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TODay

- Annual Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Smith Lake near Kila. Prizes for biggest fish and hourly drawings. Warming fire and chili, hot dogs and hot drinks. Small entry fee.

- Red Cross Leaders Save Lives blood drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- Skijoring competition, today and Sunday, Rebecca Farm, Kalispell. Skiers will be pulled behind a galloping horse and rider through an obstacle course.

- Glacier Skate Academy presents “New Years On Ice, two shows at 4 and 7 pm. today; 2 p.m. Sunday Whitefish Ice Den, Wisconsin Avenue. Special guests are professional skater Craig Finney and Luke Walrath from Alpine Theatre Project. Tickets at www.glacierskateacademy.org or at door.

Sunday

- Skijoring competition continues at Rebecca Farm, Kalispell. Skiers will be pulled behind a galloping horse and rider through an obstacle course.

- Glacier Skate Academy presents “New Years On Ice,” 2 p.m., Whitefish Ice Den, Wisconsin Avenue. Special guests are professional skater Craig Finney and Luke Walrath from Alpine Theatre Project. Tickets at www.glacierskateacademy.org or at door.

Monday

- First Day Hike 10 a.m., Flathead Lake Wayfarers State Park, Bigfork. Moderate 1-2-mile guided hike. Leashed dogs welcome. Call 837-3041.

- Annual Polar Bear Plunge, 2 p.m., Woods Bay, Flathead Lake. The Raven opens 10 a.m., 15321 Montana 35. Parking limited; www.ravenbigfork.com

- First Day Hike, 5-6:30 p.m., Lone Pine State Park near Kalispell. Guided or self-guided hike. Some snowshoes will be available to borrow. Sleds and dogs on leash welcome. Warming fire and hot drinks by picnic shelter. Call 755-2706.

- Evergreen Disposal will not be running routes today. All routes will be delayed one day this week through Jan. 5.

Tuesday

- “Beans for the Bob,” community coffee day, Coffee Traders all locations. All proceeds from drip coffee purchases donated to Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation.

- Red Cross blood drives: 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Immanuel Lutheran Communities; 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

Wednesday

- Friendship Force of the Flathead Valley meets for breakfast, 9 a.m., Sykes, Kalispell. All interested in travel welcome.

- Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Whitefish High School.

Thursday

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

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

A look ahead

- Flathead Avalanche Center presents a free, one-hour Avalanche Awareness talk and class, 7-8 p.m. Jan. 3, Stumptown Snowboards, Whitefish; fac.admin@flatheadavalanche.org

- Cholesterol screening and education, 7-10 a.m. Jan. 4 and first Thursday of every month, The Summit, Kalispell. Includes triglycerides, glucose, cholesterol, HDL and LDL. Walk-in clinic; no preregistration required. Fast 8-12 hours prior and drink plenty of water. Cost $30; $27 for seniors. Call Kathy Prim, 751-4500.

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

- Flathead Avalanche Center presents a free, one-hour Avalanche Awareness talk and class, 7-8 p.m. Jan. 4, Stonefly Lounge, Coram; fac.admin@flatheadavalanche.org

- Red Cross blood drives Jan. 5: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Glacier Bank, Main Street, Kalispell

- Montana Mountain Mushers offer free skijoring/dogsledding fun days, 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 6-7, Seeley Lake Trailhead (Morrell Creek), north of Seeley Lake.

- Columbia Falls Community Choir begins practices 2-4 p.m. Jan. 7, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Columbia Falls. Sign in and music pick up 1:30-2 p.m. Call Steve Holte, 730-2396.

- Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. Jan. 8 at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

Thought

“Work is a dull thing; you cannot get away from that. The only agreeable existence is one of idleness, and that is not, unfortunately, always compatible with continuing to exist at all.” — Rose Macaulay, English poet and essayist (1881-1958).

- AARP Driver Safety Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 8, Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 752-7266.

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

- Flathead Conservation District 310 Stream Permit meeting 7 p.m. Jan. 8, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

- Pleasant Valley School Board meets 5:45 p.m. Jan. 9.

- Mission Valley Rises: Democracy Engaged community group presents a talk by Svein Neuman of the Northern Plains Resource Council titled, “ Working Together: Community Action Workshop, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 9, Ronan Senior Citizen Center, 528 S. Main St. SW, Ronan. Public invited. Call Gail Trenfield, 406-745-3001.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 9, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 10, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; sponsored by Fresh Life Church.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 12 at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

- Rocky Mountain Rollers Good Sam RV Chapter meets and lunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 13, Scotty’s (back room), 2205 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell. Guests welcome. RSVP to Billy, 752-5090 or Lynne, 755-4942.

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Management board and Executive Council meets at noon Jan. 18, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- Teen social for grades 6-12, 4-5:30 p.m. Jan. 18, ImagineIF Library, Kalispell. Food, Wii gaming. Craft is Mardi Gras art. Free.

- Annual New Year, New Me event, Jan. 19-20 Village at Sunburst, Community Service Foundation, 2282 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell. Class Day is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 19. Free interview, job seeking and financial skills training. Those attending are eligible for a free makeover Jan. 20, including hair cuts, nail painting and more. To sign up, call Josh or Shyanne at 756-8721.

- Annual Montana Pond Hockey Classic, Jan.19-21, Foy’s Lake, near Kalispell. Up to 80 teams compete on several ice rinks. Concessions.

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

- AARP Driver Safety Course, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 22, Libby Christian Church, Libby. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 406-283-7000.

- Flathead Conservation District business meeting, 7 p.m. Jan. 22, 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell, 752-4220.

- Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Winter Speaker series, 7 p.m. Jan. 22, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Ranger Teagan Tomlin presents “If Rocks Could Talk” on the geologic history of the park. Free. Public invited.

- Winter Warm Up event, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 25, Gateway Community Center, 1203 U.S. 2 W., Kalispell. Free winter clothing, blankets, health, housing and job services, hair cuts, and ID replacement. Free hot meal served 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., children’s activities, educational sessions and more.

- Marion Fire District board meets at 5 p.m. Jan. 25, Marion Community Center, 180 Gopher Lane. Public welcome.

- Forester and wildlife researcher Brian Baxter leads a free animal and sign interpretation class, Jan. 27. Slide presentation “The Essence of Animal Tracking” 9 a.m. Snappy Sport Senter, 1400 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell, followed by field session. To register call Snappy’s, 257-7525.

- Cancer Support Community Mardi Gras Gala, Feb. 10, Red Lion Hotel ballroom, Kalispell. Zydeco music and dancing, dinner, games, silent auction. Tickets $100 each, $150 per couple, $750 per table; www.csckalispell.org

- West Valley School board meets 5 p.m. Feb. 12.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 13, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets at noon. Feb. 15, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Winter Speaker series, 7 p.m. Feb. 26, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Diane Boyd with Fish, Wildlife and Parks presents “The Journey Home for Montana’s Wolves” about wolf recovery in Montana. Free. Public invited. Call Cheryl Klein, 270-4189.

- Special Olympics Montana-Glacier Area hosts Regional Winter Games, March 5, Whitefish Mountain Resort. Call Aaron Gleason, outreach director, 509-993-6841.

- West Valley School board meets 5 p.m. March 12.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. March 13, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008..

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets at noon March 15, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Winter Speaker series, 7 p.m. March 26, Museum at Central School, Kalispell. Park wildlife program manager John Waller presents “The Furtive Felids of the Forest” about wildcats. Free. Public invited. Call Cheryl Klein, 270-4189.

- West Valley School board meets 5 p.m. April 9.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. April 10, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Management board and Executive Council meets at noon April 19, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- West Valley School board meets 5 p.m. May 14

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets at noon May 17, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

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

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. June 12, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets at 9 a.m. June 14, 15 Meridian Court, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. July 10, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. Aug. 14, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 11, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 9, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 13, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.

- Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 11, The Summit, Kalispell. Call Joan, 871-1008.