Crisis Line volunteer training
Make a difference in the life of a victim of domestic or sexual abuse – become a SAFE Crisis Line Volunteer. Volunteers provide information and a listening ear to someone who’s been traumatized by domestic violence or sexual assault. Volunteer training begins September 16, so call SAFE today, 363-4600.
Scarecrow Fest caw for entries
The 8th annual Scarecrow Festival will start on First Friday, October 4. Deadline for entries is Sept. 27. The contest is open to everyone with cash prizes awarded. Info and entry forms at Stevensville Main Street Association, Bitterroot Star, River’s Mist Gallery in Stevensville and the Paper Clip in Hamilton or at www.mainstreetstevensville.com. This year the Stevensville Scarecrow Festival will again include Living Statues. Win cash prizes ($100 for 1st Place, $60 for 2nd Place, $40 for 3rd Place) and keep your donations! Living statues will be posted on Main Street in downtown Stevensville from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 4. Living statues can appear in any type of costume and typically pose until someone makes a donation. Then you can repay that person by changing positions with a flourish, acknowledging the person in some way, or whatever. Call 777-3773 to sign up or for more information.
Volunteer opportunity
Volunteers are needed for the 34th annual Apple Day on Saturday, October 5 at the Ravalli County Museum in Hamilton. Come join the festivities and help with apple pie preparation, caramel sauce making, or by manning a booth on Apple Day itself. Call the Ravalli County Museum for information, 363-3338, ext. 13.
Darby Bread Box
The Darby Bread Box is collecting the following items for the months of September, October and November: turkey or chicken stuffing, pumpkin pie mix, soup broth and olives. Drop off the donated items at People’s Market and the Bitterroot Credit Union in Darby. All donations are appreciated.
Volunteer opportunity
Habitat for Humanity of Ravalli County is in need of volunteers to help build a new home on Fridays and Saturdays at 105 Mission Street in Stevensville. Framing will take place September 13 & 14. Call the Building Volunteer Coordinator at 207-0247 for more information.
Driver services hours limited
All Montana Driver License employees will be attending training in Helena from September 9-13 and September 23-27. Hours and services will be limited during those days at the driver services office in Stevensville. No testing (written or driving) will be conducted. Services offered will be MT Identification Cards, MT License Renewals and Replacement and Out of State Transfers. Hours will be Monday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office will be closed from 12 to 1 p.m. daily.
Wednesday, September 11
9/11 remembrance
The Stevensville Fire Department invites you to join them on Wednesday, September 11 in a Memorial Service for those who died in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the men and women who lost their lives in the rescue efforts that followed. A Silent Emergency Vehicle Procession will take place on Main Street at 10:30 a.m. with a memorial service and ceremony at Veterans Park at 11 a.m. A reception lunch will follow at the fire station. For more information contact Brandon Dewey at 777-5271, ext. 15.
Thursday, September 12
Women’s Bible Study
Women’s Bible study will be every Thursday at 10 a.m. starting September 12 at the Conner Wesleyan Church, seven miles south of Darby on Hwy 93. The group will be studying Joseph. For more information call Joan at 821-3457.
Women Newcomers Club
The Bitterroot Women Newcomers Club will meet Thursday, September 12 at 10 a.m. at the First Christian Church, 328 Fairgrounds Rd. in Hamilton. Visitors are welcome to join in as members welcome in the new board of officers. At the meeting, special clubs (Book, Craft, Mah Jongg, Bowling, and more) will discuss their club activities and accept sign-ups for substitutes, new members, and/or new clubs. For more information, contact Dona Fisher at 381-6444.
Kids Bible Club
Come have fun while learning God’s word at Kids Bible Club every Thursday beginning September 12 from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. at Lone Rock Bible Church, 1142 Three Mile Road, Stevensville. For more information call 777-2592.
American Turning Point Forum
American Turning Point Forum will meet Thursday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Willow Court Apartments, 150 Skeels Ave, Hamilton (from Hwy 93 turn east on Foxfield by Tire-rama, turn right on Skeels, apts on left, park across the street). Join in the discussion and development of the group’s action plan regarding: action in Syria; defunding of Obamacare; transfer of public lands to state jurisdiction; and Mark Levin’s proposed Constitutional amendments. There will be a brief overview of each of these major issues followed by group discussion. Contact Jennine Jones, 381-0314, donandjennine@gmail.com, for more information.
Stevi town council
The Stevensville Town Council will meet on Thursday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at 206 Buck, Stevensville. The agenda includes discussion/decision on Special Event Permit for Jacket Blackout Run September 28, discussion/decision on Special Event Permit for Stevensville H.S. Bonfire and Parade; discussion/decision on Town Attorney Brian West on Conflict of Interest Questions; discussion/decision on Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures, discussion/decision on Resolution No. 321, Water-Sewer Budget Billing Option, to name a few. The regular meeting will be preceded by a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Ordinance 144, the town’s revised Municipal Code, which is scheduled for final reading and adoption at the regular meeting.
BPL Fellowship Club
The Bitterroot Public Library’s Fellowship Club will be meeting on Thursday, September 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the West Meeting Room of the BPL, to discuss the book: “The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living” by H.H. The Dalai Lama” and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.
If you ask him if he’s happy, despite having suffered the loss of his country, the Dalai Lama will give you an unconditional yes. What’s more, he’ll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that “the very motion of our life is towards happiness.”
Through conversations, stories, and meditations, the Dalai Lama shows us how to defeat day-to-day anxiety, insecurity, anger, and discouragement. Together with Dr. Cutler, he explores many facets of everyday life, including relationships, loss, and the pursuit of wealth, to illustrate how to ride through life’s obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. This book, which, crosses the boundaries of traditions to help readers with difficulties common to all human beings, started the genre of happiness books and remains the cornerstone of the field of positive psychology.
Tenzin Gyatso, H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, and a hugely sought-after speaker and peace statesman, and winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. C. Cutler is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
The Fellowship Club meets every second Thursday of the month in the West Meeting Room of the Bitterroot Public Library and is free and open to anyone seeking to promote individual and collective well being.
Call 363-1670, or email jacostant@gmail.com for more information.
Lone Rock Park Board
The Lone Rock Park Board will meet Thursday, September 12 at 7 p.m. at the Three Mile Fire Station, 1064 Three Mile Creek Road.
Friday, September 13
South Valley Pachyderm Club
The South Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, September 13 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. First Street, Hamilton. The program will be the screening of the video entitled “Saving Our Republic”. The video exposes the decades-long subversive program to reshape America into a Socialist State. The South Valley Pachyderm Club is an officially recognized allied organization of the Republican Party. Members of the public are welcome.
Eagles taco night
Eagles Ladies Auxillary to Bitterroot Aerie #1693 will serve a taco buffet on Friday, September 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Eagles Hall, 125 N. 2nd St., Hamilton. The menu will include fried corn tortilla tacos, soft shell flour tortilla tacos, burritos with or without chile verde, cheese quesadillas, meat and cheese quesadillas, beans and taco salad. The public is welcome.
Saturday, September 14
Darby Sell-A-Rama
The South Valley Civic Group Sell-A-Rama and Fundraising Auction will take place on Saturday, September 14 in Darby. Register to have a yard sale in Darby, there are three locations for people who don’t live in Darby. Registration is $5 to be on the published map day before sale. A fundraising auction for the Darby Bread Box will be held at the Main Street Park. The Sell-A-Rama is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Auction Preview is at noon and auction will start at 1 p.m. Gently used items are needed for the auction, there is no reserve and auction is absolute. Boxes for food donations will be at the park. Contacts: South Valley Civic Group, Annie Edwards 370-1309; Darby Bread Box, Mary Lockwood, 821-4678; Sell-A-Rama Registration, Adele Dicken, 821-3405.
BARC open house
The Bitterroot Amateur Radio Club (BARC) will host an Open House in the Darby Community Public Library meeting room on Saturday, September 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration and information on licensing classes and testing will be available. This is an outreach event to the South Bitterroot community for those interested in radio broadcasting including those seeking to become licensed radio broadcasters. For more information contact the library at 821-4771 or visit www.bitterrootbugle.com.
Plant-to-Plate Harvest Party
The Stevensville Community Garden is throwing a Plant-to-Plate Harvest Party on Saturday, September 12 at 1 p.m. to celebrate the very productive first year in collaboration with St. Mary’s Parish. They’ll be tossing pizzas and skewering kebabs made from Community Garden produce, then grilling them over the coals. All gardeners, would-be gardeners, and people who like to eat are welcome. The entry fee is a side dish to share; bring any kids you may have, as long as you take them home at the end.
If you’d like a tour of the garden, to collect information about participating next year, or if you’re low on zukes, bring your appetites to the Pavilion at the very west end of Ravalli Street, behind St. Mary’s Church, on Saturday, September 14, at 1 p.m. For more info or a pep talk to get you off the couch and into the community, call Colleen Miller, Garden Director, at 777-1167.
Bark ‘n the Park
Bark ‘n the Park, a fundraiser for the Bitter Root Humane Association, will be held Saturday, September 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Hieronymus Park in Hamilton. A Dog Walk will be held at 2 p.m. Sign up at 262 Fairgrounds Rd. or download the forms at bitterroothumane.org. Find sponsors to support your walk! Other events include Top Dog Contests & Games: Best Kisser, Celebrity Look-Alike, K-9 Karaoke, Good Times Photo Booth, Nail Painting (dogs only!), Bobbing For Balls, and more; Weiner Dog Races: Bring your fastest runners; Dog Agility Demonstration: Prepare to be impressed!; Dog Related Vendors & Services. Live music will be provided by Blue to the Bone, The Misfits and Kings of Wing. Food, soda and beer will be available for purchase. Admission is $5 (12 & under free). All dogs must be leashed. All proceeds benefit the BRHA Animal Shelter.
Cowboy Music & Poetry event
The Ravalli County Museum, 205 Bedford in Hamlton, will host “ An Afternoon of Cowboy Music & Poetry” on Saturday, September 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. Sit under the maple trees and listen to a few yarns and tales gracefully told by talented cowboy poets. The art of yodeling and some good cowboy pickin’ will also be heard. Refreshments will be available. Tickets are on sale at the Museum, Chapter One Books, Mountain Music and the Music Box. Call 363-3338 or visit www.brvhsmuseum.org.
Marquis benefit dinner
A Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 171 Lewis Lane (turn east at Murdoch’s), Hamilton, to benefit Michelle Marquis. Marquis will have surgery on October 7 to remove a brain tumor that has plagued her for more than 20 years. Proceeds from this dinner will help with her expenses. Free will offering accepted. For more information call 381-1919.
Emma’s House benefit fashion show
The 10th annual Bella Boutique Fall Fashion Preview to benefit Emma’s House will be held Saturday, September 14 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the 1st Interstate Center, Ravalli County Fairgrounds. This event includes a prime rib dinner, a dessert auction, lively entertainment, and silent and live auctions, all for $25 ticket. All proceeds go towards Emma’s House, the Bitterroot Valley’s Children Advocacy Center.
A children’s advocacy center is a “safe place for children and families to talk to professionals about child abuse and neglect.” The Emma’s House model is based on a program introduced by the National Children’s Alliance in 1987, which “empowers local communities to provide comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse.” This program includes a one-on-one videotaped forensic interview where the child only has to tell their story one time instead of having to retell it to each agency involved in the investigation. A multidisciplinary team of professionals in law enforcement, mental health therapies, Department of Family Services, and medical professionals, coordinate investigation and intervention services in a child-focused approach.
Emma’s House is one of 750 Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) in the country and is the only CAC in Montana that is not associated with a hospital or any other agency. It is a home-based setting so children and families feel comfortable. Contact Valerie Widmer at 531-8845 or Kierstin at 360-6266 for more information.
Good Time Jamboree
The Bitterroot Valley Good-Time Jamboree will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Grange Hall. The Grange Hall is located at 1436 Highway 93 South, just past the Valley Pet Clinic. Featured performers this month are: Cedar Ridge featuring Gary Bladen and his band, Bill La Croix doing real old time music, “Missouri” with Clem Small performing cowboy and western swing tunes, Warren Worth performing some blues numbers, and “Tin Cup”, a vocal trio, concluding the program with bluegrass, gospel, and folk harmonies. Admission is free but a suggested donation of $3 or more to cover expenses is always appreciated. This monthly series is always on the second Saturday of the month, September through June.
New and past performers are invited to participate in this monthly musical get-together. Musicians perform 25-minute sets to a willing and enthusiastic audience, and also encourage acts that involve audience participation. There are no auditions and no skill level requirements–just a desire to share your music with others who love to listen and learn. The Good Time Jamboree also welcomes groups or individuals with special talents, from dancing to harpsichord building. “Bach to Bluegrass” is the motto: traditional bluegrass, country music, folk music, blues, and anything else that lends itself to an acoustic forum is welcome. Besides the fun of performing for friends and family, the goal of this group is to keep acoustic music alive and well in the Bitterroot Valley. Groups who regularly play for money are also invited to play, in this case, for exposure. Any individual or group wishing to participate may contact John at 381-2483 for more information.
Monday, September 16
Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – Pancake or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Hot pockets, peas & carrots, pineapple, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Bagel with cream cheese or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chicken enchilada, refried beans, applesauce, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Mac & cheese, green beans, strawberries, bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – Waffles or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Shepherd’s pie, tossed salad, bananas, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Egg wraps or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Sea wonders, coleslaw, apricots, bread & butter, milk.
Rotary Club
Russ Lawrence, Coordinator/Director of the Hamilton Downtown Association, will be speaking at the Monday, September 16th meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club. The club meets Mondays at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. Russ will be discussing his position with the Downtown Association which promotes Hamilton as a commercial, historic destination. Rotary meetings are open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.
Bitterroot Audubon
Bitterroot Audubon’s September program will feature a celebration of creating a masterpiece, in this case the 2014 Bitterroot Audubon Society calendar. The calendar displays 24 outstanding bird photographs submitted by local photographers. Meet some of these talented photographers, who will share their photos and describe how they created them. The BAS Calendar Committee received over 250 photo entries and they will share the process they went through to select the final 24. Special guests will include some of the student artists that drew pictures for the calendar, who will share what they learned about the birds they drew. Calendars will be available for purchase for $15. The proceeds go to the BAS Education Fund to support environmental education activities here in the valley, and to the BAS Scholarship Fund to help a Montana student attend college in Montana. The Scholarship Committee just awarded its first scholarship to college sophomore Philip Williams from Corvallis. The celebration is Monday, September 16 at Chapter One Bookstore, 252 W. Main Street in Hamilton. Contact Kay Fulton (642-3794) for additional information.
Tuesday, September 17
4-H mentoring training
The MSU Extension 4-H Mentoring Partnership is seeking adults and high school teens, to mentor youth 10 to 14 years of age, at eligible afterschool programs and other organizational sites. An information/orientation meeting is scheduled to assist potential mentors decide if they would enjoy this mentoring partnership on Tuesday, September 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ravalli County Extension meeting room, 215 S. 4th Street in Hamilton. A light lunch will be served. If you have an interest, hobby or skill there likely is a 4-H curriculum project which can assist you in sharing your passion with the youth of our community. Mentors share 4-H projects and/or assist with homework and literacy activities once a week for one hour with 1–4 youths. Research has demonstrated that youth benefit from having three or more non-parent adults to be positive role models and an extra caring person in their lives. A background check will be conducted on all potential mentors. To register or for more information, contact Terry Moran, 4-H Mentoring Site Manager, at 375-6610 or at terry.moran@montana.edu