ARLEE — Hangin’ Art Gallery in Arlee presents its summer exhibit through Aug. 16. An opening reception will take place on July 6 from 2-4 p.m., to coincide with the Arlee Powwow. For more information, go to www.hanginartgallery.com.

POLSON - The Sandpiper Gallery will be featuring their “Color Me Wild” exhibition July 2-Aug. 10, with the reception on Friday, July 5, from 5-7 p.m.

ARLEE — The third annual Native American Playwriting Festival, entitled “Old Voice – New Stories,” will be held Monday-Friday, Aug. 5-9, at Hangin’ Art Gallery on Highway 93 in Arlee. All performances begin at 7 p.m. Presentations are: Monday, Aug. 5 – “Trickster at Dirty Corner;” Tuesday, Aug. 6 – The Salish Institute Youth Storytellers: An original presentation; Wednesday, Aug. 7 – “The Hell Gate Treaty: We are This Land;” Thursday, Aug. 8 – “Thieves;” Friday, Aug. 9 – “The Dink Brothers.”

For more information, visit: www.npustin.org or call (406) 726-5005.

POLSON — You get to choose from soccer, archery training, or art classes at Polson Foursquare Church’s Vacation Bible School (K-sixth grade), Aug. 5-9, from 6-9 p.m. Call the church office at (406) 883-9347 or email: pfcgregg@gmail.com, for registration details. Training, snacks, T-shirts and lots of fun are all included. Walk-ins are always welcome all week. 

ARLEE — Purchase your produce for the week at Jocko Valley Farmers’ Market, as well as some great baked goods, value added foods and arts and crafts. Enjoy a delicious dinner served Arlee CDC and local, live music. On Aug. 7, Andre Floyd provides entertainment from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to be a vendor, contact Kelley at (406) 726-5550.

POLSON — The Polson Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us at noon for our August general meeting and luncheon on Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at the KwaTaqNuk Resort. The cost is $10.50. Our featured speaker will be Matt Seeley, race director of the Polson Triathlon.

MISSOULA – After four straight years of trillion-dollar annual budget deficits, the news is dawning on all political parties that the federal budget is long due for serious repair, and that less spending is part of the process. University of Montana economists Patrick Barkey and Paul Polzin will examine the key role the federal government plays in the Montana economy, and how changes in that role can be expected to play out across the state during the eighth annual Midyear Economic Update seminar series. 

This year’s series, “Montana’s Federal Economic Footprint: The Local Impact of Changes in Washington,” will be held in seven cities around the state. The first seminar kicks off in Kalispell on Thursday, Aug. 1. The session will be held from noon-1:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Holiday Inn Downtown and includes lunch. The event is co-sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce and UM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. For more information, visit: http://www.bber.umt.edu or call BBER at 406-243-5113.

ST. IGNATIUS — There will be a table at Rod’s Harvest Foods on Aug. 9 and Aug. 19 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. to take orders for the 2014 Chamber of Commerce Birthday Calendars. If there are any corrections or additions, please let LaVonne know. For more information, call LaVonne Olmsted at (406) 745-3423. The deadline for these orders is Aug. 31, 2013. Thank for supporting the Chamber of Commerce and their community activities.

POLSON — Cruisen by the Bay events begin Friday, Aug. 9 and continue through Saturday, Aug. 11. Friday registration takes place at the Walmart parking lot. The actual car show continues on Main Street Saturday. Events include a “Poker Run” and “cruise” on Main Street Friday afternoon and evening. The car show continues Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. when awards are given out. That evening a free concert is at Riverside Park. 

RONAN — The Rocky Mountain Breeders Association will hold a “round pen shootout” at the Lake County Fair Grounds Aug. 9-10. In this event, three trainers start colts, provided by an outside party, over the course of two evenings, followed by a short trail course competition. A Ranch Horse Competition Series will be held Saturday, Aug. 10. This competition demonstrates a horse’s ability to perform various tasks that are part of work on a ranch. For more information, go to www.montanarmba.org or contact Mike Lyons at (406) 675-2965.

POLSON — A free dinner at Polson Presbyterian Church, across from Linderman School, will take place on Aug. 9 from 5-7 p.m. This “Friendship Table Dinner” is free and open to all.

PABLO —  The 12th annual “Spirit of God Ministries” camp meeting will take place from Aug. 10-18, by Joe’s Jiffy Stop, Highway 93 in Pablo. Tent Services will be at 7 p.m. and morning meetings begin at 10:30 a.m. 

DIXON —Plan to attend the Dixon all-school reunion on Aug. 10 from noon until early evening at the Dixon Senior Citizens’ Center. This event will be catered by the senior citizens and will cost $12 per person. Call either Carol Lipscomb at (406) 544-7422 or Shirley Christensen at (406) 644-2434, so we can get a head count for dinner.

RONAN — The Rocky Mountain Breeders Association’s Ranch Horse Competition Series takes place at the Lake County Fairgrounds Saturday, Aug. 10. This competition demonstrates a horse’s ability to perform various tasks that are part of work on a ranch. For more information, go to www.montanarmba.org or contact Mike Lyons at (406) 675-2965.

POLSON — A 60-year class reunion for 1953 Polson High School classmates is being planned for Saturday, August 10. Social time will be from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for singles and $40 for couples. The Elks will provide a no-host bar. We invite any Polson High graduate, or friends from the early-to-mid 1950s, to join the class for social time and dinner. Contact Darryl Dupuis for more information at (406)-249-7045. 

POLSON — The 42nd annual Outdoor Art Festival is Saturday, August 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Lake County Courthouse Lawn. View fine art originals in all media; jewelry; handmade furniture; birdhouses; hand-sewn items; stained glass; rose maling; pottery; candles; sculptures and many other interesting and unique items. Various musical entertainment and food concessions are included. Call the gallery at (406) 883-5956 or visit their website at Sandpiperartgallery.com, for more information or for a participant application.

POLSON — There will be a Polson School board meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 12, at the district office, 111 Fourth Ave., E.

ST. IGNATIUS — VBS will be held at Zion at Diamond and Second Ave. in St. Ignatius from August 12-16 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. All children from preschool to eighth grade are welcome. There will be a mid-morning snack provided. For more information, you may call Rev. Kyle Whaley at (406) 883-4041 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday and at (406) 745-4149 on Tuesday or Thursday

POLSON — The next gathering of the “Thyme for Herbs Group” will be Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. at the North Lake County Public Library meeting room, 2 First Ave., E. (use the east side door). 

Our topic for the evening will be “Herbal 911.” Learn which herbs you need to have in your home and how to use them when you have a health issue. 

We will also discuss harvesting herbs, saving seeds, and storage of herbs. Bring your questions for discussion.

Anyone interested in learning to use herbs for better health is invited to join us. If you have questions, please call Linda Peterson (406) 319-2446.

RONAN — The American Legion post 138 of Ronan is meeting Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Ronan, 35981 Round Butte Rd. New Members are welcome. For more information, call (406) 676-3380.

RONAN — The Ladies’ Auxiliary VFW 5652 meeting is Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ronan VFW Hall, 35981 Round Butte Rd. New members are welcome. For more information, call Rocki Davis at (406) 210-1862 or (406) 676-3143.

ARLEE — Purchase your produce for the week at Jocko Valley Farmers’ Market, as well as some great baked goods, value added foods and arts and crafts. Enjoy a delicious dinner served by Arlee Pride Basketball and local, live music. On Aug. 14, Eric Hutchins provides entertainment from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to be a vendor, contact Kelley at (406) 726-5550.

POLSON — The Polson Rural Fire District trustees’ monthly meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Polson Fairgrounds Station. All residents of the Polson Rural Fire District and are encouraged to attend. Any member of the public wishing to submit items for Board review/consideration needs to submit them to the board clerk at least ten days in advance of the meeting. For a full text of approved minutes and the agenda, please go to www.polsonfire.org.

RONAN — Last day to turn in reading logs at Ronan City Library.

ST. IGNATIUS — Montana’s Shakespeare in the Park’s production of “ The Recruiting Officer” is performed at 6 p.m., Aug. 15 at the St. Ignatius Amphitheater. The play will move to the St. Ignatius Elementary gym if there’s inclement weather.

POLSON — Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour is held on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5-7 p.m. Your host is Glacier Bank, 49430 Highway 93.

POLSON — A tour of the Bibler home and gardens near Kalispell is Thursday, Aug. 15. We travel up Flathead Lake’s west shore to the Bibler home and their five acres of manicured gardens. En route home via the east shore, we’ll lunch at an historic restaurant. Departure times from Community Bank branch parking lots are: Ronan-8 a.m. and Polson-8:30 a.m. We return at 3:30 p.m. The cost for Community Bank Customers is $75 and for guests $90.

ST IGNATIUS — The Fort Connah Restoration Society will host an open house on Sept. 7-8 (not Aug. 16 as previously listed in error). 

POLSON — The third annual Flathead Lake Blues Festival is Friday and Saturday, August 16-17 on the lakeshore of the new Polson fishing dock. For more information, contact David Venters at (406) 885-2377. 

KALISPELL —Drum Brothers presents the Montana Outdoor Rhythm Camp Aug. 16-18 at the  Montanagua Sanctuary.  For more information and to register, visit www.drumbrothers.com, www.facebook.com/drum.brothers, or call 406-531-8109.  

RONAN – The Ronan City Library celebrates the end of their summer reading program with a picnic and a grand prize drawing at Bockman Park in Ronan, on Saturday, Aug. 17. Call (406) 676-3682, for more information.

POLSON —Wings For Wishes Over Montana, a radio-controlled airplane fun fly event, benefits The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Montana on Aug. 17-18. There is a $25 landing fee/weekend pass for pilots. Spectators are free. Donations for the silent auction and raffles are needed and appreciated. All funds raised go to Make-A-Wish Montana. Visit www.wingsforwishes.weebly.com for more details, or call Eric Kendall at (406) 499-0116.

PABLO — The People’s Center Museum and Gift Shop, in partnership with musician Charles Fyant, will hold a celebration of music, art and food at The People’s Center on Aug. 17. If you are a band or musician and interested in participating, please call Charles Fyant at (406) 883-3427. The event is open to all varieties of music. For art market/displays and food vending or for more information, contact Marie Torosian at the People’s Center, (406) 675-0160. Everyone is welcome to participate and attend.

POLSON —The Polson Triathlon held on Saturday, Aug. 17, begins at 8:40 a.m. at Riverside Park. Standard entry fee until Aug. 1 is $75 online only and team fees are $150. Late entry fees (Aug. 2-13) are $95 online and teams are $195. No race registration after Tuesday, Aug. 13. Race capacity is 200 competitors (teams count as one). This year’s prize purse increased to $5000 (5 deep), there’s a bigger field, a new race shirt, water bottles, more awards, a kids’ race, faster lunches, safer courses, better aid stations, a clear refund policy and more. For more information, call (406) 883-9264 or go to: polsontriathlon.com.

KALISPELL — A general trapper education course will be offered at Snappy's Sport Center, 1400 Highway 2, E. in Kalispell, on Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. This is not a wolf trapper certification class. This general trapper education class is intended to teach people how to trap legally, ethically, safely, and effectively and is offered free of charge by the Montana Trappers’ Association education instructors. For more information, contact Paul Fielder at (406) 827-7777.

ST. IGNATIUS — There will be a table at Rod’s Harvest Foods on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. to take orders for the 2014 Chamber of Commerce Birthday Calendars. If there are any corrections or additions, please let LaVonne know. For more information, call LaVonne Olmsted at (406) 745-3423. The deadline for these orders is Aug. 31, 2013. Thank for supporting the Chamber of Commerce and their community activities

POLSON — A safety class takes place at the Polson Area Senior Center on Aug. 20 from 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. and 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Call 883-4735, for a reservation.