Daybook

Wednesday

• Red Cross blood drive, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kalispell Elks Lodge.

• Free Qigong Falun Dafa instruction easy-to-learn exercise instruction for all ages, 11:45 a.m., Kalispell Senior Center, 403 Second Ave. W. Call Katherine, 257-9798.

• Polson Chamber of Commerce meets noon to 1 p.m., KwaTukNuk Resort. Speaker is Carol Beck-Edgar, owner of Edge Communications. Lunch is $10.50. Open to public. Call 883-5969.

• 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 406-249-2448.

Thursday

• Transportation Advisory Committee meets 8:30 a.m., The Heritage Place, 171 Heritage Way, Kalispell. Public invited.

• Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and Montana Wilderness Association Wilderness Speaker Series presents Chris Peterson, Hungry Horse News and Glacier Magazine, on "A Walk on the Wild Side-A 200-mile Hike in the Spirit of Bob Marshall.”  7-8:30 p.m., Arts and Technology Building, room 139, FVCC. Free. Public invited. Call Carol Treadwell, 406-387-3847; or Amy Robinson, 406-730-2006.

• Loose Change fundraiser, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Rosauers front entrance, for South Campus Patio Project, Kalispell Senior Center and Agency on Aging.

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

Friday

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

• Pachyderm Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Red Lion Inn, Kalispell. Lunch available. GOP legislators give updates on current session. Public invited. Call Mark Johnson, 253-7467.

• Homeschool Theater Group presents “Mary Poppins,” 7 p.m., and 2 and 7 p.m. April 4, Performing Arts Center, 600 Second St. E., Whitefish. Free; donations accepted. Bake sale. Call 892-0179.

Saturday

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

• Eagles annual international dinner, 5-7 p.m., 37 First St. W., Kalispell. Eight different cuisines; Cost $12 for those over 12 years old; $6 for under 12 years. All welcome.

• Sons of Norway meet 7 p.m., Buffalo Hill Terrace meeting room, 40 Claremont St., Kalispell. Call 752-2357.

Monday

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 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., ImagineIF Library, Kalispell.

• Pleasant Valley School board meets 4:30 p.m. 

Tuesday

• Free community education event of domestic violence, 5:30-7 p.m., North Valley Professional Building, 711 13th St. Whitefish (across from Walgreen’s). Guest speaker is Hilary Shaw, executive directory of the Abbie Shelter. Light refreshments. RSVP to 863-3632.

• Columbia Falls School Transportation Committee meets at 6 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W.

• West Valley Naturalist program 7 p.m., West Valley School science room, Kalispell. Mark Lalum, general manager of CHS, discusses canola crop development in Flathead Valley. Free. Everyone welcome. Call Linda de Kort, 755-3704.

• Whitefish School board special meeting 7 p.m., board meeting room, 600 E. Second St.

A look ahead

• Flathead Basin Commission meeting 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. April 8, Hungry Horse Ranger District conference room, 10 Hungry Horse Blvd.

• Parkinson’s disease support group meets 3-4:30 p.m. April 8, The Summit, Kalispell. Speaker is Kim Fedderly, holistic nutrition wellness educator. All welcome. Call Lois, 871-3767 or Inga, 756-5514.

• Karen Porteous with Complete Restoration gives a free presentation on mold and radon, 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 8, meeting room, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Question and answer session included. Public invited.

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

• Senior Tour and Tea, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 9, 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. 

• Flathead Nonprofit Development Partnership hosts a free brown bag workshop, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Program director Ned Cooney will present “Board Orientation: The Most Important Meeting for Every Board Member.” RSVP to 756-3618.

• Glacial Forum presents, 6:30 p.m. April 9, Sykes’, 202 Second Ave. W. Kalispell. Speaker is Michael Cutler, former Immigration and Naturalization Service special agent. For dinner reservations, call 257-4304.

• Kalispell Public Schools Finance and Operations Committee meets 7:30 a.m., and Personnel Committee meets 9 a.m. April 10, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• Swan River School annual eighth grade free spaghetti dinner and raffle/auction, 5-7 p.m. April 10, school cafeteria. All welcome.

• Sixth annual Glacier Fiddle Festival, 6 p.m. April 10 with dancing and contestant jam; and 9 a.m. and all day, Smith Valley Grange, U.S. 2 West, Kalispell. Public invited. Call 406-309-2735.

• 49th annual Creston Auction April 11-12. Consignment Day is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 10. Grounds open 8 a.m. April 11; auction, 9 a.m. Vehicle and equipment sale noon April 12. Hot food and drinks. Free parking and entrance. Call 250-7396.

• Semi-annual Trees to Paper to Trees recycling drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 11, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Bring sorted newspapers, magazines, office paper, cardboard, aluminum and plastics.

• Sixth annual Glacier Fiddle Festival April 10-11, Smith Valley Grange, U.S. 2 West, Kalispell. Free community/contestant jam 5 p.m. April 10. Contest 9 a.m. and all day, April 11. Free admission.

• United Way Share Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 11, Kalispell Center Mall. Human service agencies and nonprofit organizations will have displays and discuss their work. Entertainment, face painting, balloons, clowns. All welcome. Call 752-7266.

• Million March Against Child Abuse, 10 a.m. April 11, Kalispell Center Mall. Awareness march to Flathead County Courthouse for speakers before returning to mall. At 4 p.m. those who wish will meet at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery for a balloon release. Call Cheryl Hodges, 406-871-2227.

• Act! for America shows the documentary, “The Third Jihad — Radical Islam’s Vision for America, 2-4:30 p.m. April 11, Sykes’, Kalispell. Tom Osborne will introduce film and moderate following discussion. Refreshments. RSVP to 59911actforamerica@gmail.com

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 8 a.m. to noon April 13, Troy United Methodist Church. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 293-0100.

• “Fork It Over” community night fundraiser for Farm Hands, 5-9 p.m. April 13, Three Forks Grill, 729 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Reservations recommended. Call 892-2900.

• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m. April 13, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

• Flathead Audubon meets at 7 p.m. April 13, in the United Way conference room, Gateway Community Center, U.S. 2 West, Kalispell. Enter from west side of building. Free. All welcome.

• Creston School board meets at 7:30 a.m. April 14.

• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 14, North Valley Hospital Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. A representative of ImagineIF Library will speak. No reservations required. Luncheon, $12. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.

• Kalispell Public Schools district board meets 6 p.m. April 14, Kalispell Middle School Library.

• Glacier Park Superintendent Jeff Mow and U.S. Geological Research ecologist Dan Fagre give their observations from the recent World Parks Congress they attended, 7-8 p.m. April 14, Room 139, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public invited. 

• Free ThetaHealing introductory workshop, 7-8:30 p.m. April 15, North Valley Tea Kettle community room, 235 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Learn about meditation, muscle testing techniques. Public invited. Call 406-261-9031.

• Kalispell Public Schools Policy and Communications Committee meets 8:30 a.m. April 16, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• Caring Chiropractic Inc. nonprofit clinic spring fundraiser, 2-5 p.m. April 18, conference room, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Finger food potluck, raffles. Call Linda Purdy, 755-1113.

• Flathead Valley Job Fair, 3:30-7 p.m. April 16, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Exclusive access for veterans and their families 3-3:30 p.m. Employment booths, job training representatives, Job Seeker Support Center, free copies of application materials. All parking will be at Kidsports Complex across U.S. 93 with free shuttle service. Call 758-6200.

• Loose Change fundraiser 3:30-6:30 p.m., April 16, Rosauers front entrance, for South Campus Patio Project for Kalispell Senior Center and Agency on Aging.

• Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Gone Fishin' 5-7 p.m. April 16, Glacier Distilling and Great Northern Resort, 10247 U.S. 2 E., Coram. Refreshments served. Free and open to public. Call Victoria, 270-8374.

Artists’ Pig Pen sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 17,18, Sassafras Ballroom, 120 Main St., Kalispell. Local artists clean out their studios of art, art supplies. Proceeds benefit A Ray of Hope and Lutheran Border Concerns Ministry. Call Susan Miller, 471-2634; or Deb Stika, 862-7878.

• 20th annual Flathead Food Bank soup supper and auction, 5:30 p.m. April 17, Canvas Church, Kalispell. Soups made by area restaurants in handcrafted bowls to keep Silent auction with more than 70 packages. Live auction. Tickets $30 at food bank, 1203 U.S. 2 W. Suite 2, or call 752-3663.

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18, The Summit, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

 Fee free days April 18-19, Glacier National Park. All entrance fees waived National Park Week opening weekend.

• Sixth annual Run Through History 5K and 10K, April 19, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E. Kalispell. 10K begins at 1 p.m.; 5K at 1:15 p.m. Registration 1-4 p.m. April 18, JCPenney Courtyard, Kalispell Center Mall; race day 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at start; or call 253-6923.

• AARP Smart Driver Course, noon to 4 p.m. April 20, North Valley Senior Center, Columbia Falls. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 892-4087

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 8:30-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Polson Area Senior Center. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 883-4735.

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

• Teen social for grades 6-12, 4-5:30 p.m. April 23, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Food, Wii gaming. Craft is “Color Therapy” — Color a beautiful quote or intricate mandala. Free. 

• Kalispell Public Schools Technology Committee meets April 23, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 24, Mission Valley Senior Center, Ronan. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 676-2371.

• 14th annual Death by Chocolate Murder Mystery, “A 1970s Sitcom,” 7-10 p.m. April 24-25, Conrad Mansion, Woodland Avenue, Kalispell. Tickets $55, or two for $100, available at The Bookshelf and Conrad Museum gift shop in Kalispell; and Whitefish Gift and Gear. For ages 21 and up. Call 755-2166.

• March of Dimes March for Babies, 9 a.m. April 25, Lawrence Park, Kalispell. Rain or shine. Lunch, music, children’s activities. Stroller-friendly.

• Earth Day celebration, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25, Depot Park, Whitefish. Food, music, student presentations and up to 50 activity and information booths. Crown of the Continent Choir performs 6-8 p.m. O’Shaughnessy Center. Call 756-8993.

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27, Libby Christian Church. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 283-7000.

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 863-3627.

• Kalispell Farmers Market opens for season, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 2, FVCC parking lot, 777 Grandview Dr. Call 881-4078.

• Montana Dahlia Society annual tuber sale, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2, Kalispell Center Mall. Tubers $1 each or six for $5. Members will answer questions about growing dahlias. Call John Kestell, 756-6464.

• Bigfork Wednesday farmers market opens for season 3-6 p.m. May 13, Masonic Temple, 8098 Montana 35. Call Cathi, 249-8439.

• Columbia Falls Farmers Market opens for season 5-7:30 p.m. every Thursday, beginning May 14, Pinewood Park, 925 Fourth Ave. W.

• West Valley Naturalist program 7 p.m. May 14, West Valley School science room, Kalispell. Becky Smith-Powell, forest recreation program leader for Flathead Forest, will talk about hiking/recreation in Tally Lake Ranger District. Free. Everyone welcome. Call Linda de Kort, 755-3704.

• Whitefish downtown farmers market opens for season every Tuesday, 5-7:30  p.m. May 27 to Sept. 30, north end of Central Avenue and Depot Park.

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

• Opening reception for “A Timeless Legacy — Women Artists of Glacier National Park” exhibit, 5-7 p.m. May 28, Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free. Public invited.

• Eureka farmers market opens for season every Wednesday, 3:30-5:30 p.m., June 10-Sept. 23, Riverside Park. Call 406-889-4636.

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

• Bigfork Saturday farmers market opens for season 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 13, Masonic Temple, 8098 Montana 35. Call Cathi, 249-8439.

• Stumptown Quilters’ Society “Everything Old is New Again,” quilt show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 4; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 5, Whitefish Middle School gym. Modern and vintage quilts, boutique, vendors, silent auction, raffle.

• Annual AAC/ARCO/CFAC employees picnic noon to 4 p.m. July 9, Lawrence Park, Kalispell. All employees and their families are invited; Email Sharon Chubb, smarinochubb@centurytel.net.

• In the Footsteps of Norman MacLean Festival, July 10-13, Seeley Lake on the Blackfoot River, Double Arrow Resort and Camp Paxson. Smokejumping highlight, writers’ workshop and tour of Mann Gulch; www.macleanfootsteps.com. Call Jenny Rohrer, 406-754-0034. 

• 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.

• Fee free day Aug. 25, Glacier National Park. All entrance fees waived in honor of 99th birthday of National Park Service.

• Fee free days Nov. 11, Glacier National Park. All entrance fees waived in honor of Veterans Day.