Vendor opp
The Hamilton Downtown Association is seeking vendors for its Daly Days celebration, Friday and Saturday, July 24-25. Art, crafts, food, and others are welcome to apply. The booth fee remains $50, with an additional $10 if electricity is needed. Booth spaces are ten by twelve feet, and vendors will need to provide their own displays; no tables are provided. For more information, or for an application, call the HDA at 360-9124, or email hamiltondowntownassociation@gmail.com.

Lutheran preschool registration
Our Savior Lutheran Preschool of Stevensville is pre-registering students for the 2015/2016 school year. Our Savior’s early childhood program is designed to develop and to enrich socialization and basic skills in boys and girls, ages three through five. Parents should call 777-5625 weekday mornings for more information. To observe the current three- and four-year-old classes in action, call to reserve a date soon. Our Savior Lutheran Church, affiliated with the Lutheran Church––Missouri Synod, is located at 184 Pine Hollow Road. Going south on the Eastside Highway, turn east onto Pine Hollow about one mile south of the intersection of the Eastside Highway and Middle Burnt Fork Road. Cross the tracks and the canal and the church will be on the left, marked by three crosses.

Flyfishing Clinic
Registration is now open for the May 2015 adult flyfishing clinic sponsored by BRTU and FFB. The clinic will run for four Wednesdays (May 6, 13, and 27). The clinic is suitable for novices and intermediate level anglers. The sessions will cover all aspects of flyfishing and will feature casting instruction by Chuck Stranahan and his hand-picked helpers. For information call Chuck at 363-4197.

Wednesday, April 29

Stevi Garden Club
The Stevensville Garden Club is holding workshops teaching flower designing on April 29 and May 20 at 1 p.m. at the Community Baptist Church, 409 Buck Street, Stevensville. Everyone is welcome. This can really help to learn what is expected and needed for the upcoming flower show in July in Stevensville and the Ravalli County Fair in September. Register for the workshops with JoAnne by calling 961-5642 so that enough supplies are available.

Thursday, April 30

Chamber luncheon
The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a community luncheon on Thursday, April 30 at 12 noon at Viva Oaxaca in Stevensville. This is a great opportunity to find out about your Chamber of Commerce and to network with other local business and professional people. The luncheon is no-host and everyone is invited, whether a Chamber member or not. For more information call the Chamber office at 363-2400.

Softball signups
Signups for Ambrose Softball for 10-U and 12-U girls will be held Thursday, April 30 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Lone Rock School lobby. For more information contact Erica Amt, 207-0210. All girls interested in playing softball are encouraged to sign up.

Friday, May 1

North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, May 1 at 12 noon at The Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be County Commissioner Jeff Burrows. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.

Blessing of the Animals
Stevensville UMC invites the public to the annual Blessing of the Animals event held on First Friday in Stevensville, May 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. Animals of all sizes are welcomed and each one will receive a certificate of blessing. Children are also encouraged to bring toy animals or photos of favorite family pets for “virtual” blessings! Stevensville UMC is located at 216 College Street (corner of E. 3rd & College Streets). Contact the church at 777-5443 or at steviumc@gmail.com for more information.

Mutt Strut
Sapphire Animal Hospital’s 7th Annual Mutt Strut will be held First Friday, May 1 at 6 p.m. Meet at Stevensville Ranger Station, corner of Eastside Hwy and Main Street. Attention all dogs: Get out and enjoy the spring weather… grab your leash and nudge your person out the door for the Mutt Strut! It’s fun! It’s free! Door prizes and treats on hand! Sapphire Animal Hospital will donate one pound of pet food to the Bitter Root Humane Society for every. Call 777-4399 for more information.

Hamilton First Friday
Downtown Hamilton celebrates the First Friday in May by welcoming our feathered friends back to town. Shops downtown will be open extended hours on Friday, May 1, to celebrate First Friday, and many will have bird-themed events or promotions. Several venues will also offer live music for the evening, and many stores also serve refreshments for customers. First Fridays are sponsored by the Hamilton Downtown Association, which encourages residents and visitors alike to migrate downtown to greet the fledgling month of May, and to sample some of Hamilton’s finest shops, restaurants and cafes!

Stevensville First Friday
First Friday, May 1 will be the “Summer on the River” event in downtown Stevensville. There will be fishing guides with great information, education and exciting trips that can be booked, there will be information regarding water safety, what the fish like and where to find them, birding displays and bird watching information regarding the area of the Bitterroot River and more. Come and explore the beautiful treasure that flows through our Valley and plan your summer on the river. Anyone with a boat for sale is welcome to bring it to town on First Friday evening to show it to people; just call the Stevensville Main Street Association office at 777-3773 to reserve your spot!
First Friday, May 1 is also the date for the “Pie in the Big Sky” Pie Auction at Rocky Mountain Bank at 6:30 p.m. Pies of every description and flavor from some of the best cooks and creators in the Valley will be available. The “Pie in The Big Sky” Pie Auction is an annual fundraising event for your Stevensville Main Street Association, Stevensville’s community development, business advocacy and information center. For more information call 777-3773.

Back Country Horsemen presentation
Have a horse? Want to ride on wilderness trails? The Back Country Horsemen of Montana was founded in 1974 by four very forward thinking horsemen and wilderness advocates. Today there are 17 Chapters in the state. Bitterroot Back Country Horsemen is the local one. The mission of this all-volunteer group is to build and maintain trails into our wilderness areas and promote wise and sustaining use of the back country resource by horsemen and the general public. The program will be held on May 1, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the library. The presentation is part of Stevensville Main Street Association May First Friday celebration and is free and open to the public. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.

Saturday, May 2

Share Tree benefit
The Stevensville Christmas Share Tree program is selling 50/50 raffle tickets. Tickets will be available for purchase at Super One Foods on Saturday, May 2 and Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $5 per ticket or 5 for $20. Share Tree provides warm clothing for children during Christmas. For more information, call Beth Perkins at 207-5748.

Habitat donation truck
Habitat for Humanity of Ravalli County Resale Donation Box Truck will be at Florence Ace Hardware on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Support Habitat by donating appliances, building material, plumbing, lighting, hardware, un-upholstered furniture. Sorry, no TVs.
100 % of ReSale Center proceeds support Habitat for Humanity of Ravalli County. Donations are tax deductible. For more info call 375-1926 or visit www.ravallihabitat.org.

Farmers Market May Fest
Hamilton Farmers Market Co-op opening day is Saturday, May 2 with the May Fest for Children. This year’s theme is “Here’s the Buzz! It’s All About Pollinators!” Events will include a ‘children of all ages’ parade beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Second Street in American Legion Park, where the kids from the Emma’s House parade join in to march through the Market. The Sprinkle Happiness folks may be there too!
Parade participants will dance their way to the May Poles on the museum lawn to the tunes of the Singing Salamanders! Local groups, schools and non-profits that provide for the well-being of our children here in the valley are given a free space to promote their programs on this day. If you would like to participate, call Laura 961-0004 for a registration form.

Saturday bingo
Hamilton Senior Center will be hosting a Special Saturday Bingo on May 2. This will be the last Saturday session until September. Doors open at 12 noon, games start at 1 p.m. Paper cards will be used. Free refreshments will be served. Players must be at least 18. Call Cathy at 375-9276 for information.

Ham Jam & String Fest
Darby’s 1st Annual Ham Jam & String Fest, osted by Bitterroot Amateur Radio Club and Tin Cup Trio, will be held Saturday, May 2 from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Darby Club House. Admission is free. Acoustic string instrument musicians are invited to join in traditional circle jam. Or simply enjoy listening to your favorite bluegrass, country and folk tunes. Donations will help fund emergency amateur radio in Darby, Conner and Sula. BARC is working to extend 2-way radio throughout the Bitterroot, from Missoula to Salmon and beyond. There will be tables with information and goodies for sale including Ham radio gear. Tables are $10. Call Ted Dunlap at 381-3450 to reserve your table or for more information.

Bitterroot Dancers
The Bitterroot Dancers, Inc. will be sponsoring a community Country Western Dance on Saturday, May 2 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Bedford Building in Hamilton. $8 entry, with music by Western Union. No host bar. Information at 381-1392.

Sunday, May 3

Bitterroot Buggers Fishing Day
The Fishing Day finale for the 2015 Bitterroot Buggers course will be Sunday, May 3, and volunteers are needed to make this a success. The Buggers is Trout Unlimited’s flagship education program and has been going strong for 18 years. This is the culmination of the Buggers course and the students get a chance to test out their casting skills with some of their own flies.
For the last few years, the Stock Farm Club has partnered with BRTU on a Fishing Day at the Stock Farm Club pond, where a population of lunker trout lurk and greedily await flies. Last year most of the kids caught (and released) trout and some pretty hefty ones were netted.
Kids, parents and helpers should meet at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 3 at the Westview Center at the corner of 9th and Main Street in Hamilton to ride the bus to the pond. After fishing, there will be a picnic for everybody at the pond.
Volunteers should bring their fishing bag or vest to help the kids with knots, etc., a net and clothing appropriate for the weather. Volunteers and parents are not allowed to fish on their own. At the Stock Farms request, no private vehicles are allowed, so everybody has to go on the bus.
An adequate number of volunteers is crucial to a successful and fun time. If you can come help or have questions, contact Ria Overholt or Marshall Bloom.

Bitterroot Baroque open house
Hamilton’s newest cultural nonprofit, Bitterroot Baroque, is celebrating its launch with an open house on Sunday, May 3 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Clatters in Hamilton. Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, meet the board, see Baroque instruments and hear a little live music. Bitterroot Baroque will announce its upcoming concerts and explain how the group supports Classical and Baroque music in our valley and around Montana. All are welcome. For more information call (314) 852-5099.

Monday, May 4

Victor Kindergarten/Preschool Roundup
Victor School District #7 is having a free kindergarten roundup and preschool for two weeks in May. This will be available for children ages 4 and 5, starting May 4 through May 14, Monday through Thursday. There will be crafts, games, music, snacks and recess. Applications are required and available at the Main Office at Victor School or on the website at www.victor.k12.mt.us or call 642-3221.

Rotary Club
Bob Lake, Vice Chairman of the Montana Public Service Commission, will be the speaker for the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, May 4 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. The meeting is open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.

Sons of Norway
Bitterrootdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway, will meet Tuesday, May 5 at 5 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton. The program will include a presentation by MAPS and by Norwegian exchange student Henrik Skagen. There will also be a language lesson. The Lodge will provide ingredients for making open-faced sandwiches, a Norwegian specialty, service and drinks. Members and visitors are invited to bring a salad or dessert side dish. The public is invited. For information call Jackie, 961-4538.

Wednesday, May 6

Spiritual Master series
The video “Cultivating Grace and Transforming Suffering” with Ram Dass, Jack Kornfield, and Krishna Das will be shown Wednesday, May 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street in Hamilton. (north of Sears). How do we transform suffering into grace? How do we cultivate a process that allows grace to fill our lives? How do we turn anger into compassion, chaos into equanimity, separation into unity and oneness? For more information visit the website at CSLBitterroot.org.

Victor School Travel Club fundraiser
The Victor School Travel Club will hold an Indoor Yard Sale and Peruvian Dinner on Wednesday, May 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Victor School Multi-purpose room. Check out the Yard Sale for great bargains! A yummy gourmet dinner can be purchased for $7 per person or $25 for a family of four. Everyone is welcome.

Friday, May 8

Eagles charity dance
“Rev it up” with Russ Nasset and The Revelators while benefiting the South Valley Fire Departments on Friday, May 8 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge, 125 N. 2nd St., Hamilton. $7.00 admission donation.

Stevensville Playhouse production
The Stevensville Playhouse, 319 Main, is proud to present “The Montana Monologs” by Wendy Woollett. This production features “Epiphany,” the life of Lynn Wolfe of Burnt Fork Creek Ranch in Stevensville performed by Deborah Goslin and “7-Up,” the life of Pat Shepard who was raised on the 7-Up Ranch in St. Ignatius performed by Gretchen Spiess. Both monologs are beautifully enhanced with music by Paul Kelley of the Frederico Brothers. The monologs tell of the most defining moments in the lives of ranch women in their 70’s and 80’s. These wonderful ranch women with remarkable character were chosen because they represent a dying breed, a demographic that grew up on ranches in the 1930’s and 40’s and whose stories hadn’t yet been told. Each woman shares her childhood experiences, secrets and funny stories of the family ranchers and of a life that is quickly fading away.
The show will run May 8, 9, 15, and 16 at 7 p.m. with two matinees on May 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. Adult tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, children are $8 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at stevensvilleplayhouse.org, at Valley Drug in downtown Stevensville and at the theatre by calling 777-2722.