Today, Feb. 19

• Red Cross blood drive 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Libby VFW.

• Friends of the Library meet at noon, ImagineIF Library meeting room, Kalispell. All interested welcome. 

• Bigfork Toastmasters meets first and third Thursday of month, noon to 1 p.m., Glacier Bank, Montana 35, Bigfork. Bring a lunch if you wish.

• Flathead City-County Board of Health meets 1-3 p.m., administration office, Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. E., Kalispell.

• Fair-Mont-Egan School special public board meeting 4 p.m.

• Visiting musicians Fank-Liu and Jessica Chen from Taiwan present a master string class and concert, 5-6 p.m., room 144, Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Science, FVCC. Free for public to observe. Call 756-4813.

• Evergreen Chamber of Commerce Energizer, 5-6:30 p.m., Conlin’s Furniture, 1441 Montana 35. Food, beverages, door prizes. Call 885-1212.

• Lakeside and Somers Chamber of Commerce seventh annual Captain’s Award banquet, The Rack Shack, Somers. Cocktails 5:30 p.m.; dinner 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets $25 per person; $30 at door. RSVP to info@lakesidesomers.org

• Glacier Forum presents John Fuller on the topic “Judeo-Christian Faith of our Founders and the Republic,” 6:30 p.m., Sykes’, 202 Second Ave. W. Kalispell. For dinner reservations, call 257-4304.

• Flathead Valley Genealogical Society meets, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1380 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell. Business meeting 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. on Salt Lake City family history conference titled “Roots Tech 2015.” Free. Open to public. Call Lynne Bradley, 756-9245.

• Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead Valley meet at 7 p.m., lower level of Eagles building, 37 First St. W., Kalispell. Call 881-4288.

Friday

• Montana Pond Hockey Classic, today through Sunday, Woodland Ice Center, Woodland Park, Kalispell. Games 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday. Community skate rink with free rentals, fat bike demos, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Championship rounds 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell. 

Saturday

• Montana Pond Hockey Classic continues today and Sunday, Woodland Ice Center, Woodland Park, Kalispell. Games 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Community skate rink with free rentals, fat bike demos, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Championship rounds 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

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

• Glacier Woodturners meet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21, Kalispell Center Mall. Call 755-1795.

• 10th annual Spellebration event 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Play competitive team Scrabble and raise pledge money for the Literacy Center of Northwest Montana. Timed game sessions available at 10 a.m. to noon, 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Food. Prizes. Call Randi Colby, 257-7323; or Helen Cates, 270-4407.

• Felix Jimenez with Glacier Stamp Club gives a lecture on Hispanic heritage as illustrated in a vast collection of stamps, 1 p.m., Heckathorn Room, Whitefish Community Library. Free. Public invited. Call Natalie, 862-2679.

• Free seminar presented by Shamael Wolverton of Swiftfire Ministries International on “Quantum Healing with Essential Oils,” 1-5 p.m. Wellness Education Center, 103 Ponderosa Ln., Kalispell. Call 755-8423.

• Fifth annual Winter Fest, 5 p.m., Polson Elks Club Ballroom. Live music by Blue Smoke. Silent and live auctions, raffle. Barbecue dinner. Admission $10. Benefit for Soup’s On at the Wander Inn free food program for need. Call 883-95160 or 871-1109.

• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation annual banquet, 5 p.m. Expo Building, Flathead County Fairgrounds. Live, silent auction, raffles and more. Tickets limited. Call Kim Wold, 257-9110 to reserve tickets.

• Author Doug Chadwick reads from his book in progress about the bears of the Gobi Desert, 8 p.m., Crush Lounge, Whitefish. Live music by Marshall Catch at 9 p.m. Sponsored by Whitefish Review.

Sunday

• North Valley Senior Center pancake breakfast fundraiser 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 205 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, juice and coffee. $6 per person. All welcome. Call 892-4087.

• Whitefish Shines committee takes down winter decorations, 8:30 a.m.  Volunteers should meet at corner of Central Avenue and Second Street. Call Chris Schustrom, 260-1198; or Jim Trout, 862-6661.

• Montana Pond Hockey Classic championship rounds 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Woodland Ice Center, Woodland Park, Kalispell.

• John White Lecture Series presents wildlife biologist Doug Chadwick speaking on his explorations of ecosystems from Siberia to the Congo, Canada and Northwest Montana, 2:30 p.m., Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Tickets $6 for museum members; $9 for nonmembers. Limited tickets at door. Call 756-8381. 

• Winter Wildlife Ecology family-friendly guided hike, 2-4 p.m., Lion Mountain Trailhead, Whitefish Trail. Call 862-3880.

• 2015 Special Olympics Montana State Winter Games today through Feb. 24, Whitefish Mountain Resort. Competition in alpine and cross country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Parade of Athletes 4 p.m. today, Central Avenue in Whitefish. Public invited.

Monday

• 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 283-7000.

• 2015 Special Olympics Montana State Winter Games today through Feb. 24, Whitefish Mountain Resort. Competition in alpine and cross country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.

• Flathead County Democratic Women meet at Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell. Social 11:30 a.m.; luncheon at noon, $12. Speaker is Lucy Smith, executive director of Flathead Community Foundation. Call Lynne Bradley, 756-9245; or Judy Cox, 755-1507.

• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Gateway to Glacier Trail meeting and potluck, 6 p.m., Historic Tamarack Lodge, Columbia Falls. All interested in building a bicycle/walking trail from Coram to West Glacier invited. RSVP to gateway2glacier@gmail.com

• Glacier National Park Associates Winter Speaker series presents Rick Yates, U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist on “Wolverine Ecology in Glacier Park,” 7 p.m., Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Free. Public invited. Call 756-8992.

• Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. Chris Peterson from Hungry Horse News gives a presentation titled “ Walk on the Wild Side.” Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Leah Levitt, 892-6105 or 261-6874.

• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents Jean Twenge on “Generation Me and the Rise of Individualism,” 7-8:30 p.m., Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.

Tuesday

• 2015 Special Olympics Montana State Winter Games conclude today, Whitefish Mountain Resort. Competition in alpine and cross country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.

• Kalispell Public Schools Policy and Communications Committee meets 8:30-10 a.m., administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• 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.

• City of Kalispell Impact Fee Advisory Committee meets 4 p.m., City Hall Chambers, 201 First Ave. E., Kalispell. Open to public. Call 758-7722.

• Dragon Boat Festival public information meeting, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Lakeside Town Center lobby, 306 Stoner Loop Road, Lakeside. Discussion on possibility and logistics or relocating event to Lakeside.

• Kalispell Public Schools district board work session 6-8 p.m., Kalispell Middle School Library.

• Montana Coalition for Peace in Israel and Palestine presents a program titled, “The Geography of Palestine and Israel and the Variety of People Who Live There,” 6:30 p.m., Whitefish Public Library community room. Call 862-1629.

• 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.

• Lakeside Community Council meets 7 p.m., QRU Building, 201 Bills Road. Open to public.

Wednesday

• ImagineIF Libraries board meets at 9 a.m., meeting room, Kalispell. Call Kim Crowley, 758-5826.

• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Kalispell Center Mall.

• Jodie Barwiler speaks about her son City Piasecki’s death from a heroin overdose, 6 p.m., Flathead High School, Kalispell. Other guest speakers will present related talks; information available on local resources; local musicians; reachoutmt@gmail.com

• Lentil Underground five-course dinner with author Liz Carlisle and Montana farmer David Oien, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Eagles Nest, FVCC. Book reading, 6:45-7:47 p.m. Seed swap, 7:45-9 p.m. For tickets, call 406-443-7272.

A look ahead

• Red Cross blood drives Feb. 26: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Glacier Park; 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. Feb. 26, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Kalispell Senior Citizens business meeting and potluck supper, 5 p.m. Feb. 26, Kalispell Senior Center, 403 Second Ave. W. Speaker is Gil Jordan from Museum at Central School. Bring a potluck dish or pay $3. Call 257-1598.

• Savvy Social Security Seminar, 6-7 p.m. Feb. 26, The Summit, Kalispell. What baby boomers need to know to maximize retirement income. Free. Call Kim Taylor, 752-7232.

 • Glacier Institute hosts a lecture by Dave Shea titled, “Wildlife Encountered by Lewis and Clark,” Feb. 26, Conrad Mansion Museum, 330 Woodland Ave., Kalispell. Wine and desserts served at 6 p.m. Presentation begins 6:30 p.m. Cost $10 per person. RSVP required. Call 755-2166.

• Red Cross blood drives Feb. 27: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Joseph Medical Center, Polson.

• Lake County Pachyderm Club meets noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 27, Polson Rural Fire Department on Regatta Road near fairgrounds. Mike Maddy, owner of Ridgewater and Realtor Dennis Duty will talk about the development. Social time 11:30 a.m.; meeting at noon. Papa Don’s catered lunch available for $10. Call Penny Jarecki, 883-2248.

The Wave’s 10th anniversary celebration, Feb. 27-28, Whitefish. Happy hour 5-6 p.m. both days. Giant Zumba class in the gym and children’s Carnival  Feb. 27. Juice bar 7-10 a.m. and huge yoga class 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 28. Public invited.

• Big Arm community potluck, 6 p.m. Feb. 27, Historic Big Arm School. Email Nancy Foster at jeffrey.foster@sbcglobal.net

• Lake County legislators meeting 7-9 p.m. Feb. 27, North Valley Lake County Library, 2 First Ave. E., Polson. Sen. Janna Taylor, Reps. Greg Hertz and Dan Salomon will report on key issues in Montana Legislature. Coffee and cookies served. All welcome.

• Caring Chiropractic hosts a fundraiser 2-6 p.m. Feb. 28, Sykes’ basement meeting room, Kalispell. Potluck finger foods, Organo coffee and tea, Norwex cleaning products and more sold with proceeds supporting ongoing care of underprivileged in local community.

n Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country prime rib dinner and auction, 5 p.m. Feb. 28, Gardner’s Auction House, U.S. 93 South, Kalispell. Tickets $50. Tables of eight available. Call 261-4232.

• Mission Valley Christian Academy “Staying Alive” disco-themed auction and dinner fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28, at the school, 3897 Montana 35, Polson. For tickets, call 883-6858.

• Anime Club for teens in grades six to 12 meets 4-5:30 p.m. March 2, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell.

• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents Phil Zuckerman on “The Rise of the ‘Nones’: Why More Americans are Becoming Non-religious,” 7-8:30 p.m. March 2, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.

• International House of Pancakes 10th annual National Pancake Day, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. March 3, Kalispell. Free short stack of buttermilk pancakes with donation requested to Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

• Dr. Carrie Merrill of North Valley Hospital gives a presentation on “Breastfeeding and Beyond: Nutrition through the Toddler Years,” 10-11 a.m. March 4, The Springs at Whitefish, 1001 River Lakes Parkway. Light refreshments. Educational handouts. Raffle for participants. Children welcome. RSVP by Feb. 27, 863-3632.

 • Opening reception for Open Space art exhibit, 5-7 p.m. March 5, Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free admission. Public invited.

• Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and Montana Wilderness Association Wilderness Speaker Series presents Steve Primm, founder of People and Carnivores on “The Wild is Consequential: Grizzlies, People and Sharing the Land,” 7-8:30 p.m. March 5, Arts and Technology Building, room 139, FVCC. Free. Public invited. Call Carol Treadwell, 406-387-3847; or Amy Robinson, 406-730-2006.

• Opening reception for “Workers in Our Woods: A Show by Gretchen Finch,” 5-7 p.m. Bigfork Museum of Art. Public invited. Call 837-6927.

• Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, 2-2:30 p.m. March 7, Kalispell Center Mall. Mark Flatau, superintendent of School District 5, is guest reader. Songs, stories, party activities. All ages welcome.

• Fifth annual Princess Benefit Ball, 7 p.m. March 7, Red Lion Hotel Kalispell. Games, dancing, gift basket raffles and drawing. All proceeds benefit Angel Flight West.

• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents “Gregg Davis on “Obamacare and Legalized Recreational Marijuana,” 7-8:30 p.m. March 10, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.

• 29th annual Ronan Women’s Club craft fair and flea market, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 14, Ronan Community Center. Handmade crafts, woodworking, jewelry. Silent auction. Homemade lunch of Indian tacos, fry bread, soup and sandwiches. Call Alice Gleason, 406-676-5079.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 4 p.m. March 17, Main Street, Kalispell. $100 award for top parade entry. Call Mark Lalum, 755-7400 or 261-1654.

• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents Christopher Muste on “Polarization, Fragmentation and Culture Wars: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” 7-8:30 p.m. March 17, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.

• Lakeside County Water and Sewer district board meets 2 p.m. March 17, district meeting room, 253 Bierney Creek Road.

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 4 p.m. March 17, Main Street, Kalispell. $100 award for top parade entry. Call Mark Lalum, 755-7400, ext. 2233; or 261-1654.

• Sixth annual Loud at the Library fundraiser, 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 19, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Live music by Can’t Hardly Playboys, appetizers, beer, wine, raffle baskets, silent auction. Tickets $30 ($20 tax deductible). Call 758-5821.

• Glacier Institute hosts a lecture by Justin Barth titled, “ Stories from the Top — Glacier’s Fire Lookouts,” March 19, Conrad Mansion Museum, 330 Woodland Ave., Kalispell. Wine and desserts served at 6 p.m. Presentation begins 6:30 p.m. Cost $10 per person. RSVP required. Call 755-2166.

• 4-H Interstate Exchange spaghetti supper and dessert auction, 5:30 p.m. March 20, Flathead County Fairgrounds. Tickets $6 each or $20 for family of four. Public invited.

• Flathead Outdoor Club meets 7 p.m. March 23, The Summit, Kalispell. Anne Clark talks about her kayaking adventures. Coffee and tea served. Everyone welcome. Call Leah Levitt, 892-6105 or 261-6874.

• Glacier National Park Associates Winter Speaker series presents photographer Chris Peterson with a program about his 200-mile hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, 7 p.m. March 23, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Free. Public invited. Call Dan Goehring, 837-1171.

• Flathead Valley Community College Honors Symposium Series presents Stephanie Coontz on “The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap,” 7-8:30 p.m. March 23, Arts and Technology Building, FVCC. Free. Seating limited. Public welcome. Call Ivan Lorentzen, 756-3864.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. March 26, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Teen social for grades 6-12, 4-5:30 p.m. March 26, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Crafts is shrink plastic jewelry, food, Wii gaming. Free. 

• Children ages 6-10 invited to a hands-on architecture project, 2-4 p.m. March 28, ImagineIF libraries in Kalispell and Columbia Falls.

• Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and Montana Wilderness Association Wilderness Speaker Series presents Chris Peterson, Hungry Horse News and Glacier Magazine, on "A Walk on the Wild Side-A 200-mile Hike in the Spirit of Bob Marshall.”  7-8:30 p.m. April 2, Arts and Technology Building, room 139, FVCC. Free. Public invited. Call Carol Treadwell, 406-387-3847; or Amy Robinson, 406-730-2006.

• Sixth annual Glacier Fiddle Festival, 6 p.m. April 10 with dancing and contestant jam; and 9 a.m. and all day, Smith Valley Grange, U.S. 2 West, Kalispell. Public invited. Call 406-309-2735.

• 49th annual Creston Auction April 11-12. Consignment Day is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 10. Grounds open 8 a.m. April 11; auction, 9 a.m. Vehicle and equipment sale noon April 12. Hot food and drinks. Free parking and entrance. Call 250-7396.

Call 881-4288. Semi-annual Trees to Paper to Trees recycling drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 11, Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell. Bring sorted newspapers, magazines, office paper, cardboard, aluminum and plastics.

• Fee free days April 18-19, Glacier National Park. All entrance fees waived National Park Week opening weekend.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. April 23, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. May 28, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. June 11, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• In the Footsteps of Norman MacLean Festival, July 10-13, Seeley Lake on the Blackfoot River, Double Arrow Resort and Camp Paxson. Smokejumping highlight, writers’ workshop and tour of Mann Gulch; www.macleanfootsteps.com. Call Jenny Rohrer, 406-754-0034. 

• Opening reception for traveling exhibit, “Piecing Together a Changing Planet: Climate Change in America’s National Parks,” 5-7 p.m. July 30, Hockaday Museum of Arts, 302 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Free. Public invited. Call 755-5268.

• Fee free day Aug. 25, Glacier National Park. All entrance fees waived in honor of 99th birthday of National Park Service.

• Fee free days Nov. 11, Glacier National Park. All entrance fees waived in honor of Veterans Day.