Community notes: Week ending Aug. 24 Published Aug. 24, 2012 MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Red Cross blood drive slated The Red Cross is holding their August blood drive on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the base gymnasium. Anyone interested in donating can schedule an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: airforce), or call the local Red Cross chapter at 727-2212; however, walk-ins are always welcome. For more information, call Senior Donor Recruitment Representative, Scott Shanahan, at 403-0956 or 1st Lt. Brandon Clements at 731-6628. Grizzly tracking classes coming up The Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation Program and Sierra Club are hosting three grizzly tracking classes in the Gravelly/Snowcrest and Tobacco Root Mountains: Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, Sept. 7 to 9, and Sept. 21 to 23. Preference is given to military families and veterans. Individuals, in groups of two or four, will learn how to identify tracks and find DNA samples off fence lines, scats and rub trees. Participants must be comfortable hiking in rough terrain and only sign up if planning to attend because of limited space available. For more information, call the ASC at (406) 579-7902. Outdoor Recreation trips slated The following is a family-oriented outdoor adventure trip offered by Malmstrom's Outdoor Recreation: · A Glacier Backpacking trip is scheduled to leave Aug. 31 at 6 a.m. and return Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. All individuals going must attend a Backpacking 101 and Pre-Trip Planning class scheduled for Aug. 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The trip will include hiking six to 10 miles each day. For additional information, call Outdoor Recreation at 731-3263. MSC to host social at Bowling Center Malmstrom Spouses Club is hosting a social Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bowling Center. The cost is $5 per person and includes three games of bowling, shoe rentals, pizza and drinks. For more information, visit MSC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/malmstromspouses or call Jamie Leavey at 406-866-0883. Catholic religious education classes to begin Teachers and volunteers are needed for Catholic religious education classes set to start Sept. 9. For more information, call 731-3285. Volunteers needed at Paris Gibson Square Paris Gibson Square will be the host site for an Arts on Fire event on Sept. 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. Organizers are looking for 25 to 30 volunteers to provide security during the event and to check identifications. Volunteers will be provided with free food, a security T-shirt to wear while volunteering and two additional tickets to the event to share with friends. Members interested in volunteering should contact Jeff Kuratnick at 727-8255. Potential volunteers are asked to sign up by Aug. 25 so shirts can be ordered. Buddy Walk registration has opened The 3rd Annual Under the Big Sky Buddy Walk will take place Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. at the University of Great Falls. Pre-registration opened Aug. 1 and will continue through Sept. 8. Go to https://sites.google.com/site/underthebigskydsparentgoup/home for more information and a registration form. The Buddy Walk was created by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate down syndrome awareness month in October. Thrift Store summer and fall hours Now through the end of August, the Thrift Store will be open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Starting Sept. 4, the store will be open on Tuesdays, Fridays and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To find out more, visit the store's Facebook page. New CDMO office hours Malmstrom's Consolidated Dormitory Management Office has new operational hours. The office will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyone needing emergency assistance after hours should call the CDMO stand-by phone at 788-8674. Worship and Bible studies · Charismatic Worship and Bible Study is held at the Chapel Annex on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. · Contemporary Worship and Bible Study will be held in the Chapel sanctuary on Sundays from 2 to 3 p.m. starting Aug. 26.