Clubs and Groups
Hamilton Senior Center activities
Monday – 11:45 lunch, bingo on 1st & 3rd weeks, pinochle on 2nd week, 7 p.m.
Tuesday – cloggers at 3 p.m., line dancing 6-7:30 p.m., country dance lessons 7:30-9 p.m.
Wednesday – 11:45 lunch, bridge at 1 p.m., cloggers at 5 p.m., ‘Let’s Dance’ at 7:45 p.m.
Thursday – exercise at 9 a.m.; pinochle on 3rd week, 1 p.m.
Friday – 11:45 lunch, line dancing 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Saturday – flea market every 2nd Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday – bridge, 1 p.m.
Stevi Senior Center activities
Mon-Friday – Lunch, 11:30 a.m.
Monday – Bridge and Special Music, noon
Monday & Saturday – Pinochle, 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Exercise class, 10-11 a.m.
2nd Tuesday – Quilters, 6:30 p.m.
Every Other Wednesday – Fiddlers at Lunch
3rd Wednesday – Special Birthday Dinner, noon, with music. Blood pressures taken.
Thursday – Exercise class, 10-11 a.m.
1st & 3rd Thursday – American Legion Bingo, 7 p.m.
For more information call the Center at 777-5681 04 777-5707.
Victor Senior Center activities
Sundays – AA meeting, 7 p.m.
Monday-Friday – Men’s Coffee, 8:30-10 a.m.
Monday-Friday – Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Includes main course, salad bar, beverage, dessert. Senior donation $3.50, under 60 years $5.75. (RSVP 642-3320)
Tuesdays – Bingo, 7 p.m.
Wednesdays – Pinochle, 7 p.m.
Fridays – Ladies’ Coffee, 10-11 a.m.
Golden Agers
The Golden Age group meets every Friday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at 727 S. 5th in Hamilton. If you are a senior citizen and are bored, looking for fun or just want something new to experience, attend and enjoy good food, live music, dancing and fellowship. Cost is $5 per couple and $3 per single. Snacks are potluck. Exercise classes are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. Blood pressure is checked every first Wednesday of the month. Also on the first Wednesday of every month a potluck is held at 12:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting. Card parties are held on the second Wednesday at 7 p.m. On the last Wednesday of the month a birthday party is held at 2 p.m.
Al-Anon
Stevensville Al-Anon Group meets each Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the
North Valley Public Library. Anyone who is affected by the compulsive
drinking of a relative or friend is invited. For more information call
721-5818.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, 411 S. 5th Street in Hamilton.
TOPS
Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), a weight loss support group, meets in Stevensville every Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Community Baptist Church, 409 Buck Street. Guests are always welcome. Call Jerry Sue at 777-5355 for more information.
VFW meetings
VFW Post 1430 meets the first Monday of every month at 8 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Hamilton.
Florence American Legion
The Florence American Legion Post 134 meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Florence Fire Hall. For further information contact Post Commander Jim Hamilton at 777-3948.
Stevensville American Legion
The Stevensville American Legion Post 94 meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Post Home on Middle Burnt Fork Road. For more information contact Jerry Esmay, 777-5517.
American Legion Auxiliary
Fort Owen Post 94, Stevensville, American Legion Auxiliary meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Call 777-4335 for location.
Corvallis American Legion
The Corvallis American Legion Post 91 meets the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Corvallis High School library. For further information contact Post Commander Alex Ivanoff at 961-8997 or Post Adjutant Roy Meyer, 961-4272.
Darby American Legion
Darby American Legion Post 38 meets every third Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Darby Community Library. Any military veteran or active duty service member is encouraged to attend. For information call Post Adjunct Diana Thomas, 369-0119.
WIC clinics
A WIC clinic is offered in Hamilton Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 205 Bedford St, Suite P, District Courthouse building in Hamilton.
The Stevensville clinic is open on Wednesdays at the United Methodist Church, 216 College St. in Stevensville. The Victor clinic is open the second Monday of the month at the Victor Nazarene Church. The Darby clinic is open every other month, the third Monday of the month at the Darby Library. For more information call 375-6685.
Sapphire Quilt Club
The Sapphire Quilt Club meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Stevensville Senior Center, 100 Mission Street. Teaching of short cuts and easy techniques begin at 6:30 p.m. Join this fun group of people to learn about quilting. For information, contact Linda Powell at 777-1070.
Grief Support Groups
When you grieve the death of a loved one, you sometimes hide it so others think you’re over your sorrow and loss. Marcus Daly Hospice offers an opportunity to share grieving experiences and grow from them.
For the men in our community dealing with the death of a loved one, Marcus Daly Hospice offers a men’s breakfast support group. The Men’s Bereavement Support Breakfast meets at 9 a.m. every second and fourth Friday of the month in the Marcus Daly Hospice dining room. Breakfast is provided for a $3 donation per person. Call 375-4752 to reserve your spot.
For anyone in our community dealing with the loss of a loved one, Tuesday afternoons from 2-3:30 p.m. a bereavement support group meets in the Marcus Daly Hospice Center living room. All are welcome.
For more information, call Cathy Palmer, LCPC, Bereavement Coordinator, at 363-6503.
Spanish conversation group
Habla Espanol? Do you travel? Do you work with Latinos? Do you just want to keep your mind sharp? If you are a beginner or just a bit rusty, join the Stevi Spanish Conversation Group at the North Valley Public Library Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm to brush up on your Spanish language skills. This is not a class to learn to speak Spanish. It will be an informal, weekly gathering to practice speaking the Spanish language. The focus will be role playing for situations experienced during travel and everyday life. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Soroptimists
Soroptimist International of Hamilton meets the first, second and third Thursdays of each month at noon at BJ’s Restaurant. Soroptimist is a worldwide organization for women in management and professions working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. All interested business women are encouraged to attend.
Rotary Club
The Hamilton Rotary Club meets Mondays, 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. First Street, Hamilton. For information about Rotary, call 363-2960.
PFLAG Chapter
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meets every third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in the basement, 600 S. 3rd St., Hamilton in order to offer support to families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the local community. Chapter representatives Dr. Michael Moran and Terry Moran list one of PFLAG’s primary objectives as maintaining families in loving relationships and to keep families together. For more information contact Terry Moran, 363-7656.
Center for Spiritual Living
The Center for Spiritual Living, Bitterroot Valley meets every Sunday at 10 a.m. at the South Valley Child & Family Center, 515 Madison St. in Hamilton. Learn and share while celebrating our individual and collective spiritual growth. Services are based on Ernest Holmes’ Science of Mind philosophy and support positive global transformation through personal spiritual practice (visit the website: UnitedCentersforSpiritualLiving.org/). Transportation to the Sunday gatherings can be arranged from several communities in the Bitterroot Valley. For more information, contact Barb at 375-9996 or Dave at 381-2355; or email: BitterrootCSL@gmail.com/.
Legion bingo
B-I-N-G-O! Join American Legion Fort Owen Post 94, in Stevensville, for free popcorn and an entertaining evening of bingo. The action starts at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center in Stevensville on the first and third Thursdays of the month. All prizes are cash and proceeds go to support American Legion youth activities.
Valley Veterans Services
Ever wonder what VA benefits you’re entitled to? Valley Veterans Service Center provides free assistance to veterans and their dependents in filing claims with the VA. Valley Veterans Service Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by for a visit or call for an appointment at 363-9838. The center is located at 299 Fairgrounds Road, Suite 4 in Hamilton or online at http://valleyveteransservicecenter.org/
Veteran-to-Veteran (V2V) meetings
The V2V outreach group meets every Friday morning at 8 a.m. in the backroom at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. These informal meetings are for all veterans. Many veterans have both unresolved and resolved issues from their experiences in the military that impact their lives. At the meetings participants can discuss whatever they want and the outreach group gives veterans an opportunity to get together to share information and talk about issues. For further information contact Dan Mayer, 360-5435, from the Bitterroot Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Vietnam Veterans of America
The Bitterroot Chapter #938 of the Vietnam Veterans of America meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 319 N. 3rd. Vietnam era veterans often need assistance with problems and issues and many have similar stories. The Bitterroot Chapter VVA is your organization to provide the opportunity to obtain and share information, to organize grass root activities, lend a helping hand, and offer assistance to all veterans in dealing with the Veterans Administration. Also, through the National VVA organization, the local chapter supplies input to state and federal government legislators on issues important to veterans. For more information contact George Mayer, 360-5435.
Waldorf Inspired Parent-Child
Waldorf Inspired Parent-Child meets Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for creative play, songs, stories, crafts, cooking, baking and nature walks. All families, expectant parents, and children birth to 6 years are welcome. For more information and location contact Kim at 369-0213. This Early Childhood Education Program as well as seasonal workshops and festivals for the community are sponsored by The Bitterroot School. Visit www.thebitterrootschool.com and www.whywaldorfworks.com to find out more about this and other programs.
Veterans affairs clinics
Andrea Montee, Service Officer for the Montana Veterans Affairs Division in Missoula, will be available to veterans and their dependents that have questions or need to file a claim with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs on the second Tuesday of every month from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Stevensville Town Council Chambers and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Job Service office. She will also be at the Job Service office every fourth Wednesday of the month from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. For more information call 542-2501.
Bitterroot Toastmasters
Bitterroot Toastmasters Club meets Wednesdays from 12 to 1 p.m. at Perkins Restaurant in Hamilton with optional no host lunch before or after. Meetings are designed to build confidence and skills in communication and leadership. Guests are welcome. Call Douglas at 381-3214 for more information.
Toddler story time
It’s never too early to introduce your baby or toddler to the wonderful world of books and reading. Together you will discover the joy of songs, finger plays, simple books and bouncing rhymes. The toddler story time for babies through age 2 meets every Friday at 10:30 a.m. in the downstairs meeting room of the Bitterroot Public Library. Toddler story time lasts approximately 45 minutes. For more information, call 363-1670.
Toddler Time
Toddler Time takes place every Friday at the North Valley Family Center, 5501 Hwy 93 N, Suite 3 in Florence from 10:30 a.m. to noon for ages 2-5. Ready!Set!Play! facilitated by Allison Dunne and Music and Motion facilitated by Melissa Sparks and Traci Kutzleb will be alternating every Friday. Join the fun! Toddler Time helps pre-school children, parents and caregivers to learn ways to support a child’s learning through fun and interactive activities. For more info: 273-0142.
Safety seat fitting station
Mildenberger Motors will be teaching families how to safely transport their children on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The dealership will serve as the site of a monthly child safety seat checkup event to help ensure that children are using car seats, booster seats and seat belts the right way on every ride. At these events, nationally certified child passenger safety technicians will teach families how to transport children correctly. The events are open to the public. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment call Lonie Hutchison at 546-9640 or 258-3880.
American Sign Language Group
An American Sign Language Bible discussion group meets Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 8 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall, 1115 S. Reserve St., Missoula. For more information contact Tom Gacek, 777-0747, aslgal@rocketmail.com.
Elks dinner
The Elks Club at 203 State Street in Hamilton serves dinner to the public every Wednesday at 6 p.m. The $8.50 complete meal includes dessert and coffee. Proceeds help to aid Elks charities. For more information call 363-3031.
Sabre Soccer meetings
Stevensville Sabre Soccer meetings are held the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Main Street Association building in Stevensville. The general public and all interested parties are welcome to attend. For more information contact Brooke Flynn at 880-2903.
Bitterroot Connections
Bitterroot Connections referral group (a sub-network of the Missoula Businesswomen’s Network) meets monthly for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Hamilton Perkins Restaurant. Looking to grow your business? Come and meet a group of supportive women who get to know each other through member spotlight presentations, educational topics, and the referral and promotion of each other’s businesses. Call Sue Gust at 360-0820 or e-mail suegust@kikapaprika.com for more information or visit www.discovermbn.com for additional opportunities.
Empowerment group
The Bitterroot Empowerment group (a sub-network of the Missoula Businesswomen’s Network) meets the first Thursday of every month at Perkins Restaurant in Hamilton from noon to 1 p.m. Participate in an experience that can help you reach your goals, both personal and business related. Programs have a wide range of interest varying from month to month but the feeling of support and camaraderie will remain constant. Call Jane Foster at 406-531-9556 or 777-2280 or email Jane@fosterandfosterfs.com for more information or visit www.discovermbn.com for additional opportunities.
Fiber Arts Guild
Big Sky Fiber Arts Guild meets the last Saturday of every month. If you are a wool spinner or work with fibers, contact Shelley at 777-5205 or Marty at 777-2421 for location or information.
Women Helping Women
Want to be a healthily you? Looking for a support group to help you lose unwanted pounds? Women Helping Women meets Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at the Conner Wesleyan Church, 4674 Hwy 93, seven miles south of Darby. For more information call 821-3570.
Men’s Bereavement Breakfast
Marcus Daly Hospice sponsors a monthly Men’s Bereavement Support Breakfast on the second and fourth Friday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Marcus Daly Hospice Dining Room. This is a special opportunity for men coping with the loss of a spouse or loved one to gather and share their journey of healing. Informal discussions are led by a trained Bereavement Facilitator and cover topics such as, embracing our grief, personal growth, forming new relationships, and more. Interested parties can contact Cathy Palmer, MFT, Marcus Daly Hospice Bereavement Coordinator at 363-6503. A donation of $3.00 for breakfast is greatly appreciated.
Bitterroot Moms Club
Join a local group for moms to meet new friends, learn more about the area, host or attend play dates, book clubs, outings and much more. The group is geared for moms and children to interact during the day but there are occasional events for moms in the evening. For more information go to meetup.com and under “Topic,” type in The Bitterroot Valley Moms Meetup Group or call 777-7234.
Ragtime Society
The Bitterroot Valley Ragtime Society meets on the first Saturday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Pub in Victor. There is no charge for membership, all are welcome. Come on out and listen to some vintage American music from the ragtime and early jazz era! For further information call 916-759-3168.
Universal Life Church/Ohaot Spiritual Society services
The Universal Life Church of Hamilton and the Ohaot Spiritual Society holds bi-weekly services at 396 Zimmerman Lane in Hamilton. For more information contact Dan at 381-0742 or via email at ohaotsociety@gmail.com.
Spiritual discussion group
Between The Worlds metaphysical store in Hamilton is hosting a free Spiritual Discussion Group each week from 7 to 8 p.m. on the first Monday evening of each month and on Wednesday evenings the rest of month. These moderated discussions are open to everyone and are for people who wish to add understanding to their own particular spiritual path. All spiritual paths are respected and no one single path is promoted. This is a time for learning, getting to know new friends and sharing food and fun together. Between The Worlds is located at 205 W. Main Street, Suite B in Hamilton. For information, call 363-2969 or 381-2355.
Lone Rock MOPS
MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers, in the Bitterroot Valley, meets every first and third Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Lone Rock Bible Church, 1142 Three Mile Creek Rd. There is free care and activities for the preschoolers, while the moms come together to be nurtured, find new friends, and enjoy a caring atmosphere as they strive to be the best moms they can be. For information call Shauna Pernsteiner, 777-5189, or Amy Herron, 777-2957.
Canyon View MOPS
This Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group strives to encourage moms, provide them with community, and teach them something new. Canyon View MOPS meets at Canyon View Church off Skalkaho Highway just south of Hamilton. Meetings are the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Jen at 375-9183.
Bible talks
Bible talks are being held in the Stevensville Senior Citizen Center each Sunday at 4 p.m. These services are brief and are freely given. All are welcome.
Stevensville Awana
Awana kids’ club meets every Sunday evening from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. at Community Baptist Church, 409 Buck St, Stevensville. Any child age 3 years through 6th grade is welcome to join in the fun. For more information call Lynn Baker at 531-2684 or Mark Jensen at 777‐7246.
Darby Library story times
Prepare your infant, toddler, or preschooler for lifelong learning at the library. Scientific research shows that success in school begins at birth and that the ages of birth to five are critical learning years. Libraries provide early literacy skills needed for your child’s success in school and beyond through story times and resources for caregivers and children ages 0-5 years. Baby Bookworm Story Time for Caregivers and babies through 2 years old is held every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Preschool Story Time is held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Darby Community Public Library.
NVPL Youth Laptop Lounge
Youth Laptop Lounge, for ages 10-16, is held Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the North Valley Public Library Community Room. Come in after school to use a library laptop to access the internet and do your homework. No library card is required. Contact Caitlin at 777-5061 for more info.
Water fitness classes
Get your health on at the Bitterroot Aquatic Center this New Year! Try one of the Aerobics, Stretch and Strengthening or Arthritis classes for free. The water is kept at 91 degrees and the instructors keep you moving. Water Aerobics is held Monday through Friday 6-7 a.m., 7:15-8:15 a.m., and 5:30-6:30 p.m. Stretch and Strengthening is held Monday through Thursday 1-2 p.m., and the Arthritis class is held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 2-3 p.m. Call with your questions, 375-8200 or visit the website at bitterrootaquaticcenter.com.
Dance lessons
Line dancing lessons are held Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and country dance lessons are held Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. at the Hamilton Senior Center. For more information, call Richard at 360-2900.
Public dances
Country western dances are sponsored by the Bitterroot Dancers, Inc. weekly on Friday or Saturday night in Hamilton. For more information call 363-6650 or 360-2900.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Ravalli County is seeking volunteers for the following committees: Public Relations and Fund Raising meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Habitat office located at 131 Old Corvallis Road, Hamilton. The Building and Church Relations committees meet ad hoc. For more information: http://www.ravallihabitat.org or 375-1926.
Ernst Peterson Photo Contest
The Annual Ernst Peterson “Photograph Montana” contest, set up to improve the conservation of the Ernst Peterson Photograph Collection – housed at the Ravalli County Museum, is back! The contest (in its 19th year) invites photographers from all over Montana, amateur and professional alike, to showcase the “Best of Montana” photographs. During the contest, a portion of the vast Peterson collection is on display and interpreted, along with the contestants work. A modest entry fee is collected and set aside for the ongoing preservation of the collection. The deadline to get your photos in is January 28. The exhibit will be on display from February 2 through March 31. The judging and awards ceremony will take place on March 1 at 6 p.m. For more information or to download a form, go to www.brvhsmuseum.org or on Facebook at Ravalli County Museum or drop on in to the Museum at 205 Bedford, Hamilton, 363-3338.
Darby Bread Box food collection
Darby Bread Box food bank is collecting canned fruit, bath soap, toilet tissue and pasta for the months of January and February. The donations can be dropped off at People’s Market and the Bitterroot Credit Union in Darby.
Cat spaying program available
It may seem that warmer weather is still out of reach, but now is the time to “beat the heat” by spaying your cat in advance of her heat cycle and preventing unwanted litters before “kitten season” arrives this spring, a time when shelters see large numbers of unwanted litters being born. To help reduce the number of homeless cats, Fox Hollow Animal Project is offering a “Beat the Heat’ promotion sponsored by PetSmart Charities. During February, Fox Hollow Animal Project will spay 100 female cats for a special rate of $20.
Spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce the homeless pet population. While some worry that their pet may be too young for this procedure, spaying and neutering is safe for young kittens, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Spaying a female cat before her first heat cycle is actually beneficial, rather than waiting until after one heat cycle has occurred. The procedure is known to improve the health of the pet, including a reduced risk of certain reproductive cancers and infections.
“Many people don’t know that female cats can have as many as three litters a year, and kittens can breed as young as four months old, says Marilynn Taylor, Vice-President/Treasurer. “It’s our goal to bring female cats in before they go into heat and become pregnant. Our ‘Beat the Heat’ promotion is a fun way to educate the community and prevent unwanted litters.”
This special rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost price and is available to all residents of Western Montana. Cat owners who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Beat the Heat” promotion when they schedule their appointment. The promotion is based on availability. Visit www.foxhollowanimalproject.org or call 273-6007 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Fair theme contest
Everyone is invited to submit entries for the 2012 Ravalli County Fair theme to rcfairgrounds@gmail.com or Ravalli County Fairgrounds, 100 Old Corvallis Road, Hamilton MT 59840. Deadline for submissions is Friday, February 10. Winning theme will be chosen by the Fair Commission at its February meeting. The winner will receive a season pass to the 2012 Ravalli County Fair, a VIP parking pass and VIP seating for all arena events.
Poster contest
High-school students are invited to submit original artwork for the annual Love Is Respect poster contest sponsored by the Ravalli County Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. The winning artwork will be featured on the promotional poster for Supporters of Abuse Free Environments, Inc. (SAFE) and distributed throughout the valley. There will also be cash prizes for first, second, and third place entries.
High-school students interested in applying their creativity to the promotion of healthy relationships and the prevention of dating violence are encouraged to participate in the poster contest. This year’s theme is Healthy Relationships Encourage Growth. Submissions must be original two-dimensional artwork of any medium and submitted on 8.5 x 11 paper. Artwork should be submitted to SAFE or your art teacher by Friday, February 17. All entries must include the artist’s name, phone number, and school or address on the back of the piece.
For more information on how to enter, contact Wendy or Sonya at SAFE at 363-2793.
Acoustic music jam sessions
The Sunday Community-Music Jam formerly held at the Rocky Mountain Grange Hall has a new home starting February 29. The jam session will now be held at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, 501 N. 10th Street in Hamilton. Turn at the “Main Office” sign, go in, and ask directions to the dining hall. Meeting time is still 2 to 4 p.m. each Sunday except for holidays. As always all musicians and audience welcome – just as before this is acoustic music – nothing too loud.