Winter vacation at the Mat-Su Boys and Girls club, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays through Jan. 5, 3700 E. Bogard Road, Wasilla. Club offers workshops, field trips, games to ages 7 and up. (357-2582)

Turf for Tots, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex, 1001 E. Mack Drive. Let your toddlers run free on the turf court. $5 per child; 10-punch admission $40. (357-9100)

Wasilla Rotary, noon, Evangelo's Restaurant, 2530 E. Parks Highway, Mile 40, Wasilla. (Barbara, 376-7700)

Expectant and new mothers' meeting, 7:30 p.m., Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, 2500 S. Woodworth Loop, Palmer. Support, encouragement and information for breastfeeding mothers sponsored by La Leche League of the Mat-Su Valley, free. (357-6455)

THURSDAY

COMMUNITY

Blood drive, noon-5 p.m., Palmer Fred Meyer, 650 S. Cobb St. LIFEmobile on site for drive, appointments accepted. (376-1195, www.bloodbankofalaska.org)

Sutton Community Book Club, 6 p.m., Sutton Library reading room. (745-4467)

Willow Lions Club, 7 p.m., Willow Community Center. (495-2935)

FRIDAY

COMMUNITY

Turf for Tots, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex, 1001 E. Mack Drive. Let your toddlers run free on the turf court; $5 per child; 10-punch admission, $40. (357-9100)

Child car seat check, 1-3 p.m., Alaska Sales and Service, 6275 E. Blue Lupine Road, Wasilla. Allow 30-45 minutes for the check, free, sponsored by Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults. (352-1200)

Identity theft class, 7-8 p.m., Palmer area, call for location. Free class on how to avoid ID theft. (746-2286)

ON THE TOWN

Paws and Taws square dance club, 7-8:30 p.m. class, 8:30-10 p.m. dance, Salvation Army building on Evergreen Avenue, Palmer. (745-3841, 745-1951)

SUNDAY

On the town

Texas Hold 'em, 7 p.m., Tug Bar, Mile 18 Knik-Goose Bay Road, Wasilla. (376-5720)

New Year's Eve party, 7 p.m., Schwabenhof, Mile 7.5 Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Alternative blues, folk music by John Cook and Allison Ingram, 3-course dinner available. $5-$35 (357-2739)

New Year's Eve Extravaganza, 8 p.m.- 1 a.m., Motherlode Lodge, Mile 14 Palmer-Fishhook, Hatcher Pass. Live music, favors, door prizes, champagne toast, midnight buffet, $25-$30. (745-6171)

TUESDAY

COMMUNITY

Mat-Su Valley Toastmasters Club, 7:30 a.m., Windbreak Cafe, Parks Highway, Wasilla. Guests welcome. (Dennis Moore, 746-6558; Mary Kvalheim, 376-5742)

North Root Big Lake Gardeners, 6:30 p.m., Big Lake Library. (892-6599)

Alaska Frontier Trappers Association, 7 p.m., Palmer library, 655 S. Valley Way. (376-6703)

Valley Garden Club, 10:30 a.m., Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1201 Bogard Road, Wasilla. (892-0993)

COMING UP

Strong Women strength building program organizational meeting, noon, Jan. 4, Cooperative Extension Service, 809 S. Chugach, Palmer. Get information about this strength building beginning-level program for middle-aged and older women. Group will meet at 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in January and February. (745-3360)

Winter trails day, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 6, Hatcher Pass sledding area parking lot, Mile 10.6 Palmer-Fishhook Road. Free snowshoes and cross-country skis/boots/poles provided, hot refreshments. (745-9690)

Cancer prevention and survival cooking course, 1-3 p.m. Mondays Jan. 8 through Feb. 26, Willow Community Center, Mile 69.7 Parks Highway. Eight-session course teaches low-fat vegetarian diet, free. (495-6848)

Knit a sweater class, 1-4 p.m., Crossroads Center, corner of Bogard and Seldon roads, Wasilla. First Thursday monthly class through April 15. $50 for four classes. (373-5717, www.valleysock.com)

Cardio kickboxing class, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 8-May 14, Mat-Su Borough gymnasium, 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer. Cardio workouts include kickboxing, martial arts and basic sports move, registration required, $149. (745-9578, Recreational.Services@matsugov.us)

T'ai Chi Ch'uan class, 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 16-March 8, Mat-Su Borough gymnasium, 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer. Learn the art of T'ai Chi in this beginner class, registration required, $175. (745-9578, Recreational.Services@matsugov.us)

Dining with Diabetes, 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays Jan. 11-25, Cooperative Extension Service, 809 S. Chugach, Palmer. Hands-on cooking class for diabetics and their families; registration required, $15. (745-3360)

Learn to play hockey for ages 4-8, Jan. 16, Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex, 1001 E. Mack Drive. Nine sessions with Avalanche players and staff, $85. (357-9100)

WORTH THE DRIVE

Holiday Magic Extravaganza, 2 and 6 p.m. today, Snow Goose Theatre, 717 W. Third Ave., Anchorage. Alaska Magic Kids perform routines and stage illusions. $5-$8, $15 families. (1-907-522-1364)

New Year's Fire and Ice Extravaganza, 3-8 p.m., Sunday, Town Square, Anchorage. Fire jugglers, circus performers, music, ice skating, food, fireworks. (www.anchoragedowntown.org/events)

New Year's Eve holiday special at the Talkeetna Roadhouse, Sunday, Main St. Family-style supper, room and breakfast. (733-1351, www.talkeetnaroadhouse.com)

COMMUNITY NEWS

Artists wanted: The LoonAttic invites artists to participate in a monthlong juried exhibit Jan. 17-Feb. 15 at its location, 2061 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla. The "Effects of Light and Shadow" show is open to Alaska residents 21 and older; 2-D original, unjuried works completed in the last three years only. Entries limited to 25; submit Jan. 13-14 with entry form, $30. For information, call Linda Henning, 841-2453.

Be a Tax-Aide volunteer: AARP Alaska seeks volunteers for its Tax-Aide program, which helps low- to moderate-income Alaskans prepare their tax returns. Free IRS-certified training is scheduled for January and a commitment of four hours per week is expected from early February to April 15. (1-888-AARPNOW or www.aarp.org/taxaide)

Goodmoms Maternity Program: Mat-Su Regional Medical Center offers a free prenatal service for Mat-Su residents who are expecting a baby and plan to deliver at the center. Pregnant women can obtain a brochure and enrollment form from their doctor or call 861-6849. Goodmoms brings together the resources that expecting moms need to ensure the best childbirth experience possible.

Public skate: Brett Ice Arena hosts public skate noon to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 7-8:45 p.m. Tuesdays, 1:15-3:15 p.m. Saturdays; Palmer Ice Arena hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays, 7:15-8:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Sundays; Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex hours are noon to 1:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sundays, noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays. All locations are closed Christmas and New Year's day.

Blood Bank of Alaska Mat-Su: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The center is located at 851 E. Westpoint Drive in Wasilla. With parents' consent, 16- and 17-year-olds can donate.

Open swim, 6:30-8:30 p.m. weeknights, 5:30-6:30 p.m. alternate Sundays at Wasilla pool, 701 Bogard Road, and Palmer pool, 1170 W. Arctic Ave. $4.75 adults, $3.50 youths/seniors, $12 for family of four. Swimmers must be 9 years or older or accompanied by responsible person age 13 or older. (373-6899)

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions will be closed Saturday in observance of the holidays. Regular household recycling hours are noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The center is on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway at 49th State Street. For information, call 745-5544.

Send submissions two weeks before the event by fax to 352-6736, via e-mail at MatSuEvents@adn.com or fill out the form at www.adn.com/help/forms/v-events, then choose "Mat-Su Events" in the menu.