Today
• 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; 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 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 Vallely 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 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; 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.
• 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 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, cake.
• 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.
• AARP driver safety class, 1-5 p.m. Yellow Bay Clubhouse, mile marker 18 on Montana 35. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 752-0786.
• 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.
• Flathead County Solid Waste District board meets 5 p.m. at the landfill office.
• 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.
• Helena Flats School board special meeting to review roofing project, 7 p.m., 1000 Helena Flats Road, Call Tonnie Decker, 257-2301.
Wednesday
• Evergreen School District board meets at 9 a.m., First Interstate Bank basement conference room, 100 E. Cottonwood Dr., Kalispell.
• 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.
Thursday
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., Merlin Information Services.
• NorthWestern Energy Expo, 4-7 p.m., 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., Whitefish BodyTalk Center, 211 Central Ave. Call 871-5645.
• Whitefish First Thursday Gallery Night, 6-9 p.m. Tour 13 locations and enjoy refreshments.
A Look Ahead
• 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.
• 12th annual Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce garage sale 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 2; 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 2, Army Navy Store, 129 Ninth St. W. Drop off donated items Wednesday and Thursday. Call Carol, 892-2072.
• 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.
• Flathead Chronic Pain Support Group meets 5:30-7 p.m., Oct. 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.
• 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.
• Yellow Bay Community Club 25th annual rummage and bake sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10, mile marker 18 on Montana 35. Dinner and glassware, quilt fabric, children's clothing and toys, jewelry, books and more. Chili lunch, raffle for quilt. Tables available for rent. Call Shari, 982-3437.
• 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.