Photo contest
The Ravalli County Museum is now accepting entries in the 21st Annual Ernst Peterson “Photograph Montana” Contest. Last year there were over 450 photos for the judges to critique and award ribbons. This contest is for any photo taken in Montana, and photos are judged in age groups as well as amateur and professional. The submission deadline is Thursday, April 17. The entries will be on display in the Museum courtroom for the public to come in and enjoy and vote for their favorite. Pick up your application at the Museum or you can download one at www.brvhsmuseum.org.
Tax return preparation
AARP provides free preparation of tax returns to all ages, low to moderate income levels, every Thursday at the Stevensville Senior Center. Call 777-5681 for an appointment (sorry, no walk-ins).
Non-profit opp
The Daly Mansion Preservation Trust is accepting applications from non-profit organizations for a free or reduced rental of the Mansion grounds or the Mansion Trophy Room for a 2014 event, program or meeting. Applications are being accepted through mid-March. Two applicants will be selected and notifications sent by the end of March. For an application and/or more information, contact April at 363-6004 ext. 3#
Vendor opp
Bitterroot Eagles Auxiliary has a few tables remaining for a flea market on Saturday, April 5. Tables are 2½‘ x 5’ for $5.00 each. Vendors call 363-2763 to reserve your tables and for more information. Public welcome.
Eagles silent auction
Bitterroot Eagles have a silent auction at the Aerie Hall, 125 N 2nd St. Come in and put in your bid. Auction closes March 17. Public welcome.
Wednesday, February 19
Bitterroot College Advisory Council
The Advisory Council for Bitterroot College University of Montana will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 19 at 3 p.m. at the Human Resource Council Building Conference Room, 316 N. 3rd Street, Hamilton. The BC Advisory Council is a public board and welcomes members of the public to observe and participate at its meetings.
The meeting agenda and supplemental meeting materials are available on the BC website at Advisory Council Meetings, or by calling the BC Business Office at 375-0100.
Communication workshop
“Peaceful Communication, Courageous Connection” Workshop will be held Wednesday, February 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. facilitated by Marti Monroe and Dane Steck at the Center for Spiritual Living. Learn how to recognize unproductive communication patterns we may have and how to choose language that honors each other in our business and personal relationships, especially in conflict or stressful situations. The workshop is free; donations will be accepted. 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 at CSLbitterroot.org.
Thursday, February 20
Back Country Horsemen
Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen host their monthly meeting on Thursday, February 20, at the Corvallis School Cafeteria on Eastside Highway in Corvallis. Potluck dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. and the general meeting starts at 7:00. Program speakers are Eagle Scout candidates Tristan and Kailer Scott who will describe their proposed summer projects at Larry Creek and St. Mary’s Trail. If you are interested in keeping trails open for riders and hikers, consider attending – dates will be set for trail projects in 2014 and there should be a trail you would like to work on! For more information call Karen at 961-0101 or check the website at www.bchmt.org/bitterroot.
Trout Unlimited
Fishing Christmas Island is a holiday any time of the year, but Christmas in February? At the next Trout Unlimited meeting, BRTU board member and expert angler Greg Chester will explain why Christmas Island is considered one of the top angling spots in the world. The program will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 20 at the Hamilton Elks Club at 203 State Street. The meeting is open to the public and there is no charge for admission.
Christmas Island is a primitive and pristine atoll in Micronesia which you can’t get to by car. The island surrounds a beautiful lagoon with stunning beaches and the Micronesians are friendly with a very interesting culture. And the fishing! Just outside the lagoon are bonefish and a variety of trevally species, including the tackle-busting Giant Trevally. Greg has fished there several times and his slide show is the next best thing to going there. For information contact Greg at gchester55@aol.com or Ross Rademacher monkeykatet@gmail.com.
Stevensville COW
The Stevensville Town Council Committee of the Whole will meet on Thursday, February 20 at 7 p.m. to discuss proposed revisions to the Development Code.
PFLAG
PFLAG will meet on Thursday, February 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at a new location, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital, Conference Room C, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton. All future support meetings will be held at Marcus Daly and signs will be posted inside the building to direct visitors.
This month PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will host guest speaker Stephanie Cole from Missoula’s Open Aid Alliance. Stephanie is a HIV Prevention and Harm Reduction Specialist and the recipient of the 2013 Governor’s Award for HIV Prevention. Her presentation will focus on topics such as current HIV/AIDS research, prevalence, attitudes, laws and prevention. Snacks and refreshments will be served. PFLAG’s mission includes support, education, and advocacy for families, LGBT people, and allies. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in this vision and mission. For more information, find PFLAG on facebook or visit pflaghamiltonbitterroot.org or call 375-6573.
Friday, February 21
DCPL iPad, iPhone workshops
iPad and iPhone Workshops with one-to-one assistance will be held Friday, February 21 at the Darby Community Public Library. Workshops will cover syncing with iTunes, software updates, helpful tips, shortcuts, and more. Register for the 11 a.m. iPad class or the 1 p.m. iPhone class. One-to-One iPad and iPhone assistance may be scheduled in the afternoon. Register at the library or by phone at 821-4771.
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, February 21, at 12 noon at the Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be Theresa Manzella, candidate for HD85. The North Valley Pachyderm Club meets the first and third Friday of each month from 12 noon to 1 p.m. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
Valley Christian School Roundup
Valley Christian School’s first Preschool and Kindergarten Roundup for children entering preschool or kindergarten in the fall of 2014 is Friday, February 21 at 2 p.m. Bring your child and discover how Valley Christian School combines excellent academics and a Biblical Worldview to create an education for eternity. Valley Christian School is an interdenominational Christian school located at 2526 Sunset Lane in Missoula. RSVP is appreciated. Call 549-0482 ext. 0 for more information.
BPL Teddy Bear Sleepover
Teddy Bears are invited to a special sleepover at the Bitterroot Public Library to celebrate “I Love to Read” month. All young children may bring a teddy or other stuffed animal to a story time on Friday, February 21 from 5 to 6 p.m. There will be a special Teddy Bear story time with stories, movement activities, and crafts. Then the children will tuck their friend in for the night before heading home. The library folks will help your teddy have an awesome time exploring the library while it’s closed. Return the next day when your bear will be full of library-at-night tales.
All three public libraries in the Bitterroot Valley promote early literacy through story times and family nights. The activities are free and fun and give the children an opportunity to feel comfortable in the library. Families are exposed to early literature concepts that help children be ready to read when they enter school. Studies have found that investing in our youngest children is an investment in our future. Supporting early education can yield a return that far exceeds the return on most public spending. Studies document a return to society of more than $7 for every dollar invested in early education.
Call the Bitterroot Public Library 363-1670 for additional information.
Radical Reels Film Tour
The Radical Reels Film Tour to benefit BEAR will be held Friday, February 21 at 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Performing Arts Center.
Every year, the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival presents the wildly popular Radical Reels night – a presentation of the best high-adrenaline films entered into the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival competition. Inspired by the excitement of the Festival event, the Radical Reels Tour has been traveling with a selection of the hottest action sports films since 2004.
The Radical Reels Tour visits more than 65 locations across the US and Canada – from Vancouver to Vegas, Whitehorse to Winston-Salem, and dozens of happening towns in between. The majority of Radical Reels screenings take place in March and April, or September and October. Check our web listings for the latest show details. Many of the screenings, hosted by local organizations in each location, benefit not-for-profit and community organizations.
The Radical Reels program is made up of short, action-packed climbing, paddling, mountain biking, base jumping, skiing, snowboarding, and other adrenaline sport films.
Founded in 1993, BEAR’s (Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources) mission is to inspire youth to connect to their own potential, their community and the landscape through experiential and outdoor adventure programs. BEAR operates three outdoor-based mentoring programs that are free of charge to kids and families, holds a variety of summer camps including Farm Camps, Backpacking Camps, and Skateboarding Camps, and facilitates leadership and teamwork activities for area schools and other groups. In interactions with youth, families and the community BEAR mentors and other staff are dedicated to focusing on strengths, empowerment, connection and life skills.
Tickets are on sale at Chapter One Bookstore and Bob Wards in Hamilton and Rockin’ Rudy’s in Missoula. A pre-event Pint Night will be held Wednesday, February 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Higherground Brewery, 518 N. First in Hamilton with gear giveaways, sneak peeks of films, silent auction and music by Poor Henry. Call Diane Olsen, BEAR Executive Director, 363-5410, for more information.
Saturday, February 22
Travelers’ Rest Storytelling Series
Join Montana State Parks at Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo for the annual Winter Storytelling Series on Saturdays at 11am in February. Saturday, February 22 will feature Phillip Burgess of Missoula, a veteran, poet, storyteller, ex-gypsy, ex-therapist, ex-cabdriver, et cetera, who still nourishes and honors his eastern Montana roots. Philip will present the Humanities Montana Speakers Bureau program “Penny Postcards and Prairie Flowers.” Through poems and storytelling Burgess describes the journey of his grandmother Anna Lee and great aunt Dicka Lee from their family homestead in northern Minnesota to eastern Montana where they became homesteaders themselves and lived out their lives. He includes a litany of disasters, humor, illnesses, adventure, hard work and social chatter excerpted from hundreds of post cards mailed to Ann and Dicka from their women’s community back in Minnesota. The Storytelling Series is held at the Holt Visitor Center and Museum, 6717 Highway 12 W, Lolo. 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.
Democratic Central Committee
The Ravalli County Democratic Central Committee will meet Saturday, February 22 at 6 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Grange in Hamilton to share food, ideas and fun! Bring your favorite dish and liquid of choice. Call 360-8053 for more information.
Ragtime piano concert
Ragtime pianist Scott Kirby of Boulder, CO will be performing at the Stevensville Playhouse on Saturday, February 22 at 7 p.m. Opening for Scott will be local blues/jazz pianist Joshua Farmer from Missoula. Tickets are $10.00 at the door. There will be a pre-concert meet and greet the performers at The Hamilton House Pub in Victor from 4 to 6 p.m. For further information call 406-531-4699.
Sunday, February 23
Accordion Association
The 5 Valley Accordion Association invites one and all to join them Sunday, February 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge on 2nd St. in Hamilton. Listen and dance to accordions, guitars, banjos, drums, bass and more. Cost is $3 for members and $4 for nonmembers. For more information call 240-9617.
Monday, February 24
Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – Pancakes or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Cheese-filled breadsticks with marinara sauce, glazed carrots, mixed fruit, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Bagel with cream cheese or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Beef enchilada with lettuce & salsa, Spanish rice, pears, bread & butter, chocolate or regular milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Tuna salad sandwiches, tossed salad with ranch dressing, oranges, bread & butter, milk; Thursday: Breakfast – Pancake on a stick or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch- Chicken drumsticks, mashed potatoes & gravy, grapes bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Egg wraps or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Hot dogs, cheese sticks, mixed veggies, peaches, bread & butter, chocolate or regular milk.
Rotary Club
The next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club will be Monday, February 24 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. This month’s programs feature club members sharing their life stories. This meeting is open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.
Tuesday, February 25
Republican Women
Ravalli County Republican Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting and lunch on Tuesday, February 25 at 11:30 a.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Guest speaker will be Regina Plettenberg, County Clerk & Recorder. Ravalli County Republican Women meet the fourth Tuesday of each month.
County Spelling Bee
The Ravalli County Spelling Bee will be held Tuesday, February 25, at 7 p.m. at Hamilton Middle School Auditorium. Two contestants represent each of these schools (grades 5-8): Darby, Hamilton (including Daly), Corvallis, Victor, Stevensville, Lone Rock, and Florence Carlton — 14 contestants in all. Contestants will have already won 1st and 2nd place in their local school district bees. The winner of the Ravalli County Bee goes to the Montana State Bee in Billings in late March. Frank Laurence is the Director of the County Bee, Sarah Windsor is the Pronouncer, and Justice of the Peace Robin L. Clute is Honorary Judge.
