Wednesday, September 14
Lolo food drive
The Lolo Senior Citizens group is holding a food drive on Wednesday, September 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lolo Harvest Foods. All food collected will be delivered to the Lolo Food Bank.
Non-perishable food only. For more information contact Eileen Nelson, 529-1819.
Lolo Creek presentation
A presentation on “Lolo Creek Dewatering: Linking Evidence Through Surface and Groundwater Data” will take place on Wednesday, September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Traveler’s Rest State Park in Lolo. The Lolo Watershed Group will share important research information about Lolo Creek and its watershed. The event will feature short presentations by various organizations currently conducting research on surface and groundwater in the Lolo Creek drainage. These organizations include the Department of Natural Resources, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, Clark Fork Coalition, and the University of Montana.
“Representatives from our partnership organizations will discuss their initial efforts in data collection and what this initial data shows us about the Lolo Creek Watershed,” said Michele Landquist, LWG Board Member. “Please attend so you will learn first-hand about the research being done in the Lolo Watershed and what it might mean for you.”
Free refreshments will be provided.
Zen Buddhism Class
A class on Buddhism will be held Wednesday, September 14 (2nd and 4th Wednesdays) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. First Street, Suite C (Selway Commons) in Hamilton. Listen to talks by various Buddhist teachers, starting with Anam Thubten, author of “No Self, No Problem” and “The Magic of Awareness,” who came to the U.S. from Tibet and who speaks very good English. Listen, discuss, and then sit in meditation for a time, led by Jill Davies (642-3601). Donations accepted.
Thursday, September 15
RASS training
Western MT Addiction Services is holding a Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service training on Wednesday, September 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at 209 N. 10th, Suite C in Hamilton. The cost of the training is $15 for materials (cash only). The “Let’s Control It” course presented by a certified instructor helps participants to detect the signs of intoxication and prevent over service and underage sales to minors. The “Let’s Control It” curriculum is approved by the MT Dept of Revenue and sales and service training is mandated for all Montana’s servers. Participants will receive a certificate of completion. For further information or to register call 532-9149 or email ffavara@wmmhc.org by September 14.
Friendly Gardener’s Club
The Friendly Gardener’s Club of Darby/Conner will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, September 15 at 12 noon. You are cordially invited to this fun, social get together – an interest in gardening is not essential. For meeting location and further information contact the club president at 821-2229.
Community Conversations
Community Conversation: Creating a World that Works for Everyone will be held Thursday, September 15 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 S. 1st Street (north of Sears), Hamilton. Participants will hear and be heard as they explore solutions and ideas that are consistent with the goal of creating a world that works for everyone. September’s discussions will focus on The Global Vision: Service to the World. What is my responsibility to the world? How best do I serve the world? What can I do to make the world a better place? For more information, call Kris at 307-274-6850.
Driver training
A driver education class will be held this fall at Stevensville High School. Class is limited to 24 students and participants must have been born on or before March 28, 2002 to be eligible. Cost is $300. There will be a mandatory parent/student meeting on Thursday, September 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 128 in the high school. All students enrolled in the program must be accompanied by at least one parent/legal guardian to register and continue in the program. Parents: bring student’s birth certificate and social security card and your own driver’s license as proof of identity. For more information call the school office, 777-5481.
Darby Library September Events
A new community event, Walk the Darby Trail in September, is featured this month as part of the Darby Community Public Library’s Lifelong Learning Series. Community members are invited to walk the trail and learn about Darby and the trail system through two events: a leisurely walk on Thursday, September 15 from 6 to 7 p.m., and a moderate pace walk on Monday, September 19 from 9 to 10 a.m. Those interested may walk the full trail on September 19 with Jim Aronson and librarian Wendy Campbell.
Also planned at the library are community events through Humanities Montana, starting with “Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History: Women in Science,” by Mary-Jane Bradbury on Wednesday, September 21 at 5 p.m. For a full list of Humanities Montana community events, see the library’s website at www.darbylibrary.net.
Resuming in September is the popular Techie Table Challenge, where kids can learn about science and win prizes. This month’s topic will be Forensic Science and participants will learn techniques used by detectives to solve a murder. The sessions will be Tuesdays, September 20 and 27 from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.
Back Country Horsemen
Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen are back indoors for their monthly meeting on Thursday, September 15, 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. Program speakers are Bitterroot National Forest wilderness coordinator Deb Gale and trails specialist Mark Smith who will describe effects of the Roaring Lion fire on local trails and what is planned to deal with the damage. Guests are welcome to attend, and if you are interested in keeping trails open and accessible, this is what this group does! For more information call Karen at 961-0101 or check the website at www.bchmt.org/bitterroot.
Friday, September 16
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, September 16 at 12 noon at The Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speakers will be Ronalee Skees and former HD4 State Representative Derek Skees who is a candidate for HD11. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
Chamber membership barbecue
The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Membership Appreciation Barbecue on Friday, September 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, 501 N. 10th in Hamilton. Chamber members: bring your families and enjoy free hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages. RSVP by Wednesday, September 14 at 363-2400.
Saturday, September 17
First-time homebuyer class
The Bitter Root RC&D will hold its next nationally-certified First-Time Homebuyer Group Education class on Saturday, September 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bitterroot Valley Board of Realtors, 224 N. 4th Street, Hamilton. The charge is $50 per household and includes the mandatory one-on-one counseling session to be completed prior to attending the group class. Attendance the full day and the one-on-one counseling session are required for certification.
The class is presented by Sara Ann Briggs, who is certified in four areas of housing counseling from the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling: Pre-purchase group education, One-on-one counseling, Financial Counseling, and Post-purchase group education. The Bitter Root RC&D can now offer new programs to the residents of Ravalli County, including the required follow-up counseling for eHome participants.
The class is structured to help novice homebuyers maneuver through the entire process of homeownership and includes information on financial products exclusive to Montana first-time homebuyers. Attendance entitles participants to additional individual financial counseling and post-purchase counseling, at no extra charge. People seeking to purchase their first home should take the class prior to seeing a lender or real estate agent, as the class will provide information on how to shop for both, what questions to ask, and what assistance is available to first-time homebuyers for down payments, closing costs, and more.
Payment in full is required by Tuesday, September 6, at 3 p.m. to confirm your reservation. The office is located at 1709 N. 1st Street in Hamilton or you may make payment over the phone.
Call the Bitter Root RC&D office at 363-5450 to reserve your space today (scholarships are available for households that qualify).
Festival of Peace
The 12th Annual Festival of Peace and 6th Annual Walk-A-Mile for Peace will take place Saturday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee. This is a free family, intercultural, inter-faith event. The theme is “Landscapes of Peace: Creating a Compassionate Community.”
Featured speakers include Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche, Tibetan master and founder of the Garden and the Ewam International Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsomo of the Namchak Foundation, Linda Andrus of Missoula Unity Church, Greg Friedman, Director of Sussex School, and Gyda Swaney, Indian Psychology Studies from the University of Montana. Live music from Bitterroot Valley Choir (Center for Spiritual Living), Jenn Adams, Kevin Van Dort, Joan Zen, and Tahj and Sweatshop Sneakers. With a round dance and prayer flag hanging/blessing led by Stephen Small Salmon of SKCT, and movement with Michael English, Missoula Ta’i Chi Institute. There will also be vendors, live music and dancing, kids activities, and more!
Sunday, September 18
Center for Spiritual Living
“A Practice of Service to the World: Not Doing” will be presented on Sunday, September 18 by Becky Lovejoy, a woman who lives with intention and practices simplicity, who will use everyday examples to show how to make small shifts in your life that translate into game-changers for mankind. Each Sunday morning at 10 a.m., CSL hosts inspirational speakers who share insights of their spiritual perspective at 1720 N. 1st Street, Suite C in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. Meditation is at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments and meaningful conversation follow at 11:15 a.m. For further information call Dave at 381-2355 or visit CSLbitterroot.org.
Monday, September 19
Stevi school menu
Monday: Breakfast – Pancakes or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Beef steaks, mashed potatoes & gravy, peaches, bread & butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Cinnamon Rolls or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chicken Fajitas with lettuce & salsa, Spanish rice, apples, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Pulled pork sandwich, taters, applesauce, bread & butter, milk
Thursday: Breakfast – French toast or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Chili with crackers, fresh veggies, bananas, bread & butter, milk
Friday: Breakfast – Egg wraps or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Corn dogs, baked beans, Mandarin oranges, bread & butter, milk.
Rotary Club
Jim Maunder, Ravalli Electric Co-op Manager of Member Services, will be speaking at the next meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, on Monday, September 19 at 12 noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st, Hamilton. Jim will be discussing the Co-op and providing information about their Valley Solar Project. The meeting is open to the public. For further Rotary Club information, call 363-2960.
Nonviolent Communication Discussion Group
Learn to communicate in a non-violent way at a discussion group on Monday, September 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (ongoing on the first and third Mondays of the month) at The Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street, Hamilton (north of Sears). Peace and violence starts within each individual and is expressed by the way we communicate with one another. This discussion group is based on the book “Nonviolent Communication — A Language of Life” by Marshall Rosenberg. Learn Marshall’s simple technique to communicate and build healthy, strong relationships in a non-violent, peaceful, and respectful way. Purchase the book from your favorite book source. Donations taken. For more information call Salim at 241-1292.
Bitterroot Audubon
Bitterroot Audubon will meet Monday, September 19 at 7 p.m. at the Visitor’s Center meeting room at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge on Wildfowl Lane north of Stevensville. The program is free, and the public is invited. Contact Kay Fulton, 642-3794, for more information. Barb Moreland will give a presentation on birding in southeast Arizona. You don’t need to go to Central or South America to see fantastic, colorful birds. Just go to Southeast Arizona; it’s a lot closer! At Bitterroot Audubon’s September meeting, Barb Moreland, who splits her time between Hamilton and Tucson, AZ will describe this wonderful birding mecca, including information on birding hotspots and photos of many of the unique birds to be found there. This is the “sky island” area where the Rocky Mountains meet Mexico’s Sierra Madre, where Sonoran Desert meets Chihuahuan Desert. This geographical confluence produces one of the richest regions of bird diversity on the continent, with more than 500 species recorded.
Amateur Radio Club
The Bitterroot Amateur Radio Club (BARC) meets Monday, November 19 at 7 p.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Optional dinner is at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and visitors are encouraged. Many people who are interested in getting into Ham/Amateur radio begin by visiting or joining the club. All ages are welcome to participate and there will be subject matter experts on hand to help you get started.
Tuesday, September 20
MDMH Auxiliary membership tea
The Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital Auxiliary membership tea will be held on Tuesday, September 20 at 1:30 p.m. in conference rooms B & C of the hospital, 1200 Westwood Drive in Hamilton. The event will be hosted by the Auxiliary board and the theme is “Me and My Shadow.” Come and learn about what is involved in volunteering. This is an opportunity to give back to your community.
RCEDA
Ravalli County Economic Development Authority will hold its regular monthly Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 20 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, September 21 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.
Wilderness lecture
North Valley Public Library invites you for a rare opportunity to meet Frederick Swanson, author of the books, “Where Roads Will Never Reach: Wilderness and Its Visionaries in the Northern Rockies” and “The Bitterroot and Mr. Brandborg: Clearcutting and the Struggle for Sustainable Forestry in the Northern Rockies” on Tuesday, September 20 at 6 p.m. Come hear historical anecdotes about timbering, the early Forest Service, Ranger Charles McDonald, Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Guy Brandborg, as well the environmental issues of the past half-century. The book, “The Bitterroot and Mr. Brandborg,” won the 2010 Wallace Stegner Prize in Environmental and American Western History. Bring your copies of his books as the author will have a book signing after the presentation. The North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.