Community calendar

Fishing without barriers

The 18th Annual Fishing Without Barriers Day will be held on Flathead Lake on Thursday, June 16. Anglers with disabilities are hosted for free fishing trips on charter boats and other boats provided by volunteers. The event is sponsored by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Crossing the Barriers Committee, and the Montana Charter Boat Association. Hidden Harbor provides boat-launching facilities.

A total of 71 anglers are registered, but there are still slots available for anglers with disabilities under 18 years of age. To register, call FWP at 752-5501. The event includes a barbecue and a lake trout fish fry. Any extra lake trout will be donated to local food banks. There will also be lots of prizes.

Ronan summer reading

The Family Summer Reading Program for the Ronan City Library and D’Arcy McNickle Library begins on Monday, June 13. Participants may register at either library, or online at the Ronan City Library website. Register, read and win prizes.

Story time and craft activities will be held Tuesday mornings from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the D’Arcy McNickle Library and on Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Ronan City Library. For more information call 676-3682. Teddy Bears and Tots Story time, geared to children ages 0-3, is held at the Ronan City Library the third Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m.

Polson summer reading

North Lake County Public Library’s annual Family Summer Reading Program began Monday, June 13 at 10 a.m. Participants of all ages are invited to stop by the library to sign up for this popular summer-long event. This year’s theme is “One World, Many Stories.” Theme-related prizes and reading incentives will be offered.

Thursday morning programs will be presented for school-aged children beginning on June 16 at 10 a.m. They will run through Thursday, August 11, which is the date of the fun-filled annual Bug Race.

Arlee meals

Arlee schools are serving free meals, as a part of the Summer Food Program, beginning June 13 through August 18. Mondays through Thursdays breakfast will be 7:30 to 8:30 and lunch 11:30 to 12:30 at the school’s lunchroom/gymnasium. The meals are free to any child under the age of 18. For more information contact Dee Aguilar at 726-3216. We look forward to seeing you there.

Child ID kits

Free Child ID kits available to the community at the Ronan City Library on Friday, June 17 from noon until library close at 6 p.m. Making an appointment is helpful, but we will take drop ins as we can fit them in. Event is sponsored by Area VI RSVP Volunteer Center and partially funded by the Coalition for Kids. For more information call 676-3682 or 883-7284. If enough people want kits, we will extend through June 22.

Lady Long Rider visits

On Saturday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Bernice Ende, the Lady Long Rider, will visit the Big Arm Historic School on her way home from an amazing trip. Come meet this fascinating woman and hear her stories.

Bernice, accompanied by her dog, has traversed this country on her trusty horse for the past two years and has travelled over 6,000 miles. We will have a hotdog potluck, we will provide the hotdogs and ask you to bring salad items or dessert. Please bring your family and friends and especially the children. This event will be held outside the recently renovated historic Big Arm School on 7th Street just north of the post office. For more information please call 849-6628.

Pancake breakfast

The members of the Swan Lake Chamber and Community Club will host a pancake breakfast in the Swan Lake Clubhouse on Saturday, June 25, from 8 a.m. until noon. The breakfast menu will include pancakes, ham, sausage, orange juice and coffee. Breakfast is free for children under the age of three.

There will also be a used book sale during breakfast with all proceeds going to the Swan Lake Library. Proceeds from the breakfast will help fund improvements to the Community Club. The Club House is located on Montana Highway 83 just south of mile marker 71.

Firemen’s barbecue

Save the date! Polson Rural Fire Department will host its annual Community Appreciation Day at the Big Arm Fire Station on June 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A free barbecue lunch will be served, donations accepted. Come check out the fire trucks, see where your tax dollars go and learn how everything works. Cool off with fun water games, water balloons and squirt guns. The Big Arm Fire Station is at mile-marker 73 on U.S. Highway 93 in Big Arm.

Charlo events

Charlo is having their Fourth of July parade on July 3 at 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “family.” Questions and preregistration can be answered by calling Angie Mock 644-0102.

The fireworks will be July 3 at dusk in the baseball field. Anyone wanting to make a donation can contact Tracy Olsen at 396-3168.

Fun run

The Third Annual Firecracker 1776 will be on July 4 at 11:40 a.m., a 1.1 mile run to help celebrate the Fourth of July. It is a free race but we are asking for a non-perishable food item to be donated to the food bank. The race starts at St. Joseph Medical Center and runs downtown. It will finish on the parade route so you can stick around and see the parade, which starts at noon. You must sign a waver prior to the race, so be there a few minutes early. If you have any questions call 883-0036.

Cherry quilt contest

Calling all quilters: The entry forms for the 2011 Cherry Quilt Contest are available at Jackie M’s Footwear, All In Stitches Quilt Store or online at Polson Cherry Festival.

The quilts must be received at All In Stitches by Thursday, July 7. The quilts will be on display in downtown windows for the days of July 8-17. First prize is a $100 gift certificate to All In Stitches, 2nd and 3rd prizes are $50 gift certificates for longarm quilting.

All cherry quilts will be accepted; we want to decorate the downtown windows with cherry quilts! So quilters, gather up those quilts with cherries on them, antique or contemporary. Voting is by Viewer’s Choice, beginning July 8. View all quilts and then cast you ballot at the participating merchants.

Any questions, please contact Peggy Olson, 883-5102 or email at weolson@centurytel.net.

Class of 1991 reunion

Ronan High School Class of 1991 will have a reunion during Ronan Pioneer Days August 5-7. For more information, please email Joelfre Grant at ronanclassof1991@gmail.com.

Baroque exchange

The People’s Center will be hosting the Baroque Cultural Music Exchange here July 20 from 1-2:30 p.m. If you are interested in dancing, singing, playing your flute please call Marie Torosian at 675-0160.

Scouts seek gear

Troop 1947, BSA of Polson, is searching for temporary volunteer canoes and paddles in order to undertake a 50-miler down the Missouri River in July. Any serviceable canoes or paddles will do.

If you can spare yours for a week, with our grateful thanks, please contact James Raymond at 883-5511 or jamesraymond@centurytel.net.