DAYBOOK, August 3

Today

• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit offers a free appreciation lunch to all law enforcement officers, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 175 Hutton Ranch Road.

• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Lakeview Healthcare.

• Polson Chamber of Commerce meets, noon, KwaTaqNuk Resort. Lake County Comm. Bill Barron gives an update on county government. Lunch for $11. All welcome; 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.

• Little Bitterroot Lake Association annual meeting and barbecue, 6 p.m. Marion Fire Hall, Gopher Lane. John Babcock will talk about water sampling and radon. Bring salad, side dish or dessert.

Thursday

• Cholesterol screening and education, 7-10 a.m. (first Thursday of every month), The Summit, Kalispell. Includes triglycerides, glucose, cholesterol, HDL and LDL. Walk-in clinic; no preregistration required. Fast 8-12 hours prior and drink plenty of water. Cost $30; $27 for seniors. Call Kathy Prim, 751-4500.

• Youth guide hike to learn about local native trees, 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 4, Whitefish Trail. Meet at Lion Mountain Trailhead and take short hike to Learning Pavilion. Free. No RSVP required.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Marion Community Hall. Sponsored by Pleasant Valley Apiaries.

• Bibler Home and Gardens Splendid Summer Evening tours, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Kalispell. Advanced tickets required, $15 per adult; $5 per child; 756-3632.

• The Nurturing Center, Flathead Valley Breastfeeding Coalition and WIC co-host a free family event, “It’s All About Our Kids,” in recognition of National Breastfeeding Week, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Depot Park, Kalispell. Games, vendors, food, face painting, book reading, raffles. Call Alyssa at Flathead City-County Health Department, 751-8177.

• Flathead City-County Board of Health meets 1 p.m., administration office, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. E., Kalispell.

• Whitefish Parks and Recreation and Sweet Peaks Ice Cream host a sandcastle building competition for children, 1-3 p.m. City Beach. Bring your own supplies and decorations. Free. Call 863-2473.

• Flathead City-County Board of Health meets 1:30 p.m., administration office, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. E., Kalispell.

• Somers School District board Policy Committee meets 4 p.m., Lakeside Elementary School.

Friday

• Kalispell Senior Center sells Krispy Kreme donuts as fundraiser, 6 a.m., corner of U.S. 2 and 93, downtown Kalispell, until they’re gone.

• Red Cross blood drives, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. First Interstate Bank, downtown Kalispell.

• Glacier Restaurant Group Industry Night at Craggy Range, Latitude 48, Ciao Mambo in Whitefish and MacKenzie River Pizza Co. Kalispell and Whitefish, donate a portion of proceeds to Columbia Falls Baseball Association to help rebuild Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Field Grandstands. Call Ray Queen, 253-0857.

• First Friday, downtown Kalispell. Merchants open in evening offering specials.

Saturday

• 38th annual Bigfork Festival of the Arts, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Sunday, Electric Avenue. More than 160 artisans, food vendors, live music. Bus shuttles to/from Potoczny Field and Bethany Lutheran Church.

• 12th annual outdoor Eureka Quilt Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historical Village and downtown Eureka. More than 600 quilts on display; some for sale. Vendors.

• Evergreen Chamber Show & Shine, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Conlin’s Furniture, 1441 Montana 35, Evergreen. No entry fee. More than 30 categories of cars and motorcycles and golf cars; 885-1212.

Thought

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” u Plato, Classical Greek philosopher.