Today
• 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.
• Flathead Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness meets 12:30-2:30 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Guest speaker is Matt Kuntz, executive director of NAMI-Montana. Public welcome. Call Boyd Roth, 471-4483.
• 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 Committee meets 6 p.m., Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. E., Kalispell. Public invited.
• Nonpartisan Freedom Action Rally hosts a forum on health care, 6 p.m. Country Kitchen, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Speakers include Terry Compton, Dr. Annie Bukacek and John Fuller. Potluck, with hot dogs and drinks for sale.
• 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
• Think Local juried art fair, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Courthouse Lawn, Kalispell. Free admission.
• 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.
Saturday
• Introduction to Archery workshop for all skill levels and ages, 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.
• Think Local juried art fair, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Courthouse Lawn, Kalispell. Free admission.
• Humane Society of Northwest Montana Volunteer Orientation 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humane Society, 3499 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell. Call 752-PAWS.
• Riverfront Blues Festival, noon to 11 p.m., 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, 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., O'Shaughnessy Center, Whitefish. Advance tickets $5, available at all Coffee Traders; $7 at door. Seating limited. Light refreshments.
Sunday
• Think Local juried art fair, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Courthouse Lawn, Kalispell. Free admission.
Monday
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Free pint of ice cream to donors.
A Look Ahead
• Whitefish Moose Lodge, 230 W. 10th St., roast turkey dinner buffet, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 2. Public welcome. Proceeds go to support charities.
• 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.
3 Montana Dahlia Society flower show, Sept. 5-6, Kalispell Center Mall. Call 257-2540.
• 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.
• Senior Tour & Tea, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 10, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell. Free admission for senior citizens. Docent-guided gallery tour at 10:30 a.m. Light refreshments. Call 755-5268.
• 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.
• Montana Women's Aglow Christian retreat, Sept. 11-13, Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell. $35 registration fee includes Saturday's lunch. Call 406-443-6683
• Flathead Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees meets at noon Sept. 11, Back Room, Columbia Falls. Social time, 11:30 a.m. For reservations, call Bill Driver at 837-2744.
• 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. 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.
• Dayton Ladies Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 12, Dayton Church. Crafts, baked goods, attic treasures. Lunch served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Val Hanson, 849-5075.
Lake County Republican Women noon luncheon meeting Sept. 14 at Papa Don's Grill at the Polson golf course. Speakers Linda Sauer of rocky Mountain Heart and Lung, and retired physician Dr. Irvine Milheim will share their analysis of the 1,017-page healthcare bill proposed to the House of Representatives. All welcome. Reservations required by Sept. 10 to Mimi, 849-5944; or Dorene, 883-4446.
• Rails to Trails meets at 5 p.m. Sept. 14 at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks building, 490 N. Meridian Road, All welcome. Call 257-1932.
• 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.
• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., Sept. 14, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.
• Summit Independent Living Center offers a six-week series of beginner level sign language classes starting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Cost is $5 per class or $25 for six weeks. Call 257-0048 to enroll.
• 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.
• Heritage Museum of Libby's fourth annual chili cook-off, Oct. 3. Gates open 7:30 a.m. Prizes in each category. Public may purchase sampling kits with cornbread for $3. Deadlines for entries Sept. 28. Call Susan Castaneda, 406-293-2171.
• 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.
• Great Rockies Sport Show, 4-8 p.m. March 12; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 13; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Admission is good all weekend and costs $5, adults; $3, children 6-12; kids 5 and under, free. Friday night all kids 12 and under get in free.