POLSON — The Mission Valley Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest will take place Sunday, Nov. 23, at Linderman Gymnasium. Boys and girls ages 8-13, (as of April 1, 2015), from Polson, Ronan and surrounding areas, may compete. There is no cost to participate and no admission charged. Free registration and warm up starts at 11:30 a.m. and the contest begins at noon. Boys and girls compete separately in the following categories: 8-9 years old, 10-11 years old and 12-13 years old.

Winners of each age group advance to the district contest on Dec. 6 in Pablo. For more information, call David Rensvold at (406) 250-0771.

POLSON — A Red Cross Blood drive will be held in Polson on Tuesday, Nov. 25, between noon and 5 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1002 Fourth Ave. E.

POLSON — No community dance will be held at the Elks on Wednesday, Nov. 26, because of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will meet again for dancing on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Ken’s Country Combo will play their brand of tunes. Come and enjoy the fun and bring a treat to share with the group. Have a happy holiday and see you then. 

ARLEE — The Parents as Teachers program of the Lake County Public Health Department is sponsoring a Playgroup at the Hangin’ Art Gallery in Arlee on Wednesday, Nov. 26. For more information, call the Lake County Public Health Department at (406) 883-7209.

POLSON — On Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 6:30 p.m. Good Shepherd Lutheran will host worship entitled “Thanksgiving for Children.” The Pilgrims, the foods and the reasons for giving thanks will be explained in ways children can understand.  Beautiful traditional hymns will be sung. Bring your children to this 45-minute worship service. Both they, and you, may celebrate Thanksgiving the next day and every day, in a new way!The church is located at 409 Fourth Ave. E in Polson. For more information, call (406) 883-5864, email us at: gslcpolsonmt@gmail.com or visit our website at: www.gslcpolsonmt.com.

RONAN — It started small eleven years ago by Marie Cowan. Over the years, it has grown tremendously. The 11th annual Ronan Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be on Nov. 27, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center. 

Festivities for the day include entertainment and a traditional turkey dinner. Volunteers are needed to help serve, cook, buss and clean up. Turkeys, pies, and rolls, are also needed. Call Brandy Chisholm at (406) 250-8808 to donate food and Ronan Chamber at (406) 676-8300 to volunteer some time. 

Everyone is welcome to attend and the dinner is free. Donations will be gladly accepted at the door or sent to Ronan Community Volunteers, PO Box 254 Ronan, MT 59864. Come share all that is good in the world with friends and new acquaintances.

POLSON – Everyone in the Polson community is invited for a homemade Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Dinner is free, and all are welcome. To request a ride or dinner delivery, please call the Polson Senior Center at (406) 883-4735, by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26. If you would like to make a donation, call (406) 883-4735. Anything you can do is appreciated.

RONAN — A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 35681 Terrace Lake Rd., Ronan. You can go to www.ronanchurch.org, for more information.

DAYTON — Thanksgiving events at Mission Mountain Winery take place on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

This is a part of the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. We will show you how to pair holiday foods with wines. Come try our special meatballs in spicy Cabernet sauce, Chana Batata Curry with Riesling, Cheesecake drizzled with Cocoa Vin and Vanilla Cream Oatmeal Cookies and Nouveaux Riche Muscat and 72% dark chocolate with our Gold Medal winning Reserve Merlot and our Gold Medal winning Cabernet. Mission Mountain Winery is located on Highway 93 in Dayton on the west shore of beautiful Flathead Lake.

RONAN — On Saturday, Nov. 29, Kicking Horse Job Corps will hold its first annual Christmas bazaar from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Spaces for vendors are free, but vendors must provide their own tables not to exceed 6 feet long. Space is limited. To reserve a table, contact Jennifer Finley at (406) 644-2217 or Finley.Jennifer@jobcorps.org by Nov. 17, and she will mail or email you a registration form.

RONAN — Ronan’s Adult Education will have open gym at K. William Harvey Elementary School on Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18, from 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Come enjoy a community game of basketball. Must be 18 or older. Please call Francy Moll at (406) 676-3990 ext 7728, for more information. 

RONAN — The eighth annual “Community Spirit Basket Fundraiser” event, sponsored by Community Bank, will take place between Nov. 3 and Dec. 11. Local businesses/ organizations from the community donate baskets of goods and raise funds for the Ronan and Polson Food Pantries. Raffle tickets will be sold at the front desk at either of the Ronan and Polson lobbies for $1 and placed in the basket of the purchaser’s choice. (Need not be present for drawing.) The drawing will take place on Thursday, Dec. 11, in conjunction with the Ronan Chamber Roundup held at Ronan Community Bank from 5–7 p.m. The basket drawing will be at 6 p.m. Call for additional details at (406) 676-4600.

RONAN-PABLO-POLSON — The Community Bank “Holiday Dollar” Program, offering 0% APR Holiday Dollar loans to qualified applicants for purchase of goods and services in Ronan, Pablo and Polson, begins on Nov. 17. Participating merchants will accept “Holiday Dollars” at face value through Dec 31, 2014. Call (406) 676-4600, for details.

RONAN — The Mission Mountain Quilt Guild will hold their Christmas party/potluck on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Terrace Lake Community Church on Terrace Lake Road in Ronan. There will be two demonstrations, one on a ‘30 Something Ruler’ by Laurie Schmitt; the other a new method for bias binding by Robyn Schock.  Please bring your crayons and completed crayon challenge and lots of show and tell. I’m sure you’ve all been making lots of wonderful things for Christmas. The “self-portrait” class that was planned for Dec. 13 has had to be postponed. Everyone is invited; see you there.

St. Paul Lutheran Church - Advent Services at 7:00 pm. Join us for soup supper before the service at 6:00 pm. The church is located at 35861 Terrace Lake Road, Ronan. Call the church at 676-8280 for more information

RONAN - Midweek Advent Worship Service and Soup Supper. Faith Lutheran Church in Ronan will be holding soup suppers during Wednesdays in December (December 3, 10 and 17) at 6 pm followed by evening worship services at 7 pm. All are welcome as we enter this Advent season worshiping our God who comes to dwell with us.

RONAN — The Ladies Auxiliary VFW 5652 is having their December meeting on the first Wednesday this one time. It will be on Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Ronan. 

Anyone interested in joining us or for more information, call Marge Fay at (406) 767-3380.

RONAN — The Ronan Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Program presents its sixth annual Orange and Black Scrimmages in conjunction with a fundraising dinner and silent auction. 

Come and support the Ronan Chiefs and Maidens on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Ronan Event Center. All monies raised will help pay for meals when the Ronan teams travel.

Dinner is served from 5:30-7 p.m. and the auction begins at 5 p.m. 

For more information, or to donate an item for the auction, call Sandra Wirz, parent volunteer, at (406) 203-2850.

ST. IGNATIUS — The St. Ignatius Chamber of Commerce will sponsor their annual Christmas Carnival for kids of all ages on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Community Center at 6:30 p.m. There will be prizes, games and many fun events. Santa will be there so don’t miss out.  

Also, the chamber birthday calendars are in. If you have not received yours, please call LaVonne Olmsted at (406) 745-3423. There are a few left over, so you may purchase one even if you did not place an order, at Lake County Bank or from LaVonne for $10. 

POLSON — Sandpiper Gallery will have their holiday open house on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6. The Gallery will present a large selection of art and crafts for all your holiday decorating, gift giving and celebrations. Don't forget the Art Walk in downtown Polson on Friday, Dec. 5. For more information, call (406) 883-5956.

POLSON — Local author Cynthia Doll will be signing copies of her book, “The Sparrow’s Choice,” at Dawn’s Floral Designs, 318 Main Street, on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Doll is a local author, and her historical novel is set in 1907 on the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho.

POLSON — The 15th Annual Parade of Lights starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, with the arrival of Santa. Come see all the beautiful decorations and enjoy the Art Walk at the local downtown businesses. Businesses will stay open late for the festivities.

POLSON — Please support the Life Savers Animal Rescue fundraiser and purchase the perfect gift bag of toys and treats to make your favorite pet’s holiday the best ever. We will be in front of Glacier Bank on Main Street in Polson at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. We also will have gifts for your favorite animal lover.

POLSON — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints invites the community to “The Light of the World,” a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, from 2-8 p.m.  The celebration includes a exhibit of over 200 Nativity displays and a musical performance on Saturday at 6 p.m. The church is located at 1104 Fourth Ave. E, directly west of Super One.

POLSON — Providence St. Joseph Medical Center will host a health insurance enrollment fair through Montana’s Health Insurance Marketplace on Saturday, Dec. 6 in the hospital lobby from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Although open enrollment began Saturday, Nov. 15 and runs through Feb. 15, 2015, those who wish their coverage to start Jan. 1, 2015 must enroll by Dec. 15, 2014.

Current Marketplace enrollees and those who are considering enrollment have many opportunities for assistance. Providence St. Patrick Hospital and CSKT Tribal Health have Certified Application Counselors on-staff to assist with individual enrollment.

Anyone who needs coverage in 2015, including those enrolled in 2014 coverage, should visit Healthcare.gov to review new plans, changes to premium rates, and to update household income information to ensure accurate tax credits for 2015.