Community Notes

Choral Society resumes rehearsals Feb. 7

Mission Valley Choral Society begins practicing for Palm Sunday weekend concerts on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the New Life Church, lower level, in Polson.

Anyone 18 years of age and over is encouraged to attend. Additionally, high school students enrolled in either choir or band are also welcome.

Concerts are scheduled for Saturday, April 1, at the St. Ignatius Mission and Sunday, April 2, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson. A meal will be served immediately following the Sunday concert in the basement of the Polson church.

Donations taken during the concerts and meal will benefit Helping Hands of Mission Valley.

For more information, call 406-261-3304.

Reading benefits animal rescue organizations

Bradley Wirth, a retired Episcopal priest living in Bigfork, reads his whimsical tale, “Mr. Maxwell’s Observatory,” during a benefit Feb. 8 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Polson. The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m., raises funds for local animal rescue organizations.

The story follows a lawyer who is on the way to meet a resort developer and the residents of an old lodge near Lindbergh Lake. The encounter takes place over 20 hours on the night of the last day of Christmas and the morning and early afternoon of the following day, the Feast of the Epiphany

Wirth leads worship on Sunday mornings at Episcopal churches in the Flathead Valley that lack full- time clergy. Prior to retirement, he served All Saints’ Church in Whitefish-Columbia Falls for 15 years and led congregations in Libby and Troy.

While “Mr. Maxwell’s Observatory” is fictional, the author says it’s based on “a goodly amount” of his colorful history as a parish priest.

A Bread and Soup Supper is offered at 5:30, prior to the 6 p.m. reading. Midway through the reading there will be an intermission with refreshments, and afterwards, a second gathering for those who choose to cap the night with a final cup of wassail and conversation.

The evening is a benefit for Life Saver Animal Rescue (LSAR), Mission Valley Animal Shelter, All Hearts Rescue and Arlee Rehabilitation Center. Checks can be made out to St. Andrew’s Church with the memo line designating “animals”; 100% of the free-will offering will be split between the four beneficiaries.

Baby Fair comes to SKC Feb. 11

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are hosting a Baby Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Salish Kootenai College gym in Pablo. The event is geared toward new and expecting parents, family members, or those looking for resources.

Offerings include vaccinations, hearing, vision and oral health screenings, training in infant and adult CPR, health tips, voter registration and car-seat inspections. A variety of community organizations will be on hand to offer information on literacy, breast feeding, child development, parenting and substance abuse prevention.

The Baby Fair also offers free lunch, door prizes, a cake/book walk, face painting and family photos.

Call CSKT Early Childhood Services at 406-745-4509 for more information.

Cheerful Heart receives Lion’s Club donation

The Polson Lion’s Club donated $971.85 to Cheerful Heart in support of the organization’s mission to help cancer patients in Lake County who are currently in treatment. Cheerful Heart is one of three local charities that received funds from the Lion’s Club as it disbands in Polson.

Cheerful Heart services include transportation to treatment or medical appointments, running errands, preparing meals, walking dogs, or performing other tasks as requested.

The organization provides volunteers for the oncology clinics in Polson and Ronan, including volunteers who serve soup on Tuesdays at the Polson clinic. Currently St. Luke in Ronan is seeing patients via tele-health.

Both clinics carry inventories of head coverings, Knitted Knockers (breast prosthesis) and ComfyChemo shirts available for no charge to patients.

The Cheerful Heart Support Group meets from noon to 1 p.m., on the second and fourth Wednesdays in the Leahy Conference Room on the third floor of St. Joseph Medical Center.

The non-profit organization has served cancer patients in Lake County since 2002. For more information, call 406-883-3070, check out the Cheerful Heart website at www.cheerfulheart.org or email cheerfulheart46@gmail.com.