Wednesday, February 5
Microsoft Office Suite Basics series
The Microsoft Office Suite is the most popular business software in the world and remains the industry standard. These programs are the most widely used programs for spreadsheet functions, computer presentations and email and contact management. Instructor: Lee Tickell, Bitterroot College Business Technology Adjunct Faculty and Certified Microsoft Trainer.
MS Excel Basics: Wednesdays and Fridays, Feb 5-14 (Four 3 hour classes) 9 a.m.-12 noon. $90 ($10 off if you register by Jan 29). In this class you will explore the basics of spreadsheet functions, learn short cuts to assist in data entry and how to create formulas and basic formatting. You will also learn how to print in Excel and how to manage an Excel workbook, cross sheet formulas and viewing multiple sheets. Prerequisite: basic computer knowledge. Microsoft PowerPoint Basics: Wednesday and Friday, Feb. 19 & 21 (Two 3 hour classes), 9 a.m. to 12 noon. $50. This class will teach you how to create presentations in which you combine text, shapes, pictures, graphs, animation, charts, videos, and much more. This class will focus on the most common features used for creating presentations for your business or organization. You will learn how to create, manage, and collaborate with other people, enrich your presentations with video, picture, and animations, and deliver and share your presentations more effectively. Prerequisite: basic computer knowledge.
Microsoft Outlook Basics: Wednesday and Friday, Feb. 26 & 28. (Two 3 hour classes), 9 a.m. to 12 noon. $50. The Outlook software class includes new features and capabilities to help you stay connected with people and better manage your time and information. This class will cover all the features of the program including Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes, Journal, and Folders. Class will focus on how to make Outlook 2010 your personal information manager for all your email accounts. Prerequisite: basic computer knowledge. To register contact the Bitterroot College at 375-0100. Course fee and form are due 3 days prior to class start date. Call to check course availability.
Stevensville Garden Club
The Stevensville Garden Club will meet Wednesday, February 5 at 12 noon at the Community Baptist Church, 409 Buck Street, Stevensville. Lunch will be served with bingo games (with prizes) after. The public is welcome. Call 777-5170 for more information.
Sleeping Child Hot Springs for All
Sleeping Child Hot Springs for All will meet Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Daly Leach Chapel meeting room, 1010 W Main, Hamilton. The group will be setting up a board of directors, hear reports by information gatherers, and much, much more. Be there and invite your family and friends. Visit Sleeping Child Hot Springs for all Facebook page for more information and to stay updated.”
Thursday, February 6
Natural History Lecture Series
The Ravalli County Museum, 205 Bedford in Hamilton, offers a closer look at the environment we all live in through a lecture series presented by dedicated individuals in the field. On Thursday, February 6 at 6 p.m., Krista Kanenwisher will speak on “Cultural Customs of Indigenous People.” The lecture series is part of the current Natural History Exhibit, “How Well Do You Know and Observe Your World” which continues through April and includes the scientific disciplines of geology, water resources, forests, fields, wildlife, people of the land and how climate change and population growth affect our wilderness and resources, with special programming on some Saturdays. Check the website at www.brvhsmuseum.org for more information.
Stevi business featured on PBS
A Stevensville business will be featured in the latest PBS program, “Business: Made In Montana,” premiering on Thursday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. on Montana PBS (KUFM-TV in Missoula and KUSM-TV in Bozeman). DreamCatcher Weighted Blankets is a family owned business producing weighted blankets which are a sensory calming product for children and adults. JC and Eileen Jackson, owners, were inspired by their son Cody who is autistic and happily uses a weighted blanket. Their products are shipped globally as well as used by many local people, hospitals and Physical Therapy clinics. “Business: Made in Montana” is produced by students in the professional program at the University of Montana School of Journalism. The DreamCatcher segment was produced, directed and edited by Melisa Penman, of Stevensville and Jess Field of Valier. Repeats of the broadcast are scheduled for Sunday, February 9 at 10:30 a.m. and Monday, February 10 at 5:30 a.m.
Friday, February 7
BPL Story Time
Young children are invited to meet in the children’s corner of the Bitterroot Public Library on Friday, February 7 to enjoy “Brown Dogs, Red Dogs, Blue Dogs” with storyteller Jennifer Crawford. Hear great stories and try some activities and crafts! 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.
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, February 7 at 12 noon at the Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli County Clerk & Recorder. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
DCPL American Girl Book Club
American Girl Book Club is held on the first Friday of every month in the library meeting room of the Darby Community Public Library. Come learn, laugh, share and explore with a new theme each month. The theme in February is Mardi Gras. Enjoy a book discussion and hands-on activities on Friday, February 7 at 3 p.m. The club is open to all girls six years and older.
NVPL First Friday
Looking for some fun entertainment for the entire family on February First Friday? The Montana Super Skippers will be performing at the North Valley Public Library on Friday February 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. The Super Skippers are a select group of girls from Montana Super Skippers, a national competitive jump rope team. Super Skippers will put on an informational demonstration and performance (including Double Dutch!) with an opportunity for young and old to try out some jumping techniques. Join in the fun! Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. The North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Eagles dinner
An Enchilada Dinner will be available on Friday, February 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge, 125 N 2nd St, Hamilton. The menu will include chicken enchilada with chili verde, refried beans, salad and fruit. Come on down for good food and fellowship. The public is welcome. Cost is $8 per person. All profit supports the Bitterroot Eagles Scholarship Fund.
Christian talk
Brian Catalucci, Adjunct Conference Speaker for 1:1 Answers in Genesis, will be the featured speaker at a seminar on Friday, February 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, February 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Crossroads Christian Fellowship, 1297 Meridian Road, Victor. This free seminar will include a continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday for those who pre-register. Also speaking will be Dr. Kevin Horton, former Bitterroot Valley veterinarian. Topic samples include: Dinosaurs, Fossils and the Bible; Evolution: Fact or Fiction?; Inventions of Ancient Man; Jesus or Jurassic Park; and Why Would a Good God Create a Painful World? Register at www.crossroadsmt.org or call 961-5299.
Bitterroot Dancers
Bitterroot Dancers, Inc. will sponsor a Country Western Public Dance on Friday, February 7 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Bedford Bldg/City Hall, 223 S. 2nd St., 2nd Floor, Hamilton. Wild Coyote band will provide music with a no host bar available. Admission is $7.00. For more information, call 370-7551.
Saturday, February 8
Flea market
A flea market will be held Saturday, February 8 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Senior Center, 820 N. 4TH Street, 363-5181. Come see a variety of new and used item. Pastries, soup, sandwiches and beverages will be available. Rent a table for $5 by calling April at 363-0112.
Pancake breakfast
A free pancake breakfast will be served on Saturday, February 8 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the Florence Volunteer Fire Department, 234 Holloway Lane (behind Town Pump) in Florence. All-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, juice and coffee will be served. The breakfast is open to everyone.
Beekeepers
Beekeepers of the Bitterroot will meet Saturday, February 8 from at 9 to 11 a.m. at the North Valley Library in Stevensville. There will be instruction about bee equipment and how to assemble and set it up. Orders for nucs will be finalized. The last meeting attracted a number of people interested in keeping bees, so new members are very welcome. For information call Tracie Norman, 381-3053.
Spiritual workshop
“Deepening Our Love Nature,” a workshop for singles and couples, will be held Saturday, February 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living. Through the use of multiple techniques to work with Qi, energy, spirit and intention, local Hamilton acupuncturist, Brett Lewis, will lead this exploration of the heart to deepen your ability to love and be loved. Bring a journal, pen, and your open heart. Suggested donation $40-$60 for the day of teaching; all are welcome. Some scholarships are available. Pre-register by calling Montana Family Acupuncture at 381-0275. The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 1720 N. First Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton.
Winter Storytelling Series
Join Montana State Parks (http://stateparks.mt.gov/) at Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo for the annual Winter Storytelling Series on Saturdays at 11 a.m. in February.
On February 8 the featured speaking will be Jack Puckett, retired U.S. Forest Service Ranger and historian. Puckett spent a career working in landscapes crossed by Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. He will share some lesser known stories of the Expedition. While Jack presents tales of Lewis and Clark to adults, volunteers will provide children’s programming for younger visitors in an adjacent room. The storytelling series takes place at Travelers’ Rest Holt Visitor Center, 6717 Highway 12 W, Lolo, (406) 273-4253. Admission to each program is $4 per adult. Youths/teens under 18 and all current Travelers’ Rest Preservation & Heritage Association (TRPHA) members are free.
Complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate and home-baked treats will be available at all programs. The Visitor Center and Museum will be open after the programs, from noon until 3:30 p.m.
Cowboy Ball
Grab your sweetheart and round up your friends for the 3rd Annual Bitterroot Cowboy Ball on Saturday, February 8 at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds in Hamilton. Kyle Shobe and the Walk ‘Em Boys will be playing great dance music, food and beverages will be available for purchase, and silent and live auctions will benefit rodeo grounds improvement projects. It all starts at 6 p.m. and goes till midnight. Just $5 gets you in the door, kids under 12 are free. Reserve a table for eight guests for $150 which includes entry, drink and raffle tickets. For more information call 363-3411.
Good Time Jamboree
An especially talented group of musicians will gather Saturday, February 8 for the Good Time Jamboree Concert held at the Rocky Mountain Grange Hall south of Hamilton. Leading off the concert will be Cedar Ridge and friends. Another popular group in this area, Sticks in the Mud, will follow. The third set will feature Blue Melon, a locally popular blues band. After intermission, local cowboy poet and singer, Doug Hogan, aka Trailrider, will present a program of cowboy music and poetry. Closing the program will be the popular duo of Ken Watson and daughter Laurie Banks with a presentation of country duets. The Grange Hall is located two miles south of Hamilton just past Valley Pet Clinic. Admission to the concert is free but a suggested donation of $3 or more to help defray concert expenses is appreciated. The concert begins promptly at 7 p.m. and usually concludes sometime after 9 p.m. For more information, contact John at 381-2483.
Sunday, February 9
Spiritual presentation
The Center for Spiritual Living presents Lea Guthrie discussing “Allowing or Not Allowing – Your Choice!” on Sunday, February 9 at 10 a.m. Lea will talk about ways in which we either sabotage or invite the relationships, prosperity, work, or health that we want to experience. Music with LeGrande Harvey. Refreshments and conversation follow at 11:30 a.m. Come early for Meditation in the Sanctuary at 9:30 a.m. The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 1720 N. First Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. Further information call Dave at 381-2355 or visit CSLbitterroot.org.
Accordion Assn.
The 5 Valley Accordion Association invite one and all to their Valentines Day dance on Sunday, February 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Jokers Wild on Reserve Street in Missoula. Listen and dance to accordions, guitars, banjos, drums, bass and more. Admission is $3 for members and $4 for nonmembers. For info call 240-9617.
Family Shelter benefit
The Family Shelter of the Bitterroot, Inc., a non-profit organization, formerly the Lighthouse, is raising funds to build a new family shelter on property the group is purchasing. A free concert will be held Sunday, February 9 at Canyon View Church, 195 Skalkaho Highway, Hamilton. Find your Valentine the perfect gift at the Silent Auction and Bake Sale, and enjoy the music by Daystar, a southern gospel group, and By Still Waters, a bluegrass gospel group, along with performances by children with the Hamilton Christian Academy Worship Band. The silent auction starts at 3:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 4 p.m. All donations are tax-deductible.
Monday, February 10
Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – French toast or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Grilled Cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, mixed fruit, bread & butter, milk; Ala Carte – Burrito
Tuesday: Breakfast – Cinnamon rolls or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Tacos, Spanish rice, oranges, bread & butter, milk; Ala Carte – Corn dogs
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chicken & noodles, mixed veggies, watermelon, bread & butter, milk; Ala Carte – Pizza
Thursday: Breakfast – Pancake-on-a-stick or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Tater tot casserole, green beans, bread & butter, milk; Ala Carte – Chicken sandwiches
Friday: Professional development day, no school
Rotary Club
The next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club will be Monday, February 10 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. This month’s programs feature club members sharing their life stories. The meeting is open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.
Green Thumbs Up
The Green Thumbs Up garden club will meet Monday, February 10 at 2 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room, downstairs in the Bitterroot Public Library, Hamilton. The speaker will be Nick Engler of the Missoula Orchid Society. He will discuss growing habits of different kinds of orchids, getting them to bloom, and sources for them. Nick will be bringing in several handouts from the American Orchid Society and any orchids he currently has blooming. The meeting is free and open to the public. For further information, contact Joyce Mabry at 375-9189.
First-time Homebuyer class
A nationally certified First Time Homebuyer Group Education class is scheduled for February 10-12 from 6 to 9 p.m. (each night) at the Human Resource Council Building, 316 N. Third St., Hamilton. Attendance on all three nights is required for certification. The charge is $50 per household to cover instruction and the cost of reference materials. the class will be taught by Sara Ann Briggs. Briggs will offer one-on-one counseling to first-time homebuyers. This new service means that those who request additional counseling or are required by HUD for this follow-up program can now do it right here in Hamilton rather than in Missoula or on the phone.
The first step to the home buying process is pre-purchase counseling. Certification is required in order to qualify for many loans (MBOH, Rural Development, FHA, etc.). Most lenders require that anyone on the loan must take the course. Additionally, HUD requires that the class be taken prior to signing a purchase contract; therefore, Briggs urges first-time homebuyers to not wait until the last minute to take the class.
Most importantly, the class will help novice homebuyers maneuver through the entire process of homeownership. Although available, using an alternate certification method such as online course completion is being highly scrutinized by HUD and should be considered the last alternative. “People seeking to purchase their first home should take the class prior to seeing a lender or real estate agent because the class will provide information on how to shop for both, what questions to ask, and what assistance is available to first-time homebuyers for down payments and more,” explained Briggs.
Call the Bitter Root RC&D office at 363-5450 to reserve your space today.
Tuesday, February 11
Stevensville school board
The regular meeting of the Stevensville School Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, February 11 at 7 p.m. in the Stevensville Music Center choir room.
Wednesday, February 12
Drum Circle
A Drum Circle will be held Wednesday, February 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living. African Hand Drumming allows us to access the Universal heartbeat that exists within and around all things. Bring your drum, rattles, and other instruments and come be part of the fun. No drum? No worries. There are plenty of extras. Let your Inner Drummer out! The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 1720 N. First Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. For information call Carolyn at 375-2548 or visit www.CSLbitterroot.org.
Thursday, February 13
Cross Country Ski Club
Seth Tonsmeire, Operations Manager for Wilderness River Outfitters in Lemhi, Idaho unravels the mystery of the Stateline Yurt perched in the backcountry near Lost Trail Pass, at the next Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club meeting on Thursday, February 13 at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Main Street, Hamilton. From the early days of its beginning many years ago to its current comfortable offerings, Seth explores the many opportunities available from this base camp for winter adventures in the area west of Saddle Mountain. Find out more and what is to come for the future. Now, going on two hundred multi-day river trips and 12 years of guiding, Seth dedicates himself to providing quality wilderness adventure. He spends most of his time rafting, kayaking, fishing, snowboarding/skiing, hiking, camping, and working on Hayden Creek Ranch in the winter. A MSU grad in Geography with a minor in Native American Studies, Seth leads WRO trips in Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Canada. The public is encouraged to attend.
BPL Fellowship Club
The Bitterroot Public Library’s Fellowship Club will be meeting on Thursday, February 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the West Meeting Room of the BPL, to discuss the book “No Self, No Problem” by Anam Thubten.
“No Self, No Problem” shows how we can realize the ultimate meaning of life in each moment by dissolving all notions of ego identity. This easy-to-read book discusses in simple, but profound and inspiring language how, by learning to see through the illusion of the self, we can live a life full of love, satisfaction, and happiness.
Thubten illuminates the path of going beyond the misconceptions of the ego to experience the reality of our true nature, which is already enlightened. In his words, “true freedom is emancipation from our concepts, from the psychological veil that is distorting our view of the way things are.” When we finally wake up to the truth, “we will be shocked by two things: how much time we wasted searching and how easy it was after all.” Most important of all, this book gives the right message very explicitly: awakening is not a complicated business
Anam Thubten was born in Golok, eastern Tibet, and undertook Buddhist training in the Nyingma tradition at an early age. An accomplished Buddhist meditation teacher, Thubten speaks with profound insight and knowledge into the human condition, and illuminates the path of enlightenment for those willing to go to the heart of the matter.
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.
Saturday, February 15
Stevensville Choirs’ Valentine Show
The Stevensville High School Choirs will present a dessert concert on Saturday, February 15 with shows at 3 and 7 p.m. in the high school gym. Bring your sweety or just bring yourself to enjoy a delightful assortment of sweet bites for your stomach and blissful sound bytes for your ears! Cost is $8.00 for the general public and $5.00 for students. Tickets are available by calling Kyla at 777-5481, ext. 402 or from any Stevensville Choir student.
Golden Age dance
The Golden Age Club invites you to join them for a live band dance on Sunday, February 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Golden Age Club, 727 S. 5th St. in Hamilton. The is a non-alcoholic and non-smoking event. Potluck snack will be served at music break. Cost is $3.00 per person. For information on joining the organization call 240-9617.
