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/.

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.

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.

POLSON — The Wednesday night dance brings the joy of the five-piece band, Ken’s Country Combo, to the Elks. Everyone is welcome so bring all of your friends to this fun time. The dance starts at 7 p.m. and treats are wonderful. We will miss you, if you are not there. 

RONAN — Missoula Businesswomen’s Network, a Mission Valley Sub-network, asks if you’ve been thinking about starting a business … or … been in the trenches for a while and would like support, education and networking with other women in your shoes?

Come join a network of businesswomen in Western Montana, ‘Learning from Others – Learning from Within,’ on Sept. 18 from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lake County Community Development Building, 407 W Main Street in Ronan.

Karl Jones, a management advisor, will discuss “Trust, the Foundation for Business.” Come learn from an experienced and insightful speaker. The lunch sponsor for this meeting will be Laurie Dassonville from SendOutCards. Please RSVP at: ldville@yahoo.com, by Sept. 16.

POLSON — North Lake County Public Library, 2 First Ave. E, will celebrate “Read an eBook Day,” on Thursday, Sept. 18. This worldwide digital reading event is designed to raise awareness for eBooks. For more information, call the circulation desk at (406) 883-8225 or visit the library.

POLSON — Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 5-7 p.m. Your host will be Polson Physical Therapy. We hope to see you there.

POLSON — A Democratic Picnic will be held on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at Boettcher Park.  Roast ham and turkey will be provided; you are asked to bring a side dish and BYOB. A donation bucket will be passed. Our guest of honor will be Lieutenant Governor Angela McLean.

POLSON — The Parents as Teachers program of the Lake County Public Health Department is sponsoring a “Community Connection” that is open to all area parents on Friday, Sept.19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The lunchtime event will take place in the Department’s conference room at 802 Main St.

Guest speakers Diana Schwab and Emily Colomeda will present information on car seat safety. Diana will also be available to check to see that your car seat is installed correctly. A limited number of infant, toddler and booster seats will be available to those who need them.

Family Support Specialists will be on hand with information about the PAT program, and lunch 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. Parents 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.

We hope to see you on Friday, Sept. 19.

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

RONAN —  Mark your calendars for our annual fall Child Find event on Friday, Sept. 19. This free screening will be held at the K. Wm. Harvey Elementary School in the preschool classroom from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Children ages birth to 5 years old, who live in the Ronan/Pablo School District, will be screened.

RONAN — Ronan Area Chamber Harvest Festival’s sixth annual Chili Cook Off will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Ronan Visitors’ Center. Judging takes place at noon.

RONAN — A medical benefit for Kathy Snyder Coffman will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, at KD’s Valley Club, 407 Third Ave. NW. A barbecue beef dinner will be served from 3 to 7 p.m. for $10 per plate and a live auction will be held at 5 p.m. Kathy has been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. She will be going to Missouri to wait for a double lung transplant. If you would like to donate to the auction, please call Krissy Paro at (406) 676-3228 or Kelly Bailey at (406) 883-2910 or drop off at KD’s Valley Club. There is also an account set up at Community Bank for donations. You can also go to our event on Facebook to sign up to attend. Thank you so much from Kathy and her family for all the help and support. 

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. 

Adults will be entered to win framed scenic photographs. 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.

POLSON — On Sept. 20 at the KOA Camp, 200 Irvine Flats Road, from 7-10 p.m., the Polson Chamber of Commerce is putting on a wine tasting event. Be a guest at this inaugural event. Tickets are $45 each and include a sampling of over 20 local and regional wines, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and live music by Nathan Eyre. Call or stop by the Chamber office for tickets. 

ST. IGNATIUS — On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, the Fort Connah Restoration Society will host an open house and rendezvous which depicts life during the fur trading era of Montana. This is a great opportunity to see the 1846 historic Hudson’s Bay Fort Connah Trading Post come to life. 

This event will be free to the public and includes demonstrations of time-era activities, crafts and games. Main events are on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  and Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fort Connah is located six miles north of St. Ignatius at mile marker 39 on Highway 93.For more information about camping and demonstrators, contact Chris Poloynis at (406) 214-0333 or email: cpspartan55@gmail.com.

For general information and trader/vendor set-ups, call Carolyn Corey/Preston Miller at (406) 745-4336, or email: 4winds@blackfoot.net.

RONAN — Join in the Classic Country Jam planed for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the South Ronan Methodist Church from 7-9 p.m. If you can play an instrument or sing, please join us or just come and sit in. This is a free event. 

RONAN — Ronan Chamber Harvest Fest is getting geared up and will be on Sept. 20. There will be the chili cook off, vendors, lots of kids' games, a scarecrow-decorating contest, and lots of good food.

POLSON — The Polson Shooters Association will hold a free shoot day at their range at 38386 Kerr Dam Rd, on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The public is invited to come and check out our range, sight in your rifle for hunting season, and/or shoot your pistols. We will serve hot dogs and hamburgers, so come out to the range and have some shooting fun and meet some of our staff.

For more information, call Rob St. Clair at (406) 883-1110 or (406) 270-8886.

DAYTON — The Mission Mountain Winery encourages all wine lovers to attend our free event on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. There will be vertical tasting of the 2007, 2005 and 2004 vintages of Mission Mountain Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. Mission Mountain Winery is located just off Highway 93 in Dayton. Go to: www.missionmountainwinery.com, for more information.

POLSON — The not-for-profit Friends of Ronan Parks and Trails is sponsoring the first annual Mission Valley Kids Walk, 5K Run on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. The event starts at the Polson Walmart with registration at noon. Face painting and a costume contest for best capes will take place. The cost is $20 per participant or $45 for a family of up to four. Proceeds will benefit parks and trails throughout the Mission Valley. Find us on Facebook at: Friends of Ronan Parks and Trail and in our special Facebook event, Mission Valley Kids Walk/Run. Drop your entry forms off at Walmart, Ronan Library or the day of the event.

 RONAN — On Sept. 23, the Ronan Woman’s Club will have their first fall meeting. Please join our fun, active fellowship at 7 p.m. at the Ronan Senior Center. New members are welcome.  Come see what we are all about. For more information, call (406) 676-3261.

POLSON — The next community dance will be at the Elks on Wednesday, Sept. 24, with Heart to Heart playing from 7-10 p.m. Please join us, as you will be missed if you are not there. Keep the wonderful treats coming.

POLSON — The fundraiser “Paws and Pints” will take place at Glacier Brewing Company on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. A silent auction, a hot “dog” dinner and music by Gladys Unplugged will take place. Tickets are available by calling (406) 883-5312 or they can be purchased at MVAS and Seconds 2 Go.

MVAS also has an ongoing event through November 22. There is a  Cat/Griz Showdown to benefit Mission Valley Animal Shelter.

Purchase a collar and/or a leash for a four-legged friend to show support for your team. Items are available at MVAS and Seconds 2 Go.

POLSON — A free community dinner is planned for Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Fellowship Baptist Church, 2 Seventh Ave. E. The menu includes soups, chili, salad and dessert. All are welcome.

ARLEE — Amanda Curtis, Democratic candidate for US Senate, will be at the Arlee Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served as we meet and greet Amanda. 

MISSOULA — The University of Montana School of Journalism is holding a Centennial and Homecoming Celebration Sept. 26-29. A party for all alumni and friends will take place at the UM Adams Center on Friday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. For $25 per person there will be hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and dancing to the music of Tom Catmull. Master of Ceremonies will be John Engen, Missoula mayor and alum. Additional information and to RSVP, go online at: http://www.jour.umt.edu/about/Centennial/default.php. 

CHARLO — Free training is being offered in nonviolent communication for families, couples, teachers, work situations and law enforcement on Sept. 27 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. or on Oct. 24 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Mission Valley United Methodist Church, top of Post Creek Hill. The training will take place at SKC in the Camas Room. Trainers are Patrick Marsolek and Aimee Ryan. A light lunch will be provided.  You can pre-register by calling (406) 745-4259. Community participation of all ages is welcomed. Flathead Reservation Human Rights Coalition, Inc. sponsors this workshop with a grant from the Oleta “Pete” Smith Foundation. A variety of credits are available. Contact Cathy Billie at (406) 745-4259, for more information.

POLSON — Each year Zumba® fitness holds Zumbathons across the world to raise $1 million dollars for breast cancer research and prevention in partnership with the Susan B. Koman Foundation.

The community is invited to the local Zumbathon Saturday, Sept. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the dance room at Mission Valley Aquatic Center in Polson. The event includes dance fitness to Latin, hip-hop, and other world music taught by local and guest instructors. 

Lots of free drawings, snacks and breast cancer prevention information will be available. A $20 donation is set for entrance; 100 percent of proceeds will go to the Zumba® Global Research Grant.

For more information call licensed Zumba® fitness instructors Linda Sappington at (406) 270-5733 or Jeannie Butler at (406) 890-1405.

POLSON — Love Dogs? Want to help get some adopted? Take the Mission Valley Animal Shelter’s “Train the Trainers” class.

We will train you to work with some of our dogs to help get them more adoptable. Covers leash walking, sit, wait, watch, confidence building and more. This is lots of fun for you and the dog. Training is Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29, 30, and Oct. 1, from 9 – 11 a.m. and then commit to eight weeks working with the dogs on your own schedule. Please call (406) 883-5312, for more details.

POLSON — On Sept. 30, from noon - 5 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 409 Fourth Ave. E, there will be a blood drive.

For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call (1-800) 733-2767.