RONAN — Cheerleading tryouts for the winter are Nov. 13, 14 and 15 from 4-6 p.m. at the Ronan Event Center Commons.

ARLEE — The Arlee Community Development Corporation will hold its November meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Arlee High School business lab. The meeting is open to the public and we welcome everyone.

For further information, contact Kelley at (406) 726-5550.

RONAN — The Ladies’ Auxiliary VFW 5652 is meeting Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ronan VFW Hall, 35981 Round Butte Rd. New members are welcome. For more information, please call Marge Fay at (406) 676-3380.

KALISPELL — Members of the Flathead Basin Commission will hold a meeting on Nov. 14, 2012 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation office, 655 Timberwolf Parkway, Kalispell.

During the morning, the meeting will be devoted to administration updates, and a discussion of the FBC legislative agenda regarding Aquatic Invasive Species. In the afternoon there will be an overview of the priority projects currently being undertaken by the county. Discussions about the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem Education Consortium and the Stoltz Greenhouse Project in Columbia Falls will also take place.

All FBC meetings are open to the public.

For more information, contact the FBC at (406) 240-3453.

POLSON — On Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., the Polson Rural Fire District will hold a trustee meeting at the fairgrounds station.

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 — A free developmental and preschool screening clinic for children ages 0-5 in the St. Ignatius School District will be held at the St. Ignatius Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 9-11:30 a.m. Please call (406) 745-3811 ext. 233 to schedule an appointment for your child’s screening or to receive more information.

This free screening will include gross motor, fine motor, language concepts, communication concepts, communication skills, hearing and vision screening.

RONAN — Thinking about starting a business, or been in the trenches for a while and would like support, education and networking with other women in your shoes? Come join a network of businesswomen in Western Montana. The Mission Valley Sub-network of the Missoula Businesswomen’s Network, Nov. 15, from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., at Lake County Community Development Building, 407 W Main St, in Ronan. Carol Cunningham from LCCDC will speak on utilizing small business services in the Mission Valley. 

Jolene Gauthier, of Gray Wolf Trading Company is sponsoring lunch.

Please RSVP at ldville@yahoo.com by Nov. 13.

Bring your business cards, marketing materials and friends.

For more information contact Laurie at (406) 407-3054 or go to www.discovermbn.com.

PABLO — Salish Kootenai College President’s Guest Lecture Series welcomes Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard Friday, Nov. 16, at noon in the Johnny Arlee/Victor Charlo Theatre on the SKC campus in Pablo.

Leonard will present a history of the Maori people of New Zealand, commencing from the migration of the Maori from Rangiatea in the Tahiti region to Aotearoa, New Zealand, from pre-European contact through to post-contact today, showing examples of inter-generational exchange and the role Maori play in New Zealand society today.

ARLEE — Join Mary Lennox, Colin Craven, Archibald Craven, the Bugs that Rock and a host of others in a musical wonderland this Saturday, Nov. 17, when the Missoula Children's Theatre and more than 50 local students present an original musical adaptation of "The Secret Garden" at 7 p.m. at the Arlee High School gym. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children or $15 per family, and are available at the door. The Missoula Children's Theatre residency in Arlee is brought to you by the Arlee Schools and a Title 3 grant with support from parents and community members.

For more information, call Carrie Drye at the Arlee Schools, 406-726-3216. There will be a complete list of supporters on the Saturday program. "The Secret Garden," an original Missoula Childeren's Theatre rendition, conceived and written by Michael McGill, is a joyful retelling of a story of hope and celebration of all good things in life. Mistress Mary Quite Contrary embarks on a journey from India to her uncle's home in England. Along the way she makes friends with the hilarious Canadian Geese and the colorful Giant Bugs that Rock. In time she learns to appreciate everything around her, including the Moor Animals and the helpful Fireflies. Add to that a good healthy dose of caring, and what happens? Colin, Martha, Archibald — well, the whole household — begin to enjoy the return of health and hapiness in a garden carefully tended ... until it blossoms once more.

VALLEY VIEW — On Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., at the Valley View Clubhouse, KC and the Valley Cats will put on a concert/dance to raise money for Jade Marr (who has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer) and her family. Admission at the door is by donation. Bake sale items will be available. Refreshments provided. To get to Valley View Clubhouse, head west on Seventh Avenue around the baseballs fields, follow the signs, “Jade’s Concert” with green balloons. Come and enjoy a night with your family for a good cause. Call Shelley with any question at (406) 531-3810.

CHARLO — It’s official: the “Save the Museum” campaign was successful, and the deed to the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana was signed over to the board of directors on Oct. 16. Board members wish to express their gratitude to the museum’s well-wishers and supporters with a day of thanks on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum will be open to the public at no cost and refreshments will be available. Come watch the board members “retire” the sign on the side of the building that showed the financial progress being made over the last two years as pledges and donations were received.  

The museum’s winter hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday through Dec. 1. The museum will reopen the first Thursday in April 2013. Group tours are available upon request and can be scheduled by calling 644-3435.

POLSON — The Elks, at 512 Main St., will hold a taco soup feed and holiday bazaar on Sunday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but nonperishable food donations will be collected. All kinds of vendors will showcase their items in one convenient location. This is a fundraiser for local food banks and all proceeds will be split and donated.

POLSON — Please help us collect 100 pounds of food by Thanksgiving.

A couple of cans, plus you, equals helping to feed the community of Polson. Drop your cans off at Polson Family Chiropractic, located at 801 Fourth Avenue, E.

POLSON — Our day-before-Thanksgiving dance will be held at the Elks on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Ken’s Country Combo will play the tunes with ballroom dancing the fare for the night. Treats and goodies are welcome and wonderful, so keep them coming. We thank the band for the past year. They stepped up and saved us when we were not sure of our future. You are much appreciated.

POLSON — Everyone in the Polson community is invited to join in a a homemade Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 22, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Polson Senior Center, 504 3rd Ave. E. We offer transportation services for those in need, and meal delivery for those who wish to remain at home. Families, couples, singles, are invited to share a meal and fellowship during this season of thanks. To request a ride or dinner delivery, please call (406) 883-4735 by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21.

We are requesting donations of salads, pies, and/or dinner rolls from our community at large. As our dinner grows, we need a little more support each year. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Cathy at the center by Nov. 12 to tell her what you would like to bring. No donation is too big or too small, so anything you can do is appreciated. Thanks for your help, and may you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

RONAN — St. Paul Lutheran, 35681 Terrace Lake, will be holding a Thanksgiving Day service at 10:15 a.m. All are welcome to join us in giving thanks to God together. More information is available at: ronanchurch.org.

RONAN — The ninth annual Ronan community Thanksgiving dinner will be Nov. 22 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center. Dinner is free but volunteers are needed. 

Call Cheri Houle at (406) 249-3184 to donate goods or food and Brennin Grainey at (406) 676-4600 to volunteer some time.

Entertainment is included with the traditional turkey dinner.

POLSON — Join the fifth annual Polson turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22. This 5K fun run/walk will start and finish at Century 21 Big Sky Real Estate, on the corner of Highway 93 and Highway 35. The course travels down Highway 35 and around Mission Bay. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome. Race day registration opens at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. The cost is $5. All proceeds benefit Polson Loaves and Fishes. 

See the website for more details: www.polsonrunning.com. 

DAYTON —Thanksgiving at the Winery is the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23 and 24, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., we will show you how to pair holiday foods with wines. Come try our special artichoke dip and Pinot Grigio, pork loin and Riesling, chicken curry with Muscat Canelli, smoked salmon and Pinot Noir, death by chocolate cake and Cabernet Sauvignon and pound cake with Orange Muscat Sherry. Mission Mountain Winery is located on Highway 93 in Dayton on the west shore of beautiful Flathead Lake.

RONAN — On Sunday, Nov. 25, the Red Poppy opens its Christmas boutique, featuring a wide variety of gifts handcrafted by over 140 local community artists and craftsmen. At 2 p.m. a program featuring Polson’s Flathead Flute Choir, playing jazz, popular, classical, fun and holiday selections, will take place. 

Additionally, Natasha Moore will be signing copies of her new children’s book with English and German text, The Circus/Der Zirkus. 

A reception will follow the performance, and as always, the afternoon is free. The Red Poppy will be open from 12-4 p.m. on Nov. 25.

The Red Poppy is located in Ronan, just across Highway 93 from True Value at the south stoplight. 

Call (406) 676-3010 for further information.