POLSON — Polson Community Church, 1814 First Street E, is holding the Fifth Friday Dinner on Sept. 29 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

RONAN — Life for the Nations and other community churches will sponsor a Hope for the Mission Valley Gala event on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. This will be an elegant affair with a “Montana formal” dress code. The purpose of the event is to bring to the Mission Valley a Christ-centered recovery program for those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, specifically a Hope Center Ministries Women’s recovery center in 2024. They are in the fundraising stages and have a goal of raising $300,000. The evening will include a catered meal, testimonials and both live and silent auctions. Tickets are $75 each (150 available) and a full table for eight is $600 (32 available). To donate, sponsor or for more information, call 406-883-0865. Life for the Nations is located at 128 Main Street SW in Ronan. 

ST. IGNATIUS — On Friday, Sept. 29, from 5-7 p.m. at the Good Ole Days Pavilion. Mission Falls Market is excited to announce the return of the Garlic Festival to celebrate food, friends, and community. A local meal featuring the bounty of the Mission Valley, local beverages, and live music from Aarron Waling Jennings will be featured. Purchase tickets online in advance as only a limited number of tickets will be sold the day-of. 

POLSON — Feeling lost in your faith? Free guidance every Sunday. Come join us on the hill at Polson Community Church at 10:30 a.m., 1814 First St. E. We also have “Seekers,” an adult Sunday School class, at 9:15 a.m.

POLSON — The North Lake County Public Library’s Mother Goose program takes place on Mondays at 9:15 a.m. This is an opportunity for parents or caregivers to interact with their young children. This program is geared toward ages zero to three.

RONAN — The Mission Valley Children’s Choir will begin its 8th year on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the Faith Lutheran Church, 406 5th Ave. SW in Ronan. Refreshments and “together time” begin at 3:40 p.m., with rehearsals held from 4 to 5 p.m. every Tuesday.  The choir is open to children from the Mission Valley in grades 2-6. Choir directors are Mrs. Cathy Gillhouse and Wendy Sanders. Participation is free of charge. 

Gillhouse will pick up the children who attend K. William Harvey and bring them to the church. They will meet at the flagpole in front of the school. It is the director’s goal to expose the children to many different styles of music throughout the year, ranging from multicultural, spirituals, folk songs, show tunes, patriotic, sacred and seasonal. Contact Gillhouse at 406-207-3032 or gill4748@hotmail.com, for more information.

POLSON — The Polson Chamber of Commerce will host Mission West Community Development at noon luncheon at the Kwataqnuk Resort on Dec. 4. Their goal is to enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of all residents of the communities they serve. Mission West works with small businesses, community development organizations, cooperative businesses, and food and agriculture producers to enhance the economic well-being of the communities and businesses we serve. We offer businesses development services, food processing and manufacturing, cooperative business start-up support, community development assistance, and access to one-on-one free training, coaching, and mentoring from our expert network consultants to help you develop and bolster your business. Visit our website: www.missionwestcdp.org for information about our free business development services and to view our free business training and development workshop offerings.

KALISPELL — Flathead Valley Community College’s Continuing Education Center is hosting free community lectures and no registration is necessary. Lectures are held in the Arts & Technology building, room 139. “Subconscious Seduction: Russian Cyber Meddling in Eastern Europe” will take place on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. Russia’s effort to menace Eastern Europe extends well beyond Ukraine as Putin’s regime continues its cyber campaign to influence public opinion (and political leadership) in countries such as Hungary, Serbia and the Baltic States. Winning the hearts and minds of this geostrategic region means securing voters and political party leaders who are sympathetic to Russia and, thus, uncooperative NATO and EU partners. This lecture discusses the nature of the threat and what it means for the U.S. and its allies. For more information about FVCC’s Continuing Education fall class offerings, visit: fvcc.edu/ContinuingEducation.

POLSON — Go to the Mission Mountain Empowerment yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 35647 S. Hills Drive.

POLSON — Pastor Bruce Richter joins Polson Community Church for the first time of Sunday Oct. 8. Come join us on the hill at Polson Community Church at 10:30 a.m., 1814 1st St E, Polson. We also have “Seekers,” an adult Sunday School class, at 9:15 a.m.

ZOOM — Mission Mountain Zen is offering free online meditation classes. Please join the Mission Mountain Zen Center on Wednesdays for an online meditation class led by Zen Teacher, Zenku. Classes include meditation instruction, practice and discussion via Zoom. The classes will be each Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. We will cultivate and deepen our centering skills and meditation practice during the class. Please join us and take advantage of this opportunity. For more information and a Zoom link to the class call Zenku at 847-721-0665 or email at: Jerry.Smyers@gmail.com.

KALISPELL — Come enjoy a pleasant, non-strenuous walk around Lone Pine State Park from at 3-4 p.m.

Meet at the Lone Pine State Park Visitor Center. This program is meant to offer a chance to enjoy the fall foliage in the park with guided information about local flora and fauna. Whether you are new to the area or have lived here your whole life, come learn about the local ecosystem of the Flathead Valley. Please call 406-755-2706, ext. 0, to register, as space is limited. Cost is free ($8 park entry fee still applies to out-of-state vehicles).

POLSON — Join hosts Jane and Mike Mitchell and Shannon and Mark Nunlist at the October meeting Thursday, Oct. 12, at 5:45 p.m. at the Masumola Clubhouse. Hosts are providing chicken pot pie. Please consider the following as you plan your additions to the meal plan: A – H salad or veggie; I – O hot dish; P - Z dessert. Remember your plates, silverware, beverage of choice and your dues check if you forgot it last month.  Dues are $20/individual or $40/family for the year.

POLSON — The North Lake County Public Library will present on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 6:30-8 p.m., “Hauntings of Montana” with Ellen Baumler. This is another in the Montana Library Network Virtual Program Series. This program is free and open to all. You must register to receive the link. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/hauntingsMT.  History and the supernatural are the canvas for this program that intertwines the past with the present. Historian, storyteller and award-winning author Ellen Baumler weaves a ghostly web in a thought-provoking journey to Montana’s most spirited places. Basing her true stories on firsthand accounts, personal interviews and historical records, her well-researched tales have scared and delighted audiences of all ages.