Wednesday, February 22
UM Job Fair
The University of Montana will host the 28th Annual Big Sky Employment Fair on Wednesday, February 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. Participants can meet with recruiters from local, regional, national and international companies. More than 100 recruiters from over 70 employers are expected. The fair, sponsored by the UM Office of Career Services, is free and open to all UM students and alumni. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The event will offer recruiting opportunities for students in all academic disciplines, including professional full-time and part-time positions, as well as summer jobs and internships. Many recruiters will return Thursday, Feb. 23, to interview students and alumni for open positions in their organizations. Students and alumni can go online to http://www.umt.edu/career/CareerFairs/bsef/default.php to view a complete schedule and list of companies attending the fair and add themselves to a mailing list. Through their Griz eRecruiting account, students also can see who will be on campus recruiting this semester and sign up for on-campus interviews being held the day after the fair and throughout spring semester. For more information call Career Services at 243-2022.
Zen Buddhism Class
An ongoing class on Zen Buddhism will be held on Wednesday, February 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (2nd and 4th Wednesdays) at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. First Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. Over the past two years, the group has studied the basic sutras of the Buddha as translated by Thich Nhat Hanh, and now is listening to talks by various Buddhist teachers, including Anam Thubten, Tara Brach, and others. Come listen, discuss, and then sit in meditation for a time. The class is led by Jill Davies (642-3601) by donation. For more information visit the website: CSLBitterroot.org.
Thursday, February 23
Stevi town council
The Stevensville Town Council will meet Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall, 206 Buck, for a public hearing on a proposed budget amendment to fund the growth policy update. A regular meeting will follow at 7 p.m. Agenda items include discussion/decision on:
- Resolution No. 399, A Resolution Authorizing Amendment of the Town of Stevensville FY16/17 Budget for Acceptance of Growth Policy Update Grant Funds
- Resolution No. 400, A Resolution Establishing a Special Fund For The Benefit and Beautification of Town of Stevensville Parks
- Approval of Airport Land Lease & Landlord’s Estoppel Certificate for Donald Whitehair, Jr.
- Planning & Zoning Board’s Request to Solicit the Services of Contract Zoning Administration From a Neighboring Community
- Changing Regular Council Meeting Nights from Thursdays to Accommodate the Fire Department Training
- Council’s Consent to the Mayor’s Appointment of Roxanne Wagner as the Human Resource Representative
- Approval of the Part-Time Building Inspector Position Description.
Victor park board
The next meeting of the Victor Park District will be Thursday, February 23 at 7 p.m. at Farmers State Bank in Victor. Members will be discussing construction of the new restroom in Victor Park and upcoming spring and summer projects. There are many opportunities for volunteer activities to help keep Victor’s parks looking nice. If you are interested, but cannot come to the meeting, call Roger at 961-3953.
Friday, February 24
Driver safety course
An AARP Driver Safety Class will be presented on Friday, February 24 at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital, located at 1200 Westwood Drive in 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.
Crop Rotation Clinic
It’s time to plan your garden and the folks at The O’Hara Commons & Sustainability Center are here to help you on Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25. Are you are designing a new vegetable garden plot or trying to figure out the best crop rotation in an existing garden? The center will have all the tools, references and experienced gardeners on hand to help navigate you through this process. Topics covered will include companion planting, attracting pollinators, and how to maximize yield through implementing vertical gardening. Bring a map of your garden space or a plan of last year’s garden and any questions you have. Pencils, erasers and extra paper will be provided. Come to the Lunch Time Learning on Friday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. or on Saturday anytime from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The O’Hara Commons & Sustainability Center is locate at 111 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, phone 369-6451.
Friday Fish Fry
Stevensville Knights of Columbus Council 13093 will be hosting their ever-popular annual Friday Fish Fry starting March 3, and continuing on March 10, March 31 and April 7 at the St. Mary Family Center. This is a family affair and is open to the public at 5 p.m. What a great opportunity to get out of the house and let the Knights cook for you while you visit with your neighbors and friends! The meal consists of two battered fish filets, coleslaw, green beans, rolls, French fries, mac & cheese, dessert, coffee and lemonade. Cost is $9 adults; children 10 and under eat free. Proceeds fund local hunger relief programs and the Historic Mission. For more information contact Gary at 777-3638.
Hoffman benefit
A chili feed and silent auction will be held on Friday, February 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Light of the Valley Church, 103 N. Kootenai Creek Road, Stevensville, to benefit Cathy Hoffman in her struggle with throat cancer. Cathy is well-known in the Stevensville community. She worked at the Country Store for eight years helping customers with one thing or another, doling out much sage advice concerning chickens, horses, other critters and occasionally about life in general. Many of you have employed her in taking care of your critters while out of town. Cathy was diagnosed last spring with throat cancer and will be undergoing a rigorous schedule of proton radiation at a Seattle hospital. The expenses of this treatment, lodging while taking treatment five days a week, and keeping things afloat here at home, are going to quickly deplete her finances. Bring your family out for chili and dessert, buy a few raffle tickets, and bid on some awesome silent auction items to raise some money to help lighten Cathy’s load a bit! Everyone is welcome.
Winter Raptor Identification Workshop
Winter is a great time for observing a large diversity and abundance of raptors in the Bitterroot Valley. The Bitterroot Audubon Society is offering a Winter Raptor ID Workshop. One 2-hour evening class and one half-day field trip will incorporate the natural history, identification, conservation, behavior, habitat requirements, and migration ecology of all hawks, eagles, harriers, and falcons known to occur in the Bitterroot Valley. The classroom session will take place on Friday evening, February 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Forest Service building in Hamilton (park and enter in rear of building). The field trip will take place on Saturday, February 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The instructor will be Steve Hoffman, former Executive Director of Montana Audubon and founder of HawkWatch International. Steve’s considerable expertise and passion for raptors will be enthusiastically shared with all participants. The cost for the workshop is $20 for Bitterroot Audubon members and $25 for non-members. Preregistration is required, and this workshop is limited to 25 participants. Go to Bitterroot Audubon’s website for more information and to register: www.bitterrootaudubon.org/monthly-programs.
Sunday, February 26
Center for Spiritual Living
“Learning from a Box of Crayons” featuring Star Jameson, a retired social worker and mindfulness activist, will be presented on Sunday, February 26 at 10 a.m., at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. Com hear how we have what it takes and we can work with how we are right now. Our work is in embracing each lesson from the box of life. Meditation is at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments and meaningful conversation follow at 11:15 a.m. For further information, call Dave Schultz at 381-2355 or visit CSLbitterroot.org.
Accordion club
Five Valley Accordion will hold a Dance and Jam on Sunday, February 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rustic Hut in Florence. Admission is $4 for members, $5 at the door. Dance away the winter blues.
Monday, February 27
Rotary Club
Gavin Ricklefs, of the Bitterroot Land Trust, will be speaking
at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, February 27 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
African Drum Circle will be held Monday, February 27 (2nd and 4th Mondays) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street (north of Sears), Hamilton. Bring your drum, rattles, and other instruments and be part of the fun. No drums? No worries, there are instruments to share. By donation. For information, contact Jerry at 381-7220 (jelb229@aol.com) visit CSLBitterroot.org.
Fish & Wildlife Assn.
The Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association will hold its general meeting on Monday, February 27 at 7 p.m. at the Daly Leach meeting room, 1010 W. Main St. Hamilton. Guest speaker will be Kurt Alt, biologist with the Wild Sheep Foundation. Kurt will be presenting an overview of the recent Sheep Symposium, “Sheep in Montana, Domestic and Wild.” Meetings are open to the public and visitors are welcome.
Tuesday, February 28
Republican Women
Ravalli County Republican Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting and lunch on Tuesday, February 28 at 11:30 a.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Guest speakers will be Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli County Clerk & Recorder, and Pat Earnest, speaking about the special election coming up to replace Rep. Zinke. Regina will also answer questions concerning this election. Ravalli County Republican Women meet the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Toastmasters
Bitterroot Toastmasters Club membership is open to community members interested in self-development. Leadership, meeting facilitation, and speech skills are practiced during weekly meetings. Bitterroot Toastmasters invites you its Table Topics Extravaganza on Tuesday, February 28 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Senior Center, 820 N. 4th. Each participant will craft a two-minute “In-the-moment” speech about a surprise topic. Three Toastmasters will reveal a series of in-the-moment speech opportunities so that all members and guests can participate. This is an exciting meeting intended to help us think on our feet! If you are a business leader this style of in-the-moment speech can truly “up your game.” To find out more about becoming a member visit http://bitterroot.toastmastersclubs.org or call Douglas Taylor, Vice President of Membership, at 406-381-3214.
Pancake supper
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 600 S. Third Street in Hamilton, will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday on February 28 with its traditional Pancake Supper. Serving hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. in the basement of the church. The menu includes all you can eat pancakes, sausage, ham, juice, coffee, and tea. Cost is $5.00 for adults and $2.50 for children age 5 and older. $15.00 for families (4 or more). Proceeds will benefit community prom wear borrowing wardrobe and youth programs.