BRHA Fair Photo Contest
The Bitter Root Humane Association Fair Photo Contest is underway. This year’s theme is “Action Shot” photos of your pets or including your pets to win the Bitter Root Humane Association Fair Photo Contest. Ten finalists will be selected to appear on display at the fair and voted on in the booth. The winner will be chosen at end of fair. All proceeds from this contest go to the Precious Companions Pet Fund. This fund helps pay for one-time medical procedures for adoptable animals, for instance, dental care for an otherwise healthy dog or cat at adoption. It also covers a new collar, tag and rabies shot for that animal if it is a candidate for the program. Entry fee is $5.00. Deadline for entries is Aug. 23.
Deliver to Bitter Root Humane Assoc., 262 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton. Finalists will be picked by August 24, 2012. Winners will receive a t-shirt with their winning photo, selected toys from Proud 2 Adopt Shop. 2nd Place will receive a bag of dog/cat food from Proud 2 Adopt Shop. For more information call 363-5449.
Scarecrow Festival ‘Caw for Entries’
The Stevensville Art & Sculpture Society (SASS) is seeking individuals, groups, organizations, and/or businesses to create sculptures in the theme of scarecrows, crows, fall, etc. for the 7th Annual Stevensville Scarecrow Festival to be held in Stevensville on Friday, October 5. The Stevensville Scarecrow is “Western Montana’s Premier Public Art Project.” Cash prizes totaling $650 are provided for Peoples’ Choice, Artistic Merit, and Living Statue awards. The Stevensville Scarecrow Festival is a major public art event produced by the Stevensville Art and Sculpture Society (SASS) in association with the Stevensville Main Street Association. Information, videos, photos, and entry forms can be found at www.sassart.org and Facebook – Stevensville Scarecrow Festival.
Info and entry forms can also be found at the Paper Clip in Hamilton, the Bitterroot Star in Stevensville, and the Stevensville Main Street Association office in Stevensville. For more information contact Gary Knapp at 777-3797.
Mansion craft show call for crafters
The Daly Mansion Preservation Trust invites crafters and artisans to apply for jury consideration for the Mansion’s annual Holly Jolly Craft Show. This year’s show takes place November 2-4. A wide variety of vendors who produce and sell hand crafted and homemade goods are encouraged to apply. The Daly Mansion, located at 251 Eastside Highway between Hamilton and Corvallis, offers a unique venue on all three floors. Holiday items are strongly encouraged but not required. Booth fee is $60.00. The application deadline is September 14. To request an application form or for more information, contact Suzanne at 363-6004 ext. 2# or email your request to suzanne.casteel@dalymansion.org and include your mailing address.
Fair Parade
Sign-ups for the Ravalli County Fair are being taken at the chamber office. The Ravalli County Fair theme this year is “Summer Days & Western Ways.” President of the 2012 Leadership Bitterroot class is Tara Boulanger. Leadership Bitterroot class will be putting on the Fair Parade for 2012. The parade will take place on Wednesday, August 29, at 10 a.m. You must register your entry and pick up your number at the Chamber office at 105 East Main. Chamber office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you have any questions, contact Pat at 363-2400.
Wednesday, August 22
NVPL Summer Storytime
All youth and families are invited to the North Valley Public Library on Wednesday, August 22 at 10:30 a.m. for a special summer storytime. Participate in a play based on the story, “Where the Wild Things Are” by storyteller and library volunteer, Valerie Jensen. Make your very own monster to take home and share in a healthy snack. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Herb group forming
If you love growing herbs, use them medicinally or are interested in establishing an herb collective, come to the Bitterroot Public Library on Wednesday, August 22 at 7 p.m. to discuss who’s growing what, how to support each other, and how to enlarge the world of herbs in the valley. For more information contact Star Jameson, 363-4026.
Stevensville COW meeting
The Stevensville Town Council will hold a Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at 206 buck. Topics for discussion include: the public water system and rate structure, financial accounting, public concerns, and future rate structure.
Democratic fundraiser
“Seize the Summer”, a fundraising party for Democratic candidates, will feature Dexter Payne and the Lionel Young Band, a group of musicians and singers from Colorado, who are on tour in the Northwest. The event will take place on Wednesday, August 22, at Peggy Steffes’ home at 680 Home Stretch Drive, Stevensville, from 6 to 9 p.m. and will be a Bitterroot potluck affair. The cover charge is $5 to pay for the band. Take Groff Lane heading east (just 1/4 mile north of Victor Crossing or 1/2 mile south of Bell Crossing) off the Eastside Highway 1 mile to Homeacres Road, turn right, and go 2 miles to Home Stretch Drive. There will be balloons to help you find your way.
Thursday, August 23
Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service training
A state-mandated Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service (RASS) training will take place Thursday, August 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at 209 N. 10th, Suite C (brown building) in Hamilton. Any community members who are not yet certified are welcome to attend and newly hired employees may take the training within 60 days of hire. There is a $15 materials fee. Call 532-0146 to preregister by the day before the class is held.
PowerPoint class
An introductory course on Microsoft PowerPoint will be held Thursday, August 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the North Valley public Library. This class on Microsoft PowerPoint (MS Office 2007) is perfect for novices who are seeking detailed guidance or for those who simply want to refresh their skills for an upcoming presentation. The library’s Technology Training Specialist, Seth Pollman, will fit the class to a variety of needs and experience levels and everyone will come out more confident to share a well structured slide presentation. The class is free and open to the public. Space is limited so call or stop by the library to register. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville, phone 777-5061.
South Valley Civic Group
The next meeting of the South Valley Civic Group will be held on Thursday, August 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Naughty Moose in Conner.
Parent Workshops
Parents of Hamilton students are invited to attend an evening workshop to help parents help their children during the 2012-13 school year. This free event will be held on Thursday, August 23 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Hamilton High School Room 101 and includes dinner, information and discussion. Child care will be provided. From 5:30 to 5:50 p.m. meet and greet staff, get handouts with helpful hints and school supply suggestions and enjoy dinner. From 5:50 to 6:10 p.m., learn about “How to Use Technology to Get Connected and Stay Connected with Your School.” From 6:15 to 6:30 p.m., meet the school counselors and hear about the Olweus anti-bullying program and other parent assistance to help your child navigate the social and emotional demands of school. From 6:30 to 7 p.m., learn about Parent Advisory Committees, Project Appleseed, Graduation/Education Matters and Title I Home/School Compact. A question and answer time will follow. For more information visit www.hsd3.org.
Stevi Town Council meeting
The Stevensville Town Council will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, August 23 at 7 p.m. at the town hall, 206 Buck. Agenda items include water rate issues; airport hangar construction approval; confirmation of Fawcett appointment to the Stevensville Police Department; request by Josh and Debra Downing to install speed limit signs on Chilcott, Valley View, Heritage, Turner, Barbara and Smith Streets; discussion/decision on stipend increases for mayor and council members; and possible approval of the budget for 2012-13, to name a few.
Friday, August 24
South Valley Pachyderm Club
Montana Representative, Ron Ehli (R), House District 88, will be speaking at the Friday, August 24 meeting of the South Valley Pachyderm Club. The club meets at 12 noon on the second and fourth Fridays at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. First Street, in Hamilton. The South Valley Pachyderm Club is an officially recognized allied organization of the Republican Party. Members of the public are welcome. For further information call Gordon Read, 363-2960.
NVPL Family Friday Movie Matinee
Come down to the library and cool off with your friends while you watch a fun movie on the big screen. This Friday, August 24 at 2 p.m. is the last of the summer Friday movies and it will be a hit. Dr. Seuss surely thinks so. For more information on the title, contact the library at 777-5061. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville.
Saturday, August 25
Forest practices demonstration day
American Bird Conservancy and Cky-Ber Enterprises will hold a demonstration day on “Enhancing Ponderosa Pine Stands through Thinning, Snag Creation and Nest Boxes” on Saturday, August 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet at the Conoco in Florence at 9 a.m. and carpool to the first site near Bull Run. Coffee and refreshments will be available. Tour the site, discuss the thinning effort and its objectives, and see the results of snag creation. Outreach brochures describing the needs of cavity-nesters and approaches to their conservation will be available, and there will be ample opportunity for questions and answers. For those that are interested, visit a second, higher elevation site up the Three Mile drainage. Lunch will be provided; plan on being back at Florence at 3 p.m.
American Bird Conservancy (ABC) received a “Conservation Innovation Grant” to enhance ponderosa pine stands on private lands for cavity-nesting birds. The primary target species in Montana are the Lewis’s Woodpecker, Flammulated Owl and Williamson’s Sapsucker.
Cky-Ber Enterprises of Stevensville has been conducting variable thinning prescriptions on private lands in the Bitterroot for many years, with an eye toward recruiting snags. ABC, Cky-Ber and contracted loggers have worked together this year on three separate properties to create snags through topping and/or girdling selected trees.
In order to hasten response by target birds, they have installed custom nest boxes that have worked well with Lewis’s Woodpeckers elsewhere in their range.
There has been much recent interest in thinning of ponderosa pine stands, to reduce fire and beetle risk, improve asthetics near home sites, and restore historic conditions. But often the large snag component is no longer present. With guided snag management, conditions for declining cavity-nesters can be improved.
RSVP by August 23 to Dan Casey, American Bird Conservancy, 406-756-2681(o), 406-270-5941 (cell), dcasey@abcbirds.org, or Craig Thomas, Cky-Ber, 363-8742.
Memorial concert
All are invited to a concert Saturday, August 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Claudia Driscoll Park in Hamilton with music by the Big Sky Mudflaps. Bring a chair, kick back and enjoy the music sponsored by the family of the park’s namesake, Claudia Driscoll, who passed away recently. The park, built by community volunteers led by Claudia Driscoll, was named in her honor in 1994 in recognition of her tireless efforts to build a park for all in the town she so loved.
Sunday, August 26
‘Accounted For’ Quartet in concert
First Baptist Church, 354 Cooper Lane, Hamilton, will host the Accounted For Quartet in concert on Sunday, August 26 at 6:30 p.m. This quartet is from Trout Creek and presents a message of faith and salvation in harmonious song. Everyone is invited to an evening of Southern Gospel music. For more information call 363-3735.
Monday, August 27
Rotary Club
During the month of August the Hamilton Rotary Club programs are featuring Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital. Cheryl Dohlzel, who recently joined MDMH as Director of the Information Technology Department, will be speaking Monday, August 27. Dohlzel will discuss in some detail “Electronic Medical Records” and their impact on patient care. The club meets Mondays at noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. There will be time for questions and discussion. This meeting is open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.
Fish & Wildlife Assn.
The Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association general meeting will be held on Monday, August 27 at 7 p.m. upstairs at the Hamilton Fire Hall. The Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association is one of the oldest sportsman’s clubs in Montana. The meetings are open to the public and newcomers are always welcome. For further information call Tony at 381-0587 or Linda at 961-1435.
Tuesday, August 28
NVPL Music Makers Storytime
Music Makers Storytime will be held at the North Valley Public Library on Tuesday, August 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for an enriching music and movement storytime. Melissa Sparks leads the group through singing, movement, fingerplays and stories. This early literacy development program is created for ages birth-five with an accompanying adult. August’s theme is colors and shapes. There will be time to stay and play after the program as well as share in a healthy snack. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Republican Women’s Club
Ravalli County Republican Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting and lunch on Tuesday, August 28 at 11:30 a.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Guest speakers will be State Senator Bob Lake, candidate for Public Service Commission, Jeff Burrows, new County Commissioner, and a representative from SAFE. Ravalli County Republican Women meet the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Wednesday, August 29
FFA Alumni Baked Goods Auction
All are welcome to this tasty event on Wednesday, August 29 at 6 p.m. at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Come bid on some homemade goodies and support your local FFA chapter. All proceeds go towards leadership development for the students in the Stevensville FFA. For more information or to donate a baked item call Theresa at 207-1130.