Today
• Whitefish Lake Swim, City Beach. Check-in, 8 a.m.; race starts 9:15 a.m. Must be 18 or older. Proceeds benefit Wave Scholarship Fund and Wave Ryder Swim Team. Call Holly, 862-5869.
• Smith Valley Fire Department rummage sale fundraiser, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3496 U.S. 2 W., Kalispell. Call 758-3548.
• Northwest Montana Fair, Flathead County Fairgrounds. Carnival. Demolition Derby, 7:30 p.m.
• Montana Dahlia Society's Northwest Montana Fair flower show, during fair hours, Horticultural Building on the fairgrounds.
• Glacier National Park 100th anniversary kick-off, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lake McDonald Lodge and Glacier Park Lodge. Fee-free day. Live music by Jack Gladstone and David Walburn. Free cake, kids activities. Calendar of centennial events available.
• Big Sky Astronomy Club open house, noon to 4 p.m., Museum at Central School in Kalispell. Call Bruce at 857-3753, or Mark at 257-7261.
3 Fourth annual Museums and Music: A Festival of Culture, noon to 4 p.m., Conrad Mansion, Hockaday Museum, Museum at Central School. Free admission to museum, live music, food concessions. Call 755-2166, 755-5268 or 756-8381.
Monday
• Schellinger Construction will be doing work on storm drainages for about 30 days, on Sixth Avenue East from 11th Street East to 13th Street East; and between Sixth Avenue East and Fifth Avenue East. These streets will be closed to through traffic during construction hours, and be re-opened at night for local traffic. Call Kalispell Public Works Department, 758-7720.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 293-0100.
• Flathead County and Columbia Falls officials meet to discuss historic red bridge project, 10 a.m., Discovery Square, 729 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Public invited. Use rear entrance to lower level meeting room.
• Dr. Robert Pusch, professor emeritus at University of Washington gives two presentations titled, "Making Sense of Health Care Reform," at 11:45 a.m. at the Outlaw Hotel; and 7:30 p.m. at the KM Theatre, in Kalispell. Free. Public invited.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Free pint of ice cream to donors.
• Columbia Falls School board Insurance Committee meets, 4 p.m., regular work session, 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W. Columbia Falls.
• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 6 p.m., 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.
Tuesday
• School District 5 and Flathead County High School Policy and Public Relations Committee meets, 7 a.m., Kalispell Middle School Media Center.
• Flathead County Library board meets to review architectural concepts for new main library, 9 a.m., at the Flathead County Library meeting room, Kalispell. Call Kim Crowley, 758-5826.
• Montana West Economic Development business seminar, "Measuring Success: Is it Working?" noon to 1 p.m., Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. RSVP to Kim Morisaki, 257-7711.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Eureka Baptist Church.
• Opening reception for "Celebrating the Swan Range" photographic exhibition, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Bigfork Museum of Art.
• Wellness Education Center's Healthy Potluck Supper, 5:30-6:30 p.m., 103 Ponderosa Lane, Kalispell. Families welcome. Bring a healthy dish to share. Call the Wellness Center at 755-8423.
• Whitefish School District board special meeting, 6:30 p.m.; followed by work session, 7 p.m. district board room.
• Lakeside Community Council meets 7 p.m., Lakeside Sewer District office, 253 Bierney Creek Road.
Wednesday
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell.
• Open House and photography exhibit of Bret Bouda's "Timeless Light - The Centennial Image Collection of Glacier National Park," for the Park centennial, 5-7 p.m., Glacier Park International Park. Light refreshments. Parking tickets validated..
• Essential Stuff Project (ESP) free presentation on bicycles as alternative transportation by Peter Hall and Cameron Clayton of Mike's Bikes, 7 p.m., Clementine's 265 Bridge St., Bigfork. Donations accepted. Call Edd Blackler, 837-5196; or Catherine Haug, 837-4577.
• Free Falun Dafa Quigong class, 7 p.m., community room of Kalispell branch of Flathead County Library. A self-cultivation meditation with gentle, easy exercises. Call Katherine, 257-9798.
Thursday
• Our Savior's Lutheran Church rummage and bake sale, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. today; 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 28, 401 Seventh St. W., Columbia Falls. Lunch served both days. Friday is $1 bag day.
• Flathead County Library board meets at 9 a.m. at the Flathead County Library meeting room, Kalispell. Call Kim Crowley, 758-5826.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9-11 a.m., and 1-3 p.m., Polson Area Senior Center. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 883-4735.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.
• Red Cross blood drives, noon to 3 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, sponsored by NWMT Association of Realtors; and 3-6 p.m., Fellowship Alliance Church, Columbia Falls.
• Kalispell Senior Center luau potluck supper, 5 p.m., 403 Second Ave. W. Bring a potluck dish if you can and dress Hawaiian. All area seniors 55 and older welcome. Call 257-1598.
• Ashley Lake Land Use Advisory Commitee meets 6 p.m., Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. E., Kalispell. Public invited.
• Real estate investor DeLynn Nedrow gives a fee presentation on the "Top Four Real Estate Investing Strategies, 7-9 p.m. Hampton Inn, Kalispell. Learn how to capitalize on current market, even with limited money or credit.
Call 257-8713.
Friday
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Free pint of ice cream to donors.
• 10th annual MASH Bash, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. Special guest Jaime Farr, "Klinger" from MASH TV series. Korean-style dinner, dancing to Don Lawrence Orchestra and Friends, silent auction. Tickets $75 each. Call 863-3630.
A Look Ahead
• Introduction to Archery workshop fro all skill levels and ages, Aug. 29, Lone Pine State Park, Kalispell. Children's session for ages 8-15, 9 a.m. to noon; 16 and older, 1-4 p.m. Cost $10. Bows provided. Limited to 15 people. To register, call Mary Beth Chappelow, 755-2706, ext. 2.
• Riverfront Blues Festival, noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 29, Riverfront Pavilion, Libby. Too Slim and the Taildraggers and several other bands in concert. Advance tickets $15; or $20 at the door. Students, $10; children 6 and under, free. All proceeds benefit community.
• Cowboy America Festival 1 p.m. to dusk, Aug. 29, Flathead Valley Cowboy Church, U.S. 93, 1.4 miles north of Reserve Dr., Kalispell. Horse rides, paint ball target shoot, Li'l Wrangler rodeo, roping, face painting, and more. Barbecue, 5 p.m. Live music with Gene Gordner 6 p.m. All welcome. Call 752-3333.
• Preview of news PBS documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," with special guest co-producer and author, David Duncan, 5-6:30 p.m. Aug. 29, O'Shaughnessy Center, Whitefish. Advance tickets $5, available at all Coffee Traders; $7 at door. Seating limited. Light refreshments.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Aug. 31, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Free pint of ice cream to donors.
• Ninth annual Everything Sale for Refugee Aid, Sept. 2-6, 1045 E. Fourth St., Whitefish. Proceeds benefit Doctors without Borders and The International Rescue Committee. Donations welcome. Call 862-1629.
• 21st annual Bigfork Ducks Unlimited banquet, 6 p.m. Sept. 3, BruMar Estate, Bigfork. Social hour at 5 p.m. Life auction, raffles. Cost $50 single; $75 couple. Call John Robinson, 249-4146; or Mark Manders, 837-3242.
• Bigfork Rumble in the Bay Car Show, Sept. 5-6, Electric Avenue. Poker run around Flathead Lake, Sept. 5; Car show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 6. Registration 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Live music. Call Jill or Brian, 837-5669; or JoAnn, 837-1604 or 871-1619.
• Jack Gladstone and Dave Griffith in concert, 7 p.m., Sept. 5, Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. Coincides with Glacier National Park Centennial art show. Tickets $15. Call 837-6927.
• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon to welcome new teachers, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 8, North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. No reservations required. Lunch available for $10. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.
• Glacier Stamp Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the basement meeting room of the Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Visitors welcome. Call Gail Long, 752-6110.
• GriefShare fall session begins 7-8:30 p.m., Sept. 8, Christ Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Parkway, Whitefish. Share with others who are grieving death of someone close and learn ways to cope. All welcome. Use northwest entrance. Call 862-2615.
• Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 9, administration building boardroom.
• 22nd annual Taste of Whitefish 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 10, downtown, rain or shine. Music by The Sound Sound. Call the Whitefish Chamber for tickets, 862-3501.
• Third annual Brats, Burgers and Band fundraiser for Bigfork Fire Department, 5 p.m. Sept. 11, Harbor Village Pavilion. Tickets $9 for adults; $5 for children. Live music by Blue Smoke. Live auction. Donations welcome. Call Jim Sticka, 837-2294.
• Foys Fest, Sept. 12, Herron Park, Barbecue, local foods, outdoor concert with Jack Gladstone and Dr. Harmony, guided tours. Tickets $15 each or $30 per family. Benefit for Foys to Blacktail Trail Project. Call Liz, 752-3318.
• 18th annual Dayton Daze Sept. 12. Sailboat rides 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dayton Yacht Club. Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dayton Church; lunch served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wine tasting, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mission Mountain Winery. Parade, 3 p.m. Pig roast, 4:30 p.m. Idle Spur. Live music, raffle, children's games. Benefit for Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department.
• Valley Voices Community Choir fall semester begins Sept. 14. Registration 5:30 p.m., choir room at Flathead High School. Both men and women from teens on up of all skill levels welcome. Call Patty Louden, 752-3160; or Allyson Kuechmann, 765-8208.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Sept. 14, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.
• Ronan Area Harvest Fest, Sept. 19, Ronan Community Fairgrounds. Chili cook-off, dessert bake-off, farmers market and more; barn dance with live music, 7-10 p.m. Call Ky Bartels, 406-253-8611.
• Montana West Economic Development business seminar, "Software and Gadgets for a More Efficient Office" noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 22, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. RSVP to Kim Morisaki, 257-7711.
• P.E.O. Chapter BH, Bigfork, fifth annual scholarship fundraiser luncheon and bridge party, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24, Brumar Estate. Fine food, no-host bar, raffles, games. Vintage fashion display. Tickets $25, advance purchase only. Call Susy Nolde, 837-6331; or Sheila Gilmore, 837-4118.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., Sept. 24, Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Oct. 5, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., Oct. 22, Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.
• Montana West Economic Development business seminar, "What is the Future of the Web," noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 27, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. RSVP to Kim Morisaki, 257-7711.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Nov. 2, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., Nov. 19, Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Dec. 7, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., Dec. 17, Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.