Wednesday, March 14
BPL preschool story time
Preschoolers are invited to meet in the children’s corner of the Bitterroot Public Library in Hamilton on Wednesday, March 14 to enjoy “Ahoy, Matey!” with storyteller Paula Prescott. Story time begins at 10:30 a.m. and is designed for children 3-5 years of age. All story times are free and open to the public.
NVPL Music Makers Storytime
Music Makers Storytime will be held Wednesday, March 14 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the North Valley Public Library. Melissa Sparks leads this program, geared towards ages 2-7, with an accompanying adult, through singing, movement, fingerplays and stories. March’s theme is “Weather” and it is sure to be a fun time whether the sun is shining or the rain is falling. A healthy snack is always provided. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Corvallis sewer board
The Corvallis County Sewer District will hold a special board meeting on Wednesday, March 14 at 11 a.m. to discuss the purchase of a Jetter truck. Call 961-4136 for more information.
NARFE
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) will hold the monthly no host luncheon meeting on Wednesday, February 14 at 11:30 a.m. in the north conference room of Perkins Restaurant, 1285 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. The speaker will be Chuck Oliver, Darby District Ranger, US Forest Service, who will speak on the Lake Como Timber Sale. A business meeting will follow. All members and their guests and anyone wishing to become a member are cordially invited. Contact Warren at 546-6706 for more information.
Library travel presentation
Ever dream about visiting Ireland? Take a tour of County Clare and beyond with John Conlan as your host. John and his wife, Lorraine, have family ties in Ireland and will share with you some of the spectacular scenery and stories of the people they met. In time for St. Patrick’s Day, John will present his program “My Heart Tonight’s in Ireland – Tour County Clare and Beyond” in the Community Room of the North Valley Public Library, Wednesday March 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and the program is open to all ages. There will be light refreshments and lively conversation. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the Library at 777-5061.
Thursday, March 15
Art Club
An art club will meet Thursday, March 15 at 6 p.m. at the North Valley Family Center, 5501 Hwy 93 in Florence (behind Town Pump). The group meets every other Thursday and is open to anyone interested in art/drawing, from beginning to experienced, and everyone in-between. Bring your own materials. Call 273-0142 for more information.
PFLAG
PFLAG meets March 15 (third Thursday of every month) at 7 p.m. in the building just east (Historical Rectory) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church located at 600 S. Third St. in Hamilton. PFLAG foremost offers support to parents, families, friends and to the LGBTQ community. Come and discuss the information and the resources that are available from PFLAG’s national office and website. The program, “Straight for Equality” for allies and how they can assist their friends and families will also be discussed. Check out the websites of pflag.org and PFLAG Hamilton-Bitterroot.org.
TU meeting
The March 15 BRTU meeting will feature Kris Kumlien from Bozeman’s Montana Troutfitters at 7 p.m. at Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State Street in Hamilton. There is no charge for admission and the public is invited to attend. Kumlien has been guiding on the Madison since before he was born! That’s because Kris’s dad, legendary Bozeman guide Dave Kumlien, started Montana Troutfitters in 1978. Troutfitters (www.troutfitters.com) was Bozeman’s first full-service flyfishing shop and an obligatory stop for anglers heading to the Madison. Kris maintains the tradition and exacting standards, and to say that he knows “The Secrets of the Madison” is a plain and simple fact. If you want to learn how to fish this celebrated Montana river, don’t miss Kris’s program! TU members will be having dinner with Kris at Spice of Life at 5 p.m. before the meeting. Long-time TU supporter Karen Suennen will be donating 10% of the proceeds to the club. For more information, contact Cassie Buhl (cassie.buhl@gmail.com) or Marshall Bloom (drtrout@mtbloom.net).
BPL children’s workshop
Fun With Letters Ready to Read program meets Thursday, March 15 from 6 to 6:50 p.m. in the children’s corner of the Bitterroot Public Library in Hamilton. The workshop presents the five early literacy practices along with simple activities that parents, caregivers, and children (age 2–5) can enjoy together while learning letter names and sounds. Register at 363-1670.
Back Country Horsemen
Bitterroot Back Country Horsemen host their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 15, at the Corvallis School Cafeteria on Eastside Highway in Corvallis. Potluck dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the general meeting starts at 7:00. Program speaker is Adam Rissien, policy specialist at Wildlands CPR. Adam will talk about roads and the wilderness and describe the organization’s mission and goals. Guests are welcome, and for more information call Karen at 961-0101 or check the website at www.bchmt.org/bitterroot.
BPL film series
The Bitterroot Public Library is presenting the last of its Adult Foreign and Independent Film Series for the season on Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m. in the west meeting room of the library. The film is “Biblioburro (The Donkey Library).” Biblioburro is the story of a librarian — and a library — like no other. A decade ago, Colombian grade-school teacher Luis Soriano was inspired to spend his weekends bringing a modest collection of precious books, via two hard-working donkeys, to the children of Magdalena Province’s poor and violence-ridden interior. This event is in collaboration with POV, the award winning independent non-fiction film series on PBS. This event is free and open.
Friday, March 16
North Valley Pachyderm Club
The North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, March 16 at noon at the Frontier Café, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speakers will be Republican candidates for County Commissioner: Don Montgomery, Kevin Fadely and incumbents Greg Chilcott and JR Iman. The North Valley Pachyderm Club meets the first and third Friday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the Frontier Cafe. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
St. Patty’s dinner
A corned beef and cabbage dinner will be served on Friday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Bitterroot Eagles lodge, 125 N. 2nd, Hamilton. Proceeds support the Bitterroot Eagles Scholarship Fund.
Celtic music concert
A St.Patrick’s “Eve” celebration of Celtic music with one of Ireland’s top traditional bands, “Dervish” will be held on Friday, March 16 at 8 p.m. at the Hamilton Performing Arts Center. Built upon two sturdy pillars–the hauntingly charismatic vocals of Cathy Jordan and the dazzling virtuosity of such award-winning instrumentalists as Tom Morrow on fiddle, Liam Kelly on flute, and Shane Mitchell on accordion–Dervish is a solid structure of a band founded in legendary pub sessions and shaped by years of international touring. Now, more than two decades since first coming together (and with four of the original members still at the helm) Dervish is more in demand than ever. Their colorful career has taken them to every corner of the globe and has found them sharing center stage with such names as James Brown, The Buena Vista Social Club, Oasis, Sting, REM, Beck and many more. Tickets are $24.50 and $28.50 and are available by calling 363-7946 or by visiting www.bARTc.org.
Saturday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day dinner
Historic St. Mary’s Parish will be serving its annual traditional St. Patrick’s Day Dinner of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots on Saturday, March 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Family Center, 400 Charlos Street, Stevensville. Hot rolls, dessert and a drink will round out the menu. Cost of dinner will be $8.00 for adults and teens, children age 12 to 5 will be $4.00, and children 5 and under will be free. There will also be hot dogs and chips available for the little ones. Green beer will be available for adults, with the first glass free.
St. Patrick’s Day dinner
Corvallis United Methodist Church will hold its annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on Saturday, March 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. A free will offering will be taken. The church is located at the corner of Eastside Hwy and Cemetery Road, one mile south of the 4-way stop.
A Capella Society Gala
Mark your calendars for a fun filled festive St. Patrick’s Gala with the Montana A Cappella Society on Saturday, March 17 at 6 p.m. Celebrate your evening listening to the haunting strains of the bagpipe, enjoy watching lively Irish dance, all topped off with performances by the Montana A Cappella Society. Your dinner will be a sumptuous gourmet meal catered by Caffe Firenze. Both a silent and live auction will help with funds for the Society’s upcoming trip to Cork, Ireland for the Choral Festival. Enjoy a night to remember in the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Hall, 411 S. 5th, Hamilton. All this for only $30.00 a person – get your tickets at Chapter One Book Store in downtown Hamilton or call 363-5778.
Senior Center bingo
The Hamilton Senior Center, 820 N. 4th, will be hosting a Special Saturday Bingo on Saturday, March 17. Doors open at 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.
St. Patty’s dance
A St. Patty’s Dance will be held Saturday, March 17 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Hamilton Eagles. The event is sponsored by Bitterroot Dancers. Everyone is welcome. For information call 363-6650 or 381-1392.
Monday, March 19
Stevi school menu
March 19-21
Monday: Breakfast – Cereal or yogurt, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Pulled pork sandwich, taters, apricots, bread and butter, milk
Tuesday: Breakfast – Pancakes, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Taco salad, lettuce, salsa, oranges, bread & butter, milk
Wednesday: Breakfast – Bagel & cream cheese, fruit, toast, milk; Lunch – Peanut butter & jelly sandwich, carrots, strawberry cups, bread & butter, milk
Thursday & Friday – No school
Rotary Club
The Hamilton Rotary Club is honoring our U.S. Military during the month of March. The speaker for the March 19 meeting will be Brigadier General Dale Stovall, United States Air Force (Ret). A 1967 Air Force Academy graduate, he distinguished himself as a rescue pilot in North Vietnam and Laos.
For his last active duty assignment, General Stovall served as Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, NC. There will be time for questions and discussion. The club meets Mondays at noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st Street, Hamilton. This meeting is open to the public. For further information call 363-2960.
Relay for Life
The Relay for Life steering committee will meet Monday, March 19 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. Team captains meet from 7 to 8 p.m.
Bitterroot Audubon
Bitterroot Audubon’s March 19 meeting will feature a program describing efforts to sustain the “Crown Jewel” of Mongolia. The “Blue Pearl” is the traditional and spiritual name for Lake Hovsgol, the largest lake in Mongolia and the 17th largest lake in the world. It is located in a beautiful mountainous setting just south of the Russian border. Its outlet river drains into Lake Baikal, the world’s largest lake. Presenter Doug Morris retired from the U.S. National Park Service and is currently a member of Global Parks. This organization was invited by the Mongol Ecology Center to assess what is needed to create a viable and sustainable national park at Lake Hovsgol. Their goal is to develop plans that preserve the natural, cultural and spiritual values of the area, but also create ecologically sustainable tourism development.
Learn about this fascinating, remote part of the world on Monday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Bitterroot National Forest Headquarters on Hwy 93 at the north end of Hamilton. The meeting is free, and the public is invited to attend. Enter the building from the west side. For further information contact Kay Fulton at 642-3794.
Tuesday, March 20
FFA spaghetti feed
The Stevensville FFA chapter will be holding a spaghetti feed on Tuesday, March 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Stevensville School multi-purpose room. We are accepting donations for the dinner. There will be spaghetti and garlic bread as well as a baked goods auction. Donations are being accepted. Call 777-5481 for more information.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Ravalli County is currently looking for a building lot and a partner family as well as volunteers to help on the following committees: Building, Family Selection and Support Committee, and Fund Raising and Public Relations. An organizational meeting will be held Tuesday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Street office, 102B Main in Stevensville. For more information call 375-1926.