Daybook, Feb. 17
Today (Feb. 17)
• USDA Rural Development and Montana Department of Environmental Quality (Renewable Energy Division) host a free, one-day comprehensive energy workshop for small business and agricultural producers, 8:30 a.m. Lake County Community Development Corporation, 407 Main St. SW, Ronan. RSVP to Carol Cunningham, 406-676-5901, ext. 105.
• USDA Farm Service agency and MSU Extension, NAP informational meeting, 10 a.m. to noon, Glacier 1 Room, Hilton Garden Inn, 1840 U.S. 93 S. RSVP by Feb. 9 to Jennifer Cole, 406-587-6786.
• Red Cross blood drives: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Natural Resources Department, Polson; 12:30-5 p.m. Troy Baptist Church.
• Agency on Aging and Summit Independent Living Center co-host a Benefits Check-up Workshop, 1-5 p.m., Gateway Community Center, United Way conference room. Learn about different Medicare medical and prescription programs, insurance premiums and more. Application assistance available. Call 758-5730.
• Special Friends Advocacy Program open house, 4-6:30 p.m., 230 Second St. E., Kalispell, in preparation for 30th annual wheelchair basketball fundraiser in April. Call 756-5488.
• Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Unwind, 5-6:30 p.m. Kalispell Denture Studio, 115 Commons Way. Giveaways. All welcome. Call 758-2800.
• Women of the Moose Sweetheart dinner, 5-7 p.m., 230 10th St., Whitefish. Menu includes meatloaf, baked potatoes, vegetables, salad, rolls and desserts. Call Carol Ott, 260-8493.
• Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Unwind, 5-6:30 p.m. Kalispell Denture Studio, 115 Commons Way, suite 201. Giveaways. All welcome. Call 758-2800.
• Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society meets at North Valley Hospital Community Center, 235 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Marilyn Neville from southwestern Alberta presents “Recovery Strategies for Disturbed Native Grassland Landscapes.” Business meeting, 5:30 p.m.; program, 7 p.m. Free. Public welcome. Call Rebecca Lawrence, 871-3616.
• Evergreen School board meets 6:30 p.m., administration boardroom.
Thursday
• Kalispell Public Schools Policy Committee meets 8:30 a.m., district office, 233 First Ave. E.
• AARP Smart Driver Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bigfork Senior Center; $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 837-4157.
• Red Cross blood drives: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Libby VFW; noon to 5:15 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, sponsored by Kalispell Rotary.
• Friends of the Library meet at noon, ImagineIF Library meeting room, Kalispell. All welcome.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 11:15 a.m., former Linderman School building, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.
• Flathead City-County Board of Health meets 1 p.m., administration office, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. E., Kalispell.
• “Bigfork History in the Pages of Cookbooks” event, 1:30 p.m., Bigfork Community Center, 639 Commerce St. Bring one cookbook and share two favorite recipes and stories behind them. Call JoLynne Yenne, 756-8992.
• Evergreen Chamber of Commerce Energizer, 5-6:30 p.m., Barn Door Event Rentals, 2124 U.S. 2 E. Food, beverages, door prizes. Call 885-1212.
• Fifth grade students host “Breakfast for Dinner” fundraiser and auction, 5-8 p.m., Ruder Elementary School, Columbia Falls. Pancake bar, bacon, fruit, juice and coffee. Tickets $8 per person. Benefit for students’ history trip.
• Polson Chamber of Commerce SPLASH social, 5-7 p.m., Red Lion Hotel. Call 883-5969.
• West Valley School fundraiser, 5-7 p.m. Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Hutton Ranch Road, Kalispell. Fifteen percent of sales goes to fifth-eighth grade school projects.
• Glacier Institute 2016 Winter Lecture Series presents anthropologist Sally Thompson on “People Before the Park,” Conrad Mansion, 330 Woodland Ave., Kalispell. Wine and desserts served at 6 p.m. Presentation begins 6:30 p.m. Cost $15 per person. Reservations required. Call 755-2166.
Friday
• Red Cross blood drives: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. KRMC.
• Sally Thompson presents a free, brown bag lecture, “A Jesuit Window into Western Montana Life in the 1840s and ’50s,” noon, Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Reserve a table by calling 755-5267.
• Community Action Partnership of Northwestern Montana open house, 3-6 p.m., 214 Main St., Kalispell. Public invited.
• Whitefish Wolverines hockey team takes on Southern Oregon Spartans, 7 p.m., Stumptown Ice Den, Whitefish. 50/50 raffle benefits Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana.
Saturday
• Pinochle tournament, 10 a.m., Kalispell Senior Citizen Center, 403 Second Ave. W. Cash prizes. Cost $5. To sign up, call Dee, 756-0050.
• Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-4:45 p.m., Straight Blast Gym, Kalispell.
• Northwest Montana Backcountry Horsemen Association clinic for 4-H members ages 8-12, 1-4 p.m., Country Kitchen, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Call 752-2209.
• Glacier Nordic Club full moon community free skiing, 3 p.m. Whitefish Lake Golf Course. No pass required. Whitefish High School STAND serves hot chili for $4, free hot cocoa and a raffle beginning at 6 p.m. Call 862-9498.
• Flathead Valley Chapter Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquet, 5 p.m., Trade Building Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Raffles of firearms, premium hunts and home furnishings. For tickets, call Kim Wold, 257-9110.
• Hike Lone Pine State Park near Kalispell by moonlight, 6-7 p.m. Feb. 20. Cost $4 per person and $5 for snowshoe rental, first come, first serve. Children welcome. For updated weather/event information, call 755-2706.
Sunday
• Flathead Audubon birding field trip to Mission Valley. Meet to carpool at 8 a.m. at Somers Park ‘n’ Ride, intersection of U.S. 93 and Montana 83. Bring lunch, binoculars or scope and appropriate clothes. Free. All welcome. To sign up, call Bob Lee, 406-270-0371.
• Whitefish winter decorations will be taken down today. Volunteers needed. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at intersection of Second Street and Central Avenue. Call Chris Schustrom, 260-1198.
Monday
• Flathead County Democratic Women meet, Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell. Guest speaker is Lisa Sheppard. Social at 11:30 a.m. followed by noon buffet lunch for $13. For reservations, call Lynne Bradley, 756-9245; or Linda Harris, 261-4790.
• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Registered nurse Jennifer Crowley of Eagleview West Life Care Planning gives a presentation titled “7 Steps to Long-Term Care Planning,” 2-3 p.m. today; 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, The Summit, Kalispell. Learn how to plan for your own or your loved one’s care after retirement or due to chronic illness.
• Author Sharon Randolph presents a historical slide program titled, “Finding Our Place in the Sun — A Glacier National Park Adventure,” 6:30 p.m., Whitefish Community Library. Public welcome.
• Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Winter Speaker series presents Glacier Park biologist Lisa Bate on “Harlequin Ducks: The White Water Specialists of GNP,” 7 p.m., Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Free. Public invited. Call Cheryl Klein, 270-4189.
• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m.,133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.
Tuesday
• AARP Smart Driver Course, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Libby Christian Church, Libby; $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Church, Eureka.
• Flathead County Solid Waste District board meets 3 p.m., landfill office.
• Healthy potluck supper, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Wellness Education Center, 103 Ponderosa Lane, Kalispell. Bring a healthy dish to share if you like. Families welcome. Call 755-8423.
• Kalispell Public Schools district board work session 6 p.m., Kalispell Middle School Library.
• Flathead Act! for America Chapter host a presentation by Don Barnett, fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, and astronomist Paul Nachman titled “Refugee Resettlement,” 6-7:30 p.m., Sykes’, Kalispell. Call Caroline Solomon, 837-4525.
• Registered nurse Jennifer Crowley of Eagleview West Life Care Planning gives a presentation titled “7 Steps to Long-Term Care Planning,” 7-8 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Learn how to plan for your own or your loved one’s care after retirement or due to chronic illness.
A look ahead
• Flathead County Road Departments announces load limits will start Feb. 24.
• ImagineIF Libraries board meets at 9 a.m. Feb. 24, meeting room, Kalispell. Call Kim Crowley, 758-5826.
• Park Ranger Bill Schustrom gives a pictorial presentation on “Glacier National Park and The Great Northern Railway: The Relationship that Shaped Glacier Park,” noon Feb. 24, The Summit, Kalispell. Free. Public invited.
• Auto-immune Disease Support Group meets 1:30-2:30 p.m. Feb. 24, and fourth Wednesday of every month, Finnegan’s Restaurant, East Idaho, Kalispell. Call Shirley, 257-2780.
• Community Tap Night 6-9 p.m. Feb. 24, Tamarack Brewing Company, 105 Blacktail Road, Lakeside. 75 cents from every pint sold benefits Northwest Montana Lookout Association.
• Red Cross blood drives Feb. 25: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Glacier Park; noon to 4 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, sponsored by D.A. Davidson.
• Joe Coco presents a free seminar “The Alphabet Soup of Retirement Plans,” 7-8 p.m. Feb. 25, Coco Enterprises Conference Center, 6438 U.S. 93 S., Whitefish. RSVP to 862-9400.
• Kalispell Public Schools Technology Committee meets 8:30 a.m. Feb. 26, district office, 233 First Ave. E.
• Red Cross blood drives Feb. 26: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Community Action Partnership.
• Lake County Pachyderm Club meets at noon Feb. 26, Polson Rural Fire Department meeting room. Congressman Ryan Zinke is guest speaker. Call Norm Johnson, 883-0398.
• Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana open house, 4-6 p.m. Feb. 26, 200 Colorado Ave., Whitefish. Meet the new executive director. Parking available at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 201 Wisconsin Ave. Call 309-5196.
• Kalispell Mini Maker Faire, Feb. 27, Flathead Valley Community College. Tech enthusiasts, hobbyists, engineers create and exhibit their unique work. Call Jill Seigmund, 756-3834.
• Big Arm Association Game Day, 2-4 p.m. Feb. 27, Historic Big Arm School. Bring favorite card or board games, a snack or dessert to share. Call Nancy Foster, 849-5064.
• Benefit for Thelma Mae Briney, a toddler diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, 5 p.m. Feb. 27, West Valley School. Spaghetti dinner by donation, live and silent auctions, pie auction.
• Sportsman’s Banquet “A Family Affair, Feb. 27, Church of the Nazarene, Whitefish Stage, Kalispell. Doors open 5 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Bring a main dish. If your last name begins with A-L also bring dessert; M-Z, a salad. Auction and raffle.
• John White Lecture Series presents Mary Jane Bradbury with a living history presentation on Jeanette Rankin, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $6 for museum members; $9 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.
• Special Olympics Montana State Winter Games, Feb. 28-March 1, Whitefish and Whitefish Mountain Resort. Parade of Athletes, 4 p.m. Feb. 28, Central Avenue, Whitefish. Opening ceremony follows at Depot Park. Public welcome.
• Red Cross blood drives Feb. 29: 1:30-5:30 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Whitefish High School.
• Child Find Screening for ages birth to 5, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 1, Flathead Special Education Co-op Building, 14 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Speech, language, thinking skills. For an appointment, call 257-1857.
• Glacier Park ranger Bill Schustrom gives a PowerPoint presentation on “The Great Northern Railroad and Glacier Park: A Unique Relationship,” 1:30 p.m. March 1, Bigfork Community Center, 639 Commerce St. Public invited. Call 837-4157.
• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “The Secret Psychological Influence of Expectations for Agreement: Do Conformity Pressures Ultimately Create A happy or a Divided Society?” by Luke Conway, associate professor of psychology at University of Montana,” 7 p.m. March 2, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.
• Flathead Conservation District offers a two-part weed workshop for small-acreage landowners, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 3 and 9, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Learn about chemical and nonchemical weed abatement. Call Kari Musgrove, 752-4220.
• Opening reception for “Source” clay sculpture exhibit by Jury Smith, 5-7 p.m. March 3, Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free admission. Public welcome. Call 755-5268.
• Open house for Rebeccas Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Science, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 3, FVCC. Demonstrations, booths, career options. Free. Open to public. Call Sam Kujala, 756-4364.
• Nature photographer Douglass Dye gives a presentation on a safari he took in South Africa, 1 p.m. March 5, Whitefish Community Library. Public invited.
• Businesss strategist Tara Gentile gives a free workshop on starting your own business, 1:30-2:30 p.m. March 5, Kalispell Brewing Company.
• Anime Club for teens in grades six to 12 meets 4-5:30 p.m. March 7, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell.
• 11th annual Glacier Kiwanis Nite of Jazz fundraiser, 6:30 p.m. March 7, Glacier High School. Musicians and bands from seven high schools and middle schools featured. Tickets at the door, $5 adults, $3 for students. Call Carla Weber, 253-9707.
Lakeside-Somers School District community meeting to discuss long-term planning for sending Somers 6-8 grade students to Kalispell if a new school is built on south end of Kalispell, 6 p.m. March 8.
• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “Thinking About Race and Religion (Together)” by Nancy Wadsworth, associate professor of political science at University of Denver, 7 p.m. March 10, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.
• Eighth annual “A Day in Al-anon” for family and friends of problem drinkers, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 12, Episcopal Church, 215 Third Ave. E., Kalispell. Speakers, fun, fellowship. Cost $10 includes luncheon. Call 507-993-8452.
• Sixth annual Princess Ball, 7 p.m. March 12, Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Masquerade theme. Professional hair dressers, face painting and photographers. Tickets $25 per person (2 and under, free), available at Three Rivers Bank, Parkside Federal Credit Union and Red Lion.
• Kalispell Compline Choir presents “Nightcap for the Soul,” 9-9:45 p.m. March 13, Christ Church Episcopal, 215 Third Ave. E., Kalispell. Medieval chant, a cappella choral music, meditative readings by candlelight. All welcome.
North Valley Hospital Birth Center open house, 4:30-6:30 p.m. March 15, 1600 Hospital Way, Whitefish. Light refreshments, tours. Call 863-3535.
Signing and reading of “The Garden of Smiles” book with author Kelly Potter and 10-year-old illustrator Ave Hall, 6-7:30 p.m. March 15, Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free admission.
• Teen social for grades 6-12, 4-5:30 p.m. March 17, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Food, Wii gaming. Craft is acrylic painting on canvas. Free.
• Glacier Institute 2016 Winter Lecture Series presents nocturnal photographer John Ashley on “Glacier Park After Dark,” March 17, Conrad Mansion, 330 Woodland Ave., Kalispell. Wine and desserts served at 6 p.m. Presentation begins 6:30 p.m. Cost $15 per person. Reservations required. Call 755-2166.
• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “ Divided (and Righteous) We Stand” by Kate Johnson of Values, Ideology and Morality Laboratory at University of Southern California,” 7 p.m. March 17, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.
• Gateway Community Center grand opening celebration, 3:30 p.m. March 18, 1203 U.S. 2 W., Kalispell. Entertainment, refreshments, kids’ activities and tours. Literacy Center of Northwest Montana has a collectible book sale.
• Seventh annual Loud at the Library fundraiser, 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 24, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Live music by Ashley Creek Ramblers, appetizers, beer and wine, raffle baskets. Tickets $35 ($25 tax-deductible). Call 758-5821.
• Story Slam fundraiser, 6:30-9 p.m. March 18, Columbia Falls Veterans Home. Stories to take off from tag line, “Did That Just Happen?” Admission adults, $15; children 8 and under, $6. Fundraiser for Gateway to Glacier pedestrian/bike trail. Call Sarah Dakin, 892-5512.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 11:15 a.m. March 24, former Linderman School building, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.
• Lakeside/Somers Chamber of Commerce eighth annual Captain’s Award banquet March 24, The Rack Shack, Somers. Cocktails 5:30 p.m.; dinner 6:30 p.m. Tickets $25 per person in advance; $30 at door; info@lakesidesomers.org
• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “How the Constitution Should Unite Us on Politics, Religion, Race and Gender” by Leslie Griffin and William S. Boyd, professor of law at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 7 p.m. March 24, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.
• Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Winter Speaker series presents wildlife photographer Sumio Harada on “Mountain Goats in Glacier National Park, 7 p.m. March 28, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Free. Public invited. Call Cheryl Klein, 270-4189.
• Kalispell Compline Choir presents “Nightcap for the Soul,” 9-9:45 p.m. April 10, Christ Church Episcopal, 215 Third Ave. E., Kalispell. Medieval chant, a cappella choral music, meditative readings by candlelight. All welcome.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Management board and Executive Council meets 11:15 a.m. April 28, former Linderman School building, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.
• Kalispell Compline Choir presents “Nightcap for the Soul,” 9-9:45 p.m. May 8, Christ Church Episcopal, 215 Third Ave. E., Kalispell. Medieval chant, a cappella choral music, meditative readings by candlelight. All welcome.
• Flathead Land Trust Bike and Bird Tour of McWenneger Sough and Fairview Marsh, 9 a.m. to noon May 14. Bike 8 miles on 412-acre conservation easement guided by landowner Pete Fisher.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 11:15 a.m. May 26, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 11:15 a.m. June 9, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.
• National Park Service Birthday Weekend, Aug. 25-28. Fees waived at Glacier Park.
Fee Free Day, Nov. 11, Glacier Park, in honor of Veterans Day.