Wednesday, January 30
BPL story time
Preschoolers are invited to meet in the children’s corner of the Bitterroot Public Library on Wednesday, January 30 to enjoy “Winter Tracks” with storyteller Jamie Ogden. Story time begins at 10:30 a.m. and is designed for children 3-5 years of age. All story times are free and open to the public.
Drumming Circle
Come drum with a group on Wednesday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 S. 1st Street, Hamilton (north of Sears). Bring drums and other percussion instruments or use some that are available. Feeling energy in your body is a good awakening practice. Come enjoy a wonderful opportunity to access this energy together. The Drumming Circle is led by Tom Kresan. For more information call Pat at 360-5568.
Thursday, January 31
BPL Family Night
Family Night with Chip Jasmin will be held Thursday, January 31 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library. Clap your hands! Swing your partner! Join in a song! Plan an evening out with your family, and learn more about our Montana home. Chip Jasmin is a musician, songwriter, and educator with a unique way of teaching about our land. This Artist in Schools/Communities program is partially supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Montana Arts Council and the State of Montana. The concert will be held in the West Meeting Room and is free and open to the public.
Friday, February 1
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, February 1 at 12 noon at the Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be County Commissioner Ron Stoltz. 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.
Eagles Taco Night
On Friday, February 1, the Bitter Root Eagles Auxiliary will be serving Tacos and More at the Eagles Lodge in Hamilton from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Flour and corn tortillas, burritos, burritos with chili verde, quesadillas, and taco salads are on the menu. The public is welcome. For more info contact Nita at 363-2763.
Knights of Columbus Fish Fry:
The Knights of Columbus will hold their regular First Friday Fish Fry this coming Friday, February 1. This is an excellent opportunity to continue the New Year by letting someone do the cooking for you! The “all you can eat” meal consists of fish, fries, coleslaw, “Niezgodzki’s Mac n Cheese”, vegetables, dessert and soft beverage. The price for the meal is $10.00 per person children under nine is free. Wine can be purchased separately. The meal is served from 5 pm till 6:45 pm. The food and service is great, we serve anywhere form 100 to 150 guest each month. Everyone is welcome so come out, bring a friend and enjoy the evening. Mark your colanders for the Knights of Columbus Lenten Friday Night Fish Fries starting on February 15th and ending on March 22nd. Thanks again for your continued support and we will see you on Friday at St. Francis’ Pastoral Center located at 411 S. 5th St. Hamilton. For information contact Nick Hooper at 961-3930.
First Friday at NVPL
Looking for some fun while out for First Friday? Stop in and listen to “Way Cool Music” featuring Ron Bissell on First Friday February 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library in Stevensville. Way Cool Music features Bissell on guitar and vocals with special surprise guest appearances by local musicians. The musical genre is a variety of folk and rock. Join in the fun at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Art opening
“Essence of Spring” biennial flower show will be at River’s Mist Gallery of Fine Art for the month of February. Featured artists are by Heidi Zielinski, fiber art; Antonia Wolf, photography and silk scarves; Barbara Michelman, photography; Howard Knight, leather work; Amy Knight, fused glass; Loey Knapp, photography; Elloie Jeter, pastels; Sally Johnson, watercolor; Carol Hoffnagle, colored pencil; Kiana Fecteau, acrylics; Pamela Dunn-Parrish, photography; Patricia DonDiego, acrylic and beadwork plus many more fine artists. An artist’s reception will be held on Friday, February 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. The show runs February 26. The gallery is located at 317 Main Street in Stevensville. For more information call 777-0520.
First Friday Date Night Movie
Come to the North Valley Public Library on First Friday to see a free new release movie. The movie starts at 6 p.m. Treats will be provided; bring your own soft drink. Date Night Movies will show every First Friday. Contact the library for film title information. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville; phone 777-5061.
Labor film festival
Missoula Area Central Labor Council presents the 8th Annual Missoula Labor Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, February 1-2 at the Roxy Theater, 718 S. Higgins Ave., Missoula. Recommended donation is $5 for one night, $9 for both. Each film will include time for comments and questions from the audience.
Saturday, February 2
Groundhog Day at Metcalf Refuge
Will “Bitterroot Bill”, a yellow-bellied marmot, see his shadow for six more weeks of winter? Attend the whimsical Groundhog Day special event, Saturday, February 2 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge to find out. A formal presentation in the Okefenokee Room (Refuge Office) will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and will feature songs, recipes, jokes, and of course the serious facts about marmots, i.e. size, shape, color, smell, tracks, food preferences, etc. Afterwards, travel to the White Barn on Wildfowl Lane to visit Bitterroot Bill’s burrow to see if he is out and about. Refuge staff will proclaim an early spring or not at about 12:30 p.m. For more information call 777-5552 x203 or email bob_danley@fws.gov.
Soroptimist Mini Golf Tournament
It’s time to dust off your putter, put aside the winter blahs and sign up for the Hamilton Soroptimist 12th Annual Winter Mini Golf Tournament to be held Saturday, February 2 in downtown Hamilton. Teams can play “caddyshack” or traditional with prizes offered for just about everything! Golfers must pre-register. Call Mary Alice Holloway at 381-1335 or go on line at www.sihamilton.org. Space is limited, so register soon.
Child Safety Seat Clinic
Seat inspections are conducted on Saturday, February 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mildenberger Motors in Hamilton. Nick Hooper and other nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on hand to provide free seat inspections for anyone wishing to assure their child’s safety. Bring your car seat manual and vehicle owner’s manual. Appointments can be made by calling Nick at 381-1200. This is a great opportunity for parents and others caring for kids that they are using their safety seats properly. Nearly 73% of child restraints are not installed or used correctly. Coffee is provided by Mildenberger Motors at this event. Free car seats can be obtained by approval of Ravalli County Health Services, Head Start and Early Head Start (seats are limited).
Senior Center bingo
Hamilton Senior Center will be hosting a special Saturday Bingo on February 2. Doors open at noon, games start at 1 p.m. Paper cards will be used and free refreshments will be served. Players must be at least 18. Call Cathy at 375-9276 for information.
Travelers’ Rest Storytelling Series
The Annual Winter Storytelling Series at Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo is held every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in January and February at The Holt Museum and Visitor Center. For many Native American cultures, winter is the time for storytelling around the campfire. The Salish and Kootenai, Pend d’Orielle, and others pass on tribal history, family stories and the ways of their culture through their oral traditions. Today, tribal elders and cultural leaders preserve the powerful tradition of storytelling at Travelers’ Rest State Park.
Storytellers featured in the series are:
Feb. 2: Family Storytime – Amber Jean Greymorning, daughter of Neyooxet Greymorning, will present a program especially for kids and families that will include crafts, hands-on discovery and hot cocoa. Greymorning studies music education at the University of Montana. She began to learn Arapaho in the seventh grade and is dedicated to revitalizing the language.
Feb. 9: Salish Wintertime Stories – Frances Vanderburg has taught Salish language at Arlee Elementary School and the Salish Kootenai College for more than 35 years. She builds bridges in the community by teaching the Salish language and culture to all students regardless of their tribal affiliation.
Feb. 16: Coyote Stories – Stephen Small Salmon is a Pend d’ Oreille Elder from Pablo. He is a member of the Salish/Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee and works as a Salish language specialist at Nkwusm School in Arlee.
Travelers’ Rest State Park, the location of a centuries-old Native American gathering ground, is also the site where the 33-member Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in 1805 and 1806. In the 2012 summer season (May – August) nearly 25,000 people visited this state park, a 14% increase over the 2011 season.
Visit Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) and enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, boating and more and discover some of the greatest natural and cultural treasures on earth.
South Valley Stamp Club
The South Valley Stamp Club will meet Saturday, February 2 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library basement meeting room in Hamilton. This month’s meeting will be a swap and sell meeting, bring your unwanted or duplicate stamps; buy, sell, or trade with like minded individuals for an interesting way to spend a cold winter afternoon. Anyone may join in, there is no dues. Bring your stamp tongs and enthusiasm and your change jar and add to your collection. For more info, contact Clyde at 375-5222 and leave a message. The club meets every first Saturday from September through May.
NVPL Movie Matinee
Stop by the North Valley Public Library on the first, second and third Saturday of the month at 12 noon for a free and fun flick. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, February will feature classic love stories. Contact the library for film title information. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville; phone 777-5061.
Monday, February 4
Stevi school menu
Feb. 4-8
Monday: Breakfast – Pancakes or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Orange chicken wraps, stir-fry veggies, rice, applesauce, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Tacos with lettuce & cheese, refried beans, apples, bread & butter, chocolate or regular milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cinnamon Rolls or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Spaghetti, tossed salad, peaches, bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – Waffles or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Turkey sandwiches with lettuce & tomatoes, taters, kiwi, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Scrambled eggs or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Corn dogs, glazed carrots, mixed fruit, bread & butter, chocolate or regular milk.
Rotary Club
Russ Lawrence, former owner of the Chapter One Bookstore, will be the speaker at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, Monday, February 4. Russ will be speaking about how things have changed since he last wrote his book about the Bitterroot. The club meets Mondays at noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. This meeting is open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.
Darby Adult Education
The Darby Adult Education spring semester begins Monday, February 4. The Darby course brochure is now available at: the Darby Public Schools Administration Office; the Darby Community Public Library; the Hamilton Community Library; the Bitterroot Job Service; the Bitterroot College, and online at http://www.darby.k12.mt.us/community/adult-education. Course registration is open now through Friday, February 1. All Darby Adult Education courses have enrollment minimums; register on time to ensure enrollment minimums are met. Both registration forms and payment are due by Friday, February 1. Have a question? Email Adele Dicken at adicken@darby.k12.mt.us or call her at 821-3405.
Florence Civic Club
The Florence Civic Club would like to invite interested citizens and those with a community project that might need help to attend the next meeting on Monday, February 4 at 7 p.m. at the NOVA Family Living Center, Suite #3, next to Town Pump in Florence. Meetings are held the first Monday of each month and usually run about an hour. For more information call Ann at 406-403-6491.
Tuesday, February 5
Workplace safety workshop
The Bitterroot Job Service will sponsor a two-hour workshop to discuss safety issues for employers on Tuesday, February 5 in Stevensville and February 6 in Hamilton with safety specialist Fred Miller. Miller is from the Montana Safety Bureau and will assist employers to create their own safety plan. This workshop is free of charge. Call the Job Service for more info.
Ag Workshops
Montana State University Ravalli County Extension, the Montana Department of Agriculture, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are offering two programs in February. The first is a Pasture Renovation Workshop which takes place on Tuesday, February 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Corvallis Grange Hall, one block west of Highway 93 at Woodside Crossing. Topics include grass biology, weed management, grazing management, and pesticide use to improve grassland health. The second program addresses controlling vertebrate pests such as voles, moles, pocket gophers, and ground squirrels in agriculture and home gardens. This program will feature Monty Sullins of the Montana Department of Agriculture Vertebrate Pest Control Program. This workshop will take place on February 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also take place at the Corvallis Grange Hall. Both workshops will offer Private and Commercial Pesticide Applicator Credits. Private Pesticide Applicators should remember Ravalli County licenses expire in 2013 unless continuing education is completed. Come at 8:30 a.m. to each of these workshops if you have not preregistered. To reserve your seat, contact the MSU Ravalli County Extension office at 375-6611, email ravalli@montana.edu or online at www.msuextension.org/ravalli.
Sons of Norway
Bitterrootdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway, will meet Tuesday, February 5 at 5 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton. The program will include Norwegian cooking, and an opportunity to make a primstav (Calendar stick). The Lodge will serve pork and lutefisk as a main dish; members and visitors are invited to bring a side dish. The public is always welcome.
Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot
Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot will meet Tuesday, February 5, at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Tony
Reinhardt, a respected guide and outfitter with 16 years experience, whose company Montana Trout Outfitters specializes in guiding anglers on the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Clark Fork, as well as the legendary Rock Creek, will share his intimate knowledge of these diverse fisheries along with numerous small streams. Optional cocktails/dinner is at 6 p.m.; the presentation is at 7 p.m.
If you are interested in flyfishing and/or the club, call Dorreen at 363-0744 for more information.
County spelling bee
February 5th is the date scheduled for the Ravalli County Spelling Bee will be held Tuesday, February 5 at 7 p.m. in the Hamilton Middle School auditorium.
Two representa6ves from each of the Ravalli County schools as well as home school representatives will compete for the title from the county.
The Treasure State Spelling Bee program is sponsored annually by Lee Newspapers of Montana. Lee Newspapers owns the Missoulian and the Ravalli Republic. Locally, the Ravalli County Superintendent of Schools, Michael Williams, organizes the competition. Frank Laurence from Hamilton will run the competition.
To qualify to represent their school, students compete in a local school competition that includes students from grades five through eight. Each county private school as well as county home schools may send representatives, through their respective organizations.
The two top qualifiers who have registered nationally in the county bee will be eligible to participate in the State Bee in Billings on March 23. The meet in Billings will determine the state’s winner who qualifies to compete in the National Scripps Spelling Bee.