Free firewood for veterans
Free firewood for veterans is available through the Valley Veterans Service Center. Call the VVSC to register at 363-9839 and let them know how much you need, the veteran’s name, phone number and if you can haul the wood yourself (preferred).

Health coverage enrollment assistance
Sapphire Community Health is excited to announce that free, one-on-one, local help is available to individuals who need assistance signing up for health care coverage. The deadline is quickly approaching for open enrollment in the marketplace which ends January 31st. Sapphire can also assist you in your application for Medicaid expansion which will be ongoing. For most Montanans, financial assistance is available to help make plans affordable. To get your questions answered or to schedule your appointment, call Kate Duggan, Community Outreach Coordinator and Certified Application Counselor, at 541-0032 ext.245 or e-mail kduggan@sapphirechc.org. Sapphire Community Health offers quality healthcare services to all of Ravalli County and is located at 303 North 3rd, Hamilton.

Food drive
Valley Drug & Variety in Stevensville is collecting donations of non-perishable food items that will go to Pantry Partners Food Bank. Donations qualify donors for prize drawings. Food donations will be accepted through Tuesday, December 22 at 7 p.m.

Thursday, December 17

A jewelry sale to benefit the North Valley Public Library will be held Thursday, December 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the Library at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. Find unique one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for yourself, your family and friends, and have a relaxing and fun afternoon. Toba Winston, owner of “It’s Raining Rhinestones” will be selling her beautiful, super-affordable, authentic 1920-1980 vintage jewelry. After many years in business Toba is retiring. To celebrate this happy event, she is selling all of her amazing jewelry at half-price. In addition to finding great bargains, 50 percent of the proceeds of all sales will be donated to the Friends of the Library. Bring a friend and come early to get the best selection, gift boxes included.

Back Country Horsemen
Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen, a group of folks dedicated to keeping trails open for you, host their monthly meeting on Thursday, December 17, at the Corvallis School Cafeteria on Eastside Highway in Corvallis. Potluck dinner is served at 6:30 and the general meeting starts at 7 p.m. A silent auction and the annual membership drive will take place, and all members who have paid their dues for 2016 are eligible to win raffle prizes. Guests are welcome, and for more information call Karen at 961-0101 or check the website at www.bchmt.org/bitterroot.

HHS Bands Winter Concert
The Hamilton High School Bands will present their annual Winter Concert on Thursday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the HHS PAC. The concert will feature the Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and the Symphonic Band performing traditional band music as well as some holiday favorites. The concert is open to the public free of charge and everyone is invited to attend. For more information call 375-6060 ext. 5216.

Friday, December 18

North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, December 18 at 12 noon at The Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. This will be the Christmas Lunch with a white elephant gift exchange. There will not be a meeting on January 1. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.

‘Night in Bethlehem’
Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Victor will be hosting its third annual “Night in Bethlehem” on Friday, December 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. featuring live music, artisan craft demonstrations, a live nativity, and fresh bread, soup and hot cider. Step back in time and enjoy a fun, family-friendly evening at Crossroads Christian Fellowship 1297 Meridian Road, Victor. Call 961-5299 for more info.

Vietnam-era veterans potluck
The Bitterroot Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will host a Christmas potluck on Friday, December 18 starting at 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Senior Center, 820 N. 4th St., Hamilton. Potluck is for all Vietnam era veterans. The Chapter will supply turkey, ham and mashed potatoes; bring a side dish or dessert. Bring your family. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration. During the Vietnam war about 8 million people served in the military and the Chapter estimate several thousand of these veterans live in the Bitterroot. This is a chance to socialize, reunite and connect and think about our future as veterans of the Vietnam era.

Dragon Brigade benefit
A Cabin Fever Christmas party will be held Friday, December 18 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Bedford Building in Hamilton. There will be live music by Cabin Fever, craft beer and wine, holiday treats and hors d’oeuvres as well as dancing and family fun. Proceeds will benefit the Bitterroot Dragon Brigade competitive martial arts group. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at The Canyons Athletic Club. Call 360-5420 for more information.

Saturday, December 19

Lone Rock Park Board
The Lone Rock Division of the Ravalli County Park Board will hold their December meeting on Saturday, December 19 at 7 a.m. at the Three Mile Fire Hall. Visitors are welcome.

Hamilton Christmas Bird Count
The 29th annual Hamilton Christmas Bird Count will take place Saturday, December 19. Meet at The Teller Education Building on Chaffin Lane north of Corvallis at 7:30 a.m. to form groups to identify and count birds in a 177 square mile circle in the Hamilton vicinity. Anyone is welcome. Meet back at the Education Building for the traditional chili and Oreos lunch and reorganize to cover any areas missed in the morning.
For information about the count call John Ormiston at 360-9530. If you feed birds, can identify the species and would like to participate in the Feeder Watcher effort, call Colleen Powell at 363-2116.

Christmas story time
Santa’s Helpers will be reading Christmas stories to area children under the tree at Valley Drug & Variety (Kohl Building foyer) in Stevensville on Saturday, December 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. Each child will receive a treat after the reading. Bring your camera and enjoy the holiday spirit!

Eagles Christmas Party
The Eagles Lodge, Fraternal Order of Eagles, located at 125 N. 2nd, Hamilton, will host its annual Community Children’s Christmas Party on Saturday, December 19 at 1 p.m. in the Aerie Hall. The party is for all kids 12 and under. There will be crafts, music, and a visit from Santa.

Square dance
Boots ‘n’ Calico’s Christmas Party Dance will be Saturday, December 19 at the Golden Age Center, 727 S. 5th, Hamilton. The square dance will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. with round dancing between square tips. Both callers, Ray Dunbar and Barry Bartlette, will call a mainstream dance. All square dancers are invited to attend and visitors are welcome. Come out to see if square dancing might be for you. It is great exercise and lots of fun.

Monday, December 21

Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Sloppy Joes, taters, peaches, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Muffins or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, chips, strawberry cups, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday: Christmas Break – No school

Rotary Club
The Corvallis High School Choir, under the direction of Nancy Brown, will be performing at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club on Monday, December 21 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. This meeting is open to the public. There will be no Rotary meeting on Monday, December 28. For further Rotary Club information, call 363-2960.

UFOs and ETs discussion
DVDs and discussion about UFOs and ETs will take place Monday, December 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library meeting room in Hamilton. DVDs from the International UFO Congresses will be shown. Recorded speakers will discuss ‘our’ truth embargo and how other countries have disclosed their sightings and much more. Call 381-5032 for more info.

Nonviolent Communication Discussion Group
Nonviolent Communication Discussion Group will meet Monday, December 21 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (ongoing on the first and third Mondays of the month) at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street, Hamilton (north of Sears). Learn to communicate in a non-violent way. Peace and violence starts within each individual and is expressed by the way we communicate with one another. This discussion group is based on the book “Nonviolent Communication—A Language of Life” by Marshall Rosenberg. Come and learn Marshall’s simple technique to communicate and build healthy, strong relationships in a non-violent, peaceful, and respectful way. Purchase the book from your favorite book source. Free will offering taken. For more information call Salim at 241-1292.

Wednesday, December 23

Zen Buddhism class
Zen Buddhism class takes place Wednesday, December 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (second and fourth Wednesdays). Learn the fundamental teachings of the Buddha as taught by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh including exercises of mindful breathing, listening, walking, eating; the Eightfold Path with the basic teaching on Mindfulness; the Five Precepts for living in the world; and the Heart Sutra. Led by Jill Davies (642-3601). Free will offering accepted. The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 1720 N. First Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton.

Thursday, December 24

Christmas Eve service
The United Methodist-American Baptist Church invites you to a service of Candles and Carols for Christmas Eve, on Thursday December 24 at 7 p.m. at 211 N. Sixth Street, Hamilton. Bring your relatives, friends and neighbors and join in the celebration of the night Jesus was born.