Today

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.

Jack Waller Quartet plays for dining and dancing, 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Swan River Inn, 360 Grand Dr., Bigfork. Call 837-2220 for reservations.

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

Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, noon New Year's Day, followed by chili feed, noon, at the camp. Suggested donation of $20 includes long-sleeve shirt; $8 for chili only, $4 for children. Proceeds go to student scholarships. Call Aaron, 844-3201.

Annual Polar Bear Plunge, The Raven, Woods Bay, Flathead Lake. Registration 10:30 a.m. Parade begins at 1:45 p.m. Plunge 2 p.m. Bring towel, warm clothes, shoes.

Evergreen Disposal will not provide garbage service today. 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. 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; 257-1598.

Friday

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

Bet Harim Jewish Community of the Flathead Valley New Year Sabbath celebration, 6 p.m. Glacier Unitarian Fellowship, 1515 Trumble Creek Road, Kalispell. Candle lighting, potluck supper. All welcome. Call 756-5159.

Film documentary, "Bam 6.6" about the earthquake aftermath in city of Bam, southern Iran in December 2003, will be shown at 6:30 p.m., home of Tom Kragh, 306 Bayview Ave., Polson. Call 883-4509 or 862-1629.

Immaculate Conception Parish in Polson hosts a free family and fellowship community dinner, 5-7 p.m., lower level of church. All welcome.

Saturday

Local author John Fraley signs his new book "Wild River Pioneers," 2-4 p.m. Borders, Mountain View Plaza, U.S. 93, Kalispell.

Sunday

Flathead Audubon 10th annual Kalispell Christmas Bird Count. 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., Columbia Falls Junior High School. Sign-in and music pick-up 1:30-2 p.m.; practice follows. Call Ron Bond, 892-5174.

Monday

Flathead County Animal Shelter advisory board meets 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Flathead County Health Department second floor conference room, 1035 First Ave. W. All welcome.

Lake County Republican Women's Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Wheat Montana, Polson. Lunch available. Call 883-9209 by 11 a.m. to order.

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

Flathead Chronic Pain Support Group meets 5:30-7 p.m., 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.

The film documentary, "Bam 6.6" about the earthquake aftermath in city of Bam, southern Iran in December 2003, will be shown at 6:30 p.m., Whitefish Public Library, 9 Spokane Ave., All welcome. Call 862-1629.

Tuesday

Kalispell Public Schools Finance Committee meets at 7 a.m., District Administration Building.

AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., West Kootenai.

A Look Ahead

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.

Flathead Nonprofit Development Partnership free brown bag seminar, "Nonprofit Funding and Budgeting in Today's World," 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 8, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Call 755-1135.

Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Jan. 8, North Valley Community Center, Columbia Falls.

3 Flathead Municipal Airport Authority meets at 4 p.m., Jan. 8, Glacier Park International Airport board room. A master plan update workshop begins at 11:30 a.m.

Museum at Central School History Book Club meets 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8, at the museum, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Part two of Stephen Ambrose's book, "Undaunted Courage" will be discussed. All welcome to attend. Call 756-8381.

Local institute of Noetic Sciences Community Group meets 7 p.m., Jan. 8, Bohemian Grange, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, Whitefish. Steven Gordon, owner of The Bridge Medical Center, will talk about cellular processes affecting degenerative disease. All welcome. Donations appreciated. Call 862-9591 or 862-7711.

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.

Flathead Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees meets at noon Jan. 9, Perkins Restaurant, Kalispell. Lunch is $8. For reservations, call Bill Driver at 837-2744.

Summit Independent Living Center offers advanced beginner's level sign language classes weekly at 2 p.m. Fridays, beginning Jan. 9. Cost $5 per class or $25 for all six. Call 257-0048.

Polson Orchards Apartments holds a public informational meeting and design review, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9, Polson City Library Community Room. Lake County and Polson residents welcome.

50th annual Whitefish Winter Carnival Merry Maker, 6 p.m. Jan. 10, Great Northern Bar and Grill, Central Avenue, Whitefish. Dinner tickets $15 available at bar and Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, 520 E. Second. St. Call 862-3501.

John White Lecture Series presents its first lecture with John Fraley discussing his book "Wild River Pioneers, 2:30 p.m., Jan. 11, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $25 for all four lectures; or $7.50 per lecture for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 12, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

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.

Flathead Audubon meets 7 p.m. Jan. 12, The Summit, Kalispell. Ansley Ford and Denver Holt present "Owls Who Are They?" Free. Public invited.

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.

AARP Driver Safety class, noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 13, North Valley Senior Center, Columbia Falls. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 892-4087.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 13, Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell.

Swan River School board meets at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 13, school library.

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.

AARP presents a program for care givers of elderly drivers, "We Need to Talk Conversations with Older Drivers," 7 p.m. Jan. 14, The Summit, Kalispell. Free. Call 751-4500 to register.

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.

AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 17, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

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.

"Fashion Goes Green" cost-conscious fashion show and tea with The Refinery and Essentials Day Spa, 2-4 p.m. Jan. 25, New Outlaw Inn, Kalispell. Tickets at Books West and The Refinery. Proceeds go to Flathead Democratic Women's Scholarship Fund. Call Nancy Westberg, 756-3145; or Judie Stewart, 752-2955.

John White Lecture Series presents beer museum curator Steve Lozar who discusses Montana's history of beer brewing, 2:30 p.m., Jan. 25, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $7.50 for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.

AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 26, St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 293-0100.

Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 26, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 27, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 863-3630.

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.

John White Lecture Series presents Will Hammerquist speaking on the topic, "Glacier Beyond One Hundred What Does the Next Century Hold for Glacier National Park?" 2:30 p.m., Feb. 8, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $7.50 for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.

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.

John White Lecture Series presents wildlife consultant Brian Peck who will give a presentation on wolf mythology and recovery in Montana, 2:30 p.m., Feb. 22, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $7.50 for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.

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.