Wednesday, August 10
Benefit sports physicals
Lifespan Family Medicine in Stevensville will hold a Sports Physical Clinic on Wednesday, August 10 from 1 to 5 p.m. 100% of the $25 cost will be donated to Stevensville School for multiple programs. Last year $1000 was donated and this year the clinic hopes to double it. All participating students will receive a free water bottle.
Thursday, August 11
Lone Rock Park Board
The Lone Rock Division of the Ravalli County Park Board will meet Thursday, August 11 at 7 a.m. at the Three Mile Fire Hall. The public is welcome.
Astronomy at NVP Library
International award-winning astronomer, Kevin Manning, returns to North Valley Public Library with his Star Tour astronomy program on Thursday, August 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. Manning has worked with NASA, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Now retired, he tours the country annually with his astronomy program. This year’s new presentation is “A Grand Tour of the Solar System & Beyond,” including a virtual tour of the sun, planets, moons and more! It will feature the latest information and photos available for Pluto, coming from the New Horizons spacecraft. The presentation will be followed by a guided viewing of the night sky through a powerful, custom-made telescope. This event is sponsored by the Rapp Family Foundation, and is suitable for families and children ages 8 and up, and adults of all ages. This event is free to the public, but space is limited. Advanced sign up is required. To register, call the library at 777-5061 or email: maryw@northvalleylibrary.org.
Fellowship Club
The Bitterroot Public Library’s Fellowship Club will meet on Thursday, August 11 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the book: “A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony With the Way Things Are” by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell.
In this inspiring book, Byron Katie takes her husband’s sturdy and pensive translation of Lao-Tzu’s Tao Te Ching – the ancient classic text written more than 2,500 years ago and most widely published work next to the Bible – and uses it as a launch pad for her own musings on the experience of being human in our times.
The author offers her idiosyncratic and thought-provoking commentary on the chapters of the Tao and its wonderful blend of practical tips and paradoxes concerning the openness that is characteristic of Lao-Tzu’s vision of reality. According to this view, everything is provisional and ephemeral and no need exists to divide the world into good things and bad things or to separate oneself from others. A lover of “what is” discards the illusion of control, embraces a freedom that comes with unbounded joy, and opens doors to a new way of being where, because “there’s no story, no past or future, nothing to worry about, nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to be, it’s all good.”
Byron Katie is an American speaker and author who teaches a method of self-inquiry known as “The Work of Byron Katie” or simply as The Work. She is married to the writer and translator Stephen Mitchell and is the founder of Byron Katie International (BKI), an organization that includes The School for the Work and Turnaround in Ojai, California.
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.
Friday, August 12
Hour of Babel at the Library
You’re invited to a lively and respectful discussion and dialog on a variety of topics and ideas that will take place at the North Valley Public Library. This pilot program is hosted by Scott Butler and the goal is to meet monthly with a new topic each session. The first session will meet Friday, August 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Library with the discussion topic “Should the draft be reinstated?” The Library’s Hour of Babel is in reference to the Biblical Tower of Babel in Genesis, where people stopped understanding each other. Come to hear your neighbors’ views and gain a deeper understanding on topics in this roundtable. The idea of the forum is to enjoy interesting conversations and hear different viewpoints. Participants agree on a specific topic to discuss and debate. Each person is given equal right to participate.
Come with your ideas for future discussions. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville.
Riverfest Days
Riverfest Days, hosted by the Bitter Root Water Forum, takes August 12 and 13 at River Park in Hamilton. With a 5K run/walk, a river clean up, and a festival, there is something for everyone. For more information call 375-2272 or visit www.brwaterforum.org.
Saturday, August 13
Florence trail cleanup
The Florence Civic Club is hosting a Bitterroot Trail Clean Up Day on Saturday, August 13. Meet at the Florence Fire Hall at 9 a.m. for free pancakes and then get to work! Bring gloves and any tools you want; bags and safety vests are supplied. If you see an area of the Bitterroot Trail that needs TLC, or if you have questions, call Ann 406-403-6491.
South Valley Quilt Show
The annual South Valley Quilt Show will be held Saturday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Darby Community Clubhouse. There are 120 quilt entries in 11 categories, some for sale, raffle quilts, bake sale, live music, demonstrations and fabulous fabric, pattern, arts and craft vendors. Admission is $1 or a non-perishable food donation for the Darby Bread Box food pantry. Bring your family and friends!
Vallance memorial
A memorial event honoring Jack Vallance will be held on Saturday, August 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Hangar Cafe at
the Hamilton Airport. Come and share remembrances of Jack. For information call Tawna at 406-239-2419.
Sunday, August 14
Center for Spiritual Living
“Nature and Beauty, What Keeps us Sane” will be presented by Kay and Tony Rasch on Sunday, August 14 at 10 a.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. First Street, Suite C in Selway Commons in Hamilton. This dynamic duo will dialogue about Tony’s adventures walking from Mexico to Canada, and from Iowa to Salt Lake along the Mormon Handcart Trail following a diary from the 1850s and Kay’s ease with making beauty part of her life’s work. Meditation is at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments and conversation follow at 11:15 a.m. For further information call Dave 381-2355 or visit CSLbitterrott.org.
Monday, August 15
Playhouse auditions
The Stevensville Playhouse will hold auditions for the musical “Tom Sawyer” on Monday and Tuesday, August 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. There are parts for all ages. The show runs Oct. 7-23.
Nonviolent Communication Discussion Group
Learn to communicate in a non-violent way at a discussion group on Monday, August 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (ongoing twice monthly on first and third Mondays) at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street, Hamilton (north of Sears). This discussion group is based on the book “Nonviolent Communication‚ A Language of Life” by Marshall Rosenberg. 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. For more information call Salim at 241-1292 or visit ww.CSLBitterrootorg.
Tuesday, August 16
Tuesday at Twelve concert series
The Jean Matthews Tuesday at Twelve free summer concert series is held every Tuesday at 12 noon in front of the Ravalli County Museum at 205 Bedford in Hamilton.
The schedule is: August 16 – Tin Cup; August 23 – Joan Zen.
For more information contact Russ Lawrence at 363-1279.
Laughter Yoga class
Certified laughter yoga instructor Jacqueline Locke will conduct a free session on Tuesday, August 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the North Valley Public Library Community Room. Laughter yoga is a practice started in India in 1995. It lets people experience the medical benefits of laughter. Sessions are based on medical research indicating that the human body apparently cannot tell the difference between real laughter and fake laughter. Laughter Yoga combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing, movement and stretching. Benefits are reported to include a boost to the immune system, increased oxygen intake, increased “feel good” hormones and reduced stress hormones. To get the full benefits, one must laugh heartily for a sustained period of time, about 15 minutes. Clapping and chanting, breathing, childlike playfulness and exercises are the four elements of laughter yoga. The session is open to anyone who can laugh, of any fitness or mobility level. Laughter yoga is non-political, non-religious, non-judgmental and non-competitive. Bring a friend, make friends, improve health, reduce stress in the body, increase confidence, decrease anxiety and depression while laughing and having fun! For more information contact Belinda Alkula at 777-5061. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville.
Wednesday, August 17
Bitterroot Cares for Kids
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES) will be explored at the Bitterroot Cares for Kids Network’s event ACES in the Bitterroot on Wednesday, August 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, 327 Fairgrounds in Hamilton. ACES and resiliency are of interest to anyone who works in our communities in education, social services, health care services, public health, criminal justice, faith-based organizations and legislation as well as parents and caregivers. Visit www.bckn.weebly.com for further information and to register by August 15 or call 532-9149.