Community Notes

ST. JOSEPH BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

A Bereavement Support Group for grieving adults began meeting on Thursday, January 19. This eight-week series is open to the public, meeting every Thursday until March 9 from 12:30-2:00 PM in the O’Malley conference room on the second floor of St. Joseph Medical center. For more information contact Mary Martin at 406-883-8914 or Katie Baterman at 406-883-8347.

LAKE COUNTY PACHYDERM CLUB MEETING

Jim Simpson, chairman of the Lake County Conservation District (LCCD) and retired forester, will be the featured speaker at the Friday, February 10 meeting of the Lake County Pachyderm Club. He will describe the proposed establishment of a 60,000 acre Conservation Forest on U.S. Forest land in the Swan Valley, all within the boundaries of the LCCD and Lake County.

Simpson will describe the allowed uses of a Conservation Forest versus the current uses of the study area, its boundaries and flora and fauna, as well as the watersheds involved, and projected income. He welcomes questions about the project.

The meeting begins at noon and adjourns at 1:00 p.m., and is held in the Rural Polson Fire Department Building, 25 Regatta Road, Polson. The public is cordially invited.

FREE DINNER AT POLSON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The February Friendship Table Dinner is coming up on Feb. 10 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Polson Presbyterian Church, which is located across from the Linderman School.

Come join us! This dinner is free and open to all.

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE MEETING

The Marine Corps League Hellroaring Detachment No. 1041 meets every second Wednesday of each month (except December) at 7 p.m. at the VFW in Polson. For more information call John Miller at 890-0964 or email mclhellroaring1041mt@gmail.com.

INAUGURAL WINTERFEST

The Mission Valley Ice Arena Association will host its inaugural WinterFest Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Riverside Park in Polson. Come celebrate the season with a few winter sports. Try broomball for free! Enjoy the warmth and glow of the giant city fire pit and sled the hill on your own sled.

For more information, visit www.missionvalleyicearena.com or email hillozar@gmail.com.

MEETING SERIES TO DISCUSS INVASIVE MUSSELS

Flathead Lake Biological Station scientists will discuss and answer questions about the potential economic and ecological impacts if invasive mussels reach the Flathead. Meetings will take place Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at Salish Kootenai College.

Due to the recent detection of invasive mussels in Montana for the first time, the Bio Station and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes want to help get the word out and inform the public about the serious threat that these mussels pose to our lakes, rivers, and water supplies; our aesthetic and recreational enjoyment of our waters and our economy. Come join experts in mussel biology, research and monitoring to learn more about this serious threat, what we are doing, and what you can do.

For more information, contact Tom Bansak at tom.bansak@umontana.edu or 982-3301 ext. 229.

ACT CHAPTER MEETING

The Lake County chapter of ACT for America will meet Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs of the KwaTaqNuk in Polson. A documentary movie, “The Enemies Within” by New Zealander Trevor Loudon will be shown and a discussion will follow.

For more information, contact lakecountyact@gmail.com.

EAGLE AND GOLD SCOUT DINNER

The members of the Marine Corps League Hellroaring Detachment will host an Eagle and Gold Scouts Recognition Dinner Feb. 18. This dinner will be to recognize those who have attained the highest award possible as a youth both in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and to help bridge those of the past, present and future scouts.

Please RSVP by Feb. 10. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. with social at 5:30 p.m. on February 18th at the Polson VFW.

We thank you for your support to the Veterans and Youth of our communities.

For RSVP reservation forms and more information feel free to contact John Miller at 890-0964 or mclhellroaring1041mt@gmail.com.

ROB QUIST HEADLINES WINTERFEST

Legendary Rob Quist and daughter Halladay Quist headline Polson’s Annual Winterfest Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Polson Elks Club. This is a fundraiser for Soup’s On, a program that has provided nearly 64,000 free meals to needy people in our community since its inception in 2009.

The di festa will begin at 5 p.m. with a savory Italian meal and hand- made desserts. A silent auction is slated, as well as a live auction. All proceeds will benefit the ongoing effort to meet the needs of our community’s littlest, least, last, lost, and lonely. This community kitchen is run solely on contributions from citizens.

For information, please call 406-871-1109 or stop in at the Wander Inn Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 101 7th Ave E in Polson.

LIFESTYLE CHANGE PROGRAM

St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson will host Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: a lifestyle change program Feb. 21. The program is open to anyone at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including anyone who is overweight (BMI of 24 or higher) and who has been diagnosed with one or more of the following (labs in the past six months only).

A referral from your provider and a prescreening is required. Please contact your provider today and ask for a referral. For further questions call Wanda Wildenberg, MS, RD, CLC at 883-8454. The next class starts Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. in the Byrnes conference room in Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson. All referrals and pre-screenings must be done before class starts.

FREE NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

The Miracle of America Museum in Polson will host its monthly “Free Night at the Museum” Thursday, Feb. 23 beginning at 6:30 p.m. This month’s free program honors Lake County Marine and Native American Louis C. Charlo, descendant of the famous Salish Chief Charlo. Coincidentally, this date is the anniversary of the conquest of Mt. Suribachi in 1945, the highest point on Iwo Jima. The Marine Commanding General would say of Charlo, “his contribution was instrumental in raising the flags that inspired thousands of Marines to keep on fighting to ultimate hard won victory.” The museum program will conclude with the showing of “The Sands of Iwo Jima” starring John Wayne. Treats and donations are welcome. For more information, call 883-6804 or 270-7895.

MISSION’S BINGO FOR BOOKS 2017

Come one, come all! Eat, have a cool beverage, and play BINGO for BOOKS (ALL FREE of charge)! To encourage community in the school and to promote reading, Mission’s annual Bingo for Books will be held on Thursday, March 2, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Elementary School Cafeteria. Play Bingo and win free books! FREE hot dogs, chips, cookies, popcorn (donated by the Dupuis’s Showboat Theatre), and drinks (compliments Coca-Cola of Missoula) will be served for you to enjoy. Come join in the free dinner and free fun! Please be sure that Middle and Elementary School students are accompanied by an adult at this event; thanks. Hope to see you there!

EMPLOYER AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Lake County Job Service Employer Committee will be accepting nominations for the 2017 Employer of Choice Award. Nominations are due by Friday, March 17. To receive a nomination form, please contact Job Service at (406) 883-7882 or polsonjsc@mt.gov.

BEDTIME BOUNCE AT THE LIBRARY

The North Lake County Public Library is introducing “Bedtime Bounce” a children’s program for the off-to-bed hour, Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Hot cocoa provided; BYO pajamas. For more information call the North Lake County Library (406) 883-8225.

LIBRARY HOSTS “MOTHER GOOSE TIME”

North Lake County Public Library will host “Mother Goose Time,” a half-hour program on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. for infants and toddlers. The library is located at 2 First Avenue East in Polson. For more information, call 406-883-8225.