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.

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.

ARLEE — The 10th annual Chocolate Lover’s Festival is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 12. Proceeds will help fund an after-school arts program for students. People can drop off their creations at the Brown Building from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Feb. 12. Tasting begins at 6:30 p.m. It costs $2 per person and $5 per family to taste. At 7:30 p.m., JR Strand from Missoula will auction off the treats.

To learn more about how to snag a sweet treat just in time for Valentine’s Day, call (406) 726-5550.

POLSON — The Polson Rural Fire District Trustee monthly meeting will be held Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Station. Business will include building committee and new tender updates, annual performance reviews, and implementation of an anti-bullying policy, among other items.

All residents of the Polson Rural Fire District and interested general public are encouraged to attend. Resident’s questions and ideas help to keep the trustees informed and assist them in formulating their decisions. Any member of the public wishing to submit items for Board review/consideration needs to submit them to the Board Clerk at least 10 days in advance of the meeting. For a full text of approved minutes and the agenda please go to www.polsonfire.org

KALISPELL — The Flathead Basin Commission will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the U.S. Forest Service in Kalispell. The agenda includes: rail-related risk assessment, Flathead County zoning updates, update on Flathead National Forest planning effort, City of Whitefish Nutrient Trading Program, boat pump out regulations, education and outreach, State Water Supply Initiative,Statewide-AIS issues pending, Highway 2 station at Coram, Clearwater inspection station, AIS detection and the use of dogs in detection work, working dogs for conservation, and Megan Parker with special guest Pepin the dog.

POLSON — A Valentine’s Dance will be held at the Elks Lodge in Polson on Wednesday, Feb.12 from 7 to 10 p.m. This is the annual dance to celebrate lovers’ day, so bring your sweetie and join us for this special night. Heart to Heart will be playing. Treats are special and welcome. 

POLSON — The Resource Roundtable will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from noon-1 p.m. at the Lake County Health Department conference room in Polson. Speakers will discuss youth issues. Lunch will be provided. SAFE Harbor, the Verizon HopeLine Project, the Dept. of Justice and Montana Board of Crime Control are hosts of this meeting. For more information, call (406) 676-9242.

ST. IGNATIUS — The free annual Bingo for Books event at Mission Elementary will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Elementary Cafetorium.  Please join in the family fun. Play bingo at no cost and win free books.

Bring your appetite. You may purchase food from the Targeted Enrichment Activities (TEA) students who will offer hot dogs, popcorn from the Entertainer Theatre/Showboat Cinema, drinks from Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Missoula, and sweet treats prepared by TEA students and their families.  

TEA profits this year will be donated to the Mission Playground Possible fund. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 

POLSON — On Thursday, Feb 13, Miracle of America Museum’s program will be “Be My Valentine.” Come enjoy over 300 vintage valentines from the rotating museum collection and also tour the subject specific cards on permanent display in various exhibits. Bring your favorite paper valentine to show and share, or your special flesh and blood valentine and tell how you met.

Miracle of America Museum offers free admission at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Treats are welcomed. If you would like to contribute to, present, or suggest a program, please call Gil at (406) 883-6804.

RONAN — At 7:30 PM on Thursday, Feb. 13, Big Productions, a fundraising venture of the Lake County Youth Home, will present jazz pianist Pam Drews Phillips in concert playing a wide variety of piano styles and plays classical, Broadway, New Age, and pop.

The special performance will be at the Ronan Performing Arts Center in the Ronan Middle School complex. 

Tickets are available in Ronan at Hanson and Granley True Value and in Polson at Shannon Nunlist Physical Therapy or The Terrace Flowers and Gifts. In St. Ignatius, contact Suzie at Mission Valley Properties for tickets. Single tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door. All youth under 18 are admitted free. A ticket-holding adult must accompany children under 12. The concert is co-sponsored by Bishop Insurance.  

POLSON — The February Friendship Table dinner is coming up on Friday, Feb. 14, from 5-7 p.m. Polson Presbyterian Church is located across from the Linderman School.  Come join in; the dinner is free and open to all.

POLSON — Jim Simpson, chairman of the Lake County Conservation District, will be the featured speaker at the Friday, Feb. 14, meeting of the Lake County Pachyderm Club, held at the Polson Rural Fire Department building on Regatta Road. Social time begins at 11:30 a.m. with the business meeting starting at noon and adjourning at 1 p.m. Simpson will discuss and describe a major conservation initiative the LCCD has been studying and how the LCCD will go about asking for public comment regarding the initiative. The meeting is open to all.

POLSON — A Valentine dance for teens will be held at the Mission Valley Elks’ Club on Friday, Feb. 14, from 8 p.m.-midnight. Admission is $5. This will be chaperoned and anyone leaving will not be allowed back in. Proceeds will go to Nancy’s Kids’ events and Elks’ scholarships. Food and pictures will be available for a small fee.

RONAN — Lake County 4-H is hosting a beginner’s leather craft workshop on Feb. 15 and March 1. Taught by Jamie Lake, participants will learn how to make personalized leather drink coasters and leather wallets. Participants should bring their own leather working tools and mallet as supply on hand will be limited.  While there is no charge to take the class, there will be a combined materials fee of $5 covering the leather for both projects. Both classes will be held at the Lake County Extension Office in Ronan from 10 a.m. until noon. Space is limited to 10 participants. Call the Lake County Extension office at (406) 676-4271 to join.

ARLEE — The Arlee High School Close-Up group is raising funds to send students on a weeklong trip in May to Washington, D.C. The group is having a silent auction during the home basketball games against Charlo on Saturday, Feb. 15. Many interesting items have been donated and will be for sale. For more information, please contact Karen Fisher at Arlee High School at (406) 726-3216.

POLSON — Mission Valley Elks Lodge 1695 will be hosting a Valentine's dinner and dance on Saturday, Feb. 15. Prime rib and prawns will be served for $20 per person or $35 per couple. Southern Comfort will provide live music. For more information, call (406) 883-1695

ST. IGNATIUS — Kuilix Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Good Citizen Essay contest winners from four local high schools, will be announced and awarded on Saturday, Feb. 15. First place wins $250, second place wins $100 and third place wins $50. Students, teachers, parents and friends are invited to the United Methodist Church (top of the hill) on Highway 93, north of St. Ignatius. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by the awards. For more information, contact Bonnie Huber, Regent, at (406) 745-3118 to   RSVP.

GLACIER PARK — Entrance fees to Glacier National Park, as well as other units of the National Park Service will be waived on Feb. 15-17, in commemoration of President’s Day weekend.

LONEPINE — Western Montana Water Users Association invites you, your family, friends and neighbors to join us 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb.15 at the Lone Pine Hall in Lonepine for a potluck dinner, to visit, ask questions and learn. Information and facts will be made available. 

Bring your favorite dish or dessert; hamburgers and hot dogs, coffee and lemonade will be provided by members of WMWUA.

There will be a live auction; if you have any items to donate for the auction, call Carol Lyons at (406) 745-4451 or Marilynn Carr at (406) 741-2523. Everyone is welcome. 

ARLEE — Shelly Fyant, Arlee District representative to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council, will hold a district meeting on Sunday, Feb. 16, at the Arlee Community Center on Pow-wow Road from 12-4 p.m. Tribal presentations on Land Buy Back, Affordable Health Care, workforce development survey and KERR Dam will begin at noon and an open discussion will follow. Stew and frybread will be served.

CHARLO — Gospel meetings will be held each Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Charlo Senior Citizens Center, 56686 MT Hwy 212. All are welcome.

ARLEE — The Arlee CDC board meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb.18 at 10 a.m. at Hangin' Art Gallery in Arlee. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call (406) 726-5005 or email arleecdc@arleemontana.org

POLSON – Come dance at the Mission Valley Elks Club on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. Ken’s Country Combo will perform, and treats are always welcome.

POLSON — Soup’s On Open House will be held Wednesday, Feb. 19 and Thursday, Feb. 20 from 5-7 p.m. at Wander Inn, at the corner of Seventh Ave. West and First Street West, across from Dempsey’s.

Soup’s On provides a free meal weekly, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Open House will have snacks and fun activities. To remind everyone of the grave affordable-housing crisis in Polson, a tipi will stand at the entrance. Donations gratefully accepted.