Thursday, April 20
Spring Back Celebration
The Bitterroot Cares for Kids Network, Emma’s House and Tobacco Free Ravalli present the first annual Spring Back Celebration 2017 on Thursday, April 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bedford Building, 223 S. 2nd, Hamilton. This wonderful event is all about resilience and well being. The schedule for the day is available at www.bckn.weebly.com and the cost is a $5 suggested donation. Lunch and CEUs are available to those who pre-register at bcaresforkids@gmail.com, call 532-9149 or check out the website by April 18.
Family budget class
“Crunching Numbers – Designing Your Family Spending Plan” will be presented on Thursday, April 20 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library, 208 Main in Stevensville. Join Katelyn Anderson from MSU Extension to design your family budget. You will learn how to make ends meet, how to spend hard-earned dollars effectively, reduce credit card use, live within your means and save for the things you want. Come and join in this fun, free, and interactive workshop. Learn easy tips on: how to create a spending plan or budget, using a budget effectively, deciding how to prioritize bills to pay, creating a plan for the future. Kindly pre-register with your MSU Extension Office on 375-6611 or email Katelyna@montana.edu. For more information, call the library on 777-5061.
Back Country Horsemen
Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen host their monthly meeting on Thursday, April 20, at the Corvallis School Cafeteria on Eastside Highway in Corvallis. Potluck dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. and the general meeting starts at 7 p.m. If you are a rider or hiker who wants to help keep trails open and meet like-minded folks, we invite you to attend. Program speaker Tom Powers, BCH member and co-chair of the 2017 Youth Conservation & Education Expo, will present information on the event and the youth summer camps that incorporate packing skills in their curriculum. Following this, details for the April 22nd horsemanship clinic and May 13th Coyote Coulee trail project will be presented. Guests are welcome, and for more information call Karen at 961-0101 or check the website at www.bchmt.org/bitterroot.
Friday, April 21
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, April 21 at 12 noon at The Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be Forest Fire Management Officer Derek Davenport who will talk about fire suppression and give an update on Roaring Lion recovery efforts. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
Chocolate & Authors
The 22nd annual Chocolate & Authors fundraiser for North Valley Public Library will be held Friday, April 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the library, 208 Main, Stevensville. Here’s your chance to meet and greet Montana authors while munching on delectable chocolate and non-chocolate treats. Tickets are $5.00, available at the door, and entitle you to treats and eligibility for door prizes throughout the evening. Raffle tickets will be available for outstanding items. Proceeds help with the cost of children’s programs, guest speakers and miscellaneous repairs. Anyone wishing to donate store bought treats may bring them to the library before 3 p.m. on April 21st. And, this year, there will be a program and activities for children. Rumor has it that the wildly popular and beloved Captain Hooked on Books and Petey the Parrot will make a guest appearance. Aargh, Matey! Hope to see you there for a fun filled gathering.
Saturday, April 22
Teller Stewardship Day
Enjoy a spring Saturday morning at Teller Wildlife Refuge while improving wildlife habitat on Saturday, April 22 from 8:45 a.m. to 12 noon for the annual Stewardship Day. The morning will begin with coffee, juice and doughnuts provided by Hamilton’s Marketplace. Choose from helping with osprey nesting platforms, yard spruce up, fence removal or noxious weed dig/pull volunteer projects. RSVP to lauren@tellerwildlife.org or call the office at 961-3507.
Farmers Market vendor training
The Hamilton Farmers Market will hold a new vendor training on Saturday, April 22. If you are interested in being a vendor at Hamilton Farmers Market and you live in Ravalli County and your crafts are created following the Made in Montana.com guidelines or your agricultural products are grown in Ravalli County with produce grown from non GMO seeds, call 961-0004 for a new vendor info packet, meeting time and location, and booth fee details.
Learning Adventure Series
“Four Winds Chime” is the topic of the Saturday Learning Adventure Series on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Ravalli County Museum, 205 Bedford, Hamilton. Kids – did you know you can hear the wind sing? Create a Unangan-inspired wind chime to listen to the winds at this free kids’ activity. Call 363-3338 for more information.
Back Country Horsemen
Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen invites the public to their third free horsemanship clinic of the year on Saturday, April 22. Using members’ stock for demonstration, participants will learn how to navigate obstacles, solve problems that arise, and perform various trail challenges. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and learn more about how to safely handle their stock while trail riding. The event takes place at the C-Max Stables, 657 Bass Lane, Corvallis. Two identical sessions are offered from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Bring your own chair in case the weather is bad and the indoor arena needs to be used. Coffee, tea, cocoa, and light refreshments will be available.
For more information, contact Bonnie Morgan at (406) 381-9021 or check the BBCH website at http://www.bchmt.org/bitterroot/ under training.
Bluegrass Festival
The Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association is hosting its annual Bluegrass Festival and Fundraiser at Lone Rock School on Saturday, April 22. The Festival features 18 bands playing continuously from 12 noon until 9 p.m. There are many new bands this year including Tin Cup from Hamilton, Sapphire Mountain Bluegrass from Hamilton, Lil-grass from Missoula, Song Dog Serenade from Billings, East Ridge Ramblers from Deer Lodge, Ruby Jewel Band from Anaconda and Heartbreak Pass from Newport, Washington. Admission is $5 non-members, $3 MRBA members, under 12 free. Food on site. More info at 821-3777 or www.mtbluegrass.com.
Wine Fest
The Hamilton Downtown Association will host the 3rd Annual Wine Fest on Saturday, April 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bedford Building in Hamilton. Sample hand selected wines from local, national and international wineries. Each guest will be given a passport to track their tastes and identify their favorites as well as a commemorative wine glass to take home. Charcuterie platters will be available for purchase. Enjoy live jazz by the Bitterroot Jazz Band, and games such as a ring toss to win bottles of wine to take home! There will also be a raffle for a “Hamilton Entertainment Package” which includes two tickets to many events, music venues, movies and plays throughout the year. All proceeds from the Wine Fest go to the Hamilton Downtown Association to support its efforts of making Hamilton an even better place to live! Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. They can be purchased from Chapter One or the Wine Cave.
Square dance club
Boots & Calico Square Dance Club will have Barry Bartlette calling a dance on Saturday, April 22 at the Golden Age Center, 5th & Baker streets, Hamilton. The evening will start at 7 p.m. with round dancing with music provided by Don Scheline. Barry will call the mainstream dance with plus tip from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 23
Center for Spiritual Living
“Living Life from Within” will be presented by Selma Putnam, a retired teacher of German and English, on Sunday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. Selma will focus on the teachings of A Course in Miracles and the writings of Ernest Holmes so we can all live in peace and joy as a unique child of God. Enjoy these transformational ideas and uplifting music. 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.
Ellingson benefit
The Ravalli County Right to Farm and Ranch Committee and friends are sponsoring a pasta supper on Sunday, April 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the St. Francis Parish Center, 411 S. Fifth in Hamilton. Proceeds will help with medical payments for Jim Ellingson, long-time Ravalli county volunteer and rancher. A donation of $12 is requested for gourmet pasta and sauces, beverages, bread and salads. Items for live and silent auctions are also requested and may be left at the Ravalli County Extension office at the county administrative building in Hamilton.
Monday, April 24
Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – Pancakes or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Meatballs, mashed potatoes & gravy, peaches, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Muffins or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Burrito with lettuce & salsa, refried beans, apples, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Cheeseburgers, taters, mixed fruit, bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – Donut Squares or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Cheese filled breadsticks, glazed carrots, bananas, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Ham Bites or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Corn Dogs, baked beans, pineapple, bread & butter, milk.
Rotary Club
Kim Vietz, Executive Director of the Teller Wildlife Refuge, will be the speaker for next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, April 24 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.
Tuesday, April 25
Republican Women
Ravalli County Republican Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting and lunch on Tuesday, April 25 at 11:30 a.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Guest speaker will be Michael McKay, the current State holder of the American Legion Montana Constitutional Speech Contest. Hear Michael’s speech and learn about his experience at the National competition held on April 22-23 in Indianapolis, IN. Plans will be finalized for the annual Lincoln-Reagan Luncheon on May 6. For tickets or more information call 777-5120.
Wednesday, April 26
Hamilton Garden Club
Kaitlyn Anderson, Ravalli County Extension Agent, will be the featured guest at the next meeting of the Hamilton Garden Club, on Wednesday, April 26 at 1 p.m. at the O’Hara Commons in Hamilton. Kaitlyn will speak about the latest 4-H efforts and activities. This wholesome and educational program has affected many residents throughout our history, and is very much a present learning and growing experience. Come to learn and enjoy dessert with the club members. For information contact Kathie at 363-2502.
Grief Matters panel
“Grief Matters,” a community conversation abut loss, will be held Wednesday, April 26 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at St. Patrick Hospital Broadway Building in Missoula. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. For more information contact Tamarack Grief Resource Center, 541-8472.