Wednesday, October 21

Enlightenment workshops
Lorri Colburn, author of “Breaking Free with A Course in Miracles” will present a series of workshops on October 21, 24 and 25. Lorri will use A Course in Miracles to help us understand and become aware of enlightenment and forgiveness exercises to remove the blocks to the awareness of enlightenment. She will also speak on forgiving our relationships and how to forgive instead of attack. Her presentations begin on Wednesday, October 21 at 9:45 a.m. where she will facilitate the Course in Miracles study group. On Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, she will lead a two-day workshop on Enlightenment Now and Forgiving our Relationships. The fee is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. All workshops will be presented at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 South 1st Street, Hamilton (north of Sears). For more information and to register call Selma at 381-6480.

Darby Small Business Wednesday
A town-wide open house featuring Darby’s businesses will take place Wednesday, October 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. Participating businesses will offer specials, discounts, refreshments, free product samples, and more! Start the evening at Main Street Yoga (115 N. Main St) for free drinks and appetizers and to pick up your official Darby Small Business Wednesday Guidebook.

Friday, October 23

Smart driver class
An AARP Smart Driver Class will be presented at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital, 1200 Westwood Drive in Hamilton, on Friday, October 23. The class starts at 6 p.m. and lasts 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 $15.00 for AARP members and $20.00 for non-members. There are no written exams or driving tests. 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 Bob Graler, Instructor, at 381-4428.

Eagles taco night
Tacos and more will be served Friday, October 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge, 125 N. 2nd, Hamilton. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, taco salads, order by item. Public welcome.

Family Fun Night
Friday Family Fun Nights are a great way for the entire family to spend an evening! Coming up October 23, November 20, January 22 and March 18 at the Bedford Building in Hamilton from 6 to 8 p.m., this is a free event! Great free dinner, games, a teen coffee house with free mochas and lattes, prizes and parenting tips, the Bitterroot Cares for Kids Network is offering families connection and fun four Fridays throughout the year. See you and yours at 223 S 2nd St in Hamilton. Call 532-9149 or go online to www.bckn.weebly.com for more information.

Harvest Dinner
The Victor Community Church will be hosting a Harvest Dinner on Friday, October 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. Menu will be fried chicken with all the trimmings. A free will offering is appreciated to help with projects for the year, to help people throughout the valley. There will be door prizes given throughout the evening.

Saturday, October 24

4-H Alumni yard sale
Ravalli County 4-H Alumni is having an indoor yard sale on Saturday, October 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Main St. in Hamilton. It will include a flea market, Christmas items, bake sale, pie and coffee. The Alumni supports the 4-H program and its members in many ways throughout the year. For questions or to offer donations (no clothing or large furniture, appliances or electronics) call Jean at 363-3206 or Pat at 961-3472.

Episcopal bazaar
The women of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will hold their “Classy Boutique” bazaar on Saturday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church located at 600 S. 3rd Street, Hamilton. Special at this year’s event will be the sale of their storehouse of quilting fabrics. The very wide array will be sold at very reasonable prices. This unusual event is expected to arouse much interest among local quilters. In addition, sewing items such as items such as bias tape, ribbons, ric-rac, laces, etc. will be offered at rock bottom prices. Craft tables will highlight hand built pottery, handmade afghans, card table covers, tote bags for wheelchairs and walkers, aprons, and many handy items such as casserole carriers and casserole warmers. Vintage linens and china and other period treasures will be of interest. Seasonal creations will celebrate Autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The baked goods table will delight the palate with diverse and tempting offerings. During the mid day, lunch will be available and throughout the day desserts and coffee will be available. Proceeds from the one day sale will benefit many worthwhile projects.

Empty Bowls benefit
An Empty Bowls Lunch will be held this Saturday, October 24 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Family Center in Stevensville. Proceeds from the lunch will benefit Pantry Partners Food Bank. This is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. People of all walks of life join together to work with the community and create awareness and raise money through food and soup. Homemade soups are usually served in homemade bowls. Here in the Bitterroot, instead of bowls, specially created cards designed by local artists KJ Kahnle and Karen Savory will be offered. Red Rooster Bakery of Hamilton is providing the bread. Flying E Ranch of Stevensville donated beef and Lifeline Farms donated butter. Boullia, Signal Grill, Spice of Life and Moose Creek BBQ all donated soup at the event held on October 17th at the Pastoral Life Center at St. Francis Church in Hamilton.

Course in Miracles workshop
Lorri Colburn, author of “Breaking Free with A Course in Miracles,” will present a weekend workshop on October 24 and 25. Lorri will use “A Course in Miracles” to help you understand and become aware of enlightenment and forgiveness exercises to remove the blocks to the awareness of enlightenment. She will also speak on forgiving your relationships and how to forgive instead of attack. On Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, she will lead a two-day workshop on Enlightenment Now and Forgiving our Relationships. The fee is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. This workshop will be presented at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 S. 1st Street, Hamilton (north of Sears). For more information and to register call Selma at 381-6480.

Gardening class
Molly Hackett, Master Gardener, will give a talk on “Growing Tomatoes Indoors” on Saturday, October 24 at 11 a.m. at The O’Hara Commons & Sustainability Center, 111 S. 4th, Hamilton. Over the past few years, Molly Hackett has been perfecting the art of growing tomatoes indoors without special equipment. She will share her techniques, tips and advice, enabling anyone with a bright window to grow tomatoes indoors. A starter kit will be included: seeds and containers. Call 369-6451 or email oharacommons@gmail.com for more information.

Stevensville Playhouse sponsor night
On Saturday, October 24, the Stevensville Playhouse will be hosting a volunteer/sponsor night starting at 6 p.m. 2015 has been an exciting year for the playhouse; “Mary Poppins” was a stunning success and “Never Ending Story” is set to open in just a few weeks. For more information call the theater at 777-2722.

Square dance club
Boots ‘n Calico Square Dance Club will hold a dance on Saturday, October 24 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Golden Age Hall, 717 S. 5th Street, Hamilton. Ray Dunbar will call a plus dance at 7 p.m. followed by a mainstream dance with plus tips at 7:30 p.m.

Stargazing event
Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) is hosting Stargazing with the Western Montana Astronomical Association, a Trekker Kids event at Travelers’ Rest State Park, 6717 Hwy 12 West, Lolo, on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.
The Corps of Discovery was asked to keep diligent records of their location on their journey so they could later make maps. Captain Clark used a chronometer and a compass to make many of his maps. But you can leave your chronometer at home because the Western Montana Astronomical Association will be providing telescopes to look through and space related activities.
This program is part of the Trekker Kids series and is open to kids in 2nd through 6th grade. Trekker Kids is a series of activities and programs for kids and families that celebrate the outdoors of western Montana and the rich history of the Travelers’ Rest site. Regular programs are held on Saturdays at 11 a.m. unless otherwise posted. The $2 fee goes to support further Trekker Kids programs.
For more information, call Loren Flynn or Kelly Byard at (406)-273-4253.

Museum Ghost Tours
Ghost Tours: Paranormal Investigations takes place on Saturdays, October 24 and 31 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Ravalli County Museum, 205 Bedford, in Hamilton. Become a paranormal investigator for the night, gathering evidence and exploring rooms in the Museum that are not on the regular tour! This event is done in the dark, with flashlights, EVP recorders, EMF detectors, thermal laser guns, spirit boxes and even pendulums for the more adventurous! Rune and Numerology readings available throughout the night for an additional $5 apiece. Tickets are $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Please, no one under the age of 14. This can be a frightening experience that is not suitable for children. For more information, call the Museum at 363-3338 or visit the website at www.ravallimuseum.org.

Sunday, October 25

Accordion association
Get your exercise the fun way! Dance to the 5 Valley Accordions on Sunday, October 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Rustic Hut in Florence. Refreshments available. $3 for members, $4 for non-members. This is the Halloween Party so add to the fun by wearing a costume if you wish.

Monday, October 26

Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – Waffles or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Pizza, peas & carrots, pineapple, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Bagels with cream cheese or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Taco salad with chips & salsa, mixed fruit, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Tuna salad sandwich, potato salad, apricots, bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – Pancake on a stick or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Spaghetti, tossed salad, grapes, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Ham bites or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Spooky Joes, Crescent Moons, Witches’ Smiles, bread & butter, milk.

Rotary Club
Tim Tackes, CHS (Cenex Harvest States) Northwest Regional Account Manager, will be speaking at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, October 26 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. The meeting is open to the public. For further Rotary Club information, call 363-2960.

Drum Circle
Join in the African Drum Circle on Monday, October 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bring your drum, rattles, and other instruments and be part of the fun. No drums? No worries, there are instruments to share. Drum Circle meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street (north of Sears), Hamilton. For information, contact Jerry at 381-7220 (jelb229@aol.com).

Wildfire and ecology discussion
Bitterrooters for Planning will host photographer, writer and ecologist George Wuerthner for a discussion of wildfire ecology and management policy on Monday, October 26 at 7 p.m. at the Bedford Building, 223 S. 2nd, in Hamilton.
Wuerthner, the ecological projects director at Foundation for Deep Ecology, has authored over two dozen books on wildfires, natural history and the environment. He has visited more than 380 wilderness areas, nearly 200 national parks and every national forest west of the Mississippi River.
Wuerthner will discuss wildfire management and how forest fires threaten homes in the wildland urban interface, including:
• Whether thinning and prescribed burns are really effective means of controlling wildfires
• Extreme weather conditions and how they foster intense wildfires
• How houses threatened by wildfire put out more heat than forest fires
• How to best protect your home from wildfire by reducing the flammability of the area immediately surrounding the structure – not by logging the forest
Following the smoky summer in the Bitterroot Valley, this discussion will be a timely exploration of wildfire’s potential impact on forest ecosystems, wildlife, air quality, recreational opportunities in valuable wild areas and your home.
The event is free and open to the public. The Bedford Building is located at 223 S. 2nd St. in Hamilton.
For more information, visit Bitterrooters for Planning on Facebook. Bitterrooters for Planning is a non-profit community organization that advocates for protection and stewardship of our living landscape.

Tuesday, October 27

Republican Women
Ravalli County Republican Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting and lunch on Tuesday, October 27 at 11:30 a.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Ravalli County Republican Women meet the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Kids’ winter first aid class
Children ages 8 and up, including teenagers, are invited to attend a winter First Aid and survival course on Tuesday, October 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library community room.
Michael Sharkey and Stephanie Mapelli, ski patrol volunteers, will lead this course and demonstrate important First Aid skills and survival techniques just in time for winter activities. This session is designed for families with kids ages 8 and up, including teenagers, and parents will learn a lot, too. There will be interactive demonstrations, informational handouts and more! Space is limited, due to the interactive nature of this program. Sign up in advance by calling 777-5061 or emailing maryw@northvalleylibrary.org North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.

Intro to I Ching
I Ching is a 3,000 year old Chinese text used for divination and self-awareness. Come and learn how to interpret I Ching readings to enhance and set intentions. This class is offered Tuesday, October 27 (every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of month) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Carriage House, 310 N. 4th Street, Hamilton. For more information call Jim at 360-1915.