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TODAY

• Flathead Classic sled-dog races start 9 a.m. today and Sunday, Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. Food and drinks available at Lodge. Spectators are asked to carpool.

- Lakeside QRU bingo fundraiser, 2-5 p.m., QRU Community Room, 201 Bills Road, Lakeside. Family friendly, prizes, snacks, beer and wine. Meet QRU members. Call Brenda, 408-384-2125.

MONDAY

- Red Cross blood drives: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Libby High School; 1-6 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- Fair-Mont-Egan School board negotiations work session 4 p.m.

- Women Who Wine of the Flathead meet 5:30-7 p.m. Montana Modern Fine Art, 127 Main Street, Kalispell. All welcome; $30 donation and bottle of wine for wine auction. Proceeds benefit Tamarack Grief Resource Center.

- West Valley Naturalist will meet 7 p.m., West Valley School, Kalispell Mike Koopal of the Whitefish Lake Institute and Ryan Richardson from River Design Group are guest speakers.

TUESDAY

- Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5:30 p.m., Church at Creston.

- Creston School Hiring Committee meets at 3:30 p.m.

- Somers School District board retreat 6 p.m., Somers Middle School.

WEDNESDAY

- ImagineIF Libraries board meets at 9 a.m., meeting room, Kalispell. Call Connie Behe, 758-5824.

- Friendship Force Flathead Valley meets for breakfast 9 a.m., Sykes Restaurant, Kalispell. Learn about unique travel experiences and opportunities. Call Priscilla, 756-9332.

- Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., St. Joseph Medical Center, Polson.

- Free Falun Dafa Qigong instruction easy-to-learn exercise instruction for all ages, 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays in March, Kalispell Senior Center, 40 11th St. W. Call Katherine, 257-9798.

- Polson Chamber of Commerce meets noon to 1 p.m., KwaTuqNuk Resort, Polson. Lunch available. Public welcome. Call 883-5969.

- Kalispell Toastmasters Club No. 3147 hosts a Humorous Speech Contest, noon to 1 p.m., Gateway Community Center. Public invited. Look for sign in hall. Call 212-6433.

- Kalispell Senior Center Sunshine Chorus rehearses old favorite songs at 1 p.m. today at the Center to present free concerts at area senior care facilities the following Wednesday of the month. All are welcome to sing.

- 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.

- Bob Marshall Wilderness Speaker Series presents “Wildlife in the Whitefish Range” by Tim Thier, 7 p.m., Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public invited.

THURSDAY

- Brews for Benefits, 6-8 p.m., Cabinet Brewing, Libby. $1 for each beer sold donated to NW Montana Chapter of Firefighter Lookout Association.

- Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Columbia Falls Community Room; sponsored by Columbia Falls Rotary.

- Montana Department of Transportation open house to discuss future of U.S. 93 through downtown Whitefish, 3-7 p.m., City Hall.

- Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “U.S. Foreign Policy toward Africa: Why Africa Matters” by Cindy Courville, first U.S. ambassador to the African Union and former special assistant to the president for African affairs, National Security Council, 7 p.m., Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. Call Gerta Reeb, 756-3889.

FRIDAY

- Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- Dream Adaptive Snow Ball Gala, 5:30-9:30 p.m., The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Dinner, no-host bar, silent and live auctions, music by Halladay and Rob Quist, keynote Montana native, adaptive X Games medalist Kevin Michael Connolly. Tickets are $85 per person, $160 per couple, $625 for a table of eight; www.dreamadaptive.org/events

- Sunset snowshoe hike or traditional hike, 5:30-7 p.m., Wayfarers Unit, Flathead Lake State Park, Bigfork, Meet at Ranger Station. Rental snowshoes first-come, first-serve. Reservations recommended. Call 837-3041.

A LOOK AHEAD

- Dream Adaptive Shred-a-Thon, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 7, Whitefish Mountain Resort. Awards for most vertical feet skied or boarded in multiple categories, prizes for most funds raised, raffles, giveaways; www.dreamadaptive.org/events

THOUGHT

“The only sense that is common in the long run, is the sense of change — and we all instinctively avoid it.” — E.B. White, American writer (1899-1985).

- Free the Seeds! annual fair, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 7, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell. Giant seed swap, 40 booths, workshops, panel discussions, kids’ activities.

- Flathead Building Association Home and Garden Show, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Discounted advance tickets at www.buildingflathead.com. Tickets $7 per person or $13 per family at door.

- Learn the basics of building an LGBTQ-inclusive community, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7, Whitefish United Methodist Church, Wisconsin Avenue. Free. Lunch and childcare provided.

- Glacier Knitting Guild meets 11 a.m. March 7, 139 S. Main Street, Kalispell. Call 755-YARN.

- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hosts a great gray owl citizen science program training and orientation,noon to 2 p.m., March 7, Lone Pine State Park, Kalispell. Learn how to collect data on these secretive raptors for this multi-year study. To register, call 755-2706, ext. 2.

- Bigfork MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Family Fun Day fundraiser, 1-4 p.m. March 7, Bigfork Elementary School. Carnival games, bounce house, face painting, cake walk and more. Free admission; donations welcome.

- Red Cross blood drive, 1-6 p.m. March 9, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- Creston School Hiring Committee meets at 3:30 p.m. March 9.

- West Valley School board meets 6 p.m. March 9.

- Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group meets 6-8 p.m. March 9, The Summit, Kalispell. Topic is”Strategies for Maintaining Confidence & Self-Esteem” by Lynae West with Summit Independent Living. Survivors, family, friends are welcome. Refreshments. Call Jennifer, 756-4725.

- Flathead Conservation District 310 Stream Permit meeting 7 p.m. March 9, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

- Red Cross blood drive, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 11, FVCC.

- West Valley School special board meeting 5 p.m.; followed by regular board meeting 5 p.m. March 9.

- Flathead Audubon meets at 7 p.m. March 9, in the United Way conference room, Gateway Community Center, U.S. 2 West, Kalispell. Laura Katzman will talk about her travels to the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Victoria Falls area of Zimbabwe. Enter from west side of building. Free. All welcome.

- West Valley Naturalists meet 7 p.m. March 11, West Valley Middle School Commons, 2290 Farm to Market Road, Kalispell. Lone Pine park ranger Derrick Rathe will talk about living with large mammals in West Valley. Free. Everyone welcome. Call Linda de Kort, 755-3704.

- Red Cross blood drive, 1-6 p.m. March 12, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- Columbia Falls Historical Society chili feed fundraiser 4:30-7 p.m. March 12, St. Richard’s Catholic Church. Door prizes, silent auction, raffle, slide show presentation on history of Columbia Falls Aluminum Company. All welcome.

- Kalispell Lions Club open house, 5:30-7 p.m. March 12, 4Bs Restaurant, 660 E. Idaho, Kalispell. All welcome. Call 406-309-0992.

- Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “Forever Enemies? U.S. Relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran” by Mark Gasiorowski, professor of political science at Tulane University, 7 p.m. March 12, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. Call Gerta Reeb, 756-3889.

- Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 13, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- AARP Driver Safety Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14, The Summit, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

- 10th annual Princess Benefit Ball, 7-11 p.m. March 14, Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. Dancing, games, raffles, giveaways. Proceeds go to Montana Hope Project. For tickets go to https://valicitysonceuponatime.org

- Kalispell Elks Lodge hosts a Flathead Valley Vendors Show, 1 to 5 p.m., March 15, 1820 U.S. 93 S. Free admission. Jewelry, clothing, self-defense items, crafters, cooking and cleaning items, nail art, photography, woodworking and more. Drinks and food available. Call Melody Managhan, 890-4325.

- Red Cross blood drive, 1-6 p.m. March 16, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- 15th annual Nite of Jazz fundraiser, 6:30 p.m., March 16, Glacier High School auditorium. $5 adults; $3 students. Proceeds split 50/50 between schools and Kiwanis.

- Evergreen Chamber of Commerce Energizer and ribbon cutting, 5-6:30 p.m. March 18, CHS, 700 Rail Park Drive, Kalispell. Food, beverages, door prizes. Call 885-1212.

- Alzheimer’s Association free educational program on “10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s,” 5:30-7 p.m. March 18, The Springs at Whitefish Glacier Room, 1001 River Lakes Pkwy. RSVP requested at 24/7 Helpline, 800-272-3900.

- Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Wave, Whitefish.

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets at 12:30 p.m. March 19, Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- 11th annual Loud at the Library fundraiser, 6-8:30 p.m. March 19, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Dance music by YYAS, food, beer and wine, raffles live auction. Tickets $50.

- Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “Brexit, Borders and Markets in a Globalizing World” by Craig Parsons, professor and department head of political science at the University of Oregon, 7 p.m. March 19, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public welcome. Call Gerta Reeb, 756-3889.

- Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 20, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

Kalispell Elks Lodge hosts an indoor cornhole tournament, March 20, 1820 U.S. 93 S. Sign up 5 p.m. Tournament 6 p.m. $10 per two-person team. Cash and door prize. Food and bar available.

- Nature Kids Child Care is presenting a screening of the film “Missing 411: The Hunted” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Cedar Creek Lodge in Columbia Falls. Tickets $25. Call 892-1115.

- AARP Driver Safety Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 23, Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 752-7266.

- Red Cross blood drives March 23: 1-6 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell 1-6 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church.

- Flathead Conservation District business meeting 7 p.m. March 23, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

- Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Winter Speaker Series, 7 p.m. March 23, Northwest Montana History Museum, Kalispell. Mary Riddle, chief of Planning and Environmental Compliance at Glacier Park presents “What We Know and What We Don’t Know for 2020: Planning, Construction and Other Program Activities in Glacier National Park.” Free. Public invited.

- Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m. March 24, Good Shepherd Church, Polson.

- Red Cross blood drives March 25: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Glacier Bank, Bigfork; blood mobile; 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kalispell Elks Lodge.

- Red Cross blood drives March 26: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kalispell Ford; 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. U.S. Forest Service.

- Red Cross blood drives March 27: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kalispell Toyota, blood mobile; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- United States Air Force Academy Band’s Stellar Brass present a free concert, 7 p.m., March 28, Bigfork Center for Performing Arts. Free tickets available online at eventbrite.com.

- Red Cross blood drives March 30: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saint John Paul II Church, Bigfork, sponsored by Knights of Columbus; 1-6 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 31, Browning High School.

- Bob Marshall Wilderness Speaker Series presents “Living with Carnivores in Northwest Montana,” by Bryce Andrews, 7 p.m. April 1, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Public invited

- West Valley School board meets 5 p.m. April 13.

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets at 12:30 p.m. April 16, Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- Glacier Park fee-free day April 18 for first day of National Park Week/Junior Ranger Day. Entrance fees waived.

- Alzheimer’s Association free educational program on “Effective Communication Strategies,” 5:30-7 p.m. April 22, The Springs at Whitefish Glacier Room, 1001 River Lakes Pkwy. RSVP requested at 24/7 Helpline, 800-272-3900.

- West Valley School board meets 5 p.m. May 11.

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets at 12:30 p.m. May 21, Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- West Valley School board meets 5 p.m. June. 8

- Whitefish Woody Weekend June 26-28, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

- Hockaday Museum of Art’s annual Arts in the Park, July 10-12, Depot Park, Kalispell. Live music,a wine and beer garden, food trucks, free children’s activities. Admission is $5 for a three-day pass; includes entry into the Hockaday Museum of Art. Children age 6 and under are admitted free.

- Glacier Park fee-free day Aug. 25 for National Park Service birthday. Entrance fees waived.

- Glacier Park fee-free day Sept. 26 for National Public Lands Day. Entrance fees waived.

- Glacier Park fee-free day Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. Entrance fees waived.