Thursday, January 11
Women’s Newcomers’ Club
Are you new to the Bitterroot Valley? Have you recently retired? Have you been here for a while and would just like to meet new people? If so, the Bitterroot Women’s Newcomers Club welcomes you to its next meeting, Thursday, January 11 from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the First Christian Church, 328 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton. After a short business meeting, the group will tour Ravalli County government offices. After the meeting, there will be a no-host lunch at a local restaurant for members who are interested. For more information call Kaye Olsson at 979-299-2089.
Safe Winter Driving Tips talk
Learn safe winter driving tips with Thom Ainsworth at the North Valley Public Library in Stevensville on Thursday, January 11 at 1 p.m. in this hour-long talk on driving in Montana. In addition to winter specific driving tips, Thom discusses driving tips in general, how driving rules have changed, what changes as you age, and the subject of when to give up driving. Thom Ainsworth is an instructor for Montana AARP and drivers of all ages benefit from the information Thom provides. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street in downtown Stevensville. The Library enriches lives through free resources for learning, fun, and opportunity. For more information, call 777-5061 or visit northvalleylibrary.org. All library programs are free and open to the public.
Debunking Diet Myths class
Diet, diet and more diet! Are you starting the New Year off on a diet? A healthy diet is one that helps to maintain or improve overall health. This class will unravel the diet clutter and myths between the American, Mediterranean, paleo, dash and other diets, and teach you how to keep it simple and healthy! Join Kathie Herczeg, FNP from Bitterroot Physicians Clinic South, on Thursday, January 11th at 5:30 p.m. at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and learn about diets and how to get the most out of them!
This one hour class will be held in the hospital’s Blodgett and Canyon View conference rooms. Doors open at 5 p.m. Marcus Daly medical staff work together to offer monthly health education classes. Take this opportunity to meet the medical staff and learn how to become a more active partner in your health care. For more information visit mdmh.org or call 363-2211.
Diabetes empowerment education program
The new, free Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) is a Medicare-approved, evidence-based diabetes self-management education program for people with prediabetes or diabetes to help you prevent and reduce complications resulting from diabetes, such as kidney failure, amputation, vision loss, heart failure, and stroke.
The curriculum is based on national diabetes care and self-management education guidelines and recommendations. It supports, not replaces, professional diabetes self-management training. A trained facilitator from the Ravalli County Council on Aging will provide six free weekly sessions per class covering many topics including diabetes risk factors, complications, nutrition, physical activity, use of the glucose meter, working closely with your healthcare providers, psychosocial effects of illness, problem-solving strategies, and how to access community diabetes resources.
The dates are January 11, 18, 25, and February 1, 8 and 15 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the St. Francis Pastoral Life Center, 411 S. 5th.
Call Kayla at 363-5690 for more information and to sign up. Seats are limited so hurry.
Diabetes empowerment classes
Diabetes affects people of all ages, but it occurs more often in older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in every four Americans over the age of 65 has diabetes. Diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
Managing diabetes can be difficult, but support from community resources, health care providers and family can make it much easier. The first step to better managing diabetes and high blood sugar is to learn about it.
Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Montana, the Ravalli County Council on Aging, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and the Montana Geriatric Education Center are partnering together to offer six, free diabetes classes taught by a trained community member. These classes provide informative and interactive ways to help people with diabetes or pre-diabetes (high blood sugar)
- understand diabetes and how it affects the entire body;
- manage diabetes in a way that makes sense for them and their individual health goals;
- become more informed members of their health care teams, as they continue to work with their doctors, diabetes educators and other health care providers to improve their health.
The series kicks off Thursday, January 11, at St. Francis Church at 411 S. 5th Street, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Classes then meet every Thursday through February 15. To register, call Kayla Paddock at (406) 363-5690. At least five people need to register to hold the class. Class size is limited to 15.
Those who have attended the classes across Montana are enjoying their experience and learning a lot about their health. The classes are led by trained community members and are meant to support, not replace, professional diabetes self-management education. While the classes are designed for people with Medicare, anyone with diabetes or pre-diabetes is welcome to attend.
UFOs and Extraterrestrials talk
The North Valley Public Library in Stevensville hosts the Montana Conversations program “Montana UFOs and Extraterrestrials” with Joan Bird on Thursday, January 11 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room, 208 Main Street, Stevensville.
While many UFO sightings can be conventionally explained, a small percentage of reports remain unexplained in both government and private investigations. Montana is home to some of the most significant, well-documented, and interesting UFO reports in the history of ufology. Bird gives a short course in UFO literacy, using Montana events to illustrate different aspects of the phenomenon. Montana seems to be a place where there is a lot of historical UFO activity. The audience is invited to share their own or their family’s stories.
Joan Bird is an author and researcher. She holds a Ph.D. in zoology.
North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call 777-5061 or visit northvalleylibrary.org. All library programs are free and open to the public.
Selway-Pintler Wilderness Back Country Horsemen
It’s time to start dreaming of the mountains and warm spring trails! We will be discussing cookouts, camp outs, pack trips, group activities and work projects. Guest speaker will be Jeff Halligan, Executive Director ID Trails Association. Visitors and guests are always welcome. If you need a break and would like to start planning your 2016 “in the saddle” lifestyle then attend the Selway-Pintler Wilderness Back Country Horsemen’s next meeting on Thursday, January 11 at 6 p.m. at the Bitterroot National Forest building located at 1801 N 1st St in Hamilton. Entry is in the rear. Enjoy coffee, snacks and lots of “trail talk”! For more information contact Christy at 361-0767.
Open Mind discussion group
The Open Mind Discussion Group will have its monthly meeting on Thursday, January 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the dining ante-room at Sapphire Lutheran Homes in Hamilton. Barb McNey will be leading a discussion on the latest discoveries of ancient Egypt. The public is welcome.
Saturday, January 13
Winter Storytelling
Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) welcomes the return of the Winter Storytelling at Travelers’ Rest State Park, 6717 Highway 12 W, Lolo, every Saturday at 11 a.m. through February 24. Winter Storytelling celebrates the Salish tradition of sharing stories during the long, dark winter. Humans tell stories in a variety of ways and in 2018, Travelers’ Rest will welcome a diverse array of presenters who capture and share stories through oral tradition, poetry, history, memoir, and more.
On Saturday, January 13, join Jennifer Finley as she talks about her latest book, “My Hands Have Vertigo.”
“I feel my way through the world with words,” Finley says. “It’s how I touch everything. How I experience everything, how I understand everything, is with words. That’s me as a poet.”
The author of three books of poetry, a children’s book, and a play, Finley lives on the Flathead Reservation in Montana where she was born and raised. She is Salish and Chippewa-Cree and a member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.
Cost of each program is $5 per person; free for Travelers’ Rest Preservation & Heritage Association (TRPHA) members. For more information call (406) 273-4253 or visit: http://www.travelersrest.org/winter-storytelling.html.
Complete Series Schedule:
Stephen Small Salmon – Traditional Stories; January 6
Jennifer Finley – My Hands Have Vertigo; January 13
Bruce Mihelish – Ponies and Passes; January 20
Beth Judy – Bold Women In Montana History; January 27
Mary Jane Bradbury – Martha & Me: Dora Dufran Speaks about Calamity Jane; February 3
William Marcus – Back Roads of Montana; February 10
Judy Wright – Write Your Family Story; February 17
Joseph Grady – The Cultural Significance of Storytelling; February 24.
MRBA jam session
The Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association will hold a jam on Saturday, January 13 at Ruby’s Motel in Missoula. Jammin’ starts around 2-3 p.m., potluck dinner at 6 p.m., then jammin’ til the cows come home! Several different jam circles, come support the MRBA and join in the fun.
Monday, January 15
Stevi school menu
Monday: No school – MLK Day
Tuesday: Breakfast – Muffins or Yogurt, fruit or cereal bar, toast, milk; Lunch – Taco Salad, Chips & salsa, Oranges, bread & butter, chocolate or regular milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or Yogurt, fruit, toast or cereal bar, milk; Lunch – Tuna Salad Sandwich, taters, apricots, bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – Pancake on a Stick or Yogurt, fruit, toast or cereal bar, milk; Lunch – Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, tossed salad, grapes, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs or Yogurt, fruit, toast or cereal bar, milk; Lunch – Chicken Tenders, sweet corn, mixed fruit, bread & butter, chocolate or regular milk.
Rotary Club
Katherine Haigh, PhD, from the Rocky Mountain Laboratories National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, will be speaking at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, January 15 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st, Hamilton. Katherine will be speaking about prion disease. The meeting is open to the public. For further Rotary Club information, call 363-2960.
Tuesday, January 16
Winter First Aid for Kids
Do you want to know how to survive out in the cold? Ski patrol emergency responders, Stephanie & Michael Mapelli, will teach you how on Tuesday, January 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library. Learn how to take care of yourself and others when you are out in the winter elements! This program is for kids ages 5-18 and their families.
The North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call Annika at 777-5061.
Wednesday, January 17
RCEDA
Ravalli County Economic Development Authority will hold its regular monthly Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 17 from 2:15 to 2:55 p.m., and the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, January 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the RCEDA office, 274 Old Corvallis Road, Hamilton. These meetings are open to the public.
Thursday, January 18
Back Country Horsemen
Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen host their monthly meeting on Thursday, January 18 at the Corvallis School Cafeteria on Eastside Highway in Corvallis. Potluck dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. The program speaker will be Dave Schilz. He brings knowledge of his 28 years of backcountry packing experience with the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, including outfitter and guide stories of his personal pack trips. As a student and teacher of packing, a horseman and a longtime BCH member, Dave looks forward to sharing his knowledge with those in attendance. Bonnie Morgan will also be talking about upcoming training events. Projects for this year will also be discussed. Guests are welcome and for more information call Karen at 961-0101 or check out the website at www.bchmt.org/bitterroot.
