Daybook
Tuesday
• Creston School board meets at 7:30 a.m. Public welcome.
• 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, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Bigfork Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Mark Nevas of Ananda Seva Montana presents a free lecture on meditation, 6 p.m., Dec. 6, room 144, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Open to public. Call Mick Stemborksi, 756-3945.
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Flathead Chapter meets 6:30 p.m., Sportsman and Ski Haus, Kalispell. New members welcome. Call 257-9110.
Wednesday
• Evergreen Water and Sewer District board meets at 7 a.m. at the district office, 130 Nicholson Dr.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Heidi Durbin talks about MOMS auction. Pre-school child care provided. Call Marlo Lancaster, 260-2417.
• Alpine Weavers and Spinners meet 10:30 a.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell. Bring spinning wheel and sack lunch. Call 257-9119.
• 27th annual Chocolate Extravaganza, 11:30 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell. Professional entrants call Lois Lauman, 857-3512; amateurs call Margaret Baird, 844-2529. Admission to event $20; call Jane Bennett, 2520-5316.
• Free Falun Dafa Qigong easy to learn exercise instruction for all ages at noon today and Dec. 21, Flathead County Library community room, Kalispell. Call Katherine, 257-9798.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. Sponsored by D.A. Davidson.
• USMC Happy Hour for Marines and Navy who served with Marines, 5-7 p.m., Kalispell VFW, 330 First Ave. W. Cash bar. Spouses welcome. Call 471-3295.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family Support Group meets 7 p.m., Flathead County Library, 247 First Ave. E., Kalispell. Call 854-2323.
• Flathead Valley Community Band annual Christmas concert, 7:30 p.m., in the ballroom Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Free. Public invited.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) meet at 7:30 p.m., VFW meeting room, Kalispell. Call 752-2357 or 890-3335.
Thursday
• 911 Center dispatchers will speak at Glacier Kiwanis breakfast, 6:45 a.m., Perkins Restaurant, Kalispell. Open to public.
• Flathead County Library System board meets at 9 a.m., Bigfork branch library, 525 Electric Ave. Call Kim Crowley, 758-5826.
• Kalispell Municipal Court Food for Fines, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. Defendants can reduce amount owed to court by bringing in cans of food; each can equivalent to $5 in fines.
• Senior Tour and Tea, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell. Free admission for senior citizens. Coffee, tea and cookies served 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Docent-guided gallery tour at 10:30 a.m. Light refreshments. Call 755-5268.
• Red Cross employee blood drive, 1-6 p.m., Applied Materials.
• Women’s Bereavement Support Group meets 1:30-3 p.m., (second and fourth Thursday of each month) Grace Room at Frontier Hospice, 29 Second St. E., Kalispell. Call 755-4923.
• Kalispell Public Schools Curriculum Committee meets 4 p.m., administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.
• Public reception to celebrate John Zoltek’s 15th anniversary as Glacier Symphony and Chorale music director, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Arts and Technology building community room, FVCC. RSVP to 257-3241.
• Montana C.O.P.S. Project Blue Light memorial tree lighting ceremony, 5:30 p.m., Flathead County Justice Center, Kalispell. Honors law enforcement personnel who have died in the line of duty. Bring a blue ornament for the tree.
• Friendship Force of the Flathead Valley Christmas party, Village Greens community center, 195 E. Nicklaus, Kalispell. Social hour 5 p.m., no host bar; dinner at 6 p.m. All interested in travel and meeting people from other countries invited. RSVP to Lavonne, 756-7082.
• Benefit auction to help with medical expenses of Busick family, 6 p.m., Gardner’s Auction Center, Kalispell. Donations welcome. Call Nancy Parrett, 750-7661; or Kathy Wiebelhaus, 261-7815.
• Humane Society of Northwest Montana Silpada jewelry extravaganza fundraiser, 6-9 p.m., Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center, 100 Adopt a Pet Way, between Kalispell and Whitefish. Drawings and specials. All profits benefit Humane Society. Call Christine Rommereim, 250-9962.
• Local Institute of Noetic Sciences Community Group meets 7 p.m., Bohemian Grange, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, Whitefish. Patrick Marsolek and Lori Mitchell of Missoula present “Deepening Connection through Tango.” Christmas party. All welcome. Donations appreciated. Call 862-9591 or 862-7711.
• Flathead Garden Club holiday table floral arrangement workshop, 7 p.m., Rose Mountain Floral. Janice Payne instructs. Fee $55, includes flowers and candles. Space limited. Call Linda, 755-9073.
Missoula-based guitarist John Floridis has a CD release concert and fundraiser for Neighbors in Need, “The Peaceful Season,” 7 p.m. Whitefish United Methodist Church, 1150 Wisconsin Ave. Free admission; donations encouraged ($10 per adult; $20 per family). Call 862-3418.
Friday
• Kalispell Public Schools Finance Committee meets 7:30 a.m., administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.
• Kalispell Municipal Court Food for Fines, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Defendants can reduce amount owed to court by bringing in cans of food; each can equivalent to $5 in fines.
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Flathead Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees meets at noon, Perkins Restaurant, Kalispell. Social time, 11:30 a.m. Bring an item for the veterans food pantry. For reservations, call Bill Driver, 837-2744.
• State Farm Insurance hosts a free opportunity for children to get their picture taken with Santa, noon to 6 p.m., 278 Fifth Ave. WN, Kalispell. Items will also be collected (cards, snacks, toiletries, etc.) to send to troops in Afghanistan. Call Sandra Goode, 257-7714.
• Glacier Country Pachyderm meets noon to 1 p.m., Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Speaker is Sandy Welch, GOP candidate for Montana’s Superintendent of Schools. Lunch available. Public invited. Call Mark Johnson, 253-7467.
• Whitefish Christmas Stroll. North Valley Music School and Alpine Ringers Bell Choir perform at Presbyterian Church, Central and Third, 5-6:30 p.m. Pictures with Santa, 6:30-9 p.m. McGough & Co. Caroling competition, 6:30 p.m. main stage. K-9 keg pull, 8 p.m. Central Avenue between First and Railway.
Saturday
• Trinity Lutheran School PTF Christmas Extravaganza craft bazaar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., school gym. Over 30 local vendors and artists. Kids only market. Concessions. Photos with Santa. Public invited.
• Blacktail Mountain Ski Area in Lakeside opens for the season, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All lifts running.
• Wreaths Across America ceremony, 9:45 a.m., Glacier Memorial Gardens. Flathead Composite Squadron of U.S. Civil Air Patrol will lay wreaths to honor veterans in all branches of military and POW/MIAs.
• Bigfork/Ferndale winter gardening workshop series, 10 a.m. St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Montana 209, across from Ferndale Fire Department. Topic is “Container Gardening.” Free. Open to public. Call Michelle, 837-0982; or MonaRae, 837-99789.
Help Portrait event for those who would like to have their picture taken but cannot afford to, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Samaritan House Administrative Center, 1110 Second St. W., Kalispell. Lunch provided.
• Valley Voices Community Choir “Gloria!” Christmas concert, 7 p.m., Glacier High School Performance Hall, Kalispell. Sacred and secular music selections. Special guest Tra Le Gael. Free. All welcome.
• Contra dance and third annual silent auction fundraiser, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Northridge Lutheran Church, 323 Northridge Ave., Kalispell. Music by Sassafras Stomp. Smoke and alcohol-free event. Cost $7 adults; $5 high school and college students; $15 families. All ages welcome; no partner required. Call Joe, 253-1895; or Sherry, 752-8226.
Sunday
• Holiday Expo, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bohemian Grange Hall, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, off U.S. 93 behind Coffee Traders. Multiple vendors will be selling products, from Tupperware to Tastefully Simple. Donations of outerwear for all ages and genders accepted to be donated to Evergreen Pantry. Free admission. Call Tammy, 406-407-2296.
Monday
• Randy Winter, service officer for Montana Veterans Affairs Division will be available to veterans and their independents, 11 a.m. to noon, Troy Senior Center; 1:30-4 p.m. Libby Senior Center.
• Daughters of the American Revolution, Chief Ignace Chapter, meets for lunch at noon at Katy Zundel’s home. Program on early settlers’ Christmas follows at 1 p.m. Call Kay McDonald, 892-4579.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Kalispell Public Schools Personnel Committee meets 4 p.m., administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.
• Wasabi Community Night, 5-9 p.m., 419 Second St. E., Whitefish. Portion of dinner proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.
• High Country Carvers meet 6:30-8:30 p.m., Evergreen Fire Department meeting room, 2236 U.S. 2, Kalispell. Bring safety gloves and a bench hook or protective cover for table. No power tools.
Flathead Audubon meets 7 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Plans for annual Christmas bird count will be made. Free. Everyone welcome.
• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.
A look ahead
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 863-3630.
• Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Valley Hospital community room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Columbia Falls High School music department will provide music. Community Spirit awards. Luncheon $10. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 13, KRMC.
• Randy Winter, service officer for Montana Veterans Affairs Division will be available to veterans and their independents 10 a.m. to noon, Dec. 13, North Lincoln County Annex, Eureka.
• Kila School board meets 5:15 p.m. Dec. 13.
• Swan River School board meets at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 13, school library.
• Kalispell Public Schools district board meets at 6 p.m., Dec. 13, Kalispell Middle School Media Center.
• Gay men’s discussion group meets 6:30 p.m., Dec. 13, at a local restaurant. Group meets the second Tuesday of every month. Call Brad, 752-5428.
• Mission Mountain Audubon meets 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Polson City Library meeting room. John Weaver, senior scientist for Wildlife Conservation Society discusses his landmark study of vulnerable fish and wildlife. Free. All welcome.
• Helena Flats School board meets at 7 p.m., Dec. 13, school library.
• Cayuse Prairie School board meets at 7 p.m. Dec. 13, school library. Public welcome.
• Red Cross blood drives Dec. 14: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Forest Service; noon to 4 p.m. Flathead Electric.
• Eighth annual totally free gift wrapping, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 16; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 18, 914 Second St. E., Whitefish. For an appointment, call Katie, 890-3958. Hot tea, cocoa and cookies provided.
• Columbia Falls Women’s Connection luncheon and Christmas tea, 11:30 a.m., Dec. 14, Tea Kettle Community Hall, Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Cost $8 per person. Connie Baker shares her hat collection. Speaker is Liz Young. Free child care by reservation. Call Candy at 387-4119, or Janet at 892-3621. Affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries.
• Evergreen School board meets 6:30 p.m., Dec. 14, administration boardroom.
• Santa Claus will be available for photos, 4-7 p.m. Dec. 14, Kalispell Senior Center, 403 Second Ave. W. Bring your own camera. Donations to center welcome.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Libby VFW.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., Dec. 15, Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.
• Flathead Municipal Airport Authority meets at 4 p.m., Dec. 15, Glacier Park International Airport board room. Lease committee meets at 2 p.m.; board workshop at 3 p.m.
• Annual Spirit of Christmas concert, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Flathead High School auditorium, Kalispell. Tickets $12. Proceeds benefit CASA for Kids. Call Columbia Falls United Methodist Church at 892-5811; or Dave Merkel, 406-253-0686.
• Libby Middle School Band Christmas concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 15, Libby Memorial Center. Free admission. Public welcome.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 16, Troy High School.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 17, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Whitefish Figure Skating Club holiday ice show, “Excellence on Ice, 7 p.m. Dec. 17, Stumptown Ice Den. VIP chairs, $20; bleacher, $15, standing, $8; 6 and under free. Tickets at Ice Den, Imagination Station in Whitefish and Kalispell. Call Carol, 862-7699.
• Kick out the Kinks 3,5 and 10K cross-country ski races, Dec. 18, Izaak Walton Inn, Essex. Registration 10:30 a.m. to noon, $10 includes chili; racing begins at 1 p.m. Free 1K kids race.
• Performance of “Messiah,” 7 p.m. Dec. 18, Libby Memorial Center. Admission by donation. Call Lorraine Braun, 406-293-8802.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Dec. 19, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• High Country Carvers meet 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Evergreen Fire Department meeting room, 2236 U.S. 2, Kalispell. Bring safety gloves and a bench hook or protective cover for table. No power tools.
Libby Middle and High School Choir concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 19, Libby Memorial Center. Free. Public invited.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m. Dec. 20, Lakeside Baptist Church.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m., Dec. 21, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Topic is Christmas traditions. Pre-school child care provided. Call Marlo Lancaster, 260-2417.
• Kalispell Toastmasters Club Christmas-themed Tall Tales Contest, noon to 1 p.m., Dec. 21, First Montana Bank conference room, 85 N. Main St., Kalispell. Public invited.
• National Homeless Persons Memorial Day ceremony, noon, Dec. 21, Depot Park, Kalispell. Samaritan House executive director Chris Krager will read the names of the homeless who have died this year in the Flathead Valley. Soup and coffee served. All welcome.
• Red Cross blood drive for Samaritan House, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 22, at the Armory.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 23, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 27, Eureka Baptist Church.
• Kalispell Public Schools district board work session, 5:30 p.m., Dec. 27, Kalispell Middle School Media Center.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 28, Three Rivers Bank, Meridian Road; in the blood mobile.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 29, Qdoba Restaurant; in the blood mobile.
• Red Cross blood drives Dec. 30: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; noon to 4 p.m. Best Buy; in the blood mobile.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 2, The Summit, Kalispell. Call 871-1008.
• Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 19, basement of the Eagles, 37 First St. W., Kalispell. Guests welcome. Call 406-881-4288 (leave a message).
• Great Rockies Sportshow, Jan. 27-29, Kalispell.
• 2012 Whitefish Winter Carnival, Feb. 3-5. Theme is “Fiesta Pescado Blanco.”
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7-8:30 p.m., Feb. 6, The Summit, Kalispell. Call 871-1008.
• 10th annual Weddings and Events Expo, Feb. 18, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Food, fashion shows, giveaways.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7-8:30 p.m. March 5, The Summit, Kalispell. Call 871-1008.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., March 22, 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 7-8:30 p.m., April 2, The Summit, Kalispell. Call 871-1008.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7-8:30 p.m., May 7, The Summit, Kalispell. Call 871-1008.
• Flathead Suicide Prevention Coalition meets noon to 1 p.m., June 28, Flathead City-County Health Department conference room, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Call Joan Schmidt, 871-1008.