Daybook
Today
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Flathead National Forest Advance Avalanche Awareness Program for skiers class, 6:30-9 p.m., Forest Service office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell. Free. Call 758-5284.
• Life After Loss grief support group for people who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss, 6-7:30 p.m., Cornerstone Building, 3004 Hospital Way, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. Free. Call Tamarack Grief Resource Center counselor Carrie Thiel, 261-0724; or nurse Denise Cox, 863-3535.
• Columbia Falls City Council regular meeting canceled today due to police department remodeling. Future meetings will be held at City Fire Hall., 624 First Ave. W.
Wednesday
• Glacier Country Pachyderm meets noon to 1 p.m., Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Speaker is Drew Turian, GOP candidate for Montana governor. Lunch available. Public invited. Call Mark Johnson, 253-7467.
• Free Falun Dafa Qigong easy to learn exercise instruction for all ages at noon today and Jan. 18, Flathead County Library community room, Kalispell. Call Katherine, 257-9798.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m. Kalispell Center Mall.
• 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.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, Support Group meets 7 p.m., Flathead County Library, 247 First Ave. E., Kalispell. Call 862-6357.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) meet at 7:30 p.m., VFW meeting room, Kalispell. Call 752-2357 or 890-3335.
Thursday
• Red Cross blood drives: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bigfork High School; 12:30-5:30 p.m. Columbia Falls Community Room.
• Community forum with Facebook, Sen. Jon Tester and other state officials, noon to 1 p.m., Flathead High School auditorium. Question and answer session follows. Public invited.
• Bingo 12:30 p.m. every Thursday, North Valley Senior Center, 205 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Call 892-4087.
• Kalispell Public Schools Curriculum Committee meets at 4 p.m., administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.
• Flathead National Forest Advance Avalanche Awareness Program for skiers class, 6:30-9 p.m., Forest Service office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell. Free. Call 758-5284.
• Flathead Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets Thursdays 6:30 to 9 p.m. National Guard Armory, U.S. 93 North, Kalispell. Call Dale Rodwick, 756-3773.
Friday
• Kalispell Public Schools Finance Committee meets at 7:30 a.m., administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• North Valley Senior Center potluck to celebrate December and January birthdays, noon, 205 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Bring a dish to share. Call 892-4087.
• Glacier Country Pachyderm meets noon to 1 p.m., Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Speaker is Drew Turiano, candidate for Montana governor. Lunch available. Public invited. Call Mark Johnson, 253-7467.
• Whitefish Winter Carnival Merry Maker dinner and roast, 6 p.m., Whitefish Moose Lodge. Tickets $15, available at Whitefish Lake Restaurant, Whitefish Credit Union and Whitefish Chamber. Call 862-3501.
• Glacier guitar, bass and drum students of Paul Gonsorchik perform a free concert, 6:30 p.m., Christian Center’s Activity Center, 255 Summit Ridge Dr., Kalispell. Public welcome.
Saturday
• Free family snowshoe walks today, Winter Trails Day: 10 a.m. to noon, Blacktail Mountain cross-country ski trails, call 837-7500 to reserve snowshoes; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lone Pine State Park, free rentals first come, first serve, call 755-2706; 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Glacier Park, free rentals; 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Condon Work Center. Call 758-5218 for general information on all walks.
• Sons of Norway meet 7 p.m., Buffalo Hill Terrace meeting room, 40 Claremont St., Kalispell. Call 752-2357.
Sunday
• Flathead Audubon field trip, “Winter Wander in the Mission Valley.” Meet at 8 a.m. at Park ‘n’ Ride at intersection of U.S. 93 and Montana 82 near Somers. Bring binoculars or scope. To sign up, call Leslie Kehoe, evenings, at 837-4467. Free. All welcome.
A look ahead
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Jan. 9, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 9, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Kalispell Public Schools Personnel Committee meets at 4 p.m. Jan. 9, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.
• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., Jan. 9, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.
• Flathead Audubon meets 7 p.m. Jan. 9, The Summit, Kalispell. Tom Nelesen will give a presentation titled, “A Look Back at Glacier Park’s Dude Ranch Days.” Free. All welcome.
• Mosquito Control District board meets 8:30-10 a.m., Jan. 10, Earl Bennett Building, Environmental Health conference room, Kalispell.
• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 10, North Valley Hospital Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Speaker is Kevin Waldher, vice president finance for Zinc Air. No reservations required. Lunch available for $10. Call Carol Pike, 892-5963.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Jan. 10, Trinity Lutheran.
• Kalispell Public Schools district board meets at 6 p.m., Jan. 10, Kalispell Middle School Media Center.
• Flathead National Forest Advance Avalanche Awareness Program for skiers class, 6:30-9 p.m. Jan. 10, Forest Service office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell. Free. Call 758-5284.
• Crist Family presents a Southern gospel concert, 7 p.m. Jan. 10, Christian Center, 255 Summit Ridge Dr., Kalispell. Free admission; offering will be taken. All welcome.
• Red Cross employee blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 11-12, Teletech.
• DOVES Resource Table meeting, noon, Jan. 11, Lake County Health Department, 802 Main St., Polson. Marilyn Becker of the Office of Public Assistance talks about resources available low low-income clients. Yvonne Brady of Working Innovations and Arlene Templar of CSKT Department of Human Resource Development talk about tribe’s Child Support Enforcement Project. Lunch served. Public invited.
• Evergreen School board meets 6:30 p.m., Jan. 11, administration boardroom.
• Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m., Jan. 11, The Summit, Kalispell. Malinda Shafman talks about her trip to Africa. Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Mike Spence, 857-2599.
• Open house and rededication ceremony for Flathead County Courthouse, 3-7 p.m. Jan. 12, Tours to showcase renovated building. Music, refreshments. Official ceremony at 5:30 p.m., third floor.
• Opening reception for Sweat & Steel exhibition featuring painting of Livingston artist C. David Swanson, 5-7 p.m. Jan. 12, Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free. Public invited. Local historian Kevin McCready gives a talk at 4 p.m. ($10 for nonmembers). Call 755-4268.
• Flathead National Forest Advance Avalanche Awareness Program for skiers class, 6:30-9 p.m. Jan. 12, Forest Service office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell. Free. Call 758-5284.
• Local Institute of Noetic Sciences Community Group meets 7 p.m., Jan. 12, Bohemian Grange, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, Whitefish. Acupuncturist and chiropractor Steven Schram talks about “Core Principles to Improve Brain and Body Health for Success, Happiness and Longevity.” All welcome. Donations appreciated. Call 862-9591 or 862-7711.
• Red Cross blood drives Jan. 13: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Walmart, blood mobile.
• Flathead Valley Sjogren’s Support Group luncheon/meeting, 11:45 a.m., Jan. 13, Wheat Montana, 405 Main St., Kalispell. No reservations needed. Call Tedi Marie, 849-5537; or Jo, 883-5401.
• Flathead Audubon easy cross-country skiing field trip, Jan. 14, Apgar area, Glacier Park. Steve Gniadek leads two-three hour birding foray. Meet at 9 a.m. at Apgar Visitor Center. Call Gniadek at 892-7406 to sign up and carpool. Park entrance fee required.
• Frontier Hospice offers a free advanced directive workshop, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 14, 29 Second St. E., Kalispell Social worker Dawn Lyga presents and answers questions. Call 755-4923.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 14, Michael’s South Exxon, blood mobile.
• Flathead Combined Training Association equestrian dressage and stadium jumping show, 9 a.m. Jan. 15, Majestic Valley Arena, 3630 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell. Spectators welcome. Call Katy Long, 406-249-8708.
• Columbia Falls Community Choir begins practice for 2012 concert season, 2-4 p.m. Jan. 15, Columbia Falls Junior High School. Sign-in and music pick up 1:30-2 p.m. Call Ron Bond, 8925-5174.
• Evergreen Disposal will run normal routes on Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Day.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 16, Troy United Methodist Church. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 406-293-0100.
• Flathead County Republican Women meet at noon, Jan. 16, Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Speaker is Sandy Welch, candidate for state superintendent of schools. Public welcome. Call Caroline Solomon, 837-4525.
• North Valley Senior Center potluck luncheon, noon, Jan. 16, 205 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Bring a dish to share. Call 892-4087.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Jan. 16, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Kalispell Women’s Connection buffet lunch, 11:30 a.m., Jan. 17, meeting room of church across from Russell School, 301 W. Wyoming St., Kalispell. Lori Botkin of Second Helpings Thrift Store talks about “Shop and Save.” Speaker is Linda Owens of Eureka. Cost $8 per person. Call Jan, 212-3763, or Rosainne, 257-8098 for lunch and free child care reservations. Affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries.
• History of Whitefish program series, 12:30 p.m., Jan. 17, Whitefish Community Center, 121 E. Second St. Walter Sayre presents a program titled, “Growing Up in Whitefish” Audience stories and photos welcome. Call 862-4923.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Jan. 17, Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Bigfork Area Democratics host Flathead County Democratic Central Committee and all interested at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17, Swan River Community Hall, junction of Montana 83 and Echo Lake Road. Spaghetti dinner $10. Bradley Wirth’s topic is “Our Claim to Fame: Family Values! Really.” RSVP to JoLynn, 756-8992-; or Edd, 837-5196.
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 18, Libby High School.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 19, The Wave, Whitefish.
• 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).
• Swan Valley gardening strategies and tips discussed, 7 p.m. Jan. 19, U.S. Forest Service Condon Work Center. Free; donations accepted. Call Swan Ecosystem Center, 406-754-3137, by Jan. 16 to sign up.
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 20, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Columbia Falls Library Association book sale, noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 20, Discovery Square, Main Street, Columbia Falls. Fiction, nonfiction, old and new book. Proceeds benefit Columbia Falls Library.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 21, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Wildlife researcher Brian Baxter teaches an animal tracking and sign interpretation workshop, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 21, Lone Pine State Park, Kalispell. Cost $15; $10 if registered by Jan. 15. Preregistration required. Call 755-2706.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Jan. 23, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• AARP Driver Safety class, noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 23, North Valley Senior Center, Columbia Falls. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 892-4087.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 24, Glacier Bank, Main Street, Kalispell.
• Kalispell Public Schools district board work session, 5:30 p.m., Jan. 24, Kalispell Middle School Media Center.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 25, Pope John Paul Church, Bigfork. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus.
• Red Cross blood drive, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 26, Glacier High School.
• Great Rockies Sportshow, Jan. 27-29, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 27, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 30, Libby Christian Church. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 406-293-0100.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Jan. 30, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 31, Polson Methodist Church.
• 2012 Whitefish Winter Carnival, Feb. 3-5. Theme is “Fiesta Pescado Blanco.”
• High Country Carvers meet 2-4 p.m. first and third Mondays of month (Feb. 6 and 13; and 6:30-8:30 second Monday of month (Feb. 20), 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.
• Glacier Stamp Club meets 6:30 p.m., Feb. 6, downstairs meeting room, Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Visitors welcome. Call Gail, 752-6110.
• 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.
• Flathead Combined Training Association equestrian dressage and stadium jumping show, 9 a.m., Feb. 26, Majestic Valley Arena, 3630 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell. Spectators welcome. Call Katy Long, 406-249-8708.
• 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.
• Flathead Combined Training Association equestrian dressage and stadium jumping show, 9 a.m., April 22, Majestic Valley Arena, 3630 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell. Spectators welcome. Call Katy Long, 406-249-8708.
• 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.