Wednesday, October 25
Montana Conversation
The Darby Community Public Library hosts a Montana Conversation on the bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance, on Wednesday, October 25 at 5 p.m. Facilitator Lowell Jaeger, Flathead Valley Community College author and professor, will help generate a lively, thoughtful, engaging conversation concerning topics important to everyday lives. Everyone is welcome and the book may be checked out or reserved at the Library.
Bitterroot Quilters Guild
The Bitterroot Quilters Guild will meet Wednesday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Daly Leach Community Room, 1010 W. Main, Hamilton. This month’s meeting will feature the 2017 Gardens of Quilts video. Everyone with an interest in quilting is encouraged to attend. Membership in the Guild is $20 annually; contact Tena Chapman, Membership Chair, at 406-381-4755, or attend Wednesday’s meeting. For more information, visit the Guild on Facebook, or at bitterrootquiltersguild.com.
Thursday, October 26
Montana Memory Project
Come and hear Jennifer Birnel speak about the Montana Memory Project at North Valley Public Library in Stevensville on Thursday, October 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. The Montana Memory Project is a vast project attempting to catalog the history of the state of Montana, and make that history freely available to everyone via the internet. Genealogists, historians, educators, researchers and pleasure seekers may all have an interest in the site. All libraries, museums, archives and schools in Montana are able and encouraged to contribute material to the project.
The Montana Memory Project is sponsored by the Montana Historical Society, the Montana State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The website can be found at http://montanamemory.org/ The North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library on 777-5061.
Friday, October 27
SAFE Report to the Community
The Ravalli County Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence will host the 20th annual Report to the Community luncheon on Friday, October 27, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Hamilton City Hall, 223 S. 2nd Street. This year’s luncheon will feature a keynote presentation by Linda Olsen, Housing Project Director with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and coordinator of the Domestic Violence Housing First pilot project. The luncheon will also present the 18th annual Courage Awards to honor an individual’s commitment to non-violence and making our community safer. Report to the Community will culminate the 2017 White Ribbon Campaign, a public awareness campaign designed to prevent domestic violence. This year’s campaign will run October 22nd through 28th. Supportive community members are encouraged to wear a white ribbon throughout the week.
REC National Co-op Month celebration
Ravalli Electric Co-op is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities.
“Our cooperative delivers electricity to over 8,500 member-owners in the Bitterroot Valley where we service 10,800 miles of line,” says General Manager Mark Grotbo. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated. Revenue generated by Ravalli Electric Co-op goes back to Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas.
In addition to providing the vital power co-op members depend on, Ravalli Electric Co-op engages with the local community in many ways. Employees often volunteer their time and services to local organizations, provide electrical safety demonstrations, and offer wonderful opportunities for youth with scholarship awards and sponsoring the annual Youth Tour trip to Washington D.C.
To celebrate National Co-op Month, Ravalli Electric Co-op will be hosting a Member Appreciation Day “Kilowatts & Brats” on Friday, October 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“This will be a terrific opportunity for members to stop by the co-op for some food, meet the employees that work for them, and ask questions or visit with the Board of Directors,” said Grotbo. “Members can also find out more about the progress of our new facility and we hope to have some preliminary designs of the future building on display.”
For more information on Ravalli Electric Co-op’s Member Appreciation Day, you can call the co-op at 961-3001.
Saturday, October 28
Peacemaking and SoulCollage Workshop
The call to peacemaking is an invitation to transform our external environment by attending to that which calls for reconciliation within. Join in a creative journey to the internal holy land in this one-day workshop combining mediation, music, movement, poetry and SoulCollage on Saturday, October 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Center for Spiritual Living, 328 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. Through the alchemy of image, intuition, and imagination you will create a set of cards and discover how listening to the unique symbols of your soul can connect you to the guiding wisdom of the peacemaker within. No special artistic skills needed. Space is limited. To register call Pat at 360-5568.
Republican Dinner/Rally
“Proud to be an American” is the theme of the annual fall Republican Dinner/Rally to be held Saturday, October 28 at the 1st Interstate Building, Ravalli County Fairgrounds starting at 4 p.m. Distinguished keynote speakers, presentations and candidates make this headliner event a must. Tickets for the event are $45 each which includes dinner and dessert catered by Caffe Firenze. As added bonus, ticket holders receive 10 free tickets to be used throughout the evening for door prizes. Randy Kearns will call the live auction. For additional details/tickets call Judy at 406/363-5208 or 406/370-4727.
Saturday, October 28
Square Dance Club
Boots & Calico Square Dance Club will be having its Halloween dance on Saturday, October 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. The theme this year is “1920’s Characters – from hobos to notorious types.” This is always a fun dance with most of the dancers in costume. Ray Dunbar will be calling and Don Scheline will provide the round dance music. The Club dances at the Golden Age Center at 5th & Baker Streets in Hamilton. Spectators are always welcome.
Trail of Terror
The Trapper Creek Job Corps presents the Trail of Terror: New Orleans Halloween on Saturday and Sunday, October 28 and 29, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Set outside, deep in the back woods of the Bitterroot National Forest, the Trail of Terror will be open to terrify the public this year. Students at the Job Corps have been volunteering their time for over a month to build the sets, make the costumes and become as scary as possible for the event. Since Halloween is their favorite time of year, the students have eagerly jumped in to help. The Trail of Terror is open for children ages 13 and older. Concessions of hot beverages and snacks will be available for purchase at the event (cash only). Tickets are $5 at the door and $15 for a group of 4. For more, information call Melynda Mullen at (406) 821-2129 or (406) 821-3286.
Sunday, October 29
Center for Spiritual Living
“Creative Peacemaking” with Heather Berndt is CSL’s Sunday Service presentation on October 29 at 9:30 a.m. Heather, a Spokane-based interfaith spiritual director, graphic designer, mixed media artist and Certified SoulCollage Facilitator, will sound the call to peacemaking by sharing a combination of spiritual practices of Benedictine hospitality and artmaking as a path of transformation. Come to 328 Fairgrounds Road (across from Hamilton High School) to hear these inspiring ideas and uplifting songs, then stay around for a delicious potluck and meaningful conversation at 10:30 a.m. Meditation is at 9 a.m. For further information, call Dave Schultz 381-2355 or visit CSLbitterroot.org.
Monday, October 30
Monday: Breakfast – Waffles or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Turkey & Cheese Sandwiches, corn, apricots, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Cinnamon Rolls or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chalupa with lettuce & salsa, refried beans, oranges, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chicken & Noodles, tossed salad, grapes bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – Pancake on a stick or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Tater-tot Casserole, green beans, pears, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chicken Sandwich, fresh veggies with ranch dressing, Pineapple, bread & butter, milk
Rotary Club
Rotary Club member Gordon Finney will be speaking at the next
meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, October 30 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st in Hamilton. Gordon will be discussing The Paul Harris Fellows Program and
Paul Harris points. The meeting is open to the public. For further Rotary Club information, call 363-2960.
Tuesday, October 31
Eagles Halloween Party
The Bitter Root Eagles Lodge, located at 125 N 2nd, Hamilton, will be hosting its annual Kids Halloween Party on Tuesday, October 31 starting at 4 p.m. This is open to all community children 12 years of age and younger. There will be crafts, a costume contest, and treats to take home. (There will be no kids’ activities on Saturday as in prior years.)