Friday, April 1
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, April 1 at 12 noon at The Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be former legislator Rick Jore. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
Knights of Columbus dinner
The Knights of Columbus will hold a First Friday Dinner on April 1 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis’ Pastoral Center located at 411 S. 5th Street, Hamilton. This month’s dinner will be an original Chicago-style Hot Dog Dinner with all the “Chicago Fixings.” The menu will include all-beef hotdogs on poppy seed buns, yellow mustard, onions, tomatoes, pickle relish and pickle wedge with sport peppers, celery salt, potato chips, French fried potatoes, barbecued baked beans and dessert. It is “all you can eat”. The price for the meal is $10.00 per person children; under nine eat free so bring the kids! As a special offer a family of four or more (2 adults and 2 or more children) will eat for $35.00. Wine can be purchased separately. For information contact Nick Hooper at 961-3930.
First Friday at NVP Library
Renowned pianist, Arthur Kostuk, will present a Spring Piano Concert at the North Valley Public Library on Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the Library. Kostuk has performed at concert halls in New York, Boston, Montreal, St. Louis and Seattle and is known for his ability to perform rapid and complex passages of music. This concert is free and is an opportunity for friends and family to enjoy the skill of an incredible pianist who has performed to audiences around the globe. This is entertainment and education in one as Arthur not only serenades listeners with engaging musical ability, but also delivers insightful information on the pieces, the period of music, and the composers. The North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Hamilton Crab Feed
The Hamilton Downtown Association will host the Ragin’ Cajun Crab Feed and Low County Boil on Friday, April 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bedford Building, 223 S. 2nd St, Hamilton. The annual Crab Feed is back, and this year it’s better than ever! There will be live music by SmokeStack and the Foothill Fury, beer from Bitter Root Brewery, wine from The Wine Cave, a silent auction, and a raffle for a local entertainment package! On the menu this year is a low down country boil and crab feed. The low country boil is an all-in-one, one-pot-wonder filled with savory andouille sausage, fresh corn on the cob, red potatoes, and tasty crawfish all boiled together for a tantalizing feast. The low country boil will accompany mouth watering crab clusters served with hot, melted butter for dipping and fresh baguettes from Red Rooster Artisan Bakery. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Pre-sale tickets are available now at Chapter One Book Store, Bitter Root Brewery, and The Wine Cave.
Saturday, April 2
Spring Fling
The Presbyterian Women will hold their annual “Spring Fling” on Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Main in Hamilton. There will be attic treasures, lunch, pie by the slice, baked goods, books, jewelry and raffle tickets for a beautiful antique quilt. The money raised goes to “camper-ships” for young people to go to Glacier Camp on Flathead Lake.
Trekker Kids tree day
Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) will host the Trekker Kid program ‘Totally Awesome Trees!’ on Saturday, April 2 at 11 a.m. at Travelers’ Rest State Park, 6717 Highway 12 W, Lolo. Join in a morning of outdoor learning, exploring how trees grow, what they are used for, and how to can help them flourish. Play tree related games, and enjoy a nature walk through the park as well. This program is free. For more information, call Loren Flynn or Dani Staunton at 273-4253. This program is part of the Trekker Kids series and is open to kids around 5-10 years old. Trekker Kids is a series of programs for children and families that celebrate the outdoors of western Montana and the rich history of the Travelers’ Rest site.
Saturday Bingo
Hamilton Senior Center will be hosting a Special Saturday Bingo on April 2. Doors open at 12 noon, games start at 1 p.m. Paper cards will be used. Free refreshments will be served. You must be 18 to play. Call Cathy at 375-9276 for information.
Bible prophecy seminar
Make plans now to attend the Bible Prophecy Seminar beginning Saturday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at the corner of Pine Hollow and Baldwin Roads. Your most penetrating questions concerning your fate and that of your loved ones in the near future will be explained from a Biblical perspective. Some of the topics to be covered are: The Coming New World Government, Will We Survive A World in Turmoil? The Other Side of Death, The United States in Bible Prophecy. The meetings are free. Everyone is welcome.
Mansion Roarin’ 20s Gala
The Daly Mansion will host a Rip Roaring 20’s evening on Saturday, April 2 from 7 to 11 p.m. to raise funds for the Mansion Preservation Trust. Grab your gangster, flapper and bootlegger friends and dance to the sound of the Ed Norton Stomperz playing Prohibition era music. Special guest artists will be Tasha Fain and Eric Monson. Tony Dees will give a fun Charleston lesson and you may want to join the dance contest! You’ll need some loot for the no host bar and for some snazzy silent auction items as well as a chance to win a Daly horserace and play other games! The winner of the “Pot of Gold” raffle prize will be announced during the evening. The prize will include a ½ ounce gold coin (valued at over $600), a stunning gold bracelet donated by Mikesell’s Jewelry and some other unique treasures donated by local businesses. Raffle tickets are $10 apiece. Do you feel lucky? Let’s see if the luck o’ the Irish follows you from St. Patty’s Day to the Roarin’ 20’s Gala. Guests are encouraged (but not required) to break out their best flapper attire or strap on some suspenders and dress the part. Tickets are $35 per person (includes a drink ticket and hors d’oeuvres). Call 363-6004 ext. 2# to make your reservation.
Square dance
Boots n’ Calico Square Dance Club will hold a square dance on Saturday, April 2 at the Golden Age Hall, 727 S. 5th Street, Hamilton. Barry Bartlette will be calling. Pre-rounds will be from 7 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a mainstream dance from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Monday, April 4
Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – Waffles or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Pizza pasta, corn, pears, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Bagels with cream cheese or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chalupas, refried beans, apples, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Cheeseburgers, taters, mixed fruit, bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – Pancake on a stick or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Cheese-filled breadsticks, glazed carrots, bananas, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Ham and scrambled eggs, hash browns, applesauce, bread & butter, milk
Rotary Club
Sam Lawry, representing “Pheasants Forever”, will be speaking at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, April 4 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. This meeting is open to the public. For further Rotary Club information, call 363-2960.
DPL Excel class
Microsoft Excel Training will be held Monday, April 4 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Darby Community Public Library. Lloyd Rennaker will conduct an Introduction to Microsoft Excel class. Sign up at the Library, 821-4771.
Tuesday, April 5
Florence Civic Club
The Florence Civic Club’s will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at 6 p.m. at the Florence Fire Hall. For more information call Ann at 403-6491.
Sons of Norway
Bitterrootdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway will meet Tuesday, April 5 at 5 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 275 Hattie, in Hamilton. The program will include information about the Celtic Festival to be held August 19-21 at the Daly Mansion north of Hamilton. The history of Vikings and Scottish and Irish people went on for 500 years, starting with raids from Norway and becoming a trading empire as Vikings established what are the principal cities in Ireland. The Lodge will provide a main dish, drinks and service. Members and visitors are invited to bring a side dish. The public is welcome. For information contact Jackie Bjergo at 961-4538.
Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot
The monthly meeting of FFB will be Tuesday, April 5 at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. with cocktails/dinner optional. Speaker is Wade Fredenberg. Wade received his B.S. and M.S. degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University. He was employed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for 12 years and then became a Fish & Wildlife Service employee in 1992. He has been involved in bull trout conservation for 24 years. As an avid angler and bull trout worshiper, Wade will present a series of observations about the vulnerability of the species. He will highlight the dilemma that bull trout face in trying to “recover” in systems like the Bitterroot where angler pressure is intense. He promises that even if you don’t like what he has to say, at least you will enjoy the photos! For additional information call Dorreen, 363-0744.
Wednesday, April 6
Cultural presentation
The Darby Community Public Library will host a talk on “Chinese in Montana: Our Forgotten Pioneers” on Wednesday, April 6 at 6 p.m. with Ellen Baumler, Montana Historical Society interpretive historian, on April 6.
Chinese pioneers have been neglected in Montana’s written record even though in 1870, they comprised 10 percent of the population. By the 1950s, very few remained. Chinese homes and businesses fell victim to urban renewal programs. Time erased their remote mining and railroad camps. Traces of their culture disappeared, and their stories have become obscured in myth and legend. What happened to these pioneers and where did they go? Baumler explores Montana’s urban and remote Chinese settlements through archaeological sites, artifacts, and rare remaining landmarks. These recall the contributions of Montana’s Chinese and the cultural footprints they left behind.
Ellen Baumler earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in English, classics, and history. She has been the Montana Historical Society’s interpretive historian since 1992 and is the author of numerous books and dozens of articles on diverse topics.
The presentation is free and open to the public. Partial funding for the Speakers Bureau program is provided by a legislative grant from Montana’s Cultural Trust and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Contact the Darby Community Public Library for more information at 821-4771 or email at librarian@darbylibrary.net.