Today
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
Tuesday
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Church, Eureka.
Wednesday
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• First Night Flathead 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration in Kalispell for entire family. Numerous entertainment venues. Call Patrice Manget, 253-2471; or Jennifer Young, 758-7717.
• It's Your Party Event Center, Lakeside, hosts a chaperoned New Year's Eve lock-in for children ages 9-14, 9 p.m. tonight to 9 a.m. Thursday. Karaoke, digital DJ, dance instruction, games, prizes, nacho bar, concessions, muffin breakfast. Admission $10 plus a canned food item for food bank. Call 844-2060.
Thursday
• Evergreen Disposal will not provide garbage service today, New Year's Day. Today's route will be picked up on Friday; Friday's and Saturday's route will be picked up on Saturday.
• City of Kalispell Solid Waste Division will not be picking up 90-gallon containers today due to the New Year's Day holiday. Today's route will be picked up on Friday. Have containers out by 7 a.m. Call 758-7720.
• North Valley Refuse will have regular service today.
• Kalispell Senior Citizens potluck dinner and party, 1 p.m., Kalispell Senior Center, 403 Second Ave. W. Bring a potluck dish if you can. All area seniors welcome. Call 257-1598.
Friday
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
A Look Ahead
• Flathead Audubon 10th annual Kalispell Christmas Bird Count, Jan. 4. Meet at 7 a.m. at Finnegan's Restaurant. Call Dan Casey, 857-3143 evenings, or 756-5681 days to participate. $5 per adult.
• Columbia Falls Community Choir begins practices for 2009 season, 2-4 p.m. Jan. 4, Columbia Falls Junior High School. Sign-in and music pick-up 1:30-2 p.m.; practice follows. Call Ron Bond, 892-5174.
• Lake County Republican Women's Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Jan. 5, Wheat Montana, Polson. Lunch available. Call 883-9209 by 11 a.m. to order.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 5 at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Flathead Chronic Pain Support Group meets 5:30-7 p.m., Jan. 5, The Summit, Kalispell. Group meets on a weekly basis. Learn how to cope with pain and improve your quality of life. Free. Call Dr. Alex Bokor, 250-5252.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Jan. 6, West Kootenai.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Jan. 7, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Todd Widman will discuss the "Crossfit Challenge." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Jan. 7, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Jan. 8, North Valley Community Center, Columbia Falls.
• Museum at Central School History Book Club meets 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Part two of Stephen Ambrose's book, "Undaunted Courage" will be discussed. All welcome to attend. Call 756-8381.
• Evergreen Special Services Child Find screening for children 0 to 5 years old, 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 9, East Evergreen Elementary School. All welcome. Call 751-1113, ext. 23 to make an appointment.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 9, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 12, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
Thought
"Ours is the age of substitutes: Instead of language we have jargon; instead of principles, slogans; and instead of genuine ideas, bright suggestions." n Eric Bentley, British-born American author and educator.
• Church of the Nazarene offers a six-week course, "Parenting Your Teen, 7 p.m. Mondays, beginning Jan. 12, 1295 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell. Presenters are Les and Leslie Parrott. Call 755-4179.
• Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited offers free weekly fly tying classes beginning 7 p.m. Jan. 12, Kalispell Middle School, 205 Northwest Lane. All materials provided free of charge. Bring own tools and vises. Youngsters should be accompanied by an adult. Call Jim Johnson, 837-3210; or Chris Schustrom, 260-1198.
• Public is invited to a free community lecture 7:30 a.m., Jan. 13, Pathways Treatment Center, 200 Heritage Way, Kalispell. Dr. Richard Wise talks about "Anxiety and Depression: A Personal and Professional Perspective."
• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 13, North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Guest speaker of Lyle Phillips and Gary Winship of Montana West Economic Development. No reservations required. Lunch available for $9. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 13, Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 14, Troy High School.
• Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 14, administration building boardroom.
• Reception for Salish Kootenai College artists Corky Clairmont, Linda S. King and Jay Jay Polite Laber at Flathead High School and the Hockaday Museum of Art, Jan. 15. Public invited.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 15, The Wave, Whitefish.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 16, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 19, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 20, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Jan. 21, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Holly Nichols talks about "Healthy Cooking." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jan. 21, Plum Creek conference room.
• Red Cross blood drives, Jan. 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; and 1-4 p.m. Kalispell Toyota, in the blood mobile.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 11:30 a.m., Jan. 22, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 23, Wal-Mart, in the blood mobile.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 am. to 3 p.m., Jan. 24, Best Buy, in the blood mobile.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 26, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 27, Polson Methodist Church.
• Red Cross blood drive, 1-5 p.m., Jan. 28, Elks Club, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 29, North Valley Baptist Church.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 30, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Feb. 4, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Topic is "Marriage Counseling." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Feb. 18, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Topic is on the preschool fair. Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., Feb. 26, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. March 4, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Sherry Johns talks about "Puppets for the Preschooler." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. March 18, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Brian Tankos discusses "How to Write a Living Will." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., March 26, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative board meets 11:30 a.m. April 23, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., May 28, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., June 25, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.