Seniors

from page 21 choir should RSVP as soon as possible so enough music can be provided. To RSVP text your name to Susan Fortner, 406-370-2076, or Valerie Lindstrom, 406-261-3304.

A free-will donation taken at the Saturday concert will benefit the Mission Valley Choral Society and at the Sunday concert will benefit Helping Hands. MVCS donations help cover music expense, and Helping Hands, which has worked in the county for more than 18 years, donations help at risk residents. Current assistance includes: Community Cradle Project, that donates a baby box and supplies to new mothers and guardians in the county; Back-to-School project fills and distributes backpacks throughout the county; donates gas, utilities and personal care items; provides food and volunteers for Thanksgiving Dinner meal distribution in Polson and Ronan; organizes the Salvation Army Bell Ringing; Partners with Share the Spirit to support Christmas projects and “Shop & Drop” COVID relief project that continues today.

Immediately following the Sunday concert at 6 p.m. a meal will be served in the church basement. A free-will offering will be taken for Helping Hands.

vj

Polson

By Pete Mangels for the Valley Journal

POLSON — So here it is again, where the Irish celebrate being Irish at the Polson Senior Center on March 17. Corned beef is not traditional in Ireland, but Irish soda bread served warm with butter is… and stout beer. Remember, this is the one day a year you can celebrate the Irish, even if you’re not.

The first day of spring is March 20 this year. Scientists call it the vernal equinox. Its opposite is the autumnal equinox which is on Sept. 20, the first day of fall. The word equinox is hard to say, spell and explain, so I just call it almost summer, or almost winter, depending.

Tax assistance by trained personnel is available for free at the center from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays through April 14. Call for a reservation, but walk ins are welcome.

We are seeking a cook for the center. If you are interested, contact the Job Service. Marlene, Kaye and Joyce are working hard getting meals prepared and they need some help. Volunteer drivers for meal delivery to shut-ins are also needed. We will train and assist you in learning the routes. Delivery is from 10 a.m. until about 12:30 p.m. You can work any day of the week, on a regular basis or as a substitute.

Call us at 406-883-4735, email us at: polsonseniorcenter@gmail.com or visit us at 504 Third Ave. E. We are open from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. on weekdays. Lunch is available from 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. weekdays for $5. We deliver to shut-ins.

ACTIVITIES:

We are having a raffle to win a beautifully crafted, crocheted queen or king bedspread. Tickets are on sale at the Polson Senior Center for $1 each or six tickets for $5.

Exercise for mobility: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Bridge: Tuesdays and Fridays – postponed - Snow birds are coming back. Sign up.

Mahjong: Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. (multiple tables)

Pinochle: Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. (earlier or later if you wish). We play 3, 4, or 5 players per table.

Bingo: Fridays, 7 p.m. Lots of fun, prizes, snacks.

Hearing clinic: Every third Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. - noon

Veterans’ rep: The first Friday of each month (April 1) and third Tuesday of each month (March 15) from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Pool: Come in with a friend and practice for fun and bragging rights from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Miscellany: We have Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons available for use of the smaller meeting room. Main hall use is by reservation, but is open most days as long as scheduled events are not disrupted.

MENU: — Thursday, Mar. 17: corned beef, cabbage, carrots, red potatoes, roll, grape salad, leprechaun cake — Friday, Mar. 18: chicken ‘n bacon wrap, lettuce, tomato, macaroni/pepperoni salad

— Monday, Mar. 21: cream of vegetable soup, peanut butter sandwich, cottage cheese, fruit, pineapple cake — Tuesday, Mar. 22: beef Stroganoff, noodles, mixed vegetables, copper penny salad, brownie — Wednesday, Mar. 23: pot pie, biscuit, apple sauce, fluffy fruity salad, peanut butter cookie — Thursday, Mar. 24: Polish wieners, tots, creamed peas, sauerkraut salad, banana bread

Dixon

News from Heather Rush for the Valley Journal

DIXON — The Dixon Senior Center continues to serve our community and hopes everyone is staying happy and healthy. All are invited to come enjoy dinner. Meals will be served Monday and Thursday evenings at 5 p.m. Meals are $4 per serving and are deliverable to Dixon residents upon request. We are also accepting take-out meal requests for $5 per serving.

The menu for the coming week is: — Thursday, March 17: hamburger casserole, salad, rolls, dessert — Monday, March 21: barbecue ribs, baked beans, potato salad, dessert — Thursday, March 24: stuffed peppers, salad, rolls, dessert

Pinochle will be back in the spring. We will be taking a break during the winter for the safety of our seniors.

Feel welcome to place an order in advance by calling 406-246-3310. All ages are always welcome.

Gov. Gianforte marks launch of Montana’s newest CTE program at Helena College

News from the office of

Governor Gianforte

HELENA — Joining the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Governor Greg Gianforte today promoted a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Helena College.

“Many good-paying jobs that are in high demand require specialized skills, and finishing jobs are no exception,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Working with the legislature, we funded this new finishing trades program to create greater opportunity for hardworking Montanans and strengthen our workforce in a critical industry.”

Set to begin in April, the new finishing trades program will focus on preparing finishing trades for Montana’s workforce, including painting, drywall finishing, and glazing. During the 67th Legislative session, the Legislature passed and the governor signed HB 2 which provided funding for the program. FTIUM and IUPAT are

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contributing $1.5M of investment for the public-private partnership.

“We are proud to bring our successful new model for higher education in the finishing trades to Big Sky Country,” John Burcaw, Director of Academic Education at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest said. “This apprenticeship program will help train the next generation of Montana workers and help fill critical high skilled jobs in the workforce.”

In his visit to Helena College, the governor participated in a virtual reality demonstration which will be used by students in the program.

“The mission of the two-year college is to serve the local community – to be responsive to the needs of students but also to serve employers by helping meet workforce training needs,” Sandy Bauman, Dean of the Helena College, University of Montana said. “This partnership between Helena College and the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest is a shining example of how a public-private partnership can do just that. On behalf of the Helena College, I’d also like to thank Governor Gianforte and legislative leaders who have made this possible.”

Promoting trades education and apprenticeship opportunities to empower Montanans with in-demand skills, create better-paying Montana jobs, and build a stronger workforce is a central element of the governor’s Montana Comeback Plan.

Wednesday, March 16

Rural Fire District Board to meet

POLSON – The regular monthly meeting of the Polson Rural Fire District Board of Trustees will take place on Wednesday, March 16, at 6 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Station No. 1, 25-B Regatta Rd.

All invited to ‘God is With Us’ gathering

POLSON — Good Shepherd Lutheran Church invites everyone to our series of the 23rd Psalm. The theme for Wednesday, March 16, is “God is With Us.” God leans closest to us in the midst of our suffering. In doubt, fear, abandonment, depression, alienation, and despair, God is near. Join us this week for worship to be comforted in the arms of a God who is sitting right beside us in our mess. Soup and bread are served at the church, 409 Fourth Ave. E, at 5:30 p.m.,followed by a message of trust and hope at 6:15 p.m. There is no charge for the meal.

Excel Essentials Level I taught

ZOOM — Mission West Community Development offers free workshops to help you learn the skills you need to help your business succeed. Microsoft Excel is an essential tool for managing your company’s data and will be taught on March 16 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. via ZOOM. To register go to: https://lccdc.ecenterdirect. com/ and click on training events.

Thursday, March 17

Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day

RONAN — Help us celebrate the 33rd year of blarney and debauchery and get your costumes and parade entries ready for the Ronan St. Paddy’s Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, at 5:3 p.m. Entries please line up at 5:15 p.m. behind the hospital. Prizes will be given after the parade at the Irish Headquarters of The Bird Bar and Grill. We have some new categories: Most Irish; Best Irish Animal; Greenest Sports Team; Best Kids float; Pub Wars; Biggest set of Shamrocks; Greenest Float and Best Overall. Please read: We will not be registering floats but we will be there monitoring for anything with profanity, racism etc. and you will be removed. We will have the proper officials on hand for this. This is a family event and will be treated as such.

see extended calendar at www.valleyjournal.net

Friday, March 18

After dark guided tour offered

BIGFORK — On the March full moon at 8 p.m., come join a park ranger on a 1.5-mile guided hike of Wayfarers Unit of Flathead Lake State Park to see what lurks after dark. This hike offers a unique way to experience local trails and the shore of Flathead Lake. Please bring a headlamp, sturdy hiking shoes, water, snacks and warm clothes.

Learn to adapt HR options

KALISPELL/ZOOM — “Adapting HR to the Speed of Change” will be taught on Friday, March 18, (Zoom option). Through a partnership with FVCC, Mission West Community Development Partners offers the chance to attend these workshops free of charge. We will enroll you in the workshops and pay the fee. To be eligible, you must own or work for a for-profit small business with ten or fewer employees located in Lake, Mineral or Sanders County. Entrepreneurs who are planning to start a business are also eligible. If you’d like to enroll, call us at 406-6765928.

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