POLSON — Ken’s Country Combo will play for the April 30 dance at the Elks from 7-10 p.m. Treats are very much appreciated. Please join in and see all your friends there. 

POLSON — The fourth annual Celebration of Research is on Wednesday, April 30, at SKC in the gym from 5-8 p.m. The event is kid-friendly and will have a barbecue.

POLSON — St. Joseph Medical Center is holding “Stepping On,” a falls-prevention program. This class meets for two hours a week for seven weeks starting April 15. It aims to reduce the more than one-third of adults 65 or older who fall every year. By joining our “Stepping On” workshop, you will learn tips on strength and balance exercises, identification of safe footwear, medications' contribution to fall-risk, eliminating fall hazards in your home, and so much more. This course has been shown to reduce fall risk by up to 30 percent. Join and learn with people your own age how to step outside your home with confidence. To register or to get more information, call Stephanie at (406) 883-8453.

POLSON — Please join us for a Meet and Greet on May 1, 2014, with Commissioner Bill Barron. He will be at the Polson Motorhome Park/KOA from 5-7:30 p.m. and will serve “Barron Burgers” and other refreshments.  Come meet and talk with Commissioner Barron and bring any questions or concerns you may have. This is sponsored by Citizens to Re-elect Bill Barron for Lake County Commissioner.

Sandpiper Art & Gift Gallery presents ‘Cameras & Color’ a bright show that zooms in on invited artists Patrick Berry (watercolor), Lael Gray (various paint mediums), Kay Langlan (B&W photography printed on metal) and Sandpiper member Nancy Miller (floral paintings). The show will run from April 1st to May 9th, at the Gallery at 306 Main Street in Polson. For more information call 883-5956 or visit sandpiperartgallery.com.

HOT SPRINGS — On Friday, May 2, at the Symes Hotel, Bluesmoke will perform bluegrass music. 

POLSON — The theme of the film “Courageous” is honor begins at home. This movie will be shown Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Fellowship Baptist Church, 2 Seventh Ave. E. This movie is free; come and bring a friend. 

RONAN — Friday night is “Pizza Night” for the Ronan Library District at the Pizza Cafe in Ronan. Come have a great pizza and support the library at the same time. A portion of all pizza sales, for each Friday night in the month of May, will be donated to the Friends of the Ronan Library. Pizza Café is located at 62953 Highway 93 in Ronan.

POLSON — Join Polson’s community-wide annual spring “Clean Up-Green Up Day” set for Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Headquarters will be located in the Polson library community room at 2 First Ave. E. Volunteers may come to designate areas where they want to work or to be assigned areas that need cleaning up. Lightweight gloves, garbage bags, orange plastic vests, pointed pick-up sticks, bottled water, hot coffee and cookies will be available at “Clean Up-Green Up” headquarters. Participants may register to win one of four gift certificates from local businesses. The Beautification Committee of Envision Polson organizes this cleanup day.

RONAN — Big Productions, a fundraising venture of the Cantlon Family Youth Home, (formerly the Lake County Youth Home), is going A cappella in May. The Montana A Cappella Society will perform a relaxing evening of music, featuring songs from the 1600s to modern classics. All music will be presented A Cappella. The artists will also showcase a special tribute to our Armed Forces.

The performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, at the Ronan Performing Arts Center. 

The event is being co-sponsored by Bill Barron.

RONAN — Willard’s will host the sixth annual Starving Artists’ Show on Saturday, May 3. The show and silent auction will start at noon, with an artists’ reception from 5-7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Ronan Senior Center. Call Julie Moore at (406) 676-2655, for information or to donate items for the auction. 

POLSON — The Polson Shooters Association will hold another basic pistol class on Saturday, May 3, at the PSA shooting range, 38386 Kerr Dam Road, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting approximately eight hours. This class meets the requirements for a concealed carry permit and is a prerequisite for other more advanced classes to be held later this year. Come early and enjoy a cup of coffee and a donut. Bring a lunch and a handgun with 50 rounds of ammo. Cost is $75. For more information or to sign up, call Rob St. Clair at (406) 883-1110 during the day and (406) 270-8886 in the evening.  Space is limited; so, first come, first served.

HOT SPRINGS — On Saturday, May 3, at the Symes Hotel, Larry Hirshberg will perform his acoustic, folk music. 

RONAN — On Saturday, May 3, the Community of Ronan and the Ronan Area Chamber will hold its annual Spring Cleaning Day. Meet at 9 a.m. at City Park to pick up garbage bags, gloves, donuts and a hot cup of coffee to get you going. There will be a construction-size box dumpster donated by Republic Services located at City Park near the Fire Hall, available for dropping off approved trash items and full trash bags. 

RONAN — The 34th annual Kicking Horse Job Corps Center Powwow will be held May 3 in at the campus’s gymnasium from 1-11 p.m. A free dinner will be served from 5-7 p.m. There will be an all-ages Prairie Chicken contest for $50, $100, and $250, and a children’s carnival.

RONAN — The Spring Fling Pool Tournament benefiting SAFE Harbor will be held May 3 at the Club Bar in Ronan. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the tournament starts at 11 a.m. The Mission Valley Players Association sanctions this tournament. This will be a singles event. The entry fee is $20 and includes a taco bar and raffle prize tickets. The games will be 8-ball, ball in hand, blind draw, A & B handicap. For questions concerning handicap rules, contact Bill Steele at (406) 890-5911. There will also be a 50/50 drawing, prize boards, a Piñata, and small prize drawings. Pre-registration will end May 2 at 10 p.m. To register for the tournament or to have questions answered, call Jolene Schmitz at (406) 253-2463. 

PABLO — SKC Foundation’s Annual Art Auction and Gala will be held Saturday, May 3, at the KwaTaqNuk. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction and live auction preview. The dinner and live auction and dancing begin at 6:30 p.m. Featured artists are Corky Clairmont and Linda King. Tickets are $50 a person or $75 a couple. For more information, call (406) 275-4983.

DAYTON — Mission Mountain Winery will hold their annual free community red wine and chocolate event on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This is a chance for visitors to learn about the food and wine pairings of various chocolate delights and their corresponding red wines. This free annual event is a part of the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. Come try out the chocolate fountain and the numerous chocolate treats with our most recent international gold medal winning red wines, 2008 Merlot Reserve and 2009 Monster Red. Our amazing 2008 Malbec, 2009 Syrah, 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2006 Pinot Noir will be served as well. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. The wintery is located at 82420 Highway 93 in Dayton.

ST. IGNATIUS — On Saturday and Sunday May 3-4, the Fort Connah Restoration Society will host an open house and rendezvous, which depicts life during the fur-trading era of Montana. This is a great opportunity to see the historic Hudson Bay’s Fort Connah Trading Post come to life. This event is free to the public and includes demonstrations of time-era activities, crafts and games.

Main events are held Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Early set-up takes place on Friday, May 2, for campers and vendors. Fort Connah is located 6 miles north of St. Ignatius.

For general information and trader/vendor set-ups, call Carolyn Corey/Preston Miller at (406) 745-4336 or email: 4winds@blackfoot.net. For more information about camping and demonstrators, contact Chris Poloynis at (406) 214-0333 or email: cpspartan55@gmail.com.

HOT SPRINGS — A corporate meeting of Hot Springs’ Artists Society Corporation will take place on Sunday, May 4, at 3 p.m. at the Symes Hotel. Cake and coffee will be served.

RONAN — The Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen will hold their May meeting on the evening of May 4, at the VFW Hall on Round Butte Rd, in Ronan at 7:30 p.m. Speakers for the evening will be Kent and Charlene Krone giving a talk on their travels around the country enjoying trail rides in various locals. As usual, guests are welcome. If you have any questions, call Dennese Schauss at (406) 883-5876.

ST. IGNATIUS — On May 4, the United Methodist Church on Highway 93 on top of Post Creek Hill will begin their hiking information night with a 5:30 p.m. supper of camp-style wrapped food (for free). After supper Bill Schalk will have hiking hints, talk about walks of local interest and have photos of views around the Valley. All ages and levels of interest in the outdoors are welcome.

ARLEE—On May 4, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Church social hall, the annual Sacred Heart Parish Bazaar will be held. There will be plenty of refreshments including Indian tacos, pies, beverages, hot dogs, etc. and lots of fun events including a raffle featuring a handmade quilt, cash prizes, a box of barbecue steaks and more. There will be door prizes, white elephant, crafts, kids games, cake- walk and more. Please come and help us make this a success. It is the only fundraiser Sacred Heart Parish holds.

RONAN — Parents and guardians are invited to a high school transition meeting in the Performing Arts Center on Monday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. for all current Ronan eighth grade students. Middle school administration will discuss end of the current school year activities. The high school administration and high school counselor will then have an opportunity to discuss items your student will be dealing with during their high school years. It will also give you a chance to ask questions regarding any concerns or clarifications you may want.  

POLSON — Please join us Monday, May 5, from 7-9 p.m. at the North Lake County Library as the Polson Chamber hosts a “Meet and Greet” with local candidates.  

POLSON — The Montana Co-op’s Monday movie for May 5 is “Fresh - New thinking about what we’re eating.” Movie night is free; bring snacks if you desire. Show time is 6 p.m. at Wander In at Journey Be, 101 Seventh Ave. W. in Polson. To order from the Co-op, come at 5 p.m. For more information, call (406) 883-1330 or (406) 883-0110.

DIXON - Kindergarten Round-Up at Dixon Elementary School Time: 10:35am -3:25pm This round-up is open to all students who will be five years old by September 10, 2014. Parents/guardians please bring the following: • Current immunization records • A copy of your child’s birth certificate For more information phone: 246-3566

RONAN — Lake County Community Development will host a Social Marketing Workshop on Tuesday, May 6, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at their Ronan office. Anyone seeking to implement, utilize and learn the importance of today’s Internet and technological advances will benefit from this workshop. Lunch is included. For more information, call Carol at (406) 261-3200 or Lisa at (406) 675-5901.

RONAN — The Mission Mountain Quilt Guild will hold its regular meeting at the Terrace Lake Community Church, on May 6 at 6:30 pm. The theme for the quilt show this year is “Quilter’s Heart,” so be working on something to enter in the show. We will hold election of officers.  Please bring your completed items for the Country Store, and your “Show ‘N Tell” items. Applique of the center blocks on the Quilt from the B.O.M.’s is in order. The Quilt Guild will also hold its annual “Brown Bag Auction” at the May meeting, so bring your UFO’s or some other quilt-related item in a brown bag with a little “ditty” on the outside as a clue. All will be auctioned off.

POLSON — Ken’s Country Combo will play on May 7 at the Cinco DeMayo dance from 7-10 p.m. Wear something colorful and bring your sombrero. Thank you for sharing the wonderful treats. 

POLSON — The Polson Chamber of Commerce’s general meeting and luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, at the KwaTaqNuk Resort in Polson from noon-1 p.m. The KwaTaqNuk will serve a hot entrée lunch for $14.

We are excited to have Crystal Baker, Economic Development Specialist from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Montana District Office in Helena and John Balsam from SBA who is the Development Center Director in Kalispell. They will share information with us on who the SBA is and what they can do to help our small businesses. For more information, call the Chamber office at 883-5969.

RONAN — Join us for Montana Author’s Night on May 8 at 6:30- 8 p.m. at the Ronan Library. Leslie Budewitz is our featured author. Her book is “Death Al Dente” and is available at the library. All Friends of the Ronan Library events are open to the public.

POLSON — "What Plants Have Taught Me” by Pat Hurley will be the next evening program of the Mission Mountain Audubon Society on Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. in the Polson Library meeting room. Everyone is welcome.

Pat will reflect on the natural history of several native plants in Northwestern Montana. While looking at the fascinating ecological adaptations of Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Stinging Nettle, wild orchids and other fascinating plants, Pat will also consider how those adaptations can be seen as metaphors for our lives.

Pat Hurley teaches biology at Salish Kootenai College.

POLSON - A public hearing will be held in the Lake County Commissioners' office in the Lake County Court House at 10 a.m., May 8th, to receive community input regarding the addition of Medusahead (Taeniatherum Caput-medusae) to the list of noxious weeds in Lake County.

POLSON — The May Friendship Table Dinner is on May 9 from 5-7 p.m. Polson Presbyterian Church is located across from the Linderman School. This dinner is free and open to all.

HOT SPRINGS — On Friday, May 9, at the Symes Hotel, John Patrick Williams, a local singer and songwriter, will perform his music.

ST. IGNATIUS — The St. Ignatius Parent/Teacher Organization is hosting a Sweet Treats Auction Fundraiser for the new community playground on May 9 at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the school. Please call Janet at (406) 745-5112, for more information or if you would like to volunteer. Come out and support your community.

PABLO — The SKC Spring Powwow Celebration is on Friday, May 9 and 10. Grand Entry is on Friday at 7 p.m. and on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Powwow will be at the SKC Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center. For more information, call (406) 275-4980.

NINEPIPE — On Friday, May 9, join an evening of “Spring Into Summer,” a vendor show at Ninepipe Lodge’s banquet room from 5-9 p.m.  This celebration rewards you with discounts/door prizes, and a fun time getting to know our products and services. See you there.

PABLO — An upcoming Cultural Arts and Crafts Family Day at The People’s Center, takes place on May 10 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. The day is open to everyone that wants to work on dance regalia, to bead, to drum and sing or to practice your dance steps. We will try to have a drum there. Call (406) 675-0160, to register for the “Art Market.”

POLSON — Mission Valley Animal Shelter is holding an open house Saturday, May 10, from noon- 3 p.m. Come meet our cats and dogs, enjoy activities for kids, join in drawings for gift baskets and come and see our new look at 36251 N Reservoir Road.  For more information, call (406) 883-5312.

CHARLO — On Saturday, May 10, a “3D Archery Shoot” fundraiser for Korrie Frisk and Ashley Mock will be held. Registration will start at 7 a.m. This is a 40-target course in this one-day shoot. Concessions will be available on site. Call Angie at (406) 590-2753 or Val at (406) 207-4586, for more information. Costs and location will be added when finalized.

HOT SPRINGS — On Saturday, May 10, at the Symes Hotel, Tribe Zaghareet will perform belly dancing from 6-7 p.m. The group Back Adit will perform swing and jazz music that evening. 

HOT SPRINGS — Sid Gustafson will present “Horses in Contemporary Culture,” on Saturday, May 10, from 1–2 p.m. at the Preston Hot Springs Town County Library. 

ST. IGNATIUS — Volunteers are needed for the St. Ignatius “Clean up Day” scheduled for Saturday, May 10, at 9 a.m. Participants will meet at City Hall where there will be a dumpster for public use. No tires, paint, batteries or appliances may go into the dumpster. For more information, call Scott Morton at (406) 745-3791. Leave a message at (406) 745-3791, if you would like help moving larger items.

PABLO — A Women 4 Wellness 1-mile and 5-K walk/run starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the Joe McDonald Fitness Center in Pablo at Salish Kootenai College, off US Highway 93. Same-day registration starts at 8 a.m. The run/walk pre-registration cost is free for youth 5 years and under, for youth runners 6-17 years old with a T-shirt it is $14, with no shirt it is $8 and for adult runners 18 years and older with a long-sleeve shirt it is $24, with a T-shirt it is $18 and with no shirt it is $10. Fees increase after preregistration. For more information go to: www.prevention.skc.edu.

HOT SPRINGS — On Sunday, May 11, at the Symes Hotel, there will be a “Family Dance” with old time dances taught from 2-3:30 p.m. 

POLSON — Good Shepherd’s youth group will serve king crab, shrimp, side dishes and dessert at the Glacier Brewing Company in Polson on Mother’s Day, May 11.

The dinner goes from 1-4 p.m. A silent auction of quilts, art and other items will take place simultaneously. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children under age 12 and can be bought at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 409 Fourth Ave. E, or at the Glacier Brewing Co., corner of 10th and Main St. Please bring your own crab cracker, as our supply is limited.

Proceeds from the dinner benefit the youth group’s 2014 service trip to Bethlehem, which departs June 17. For details about the dinner or the trip, please call the church at (406) 883-5864 or email: gslcpolsonmt@gmail.com.

POLSON — The Montana Co-op’s Monday movie for May 12 will be “Genetic Roulette - The gamble of our lives.” Movie night is free. Show time is 6 p.m. at Wander In at Journey Be,  To order from the Co-op, come at 5 p.m. For more information, call (406) 883-1330 or (406) 883-0110.

POLSON — The next Polson School Board meeting will be held on Monday, May 12, at the Polson Schools’ district office, 111 Fourth Ave. E, at 5:30 p.m. 

POLSON — The SKC Spirit of Many Colors Club, in collaboration with SAFE Harbor, is hosting a “Day of Pride” at the college on May 12. Programming includes a presentation on intersex, a resource fair with community agencies, a “Pride Parade,” a discussion on the “Two-Spirit concept” and a film. All activities are free and open to the public. If you have questions, contact Alana at (406) 275-4800. 

ST. IGNATIUS — On May 12 the Smart Driver course will be taught at the St. Ignatius Senior Center from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call (406) 745-4462, for a reservation.

RONAN — The American Legion Post 138 of Ronan is meeting May 13 at 7 p.m., (second Tuesdays), at the American Legion Hall, 63869 Highway 93, across from McDonald's. New members are always welcome. For more information, contact Jack Fay at (406) 676-3380.

ST. IGNATIUS — The Lake County Conservation District is having an open house at the St Ignatius Senior Citizens Center on Tuesday, May 13, from 4-8 p.m. 

POLSON — On Tuesday, May 13, “Silver Linings Playbook”, a popular movie portraying an aspect of mental illness will be shown in the North Lake County Public Library meeting room at 6:30 p.m. Following the film, Laurie Johnson, author of “I Am Laurie” will lead a discussion.

This event is part of the “Mind Matters” series being shown every Tuesday evening during National Mental Health month. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.  For more information, call (406) 883-8225.