Daybook

Today, Dec. 19

• Red Cross blood drives: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. KRMC.

• Pachyderm Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Red Lion Inn, Kalispell. Lunch available. Frank Nguyen will speak about escaping Vietnam and his journey to Montana. Public invited. Call Mark Johnson, 253-7467.

• Local novelist Maggie Plummer signs copies of her new published sequel, “Daring Passage: Book Two of the Spirited Away Saga,” 5-7 p.m., Dawn’s Flower Designs, 318 Main St., Polson.

• Big Arm community potluck and Christmas sing-along, 6 p.m., Historic Big Arm School. The Sisler family will lead the caroling. Call Nancy Foster, 849-5064.

• Wai Mizutani and Friends Christmas recital with guest Idar Auinaga, 7 p.m., John Paul II Church, 195 Coverdell Road, Bigfork. Free admission; offering taken for youth ministry.

• Marion Fire District board meets 7 p.m., Marion Community Center, 180 Gopher Lane. Public welcome.

Saturday

• 41st annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count, centered at the Little Brown Church, Bigfork. Call Dan Casey, 857-3143 or 270-5941.

• AARP Smart Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

• Flathead Composite Squadron annual wreath laying, noon, Glacier Memorial Gardens, Kalispell. Cadets will lay more than 600 wreaths. Public invited.

• Local author Sybil Watters signs her Southern fiction “Dixie” book series, 1-4 p.m., The Bookshelf, Main Street, Kalispell.

• Flathead Valley Singles group meet and greet 5 p.m., Red Room basement bar at Latitude 48 Bistro, Whitefish; followed by ice skating at Stumptown Ice Den. RSVP to www.meetup.com/flathead-valley-singles/.

Monday

• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Crossroads Christian Fellowship presents “Home for Christmas” concert, 2 p.m. today and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. Both secular and sacred music with Santa as special guest. Free. All welcome. Call 837-0243.

• Dementia and Alzheimer’s Support Group meets 3-4:30 p.m., Buffalo Hill Terrace, 40 Claremont St., Kalispell. Sponsored by Immanuel Lutheran Communities. Call Carla Wilton, 752-9624

Tuesday

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Park Side Credit Union, Whitefish.

• Crossroads Christian Fellowship presents “Home for Christmas” concert, 6 p.m., Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. Both secular and sacred music with Santa as special guest. Free. All welcome. Call 837-0243.

Wednesday

• Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Annual luminaria display starts at dusk on Rose Crossing between U.S. 2 and Whitefish Stage. Purchase luminaria to honor loved ones at Evergreen Fire Station, 2236 U.S. 2 E, through 5 p.m. Dec. 23. Call Chief Craig Williams, 752-4636.

Thursday

• Evergreen Disposal will not be running routes today, Christmas Day. All customers will receive service a day later.

Friday

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

A look ahead

• 44th annual Kalispell Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 27, Smith Lake, U.S. 2 west of Kalispell. Prizes in several fish categories, hourly drawing. Concessions, s’mores and warming fire. Adults, $5; kids, $2; families, $10.

• Glacier Skate/Whitefish Figure Skating present “Christmas for All on Ice,” Dec. 27, Stumptown Ice Den, 716 Wisconsin Ave., Whitefish. Show times at 4 and 7 p.m. Special guest national competitor Bryce Chudak. Special performance by Luke Walrath of Alpine Theatre Project. On ice seating $15; general admission $10; 6-10 years old, $5; 5 and under, free. Holiday tasting one hour before shows; tickets $1 each.

• Third annual Cowboy Christmas Ball, 8 p.m. to midnight, Dec. 27, Chapel Building, Montana Veterans Home, Columbia Falls. Tickets at door or may be reserved by calling 892-0178.

• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 29, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

Jazz Night Out 7 p.m. Dec. 29, Crush Wine Bar, 121 Central Ave., Whitefish. Renowned musicians Richie Barshay, Erica von Kleist and Don Caverly perform a benefit concert for the Abbie Shelter. $15 at door.

• Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Dave and  Aimee Carlson will share photos and stories from their hiking trip to Italy in May. Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Leah Levitt, 892-6105 or 261-6874.

• Red Cross blood drives Dec. 30: noon to 5 p.m. Eureka Baptist Church; noon to 5 p.m., “Leaders Save Lives” at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• First Night Flathead, Dec. 31, Kalispell. Free family activities including hat decorating, face painting, jewelry making 1-4 p.m. Kalispell Center Mall; Commencement Parade. Musical performances 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at various downtown venues. Button $12 in advance; $15 at door. Children 12 and under free. Call Patrice Manget, 406-253-2471.

• Evergreen Disposal will not be running routes Jan. 1. All customers will receive service a day later.

• Troy Christmas Bird Count, Jan. 3. Call Donald Jones, 406-295-4291.

• 16th annual Kalispell Christmas Bird Count, Jan. 4, centered at West Reserve Drive and U.S. 93. Call Pete Fisher, 250-9624.

• Columbia Falls Community Choir begins practice for 2015 concert season, 2-4 p.m. Jan 4, Columbia Falls Junior High School. Sign in and music pick up 1:30-2 p.m. Call Ron Bond, 892-5174.

• AARP Smart Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 5, The Summit, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

• Anime Club for teens in grades six to 12 meets 4-5:30 p.m. Jan. 5, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell.

• Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited will offer fly tying classes starting Jan. 5 and continuing for five consecutive Monday evenings, from 7 to  9 p.m. in the library at Kalispell Middle School.  Beginning and advanced classes will be available. Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited offers five consecutive fly tying classes Mondays, 7 to 9 p.m. starting Jan. 5, Kalispell Middle School library. Beginning and advanced classes available. To register, call Jim Johnson, 837-3210.

• Health Insurance Marketplace counselors answer questions and help the public apply, 3-7 p.m. Jan. 7, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell.

• Kalispell Public Schools Curriculum Committee meets 9 a.m. Jan. 8, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• Joe Coco presents a free seminar “The ABCs of Investing,” 7-9 p.m. Jan. 8, Coco Enterprises Conference Center, 6438 U.S. 93 S., Whitefish. RSVP to 862-9400.

• Kalispell Public Schools Finance and Operations Committee meets 7:30 a.m.; Personnel Committee meets 9 a.m. Jan. 9, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

• Kalispell Public Schools district board meets 6 p.m. Jan. 13, Kalispell Middle School Library.

• Kalispell Public Schools Policy and Communications Committee meets 8:30 a.m. Jan. 15, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• AARP Smart Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 17, The Summit, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

• AARP Smart Driver Safety class, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19, Libby Christian Church $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 283-7000.

• Health Insurance Marketplace counselors answer questions and help the public apply, 3-7 p.m. Jan. 21, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell.

• Kalispell Public Schools Technology and Information Committee meets 8:30 a.m. Jan. 22, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• Teen social for grades 6-12, 4-5:30 p.m. Jan. 22, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Crafts, food, Wii gaming. Free.

• Jay Asher, author of “Thirteen Reasons Why,” will give a presentation at 10:15 a.m. Jan. 23, at the Whitefish Middle School Performing Arts Center, as part of a 50 States Against Bullying suicide prevention campaign. Public invited.

• Flathead Lake International Cinemafest (FLIC) Jan. 23-25, Polson.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. Jan. 22, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Health Insurance Marketplace offers free assistance to enroll or renew coverage 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 24, North Valley Community Center, Columbia Falls. Call 758-2165.

• AARP Smart Driver Safety class, noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 26; $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 892-4087.

• Kalispell Public Schools district board special meeting and work session 6 p.m. Jan. 27, Kalispell Middle School Library.

• Health Insurance Marketplace offers free assistance to enroll or renew coverage 1-5 p.m. Jan. 29, North Valley Professional Office Building. Call 758-2165.

• Montana Pond Hockey Classic, Feb. 20-22, Foys Lake near Kalispell.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. Feb. 26, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Relay for Life kick-off gala, 7 p.m. Feb. 14, Brumar Estates, Bigfork. Dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions. Black tie attire. Couples $125; individuals, $75. Call Janice Vachal, 751-1722; or Brittany Quick, 406-728-1004.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. March 26, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. April 23, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. May 28, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. June 11, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Opening reception for traveling exhibit, “Piecing Together a Changing Planet: Climate Change in America’s National Parks,” 5-7 p.m. July 30, Hockaday Museum of Arts, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free. Public invited. Call 755-5268.