Today

3 Flathead City-County Board of Health Mosquito Control District board meets 8:30-10 a.m., second floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W. Kalispell.

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.

3 Meeting for Hands On Place, an interactive children's museum coming to the Flathead Valley, 7 p.m. The Summit, Kalispell. Newcomers welcome. Call Courtney Rudbach, 756-7691.

3 Somers School board meets at 7 p.m. at Somers Middle School.

3 Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets 7:30 p.m., Bohemian Grange Hall, behind Coffee Traders off U.S. 93 south of Whitefish. Bozeman fly fishing business owner and executive director of Whirling Disease Foundation Dave Kumlien will present a program on fly fishing in Southwest Montana. All welcome.

Wednesday

3 MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Ron Clem talks about children in crisis. Child care provided. Call 257-LOVE (5683).

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.

3 Winter Sports Inc. Big Mountain Ski Resort CEO Fred Jones speaks at Kalispell Kiwanis Club, 12:15 p.m., WestCoast Outlaw Hotel, Colt 44 conference room. Public invited. RSVP at 253-9192.

3 Lakeside County Water and Sewer district board meets 2 p.m., district meeting room, 253 Bierney Creek Road, Lakeside.

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. 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.

Thursday

3 NAMI Flathead meets 1-2:30 p.m. at The Summit, Kalispell. State legislators will be contacted regarding bills on mental health. Call Tom Bartlett, 885-3865.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., First Interstate Bank, Main St., Kalispell.

Thought

"Spring has no language but a cry." n Thomas Wolfe, American author (1900-1938).

3 Flathead County Library board meets at 3 p.m. at the Flathead County Library meeting room, Kalispell. Contact Kim Crowley, library director, at 758-5826.

3 Open community forum and public meeting on proposed U.S. Department of Peace, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Kalispell Montessori on Willow Glen. Refreshments. Everyone invited.

3 Mission Valley Animal Shelter "Spay-ghetti Dinner" and silent auction fundraiser 5-7:30 p.m. March 22, Ronan VFW, corner of Round Butter and Fifth Avenue Southwest. Tickets $6.50 per person, or $25 per family of six. Call Pam Gibson, 883-3336.

3 Muldown Elementary School Mully Night 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dinner, games, activities and entertainment. Proceeds support school field trips and assemblies. Call 862-8620.

3 Public art opening of "100 Best Communities for Young People with Whitefish Community Center, 6-9 p.m., The Loft, above the Toggery, Central Avenue, Whitefish.

3 Flathead City-County Board of Health invites EMS organizations and providers to a visioning session for the future of EMS in Flathead County" 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 Informational meeting for parents of students interested in being an AFS foreign exchange student, 7 p.m. Whitefish Independent High School, 625 Park Ave., across the street from Whitefish High School. Call Ray Boksich, 212-0261 or 862-3430.

3 Flathead High School annual talent show, 7 p.m. FHS auditorium. Piano, vocalists, jazz and rock bands and Irish, tap and jazz dance. Tickets $4 in advance at main office, or $5 at the door. Proceeds go to Central Asian Institute in Bozeman and FHS International Baccalaureate scholarships.

Friday

3 Learn how to make Turkish coffee, 10 a.m. Montana Coffee Traders, 5810 U.S. 93 South of Whitefish. Free.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 Fair-Mont-Egan School board meets for a team building exercise at 1:45 p.m. in the music room.

3 Fourth annual Stillwater Music Festival today and March 24, Stillwater Christian School, Kalispell. Band and choir students from regional Christian school compete for scholarships. Public invited to come and listen throughout the festival. Call Micah Hunter or Travis Rhubottome at 752-4400.

3 Flathead Valley Community College 2007 Honors Symposium Series free lecture by Brian Bechtold of FVCC on "Twelfth Night and Gender in the Shakespeare Theater," 6-6:30 p.m., followed by production of "Twelfth Night theater production at 7 p.m., today and March 24, Room 123 Learning Resource Center. Tickets first come, first serve or purchase in advance by calling 756-3814.

Saturday

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, 2210 N. Mission Dr., Kalispell. Call 212-8867.

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 Bridge Medical Center presents a free lecture by Dr. Patricia Cole and Lynn Troy on the topic, "Vaccines: What You Should Know," 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5938 U.S. 93 S., Whitefish. RSVP to 893-9300.

3 Somers/Lakeside PTA annual school carnival 5-9 p.m., Lakeside Elementary School. Advance tickets available. Call 857-2402.

3 Big Arm Association potluck 5 p.m. Big Arm Fire Hall. Bring a dish to share. Guest speaker Deb Weidrich will talk about nutrition and health, 6 p.m. Families welcome.

Sunday

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, continues 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, 2210 N. Mission Dr., Kalispell. Call 212-8867.

3 Flathead Valley Lutherans for Life spaghetti dinner and silent auction, 12:15-1:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran church, 400 W. California St. Free will offering taken for Hope Pregnancy Center and other projects. Everyone welcome. Call 756-8344.

3 Firefighter down basketball tournament, 2 p.m., West Valley School, at Farm to Market Road and West Reserve Dr., Kalispell. Proceeds go to families of fire fighters and EMTs who have been affected by injury or health issues. Pig roast, silent auction. Tickets $10 per couple; $15 per family.

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 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and March 27, The Summit, Kalispell. $10 course fee. Call 751-4500 to register.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and March 27, St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby. Call 406-293-0100 to register.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and March 28, Mountain West Bank Community Room, Whitefish. $10 course fee. Call 863-3630 to register.

3 Book signing and presentation by E.B. Eiselein speaks about his book "Indina Montana: A Winter Count," noon, Blake Hall, FVCC. All welcome.

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

3 Glacier National Park Winter Speak Series presents a program on "Rare Plants in Glacier National Park" with park ecologist Tara Carolin, 7 p.m., Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free. Public welcome.

3 FVCC Smoking Symposium presents a discussion on "How to Stop Smoking and/or Chewing" 7-9 p.m., Room SAT 148. Free. All invited. Call 756-3832.

3 Flathead Valley Community College 2007 Honors Symposium Series presents Kathryn Shanley, Native American Studies program chairman, University of Montana, on "Understanding Native American Perspectives on Gender" at 7 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call 756-3822.

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

3 Fair-Mont-Egan School board meets at 7 p.m. in the school library.

A Look Ahead

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., March 27, Polson Good Shepherd Church.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., March 27, in the blood mobile, Albertsons.

3 Flathead Coalition annual general meeting 6-9 p.m. March 27, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Guest speaker Barney Reeves, retired professor of anthropology at University of Calgary gives a presentation on "Native American History in the North Fork: 9,000 years, Still Counting, Still Wild" at 7 p.m. Potluck dinner, election and year in review. Cash bar. Raffles.

3 Lakeside Community Council meets 7 p.m., March 27, Water Works building, Bierney Creek Road. Open to public.

3 Children's Story Hour is at 10:30 a.m. March 28, in the children's department of the Flathead County Library in Kalispell, 247 First Ave. E. Call 758-5822.

3 Evergreen Business and Property Owner's Association meets at 7 p.m., March 27, Evergreen Fire Hall, 2236 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell. Public invited.

3 Free Falun Dafa Quigong class, 7 p.m. March 28, community room of Kalispell branch of Flathead County Library. A self-cultivation meditation with gentle, easy exercises. Call Katherine Combes, 257-9798.

3 FVCC Honors Satellite Seminar Series presents Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi on "Lessons Learned from my Grandfather," 7-8:15 p.m. March 28, BSS Building, room 110. Free. Public invited. Refreshments. Call Karen Longhart, 756-3998.

3 Evergreen Business and Property Owner's Association meets at 7 p.m., March 28, Evergreen Fire Hall, 2236 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell. Public invited.

3 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks seeks public input to discuss proposal allowing limited taking of young peregrine falcons for use in falconry, 5-7 p.m. March 29, at their offices, 490 N. Meridian Road. Call Arnold Dood, 406-994-6433.

3 Bigfork Elementary School kindergarten round-up 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. March 29-30. Certified birth certificates and immunization records required. Call 837-7412, ext. 321 to schedule an appointment.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 3 p.m., March 29, in the blood mobile First Interstate Bank, Evergreen.

3 33rd annual Sunriser Lions annual pancake supper, 4:30-7 p.m. March 29, St. Matthew's School cafeteria, 602 S. Main St., Kalispell. Menu includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, coffee, juic. Adults, $6; children, $3; families $15; senior $4.50. Proceeds to local youth programs.

3 Flathead City-County Board of Health invites EMS organizations and providers to a meeting to review the vision of the previous session and consideration of next steps, 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 29, Earl Bennett Building second floor conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Refreshments. RSVP to Tonya Passwater, 751-8109.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 30, Best Buy, Kalispell.

3 American Red Cross volunteer orientation and presentation, noon to 1 p.m., March 30, at the office, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Call 752-6433.

3 St. Joseph Medical Center two-day childbirth education class, 6-9 p.m. March 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 31, Polson, Registration $35 per couple. Scholarships available. Call Florence Brown, 883-8430.

3 Ravi Logan, author, lecturer and director of PROUT Institute (Progressive Utililization Theory) for equitable, sustainable development, speaks 7:30-9 p.m. March 30, KM Building Theater, second floor, 40 Second St. E., Kalispell. Free admission; donations accepted. Call 249-5535.

3 41st annual Creston Auction and Country Fair, March 31-April 1, Creston, 12 miles east of Kalispell on Montana 35. Call 406-261-5913. Proceeds benefit Creston Fire Department.

3 Flathead Audubon spring waterfowl migration trip to Freezout Lake March 31-April 1. Meet at 10:30 a.m. March 31 in Tidyman's parking lot. Contact Dan Casey, 857-3153. Everyone welcome.

3 Benefit auction for Eureka resident Helen Lahr who is battling cancer, 2 p.m. March 31, Lincoln County Valley Fairgrounds, Eureka. Call 889-5018.

3 Flathead Valley Democratic Spring Dinner (formerly Jefferson-Jackson dinner) March 31, Grouse Mountain Lodge, Whitefish. Cocktails and social hours, 5 p.m.; dinner 6 p.m. Featured speaker is Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger. Live musical and vocal entertainment. Early bird tickets $28 each until March 15; then $35. Call Ramona Graham, 752-0227, or Nancy Fenner, 752-0298. Open to public.

3 32nd annual Ducks Unlimited fundraising banquet, 6 p.m. March 31, Bulldog Convention Center, WestCoast Outlaw Hotel. Tickets $50 for a membership and dinner or $75 per couple; available at the door or call 755-8280.

3 Columbia Falls Community Choir annual spring concert of both sacred and secular music 7 p.m. March 31, Columbia Falls High School Little Theater. Free. Donations toward choir's expenses will be accepted. Refreshments following at reception. Call director Ron Bond, 892-5174.

3 Helping Hands Palm Sunday Choral Festival 5 p.m. April 1, Immaculate Conception Church, Polson. Inspirational seasonal music. Free will offeing will be taken for Polson Ministerial Association's Helping Hands emergency assistance community fund. Call Donna Rowold, 883-1234, or 883-8256.

3 Glacier Stamp Club meets in the basement meeting room of the Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Stamp trading and talk at 7 p.m.; regular meeting at 7:30 p.m., April 2. Short program and slide show titled, "Designing the U.S. State Birds and Flowers issue of 1982." Visitors welcome. Call Gail Long, 752-6110.

3 Find Your Family Day, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 7, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1780 Talbot Road, Columbia Falls. Learn how to search online for ancestors, organize data. Refreshments. Free. Everyone welcome.

3 Trees to Paper to Trees semi-annual recycling drive 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 7. Bring newspapers, magazines, office paper, cardboard, phone books and aluminum cans to north end of Flathead County Fairgrounds. Call Kalispell Parks and Recreation, 758-7715.

3 Bet Harim Congregation of Flathead Valley hosts a community seder lead by Rabbi Allen Secher of Whitefish, 6 p.m. April 9, Glacier Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 1515 Trumble Creek Road, Kalispell. Cost $40 members; $45 nonmembers; children 5-12, $15; students 13-18, $40. Seating limited. Reservations required. Call 756-5159.

3 Flathead Valley Community College 2007 Honors Symposium Series presents Holly Anderson of the Boise State University Department of Education on the topic, "Is There a Boys Crisis in Education?" at 7 p.m., April 9, Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call 756-3822.

3 Swan River School board meets at 5:30 p.m. April 10 in the school library.

3 Share Fair sponsored by United Way, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 14, Kalispell Center Mall. Local health and human service agencies, nonprofits, clubs and service organizations will be represented. Public welcome. Call 752-7266 or 888-720-7266.

3 Cayuse Prairie School kindergarten round-up and registration 8:30-11:30 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. April 19. Bring child's birth certificate and immunization records. Call 756-4560, ext. 10 to schedule a time.

3 Montana Woman Foundation's annual Clothes Closet sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21, at Curves, 200 E. Idaho, Kalispell. Donations of functional clothing in good condition are tax deductible. Drop-offs at Curves, Montana Woman Complex, 1103 S. Main, and Glacier Wallflower, No. 9, U.S. 2 E., Columbia Falls. Call 755-5753.

3 Flathead Valley Community College 2007 Honors Symposium Series presents Lt. Col. Kevin Farrel, Department of History at the U.S. Military Academy on the topic, "History of Gender Integration in the Military" at 7 p.m., April 19, Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call 756-3822.

3 United Way's Christmas in April, home improvement blitz, April 21. If you are a senior citizen on a limited income and need home maintenance or repairs done, or wish to volunteer, call United Way, 752-7266.

3 "100 Best" Art Show by youth of Whitefish Community Center Programs and director Laura Blankenship, reception and opening 7-9 p.m. April 21, Sage Spa and Salon, 525 Railway Ave., Whitefish. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Call 249-5344.

3 United Way's Christmas in April construction project day, April 28. If you are a senior citizen on a limited income and need home maintenance or repairs done, or wish to volunteer, call United Way, 752-7266.

3 Spring Kindergarten Enrollment Day 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 11, Flathead County Health Department, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell, upstairs conference room. Bring birth certificates and shot records. Call 751-3430.

3 American Association of University Women annual book sale April 13-15, Kalispell Center Mall. Call 755-8125.

3 Spring enrollment begins May 1 for students new to School District 5, grades 1-8, enrollment office, 233 First Ave. E., (above Flathead County Library), Kalispell. Call 751-3430.

Dressage for the Park dressage show, June 16-17, Rebecca Farm, Kalispell. Call Lindy Marriott at 752-4627 or Joy Struble at 755-8870

3 Columbia Falls Relay for Life for American Cancer Society June 22-23, Columbia Falls High School. Call Kathy Emerson, 862-7914; or Dina Pomper, 755-7004.

3 Kalispell Relay for Life for American Cancer Society 6 p.m. June 22 to 10 a.m. June 23, Flathead High School Legends Field. Call Joni McKiernan, 261-0184.

3 Columbia Falls High School Class of 1967 40th reunion July 27-29 during Heritage Days. Call Cyndy Gochanour Deist, 755-3942; or Gail Shay Linne, 892-1935.

3 School District 5 fall enrollment begins 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Aug. 1, 233 First Ave. E., (above Flathead County Library), Kalispell. Call 751-3430.

Flathead High School Class of 1997 class reunion Aug. 10-11. E-mail fhsbraves1997@yahoo.com