Daybook
Thursday, Nov. 28
• Tenth annual Ronan Community Thanksgiving dinner, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ronan Community Center. Traditional turkey dinner, entertainment. Free; donations accepted. All welcome. To donate food, call Cheri Houle, 406-249-3184. To volunteer, call Brandy Chisholm, 406-676-3300.
• Pocketstone Cafe’s fourth annual community Thanksgiving dinner, 444, Electric Ave., Bigfork. Seatings at 11 a.m. 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Free. Everyone welcome. Call 837-7223 for reservations.
• Sykes’ annual Thanksgiving Day dinner, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 202 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. Free. All welcome. Call 257-4304.
• “Light Up Evergreen” community celebration, Evergreen Fire Station. Cookies and hot chocolate served 6 p.m. Tree lighting 7 p.m. Call 885-1212.
• Evergreen Disposal will not be running today. Today’s routes will be picked up Friday; Friday routes will be picked up Saturday.
• City of Kalispell Solid Waste Division will not be picking up 90-gallon containers today due to the holiday. Today’s route will be picked up on Friday; no disruption of Friday’s service. Have containers out by 7 a.m. Call 758-7720.
• City of Whitefish will not be picking up garbage today due to the holiday. Today’s route will be picked up Friday. Friday’s route will remain as scheduled.
Friday
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Mission Mountain Winery free program to learn about food and wine pairings for the holidays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., today and Nov. 30, 82420 U.S. 93 S., Dayton. All welcome.
• Free admission to the Hockaday Museum of Art, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Nov. 30, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Gift shop will be open.
• Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead Christmas at the Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Expo Building, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Free admission and parking. Refreshments.
• Christmas City of the North Parade, 6 p.m. Main Street, Kalispell. Tree light ceremony follows at Depot Park with Christmas carols and Santa.
Saturday
• Salvation Army Fill the Truck Drive, Walmart, Kalispell. Purchase toys to donate to needy children.
• Trinity Lutheran School’s annual Christmas Extravaganza craft bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Trinity Lutheran School, 495 Fifth Ave. WN, Kalispell. Crafts, concessions, photos with Santa. Gift wrapping.
• Annual art and craft fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Family Life Christian Church, 1075 Foys Lake Road, Kalispell. Handmade, holiday items. Proceeds benefit Church Benevolence Fund.
• Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead Christmas at the Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Expo Building, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Free admission and parking. Refreshments.
• Mission Mountain Winery free program to learn about food and wine pairings for the holidays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 82420 U.S. 93 S., Dayton. All welcome.
• Free admission to the Hockaday Museum of Art, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Gift shop will be open.
Sunday
• Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead Christmas at the Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Expo Building, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Free admission and parking. Refreshments.
Monday
• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Thailand’s Moradokmai Theatre Company performs “Ramakien,” a play showcasing Thai literature, at 2 p.m. FVCC Theatre, in the Arts and Technology Building. Free. Public invited. Call 756-3962.
Tuesday
• Creston School board meets at 7:30 a.m.
• Red Cross blood drive, 1-5:30 p.m. Bigfork Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Randy Winter, service officer for Montana Veterans Affairs Division, will be available to veterans and their dependents, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Troy Senior Center; 1:30-4 p.m. Libby Senior Center.
• Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 5:30-7 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Call 871-1008.
Wednesday
• Somers School board Facilities Committee meets at 7:30 a.m., Somers Middle School.
• 29th annual Chocolate Extravaganza 11:30 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 1840 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell. Luncheon and amateur and professional chocolate dessert competition. Live piano music. Tickets $20, available at Sykes’ Market, Kalispell, or call Mary Weston, 752-6431.
• Red Cross blood drive, 1-4:45 p.m. West Kootenai Colony.
• Flathead County Library System board meets at 9 a.m., Bigfork Branch Library. Call Kim Crowley, 758-5826.
• 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 406-890-1823.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family Support Group meets 7 p.m., Flathead County Library, 247 First Ave. E., Kalispell. Call 854-2323.
A look ahead
• Christmas Store at the Klothes Kloset, 9 a.m. Dec. 5, 286 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Toys, jewelry, collectibles, household and lap robes. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit organizations. Call 892-4534.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore holiday open house, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 5, 2610 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell. Ten percent off entire store. Tree decorating, door prizes, light refreshments. Public invited.
• Red Cross blood drive, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Flathead City-County Health Department.
• Flathead High School Concert Choir holiday concert, 12:15-12:45 p.m. Dec. 5, First Presbyterian Church, 540 S. Main St., Kalispell. Public invited.
• FVCC Art Department open house, 5-8 p.m. Dec. 5, Arts and Technology Building. Awards ceremony 6:30 p.m. Refreshments. Free. Open to public. Call John Rawlings, 756-3896.
• Autism Support Group meets 6:30-8:30 p.m., Dec. 5, The Summit, Kalispell. Parents, caregivers and professionals welcome. Call Tim, 257-8758.
• FVCC Art Club art sale, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 5-6; 4-8 p.m. Dec. 7, Arts and Technology Building. Open house and awards ceremony, 5-8 p.m. Dec. 5, Public invited. Call David Regan, 756-3993.
• Montana C.O.P.S. Project Blue Light Tree memorial lighting ceremony 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Flathead County Justice Center, Kalispell. Bring a blue ornament to honor your hero.
• Fifth annual community Christmas celebration, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 5; 1-9 p.m. Dec. 6, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1380 Whitefish Stage, Kalispell. Live musical entertainment. Hundreds of Nativity sets from around the world on display. Free. Everyone welcome. Call 862-8746.
• Evergreen Chamber Winter Wonderland holiday gathering, Dec. 5, Family Friendly Flathead Gym, 305 E. Evergreen Dr. Social hour and cash bar 6 p.m.; dinner 7:30 p.m. $75 per member couple; $80, nonmembers; or $40 per person member; $45 nonmember. RSVP by Nov. 27 to 885-1212.
• Pleasant Valley School board meets 6 p.m., Dec. 5, at the school.
• West Valley Naturalists meet 7 p.m., Dec. 5, West Valley School library, Kalispell. Ashley Mason presents a program on area geology with an emphasis on Glacier Park. Free. Everyone welcome. Call Kim Davis, 755-1311.
• Creston community Christmas bazaar, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7, Creston School gym. Handmade art and crafts.
• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• FVCC Fall Semester Scholars Conference on Student Research opening ceremony, 12:15 p.m. Dec. 6, Arts and Technology Building. Students will present research projects every half hour from 1-2:30 p.m. in classrooms. Exhibits on display in large community room 2:45-3:45 p.m. Free. Public invited. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.
• Glacier Pachyderm Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Dec. 6, Red Lion Inn, Kalispell. Speaker is Tom Jentz, director of Kalispell’s City and Planning Department. Lunch available. Public invited. Call Mark Johnson, 253-7467.
• QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer: Perspectives and Tools for Suicide Prevention training, 3-5 p.m. Dec. 6, Flathead City-County Health Department, third floor conference room. Call 871-1008.
• Night of Lights Dec. 6, Columbia Falls. Craft Fair, 4 p.m., North Valley Hospital Community Room; Parade, 6:30 p.m. Santa visit with children afterward at craft fair. Holiday Christmas Village lighting at Marantette Park.
• Joy of Christmas bazaar, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7, Columbia Falls United Methodist Church, 117 Second St. W. Cookie trays, lefse, Butte pasties, crafts, silent auction and more. Soup luncheon 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Dandy Dudes and Dolls 4-H Club annual Country Christmas bazaar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7, Eastside Grange, across from Creston School. Handcrafted gifts, last-minute catalog shopping, baked goods, face painting, family photos. Taco/chili lunch. Call Jody Harp, 212-9217.
• Museum at Central School Christmas gift shop sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7, 124 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. Made-in-Montana gifts, T-shirts, huckleberry products, jewelry, historical books and maps. Call 756-8381.
• Sixth annual Kalispell Elks Christmas show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8, Elks Lodge, U.S. 93 South. Over 30 tables of gifts, decorations, baked goods, jewelry crafts. Chili and corn muffin lunch $5. Call 885-4124.
• Hospice Tree of Lights, 6 p.m. Dec. 8, Buffalo Hills Conference Room, KRMC Music, refreshments and tree lighting ceremony. Call 751-4200.
• Seventh annual Spirit of Christmas Concert to benefit CASA for Kids of Flathead County, 6 p.m. Dec. 8, Flathead High School auditorium. Tickets $12, available at all Glacier Banks, Freedom Bank and Laurie’s Deli in Columbia Falls.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 9, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 9, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Flathead Conservation District public hearing to discuss revising natural streambed and land preservation act rules of stream permitting program, 7 p.m. Dec. 9, USDA building, 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell. Call 752-4220.
• Red Cross blood drive, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Dec. 10, U.S. Forest Service.
• Randy Winter, service officer for Montana Veterans Affairs Division, will be available to veterans and their dependents, 10 a.m. to noon, Dec. 10, North Lincoln County Annex, Eureka.
• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 10, North Valley Hospital Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Performance by Columbia Falls High School Music Department. Community Pride awards. No reservations required. Lunch available for $10. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.
• Flathead Municipal Airport Authority meets at 1:30 p.m., Dec. 10, Glacier Park International Airport board room. Audit workshop 1 p.m.
• Boy Scout office grand opening, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Gateway Community Center, 1203 U.S. 2 W., Kalispell. Use north entrance to mall. Flag ceremony, refreshments, activities for youth ages 7 to 17. Call 406-390-2402.
• Whitefish High School Choir sings Christmas songs, 7 p.m. Dec. 10, Whitefish Moose Lodge, 23010th St. Free. Public welcome. Call 862-3943.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Glacier Bank, Main Street, Kalispell.
• Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m., Dec. 11, The Summit, Kalispell. Bree Fuqua will talk about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this past summer. Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Leah Levitt, 892-6105 or 261-6874.
• Organic Seed Alliance and Montana Organic Association offer a course titled, “Taking Seed Production to the Next Level in Montana, 10 a.m. to 4 p.. Dec. 12, FVCC. Space limited. Registration $25, includes lunch.
• Senior Tour and Tea, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 12, Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., 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. Call 755-5268.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Libby VFW.
• Children’s Christmas event, 4-7 p.m. Dec. 12, Conrad Mansion, 330 Woodland Ave., Kalispell. Admission $2 for children and $5 for adults, includes short tours and small gift for each child. Professional photos with Santa available for $10. Reservations required. Call 755-2166.
• Montana Organic Association 11th annual conference Dec. 12-14, FVCC. Theme is “An Organic Perspective: Facts and Fiction of GMOs and More.” Call Sandi Shanks, 406-297-7588.
• Kalispell Public Schools Committees meet Dec. 13 in the administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.: Finance, 7:30 a.m.; Curriculum/Instruction, 9 a.m.; Personnel, 9 a.m.
• Red Cross blood drives Dec. 13: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. KRMC.
• Christmas recital featuring violinist Wai Mizutani and pianist Siobhan McGuire, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, John Paul II Church, Bigfork. Free will offering accepted for youth program. Public invited.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 14, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Wreaths Across America ceremony, 10 a.m. Dec. 14, Montana Veterans Home, Columbia Falls. Wreaths available for $15 each and will be place on veterans’ graves at the cemetery.
• St. Matthew’s parish Cookie Carousel, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14, school gym, 602 S. Main St., Kalispell. Homemade Christmas cookies and candies. Hot coffee, tea and cocoa for sale. Call 752-630.
• Christmas at Our House annual free dinner, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14, Armed Forces Reserve Center, U.S. 93 north of Kalispell. No reservation needed. Call 471-4271. Complimentary bus service available for Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. Call 758-5728.
• Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 16, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Randy Winter, service officer for Montana Veterans Affairs Division, will be available to veterans and their dependents, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 17-18, Montana Veterans Home, Columbia Falls.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 17, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 863-3627.
• NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness)/LAC Christmas party, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 17, Kalispell. Call 406-309-5199.
• Kalispell Public Schools district board meets at 6 p.m., Dec. 17, Kalispell Middle School Library.
• Kalispell Public Schools Policy and Communications Committee meets 8:30 a.m., Dec. 19, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.
• Kalispell Public Schools district board work session 6 p.m., Dec. 19, Kalispell Middle School Library.
• Marion Fire District meets 7 p.m., Dec. 19, Marion Community Center, 180 Gopher Lane. Public invited.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 23, Lakeview Village Apartments, Polson. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 644-3446.
• Annual luminaria lighting 5 p.m. Dec. 24, Rose Crossing, Evergreen. Luminaria will remain lit until at least 10 p.m. along roughly 2 miles between U.S. 2 East and Whitefish Stage. Free. Public invited. Memorial lights may be purchased for $5 at the Evergreen Fire Department.
• Community Kitchen Feeding the Flathead free Christmas dinner, 6 p.m. Dec. 25, Faith Alliance Church, 348 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. Turkey, ham and pumpkin pie. All will receive a gift.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.