Today
• Swan River School board meets at 8:30 a.m., school library.
• Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., FVCC Blake Hall.
• Flathead County Library board meets at 9 a.m. at the Flathead County Library meeting room, Kalispell. Call Kim Crowley, 758-5826.
• P.E.O. Chapter BH, Bigfork, fifth annual scholarship fundraiser luncheon and bridge party, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 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., Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.
• "Stormy Day Storytellers," 1 p.m. Whitefish Community Center, 121 E. Second St. Tell stories you've heard, experience or read. Call Judith 862-2732.
• Kalispell Senior Citizens business meeting and potluck supper, 5 p.m., Kalispell Senior Center, 403 Second Ave. W. Bring a potluck dish if you can. All area seniors 55 and older welcome. Call 257-1598.
• Lakeside/Somers Chamber of Commerce awards banquet 5:30 p.m., Glacier Camp and Conference Center, Lakeside. Buffet dinner 6:45 p.m.; raffles. Tickets $25 each or $175 for table of eight. Call 844-3715.
• Two Medicine Lake Singers and Dancers give a powwow demonstration, 7 p.m., FVCC Arts and Technology Building. Admission is $3. Call 756-3945.
Friday
• Ray of Hope benefit yard sale 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday, Valley Victory Church, 315 E. Evergreen. Dr. Home furnishings, raffles for signed Wayne Dowdy prints and crocheted afghan. Call 755-4673.
• Friends of the Library annual book sale 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Kalispell Center Mall. $2 bag day on Sunday. Proceeds benefit Flathead County libraries. Call Marylane Pannell, 257-5793.
• Flathead Quilters Guild 28th annual show, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo and Country Kitchen buildings. Merchant mall and boutique, silent auction, quilts for sale, demonstrations; concessions available. Admission $5 per day.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby.
• Glacier Country Pachyderm meets noon to 1 p.m., Red Lion Hotel. Ret. Major Gen. Paul Vallelly discusses the "Global Radical Islamic Threat." Lunch available. Public invited. Call Tom McElwain, 270-5764.
• Flathead/Glacier Booster Club barbecue prior to Black and Blue Crosstown gametime, 5 p.m., Legends Stadium.
• GameHearts, a program to promote adult sobriety by providing group tabletop and role playing games meets 6-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, beginning today and Saturday, Pizza Hut, 55 N. Main St., Kalispell. All welcome. Call Ron, 871-3893.
• Boomers Singles Group dinner, Village Greens Community Center, 195 W. Nicklaus Ave., Kalispell. Social hour, 6 p.m.; dinner 7 p.m.; meeting 8 p.m. Reservations required. RSVP to Barb, 752-2272. All 40-plus singles welcome.
Saturday
• Ray of Hope benefit yard sale 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Valley Victory Church, 315 E. Evergreen. Dr. Home furnishings, raffles for signed Wayne Dowdy prints and crocheted afghan. Call 755-4673.
• Flathead Audubon sponsors Owen Sowerwine work day. Volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. at Montessori School, 349 Willow Glen Dr., Kalispell, to work for two hours. Call Brent Mitchell, 756-8130.
• Friends of the Library annual book sale 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Kalispell Center Mall. $2 bag day on Sunday. Proceeds benefit Flathead County libraries. Call Marylane Pannell, 257-5793.
• Flathead Quilters Guild 28th annual show, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo and Country Kitchen buildings. Merchant mall and boutique, silent auction, quilts for sale, demonstrations; concessions available. Admission $5 per day.
• Flathead Spay and Neuter Task Force holds a pet first aid course, 10 a.m., 3491 Trumble Creek Road, Columbia Falls. Free. Everyone welcome. Call 892-7387.
• Whitefish Figure Skating Club annual Skate Swap, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stumptown Ice Den. Sign up for classes. A garage sale will be held at Saddle Club in front of rink, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Lighthouse Christian Home fifth annual Harvest Festival, noon to 5 p.m., 384 N. Somers Road. Entertainment by Tradewinds Band, Blue Onion Band, Amy Prangley. residents 4:30-5 p.m. Raffle for steer or pig. Activities, hay rides, concessions. Entry fee, $2; or $5 per family. Call 857-3276.
• FVCC's 2009 Crown of the Continent Lecture Series hiking trip on North Fork of Flathead River, titled, "Along the Buffalo Cow Trail: History and Ecology of the Trans Boundary North Fork," with retired geology instructor Lex Blood and Steve Thompson. Bring sack lunch. Cost $65. Call 756-3832.
• Humane Society of Northwest Montana arts and crafts fair and open house, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Free admission. Call 752-7297.
• Rails to Trails grand opening of completed trail to Kila, 3-7 p.m., Julie's Arena, next to Smith's Valley Fire Department. Live music by Truck Stop Inferno. Bike decorating, 4 p.m.; ribbon cutting, 4:30 p.m.; Parade of bikes to Cottage Inn. Music by Tropical Montana Marimba Ensemble. Refreshments and cake served.
• Safe Harbor shelter's fifth annual auction, 6-9 p.m. Ronan Community Center. Live and silent auctions; Wine, food, raffles. Call 406-676-0800.
Sunday
• Fifth annual Oktoberfest, 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, 195 Coverdell Road, just north of Montana 35 and Montana 82 intersection, Bigfork. Traditional German food, beer and wine; music by Bavarian Echoes Polka Band; cakewalk, bingo and more. Dinner tickets, $12 adults; $5 children 12 and under; available at the door. Call Gary Butterfield, 837-4405.
• Neighbors in Need silver anniversary celebration, 2-4 p.m., Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell. Free; offering taken.
Rescues and Runaways fashion show to raise money for local animal shelters, 2 p.m., JC Penney food court, Kalispell Center Mall.
Monday
• West Valley School board meets at 7 a.m., school library to discuss feasibility study by Architects Northwest.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby. Call 293-0100.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 863-3630.
• Flathead County Democratic Women meet at 11:45 a.m., Outlaw Inn, Kalispell. Mary Mumby and Kathy Young will present a program on their recent trip to Iran. Lunch available. No reservations required. All welcome. Call President Mary Reckin, 257-8160.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 6 p.m., 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.
• Columbia Falls School board meets at 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W. Columbia Falls.
• Columbia Falls School board meets at 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W. Columbia Falls.
Tuesday
• The Flathead Valley Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management meets 8:30- a.m. to 2:30 p.m., The Hampton Inn, Kalispell. Program on "Connecting with Customers' free. Optional lunch $10 for members and first-time guests; $15 for guests after first visit. RSVP to Deb Broadbent, 756-4233.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Polson Good Shepherd Church.
• Glacier National Park Brown bag photographic and narrative tour by Deirdre Shaw titled, "Nothing So American," about Pres. Franklin Roosevelt's visit to the park, noon to 12:30 p.m., park headquarters community building. Free. Public invited.
• Reading Riot Book Club 1 p.m., Whitefish Community Center, 121 E. Second St. Call Judith, 862-2732.
• Whitefish Library invites teens to showing of "Hairspray," 4 p.m. Refreshments. Free. Call Martha Furman, 758-5713.
• America Reads program orientation 5:30-6:30 p.m. Flathead High School SSRC room. Become a reading mentor to a teen. Call Kane Hines, 751-3572.
• FVCC's 2009 Crown of the Continent Lecture Series presents "Defining the Ecology of the Crown of the Continent" 7 pm., Arts and Technology Building Room 139. Free. All welcome.
• Museum at Central School Historic Film Club presents the 1937 drama, "The Good Earth," 7 p.m., 124 Second Ave. E, Kalispell. Free. Donations accepted. Bring portable chairs, pillows, blankets. Call 756-8381.
Wednesday
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., West Kootenai Community.
• Kalispell Library invites teens to showing of "Hairspray," 4 p.m. Refreshments. Free. Call Martha Furman, 758-5713.
• NorthWestern Energy Expo, 4-7 p.m., Bigfork Fire Department, 810 Grand Ave. Displays, demonstrations. Free carbon monoxide detectors, CFL bulbs and weatherization kits to customers who have not received them at prior events. Call 800-823-5995.
• Whitefish Book Discussion Group meets 7 p.m., Whitefish Library. Topic is "The Street of a Thousand Blossoms," by Gail Tsukiyama.
A Look Ahead
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Oct. 1, Merlin Information Services.
• NorthWestern Energy Expo, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 1, North Valley Community Center, Columbia Falls. Displays, demonstrations. Free carbon monoxide detectors, CFL bulbs and weatherization kits to customers who have not received them at prior events. Call 800-823-5995.
• Free community reiki share, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 1, Whitefish BodyTalk Center, 211 Central Ave. Call 871-5645.
• Child Find screening for children, birth to age 5, in hearing, vision, motor skills, speech, language and thinking skills. 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 2, East Evergreen School. Call 751-1113, ext. 23 for appointments.
• Raven Ridge Harvest celebration of local foods and farms, Oct. 2-3. Farm tour, garden demonstrations, food and music, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; silent auction, raffle, music, food and drinks, 7 p.m. Oct. 2, Red's, Wines and Blues. Call 755-ARTS.
• Neighbors in Need delivers chili lunches 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2. Includes chili, corn muffin, salad and homemade pie. Order by Sept. 30 by calling 752-7266.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 2, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• NorthWestern Energy Expo, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 2, Whitefish Senior Center, 121 Second St. E. Displays, demonstrations. Free carbon monoxide detectors, CFL bulbs and weatherization kits to customers who have not received them at prior events. Call 800-823-5995.
• 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.
• Save a Sister Foundation "Pink Bikinis and Beefcakes' car wash fundraiser, noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 3, Med-Spa at Whitefish Plastic Surgery, 5850 U.S. 93 S. Volunteer. Donate. Wear pink. Call 862-6808.
• Immanuel Lutheran Home open house to see its "extreme makeover," 2-4 p.m. Oct. 2, 185 Crestline Ave., Kalispell. Hors d'oeuvres and tours. Call 752-9622.
• Polson Community Church Retreat, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 1814 First St. South. Keynote speaker is former Gov. Judy Martz; other guest speakers featured. Registration is $7 and includes lunch. RSVP by Sept. 25 to 883-5898 or 883-0366.
• Columbia Falls Women's Connection Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow It sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 3, North Valley Community Center, 235 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Homemade soups and pie available.
• Circle of Friends of Community United Methodist Church annual fall bazaar, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3, 750 Electric Ave., Bigfork. Local artists, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, homebaked goods, jams and jellies. Soup lunch with pie served at 11:30 a.m. Call 837-4547.
• Fall Fashion Runway Show, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 3, Bigfork Center for Performing Arts. Admission $10. Raffles, champagne. Call Bridget, 837-2400 or Jamila, 261-5534.
• Alpine Artists Tour of the Arts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 3-4, Seeley Lake. Nine area artists studios open to visitors. Call Ken, 406-677-2783; or Jenny, 754-0034.
• NorthWestern Energy Expo, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3, Country Fair Kitchen, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Displays, demonstrations. Free carbon monoxide detectors, CFL bulbs and weatherization kits to customers who have not received them at prior events. Call 800-823-5995.
• Flathead Spay and Neuter Clinic open house, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 3, 3491 Trumble Creek Road, Columbia Falls. Tours, refreshments. Call 892-7387.
• "The Artful Bra" exhibit opening 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 3, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell.
• Oktoberfish fundraiser for Stumptown Art Studio, 6-10 p.m., Oct. 3, outdoors on Karrow Avenue, Whitefish. Biergarten, wine tasting, entertainment by Big Fish Radio, raffles, silent art auction. Tickets $50, at the studio, 145 Central Ave., or call 862-5929.
• CROP Walk (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Oct. 4. Meet at 1:30 p.m., Glacier Discovery Square, Columbia Falls to walk either a 1 or 5-mile walk. Pledges, donations requested. Sponsored by area churches.
• Dinner benefit for Barry and Tawnia Ramstad, 4 p.m. Oct. 4, Eagles, Columbia Falls. Live, silent auctions. Donations welcome. Call Pastor David Merkel, 892-5811.
• Montana Retired Educators Association state convention, Oct. 5-6, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Registration is $25 plus cost of meals and begins at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 5. Museum tour. Presentations. Dinner speaker if Jerry Murphy of History is Posh group. Call 752-0754.
• Lake County Republican Women's Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Oct. 5, Papa Don's Grill, Polson golf course. Speaker is Richard "Grif" Griffin, Glacier Country Pachyderm Club board member. Lunch available. To order, call 883-9209 prior to meeting.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Oct. 5, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Glacier Stamp Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 in the basement meeting room of the Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Plans for annual stamp show discussed. Visitors welcome. Call Gail Long, 752-6110.
• 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.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 6, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Local author Judy Guralchuk talks about her book, "A Life Preserver in a Sea of Debt," 10 a.m. Oct. 6, Kalispell Senior Center. Open to public.
• Glacier National Park Humanities Speakers Bureau Program by Jack Nisbet titled, "The Large Unknown Animals: David Thompson and the Fauna of the Continental Divide," noon to 1 p.m., Oct. 6, park headquarters community building. Free. Public invited.
• Red Cross blood drive, 1-6 p.m., Oct. 6, Bigfork Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• FVCC's 2009 Crown of the Continent Lecture Series presents "Seeing Across the Rockies,: Reaching for Montana 1787-1812," 7 p.m., Oct. 6, Arts and Technology Building Room 139. Free. All welcome.
• AARP gives a 90-minute free presentation on "We Need to Talk - Family Conversations with Older Drivers," 7 p.m. Oct. 6, The Summit Kalispell. Call 751-4500 to reserve a seat.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 7, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Oct. 7, Program by Julie Bates on post-partum depression. Oct. 21 program by Michelle Reime of Hope Pregnancy Center, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Red Cross blood drive drives Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; noon to 5 p.m. Troy High School.
• Lakeside Neighborhood Plan Committee and Lakeside Community Council meet with Flathead County Planning board to review revised Neighborhood Plan, 6 p.m. Oct. 7, Earl Bennett Building second floor conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Sponsored by Kalispell Rotary Clubs.
• Museum at Central School History Book Club discusses, "Father Peter John DeSmet: Jesuit in the West" by Robert Carriker, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 8, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Call 756-8381.
• Free lecture, "What is Reiki?" 7-9 p.m. Oct. 8, Whitefish BodyTalk Center, 211, Central Ave., Whitefish. Call Jaymie Noble, 871-5645.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Oct. 9, Northridge Lutheran Church, Kalispell.
• Whitefish Christian Academy pancake breakfast, 8-11 a.m. Oct. 10, Mountain Mall Food Court. Donations accepted. Public welcome.
• Harvest for Habitat fundraiser noon to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11, St. Peter Lutheran Church, 201 Wisconsin Ave., Whitefish. Family fun, games, crafts, pumpkins, live entertainment and food. Call 862-3008. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.
• MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers' meet at 9:15-11 a.m. every other Wednesday, at Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage, Kalispell. Oct. 12 program, a fall craft; Oct. 26, baby celebrations. Call Kathy LeDuc, 752-7253.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Oct. 12, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 12, administration building boardroom.
• Lakeside Neighborhood Plan Committee and Lakeside Community Council discuss changes from County Planning board workshop on Neighborhood Plan, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 12, West Shore Community Library, Bierney Creek and U.S. 93, Lakeside.
• AARP Driver Safety class, noon to 4 p.m. The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Kila School board meets at 5:15 p.m., Oct. 13.
• Orphan Art Sale, 5-7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Noice Studio and Gallery, 127 Main St., Kalispell. Silent auction. Free admission. Fundraiser for Hockaday Museum of Art. Call Jana Goodman, 755-1111.
• Tails on Trails dog walk Oct. 17, Rails to Trails, Meridian Road, Kalispell. Registration is $15 per walker. Pledges welcome. Walking from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Proceeds benefit Flathead Shelter Friends. Call 250-6510.
• Artist to Artist Brown Bag lecture series presents Elaine Snyder, buckskin clothier on, "Navigating the Journey," noon to 1 p.m., Oct. 21, FVCC Arts and Technology Building, Room 139. Free. Everyone welcome.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative board meets 10:45 a.m., Oct. 22, 124 Third Ave. E., Kalispell. Call 257-1857.
• 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.
• Third annual "Live Locally" 5K Run/Walk, 10 a.m. Oct. 24, Polson. Registration $15 by Oct. 14. Late registration $20. Call 883-3910.
• 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.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. every other Thursday, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Nov. 4 program by Holly Nickels on "Eating Healthy on a Budget." Nov. 18 is MOMS auction fundraiser. Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Artist to Artist Brown Bag lecture series presents musician Andre Floyd on, "The Business of Music," noon to 1 p.m., Nov. 18, FVCC Arts and Technology Building, Room 139. Free. Everyone welcome.
• 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.