Wednesday, March 27
NVPL Storytime
The Fire Department will be the theme of the Storytime and Craft on Wednesday, March 27 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the North Valley Public Library. Bring your little one down to learn about the local fire department, meet a firefighter and participate in some great fire safety activities. A healthy snack will be provided and there will be time to play and socialize with new friends. The library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information, call the library at 777-5061.
Wildlife talk
Kate Stone, an ecologist at the MPG Ranch in Florence, will present a talk titled “Little Known Wildlife of the Bitterroot Valley” on Wednesday, March 27 at 2 p.m. at the Golden Age Club, 727 S. 5th in Hamilton. Kate’s talk will center on birds, but she will also show movies and observations of many wildlife species, including mountain lions, wolves, elk, river otters, and wolverines. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided.
Bitterroot College Advisory Council
The Advisory Council for the Bitterroot College of The University of Montana will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 27 at 3 p.m. at the Bedford Building, 223 S. 2nd Street, Hamilton. UM President Royce Engstrom will be the special guest. The BC Advisory Council is a public board and welcomes members of the public to observe and participate at its meetings. The meeting agenda and supplemental meeting materials are available on the BC website at Advisory Council Meetings or by calling the BC Business Office at 375-0100.
Lone Rock Meet and Greet
The community is invited to a potluck dinner on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Lone Rock School cafeteria where the public will have an opportunity to meet the new superintendent, Dr. Roger Samples. Bring a dish or a dessert if you are able, but more importantly, come and meet the gentleman that’s been chosen to lead Lone Rock School into the future.
UM President’s meeting
University of Montana President Royce Engstrom will host a town-hall style meeting for alumni and friends of UM on Wednesday, March 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Bedford Building in Hamilton, 223 S. Second St. A social will be held before the event from 5:30 to 6 p.m., and the meeting is free and open to the public. Engstrom will be joined by several members of his Cabinet and he will engage in conversation with attendees on issues related to UM. For more information call the UM Office of the President at 243-2311 or email prestalk@umontana.edu.
Lolo Watershed Group
The Lolo Watershed Group is hosting the second in a series of three community discussions regarding the movement of Lolo Creek on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Lolo Community Center. The meeting will focus on landowner rights and responsibilities regarding activity on private property to mitigate channel movement, as well as actions that have already been taken to address this movement. Agency staff will present best management practice options and answer questions on how to start a project, and landowners will share stories and experiences regarding their own projects. All Lolo Watershed residents, landowners and interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend. The Lolo Community Center is located at 12345 Highway 93 S in Lolo. For more information e-mail Kascie at kascie.herron@gmail.com, Lolo Watershed Group President Bobbie Bartlette at lolotrailbritts@gmail.com or www.lolowatershed.org for a full meeting summary.
Sound Awareness Workshop
Find your voice and express your authentic self with toning, singing and spiritual chanting. The Center for Spiritual Living invites everyone to a free (offering accepted) Sound Awareness Workshop on Wednesday, March 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., facilitated by Becky Lellek, a licensed hypnotherapist and Sound Instructor. The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 1720 N. First Street, in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. For further information call 381-2355.
Stevensville BID meeting
You are invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Stevensville Town Hall regarding the pros and cons of a Business improvement District (BID). Information will be discussed on how a BID works, what it means for the property owner, how it can affect and work for a business etc. Al Mitchell from Hamilton will be in attendance to explain and answer questions regarding how this has affected Hamilton. This informational meeting is being facilitated by the Economic Development Committee of the Stevensville Main Street Association.
Thursday, March 28
NVPL computer class
A free computer maintenance class will be held Thursday, March 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library. This small, hands-on class is available to anyone looking to brush up on specific computer skills. Learn the basics of do-it-yourself computer maintenance to insure that your PC is running smoothly and efficiently. Registration is appreciated as space is limited. The library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville, phone 777-5061.
NVPL Ready 2 Read Parent Workshop
A Ready 2 Read Parent Workshop will be held Thursday, March 28 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library, 208 Main in Stevensville. Learning to read begins even before school starts. Young children need to develop important language and literacy skills before they actually begin to learn to read. Parents and other caregivers can start now to build those early literacy skills. This workshop will demonstrate how parents can use five familiar and easy-to-use techniques to develop language and other literacy skills in ages birth-five. Parents will go home with the understanding of why these skills are important, and with early literacy activities to do at home. Most importantly, this is an opportunity for parents and children to play together using the literacy stations set up at the library. WIC will be sponsoring light refreshments and activities for children will be available. This is a free event, though registration is helpful. Call the library at 777-5061 for further information and to register.
Stevensville Town Council
The Stevensville Town Council will meet Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 206 Buck. Some agenda items include: water and sewer project updates and the first reading of Ordinance No. 137 (Park Regulations), to name a few. Prior to the regular meeting, a public hearing on Ordinances 133 (Water) and 134 (Sewer) of the Municipal Code will be held at 6:30 p.m.
Victor Park District
The Victor Park District will meet on Thursday, March 28 (fourth Thursday) at 7 p.m. at the Farmers State Bank meeting room in Victor (enter rear door from the south parking lot). Discussion will continue on possible involvement with the Victor Park, and spring landscaping plans. The public is encouraged to attend. Call Roger De Haan at 961-3953 for more information.
Methodist Easter events
Easter season events at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 216 College, phone 777-5443, include:
Maundy Thursday, March 28 – Service at 7 pm, with the play “Beneath the Upper Room”
Good Friday, March 29 – Tenebrae Service at 7 p.m.
Easter Sunday, March 31 – Sunrise Service at 7:30 a.m. at 583 Cash Nichols (off Middle Burnt Fork Road); Breakfast at the church at 8 a.m.; Easter egg hunt on the front lawn at 9:30 a.m.; Easter Celebration Service at 10:15 a.m.
Everyone is welcome.
Lutheran Easter events
Our Savior Lutheran Church of Stevensville welcomes members of the community to participate in worship at this holiest time of the Christian calendar. Holy Week observances begin on Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. with Maundy Thursday Divine Service. The Good Friday Service will be held at 7 p.m. on the 29th.
The celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord begins with a sunrise service at 6 a.m. on Easter, March 31. Between services an Easter breakfast will be cooked and served by the youth of the congregation. Proceeds raised from the breakfast freewill offering will be pledged to local, state and international missions. The children’s egg hunt will follow breakfast. Easter Festival Service begins at 9 a.m. Holy Communion will be celebrated at both services.
Our Savior, affiliated with the Lutheran Church––Missouri Synod, is located at 184 Pine Hollow Road. One mile south of the intersection of Middle Burnt Fork Road and the Eastside Highway, turn east on Pine Hollow, cross the tracks and the canal. The church will be on your left, marked by the three crosses of Easter.
For more information, call the Church office weekday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 at 777-5625.
Christian play
Did you ever wonder who cooked the Last Supper and what went on in the kitchen? Come see “Beneath The Upper Room by Kevin M. Reese, Maunday Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at Stevensville United Methodist Church. Meet the 10 ladies who made the dinner and hear their stories in this funny and moving play. This performance is free and open to all. The church is located at 216 College Street (the big grey church with red doors at the corner of 3rd and College) in Stevensville. For more information call 777-5443 or 777-0520.
Friday, March 29
Beta Sigma Phi tulip sale
The Bitterroot Chapters of Beta Sigma Phi will be holding their annual Tulip Flower Sale on Good Friday, March 29 beginning at 10 a.m. The proceeds this year will be donated to the Bitterroot Community College to help fund equipment for use in their Anatomy and Physiology lab. The associated course is required for all students pursuing a health profession degree including nursing and surgical technician. The tulips will sell for $8 per bunch of 10 and can be purchased from members in front of Ravalli County Bank in Hamilton and Rocky Mountain Bank in Stevensville and at various other locations in Hamilton, Victor and Stevensville. Look for sellers on street corners all up and down the valley. Flowers can also be purchased in Hamilton at Parker’s Cannery Warehouse, 307 Hwy 93 N. (enter through the big doors in the alley just west of the light at N. Hwy 93 and Pine Street).
Eagles dinner
Chef Greg will be serving dinner for the public on Friday, March 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Bitterroot Eagles Lodge, 125 N. Second, Hamilton. The menu is Chicken Cordon Bleu, mashed potatoes, salad and dessert. Proceeds go to the Bitter Root Eagles Scholarship program.
Stevensville Community Garden meeting
The Stevensville Community Garden is growing! It has moved to a larger space this year, and applications for gardening space from Stevi youngsters of all ages who dig the good earth are now being accepted. An informational/organizational meeting hosted by Colleen Miller, director of the SCG, and Caitlin Kempainen, library liaison, will be held Friday, March 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the community room at the North Valley Public Library in Stevensville. Check out the library’s child and adult teaching programs, and listen to short presentations about disabled gardening, herb gardening, individual plotting, hoophouses, and more! The new garden will also accommodate groups who might desire a larger space for their constituents. Light refreshments and a seed giveaway, courtesy of local retailers, will lure you to “Think Spring.” For general SCG info, call Colleen, 777-1167. For more info about library programs, call Caitlin, 777-5061.
Good Friday Service
The Center for Spiritual Living is offering a special Good Friday Service, “Communion with Christ Consciousness,” on Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. This observance will include a spiritual, metaphysical experience of Communion and Walking the Stations of the Cross, in addition to an inspiring message from Paul Feldman and music by Chris Kingsley. The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 1720 N. First Street, in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. For further information call 381-4068.
Saturday, March 30
Welcome Back Waterfowl Day
On Saturday, March 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Bitterroot Audubon Society’s Welcome Back Waterfowl Day will be celebrated on the county road between the ponds, just west of the Metcalf Refuge Visitor Center. Everyone is welcome. Audubon members with scopes will be present to help you find and identify waterfowl and other birds, and treats to eat. Two live owls, a Sawwhet Owl and a Long-eared Owl, will help greet everyone. Look for the Bitterroot Audubon Society banner.
Easter Egg Hunt
American Legion Post 94 will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Lewis & Clark Park in Stevensville. Children ages 0-12 are welcome and the hunt is divided into four age groups. A total of 120 eggs will be hidden and special prizes awarded for those who find the special gold and silver eggs. For more information call Dan at 777-2687.
Easter Egg Hunt
The Darby Community Public Library will sponsor Darby’s annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at Tin Cup Park on Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m. The egg hunt is open to all children ages 2-7. Children are reminded to bring their baskets. Community members donating colored hard-boiled eggs may take them to the library on Friday after 4 p.m. or to the park on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt
The Three Mile annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m. at 1064 Three Mile Creek Road. Ages 0-12 are welcome. Memorial donations from the family of Mary Susen helped make this event possible. For more information call Colleen at 777-3710.
Easter Egg Hunt
Sleeping Child Church, 869 Sleeping Child Road, Hamilton, will be having a huge Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. There are over 4,000 eggs with prizes, food and more throughout the afternoon. Ages for the hunt are from 0-12 years of age.
Senior Center bingo
Hamilton Senior Center will be hosting a special Saturday Bingo for the public on March 30. Doors open at 12 noon, games start at 1 p.m. Paper cards will be used. Refreshments will be served. You must be 18 to play. Call Cathy at 375-9276 for information.
Guitar workshop series
A series of guitar workshops will be held at the Music Box in Hamilton
The first workshop, on Saturday, March 30 from 2 to 4 p.m., will cover chord progressions from simple to advanced, including passing chords, walking-bass progressions used in western swing, and guitar backup for Texas-style fiddling.
The second workshop, on Saturday, April 6 from 2 to 4 p.m., is on fingerpicking, also called “thumbpicking” and will discuss and demonstrate the styles of Mother Maybelle Carter, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, and Chet Atkins.
The third workshop, on Saturday, April 20 from 2 to 4 p.m., will cover some lead guitar techniques useful in playing classic country, folk, swing, western swing, and similar styles.
There is no need to bring your guitar. There is no charge for the programs. For information call Clem Small, 961-4949.
Family search open house
The public is invited to try a free Family Search program at an open house on Saturday, March 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the LDS family history library, 401 N. 8th in Hamilton (west entrance). This program allows you to enter names of people and tie them to many ancestors in the world’s largest name library. Consultants will be on hand and computers available for your use. The library is also open to the public Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 31
Easter celebration
Come celebrate Easter Sunday at The Center for Spiritual Living on Sunday, March 31. There will be a Sunrise Celebration Service at 7 a.m., followed by a continental breakfast. Meditation will be held at 9:30 a.m. followed by an Easter Video Talk/Discussion Service at 10 a.m. The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 1720 N. First Street, in Selway Commons, north of Sears in Hamilton. For further information call 381-2355.
Easter Egg Hunt
On Sunday, March 31 at 1 p.m., the Bitter Root Eagles Lodge will sponsor its annual Community Easter Egg Hunt for children 12 years old and younger at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. There will be 3 age groups with prizes for each group.
Monday, April 1
Daly Mansion volunteer meeting
The Daly Mansion Preservation Trust, a non-profit organization, will be holding a meeting on Monday, April 1 at 10 a.m. at the Daly Mansion, 251 Eastside Hwy in Hamilton, for people interested in becoming a Daly Mansion volunteer. Some examples of volunteer opportunities include tour guides, gift shop attendants, archives, grounds and gardening. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this meeting. The Daly Mansion Preservation Trust’s mission is “dedicated to preserving and interpreting The Daly Mansion, its buildings, grounds and the history they convey. It is a center for education, cultural and community activities.” For more information, call Darlene at 363-6004, ext. 4# or 363-8048.
Healthy eating seminar
“How Your Body Really Works (or doesn’t) – Why to Eat This” is the title of a free seminar to be led by Deborah Nycz, MS, a nutritional trainer from Natural Grocers in Missoula, on Monday, April 1, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1720 N. 1st Street, Suite C, in Selway Commons just north of Sears in Hamilton. The seminar will help participants know how food works with your body, or doesn’t, which makes it easier to understand the way to eat and why. Learn how our bodies respond to the nutrients in the food we eat, and how to design our plate to help our body work like nature intended. These techniques may help with weight loss, reduction in aches and pains, balanced hormones and real energy. Nutritious goodies will be available for snacks. For more information call Faye at 777-0271.
Rotary Club
The program for the Monday, April 1 meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club will be “Getting to Know You!” Rotarian members will have an opportunity to share information about themselves and what Rotary means to them. 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.
Tuesday, April 2
Non-profit board workshop
A workshop on “Creating Non-profit Boards that Work” will be held Tuesday, April 2 at the Ravalli County Museum, 205 Bedford, Hamilton. Dan Clark, director of MSU Local Government Center, will be the presenter. A meet and greet with pizza dinner will take place at 5 p.m. with the workshop following from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10 which includes dinner. Training will cover roles and responsibilities of non-profit boards and staff; effective meeting management; strategic planning and common traps; creative solutions to effective board management. Effective boards have engaged members, strong leadership and good processes. When these areas are working well, a positive dynamic is created. When any area is challenged, it affects the other areas and can stall or lead to ineffectiveness. RSVP to Bitter Root RC&D at 363-5450, bitterrootrcd@cybernet1.com, MSU Extension at 375‐6611 or katelyna@montana.edu.
Sons of Norway
Bitterrootdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway, will meet Tuesday, April 2 at 5 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton. The program will include information on genealogy and how to search a family tree. There will be a review of the book, “The Last Kings of Norse America,” detailing Norwegian fur trade in North America 200 years before the French arrived, and authenticating the Kensington runestone left in Minnesota in 1362. The main dish will be scalloped potatoes and ham, with drinks and service provided. Members and visitors are invited to bring an Easter side dish. The public is invited.