PABLO — “Making Fitness Fun” is a free program for children ages 7 and older. Activities run Monday to Thursday, June 9 to Aug. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Joe McDonald Fitness Center on SKC campus. Sign ups can be done at any time throughout the summer at the Fitness Center. Organizers plan to provide free supervision to children while they participate in organized activities like swimming, hiking trips, kickball, football, baseball, basketball, dodge ball, Native games, volleyball, soccer, shinny, bike riding, nutritional education and more.

Free transportation to Ronan and Polson Boys and Girls Clubs will be offered at noon. A free nutritional breakfast and lunch is also offered at the Fitness Center, Monday-Thursday with breakfast served from 8:30-10 a.m. and lunch served from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Meals are for any age child up to 18 years old.

To sign-up or for more information, contact Paul Phillips at (406) 275-4917 or Mike Tyron at (406) 275-4916. 

POLSON/RONAN — The summer program start date for both the Polson and Ronan Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs is Monday, June 16. Both clubs will end their summer programs on Friday, Aug. 22. Summer program hours are from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.flatheadbgc.org or call either the Ronan club at Phone: (406) 676-5437 or the Polson club at (406) 883-0521.

POLSON — Port Polson Players will present “Almost, Maine,” a romantic comedy, Aug. 14-31, at Polson’s beautiful theatre on the lake. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. For reservations or more information, call (406) 883-9212.

RONAN — From June 9-Aug. 15, all children 18 years of age and under will be served breakfast and lunch at no cost to their families. Meals will be served at the Ronan Middle School Commons from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. for breakfast and from 11:30 a.m.-12:55 p.m. for lunch. RSD No. 30 is considered an “open site” and may feed at no cost any and all children who wish to participate. Children are not required to live in the district.

All adults must pay cash for meals at the time of service at a rate of $4 for lunch and $2.50 for breakfast.

ST. IGNATIUS — Zion Lutheran Church at 300 Second Ave. in St. Ignatius is having Vacation Bible School the week of Aug. 11-15.  The theme is “Gangway to Galilee” and all activities and snacks will be geared to that topic. The schedule is from 8:30-11:30 a.m. All children 3 years old and up are welcome. For more information, you may call Rev. Kyle Whaley on Tuesdays or Thursdays at (406) 745-3423 or (406) 883-4041 on other weekdays.

POLSON — All area children entering first-eighth grade are invited to an Ecumenical Vacation Bible Camp sponsored by the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Aug.11-15. Camp this year will be held at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 409 Fourth Ave. E in Polson from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Students in grades first-sixth will enjoy music, arts and crafts, Bible Study and more at Good Shepherd Church. Students in grades seven and eight will do service projects. A registration and medical information form is required. There is no charge per student but a good will offering will be collected each day. Please RSVP to Julie at (406) 883-5864, as soon as possible and bring filled out forms on Monday, Aug. 11, to Good Shepherd.

POLSON — A cancer support group for cancer patients, cancer survivors and caregivers meets twice a month on the second and fourth Mondays at the United Methodist Church, 301 Sixteenth Ave. E from noon-1 p.m. 

Participants can bring lunch or join members at a restaurant following the meeting. For more information about the support group, call Tammy at (406) 883-7284 or (406) 824-2868

POLSON — Polson’s Foursquare Church will hold a Sports/Art Camp Vacation Bible School Aug. 11-15, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The church is located 3.5 miles north of Polson Bridge. There will be a free dinner at 5 p.m. Camp includes flag football, archery or art classes. Registration can be made at: www.polsonfoursquare.org.

POLSON — The next gathering of the “Thyme for Herbs Group” will be Monday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. in the North Lake County Public Library meeting room, 2 First Ave. E (use the east side door). Our topic will be “Being Prepared for Viruses.” We will also discuss harvesting and storing herbs and saving seeds of herbs and heirloom vegetables.

Come learn which herbs you need to have in your home and how to use them to stay well. Anyone interested in learning to use herbs is invited to join us. Bring your questions for discussion. For more information, call Linda Peterson (406) 319-2446.

POLSON — There will be a Polson School District board meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the district office, 111 Fourth Ave. E.

The Polson City/County Planning Board is holding work sessions to review draft changes to the Polson Development Code. The Polson Development Code contains the zoning and subdivision regulations for the City of Polson and surrounding area. The public is invited to attend and participate in the meetings. Each meeting will be held in the Polson City Council chambers.  The next meeting is on Monday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. and it will cover sign regulations.

POLSON — Join us for a field day on on-farm food safety. We’ll do a walk-through of Fresh Roots Farm with food safety experts. Together, you’ll be able to see the farm through the experts’ eyes: What are the problem areas? What are possible easy fixes? We encourage you to bring your challenges and have the group help you brainstorm cheap and easy ways to make sure you’re being safe and careful with your products. This field day is occurring in partnership with the Western Montana Growers’ Coop and their group GAP certification pilot program. Visit http://missoulacfac.org/on-farm-field-days.html, for more information and to register.

RONAN — The American Legion Post 138 in Ronan is meeting, (second Tuesday), Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 63869 Highway 93, across from McDonalds. New members are welcome. For more information, contact Jack Fay at (406) 676-3380.

POLSON — Wednesday, Aug. 13, is “lucky 13” because there is a community dance at the Elks’ Ballroom from 7-10 p.m. Heart to Heart will play country and old rock and roll music. Come and bring all of your friends.

POLSON — The Marine Corps League meets every second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Driftwood Family Restaurant in Polson. For more information, call John Miller at (406) 890-0964 or usmcfox21@gmail.com. 

RONAN — The Ladies Auxiliary VFW 5652 meeting is Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ronan VFW Hall, 35981 Round Butte Road. New members are welcome. For more information, call Marge Fay at (406) 676-3380.

POLSON — The Polson Rural Fire District trustee monthly meeting takes place Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds station. All residents of the Polson Rural Fire District are encouraged to attend. Any member of the public wishing to submit items for Board review/consideration needs to submit them to the Board Clerk at least ten days in advance of the meeting. For a full text of approved minutes and the agenda, please go to: www.polsonfire.org.

MONTANA — The American Red Cross encourages all eligible blood donors to make an appointment to donate blood soon to help prevent a shortage. 

A blood drive will be held in Polson on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center, 6 13th Ave. E. 

To donate blood call (1-800) 733-2767 or visit: redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. 

POLSON — Miracle of America’s monthly “second Thursday free program” will start at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 14. This month’s event will cover VJ Day (victory over Japan) to officially end WWII. Where were you 69 years ago? Whether on the battlefront or on the home-front, please come and share your feelings, photos, or memorabilia. A showing of related artifacts recently added to the museum collection will take place and refreshments will be served.

POLSON — The fourth annual Flathead Lake Blues Festival will be held Friday, Aug. 15, and Saturday, Aug. 16, at Salish Point. For more tickets or more information, visit the website at: www.flatheadlakebluesfestival.com. If you have questions, contact David Venters at (406) 885-2377.

RONAN — Ronan Cheerleading tryouts are scheduled weekdays Aug. 15 through Aug. 22 in the black box. Call coach Lena Baertsch with your questions and for times, at (406) 676-3390 ext. 7500.

POLSON — A benefit concert for Aiden Reichman, son of Mark and Kristi Reichman, will be held at the Elk’s Club, Saturday, Aug. 16 from 4-8 p.m. There will be a spaghetti dinner, door prizes, silent auctions and live music featuring the Wild Flowers. 

To volunteer in serving or donate for the auction, please contact dmreichman@hotmail.com, or call Mark at (406) 552-8665 or mtwildflowers50@yahoo.com. Donations can be sent to Community Bank in Ronan, in care of Aidan Reichman. 

ST. IGNATIUS — Everyone is invited to Wings For Wishes Over Montana, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16 -17, at the St. Ignatius Airport. Our goal is $4,000; which is what it takes to make a dream come true for one child. Times are tough and donations have been a little lower than usual, so please find it in your hearts to come to the event next Saturday. Saturday is our big day at the St. Ignatius Airport and we will have a barbecue, a raffle and a silent auction. We need all the help and support we can get. Help us make a difference. One hundred percent of the profits go to the Make A Wish Foundation. We can make it happen with your help.

POLSON — In anticipation of the Apple Pie Festival, Polson’s Immaculate Conception Parish is collecting sugar for making apple pies at at every weekend liturgy in August. (Many thanks for last month’s flour donations.) 

We are also looking for a large chest-type freezer to store the finished pies in come October. For more information, call Cristina at (406) 887-2234 or Linda at (406) 490-4897. 

POLSON — The Polson Triathlon is a locally run, locally inspired Olympic distance triathlon. It will be held Saturday, Aug. 16. Please visit: www.polsontriathlon.com, for more information. Whether you are an experienced veteran, intimidated beginner or curious spectator, we hope you will join us for a great day in Polson.

MONTANA — The American Red Cross encourages all eligible blood donors to make an appointment to donate blood soon to help prevent a shortage. A blood drive will be held in Pablo on Aug. 18 from 3-7 p.m. at Salish Kootenai College, 52000 Hwy 93. 

To donate blood call (1-800- 733-2767) or visit: redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. 

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. 

High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

ST. IGNATIUS — The St. Ignatius Chamber of Commerce is taking orders for the 2015 community birthday calendar. There will be a table at Rod’s Harvest Foods Aug. 18, Aug. 30, Sept. 2 and Sept. 12. The deadline is Sept. 21. You may call LaVonne Olmsted at (406) 745-3423, to arrange for another time. 

POLSON — The Smart Driver Course will be given at the Polson Senior Center from 8:30-11:00 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Call (406) 883-4735, for a reservation

ARLEE — Staff from the “Parents as Teachers” program of the Lake County Public Health Department will be at the Hangin’ Art Gallery in Arlee every Tuesday in August from 10-11:30 a.m. Pregnant and parenting moms and their children who are under 5 years old are invited to come visit and learn more about the PAT program.

Family Support Specialists will be on hand with activities and information about program and yummy food will be provided. The PAT program is a free, voluntary program that provides twice monthly home visits with age-appropriate activities for children from birth to age five, developmental screenings and information and referrals to area resources. Moms can be enrolled in the PAT program as soon as they are pregnant, which many moms-to-be and dads find to be very helpful, since babies don’t come with a manual.

For more information, call the Lake County Public Health Department at (406) 883-7209.

POLSON — Ken’s Country Combo to play more rock and roll at community dance on Aug. 20. Join us at the Elks on Wednesday, for a stroll down Memory Lane and revisit your rock and roll favorites from 7 to 10 p.m. Treats are welcome.

POLSON — A community input meeting for the Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana will be held Aug. 21 from noon-1:30 p.m. at the North Lake County Public Library in Polson.

The meeting is one of eight in northwest area cities to gather community input and information on their strategic planning process, which is currently underway. The meetings will give local community members, business owners, nonprofits and public officials the chance to share information about the needs that they see in their communities. For more information, call Allison Metzler at (406) 758-5432 or email ametzler@capnm.net.

POLSON — The deadline for our Pet Look-a-Like photo contest has been extended to Thursday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.

Voting will take place at the Mission Valley Animal Shelter’s 25th anniversary celebration on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 1–3 p.m. at Riverside Park.

POLSON — Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour will be held Thursday, Aug. 21, from 5-7 p.m. Your host will be Miracle of America Museum. Hope to see you there.

POLSON — Indian National Finals Tour Rodeo, sponsored by the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino and the CSKT Tribes, will be held Aug. 21-23 and begins each evening at 6:30 p.m. with live music after the rodeo each night. Food and beverage concessions will be available as well as vendor spaces. This event has been voted “Rodeo of the Year” for the past two years; so don’t miss it. For more information, contact Pete White or Sheila Matt at (406) 883-3636.

POLSON — Tickets are on sale now for the eighth annual PEO Chapter sponsored crab crack on Friday, Aug. 22, from 5-7 p.m. at the Glacier Brewery. Tickets are $30 per person and include King Crab, shrimp, Jojo potatoes, cole slaw, lemonade and dessert. Beer will be sold separately. Bring your own crab cracking tools. Get your tickets at Glacier Brewing, Terrace Flowers and Gifts, or by calling (406) 883-1676. A limited number of tickets are available; any remaining tickets will be sold at the door. We frequently sell out, so please do not rely on purchasing tickets at the door if you plan to bring a group.

PEO is a philanthropic educational organization that provides educational opportunities for women in the form of scholarships, grants, awards and loans.

POLSON — Five Sandpiper member artists will show their hand with a full house of art mediums of oils, watercolor, ink, photography and mixed media showcased at a reception on Friday, Aug. 22, from 5-7 p.m. at the Sandpiper Gallery on Main Street.

ARLEE —  The Inter-Tribal Playwright Center of Arlee will have a kick-off event Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22 and 23. Please join us for a reading of “Frog’s Dance,” a one act play by acclaimed playwright, William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. (Assiniboine, Wolf Point), at Hangin’ Art Gallery on Highway 93 in Arlee. A pre-show discussion with Yellow Robe and members of the cast will start at 6 p.m. The play starts at 7 p.m. with a post show panel discussion. There is open seating and a free will donation accepted at the door. For additional information, call (406) 370-3358 or visit: www.hanginartgallery.com.

BIGFORK – On Saturday, Aug. 23, Montana's premier world percussion ensemble, Drum Brothers, will present an outdoor concert at Sliter's Park Riverbend Stage in Bigfork. It's been two years since the group has offered a concert in Bigfork and they're excited to be returning to this great venue. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. and children 12 and under will have free admission. For interviews or questions, please contact Drum Brothers at (406) 531-8109 or satsang@blackfoot.net. For more information, visit: www.drumbrothers.com or on facebook.

PABLO— The People’s Center’s annual Powwow and Artist Market is Aug. 23, in the arbor from noon-8 p.m. The “Best Fry Bread” contest is back at 2 p.m. The Powwow takes place between 4-8 p.m. with Grand Entry is at 4 p.m. Call (406) 675-0160, for information.

POLSON — Mark your calendars for the Polson Rotary’s annual Chili Cook-off on Saturday, Aug. 23.  

CHARLO — Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will perform “As You Like It” on Sunday, Aug. 24, at 6 p.m., in Palmer Park on Highway 212, about 3 miles west of Highway 93. In a Montana twist, the comedy, “As You Like It,” will be set in Butte during the tumultuous years of the Copper Kings and the union conflicts.

POLSON — Join the Mission Valley Animal Shelter in thanking the community for 25 years of support for the animal shelter on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 1-3 p.m. at Riverside Park. The event also celebrates 10 years of operation of its thrift store, “Seconds 2 Go.” Refreshments will be provided as well as entertainment like: karaoke by Markie Mark; dog events; photos; face painting; among others. Anderson Radio Broadcasting and Total Screen Design sponsor this fun community event. Mark your calendars and join in.

RONAN — The third annual “Bus Driver Concert” will be held Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Ronan City Park under the covered pavilion on Eisenhower Street in Ronan. The Boys and Girls Club sponsor this event. Come by at 5 p.m. and enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings. The concert begins at 6 p.m. and is free but they will pass the hat for donations. For more information, call (406) 676-5437.