WEEKEND UPDATE: Veterans Day Events

All veterans, active military and the public are welcome to attend the following ceremonies.

— Swan River School hosts its Veterans Days program at 8:45 a.m. in the school gym.

Guest speaker is Flathead Valley resident Navy Master Chief Tom Countryman.

Coffee and cake will be served.

The school is located at 1205 Montana 83 in Bigfork, next to Echo Lake Cafe.

— Bigfork High School’s 17th annual Veterans Day Assembly begins at 10 a.m. today in the school gym. Refreshments will be served.

The program will be streamed live through the school website today at www.bigforkschools.org

— Whitefish High School Student Council sponsors its annual Veterans Day observance at 10:30 a.m. in the high school gym. The program will last approximately one hour.

Guest speaker is Staff Sgt. Francis Scott. The high school band, choir, orchestra and drum line will perform.

— Trinity Lutheran Church hosts a Veterans Day ceremony and free lunch for veterans at 11 a.m. The church is located at 400 W. California St., Kalispell. An RSVP is appreciated, but not required. Call 406-257-6716.

— Lakeside Elementary School honors local veterans at its Veterans Day assembly at 2:15 p.m. in the gym. Retired Navy Capt. Craig Solem is the featured guest.

— The United Veterans of the Flathead Valley, local chapter of the Montana Civil Air Patrol and the Depot Park Memorial board host a Veterans Day ceremony at Depot Park in Kalispell.

Tim Carter will emcee the program that begins at 10:45 a.m. with patriotic music and an opening prayer. The Civil Air Patrol will raise the flag at 11 a.m.

Jay Trepanier with the United Veterans will give the Veterans Day Address, followed by the “National Anthem.”

An Honor Guard ceremony and playing of “Taps,” will be followed by a closing prayer and music.

— Lunch and refreshments will be served at noon at the Kalispell Elks. Everyone is welcome.

The Elks will also serve a Veterans Day dinner at 5:30 p.m. with live music by Swings Light. The cost is $9.95.

— Entrance fees to Glacier National Park are being waived today in honor of the Veterans Day holiday. Today is the last fee-free day of the year.

— Famous Dave’s restaurants offers all former and current military personnel a free Two Meat Combo meal today with valid photo identification and proof of military service (including U.S. Uniformed Services ID Card, form DD-214 or current leave and earnings statement with photo ID).

The Kalispell location is located at 2340 U.S. 93 N.

For complete details, visit famousdaves.com/veterans or call 406-752-7427.

International Gift Festival

Mountain View Mennonite Church has its annual International Gift Festival this weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The church is located at 795 Mennonite Church Road in Creston.

Fair trade arts and crafts from more than 30 countries are for sale. The Village Cafe offers a choice of international soups. All proceeds benefit international charitable organizations.

The Bigfork High School Choir performs at 2 p.m., and the Crown of the Continent Choir performs at 7 p.m. today.

Donations for Haiti Hurricane Matthew relief kits are being collected, including large bars of soap and bottles of shampoo, toothpaste, Fels Naptha laundry soap, fingernail clippers, medium weight bath towels, Band-Aids and sanitary pads.

Guest speaker to lead workshop

The Rev. Finley C. Campbell of Chicago leads a free workshop titled “Conversations Against Racism: Creating Multiracial Unity in Predominantly White/All White Communities and Fellowships” from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Glacier Unitarian and Universalist Fellowship,1515 Trumble Creek Road, Kalispell.   

Participants will share their understanding and experiences of racism through their personal stories to provide a means of fighting racism in all its forms.

Campbell has taught at several colleges and universities and is both a Baptist and a UU minister.

He has been a member of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago since 1992 and teaches a non-credit course at the First UU Church of Chicago titled “The Nature of Racism.”

For more information, call 406-862-1629.  

Donations to support Sunburst Crisis Fund

Montana State University nursing students will be at Smith’s Grocery in Kalispell from 2 to 6 p.m. today to accept donations of toiletries and cash for The Village at Sunburst Crisis Fund.

Sunburst offers help to those at risk for homelessness, as well as filling out housing applications and job information. The Crisis Fund provides emergency provisions for local community members in need of food, gas and housing, and Blessing Bags to those who need toiletries.

‘Light Up a Life’ event

Frontier Hospice hosts a free community event, “Light Up a Life,” to raise awareness for hospice services during November, National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

Loved ones may memorialize those they have lost in the past year at a night of remembrance from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Northridge Lutheran Church, 323 Northridge Dr., in Kalispell. A special Veterans Day tribute will take place and refreshments will follow.

Lutefisk dinner

Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork has its 96th annual lutefisk dinner from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

The menu includes Alaskan lutefisk, Swedish meatballs, ham, potatoes, squash, coleslaw, lefse and Scandinavian cookies.

The cost for adults is $18, and $7 for children younger than 10.

The church is located at 8559 Montana 35 in Bigfork.

Call 406-837-4387 for more details.

Kick-n-Glide fundraiser

North Shore Nordic Club’s annual Kick-n-Glide party fundraiser is from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Rack Shack, U.S. 93 South, Somers.

The event features an Italian buffet, raffles, silent auction and cash bar.

The cost at the door for adults is $15; $6 kids.

Harvest dance, auction

The annual Rails to Trails Harvest Dance, pie and silent auction gets under way at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Valley Grange, west of Kalispell. Admission is one homemade pie or $5; kids’ admission is half price.

Enjoy music by the Grin and Bear It String Clan, country dancing, family fun and an auction for one-of-a-kind art pieces and coupons to local restaurants.

Call 406-257-1932 for information.

Hot Springs annual gala

Hot Springs Artists Society host its annual gala and silent art auction, wine, cheese and chocolate party from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Hot Springs Hotel in Hot Springs.

Admission is free. View auction items at www.hotspringsartists.org

Friends of Frosty dinner

The 16th annual Friends of Frosty spaghetti dinner fundraiser takes place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Lakeside Elementary School.

The menu includes all-you-can eat spaghetti with choice of meat, clam and vegetarian sauce, garlic bread, salad, beverage and brownies.

The cost is $5 per person; kids 6 and younger eat free; families are $20.

Proceeds are used to make the wooden snowmen along the roadways during the holidays in Somers and Lakeside. Frostys will also be available for purchase at the event.

For more details, call Lois Lauman at 406-857-3512; or Sue Birky at 406-844-2548.

Rocky Mountain Rollers chapter meeting, potluck

Rocky Mountain Rollers Good Sam RV Chapter has its monthly meeting and Thanksgiving potluck beginning at noon Saturday in the upstairs ballroom of Alpine Lighting, 333 Main St., Kalispell. (An elevator is available).

Guests are welcome and asked to RSVP by calling Joanne at 406-755-1795 or Homer at 406-257-9094.