Today

3 The Old Steel Bridge will be closed today from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. for repairs.

3 From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today both north and southbound lanes of Meridian Road from Husky Street to U.S. 2 will be reduced to one lane, and no exit from Michael's Exxon along Meridian due to construction work. Expect slight delays.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the blood mobile, FVCC.

3 Annual Blessing of the Animals, 5:30 p.m., St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 535 Fourth Ave. West, Columbia Falls. Bring your pet of any variety, on a leash, in a cage or otherwise restrained. All welcome. Call 862-2863.

3 Noted public speaker and author Mac Bledsoe presents a program titled, "Parenting with Dignity," Olney-Bissell School. Presentation at 7 p.m.; dinner available at 6 p.m. to those who pre-order tickets. Cost $20 for two and $15 per single. Call Lona Everett, Bissell School, 862-2828. All welcome.

Friday

3 Evergreen Special Services hosts a multi-district child find screening, 8:30 a.m. to noon, East Evergreen Elementary School. Children 0 to 5 years screened for hearing, vision, motor skills, speech, language and cognition. Call 751-1113, ext. 16, to schedule an appointment.

3 Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce 10th annual rummage sale, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 6, Old City Hall building, 202 Nucleus Ave. Donations welcome. Call Carol, 892-2072; or Mary, 751-4774.

3 The documentary film, "Inuit - Songs in Stone," will be shown at 9 and 11 a.m., 1:30 and 7 p.m., FVCC Arts and Technology Building Community Meeting Room. Donations appreciated. Free admission to Hockaday Museum of Art's Inuit art exhibit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in conjunction with film showing.

3 Botanist and naturalist Anne Morely leads walk on Sprunger-Whitney Nature Trail in remembrance of Elmer Sprunger and Jack Whitney, 10 a.m. today. Dress for fall weather and bring a lunch and water. Take Montana 83 7.1 miles south of Swan Lake Trading Post, Swan Lake. Turn right at Point Pleasant sign (1/2 mile south of mile marker 64). Follow sign to trail.

3 Friends of the Library Book Sale 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 6; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7, Kalispell Center Mall. Call Erica, 257-3988.

3 Neighbors in Need volunteers deliver homemade chili lunch around Kalispell, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost $8 includes chili, muffin, cole slaw and homemade pie. Whole pies available for $8. Fax orders to 755-7266. Call 752-7266.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the blood mobile, Glacier Bank, 49 Commons Loop, Kalispell.

3 The Glacier Country Pachyderm meets noon to 1 p.m. at the Bulldog. Guest speaker is Montana Senator Greg Barkus. Lunch available. Public invited.

3 Consignments accepted for Kalispell Ski Club annual ski swap and sale 1 to 8 p.m. today, Expo Building Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Sale hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 6; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 7, Expo Building. Call 752-SKIS.

3 Voices of the Wilderness Art Exhibition and Silent Auction to support Wilderness Trail Work from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second St., Kalispell. Drinks and hors d' oeuvres. Suggested entrance donation $15. Call Carla Belski, 253-4421; or Kathy Koors, 754-3137.

Saturday

3 Kalispell Fire Department hosts a free pancake breakfast 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Fire Station 61, 312 First Ave. East, to kick off Fire Prevention Week. Donations appreciated. All welcome.

3 Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce 10th annual rummage sale, 9 a.m. to noon, Old City Hall building, 202 Nucleus Ave. Donations welcome. Call Carol, 892-2072; or Mary, 751-4774.

3 Eagles asnnual Harvest Dinner, from 5 to 8 p.m., 37 First St., downstairs. Price $10 adults; children under 12, $5. Public welcome.

3 Kalispell Ski Club annual ski swap and sale 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Expo Building, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Consignments accepted 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5, Expo Building. Call 752-SKIS.

3 Daniel Henning, past Buddhist monk, gives a free workshop on Buddhism and deep ecology, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Deep Bay Center, U.S. 93, Lakeside. Donations welcome. Call Deep Bay Center, 884-2611; or Henning at 883-2040.

3 Friends of the Library Book Sale, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Kalispell Center Mall. Call Erica, 257-3988.

3 Community United Methodist Church annual fall bazaar, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 750 Electric Avenue, Bigfork. Original handcrafts by local artists, bake sale. Soup, bread and homemade pie lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. Call 837-4547.

3 Columbia Falls Women's Connection presents Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow It, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Community Room, Nucleus Avenue, Columbia Falls. Buy homemade crafts, baked and canned goods. Homemade soup luncheon, $2.50. Proceeds support annual missionary project.

3 Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force volunteer orientation 11 a.m. at the clinic, 3491 Trumble Creek Road. Call 892-7387.

3 Sons of Norway meet 7 p.m., Buffalo Hill Terrace meeting room, 40 Claremont St., Kalispell. Call 257-2537.

Sunday

3 Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down 2007 continues 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., VFW Post 1548, 108 W. Second St., Libby. Physical and mental health providers and employment counseling, referrals, haircuts, surplus military clothing, lunch; free camping. Call Allen W. Erickson Sr., 756-7304 or 250-0698.

3 Friends of the Library Book Sale continues 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kalispell Center Mall. Call Erica, 257-3988.

3 Kalispell Ski Club annual ski swap and sale continues 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Expo Building, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Call 752-SKIS.

3 Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force volunteer orientation 5 p.m. at the clinic, 3491 Trumble Creek Road. Call 892-7387.

Monday

3 Daughters of the American Revolution, Chief Ignace Chapter, meet at noon at home of Reta Sands. Program is on "American buggies." Bring a sack lunch. Call Kay McDonald, 892-4579.

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

3 Flathead Audubon meets 7 p.m., Community Room, The Summit, Kalispell. Wildlife consultant Brian Peck discusses grizzly bear recovery in northern Rockies. All welcome.

3 Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force volunteer orientation, 7 p.m. at the clinic, 3491 Trumble Creek Road. Call 892-7387.

3 Deer Park School board meets at 7 p.m. at the school.

Tuesday

3 Public is invited to a free community lecture on the topic, "School-based Mental Health as a Treatment Model in the Public Schools," 7:30 a.m., Pathways Treatment Center, 200 Heritage Way, Kalispell.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., KRMC.

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

3 Whitefish Figure Skating Club presents a "Little Black Dress Affair," a fashion show on ice, 6:30 p.m., Stumptown Ice Den, Wisconsin Avenue, Whitefish. Tickets $25 at Village Shop, Whitefish. Limited to 100. Call Carol, 862-7699; or Jennifer, 862-6524.

3 Pam Haglund will discuss her recent three-week travels in Iran, 7 p.m., Whitefish Library. All welcome. Call 892-1688 or 862-1629.

3 Mission Mountain Audubon meets 7 p.m., Polson City Library meeting room. Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes fisheries biologist Craig Barfoot presents a program on "Ecology and Fisheries management of the Flathead River Downstream of Kerr Dam." Free. All welcome.

3 Helena Flats School board meets at 7 p.m., school library.

3 Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead meet at 7:30 p.m., Fish, Wildlife and Parks Building, 490 N. Meridian Road. Public welcome. Call Don at 862-6955.