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 — 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 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.

GLACIER PARK — Fees to Glacier National Park, as well as other units of the National Park Service, will be waived on Monday, Aug. 25, in commemoration of the birthday of National Park Service.

CHARLO — The Mission Valley United Methodist Church, Hwy. 93, top of Post Creek Hill, cordially invites all teachers, administrators, bus drivers, etc. to a free Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at noon. Teachers from Charlo, Dixon, Ronan, St. Ignatius, Two Eagle River and Pablo Elementary are invited. We appreciate your effort to educate our Valley’s youth. School supplies will also be available. See you there.

POLSON — The Polson City/County Planning Board is holding work sessions to review draft changes to the Polson Development Code. The Tuesday, Aug. 26, 6 p.m. meeting will consider changes to medium-density residential zoning district, including, new districts (Old Town and Hospital mixed zoning districts). 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. 

Copies of the draft PDC and memos describing the topics can be found at City Hall and the Lake County Planning Department in the Lake County Courthouse or at:

http://www.cityofpolson.com/ and www.lakemt.gov/planning/planning_zoning.html.

For additional information, please contact LaDana Hintz at: lhintz@lakemt.gov or (406) 883-7235.

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 Wednesday, Aug. 27 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Lake County Employees, 802 Main Street. 

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 — Western Night takes place on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Elks with Heart to Heart playing. Wear your cowboy duds and join the fun. Treats have been super and enjoyed by all. Come dance from 7 to 10 p.m. and please leave your horse at the door. 

POLSON —  A free community dinner will be served on Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Fellowship Baptist Church, 2 Seventh Ave., from 6-7:30 p.m. 

The menu is an open potluck. All are welcome.

POLSON — A Booster Club Tailgate and Membership Drive will take place on Aug. 29, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at the football stadium upper parking lot before the Polson Pirates vs. Raymond, Alberta team. New booster club members and students with activity cards eat free. Dinner for all nonmembers and students without activity cards will cost $5 or $20 for a family. Annual booster membership for individuals is $25.

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. 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. 

September 2014 is Back-to-School Box Top Drive month. When was the last time you dumped a jar of change into the trash? Probably never! So, why would you toss out Box Tops? Each Box Top is worth 10 cents for your school – so don’t dump these dimes in disguise, instead drop them in the little red school house in the Wal-Mart lobby or in the bill pay box at Super One Foods (by the bank entrance). All collections benefit the Mission Valley Christian Academy whose mission is to provide a Christ-centered quality education to prepare students to be lifelong servant leaders. For more information on the Box Top program go to http://www.btfe.com/.

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

PLAINS — Sanders County Arts Council announces the opening of the summer show of “Art on the Walls” at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. Original artworks by Valerie Curtiss, Rosa Dolson, Rachel Gonzalez, Gary Hensley, George Humeston, Crystal Kingston, Sun Honts Mann, Jina McHargue and Karen Thorson will be shown. The show runs from June 26-Sept. 23. For additional information, call Mary McClenahan at (406) 826-0112 or Joy Nelson at (406) 826-8585.

PABLO — Rez Hope Talk Circle holds their weekly talk circle every Thursday night from 6-7 p.m. at the Respite House in Pablo.  

For more information, please feel free to call Jon Denton at (406) 499-2355.

RONAN — Join the Valley Journal in celebrating 10 years as your homegrown newspaper on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 2-6 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center. The party will include a jumping castle, free popcorn, cotton candy and balloons. The Montana Kids Co-op will offer a gluten-free personal pizza or a fresh, locally grown salad for $5 each. They will also offer cupcakes for sale. The Valley Journal is a community-supported newspaper and we want to thank every person that has had a hand in the success of this locally owned business. We hope to see you so we can thank you for your support.

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 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 — North Lake County Public Library in Polson will resume extended winter hours beginning Sept. 1.

The library will be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through the end of May. This change is intended to better serve the public, particularly students who may need library resources for homework. On mornings when there is an advertised children’s program, the doors will open at 10 a.m.

Friday and Saturday hours will be as follows: 11 a.m.– 6 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The library is closed on Sundays and holidays.

Please call the circulation desk at (406) 883-8225 with questions, or stop by the library at 2 First Ave. E.

POLSON — On Wednesday, Sept. 3, Ken’s Country Combo is scheduled to play at the Elks dance from 7-10 p.m. Bring your friends and join in the fun, for you will be missed if you are not there. Please bring a treat to share with all; they are always appreciated and enjoyed. 

POLSON — Good Shepherd’s Little Friends Preschool, 409 Fourth Ave. E, will have an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

During that time, you can meet teacher Heather Holmes and explore the classroom. Little Friends Preschool is a joyful ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, offering a Christian-based education with an emphasis on art fundamentals. Classes are offered 8 a.m. to noon for students ages 3-5. For more information, come to the open house or call Heather at (406) 370-6397.

POLSON — Polson’s Chamber general meeting and luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the KwaTaqNuk Resort from noon-1 p.m. The featured speaker will be Rob McDonald presenting on the state of the Tribe. A hot entrée lunch will be served for $14. 

For more information, please contact the chamber office at (406) 883-5969.