film Series presents "Maggie Growls," about the founder of the Gray Panthers, the nation's leading senior advocacy organization, 2 p.m., March 17, Whitefish Branch Library Community Room. Free. All invited. Parental discretion advised.

3 Ancient Order of the Hibernians St. Patrick's Day Parade, 4 p.m., downtown Kalispell. Line-up at 3 p.m., First Avenue West and Eighth Street. Call Mark Lalum, 755-7400 or 261-1654.

3 St. Patrick's Day dinner, 5-8 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 2200 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell. Irish music by String Crossings and traditional food. Free. All welcome. Call 752-4102.

3 St. Patty's Day Pub Crawl, 7-11 p.m., Troy. Registration $16. Starts at VFW. Sponsored by Troy Area Community Association. Call Glen Gill, 406-295-5834.

3 Whitefish Winter Classic St. Paddy's Day Party, 7-9 p.m., Great Northern Brewery. Tickets $25.

3 Mountain Dreaming: A Dream Workshop by author and international presenter of dreams, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 1515 Trumble Creek Road, Kalispell. $100, includes lunch. Call 862-9591.

3 Flathead Valleyaires Barbershop Chorus "Get Your Irish Up," show featuring Tra La Gael, Celtic Cross Dancers, Classic Touch and Uncalled 4, 7:34 p.m. Flathead High School auditorium. Advance admission $8 adults; $7 students and seniors; or $10 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. Call Wesley Tintinger, 892-5953.

Sunday

3 Izaak Walton Inn annual Snow Rodeo continues today, Essex. Rodeo-style events on skis and snowshoes including goat roping, steer dogging, bareback bronc, chuckwagon and barrel racing. Kids treasure hunt for rodeo participants. Spectators welcome. Call 888-5700.

3 Whitefish Winter Classic Champagne Brunch, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Whitefish Lake Restaurant. Tickets $12 adults; $6 kids.

3 Sunburst USA Beauty Pageant and Model Search, Kalispell Center Mall. Registration, noon; pageant 1 p.m. Call 751-5052.

3 Benefit dinner for Eureka resident Helen Lahr who is battling cancer, 1-4 p.m. Eureka Senior Center, 310 First Ave. E. Call 406-889-5018.

3 Red Cedar Circle meets at Donnalee's, 1720 Second. St. E., Whitefish. Potluck at 5 p.m. Circle at 5:45 p.m. Healing through stories, ancient spiritual practices. All welcome. Call 863-9412.

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 March 20, Polson Senior Center. $10 course fee. Call 883-4735 to register.

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 Republican Women meet at noon, at the Bulldog/WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Guest speaker is Debra L. Acord, diagnostic radiologist specializing in breast imaging. Lunch available.

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

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 Choir of Cono Christian School 50-member choir performs sacred and secular music, 7 p.m., Faith Covenant Church, 611 Third Ave. E., Kalispell. Public invited. Call 752-2400.

3 FVCC Smoking Symposium presents a discussion on "Tobacco and the Law," 7-9 p.m., Room SAT 148. Free. All invited. Call 756-3832.

3 Vista Chapter No. 44, Easter Star, will feature a program on Americanism, 7:30 p.m., Columbia Falls Masonic Temple. Grand representatives and committee member will also be honored.

Tuesday

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kalispell City Hall.

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 Flathead Valley Community College 2007 Honors Symposium Series presents Steven Gaulin of the Department of Biosocial Anthropology at University of California on " Biological Differences," at 7 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call 756-3822.

3 Big Sky Bonsai Society meets at 7 p.m., at the Flathead County Library in Kalispell. Potting techniques will be demonstrated. Free and the public is invited. Contact Jerry Meislik at 862-0387.

3 Democratic Central Committee meets 7 p.m. KM Theatre, downtown Kalispell. Guest speaker Bill Rossiter will show a short movie on the Bill of Rights, and ACLU. All welcome. Contact John deNeeve, 756-7859.

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

Wednesday

3 Brunch is offered the public at 9:30 a.m., Los Caporales, Nucleus Avenue, Columbia Falls. Hooper's Garden Center's Michael Connolly gives gardening tips. Guest speaker is Sherry Attard. Cost is $7.50 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.

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 blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., NorthWestern Energy.

3 Kalispell Toastmasters Club open house, noon to 1 p.m., Christ Church Episcopal, at Third Avenue East and Second Street. Topic is "Effective Communication." Bring a brown bag lunch. All welcome.

3 Kalispell Toastmasters Club open house, noon to 1 p.m., Christ Church Episcopal, at Third Avenue East and Second Street. Topic is "Effective Communication." Bring a brown bag lunch. All welcome.-3945.

3 Lincoln Conservation board meets at 4 p.m., Lincoln Conservation District office, 655 U.S. 93 N., Eureka. Open to public.

3 FVCC Office of Multicultural Services presents part II of Lucy Smith's discussion and slide show on her volunteer work in East Africa, 6 p.m., FVCC Blake Hall. Free. Refreshments. All invited. Call Gerda Reeb, 756

3 Olduvai Forum meets 7 p.m., Clementine's, 265 Bridge St., Bigfork. The film, "Visions of Utopia" about several national intentional communities will be shown Coffee and tea provided. Desserts and other drinks available to purchase. All welcome. Call Edmund Fitzgerald, 837-5548; or Jeffrey Funk, 837-4208.

3 FVCC Honors Satellite Seminar Series presents Washington Post columnist and Fox News Channel analyst Jeffrey Birnbaum on "Money Talks: Lobbyists and the Power of Money in Washington," 7-8:15 p.m., BSS Building, room 110. Free. Public invited. Refreshments. Call Karen Longhart, 756-3998.