Today
• Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp Chili Dip at noon, followed by chili feed, at the camp. Suggested donation of $20 includes long-sleeve shirt; $8 for chili only, $4 for children. Proceeds go to student scholarships. Call Aaron, 844-3201.
• Annual Polar Bear Plunge, The Raven, Woods Bay, Flathead Lake. Registration 10:30 a.m. Parade begins at 1:45 p.m. Plunge 2 p.m. Bring towel, warm clothes, shoes.
• Evergreen Disposal will not provide garbage service today, New Year's Day. Today's route will be picked up on Friday; Friday's and Saturday's route will be picked up on Saturday.
• City of Kalispell Solid Waste Division will not be picking up 90-gallon containers today due to the New Year's Day holiday. Today's route will be picked up on Friday. Have containers out by 7 a.m. Call 758-7720.
• North Valley Refuse will have regular service today.
• Kalispell Senior Citizens potluck dinner party, 1 p.m., Kalispell Senior Center, 403 Second Ave. W. Bring a potluck dish if you can. All area seniors welcome; 257-1598.
Friday
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Flathead Sled Dog Days. Meet the sled dogs and racers 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, O'Shaughnessy Center, Whitefish. Skijor demonstration, games, raffles, silent auction. Races begin 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Olney trailhead, on Olney Cross Over Road, mile marker 145.5.
• Bet Harim Jewish Community of the Flathead Valley New Year Sabbath celebration, 6 p.m. Glacier Unitarian Fellowship, 1515 Trumble Creek Road, Kalispell. Candle lighting, potluck supper. All welcome. Call 756-5159.
• The film documentary, "Bam 6.6" about the earthquake aftermath in city of Bam, southern Iran in December 2003, will be shown at 6:30 p.m., home of Tom Kragh, 306 Bayview Ave., Polson. Call 883-4509 or 862-1629.
• Immaculate Conception Parish in Polson hosts a free family and fellowship community dinner, 5-7 p.m., lower level of church. All welcome.
Saturday
• Flathead Sled Dog Days. Races 9 a.m. today and Sunday at Olney trailhead, on Olney Cross Over Road, mile marker 145.5.
Local author John Fraley signs his new book "Wild River Pioneers," 2-4 p.m. Borders, Mountain View Plaza, U.S. 93, Kalispell.
Sunday
• Flathead Audubon 10th annual Kalispell Christmas Bird Count. Meet at 7 a.m. at Finnegan's Restaurant. Call Dan Casey, 857-3143 evenings, or 756-5681 days to participate. $5 per adult.
• Flathead Sled Dog Days. Races begin 9 a.m. at Olney trailhead, on Olney Cross Over Road, mile marker 145.5. Awards ceremony 4 p.m. Buffalo Cafe, Whitefish.
• Columbia Falls Community Choir begins practices for 2009 season, 2-4 p.m., Columbia Falls Junior High School. Sign-in and music pick-up 1:30-2 p.m.; practice follows. Call Ron Bond, 892-5174.
Monday
• Flathead County Animal Shelter advisory board meets 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Flathead County Health Department second floor conference room, 1035 First Ave. W. Public welcome.
• Lake County Republican Women's Club meets noon to 1 p.m., Wheat Montana, Polson. Lunch available. Call 883-9209 by 11 a.m. to order.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Flathead Chronic Pain Support Group meets 5:30-7 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Group meets on a weekly basis. Learn how to cope with pain and improve your quality of life. Free. Call Dr. Alex Bokor, 250-5252.
• The film documentary, "Bam 6.6" about the earthquake aftermath in city of Bam, southern Iran in December 2003, will be shown at 6:30 p.m., Whitefish Public Library, 9 Spokane Ave., All welcome. Call 862-1629.
Tuesday
• Kalispell Public Schools Finance Committee meets at 7 a.m., District Administration Building.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., West Kootenai.
Flathead National Forest Avalanche Awareness Program, 6:30-8 p.m. The Wave, Whitefish. Free. No registration necessary.
Wednesday
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Todd Widman will discuss the "Crossfit Challenge." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
A Look Ahead
• Flathead Nonprofit Development Partnership free brown bag seminar, "Nonprofit Funding and Budgeting in Today's World," 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 8, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. RSVP to 755-1135.
• Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Jan. 8, North Valley Community Center, Columbia Falls.
3 Flathead Municipal Airport Authority meets at 4 p.m., Jan. 8, Glacier Park International Airport board room. A master plan update workshop begins at 11:30 a.m.
• Museum at Central School History Book Club meets 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8, at the museum, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Part two of Stephen Ambrose's book, "Undaunted Courage" will be discussed. All welcome to attend. Call 756-8381.
• Local institute of Noetic Sciences Community Group meets 7 p.m., Jan. 8, Bohemian Grange, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, Whitefish. Steven Gordon, owner of The Bridge Medical Center, will talk about cellular processes affecting degenerative disease. All welcome. Donations appreciated. Call 862-9591 or 862-7711.
• Evergreen Special Services Child Find screening for children 0 to 5 years old, 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 9, East Evergreen Elementary School. All welcome. Call 751-1113, ext. 23 to make an appointment.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 9, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Flathead Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees meets at noon Jan. 9, Perkins Restaurant, Kalispell. Lunch is $8. For reservations, call Bill Driver at 837-2744.
• Summit Independent Living Center offers advanced beginner's level sign language classes weekly at 2 p.m. Fridays, beginning Jan. 9. Cost $5 per class or $25 for all six. Call 257-0048.
• Polson Orchards Apartments holds a public informational meeting and design review, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9, Polson City Library Community Room. Lake County and Polson residents welcome.
• 50th annual Whitefish Winter Carnival Merry Maker, 6 p.m. Jan. 10, Great Northern Bar and Grill, Central Avenue, Whitefish. Dinner tickets $15 available at bar and Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, 520 E. Second. St. Call 862-3501.
• John White Lecture Series presents its first lecture with John Fraley discussing his book "Wild River Pioneers, 2:30 p.m., Jan. 11, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $25 for all four lectures; or $7.50 per lecture for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 12, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Church of the Nazarene offers a six-week course, "Parenting Your Teen, 7 p.m. Mondays, beginning Jan. 12, 1295 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell. Presenters are Les and Leslie Parrott. Call 755-4179.
• Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited offers free weekly fly tying classes beginning 7 p.m. Jan. 12, Kalispell Middle School, 205 Northwest Lane. All materials provided free of charge. Bring own tools and vises. Youngsters should be accompanied by an adult. Call Jim Johnson, 837-3210; or Chris Schustrom, 260-1198.
• Flathead Audubon meets 7 p.m. Jan. 12, The Summit, Kalispell. Ansley Ford and Denver Holt present "Owls - Who Are They?" Free. Public invited.
• Public is invited to a free community lecture 7:30 a.m., Jan. 13, Pathways Treatment Center, 200 Heritage Way, Kalispell. Dr. Richard Wise talks about "Anxiety and Depression: A Personal and Professional Perspective."
• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon, noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 13, North Valley Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Guest speaker of Lyle Phillips and Gary Winship of Montana West Economic Development. No reservations required. Lunch available for $9. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.
• AARP Driver Safety class, noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 13, North Valley Senior Center, Columbia Falls. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 892-4087.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 13, Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell.
• Swan River School board meets at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 13, school library.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 14, Troy High School.
• Evergreen School District board meets at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 14, administration building boardroom.
AARP presents a program for care givers of elderly drivers, "We Need to Talk - Conversations with Older Drivers," 7 p.m. Jan. 14, The Summit, Kalispell. Free. Call 751-4500 to register.
• Reception for Salish Kootenai College artists Corky Clairmont, Linda S. King and Jay Jay Polite Laber at Flathead High School and the Hockaday Museum of Art, Jan. 15. Public invited.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 15, The Wave, Whitefish.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 16, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Ming Lovejoy of Biopro gives a presentation on "The Wireless Dilemma: An Inconvenient Truth about Convenient Technologies," 6:45-9 p.m. Jan. 16, A Biopro workshop follows, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 17. Both events free and held at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, 1380 Wisconsin Ave. Public welcome. Registration required by calling 212-2729.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 17, The Summit, Kalispell. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 19, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 20, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Jan. 21, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Holly Nichols talks about "Healthy Cooking." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jan. 21, Plum Creek conference room.
• Red Cross blood drives, Jan. 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; and 1-4 p.m. Kalispell Toyota, in the blood mobile.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 11:30 a.m., Jan. 22, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 23, Wal-Mart, in the blood mobile.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 am. to 3 p.m., Jan. 24, Best Buy, in the blood mobile.
• "Fashion Goes Green" cost-conscious fashion show and tea with The Refinery and Essentials Day Spa, 2-4 p.m. Jan. 25, New Outlaw Inn, Kalispell. Tickets at Books West and The Refinery. Proceeds go to Flathead Democratic Women's Scholarship Fund. Call Nancy Westberg, 756-3145; or Judie Stewart, 752-2955.
• John White Lecture Series presents beer museum curator Steve Lozar who discusses Montana's history of beer brewing, 2:30 p.m., Jan. 25, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $7.50 for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 26, St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 293-0100.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 26, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 27, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $14 fee ($12 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 863-3630.
• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 27, Polson Methodist Church.
• Red Cross blood drive, 1-5 p.m., Jan. 28, Elks Club, Kalispell.
• Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Jan. 29, North Valley Baptist Church.
• Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 30, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Feb. 4, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Topic is "Marriage Counseling." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• John White Lecture Series presents Will Hammerquist speaking on the topic, "Glacier Beyond One Hundred - What Does the Next Century Hold for Glacier National Park?" 2:30 p.m., Feb. 8, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $7.50 for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. Feb. 18, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Topic is on the preschool fair. Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• John White Lecture Series presents wildlife consultant Brian Peck who will give a presentation on wolf mythology and recovery in Montana, 2:30 p.m., Feb. 22, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $7.50 for museum members; $10 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., Feb. 26, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. March 4, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Sherry Johns talks about "Puppets for the Preschooler." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• MOMS (Mothers Offering Moms Support) meets 9:15-11:15 a.m. March 18, Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell. Brian Tankos discusses "How to Write a Living Will." Child care provided. Call Heidi Durban, 253-4886.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., March 26, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative board meets 11:30 a.m. April 23, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., May 28, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.
• Flathead Special Education Cooperative executive council meets, 8:30 a.m., June 25, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., second floor conference room.