POLSON —Powerful Tools for Caregivers class is scheduled for Wednesdays, Sept. 5 to Oct. 17, at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson. The time for the class is 10 to 11:30 a.m. There is no fee for the class. A donation of $25 is suggested. The class is sponsored by the Area VI Agency on Aging and Providence St. Joseph, to help caregivers take care of themselves, better understand their emotions, and communicate more effectively. Please contact Jane at (406) 883-7284 or 1-800-266-4188 for more information or to sign up.

POLSON — The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are sponsoring the 2012 Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake. It will be held Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 21-Nov.11, and the last 10 days of the contest are all fishing contest days. Great prizes can be won and a fish fry will be held on Nov. 11 for all participants and their families at Blue Bay. The award ceremony begins at 5 p.m. Anglers may enter the contest at: www.mackdays.com, pick up applications at area sporting goods stores, or call in their entries to (406) 883-2888 ext. 7294. Entry forms will not be mailed out. Contact CSKT at (406) 883-2888 ext. 7294, for more information.

RONAN — International Walk to School Day is celebrated this year Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Come walk to school with Monte the University of Montana mascot and Ronan Superintendent Andy Holmlund, as they lead the way in healthy lifestyles. Walking to school is a great way to be a part of a global event to promote health and improve air quality.

Ronan Parks and Safe Routes to School team, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal fitness staff, Lake County DUI Task Force,

St. Lukes, Women4Wellness and Lake County Chemical Dependency Corp. will provide morning breakfast foods and fun giveaways from 7:15-8:15 a.m. near school walking routes. 

If you live too far or ride the bus, get dropped off at the Ronan Park across from Firehall and walk with Monte and Mr. Holmlund at 7:45 a.m. For more information, please call Jennifer at the Ronan Parks Department at (406) 676-4231.

POLSON — The next scheduled community dance is Oct. 3 at the Elks from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Treats are back on the schedule again and are very appreciated. Ken’s Country Combo will play tunes and requests are accepted. Bring all your friends and have a rousing good time.

POLSON — Does big money corrupt the voting process in Montana? Can we reverse the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that ruled corporations have the same free-speech rights as U.S. (and Montana) citizens? What has this court decision done to help super PACS spend millions in Montana to influence the Nov. 6 general election? Is uncontrolled campaign spending the same as ‘free speech?’

Please join your Lake County neighbors for a discussion of the role of big money in Montana politics, and how we can change the Citizen United decision by common sense, grass-roots political action through the initiative process. The meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lake County Courthouse Plaza (by the flagpole at the main entrance).

For more information, or to support the Initiative 166 campaign, you may call (406) 356-6686, on the Internet at www.StandWithMontanans.org, or by mail to C.B. Pearson Treasurer, Stand with Montanans, PO Box 153, Helena MT 59624.

ARLEE — A free development and preschool screening clinic for children ages 0-5 years of age will take place at the Arlee Head Start on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Please call to schedule an appointment or to receive more information at (406) 725-3273 or (406) 726-3216 ext. 2215.

The screening includes gross motor, fine motor, language concepts, communication skills, communication concepts, hearing and vision screening.

PLAINS — The Cancer Network of Sanders County is having its 11th annual fall event, “Brats, Hops, and Grapes,” on Oct. 5, 2012 at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Pavilion from 6-9p.m. Brats will be served along with wine and beer tasting. There will be a silent auction and a live auction featuring Mr. Kevin Hill as auctioneer. Tickets go on sale Sept. 17 for $30/person. Money raised helps cancer patients from Sanders County currently undergoing treatment for cancer.  Contact Kathleen Miller at (406) 826-4278 or pln4278@blackfoot.net, for further information.

POLSON — Mission Valley home educators will meet on Friday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m. at the New Life Christian Center in Polson for a potluck dinner and meeting. This is a whole-family event, so please bring Dad, Mom, teens, kids, grandparents, (just leave the 4-H animals at home). We’re planning time for an information exchange as well as some get-to-know one another activities.

Those new to home schooling, veteran home educators, and anyone interested in pursuing the idea of teaching their own children are all invited to participate. This is a great opportunity to get to know other home schoolers, ask questions, give support, and enjoy fellowship.

For more information, please contact John and Connie Doty (406) 849-5169.

RONAN — Art is in the eye of the beholder, and so the annual SAFE Harbor Art Auction and Celebration showcases a diverse sampling of art, pottery, photography, beadwork, sculpture, quilting, stained glass, woodwork, furniture and more. Everyone is bound to find something amazing at the auction. In addition, the auction will have a great selection of services, themed baskets and other packages that are sure to delight. This year’s event will take place Oct. 6 at the Ronan Community Center and includes dinner.

For more information about the event, call 240-0640. 

POLSON — EAA chapter 1122 will be flying Young Eagles at the Polson airport on Saturday, Oct. 6 starting at 9 a.m. 

We will serve donuts and coffee, juice or milk.

The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people ages 8-17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers. Since 1992, more than 1.7 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by nearly 40,000 volunteer pilots.

So, kids, grab your parents (or parents grab your kids)  and drag them out to the Polson airport Saturday morning. The EAA will give you an opportunity to learn more about airplanes and go flying.

Any questions, call Bud Radtke at (406) 883-1245 or Mauri Morin at (406) 249 2250.

POLSON — How will the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) affect you in the coming year? What are the many hidden costs to support it? Linda Sauer, financial analyst at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, will answer these questions and more when she speaks at the community room of the North Lake County Library on Monday, Oct. 8, in Polson.

Ms. Sauer has been in healthcare administration for over 30 years.  Since she is responsible for analyzing the financial performances and strategic plans of clinics and other businesses owned by Northwest Healthcare, she is familiar with all 2,700 plus pages of the health care act and the regulations it will require.

Attendees are encouraged to bring brown bag lunches at 11:30; beverages and cookies will be provided. The program will begin at noon and adjourn at 1 p.m.

RONAN — American Legion Post 138 has its monthly meeting every second Tuesday at the VFW in Ronan at 7 p.m.

POLSON — “The Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness” by Terry Tanner will be the next evening program of the Mission Mountain Audubon Society on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Polson Library meeting room.

To the Pend d’Oreille, Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Mission Mountains have been an important landscape for their food, water, medicine, culture, religion, history and survival. The Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness, established by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2012. Significantly, it was the first wilderness designation of tribal land by a tribe in the United States.

Terry will discuss the history of the wilderness as well as describe his involvement in the Native Lands and Wilderness Council, an indigenous-led collaborative that develops land management strategies for global challenges facing indigenous populations today.

Terry Tanner coordinates field projects covering recreation sites throughout the Flathead Indian Reservation. In addition, he is one of the founding members of the Native Lands and Wilderness Council and continues his involvement today. 

POLSON — A candidates’ forum sponsored by the Polson Chamber of Commerce will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 7-9 p.m. at the Big Sky Bistro, 325 Main Street, in Polson. Appetizers, coffee and water will be provided. There will also be a no host bar.

POLSON — Join us for “Engaging Employees in Wellness” with Paula Miller, PHR, WHP. This presentation consists of an overview of creating a wellness program that works and further addresses building momentum within the organization to sustain a long-term wellness initiative. Examples and samples will demonstrate the process and its workings. Come to the Big Sky Bistro and Art Bar, 325 Main Street on Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 8:30-10 p.m. The cost is free but space is limited. Please RSVP: (406) 883-7880 or bphillips@mt.gov.

POLSON — The Lake County School Transportation Committee will meet Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. in the small conference room of the Lake County Courthouse. Adjustments needed in school bus routes will be discussed. Guests are welcome. 

For further information, contact Gale Decker, Lake County Superintendent of Schools, at (406) 883-7262.

RONAN — The American Legion Post 138 has its monthly meeting every second Tuesday at the VFW in Ronan at 7 p.m. The next meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 9.

RONAN — Ladies’ Auxiliary VFW 5652 will meet Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ronan VFW Hall, 35981 Round Butte Rd. New members are welcome. For more information, call Marge Fay at (406) 676-3380. 

POLSON — The National Active and Retired Federal Employees will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 11:45 a.m. at the Polson Senior Center. A lunch of pork chops will be available. Following lunch there will be a program featuring Barbara Morin about Cheerful Hearts. A brief business meeting will round out the gathering.

POLSON — Lake County Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services is seeking foster parents and is holding an orientation session for interested individuals and families on Oct. 10, from 6-9 p.m. We are recruiting stable families or individuals who are willing to open their homes and hearts to children needing a temporary or permanent home. Child and Family Services works with children ages 0-18 who are in need of a foster or adoptive home. These children are not able to stay with their birth family due to abuse and neglect, and/or because their birth parents and family are unable to care for them due to incapacity, addiction problems, illness, incarceration, or a combination of problems that create an unsafe environment for children. Foster families are needed in all areas of Lake County. To learn more about the foster care and adoption programs or to register for the orientation class, please contact Theresa Becker at (406) 883-7850 or (406) 827-8124.

POLSON — On Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Station, Polson Rural Fire District trustees will meet. All residents of the Polson Rural Fire District and interested general public are encouraged to attend. For a full text of approved minutes and the agenda please go to www.polsonfire.org.

ST. IGNATIUS — On Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 7-10 p.m., St. Ignatius High School SSC (students serving community) and Java Dogs will sponsor a barn dance with music provided by Lost Creek Road Band at the St. Ignatius community fitness center. 

This is a school sponsored activity and all school rules apply: zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol or tobacco use. The cost is $7 per individual, $10 per couple or $20 per family. 

POLSON —The musical “Boomer Babes” is back by popular demand for one weekend only, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Oct. 11, 12, 13, 14 at the John Dowdall Theatre on the lake. All tickets are $10 for this fantastic show featuring harmony and humor from the ladies take on Boomer Rama, 1946- 1964. Call (406) 883-9212 or go to portpolsonplayers.com for reservations.

RONAN – The public is invited to attend a candidate forum at the Lake County Community Development office, 407 Main Street, SW in Ronan, Thursday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. A locally made barbecue meal and no-host bar will be offered. To attend, please RSVP to Lisa Bagaoisan at (406) 676-5901. 

POLSON — The Lake County Pachyderm Club will meet on Friday, Oct. 12, at the Polson Rural Fire Station on Airport Road west of the bridge.  

A short business meeting will begin at noon followed by a presentation by Gil Mangels, a third generation Polson area resident and founder and director of Polson’s Miracle of America Museum. Gil’s talk will focus on the educational aspects and opportunities of the Miracle of America Museum.

The museum is now in its 30th year and is known worldwide. This year visitors came from 49 different countries and all 50 states.

Social time begins at 11:30 a.m. Please bring a brown bag lunch.  Anyone interested in learning about this Polson landmark and institution is invited to attend.

POLSON —A Daughters of the American Revolution meeting of the Bitterroot Chapter and Organizing Kuilix Chapter will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13 for a potluck at noon at Myrna Terzo’s home at 38844 Parker in Polson. 

Call (406) 319-2662 for directions. 

Prospective members are welcome.

RONAN — The Boys and Girls Club is hosting a Community Barn Dance from 4-8 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center on Oct. 13. We will have a square dance caller, jazz band, spaghetti dinner, and silent auction. Bring your whole family; there will be fun for everyone. Silent auction items can be dropped off at any Community Bank location. Call Brenda Dennis at (406) 883-0600 with any questions. There is no cover charge, but donations will be taken and all proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of our community. Hope to see you there.

RONAN — A garden work day is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Ronan High School. The school has an outdoor Peace Garden that is in disrepair, and needs some TLC or will be covered up and removed. Come the whole day, or for an hour. Please let us know if you will be joining us and also bring any hand tools/garden gloves you may have (labeled). Snacks will be provided.

For more information, contact Shay Farmer at 676-5901 ext. 112.

RONAN —On Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m., The Red Poppy is sponsoring an online genealogy research program. JoAnn Piazzola, a well-known Daughters of the American Revolution genealogist from Butte, is the presenter. Piazzola will focus on popular, free on-line resources. As always, the afternoon is free and open to the public, with a reception following the program.   

The Red Poppy is located at First Street, S.W. and Eisenhower (on Highway 93, south stoplight, across from True Value Hardware). Call (406) 676-3010 for more information or visit www.theredpoppy.org, to inquire about the schedule for the wide variety of classes and workshops offered throughout the month.

POLSON — The Lake County GOP Headquarters invites you to join candidate Denny Rehberg’s “Liberate Main Street – Create Jobs” bus stop on Sunday, Oct. 14, at noon at the headquarters building located on the corner of Second Street and Highway 93 in Polson. The Liberate Main Street tour highlights the importance of supporting local businesses as a way of creating jobs and growing the economy. There is still time to register to vote before the election; come into the headquarters and learn how. We also have a sign-up sheet for persons needing a ride to their polling place on Nov. 6 and Lake County Voter guides will be available soon.

A limited number of Romney/Ryan yard signs are still on hand; stop by for yours today before they are all gone. The GOP headquarter’s office hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (if the flags are flying the door is open). GOP candidate signs and information are available to the public. Come on in for a cup of coffee and a sign for your yard.

VALLEY VIEW — The Valley View potluck will be held Sunday, Oct. 14, at 5 p.m. at the Valley View Clubhouse, 40762 Valley View Road. Valley View Women’s club is looking for new members.  There will be a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. Call Kelly for details at (406) 883-2910.

POLSON — It has been said all politics is local. Let’s take that to mean “extremely local,” (meaning the individual), and examine how a person perceives, thinks, and develops the “meanings” that become a political vote.

Part one of a three-part series entitled “The Psychology of Thinking” will be taught by Gene Johnson Monday, Oct. 15, from 7-8:30 p.m. at North Lake County Library in Polson. The course is free but a small cash donation to a local charity is encouraged. Contact Gene at (406) 261-1353 for more information.  

POLSON — The community is invited to a public forum for Lake County Justice of the Peace candidates Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Polson High School auditorium. The forum will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

POLSON — The Polson School District Policy Committee will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 3:45 p.m. in the school administration building conference room, located at 111 Fourth Ave., E. to review and update the district’s policies. This will be an ongoing process and monthly meetings will continue until all the policies have been reviewed. The community is welcomed and urged to participate in this important undertaking. The policies to be reviewed at this meeting are, #2160P-equivalency/comparability, #2221-school closure, #2312-copyright, #2312P copyright compliance, #2333-participation in commencement exercises, #2410P-High School graduation requirements, #3141-out of district student attendance, #5630-employee use of cellular phones and other electronic devices. Copies of these policies are available for review or pickup at the administration office 111 Fourth Ave., E. Please call (406) 883-6355 ext. 606 to make arrangements. For further information please contact John Kelly Policy Committee Chairman at (406) 270-0248 or omkelly@centurytel.net.

ROLLINS — Rollins Women’s Club will sponsor a candidate forum on Tuesday, Oct.r 16, at 7 p.m. at the Rollins School House. Joyce Funda is heading this up and she can be reached at (406) 407-5156.

POLSON — On Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. the next gathering of the “Thyme for Herbs Group” will take place at the North Lake County Public Library meeting room, 2 First Avenue, E. (use the east side door). The topic for the meeting is “Herbal Remedies You Need to Stay Well.”

Many people are struggling with staying well. We will help you understand the nutritional and medicinal value of herbs in maintaining your health. Come hear a presentation and join in the discussion.  Anyone interested is invited to join us.  If you have questions please call Linda Peterson at (406) 319-2446.