Community calendar

Internet safety

Ronan/Pablo Schools invites the community to a presentation on Internet and technology safety by members of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This free community event will provide information regarding the prevention of Internet crimes against children. The presenters, who are active law enforcement officers, will discuss topics such as identity theft, file-sharing, cyberbullying, and Internet predators. Childcare will be available during the event. Please join us for this important event Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5:15 p.m. at the Ronan Performing Arts Center.

PRFD meeting

Polson Rural Fire District trustee monthly meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Station. Old business includes an update on Trucks 319 and 328, inter-local agreement and appointment of members to citizen-based committee. New business includes consider policy for releasing minutes and debt restructuring for the Fairgrounds Station.

Masumola meets

The February 2012 meeting of the Masumola Club will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9. A social hour will be held from 5:45 to 6:30, dinner at 6:30 and a program at 7 p.m. The clubhouse is located on Masumola Road. Turn onto Rocky Point Rd off Hwy 93 and Masumola is a right turn after the 3 mile marker. The clubhouse is .25 mile down the road. Anyone in the community of Polson and the surrounding area is invited to attend this meeting as a guest or to join the club and enjoy friendship, meetings and interesting programs. The only requirement for new guests is to bring your own utensils and a dish to pass, if you wish. For membership information, contact Irene Marchello at 406-883-6184.

Thyme for Herbs

“Growing your Antioxidants” will be the topic of the next gathering of the Thyme for Herbs group. We will meet Saturday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. Any questions, call Linda Peterson, 319-2446.

Potluck dinner

The monthly community potluck will be Sunday Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. at the Valley View Clubhouse, 40762 Valley View Road. Bring your favorite potluck dish to share and enjoy the good company. Valley View Women’s Club monthly meeting is Thursday, Feb. 9, call if you would like to join. Our spring rummage sale will be May 5. We need donations of non clothing items, please, as we are raising money for rain gutters for the clubhouse. Call Kelly Bailey at 883-2910. Thank You!

Checkmate!

The first local Community Chess Night is Monday, Feb. 13 from 4-7 p.m. at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Free hot dogs, chips and beverages will be available. All ages and all level of players are invited for a fun night of chess. Ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Game boards will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own if you wish. For more information or questions, please contact Annette Schiele at 406-552-0944.

Yellow Bay events

The Yellow Bay Community Club’s first event for 2012 will be a Valentine’s Day lunch and bingo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, starting at noon. A spaghetti and meatball lunch will be served followed by bingo and prizes. Call 982-3437 for reservations.

On Saturday, May 19, the club will hold its ninth annual Flathead Lake Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival is free and open to the public and celebrates the cherry blossoms that traditionally bloom in May. Crafters and artisans will offer a large assortment of locally-produced items for home and garden, as well as jewelry, lotions and accessories. This is a fundraising event and helps support the club’s community and charitable activities, and clubhouse maintenance.

The club holds regular potluck dinners every first and third Saturday of the month from now through May. The ladies auxiliary meets every second and fourth Thursday at noon. All activities are open to members of the community, and new members and guests are always welcome.

All of the above activities take place at the Yellow Bay Community Clubhouse, MT Highway 35 at mile-marker 18. For more information call Barbara at 982-3064 or email hammons@centurytel.net.

Oscar showings

The North Lake County Public Library will be showing Oscar Award-winning movies from all decades during the month of February, just prior to the actual 84th Annual Oscar awards. All movies are free of charge, and everyone is welcome. Come join the fun as the library meeting room is transformed into an Oscar movie theater, complete with decorations, a red carpet runner and movie posters! Free candy, popcorn and beverages for all moviegoers will be served.

Selected shows are as follows: Thursday, Feb. 16: 2-4 p.m. Wings (silent movie); 6-8 p.m. Shakespeare in Love. Tuesday, Feb. 21: 2-4 p.m. Cimarron; 6-8 p.m. Out of Africa. Wednesday, Feb 22: 2-4 p.m. Casablanca; 6-8 p.m. The Sting. Thursday, Feb. 23: 4-8 p.m. Gone with the Wind. Friday, Feb. 24 2-4 p.m. Toy Story 3. North Lake County Library is located at #2 First Ave. E. in Polson. More information is available at the circulation desk or by calling 883-8225.

DAR meeting

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is forming a new chapter for the greater Mission Valley area – from Polson to Arlee and west to Plains. Do you have an ancestor who fought in or supported the American Revolution? Daughters have continued for more than 100 years the tradition of promoting patriotism, education at all levels, and America’s historic preservation. The next preliminary meeting will be held at the Four Winds Trading Post in St. Ignatius from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Anyone interested in joining the DAR is welcome to attend the meeting. If you are interested in more information about the DAR go to www.dar.org

Free tax help

The VITA Program offers free tax help low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns at the SKC Agnes Vanderburg Building Fridays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., no appointments necessary. For more information and what to bring, contact Tina Begay, site coordinator at 406-275-4851 or through e-mail to tina_begay@skc.edu.

March Meltdown

Join us on March 10 for a 5K and 10K run/walk on a challenging course at the Fourth Annual March Meltdown in Polson. Starting line is at the Polson Sports Complex. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and the race starts at 10 a.m. Registration forms and course details are available at www.polsonrunning.com. Pre-registration forms are due by Feb. 18.

Free gun locks

CSKT Circle of Trust Suicide Youth Prevention Program is giving away free combination gun locks at the following locations: Dyno Mart, Ronan, Quick Silver, Pablo, Joe’s Jiffy Stop, Pablo, Rick’s Custom Meats, Arlee and Charlo Grocery. For information, contact Jason Heavy Runner at 675-2700, ext. 1340 or jasonh@cskt.org.

Learn Salish

Learn the Salish Language on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. at The People’s Center in Pablo. Classes are free and open to everyone, call 675-0160 for more info.