Wednesday, April 4
Bowhunter education class
Bowhunter education classes are planned for several Ravalli County communities this spring. Schedules are available online at fwp.mt.gov where students can also register.
In Darby, classes are set for Wednesday, April 4 and Thursday, April 5 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. A field course is set for Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Classes are held at the Darby High School (209 School Drive).
Stevensville classes are held at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge (4567 Wildfowl Lane) on Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. A field course is planned from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 2.
For Hamilton, classes are planned for Thursday, June 28 and Friday, June 29 from 6 to 9:30 p.m in the basement of the Hamilton Courthouse (305 Bedford). A field course is set for Saturday, June 30, time and location to be announced.
Students interested in any of these classes can register online now at fwp.mt.gov. Go to the Education tab, select Hunter Education and click to access the course schedule. A parent or guardian must accompany students to the first night of all classes.
A second Hamilton class and a Florence class will also be held this spring or summer, but dates for these classes have not yet been set.
By state law, all first time bowhunters must complete a bowhunter education course in order to purchase a bow and arrow license in Montana. Bowhunters born after January 1, 1985 must also show proof of completing a hunter education program.
Pain management seminar
A free demonstration on pain management and improved range of motion will be held Wednesday, April 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library, 306 State Street, Hamilton. This is for anyone interested in learning how to manage chronic pain and have increased mobility without the use of drugs. Do you or a loved one suffer from chronic pain or restricted movement? Come learn about the simple, yet highly effective, way of reducing or eliminating pain and physical dysfunction associated with such conditions as whiplash, sports injuries, MS, fibromyalgia, and many others. Osteopathic medicine has been using Mechanized Percussive Therapy for pain management for over 40 years. This Therapy releases restrictions throughout the body, allowing the fluids and electrical properties of tissues and organs to flow normally again, restoring healthy equilibrium. James Tree-Gilmore, LMT, CST, will present a highly educational and enjoyable lecture about the history and currant application of this therapy. You will have the opportunity to receive a free demonstration after the presentation. For more information call 370-4519.
Stevi Council special meeting
The Stevensville Town Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include: discussion/decision on participation in Montana Rail Link shortfall financing; discussion/decision on the signing of two contracts with RCEDA regarding Selway and Bitterroot Tool & Machine; and discussion/decision on mayor’s appointment of Stacy Bartlett as Town Clerk.
Thursday, April 5
Gardening presentation
Spring is here and that means excellent gardening tips from the Bitterroot’s own
Gardening Guru, Molly Hackett. She’ll be at the Community Room of the North Valley Public Library, Main St, Stevensville, on Thursday, April 5, at 12 noon. Molly is always informative and entertaining. Bring a gardening question for Molly and your lunch, if you wish. Dessert and beverages will be provided by the Friends of the Library.
Native American spirituality lecture
E.B. Eiselein will present a lecture on Native American spirituality on Thursday, April 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ravalli County Museum, 205 Bedford in Hamilton.
Among American Indians 500 years ago there was no separation of spirituality from daily life; religion was not something that had a name (in fact, in many Indian languages there is no word for religion). There was no separation between the natural and the supernatural. Spirituality was associated with community. There were at least 500 distinct tribes in what is now the United States, and therefore there were at least 500 distinct spiritual traditions. Recognizing that there were many different spiritual traditions, this presentation focuses on the common factors found among most of these traditions.
E. B. Eiselein teaches anthropology and comparative religion at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell. Writing under his Indian name, Speaks Lightning, he has produced 20 books focusing on aspects of Indian culture, history, and spirituality. His books about Indian spirituality include “Native American Spirituality,” “Suppressing Native American Spirituality,” and “Celebrating Indian Culture and History.” He has a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Arizona. He is of Canadian Anishinabe descent.
This free lecture is sponsored by Humanities. For more information call 363-3338.
Friday, April 6
Beta Sigma Phi tulip sale
The Bitterroot Chapters of Beta Sigma Phil will be holding their annual Tulip Flower Sale on Good Friday, April 6 beginning at 10 a.m. The tulips will sell for $7 for a bunch of 10 and can be purchased from members in front of Ravalli County Bank in Hamilton, Rocky Mountain Bank in Stevensville and at the Parker’s Cannery Warehouse, 307 Hwy 93 N (enter through the big doors in alley just west of the light at N Hwy 93 and Pine Street). Also members will be stationed near post offices, banks or walking up and down streets around the valley with bunches of tulips for sale.
The proceeds this year will be donated to the South Valley Child and Family Center in support of their Supper Time Program. In this economic time when many individuals and families are struggling to make ends meet, the South Valley Child and Family Center is providing a free hearty hot meal from October to April for all to enjoy. In 2011 they served up more than 5000 meals.
North Valley Pachyderm Club
North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, April 6 at noon at The Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speakers will be Republican candidates for SD45, State Representative Gary MacLaren and former State Senator Fred Thomas. The North Valley Pachyderm Club meets the first and third Friday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the Frontier Cafe. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
NVPL First Friday
Up for a fun time while strolling down Main Street during First Friday? International musicians, Judy and Tom Dempsey, will perform Friday, April 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library. The Dempseys promise this will be a fun musical experience with something for everyone. Their music ranges from traditional European to American country and Contemporary Latin. Bring your family and friends to listen to the Dempseys. Admission is free, all ages are welcome and light refreshments will be served. This performance is part of Stevensville Main Street Association’s monthly First Friday events. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Book signing
Chapter One Bookstore, 252 West Main Street, Hamilton, will host author T. Dawn Richard on Friday, April 6 from 6 p.m. until the party is over. Come get acquainted with Dawn, or catch up on old times. Hamilton High School graduate Dawn (Wallace) Richard is probably best remembered as the girl churning up the dust as she ran sprints during track season in the ’70s, or cheering along with the other Broncettes during halftime shows during football and basketball season. After Dawn graduated from HHS in 1978 she enlisted in the U.S. Army as a combat medic and served in Germany for three years, after which she attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California as a Russian Linguist. She later earned a bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University and a master’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She worked for the United States Air Force as an instructor and curriculum developer, but what really interested Dawn was working as a novelist. After marrying her husband, a KC-135 pilot, they were transferred to Spokane, Washington, and Dawn decided it was time to turn her passion into a career. Four books later, Dawn is now the author of a set of quirky mysteries called The May List Mystery Series. The characters are fun, funny, and not always of sound mind. May List, a woman in her senior years, bungles her way along but somehow always gets her man. Or woman. Dawn writes under the name T. Dawn Richard, and her books are: “Death for Dessert,” “Digging Up Otis,” “A Wrinkle in Crime,” and “Par for the Corpse.” Come get acquainted with Dawn, or catch up on old times. “Hamilton was the best place in the world to grow up,” Dawn says, “I just can’t wait to be home again.”
Art exhibit
Dazzling Design jewelry artist Stacie Barker will be showing her work at Lisa Archer Silks on Friday, April 6 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Stacie is a native to Montana and the Bitterroot Valley. She has a great passion for art and designing original jewelry. This artist show is part of Stevensville Main Street Association’s monthly First Friday events. Lisa Archer Silks is located at 213 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call Georgine at 360-3698.
Art exhibit
“Sophisticated Fiber” will be at River’s Mist Gallery of Fine Art in Stevensville for the month of April. The featured artists are Heidi Zielinski, Quilted Fiber Art; Jamie Grant, Quilted Fiber Art; Susan Wetzsteon Quilted Fiber Art; Mickey Frissell, Quilted Fiber Art; Judy Hartz, Fiber Bowls; Pam Cozby, Fiber Vases & Bowls; Kerstin Seifert, Wearable Art; Marcy Frissell, Wearable Art; Bev Ralls, Fiber Bags & Purses; and Shelley Peters Felted Alpaca Hats. Some of the above artists are nationally recognized, have been featured in national quilting magazines and have won numerous national awards. The “Trunk” show by Montana Bricolage Artists will also be on display. Walk through a forest of “Trunks” created by over 20 different artists using the full range of fibers. The budding artist for April will be Andrea Morawic. There will be an artists’ reception on Friday, April 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. The show runs April 6 through May 1 with gallery hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and Saturday 11 to 5. The gallery is located at 317 Main Street in Stevensville. For more information call 777-0520.
Art exhibit
The Artists’ Shop at 304 N. Higgins, Missoula, presents “Fire & Earth” – photographs by William Munoz of Hamilton. The Ceramics Department at the University of Montana has an anagama kiln located at the Lubrecht Experimental Forest. Firings usually happen twice a year. The next firing is scheduled to happen in April of this year. Anagama, a Japanese term meaning cave kiln, consists of a firing chamber with a firebox at one end and a flue at the other. It is fueled by wood and must be stoked around the clock for the duration of the firing, four to 10 days. Wood can produce heat up to 2500 degrees F, but it also produces fly ash and volatile salts. The ash settles on the pieces during the firing and the complex interaction between flame, ash, and the minerals of the clay body forms a natural ash glaze. This glaze may show great variation in color, texture, and thickness, ranging from smooth and glossy to rough and sharp. Photographer William Munoz has photographed a number of the firings and has put a selection of the images together for this exhibit, which will also feature some pieces that have been fired in the kiln. An artists’ reception will be happening on First Friday, April 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The show may be viewed through April.
Saturday, April 7
American Legion Easter Egg Hunt
American Legion Post 94 will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Lewis & Clark Park in Stevensville. One hundred and twenty dozen eggs will be hidden for ages 0 to 12 to find, divided into four age groups. Special prizes will be awarded to those who find the special gold and silver eggs. For more information call Harry at 777-5398.
Senior Center bingo
Hamilton Senior Center will be hosting a Special Saturday Bingo on April 7.
Doors open at noon, games start at 1 p.m. Paper cards will be used. Free refreshments will be served. Participants must be 18 or older. Call Cathy at 375-9276 for information.
Good-Time Jamboree
The Good-Time Jamboree will be held Saturday, April 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Grange. This month’s concert opens with folk music by Diane Olheoft and Jerry Downey. Next is Chris Kingsley, “a Troubadour for Our Times.” Then comes Dominick Farrenkopf: comic and poet, appearing as Dusty Trails with his trick pony Thunder. Next comes Sweethearts of the Bitterroot Valley, Pam and Clem Small, followed by The Blues According to Benson, Lloyd and Worth. Closing the show Bill LaCroix will entertain with songs on the banjo and guitar. The Grange is located about a mile south of Hamilton at 1436 South 1st Street (93 Highway South), just south of the Valley Pet Clinic. For more information call Clem, 961-4949.
Sunday, April 8
Eagles Easter Egg Hunt
The annual Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Bitter Root Fraternal Order of Eagles will be held Sunday, April 8 at 1 p.m. at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. All children 12 years of age and younger are invited to this free event.
Lone Rock Park Board
The Lone Rock Division of the Ravalli County Park Board will meet Sunday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Three Mile Fire Hall. The public is welcome.
Monday, April 9
Stevi school menu
April 9-13
Monday: No school
Tuesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Hot Pockets, peas & carrots, apples, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Bagel & cream cheese, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Ham & scrambled eggs, hash browns, peaches
Thursday: Breakfast – Pancake-on-a-stick, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Pizza, corn, kiwi, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Fish, coleslaw, mandarin oranges, bread & butter, milk
First-time homebuyer class
The Bitter Root Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc. (RC&D) is holding a nationally certified homebuyer education class April 9-11 from 6 to 9 p.m. (each night) at the Human Resource Council Building, 316 N. Third St., Hamilton. The class is especially beneficial to first-time homebuyers with below median incomes, but any potential homebuyer will benefit from the class. Anyone who has not owned a home for 3 or more years is considered a first-time homebuyer and may be able to purchase a home for monthly payments comparable to what they are paying in rent. The current market is right for homebuyers. Homebuyer education classes are brought to you by the Bitter Root RC&D in partnership with US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Montana Board of Housing, NeighborWorks Montana, and the Human Resources Council. Completion of this class is required in order to qualify for some of the special homebuyer loan assistance programs. Call the Bitter Root RC&D office at 363-5450 and let us know if you would like to reserve a space. Attendance on all three nights is required for certification. The charge is $40 to cover the cost of reference materials. (If you are buying your home as a couple, one household, you both need to attend the class.)
Metcalf Refuge public hearing
On Monday, April 9, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a meeting to hear comments from the public on the draft 15-year Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. The meeting will be held between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at the refuge office in Stevensville (for directions, call the refuge headquarters at 777-5552).
The Service will make a short presentation on the draft plan, and will discuss the planning team’s proposed actions. The public will then have an opportunity to offer their comments, which will be collected and presented to the planning team for consideration in the final plan.
Copies of the full document and/or a summary (planning update) may be obtained at the refuge office at 4567 WildFowl Lane in Stevensville, or you can request copies by calling the refuge office at 777-5552 or emailing leemetcalf@fws.gov. You can also view these documents online at:
www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/mt/lmc/lmc.html
If you cannot attend this open house, you may still provide written comments on this document by letter, fax, or email. All comments must be emailed or postmarked by April 30, 2012 to be considered.
Email: leemetcalf@fws.gov; Postal Mail: Laura King, Planning Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 58355 Bison Range Rd., Moiese MT 59824; Fax: 406-644-2661, Attn: Laura King, Planning Team Leader.
Tuesday, April 10
Veterans affairs clinics
Roxanne Blanche, 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 Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday, April 10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Stevensville Town Hall, and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Job Service office. For more information call 542-2501.
Terrific Tuesday Family Night
Terrific Tuesday Family Nights continue at South Valley Child and Family Center. The Bitterroot Cares for Kids Network invites you and your family on Tuesday, April 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. for Terrific Tuesday! At 6 p.m. Suppertime is served up featuring great family-style meals followed by a wonderful family film, spring craft projects and games. At 6:30 there will be an optional workshop on Facebook: A Parent’s Guide – win a gift card just for listening! Free to the families of the Bitterroot…SVCFC is located at 515 Madison in Hamilton…call 532-9149 for more information and come celebrate family!
Stevi school board meeting
The regular meeting of the Stevensville School Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in the Stevensville High School Learning Center.