POLSON — Mission Valley Aquatics is hosting a Red Cross Lifeguard Certification course August 20-24 in Polson. 

If you’re 15 or older and looking for a great part-time job or challenging career that’s in demand, this Red Cross life guarding program is the place to start. Through videos, group discussion and hands-on practice, you’ll learn patron rescue and surveillance skills, first aid and CPR/AED. Lifeguards must be at least 15 years old and pass certain swimming requirements. The total course is 24-29 hours spread over four full days and a short day on Friday. Applicants earn a two-year life guarding/first aid/CPR/AED certification.

If you are interested in earning your certification and ultimately working at the new Mission Valley Aquatic Center, please consider signing up for this great course. And please forward this email to anyone you know who may be interested, adults with flexible schedules included.

For more information, contact mvaquatics@polson.net or call (406) 883-4567.

CHARLO — Charlo’s first day of school is Aug. 22. A school calendar and all back-to-school information can be found at www.charlo.k12.mt.us. Calendars, lunch forms and supply lists are available at the school. Updates and additions throughout the school year will be posted on the website.

PABLO — A community meeting to discuss Ronan School District’s Indian Education year-end report will take place at 6 p.m. Aug. 22 at the late Louis Caye Building at Salish Kootenai College. Call 676-3390 ext. 3209 for more information.

ARLEE — Jocko Valley Trails invites the community to enjoy a $10 steak or $ 7.50 hamburger platter at the Jocko Valley Farmers’ Market, located in the parking lot between the Hanging Art Gallery and Rick’s Kustom Kut in downtown Arlee. The benefit takes place on Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 4-7 p.m. 

The Jocko Valley Trails is an all-volunteer group working on the planning and development of a non-motorized trail system for walkers, runners and bicyclists in Arlee and the Jocko Valley. If you are interested in volunteering for this group, call Gary Decker at 726-4149 for more information.

Come hungry and support efforts make Arlee residents safer and healthier through a community trail system.  

RONAN — The Ronan Farmers Market takes place Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. through Sept. 13 on the lawn in front of the Flower Mill on Main Street. Fresh produce, baked goods and giftware are available. All vendors are welcome. 

POLSON — The Flathead River Rodeo will be held at the Polson Fairgrounds Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-25, with nightly performances at 6:30 p.m. Come join the fun at KwaTaqNuk Casino and Resort for chances to win night rodeo passes and other great promotional prizes during Flathead River Rodeo week. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the gate. Contact KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino at (406) 883-3636.

POLSON — Polson Middle School will hold an open house on Thursday, Aug. 23, from 5-7 p.m. Students and parents are invited to come enjoy a barbecue and tour the building. For more information e-mail: chris557@centurytel.net

RONAN — This year, the 27th annual Susie Hanson Ice Cream Social will be Thursday, Aug. 23, beginning at 3 p.m., in the courtyard of St. Luke Extended Care. The event features cake, clowns, balloons, live music by Jim Pettit and his family, and this year, “homemade” ice cream.

Family, friends and visitors can access the St. Luke courtyard by entering the extended care facility via the south door on Adams Street.

PABLO — The Salish Kootenai College Foundation will hold its 21st annual Golf Scramble at Silver Fox Golf Course on Friday, Aug. 24. All proceeds go to the SKC Foundation Scholarship Fund. There are two starting times, 8:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. and lunch will be provided. To register online, go to: skcfoundation.thankyou4caring.org or call Mark Cordier at (406) 675-7888 or SKC Foundation at (406) 275-4983.

POLSON — Cherry Valley Elementary School and Linderman Elementary School plan to hold their back-to-school open house on Friday, Sept. 24. 

Cherry Valley’s will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. while parents and children can visit Linderman from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

POLSON — A farmers market will be held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Third Avenue West. For more information, contact Tonya Truman at (406) 546-0749.

RONAN — There will be a dance at the Terrace Lake Community Church on Aug. 24 from 6-10 p.m. The “Little Big Band” will be performing the best dance music in the northwest. As usual, Marie will have lots of refreshments and food; you supply the great conversation and dancing. Tell your friends, we hope to see you there. For more information call James Petitt at (406) 676-8224.

BIG ARM — On Saturday, Aug. 25, the Big Arm Historic School’s pavilion will be transformed into a barn, where the  “For Ever Country” band will play country and old rock-n’-roll music until 10 p.m. This music will delight everyone who loves to dance. The Old School Cafe will be open from 6-7:30 p.m. with waitress service and a special menu of  “Student Fodder,” “Teacher Feed,” and “Principal Fare.” Tables will be set up in the sheltered pavilion and inside the historic school where you can meet your neighbors and catch up with old friends. We will have a silent auction of many wonderful items, a 50/50 raffle and will call the winner of the raffle for the “Last Light” king-size quilt.

Come dance, come dine, or just come to visit.

The Barn Dance/Historic School is located on Seventh Street in Big Arm. For more information, call 849-6628. All proceeds will benefit the restoration work on the historic school.

DIXON— The Dixon Melon Days committee would like to invite the public to the 21st annual melon celebration on Saturday, Aug. 25, in Dixon. This is a fun filled family event with lots of activities: parade, run/walk, dunk tank, kids’ games, little buckaroo rodeo, lawn tractor race, melon eating contest, farmers’ Olympics, and much more. We hope to see you there for a fun-filled day.

PABLO — Save Saturday, Aug. 25, to stomp out Lake County hunger. Join the “Fun Run” at the Joe McDonald Gym in Pablo. Pick up registration forms at Lake County Food Banks.

POLSON — It’s time for our annual Polson Rotary Festival for Youth Raffle to be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 2 p.m. at Riverside Park. You do not have to be present to win. Proceeds from the raffle go to the Mission Valley Aquatics pool project.

Tickets are $25 per chance or five chances for $100. Make check payable to the Rotary Foundation. One prize per ticket and prize choices are: $1,000 cash from First Interstate Bank; $1,000 of groceries from Super One Foods and Harvest Foods; $1,000 in gas; 300-350 pounds of cut Kobe beef from Liz and Jon Marchi; a wine cellar collection (minimum of 60 bottles); and two 2013 season golf passes for Polson Bay Golf Course from the City of Polson.  

Drop off or mail a check to Rotary Foundation c/o Tracy Dooley, 704 Third Ave. E., Suite B, Polson, MT 59860. 

Call (406) 883-0900 for more information.

POLSON — It’s time for our annual Polson Rotary Festival for Youth Raffle to be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 2 p.m. at Riverside Park. You do not have to be present to win. Proceeds from the raffle go to the Mission Valley Aquatics pool project.

Tickets are $25 per chance or five chances for $100. Make check payable to the Rotary Foundation. One prize per ticket and prize choices are: $1,000 cash from First Interstate Bank; $1,000 of groceries from Super One Foods and Harvest Foods; $1,000 in gas; 300-350 pounds of cut Kobe beef from Liz and Jon Marchi; a wine cellar collection (minimum of 60 bottles); and two 2013 season golf passes for Polson Bay Golf Course from the City of Polson.  

Drop off or mail a check to Rotary Foundation c/o Tracy Dooley, 704 Third Ave. E., Suite B, Polson, MT 59860. 

Call (406) 883-0900 for more information.

POLSON — On Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the Polson Rotary Club will host a chili cook-off at Riverside Park on the south side of the Armed Forces Bridge in Polson. Children’s games and activities, and a raffle, are included. This year’s Annual Polson Rotary Festival for the Youth is once again an effort to raise funds to support a local project oriented towards the youth of our local community. Polson Rotary is proud to support the Mission Valley Mariners and the improvements and stadium lighting being constructed on their home field. The improvements and lighting will enable them to host tournaments and enhance the overall functionality of the ball field. Polson Rotary believes this project will have a significant impact on the youth of this community. Please make any checks payable to Polson Rotary. Your support is greatly appreciated. Contact the chamber at (406) 883-5696.

CHARLO — To mark the 40th anniversary of Shakespeare in the Parks, artistic director Joel Jahnke decided to produce Shakespeare’s greatest and best-known play for the 2012 summer season. The Ninepipe Arts Group is pleased to announce that “Hamlet” will grace Palmer Park on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m.

Cheri’s Kitchen Catering will provide a delicious picnic dinner at 4:30 p.m. A variety of delicious desserts will be sold as a fundraiser for scholarship funds. Seating is provided, but feel free to bring a comfortable lawn chair.

Ninepipes Arts Group is soliciting funds from local friends and neighbors to help cover the cost of bringing this year’s production to Charlo.

Come enjoy the action and learn whether, “To be, or not to be?” really is the question.

RONAN — Please join us in celebrating the 13 years of service Jeff Kingery and family have devoted to our community as pastor, counselor, servant, chaplain, friend and much more. The Kingerys are leaving and we invite you to join us in saying farewell and thank you for your service, love and dedication to our community. Join us for a potluck-style farewell barbecue at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Terrace Lake Community Church (formerly Ronan Alliance Church). Bring a dish of your choice and celebrate with us.

For more information, call (406) 676-5395 or 676-2958.

RONAN — On Sunday, Aug. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m., The Red Poppy introduces a gallery show of Northwest landscape and wildlife photography by Jay Cross. Jay will present a narrated slide show of some of his favorite photographs at 2 p.m. As always, the afternoon is free and open to the public, with a reception following the program. This work will hang in the gallery until the fourth week in November.

The Red Poppy is located in Ronan at Eisenhower St. SW and Hwy. 93. Call (406) 676-3010 for more information or go to our website: www.theredpoppy.org

RONAN — The Ronan Farmers Market takes place Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. through Sept. 13 on the lawn in front of the Flower Mill on Main Street. Fresh produce, baked goods and giftware are available. All vendors are welcome. 

RONAN — Orders will be taken at Rod’s Harvest Foods on Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the Chamber of Commerce community calendars. You may contact LaVonne Olmsted at (406) 745-3423 for any questions or orders. Your support helps the Chamber sponsor many activities during the year including Good Old Days, Easter and Christmas activities for kids and families. Calendars are $8 with information for the immediate family and additional names may be added for 50 cents each. Ads are also available for businesses. 

POLSON — A “fifth Friday” dinner will be held at Polson Community Church, located at 1814 1st St. E., on Friday, Aug. 31, from 5-7 p.m. Save the date. 

POLSON — A farmers market will be held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Third Avenue West. For more information, contact Tonya Truman at (406) 546-0749.

POLSON — Learn the facts about the Flathead water rights settlement in a presentation sponsored by The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and State of Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission from 7 to 10:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the KwaTaqNuk Resort, 49708 US Highway 93 East, Polson. 

RONAN — The Mission Mountain Quilt Guild monthly meeting will be Sept. 4 starting at 7 p.m., at the Terrace Lake Community Church (Ronan Alliance Church).  This is the new year registration meeting and the challenge fabric and block of the month fabrics will also be available for a small charge. We encourage any and everyone to join us. Members bring your friends and your show and tell. Hope to see you there. Refreshments for this month are Kasey Savage, Donna Corum, Deleen Winters, and Lori Lindon.