Thursday, June 19
Back Country Horsemen
Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen begin the first in their series of outdoor summer meetings on Thursday, June 19, at the Rock Creek Horse Camp (site 3) at Lake Como. Potluck dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and the general meeting starts at 7:00. The main topic of discussion will be upcoming summer trail projects and campouts. Guests are welcome and for directions to the horse camp or more information, call Karen at 961-0101 or check the website at www.bchmt.org/bitterroot.
Friday, June 20
Museum Rummage Sale
The Stevensville Historical Museum Annual Rummage Sale will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 20 and 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 517 Main, Stevensville. Donations of clean used rummage items are still needed for this fundraiser. Donation items can be delivered to the Museum on Thursday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This fundraiser has traditionally been one of the most successful ways to raise funds to support the Museum’s goals of collecting and preserving the history of Stevensville and the surrounding Bitterroot Valley. To arrange for the donation of rummage sale items or to volunteer for the Museum, call 777-5126 or 777-3201.
Driver safety class
An AARP Driver Safety Class (formerly ’55 Alive’) will be presented on Friday, June 20 at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton. The class will begin at 9 a.m. and last approximately four hours. While this safe driving strategies class is designed for drivers age 50 and over, all drivers are welcome. The class fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. There are no written exams or driving tests and, Montana mandates an insurance discount for qualified graduates. Pre-registration is advised. To sign up, contact Jones-Korman Insurance at 363-6583 or, for further information, call Thom Ainsworth, District Coordinator at 369-0149.
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, June 20 at 12 noon at The Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be Sheriff Chris Hoffman. The North Valley Pachyderm Club meets the first and third Friday of each month and is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
Sons of Norway
Bitterrootdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway, will hold a free cultural camp on Friday and Saturday, June 20 and 21 at 10 a.m. at the Cheese Factory Garage on the northwest edge of Corvallis. Carol Peterson announced that there will be Norwegian cooking instruction, classes for rosemaling and crafts, games, songs and reading. Adults and children can attend for all or part of the festivities, including overnight camping, and there are RV hookups behind the garage. The Lodge received a grant to have the camp, for anyone interested in Norwegian culture and as always, the general public is always welcome. Contact Carol at 961-3362 for more information.
Golden Age dance
Come join the young at heart on Friday, June 20 for their live band dance from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at 727 S. 5th St. in Hamilton. This will be a non-alcoholic and non-smoking environment with potluck snacks at music break. Cost is $3.00 a person. For info or if interested in joining the organization, call 240-9617.
Saturday, June 21
Garden Club plant sale
The Hamilton Garden club will hold its annual plant sale on Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. under the Bell McCall Ford Company canopy at 300 West Main. The sale will feature plants – annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs, houseplants, etc. – books, pots, gardening tools and miscellaneous gardening items, and gardening gloves. Donations of plants, gardening items, pots and tools are being accepted. For more information, call 363-2198 or 961-1354.
Humane Assn. art sale
Bitter Root Humane Association previously appreciated art sale, a unique and diverse display of quality artistry including paintings, prints, home and garden décor all at affordable prices, will take place Saturday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 315 S. 3rd St., Hamilton (near the farmers market). There will also be a raffle for an amazing quilt currently on display at Robbins Hallmark on Main Street in Hamilton. Raffle tickets can be purchased at Robbins, Chapter One, The Paper Clip, The Animal Shelter and at the art sale for $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00.
Western Heritage Days parade
Sign up now for the Western Heritage Days Parade, to be held Saturday, June 21 at 11 a.m. in downtown Stevensville. All entries with a western or historic theme are welcome, including cars, truck and tractors 50 years old or older. Cash prizes will be awarded in a number of categories this year, as well as ribbons. Download entry forms at www.mainstreetstevensville.com or call 777-3773 for more information.
Pollinator Party
Celebrate National Pollinator Week at a Pollinator Party on Saturday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sam’s Spade in Hamilton. Lots of helpful information will available to help bring your garden and landscape into balance by enlisting the help of pollinators and other beneficial insects. Learn the importance of pollinators, practices that threaten their populations and ways you can encourage them to work for you in your landscape. Create beauty, balance and a bountiful garden when you learn to identify, attract and appreciate these tiny allies. Help construct a Pollinator Palace! This is free of charge and is a great family-friendly event.
Cub Scout signups
Would you like to find out what cub scouts offers your young son in grades 1st-5th? Come learn more at Pack 4962 recruitment event on Saturday, June 21 at Kiwanis Park in Hamilton beginning at 11:30 a.m. Free hot dogs, games, activities and the boys can earn badges. For more information, contact Tom at 363-0012. Parents must attend.
‘Ladies over 90’ Tea
The Soroptimist International of Hamilton is serving its 9th Annual Tea for “Ladies over 90” on Saturday, June 21 at 2 p.m. at Sapphire Lutheran Homes main dining room at 501 N. 10th St., Hamilton. The lovely surroundings are further enhanced by fresh floral arrangements, many participants wearing their favorite hats and chatting with lifelong friends, while soft harp music wafts in the background. All ladies over 90 years of age are welcome. Call Kathy Sital at the Council on Aging, 363-5690, for more information.
French music program
The Trilllium Brass Trio will perform on Saturday, June 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Taste of Paris, 109 N 4th Street, Hamilton. The trio will play a whole French program, featuring many folk tunes, film songs, and Edith Piaff songs.
Proprietor Laurence Markarian invites everyone to come enjoy this traditional French holiday, “Fete de la Musique.” For more information call Elliott Oppenheim, 273-4212 or Laurence Markarian, 369-5875.
Midsummer Night’s Barbecue
Bitterrootdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway, and the Tired Iron Antique Tractor Club will hold a Midsummer Night’s Eve barbeque on Saturday, June 21 starting at 6 p.m. at Summerdale Park, on Quast Lane, northeast of Corvallis (one mile north of Corvallis, then east a couple of miles on Quast Lane). The Lodge will provide hamburgers, brats and hot dogs, as well as drinks and service. Members and visitors are invited to bring a side dish, and their own meat for the barbeque, if desired. Bring a chair in case the picnic benches are filled.
Midsummer Night’s Eve, (St. John’s Eve) is celebrated all over the northern latitudes on June 21st, in recognition of the longest day of the year. Far north, the sun is up all night and there are bonfires and feasting along fjords and lakes. The program on Saturday will be informal, with the burning of a “Norwegian Candle” to top off the evening and a chance for children to make straw witches and toss them into the fire to drive away evil.
The Tired Iron Club invites anyone with a “mysterious” tool or machine part to have it identified and put on display. There will also be examples of Norwegian arts and crafts. The event is open to everyone and visitors are cordially invited.
Forest Moon Walks
Once a month, as the full moon glows, it seems safe to venture out into the dark while the moon makes magnificent shadows across the landscape. You can still smell the wildflowers, feel the wind blowing through the trees, hear the water running through the creek bed, and sense the bustling nocturnal life.
For the 14th year, the Bitterroot National Forest and Bitter Root RC&D presents a series of interpretive Moon Walks from June to October. These free, educational walks are based on the book “Walk When the Moon is Full”, by Francis Hammerstrom about her children and the nature walks they took every month under the full moon.
You are invited to join interpreters and naturalists for the 2014 series. The presentations begin at 7 p.m. on the Saturday closest to the official full moon and last approximately 1-2 hours. Presenters include foresters, biologists, scientists, historians, poets, storytellers, and everything under the sun, or in this case – moon. Dress in layers because the weather in the Forest is often different than it is in town. Guests are also encouraged to bring a lawn chair, and a jacket.
Here are the topics that will be covered in the 2014 series:
Saturday, June 21 – Horse 101 Moon at Blodgett Campground. This educational program will be on things you don’t know about a horse, but probably should. The program will cover horse psychology, anatomy, evolution, history of the horse in the west, horse trivia, what to do (and not do) when you meet a horse on the trail, and other equine topics. Join Fred Weisbecker with the Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen for this fun and memorable presentation.
Saturday, July 12 – Native Plant Moon at Hieronymus Park in Hamilton. Learn all about plant identification, native plants and insects, and the role they play in a healthy ecosystem. Join a botanist from the Bitterroot National Forest for a walk through the park to observe plants, insects, and wildlife. There will also be information on noxious weeds and ways to help minimize their establishment.
Saturday, August 9 – Cold Water Moon at Kiwanis River Park in Hamilton. Stroll through the park and learn about the importance of riparian vegetation to the Bitterroot River. Just what is “riparian vegetation”? What roles does it play in watershed health? How can it keep our water cold? Learn the answers to these questions and much more during this fun and educational event! Hosted by the Bitter Root Water Forum.
Saturday, September 13 – Photography Moon at Blodgett Overlook Trail in Hamilton. Photographs make some of the best memories from our journeys outside. Bring your camera and tripod and join a few local Bitterroot photographers on a hike up Blodgett Overlook to learn how to take your photos up a notch, specifically focused on outdoor photography. Capture the perfect landscape, colorful sunrise, hiking trail, wildflower, or star-filled sky.
Saturday, October 25 – Ghost Moon at Wood’s Cabin at Lake Como near Darby. Enjoy ghost stories at the historic Wood’s Cabin on the shores of Lake Como. Meet historic Bitterroot Valley ghosts and hear stories of their lives and some of their untimely deaths. Costumes encouraged!
The 2014 Moon Walk Series is sponsored by the Bitterroot National Forest and Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D). For more information including directions to events, visit www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot and click on Special Places or call 363-7100.
Sunday, June 22
Center for Spiritual Living
The Center for Spiritual Living will host Brett Lewis presenting “Toltec Recapitulation – regaining the self you left in the past” on Sunday, June 22 at 10 a.m. Brett and his wife Kim are co-owners of Montana Family Acupuncture in Hamilton. Music with LeGrande Harvey. Children’s program provided. Refreshments and conversation follow at 11:15 a.m. Come early for Meditation 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.
Monday, June 23
Church day camp
A free day camp will be held June 23-27 at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 216 College, Stevensville. The camp, geared for kids 4-12 years old, is themed “All Things New” and will explore the creation in the past and creation that is still going on today. Camp hours are 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 pm. each day with lunch and snacks included. Registration and health forms are required for each camper. To sign up stop by the church or call 777-5443 for more information.
Rotary Club
Dianne Olsen, Executive Director of Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources (BEAR), will be speaking at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, June 23 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. The meeting is open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.
Tuesday, June 24
Republican Women’s Club
Ravalli County Republican Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting and lunch on Tuesday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Guest speaker will be Sheriff Chris Hoffman. Ravalli County Republican Women meet the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Democratic Mule Team
The Democrats will be holding their monthly Mule Team Meeting on
Tuesday, June 24 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the TownHouse Inn, west of the Exxon on 93 in Hamilton. The group will share information and talk about summer plans. Two more candidates will talk and answer questions. Discussions are always stimulating. Newcomers are welcomed and all opinions are valued. As usual there will be Sub sandwiches for $5. For more information call Becky at 369-5210.
Wednesday, June 25
Drum Circle
The Center for Spiritual Living invites everyone to Drum Circle on Wednesday, June 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bring your drum, rattles, and other instruments and come be part of the fun. No drum? No worries. There will be plenty of extras. 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.