Daybook
Wednesday, Dec. 25
• Christmas gathering at Family Friendly Flathead Gym, noon to 4 p.m., 305 E. Evergreen Dr. Free meal, games, music. Everyone welcome.
• Community Kitchen Feeding the Flathead free Christmas dinner, 6 p.m., Faith Alliance Church, 348 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. Turkey, ham and pumpkin pie. All will receive a gift.
• Evergreen Fire Department will be placing 1,200 luminarias along Rose Crossing starting at dusk. Memorial bags are $5 available until 4 p.m. at the Evergreen Fire Station on U.S. 2 East. Proceeds benefit FVCC students in paramedic/emergency management program. Public invited to drive the 2-mile route.
• Evergreen Disposal will not be running its regular route today. All customers will be served a day later.
• City of Kalispell Solid Waste Division will not be picking up roll out containers today due to the holiday. Today’s route will be picked up on Thursday. Have containers out by 7 a.m. Call 758-7720.
Thursday
• Hockaday Museum of Art offers free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Dec. 28, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Call 755-5268.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Fun night of curling, 5-7 p.m., Stumptown Ice Den, Whitefish. Cost $10 per person. Wear soft rubber-soled shoes.
Friday
• Red Cross blood drives: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 1-4:30 p.m. Straight Blast Gym.
Saturday
• Whitefish Figure Skating Club Christmas on Ice skating show, 4 and 7 p.m., Stumptown Ice Den, Whitefish. On ice tickets, $15; general admission $10; youths 6-10, $5; 5 and under, free. Call 862-7699.
• Due to extreme temperatures, Bigfork has rescheduled its annual Christmas Parade of Lights for 6 p.m., in the village. All are welcome.
• Columbia Falls Historical Society Cowboy Christmas Ball, 8 p.m. to midnight, Montana Veterans Home chapel, Columbia Falls. For tickets, call 892-0178.
Sunday
• Flathead Audubon’s Kalispell Christmas Bird Count. Call Dan Casey, 857-3143 or 270-5941 to sign up.
Monday
• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
Tuesday
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
A look ahead
• First Day Hike, 11 a.m. Jan. 1, Lone Pine State Park, Kalispell. Meet at warming fire at picnic shelter for a free, one-hour, 1-2-mile guided hike. Some uphill. Kids and leashed dogs welcome. Bring water, snowshoes or ice cleats if you have them. Call Amy Grout, 755-2706, ext. 3.
• Annual Polar Bear Plunge, 2 p.m. Jan. 1, The Raven, Woods Bay.
• Evergreen Disposal will not be running its regular route Jan. 1. All customers will be served a day later.
• Columbia Falls Relay for Life Winter kick-off event, noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 4, Marantette Park, Columbia Falls. Family fun. Hot chocolate, coffee, cookies.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 6, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Kila School board Negotiation Committee meets at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 6.
• Columbia Falls School board meets at 7 p.m., Jan. 6, administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W.
• Creston School board meets at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 7. Public welcome.
• Savvy Social Security Seminars Jan 7: 9 a.m. to noon, Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, 307 Spokane Ave. Ste. 103; 6 p.m., Investment Centers of America Inc., 6410 U.S. 93 S., Whitefish. What baby boomers need to know to maximize retirement income. Free. Call Kim Taylor, 752-7232.
• Swan River School board meets at 2 p.m. Jan. 7, school library.
• Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m., Jan. 8, The Summit, Kalispell. Leah Levitt will talk about some of her Montana hikes last summer. Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Levitt, 892-6105 or 261-6874.
• Opening reception for new exhibit, “The Japanese Woodblock: An Extension of the Impermanent,” 5-7 p.m. Jan. 9, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free. Public invited.
• Glacier Pachyderm Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Jan. 10, Red Lion Inn, Kalispell. Frank Garner will talk about his experience in Afghanistan. Lunch available. Public invited. Call Mark Johnson, 253-7467.
• Flathead Conservation District meets 7 p.m. Jan. 13, USDA building, 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell. Call 752-4220.
• Kalispell Little Explorers program tours The Aquarium Shop, Kalispell, 11 a.m. to noon, Jan. 14. For ages 2-6; must be accompanied by adults. $7 for nonresidents, $5 for city residents. Call 758-7975.
• Kila School board Latch-Key Committee meets at 4:20 p.m. Jan. 14, followed by a regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m.
• Kalispell Toastmasters Club 50th anniversary celebration, noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 15, downstairs conference room, First Interstate Bank, Kalispell. Mayor Mark Johnson will attend. Refreshments. Free. Public invited. Call Catherine Webber, 755-6781.
• Stand Up America’s Glacial Forum presents Debra Lann on “Common Core Education: The Rest of the Story,” 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Sykes’ Diner, 202 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. Donations accepted.
• Camp To Remember benefit dinner and canoe paddle auction for Tamarack Grief Resource Center, 6 p.m. Jan. 16, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. No-host bar and live music, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and live art paddle auction at 7:45 p.m. Tickets $75 each. Call Kris Carlson, 261-3160.
• 14th annual Black Tie dinner fundraiser for Ninepipes Museum, Jan. 16, Allentown Restaurant, Ninepipes Lodge. Museum tour 6 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. Live music, silent auction Guest speaker is Western American historian Richard Ellis. Tickets $45. Call 406-644-3435.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 18, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• AARP Driver Safety classes Jan. 20: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Libby Christian Church. Call 406-283-7000; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Troy United Methodist Church. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 406-751-4500.
• Whitefish Winter Carnival world ski joring championships, Jan. 25-26, Whitefish Municipal Airport grounds. Opening ceremonies, 11:30 a.m. Jan. 25. Events start at noon daily. $5 parking fee benefits Human Therapy on Horseback.
• AARP Driver Safety class, noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 27, North Valley Senior Center, Columbia Falls. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 892-4087.
• Flathead County Planning and Zoning office hosts a discussion on “Flathead County Lake and Lakeshore Protection Regulations, 9-11 am. Jan. 30, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell.
• Ribbon cutting ceremony for Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby, noon Jan. 31, 209 Health Park Dr. RSVP to Kate Stephens, 406-283-7140 by Jan. 17.
• Flathead Outdoor Club meets, 7 p.m. Feb. 12, The Summit, Kalispell. Mitchell Leus will talk about his Missouri River float trip. Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Leah Levitt, 892-6105 or 261-6874.
• Kalispell Little Explorers program tours Sweet Peaks, Kalispell, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 20. For ages 2-6; must be accompanied by adults. $7 for nonresidents, $5 for city residents. Call 758-7975.
• Kalispell Little Explorers program tours Humane Society of Northwest Montana, Kalispell, 11 a.m. to noon March 20. For ages 2-6; must be accompanied by adults. $7 for nonresidents, $5 for city residents. Call 758-7975.
• Kalispell Little Explorers program tours Sweet No Wheat Bakery, Kalispell, 10-11 a.m. April 17. For ages 2-6; must be accompanied by adults. $7 for nonresidents, $5 for city residents. Call 758-7975.