PABLO — On Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 6:30 p.m. the Lake County Democrats will sponsor a presentation by Eldena Bear Don’t Walk from the Montana Human Rights Network. She will discuss the network and human rights issues in Montana such as, discrimination; civil rights; immigration; and efforts to expand Medicaid. The presentation will take place at the Johnny Arlee/Victor Charlo Theater at Salish Kootenai College. A social time with refreshments is included. Everyone is welcome.

POLSON — On Jan. 29 Ken’s Country Combo will play at the Elks in Polson from 7-10 p.m. Treats are welcome and always appreciated. Come and enjoy the fun.

CHARLO — Please mark your calendars as the Ft. Connah Restoration Society Annual Membership meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Ninepipes Allentown Restaurant in Charlo on Hwy. 93, at 7 p.m. There will be a no-host bar at 5:30 p.m. with the option of ordering a meal prior to the meeting. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, contact secretary Carolyn Corey by calling (406) 745-4336 or go to: 4winds@blackfoot.net.

POLSON — A Suicide Prevention and Intervention meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., on the third floor conference room at the Tribal Health building, 5 Fourth Ave. E. Jack Wright, PhD will present “Four Interactive Factors of Happiness.” Lunch will be catered by Hangin Art Gallery.

These education efforts and trainings are offered free of charge. Come learn from each other and encourage meaningful dialogues that are important to our community. 

For more information, contact Roxana Colman-Herak, GBG Program Manager-ASIST Master Trainer at (406) 675-2700, ext. 1361, or Jason HeavyRunner, COT Program Manager at (406) 675-2700, ext.  1340.   

POLSON — The ‘Fifth Friday’ dinner will be at the Polson Community Church on Jan. 31. Dinner is served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. All are welcome at 1814 First Street E.

RONAN — Join us for our Chinese New Year Adoption fundraiser on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship in Ronan.

Proceeds will help Barnaby and Heather Smith bring their daughter home from China. The event will include a Chinese meal and a talent show for all ages. Dinner cost is $10 per plate or $40 per family and will include an optional free entry into our talent show. Otherwise, talent show entry cost will be $3 per person when separate from dinner ticket. To purchase dinner tickets, or to enter into the talent show, please call Leah Johnson at (406) 381-0185. Deadline for talent show entries is Jan. 25.

ARLEE — The Arlee Wrestling Club will host its early sign-up for the 2014 season at the last Arlee High School mixer against St. Ignatius/ Charlo and Big Sky High School, on Jan. 31, in the new Arlee High School Gymnasium at 6 p.m. Participants’ fees for the season are $30 and a family fee is $50. Shoes for the season can be rented for $5.

POLSON — Sandpiper Art and Gift Gallery, 306 Main Street, announces the first exhibit of the New Year entitled: “First in Fourteen.” Members Kelly Apgar (monochromatic work composed of found objects), Paula Craft (B and W photography), Maryann Eikens (bronze sculptures) and Donna Rolfson (paintings) have put together a show of new works to open the season. An opening reception will be held on Friday, Jan. 10, from 5-7 p.m. The show will hang until Feb. 14. 

For more information, contact the Gallery at (406) 883-5956 or visit: Sandpiperartgallery.com.

POLSON — “A Powerful Tools for Caregivers” class is scheduled for six Wednesdays, Jan. 15-Feb. 19, at the O’Maley meeting room in Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. The time for the class is 10-11:30 a.m. This free class is sponsored by the Area VI Agency on Aging, St. Joe’s and Lake Co. Extension Service, to help caregivers take care of themselves, better understand their emotions, communicate more effectively and find local resources. Please contact Jane at (406) 883-7284 or 1-800-266-4188, for more information or to sign up. Class size is limited.

NINEPIPE — The Ninepipe Arts Group asks that you save the date Saturday, Feb. 1, for the tenth annual Valentine gala called “Time to Reflect.” The event will take place at Leon Hall at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (406) 644-2311.

KALISPELL — The Smart Driver Course will take place at the Summit in Kalispell from on Feb. 3 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. Call (406) 751-4500 for a reservation. Note that the Drivers Safety Class is now called the AARP ‘Smart Driver Course’.

The Mission Mountain Quilt Guild will hold their regular monthly meeting at the Terrace Lake Community Church on Terrace Lake Road, on Feb. 4th at 6:30 p.m. Robin will hand out the next step for the educational block of the month. Please be working on your challenge projects and items for the Country Store during the quilt show. Bring your show 'n' tell! The Thursday Quilters will furnish refreshments. See you there, everyone's welcome!

RONAN — The February meeting of the Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen will be held, Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the V.F.W. Hall on Round Butte Road. The program this month will be offered by Kelsey Guffey, weed specialist. As usual, it should be very informative and interesting. Plans are already in the works for our annual ‘Steak Ride’ in May, plus we have several projects planned for the up-coming spring/summer.  Guests are always welcome. For more information, call Dennese at (406) 883-5876.

POLSON —Ken’s Country Combo will play on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the Elks Club, from 7 to 10 p.m. Treats are welcome and the tunes will be wonderful. Please join us, or you will be missed.

POLSON — Please join us on Feb. 5, for The Polson Chamber’s general meeting luncheon at the KwaTaqNuk Resort beginning at noon. Our featured speaker will be Julie Walker from the Montana Department of Tourism, who will share current programs and projects the state has been working on, including the new Montana entrance signs. Come learn about all the exciting things the Montana Department of Tourism is doing to help promote our area. February’s luncheon will cost $14. We hope to see you there.

PABLO — Looking for fun here in our valley? Do you love old and classic cars and outings like car shows, picnics, garage- and junk yard-hopping, touring, swap meets, breakfasts, brunches, cruises, barbecues, potlucks and more? If so, Mission Valley Cruisers invites you to join them at their monthly meetings, held at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Mission Valley Power, 36079 Pablo West Road in Pablo. The next meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 6. For more information, call (406) 644-3427 or (406) 675-8500.

VALLEY VIEW — The Valley View Women’s Club meeting has been changed. The meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 6. We are in need of members, if you would like to join call Kelly Bailey at (406) 883-2910.

PABLO — AIBL is sponsoring a “Bingo Night” for the community.  This is a family-friendly event so bring the kids. This event is being held in the Camas room at SKC gym on Friday, Feb. 7. Doors open at 7 p.m. Bingo packets are $8 and additional sheets can be purchased for $2. Prizes to include two gift baskets for the blackout, these will include gift certificates to Polson Movie theatre and other valentine-themed items. There will be no cash prizes. We will also have concessions and a bake sale. Come support your local AIBL chapter.

POLSON — On Feb. 8, from 5:30 p.m. to midnight, the Montana Mardi Gras will take place at the KwaTaqNuk. This event helps support the Flathead Reservation and Lake County Boys and Girls Club. The evening includes a Cajun flare dinner, a spectacular auction and dancing to Gladys Friday Band. Tickets are available at the Ronan Club office and La Nita Fitzpatrick at Mountain West Bank, (406) 253-3130. Individual tickets are $50 and a reserved group table is $500. Call Michal Delgado at (406) 370-8917, for more information. 

VALLEY VIEW — The Valley View potluck will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 5 p.m. at the Valley View Clubhouse, 40762 Valley View Road. Bring your favorite potluck dish to share and enjoy good food and company. If you have questions, call Kelly Bailey at (406) 883-2910.

CHARLO — A chili and frybread fundraising dinner to benefit Willard and Carmen Nelson will take place Sunday, Feb. 9 from 1-5 p.m. at the Charlo High School cafeteria.

Willard, 69 of Charlo, is a long-haul truck driver. He arrived in Houston extremely ill. Doctors believe Willard may have been poisoned. He's been in ICU for 30 days, and his wife and daughter have been staying in a hotel. The fundraiser will help offset the family's expenses.

Raffle tickets for hamburger, cash and gravel are also available at Charlo Grocery, Coulters Automotive and The Branding Iron. Those interested in sending a card of encouragement to the family may send to: Willard Nelson, c/o Kindred House, Houston Medical Center, 6441 Main St., Houston, TX 77030. 

For more information, call (406) 249-2926.

ARLEE — The sewing and beading group focused on the cultural arts will meet at the Arlee Community Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Limited materials available. Bring a project you'd like to share or need help with. The group is sponsored by CSKT Head Start, Tribal Social Service's program Circle of Trust, The Parenting Partnership Project and the Tribal Social Services. For more information, contact Tribal Social Services at (406) 675-2700 ex. 1333 or Head Start at (406) 676-4509.  

POLSON — The next scheduled board meeting for the Polson School District will be held Monday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the District Office. 

BIGFORK — The Smart Driver Course will take place at the Bigfork Senior Center on Feb. 11 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call (406) 837-4157 for a reservation. Note that the Drivers Safety Class is now called the AARP ‘Smart Driver Course’.

POLSON — The annual Polson Kiwanis Buffalo Burgerfest is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 4:30-7 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Polson. An $8 ticket will get you a giant buffalo burger, a salad, fresh pie and a beverage. Tickets are available from Kiwanis members or at the door. Proceeds go toward financing Polson Kiwanis Club service projects, primarily for youth programs.

POLSON — The next gathering of the “Thyme for Herbs Group” will be Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in the North Lake County Public Library meeting room, 2 First Avenue East (use the east side door). 

Our topic will be “Using the Simple Herbs as Food and Medicine.”

We will also be discussing: Planning your herb and vegetable garden and strategies for growing herbs in small spaces.

Come learn which herbs you need to have in your home and how to use them to stay well and as medicine. 

Anyone interested in learning to use herbs is invited to join us. Bring your questions for discussion. Call Linda Peterson at (406) 319-2446, for more information.

POLSON — North Lake County Public Library in Polson will host Digital Learning Day on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from noon-5 p.m. in the library meeting room. Trainer Sarah Evans will be available to instruct and answer your questions about technology and electronic devices.

The event will include a digital “petting zoo,” where visitors can explore and try out various devices such as a Kindle, Nook, MP3 player, etc. Also available will be a group of laptops, each featuring a different topic or skill. Information about technology tutorials will also be available. Anyone of any age or skill level is invited to attend. For more information, please call the circulation desk at 406-883-8225.