Monday, September 9
Move for better balance
RONAN — Tai Ji Quan is a moving-for-better-balance class and will be offered by a certified instructor at the MSU Lake County Extension on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30 p.m. beginning May 13. This is an alternative exercise training program for improving balance and preventing falls. There is no cost. Please wear good shoes and clothes you can move in and bring water. Call 406- 676-4271 to sign-up.
Activities teach about CSKT’s culture
PABLO — The People’s Center holds Native American Awareness Week activities during the second week of September. Events are geared toward educating schoolchildren about Salish, Pend’Oreille and Kootenai history, culture and traditions. The week’s activities and events are free and open to the public. See demonstrations of slicing and drying wild game, fry bread making, hide tanning, drumming and singing and native dancing. There will be crafts for kids, native games and tribal language demonstrations. For more information and confirmed dates, call 406-675-0160.
Republicans to discuss 2020 census
POLSON — The Lake County Republican Women’s fall kick-off meeting will be held on Sept. 9, at noon, at the Polson Rural Fire Hall. The guest speaker will be Karen Murphy who currently serves as the partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau. This presentation will discuss what is at stake for the upcoming 2020 census - the effect your participation has on both tax dollars flowing into Montana and the potential for the state to gain a second congressional seat.
Also, learn how the census is going digital in 2020. All members of the public are encouraged to attend.
For more information call Sjaan Vincent at 406-396-0807 or Dorothy Ashcraft at 406-250-2714.
Wednesday, September 11
Rural Fire District Board to meet
POLSON — The regular monthly meeting of the Polson Rural Fire District Board of Trustees will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Station number 1, 25B Regatta Rd. The agenda is available on the Monday prior to the meeting.
Thursday, September 12
Library closes for staff development
POLSON — The North Lake County Public Library will be closed for staff development.
Friday, September 13
Democrats picnic at Boettcher Park
The Lake County Democrats are holding annual Picnic, Friday, September 13th, 5:30pm, Boettcher Park, Polson. Local and State candidates will be on hand to interact with you. A main course is provided please bring a side dish, chair, favorite drink (no glass). Live music by "Jim and I" No charge but fundraiser basket will be passed. (checks allow for candidate accounting)
Pachyderms invite Commissioner Barron to speak
POLSON — On Friday, Sept. 13, from noon-1 p.m., the Lake County Pachyderm group will reconvene after the summer to welcome the community back. Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron will be the speaker and will share financial updates for Lake County regarding the new fiscal year. Refreshments will be served and the meeting will be held at the Polson Rural Fire Station off Regatta Road.
Saturday, September 14
Art fundraiser features local artists
BIGFORK — Art in the Park - Enjoy an evening along Flathead Lake at this park fundraiser at Wayfarers Birch Grove picnic shelter featuring the work of several local artists. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission is free. The time is TBD. Go to: stateparks.mt.gov/wayfarers for more information.
Explore history of Yellowstone, Glacier, Canadian National Parks
POLSON — The North Lake County Public Library presents “Early Footprints to the Areas of Yellowstone, Glacier, and Canada’s Mountain National Parks” with Sharon Randolph at 6:30 p.m. Please join us for this 90 minute slideshow and presentation on the early history of the parks.
Meetings cluster at SKC
PABLO — The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, the HI5-CCE (High Five Needle Pine-Crown Continent Ecosystem) Management Group, Salish Kootenai College and the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes are sponsoring two days of annual meetings and a Saturday field trip on Sept. 12-14.
The meetings are about high-elevation forest management and the Whitebark Pine and will take place at the Johnny Arlee Victor Charlo Theatre on the Salish Kootenai College Campus.
Registration is required, but free. More information, draft agendas/programs and registration information and links are available through: https://whitebarkfound.org/conferences/this-years-conference/.
Pancakes served at Big Arm breakfast
BIG ARM — The Big Arm Association will host our fall pancake breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 8-11 a.m. Please join us at our historic Big Arm School where we will serve pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, juice and coffee.
Monetary donations are gratefully accepted. For more information contact Nancy at 406-849-5064.
Watch high schoolers rodeo
POLSON — Lake County High School Rodeo will be held at the Polson Fairgrounds Saturday, Sept. 14, starting at 9:30 a.m. Two rodeos will be run that day. Watch as the high school and middle school girls and boys participate in a wide range of rodeo activities: barrels, saddle broncs, goat tying, and breakaway and possibly there will be sports shooting. There will be a great concession stand complete with homegrown Montana beef direct from our valley. For more information, call Sheila Young at 406-824-4095.
Tuesday, September 17
Brazelton Touchpoints training offered
PABLO — CSKT’s Project LAUNCH Program invites you to a training on Brazelton Touchpoints, an approach for building strong family-child relationships from before birth through the earliest years, laying the foundation for children’s early learning and healthy development. For more information about this approach go to: www.brazeltontouchpoint.org. The training takes place Sept. 17-19 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at SKC’s Vanderburg Building. Contact Shyla Collicott at: Shyla.Collicott@cskt.org for more information.
Wednesday, September 18
Ken’s Country Combo to play
POLSON — Join us for the community dance in the ballroom at the Elks on Main St. on Wednesday, Sep. 18, from 7-10 p.m. Music is provided by Ken’s Country Combo playing a variety of country and vintage rock and roll. This is our birthday dance complete with a special cake to celebrate this month’s birthdays. Cover charge is $5.
Wiggle Worms learn about Jamaica
POLSON — At 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, the North Lake County Library’s Wiggle Worms program will provide books, storytelling, activities and crafts about Jamaica designed to kickstart early literacy and boost kindergarten readiness.
Thursday, September 19
Color with grownups
POLSON — On Thursday, Sept. 19, from 2-4 p.m. the North Lake County Library’s popular coloring program commences its fourth consecutive season. In this session we will try our hand at colorful scratch art. Supplies are provided.
This program is free and open to the public.
Join Family Convergence in Hot Springs
HOT SPRINGS — The Inland Northwest Permaculture Guild will present the Hot Springs Family Convergence from Sept. 19-22 in Hot Springs. Permaculture workshops will include organic soils, fertilizers, herbalism, food forest, mushrooms, propagation techniques, fermentation, homesteading, raw food and other hands-on workshops. For additional information call 509-738-7373 or go to: www.inlandnorthwestpermaculture.com.
There will be vending, camping, live music, Yoga and children’s activities. No drugs, alcohol or pets. Pack it in, pack it out.
Learn about huckleberries, bees
POLSON — “Huckleberries and their Pollinators” by Janene Lichtenberg will be Mission Mountain Audubon’s next education program on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in the North Lake County Library’s meeting room. Everyone is welcome. Janene will describe her research demonstrating the value of bumble bees for pollinating huckleberry flowers and producing berries. She will also discuss the different species of bumble bees that utilize huckleberry flowers in a mutualistic relationship that benefits both huckleberries and bees. Other visitors to huckleberry flowers as well as some additional flower species that are visited by bees will be covered too. Janene Lichtenberg is the Head of the Wildlife and Fisheries Department at Salish Kootenai College.
SPLASH at the bank
POLSON — Sponsor of the September SPLASH (Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour) is 1st Citizens Bank. The event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 5-7 p.m. For more information, call 406-883-5969.
Friday, September 20
Join “Global Climate Action” event
POLSON — Friday, Sept. 20, is a global day of climate action. Join millions of youth and community members around the world and show your voice for Polson. Folks all over the world are gathering to bring awareness to climate disruption. The science is overwhelmingly clear now, this is not an opinion, and this is not a political issue, it is a moral obligation to preserve all life on this planet.
This event will be held between noon and 2 p.m. in front of the courthouse. Make and bring homemade signs stating why you are here. There will be some speakers at around noon. After the speakers have finished, at around 12:30 p.m., we will walk west on Fourth Street from the courthouse to Main St., to Fifth St., turn at the veterans building and back to the courthouse.
Saturday, September 21
Harvest Fest, Dutch Oven Cook-off provide all-day fun
RONAN — The 10th annual Harvest Festival and Dutch Oven Cook-off will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, behind Glacier Bank. This is an all-day event. For more information call the Ronan Chamber of Commerce at: 406-676-8300.
Model aviators gather in Mission
Mission Valley Model Aviators Swap Meet and Fun Fly at the St. Ignatius Airport. Radio Control Airplane pilots from the area will gather Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m. to fly their machines, buy, sell, and trade radio control aircraft equipment. This event will go through Sunday the 22 all free to the public to spectate. There will be a $10 landing fee for pilots with valid proof of AMA insurance.
Sunday, September 22
Pedal to Plate the Mission area
RONAN — The Mission Mountain Area Pedal to Plate ride is a family-cycling tour of the Mission Valley and its local farms and producers. The 40-mile ride in the Polson and Ronan areas celebrates the diversity of agriculture and cycling in the beautiful Mission Valley. Cyclists will carry their forks (provided) to the farms and sample delicious local fruits, vegetables, and meats along the way. Participating farms have yet to be determined but will be different than last year. The Mission Mountain Pedal to Plate cycling tour begins and ends at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan. Join us after the ride for a locally-sourced dinner served at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Proceeds from this event support the promotion of cycling safety and continuation of efforts to make the Mission Valley a safe and accessible place to cycle and walk. The cycling tour will be held Sunday, Sept. 22, from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Cyclists who have the desire and ability to cycle 40 miles in six hours are welcome to participate. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Cost is $50 to participate. For more information call 406-676-5913.