Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Community Calendar

Hamilton Senior Center activities

Monday - noon lunch, cloggers at 1:30 p.m.; bingo at 7 p.m.

Tuesday - line dancing at 9 a.m.

Wednesday - noon lunch, bridge at I p.m., cloggers at 5 p.m.

Thursday - exercise at 9 a.m.

Friday - noon lunch.

Al-Anon

The Stevensville Al-Anon Group meets each Thursday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library. Anyone who is affected by the compulsive drinking of a relative or friend is invited. For more information call 375-9996.

Lilies of the Valley

An ensemble of female voices under the direction of Thelma Laws join together every Thursday evening, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Memorial Room of the United Methodist American Baptist Church, 611 N. 6th in Hamilton. You're invited to share your time, talents and fun in singing many categories of choral music: show tunes, Broadway, standard pops, spirituals, folk tunes, to name a few. The group strives toward seasonal programs for spring, fall and Christmas. Membership is always open to additional singers (no auditions!) or, if you're not a singer, you might consider assisting as an alternate piano accompanist. For more information call Donna, 363-1742, or Lola, 363-4633.

VFW meetings

VFW Post 1430 meets the first Monday of every month at 8 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Hamilton the Woman's Auxiliary meets at 7 pm.

Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous is a Twelve Step program that deals with eating behaviors. Is one of your goals to reach a healthy weight? This program offers a solution within reach of all those who want to find relief from an obsession with food. It meets weekly on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 203 Main Street, Stevensville, as well as on Saturdays at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Main St., Hamilton. For information, call 777-7160.

La Leche League

La Leche League is an international mother-to-mother network for moms who want to breastfeed their babies. Bitterroot LLL chapter meets in the North Valley Public Library community room the third Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. Mothers and children and pregnant women are welcome. Call 239-5039 for more information.

Suicide Loss Support

When you suffer a loss due to suicide the grief is overwhelming. Most people don't know "just how you feel." What you can expect from SLS is someone who has experienced a loss from suicide to listen to you privately, or in a group setting. You may choose to be present but it is ok not to speak if you are not ready. SLS cares. Your loss matters and your grief is very real. SLS will support you in every way possible. Contact Shaun or Barbara Jo DesJardins, 777-3853.

Sapphire Arabian Horse Club

The Sapphire Arabian Horse Club has monthly meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. For more information or the location of the April meeting, contact Shelagh Fox at 273-4317 or Wendy Hauser at 642-9640. The club welcomes new members.

Saturday Kids Activities

Join the Montana Natural History Center each Saturday at 2 p.m. for a different exciting children’s program. Admission is 50 cents for kids, $1 for adults and members are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Programs run about an hour to an hour and a half. Great for kids ages 5 and older. The center is located at 120 Hickory, Missoula.

Daly Mansion tours

Come see what's new at the Daly Mansion. The Mansion is open for tours seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with tours on the hour. 2007 is the 20th Anniversary for the Daly Mansion, which is celebrating 20 years open to the public. The Mansion is offering a special price of $20 for an individual membership with a goal is 1000 members for this special year. The membership includes one ticket for admission (value $8). The Mansion is located at 251 Eastside Hwy. between Corvallis and Hamilton. Call 363-6004 for more information.

Toastmasters Club

Toastmasters Club #347 meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Duran learning Center in st. Patrick hospital. Come and join one of the best communication and leadership organizations in the world. For more information call Jim Mickelson, 728-9117.

Sign Language Group

There is a weekly sign language group forming in Stevensville to learn SEE Sign. The initial meeting was Monday, June 18. SEE Sign Language classes will continue each Monday at 6:45 p.m. Active Care Family Chiropractic office in Stevensville (located next door to Kodiak Jax on Main St). The facilitator is Jennifer Closson. The class is free, but pre-registration in required by calling Amy Sage, 642-6400.

Tuesday at Twelve

The Bitterroot's Tuesday at Twelve series of free concerts take place in Hamilton's Legion Park from noon until 1 p.m. every Tuesday through the end of August. The free concerts are made possible by the support of local businesses and professionals, and the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce. Bring a lunch, or purchase a picnic from a vendor at the park. For more information, call Jean Matthews, Tuesday at Twelve coordinator, at 363-5220.

Yoga in the Root

Yoga in the Root now offers a night class, beginning Iyengar style, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Stevensville. In addition, there are general hatha classes at 10:30 a.m. Mondays and at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Vigorous ashtanga classes are at 9 a.m. Mondays and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. The program is at Active Care Chiropractic at 504 Main St. Call Jill at 370-9252, or e-mail yogaintheroot@gmail.com for information.

Senior Center bridge

Just a reminder that bridge is a game you can play for life, it is always a mental exercise that keeps our brains and wits sharp. If you don't play yet keep your eye peeled for the announcement of the fall free bridge lessons. These classes will teach you the basics and you can move on from there. If you already play bridge and want to play duplicate bridge, games are on Wednesdays at the Hamilton Senior Center at 1 p.m. You will need to bring a partner or call Judy Dameral at 363-0738. She will assist you in finding a partner.

The Morning Gig

Attention musicians! St. Stephen's is recruiting musicians for "The Morning Gig." At 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, gather at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Main Street in Stevensville to practice, and then play. Sleep in! Play nine holes! Then come play music. There is a place in the band for everyone - whatever you play, you'll have a spot. If your music teacher is bugging you to practice this summer, come and jam! Just dug your clarinet out of the closet? Here's a place to tune it up. Help everyone be more creative! For more information call Suzanne at 529 6194 or email sartley@bresnan.net.

Community Health Fair

The Valley Farmers Market, located in Hamilton on Bedford and Third, will host its second annual Community Health Fair – Well-being in the Bitterroot – on Saturday, August 18 from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Community organizations and healers of all kinds will be presenting their knowledge, skills and services for maintaining well being here in the valley. You are invited to be a part of this as a community group, practitioner, vendor, customer or visitor. For a registration form, contact market manager Laura Craig at 961-0004.

Arabian Farm Tour

The Sapphire Arabian Horse Club will be hosting its second annual farm tour on Saturday, August 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Six member farms are participating this year and are located from Turah down through the Bitterroot Valley to Corvallis.

Look for a large poster and flyers with directions to each participating farm at local businesses that deal in equine feed and supplies such as Feed and Farm in Hamilton and Stevensville, Lakeland Feeds in Hamilton, Quality Supply in Hamilton and Missoula, Tacked Up in Missoula, Corral West in Missoula, etc.

Visit one or several of the farms and be eligible to win an original oil painting by artist, Joan Mason. Additional tickets to win the painting may be purchased at each farm with proceeds going to fund the educational and breed promotion events sponsored by SAHC. The drawing will be held at the club's annual Christmas party in early December.

For more information, contact Wendy Hauser at 642-9640.

UM-COT courses in Bitterroot

The University of Montana College of Technology now offers courses in the Bitterroot for area residents who are interested in working toward a college degree or enhancing job skills.

Six evening courses will be held during fall semester at Hamilton High School: Principles of Business, Interpersonal Communications, Computer Literacy, Elementary Functions, Lab Tech I and Technical Writing.

Free informational sessions will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, and Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Hamilton High School Library, 327 Fairgrounds Rd. Fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.

Lab Tech Orientation will be held for one hour immediately following each informational session. The Lab Tech I course provides basic skills and general knowledge needed to apply for entry-level laboratory technician and laboratory manufacturing positions.

Representatives of COT Student Services will be on hand at each session to assist with application, registration or payment.

For more information go online to http://www.cte.umt.edu or call the COT Outreach Program, 243-7812.

SAFE anniversary celebration

Soroptimist International of Hamilton is celebrating the 20th anniversary of SAFE (Supporters of Abuse Free Environments) with a picnic and entertainment on Sunday, August 19 from noon until 2 p.m. at Claudia Driscoll Park. Entertainment will feature Free Range, Bitterroot Community Band, Sky Moose and more. There will be a free picnic lunch. This will be a great day of fun for the entire family. Thanks to the efforts of SAFE and its dedicated volunteers, thousands of adults and children are living safer, violence-free lives. Come join in the celebration!

Brain Injury Support Group

The Missoula Brain Injury Support Group will hold its 5th Annual Picnic at Franklin Park on Monday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. Join brain injury survivors and their caregivers, friends, and families for some great fun and good food. Chicken wraps, salads and pop will be provided by MBISG. Bring a potluck dessert to share or small monetary donation. Franklin Park is at the corner of Kemp and 10th St. in Missoula. For more information call Larry Plant, 728-8260 or Jim Mickelson, 728-9117.

Stevi school board work session

There will be a Stevensville School Board of Trustees work session on Monday, August 20 at 6 p.m. in the Stevensville High School learning center.

Suicide Loss Support

Suicide Loss Support of the Bitterroot Valley will meet Tuesday, August 21 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be indoors due to air quality. The group is made up of people who have lost someone to suicide or other causes. Insight is shared about loss, depression, and other related topics. Call Shaun or Barbara Jo DesJardins at 777-3853 for location and other information.

Valley View art project

Valley View Estates in Hamilton is giving away 12 backpacks loaded with school supplies for Ravalli County school aged children (K-6). Kids, bring a picture you have drawn to Valley View Estates, 225 N. 8th in Hamilton and you will be entered to win one of the backpacks. Artwork is due by August 22, drawing on August 23.

Shakespeare in the Parks

The Hamilton Players are proud to present Montana Shakespeare In The Parks' performance of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" on Wednesday, August 22 at 6 p.m. on the grounds of the Daly Mansion. The performance is free and everyone is encouraged to attend. Written by William Shakespeare and directed by Joel Jahnke, "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is a deliciously silly, bawdy, and saucy farce centering on the machinations of two wealthy married women who, for their own amusement, pretend to respond to the advances of old Fat Jack, who has arrived in Windsor with little money but, as usual, with plenty of schemes. Identities are mistaken, disguises are donned, and these "merry wives" decide to have a little fun of their own with one hilariously convoluted situation after another. The only one of Shakespeare's plays to deal exclusively with contemporary issues and people of his time, this ripping good play features comic action which rarely slows and is populated by a group of eccentrics that we can still find in nearly every town today. For more information, call 375-9050.

COT orientation

The University of Montana College of Technology in Missoula will hold new student Orientation on Thursday, Aug. 23. The event will be held at the COT East Campus, located at 909 South Ave. W.

According to the state Board of Regents, all students must satisfy a writing proficiency standard that is demonstrated with a score from ACT, SAT or Montana University System Writing Assessment exams. Students who do not have one of these scores should take the UM Writing Placement Assessment Exam.

Students needing to take the writing assessment should check in at the COT Administration Building at 7 a.m. The exam begins promptly at 7:30 a.m. Students who already have taken the assessment should check in to the Administration Building by 8:30 a.m.

A welcoming ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in COT Health and Business Building Room HB01.

Students should call the Admissions Office at 243-7882 or 800-542-6882 or e-mail cotadmissions@umontana.edu for more information and to RSVP for the Aug. 23 Orientation.

BEAR concert

BEAR's Teen Outdoor Program is sponsoring the 1st Annual Rockin' with BEAR Concert and Fundraiser at the Hamilton Grange, 1436 U.S. Hwy. 93 S. (just north of Lone Pine Conoco gas station on the east side) from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, August 24. The featured band will be the Antimony Project with other guest bands TBA. There will be lots of door prizes, snacks, and drinks. Admission is $4. Additional donations are welcome. Teens and adults are both welcome. Transportation can be provided. Call 375-9110 for more information.

Those attending the concert will judge a teen poster contest of "My Greatest Outdoor Adventure." The grand prize is a $100 gift certificate to the store of the winner's choice with additional runner-up prizes. To enter, pick up rules and poster board at CT's Bazaar, 111 S. 3rd St. in Hamilton from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or the BEAR office at Westview Center on the corner of 9th and Main in Hamilton.

Missoula Dressage Show

Former Olympian Carol Lavell and former United States Dressage Federation President Kay Meredith will be judging the 17th Annual Missoula Dressage & Sport Horse Show and Montana Dressage Society Championships. The show will be held August 25-26 at the Missoula Equestrian Park, North Avenue and 35th Street. The show is organized by the Missoula Dressage and Combined Training Association.

Stevi school registration

Fall registration for Stevensville School District #2 kindergarten will be held Thursday, August 16. Registration for all other grades will be held on August 21, 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in all three school offices. Requirements for entrance are copies of birth certificate and current immunization records. Freshman orientation will be held Monday, August 27 at 7 p.m. in the high school gym.

Library closure

The North Valley Public Library in Stevensville will be closed from Sunday, August 26 through Monday, September 3 to train staff, set up equipment, and catalog as many books as possible in preparation for "going live" on the Montana Shared Catalog. Dozens of volunteers will be assisting staff in setting up new public catalog stations; re-arranging staff workspaces; and labeling, covering, and shelving materials that will be accessible online once the system goes live.

The North Valley Public Library (NVPL) will be joining over 75 other public, school, and academic libraries in this statewide consortium that allows users of each library to see the holdings of all of the other member libraries.

The Stevensville library will also be joining the Partners Program, an 11-member sub-group of the Montana Shared Catalog that shares new books and audiovisual materials amongst its members. Courier service between the Partners libraries allows patrons from each library to place holds on titles at other Partners libraries and have the title delivered to their home library in a matter of days. Patrons may also check out and return Partners books at any of the member libraries.

The North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street in Stevensville. It will re-open on Tuesday, September 4 at 10 a.m. and will resume its regular hours of Tuesday and Thursday 10-8, Wednesday and Friday 10-6 (first Fridays 10-8), and Saturday 9-4. For more information, call 777-5061.

Boating Safety Class

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) will offer a boating education class on Monday, August 27 from 6:30-9 p.m., at the FWP office in Missoula, 3201 Spurgin Road.

The class will include an overview of boating safety, equipment requirements and the rules of safe operation. Participants must register and read the boating manual prior to the class.

Montana law requires youth 13 and 14 years of age to pass a boating safety course in order to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft without an adult on board.

A boating certificate will be issued to those who successfully complete the class and a related test. A student must be at least 12 years old to register for the class. A parent or guardian must accompany students under the age of 16.

The class is free of charge. To register, visit the Missoula FWP office at 3201 Spurgin Road. Call 542-5500 for additional information.

The University of Montana College of Technology in Missoula will offer Saturday classes for the first time beginning this fall semester.

Five general education courses will be offered Saturdays when the semester begins Aug. 27. These are Interpersonal Communication (COM 150S), Intermediate Algebra (MAT 100), Organizational Psychology (PSY 110S), Issues in Biology (SCN 195T) and English Composition (WTS 101).

These classes are required for many of the college’s 35 programs.

For more information, call COT Enrollment Services-Admissions at 243-7882 or 800-542-6882. People also can e-mail cotadmissions@umontana.edu or visit http://www.cte.umt.edu.

COT students may view the Saturday class listings on the UM Cyberbear system at http://cyberbear.umt.edu.

Junior High Football signups

Sign-ups and equipment check out for 7th and 8th grade football for Stevensville and Lone Rock students will be held Monday, August 27 and Tuesday, August 28 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Stevensville Junior High building. For more information call coach Bruce Murray, 544-3461.

Hamilton Players auditions

The Hamilton Players will be holding auditions for the drama/thriller, "Wait Until Dark" on Monday, August 27 at 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Playhouse, 100 Ricketts Road. Roles are available for four men ages 18 years and up, one woman age 18 years and up, and one young woman/girl age 10-16 years. Auditions will be cold readings from the script. No experience or preparation is required and the public is invited and encouraged to audition. Scripts are available for check out at Chapter One Book Store. Performances are October 18-21, and 25-28. Written by Fredrick Knott and directed by Faylee Favara, "Wait Until Dark" is the story about Susy Hendrix, a blind woman, who is in for the most terrifying night of her life. No one is whom he or she seems to be in this cat-and-mouse game surrounding a children's doll filled with a fortune in narcotics. Audiences are in for a taut, suspenseful, hair raising, heart stopping, spine tingling, thrill ride! For more information or to schedule an outside audition, call the director at 370-6119.

The third of the 2007 "Walk By Light of the Moon" presentations will be held Tuesday, August 28 at the Daly Mansion. Come see and learn about the gorgeous Hungarian horse breeds, which include the Shagya Arabian horse, first brought to this area by the Countess Margit Sigray-Bessenyey. The first speaker for the night will be Francis Bessenyey, whose stepmother, the Countess, had a great love of all Hungarian-bred horses. The second speaker, Adele Furby of Moeise, will bring one of her Shagya Arabian stallions and discuss how she came to acquire the stallion Hungarian Bravo from the estate of the Countess. Plan to arrive by 8 p.m. for the program that should take about 1-1/2 hours. Participants may want to bring a flashlight in case the moon does not cooperate, also anticipate the weather and dress accordingly. The Daly Mansion is located northeast of Hamilton on Eastside Hwy., north of Fairgrounds Road. For more information contact Julie Schreck (375-2606) or Carole Long (375-2603) at the Bitterroot National Forest.

Fair bake sale

Ever wonder what happens to all of the wonderful pies, cakes and breads that are entered into the Fair? They are auctioned off on Wednesday, August 29 at 6 p.m. under the Big Tent at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Cliff Trexler is the auctioneer. Proceeds benefit the Ravalli County Museum. It's a great way to fill up your freezer without having to heat up your kitchen!

Some groups/businesses buy the goodies and take them to their coffee room. Some individuals fill up their freezer and take them to their hunting camp. Some individuals purchase the baked goods and donate them to a group in need.

Design seminars

Free design seminars for architects, engineers and masons, entitled “Sustainable Design and Masonry," will be presented by Diane Travis, Technical Director, Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, on the following dates:

Wednesday, August 29, Bozeman, GranTree Inn, 1325 North 7th Ave. 406-587-5261;

Thursday, August 30, Helena, Great Northern Hotel, 835 Great Northern Blvd., 406-457-5500;

Friday, August 31, Great Falls, Best Western Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road, 406-761-1900;

Monday, Sept. 10, Kalispell, Hampton Inn, 1140 Highway 2 West, 406-755-7990;

Tuesday, Sept. 11, Missoula, Grant Creek Inn, 5280 Grant Creek Road, 406-763-4672;

Wednesday, Sept. 12, Billings, Best Western Kelly Inn, 4915 Southgate Drive, 406-256-9400.

The seminar will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with lunch provided. RSVP: admin@rmmi.org

Masonry can make a significant contribution to meeting LEED Green Building certification. LEED is a rating system developed by the US Green Building Council to evaluate a building’s environmental impact and performance. Filling out LEED forms can be complex and confusing. This seminar will help architects, engineers and masons understand the system and get full credit for their masonry structures. Even if you do not plan to file for LEED certification, this class can teach you how to minimize the environmental impact of your building.

This seminar qualifies for 1.5 units of AIA continuing education credit (self-reported).

Metcalf Refuge archery hunting meeting

Deer-archery hunters are invited to attend a public meeting reviewing the upcoming 2007 hunting season on Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The agenda will include discussion of statistical data (harvest trends), regulations, issues, concerns, and law enforcement regarding hunting on the Refuge. The meeting will take place on Thursday, August 30 at the Lee Metcalf NWR Headquarters (Okefenokee Room), about 4 miles north of Stevensville, on Wildfowl Lane. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. and last about one hour. For more information, call 777-5552, ext. 203.

Paper drive

The Hamilton Garden Club will hold a paper drive on Friday, August 31 in the Safeway parking lot from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Papers, cans and can tabs will be accepted but not cardboard.

4-H/FFA livestock auction

The Ravalli County Fair 4-H/FFA livestock auction will be on Saturday, September 1 at the Hornung Arena in the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Buyer's breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m. followed by the auction at 8 a.m. Animals to be sold include dairy, sheep, hog, and beef. A small animal auction, including poultry, rabbits, and goats, will be held at the same location on September 1 starting at 3 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate in the auction and support the youth of Ravalli County.

Patriot Day Breakfast

The 5th Annual Patriot Day Commemorative Breakfast honoring all uniformed services, military and civilian, will be held Friday, September 7, at 7:30 a.m. in the Drill Hall of the Helena Armed Forces Reserve Center at Fort William Henry Harrison, west of Helena. The 2007 theme is “Still Here – Stay the Course.”

A free Riparian/Wetland PFC Training will be held August 28 and 29 at the Teller Refuge.

Landowners with riparian and wetland areas are invited to attend a free 2-day training session on assessing riparian/wetland condition. A primary objective is to develop a common vocabulary and understanding of riparian areas among land stewards. The session will include one day in a classroom and one day in the field. Space is limited and kept to 30 participants to facilitate meaningful interaction.

After attending this workshop, you will have a better understanding of the functions and values associated with riparian/wetland areas. You will learn methods for assessing the condition of riparian/wetland sites and where to go for assistance in improving or restoring sites. The workshop will be presented by Montana Riparian Cadre-NRCS, FS & BLM, and hosted by Bitter Root Water Forum and Bitter Root Chapter Trout Unlimited.

The class will be held at the Slack Barn at the Teller Wildlife Refuge, Chaffin Lane, Corvallis. Lunch will be provided by the Bitter Root Chapter Trout Unlimited. To sign up contact Laurie Riley, Bitterroot Water Forum, brwaterforum@bitterroot.net, 375-2272.

Bitterroot River Clean-up

The annual Bitterroot River Clean-up will be held Saturday, September 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers can sign up for a stretch of the river to pick up debris from a "take out" or to float an area. Garbage bags can be picked up at The Fishhaus, Chuck Stranahan's Flies & Guides, The Flyfishing Center, The Rive rOtter, Bitterroot Fly Company and Bob Wards. Full bags can be dropped off at three locations. A picnic for volunteers will be held afterwards at Angler's Roost. For more information and site selection, contact Phil or Dorreen Romans, 363-0744.

Florence Golf Scramble

Florence Civic Club will sponsor its annual Golf Scramble at Whitetail Golf Course on Sunday, September 9, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is the club's only fundraiser for the year and the proceeds help pay off the loan for the trail from Florence/Carlton School (FCS) to the IGA plus sponsor a scholarship for a community-minded senior from FCHS. Call 777-3528 for registration info.

Travelers' Rest Bike Parade

Bring your bicycle on Monday, September 10 and follow Lewis and Clark re-enactors as you pedal 9 miles from the Florence School to Travelers' Rest State Park in Lolo to retrace the route of Lewis and Clark and the many Native American travelers before and after them. Participants will decorate their bicycles to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Bitterroot area before riding along the bike and pedestrian trail that parallels Highway 93. The route is paved and gently rolling. Bike decoration begins at 3 p.m. at the Florence School parking lot and the ride begins at 4 p.m. Participants will arrive at Travelers' Rest State Park at approximately 5:30 p.m. There will be activities at Travelers' Rest until 8 p.m. To get to the Florence School, turn west at an angle just north of Gary and Leo's Market in Florence and continue along old Highway 93 to the school. This activity is sponsored by Travelers' Rest Preservation and Heritage Association, Travelers' Rest State Park, Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation, and Missoulians on Bicycles. For more information, contact Kate Senger at Travelers' Rest State Park at 273-4253.

Stevi Homecoming Dinner

The Stevensville High School 2007 Annual Homecoming Dinner is scheduled for Friday, September 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Stevensville School cafeteria/multipurpose room. A chili dinner with cornbread, dessert, and drink will be served. Family tickets are $10.00 and individual tickets are $3.00. All proceeds go to the Junior Class in support of the 2008 prom. All juniors are to donate one food item or $5.00 by Thursday, September 13. Donations can be made to Mrs. Thibo or Mrs. Garden at the school. If you would like to help with this event, call 728-4278.

'Montana Monologs' to benefit Guardian Angels Foundation

The premiere performance of “The Montana Monologs” will take place as a benefit for the Guardian Angels Foundation at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at the Dunrovin Ranch in Lolo.

“The Montana Monologs,” a creation of Wendy Woollett, are based on oral histories of Montana ranch women. Woollett is an administrative associate at the University of Montana School of Physical Therapy.

Woollett has conducted interviews over the past five years and plans to work the material into a book, which will include seven oral histories. UM’s Wilderness Institute provided funding for three of the histories through a Matthew Hansen Endowment grant.

The Guardian Angels Foundation gives scholarships to cancer patients in need. A cancer survivor, Woollett was a recipient of the foundation’s largesse early in the year. She, along with SuzAnne Miller, owner of the Dunrovin Ranch, Dr. Judy Schmidt and Joni Landis, are sponsoring the event.

The performance at the Dunrovin Ranch will draw from histories based on the lives of the late Ann Hirschy of the Big Hole Valley, Pat Shepard of St. Ignatius and the late Lynn Wolfe of Stevensville.

The monologs will be performed by actresses associated with the Chantilly Theatre in Stevensville. Gretchen Spiess will direct the production as well as play Shepard. Deb Goslin will play Wolfe and Ann Marie Carbin will play Hirschy.

The evening will include music, booths on related subject matter and a talk-back session about women and the West after the performance.

A $25 donation is suggested. Directions to the Dunrovin Ranch are available online at www.DunrovinRanchMontana.com or by calling 243-7745.

Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs. Hay bales also will be provided for seating.

'Walking Lightly - A Portrait of Einstein'

Albert Einstein, the 20th century's most illustrious physicist, reshaped our understanding of space, time, and gravity. His dazzling brilliance comes alive in this captivating portrait. "Walking Lightly" reveals the genius of Einstein, the person, the man who believed, "Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

Performer, storyteller, and educator Len Barron has toured the U.S. since 1989 with his one-man show. Drawing on his background as an educator (Barron founded and directed an alternative school for at-risk youth and taught at the university level), he creates engaging theatre that both entertains and educates. Len has written, choreographed and performed stories, songs and theatrical dance pieces, and has led workshops for students and faculty in classrooms across the country. But is it his original theatre piece about Albert Einstein that has earned him a national reputation, revealing for audiences the renowned physicist's unique personality.

Barron is coming to Montana to benefit the Stevensville Art and Sculpture Society, www.sassart.org. Performances will be Friday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Hamilton at the Performing Arts Center, 327 Fairgrounds Road and on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Missoula at the University Music Recital Hall. Tickets for the Friday performance are available online at http://www.hamiltonpac.org/ or call 375-6074. Tickets for the Saturday performance are available through Griztix, www.griztix.com, 1-888-Montana or at the UC Center box office.

Trout Unlimited Banquet

The 28th annual Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Banquet will be held Friday, September 28 at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. Tickets are $45.00 per person, and can be reserved or purchased at Fishaus Tackle.

There will be a gourmet dinner, catered by Food Fetish. Silver Coin is in charge of personality adjustment and for the first time premium microbrews from Bitter Root Brewing will be featured. There will be special awards, drawings, door prizes, live and silent auctions. Premiums will include gourmet dinners, fine wines, unique jewelry, fishing trips on the fabled Madison, Big Hole and Bitterroot River, tackle, and artwork by local artists and craftspersons.

Why should you come? Besides having a great time, swapping fishing stories, meeting people and visiting with your friends, here are just a couple of other reasons. TU continues to work hard on the conservation and education side of things. Chapter representatives are deeply engaged in youth education, water quality monitoring, stream setback efforts, native trout restoration, habitat restoration, and a host of other issues designed to make sure that the quality of our streams and fisheries will be in good shape for future generations.

The doors open at 5 p.m., so there will be plenty of time to visit with friends, buy raffle tickets, view the items and bid on the silent auction. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by the live and silent auctions, door prize and other drawings.

Tickets are on sale at Fishaus Tackle (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com). The $45 ticket price is a real bargain. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Remember that the last five years‚ banquets were totally sold out at least a week before the event and seating will be limited, so reserve your tickets early. And of course, you don't have to be a TU member to share in the fun.

For more information, to make a donation, or help out, contact Marshall Bloom (363-3485, drtrout@mtbloom.net), Bill Bean (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com) or Doug Nation (363-3127).

4-H Leaders Forum

Attention 4-H youth and leaders! Havre will be the happening place on October 5-6 when District 2 will host the next 4-H Leaders Forum. Many people are very comfortable with the skills they have and the things they know they are capable of doing. This is an opportunity to test your boundaries and maybe even expand them by attending some great workshops.

There will be a workshop on leadership and volunteerism. This gives leaders and teen leaders a time to discuss how to play a role in the success of the 4-H program. There are workshops that are targeted specifically to project areas such as making lead ropes and tying the proper knot, photography and quilting. There will be a cooking workshop, a tour, and other workshops for those interested in history.

Anyone ready for some fun with Leaders College III? Cody Stone will be on hand for a pre-conference workshop Friday, October 5 from 12:30-5:30 p.m. for individuals who have completed Levels I and II. The training will be limited to the first 25 registrants.

At the opening ceremonies on Friday evening a representative from Provider Pals will explain the Provider Pals mission which is to build a common ground bridge of understanding and respect between urban youth, rural youth and their natural resource providers. It is a unique student exchange program that celebrates cultural diversity, promotes education through communication and fosters life-long understanding and respect. The topic for the evening will be how to involve 4-H Clubs with Provider Pals. If you would like to know more about the program log on to www.providerpals.com .

After a fun filled day of workshops and learning, Saturday evening will start off with a roast beef dinner and an evening of entertainment by well-known magician Dan Jimmerson.

For more information, contact Marilyn Jurenka at 355-4920 or to register contact your Extension Office for a registration form. Those who register early can save $25 per person. Early registration is due by September 1.

Democracy School

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund presents Democracy School October 5-7 in Missoula. For the first time in Montana, Thomas Linzey, co-founder of the grassroots Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and featured speaker at the 2006 Bioneers Conference, leads this powerful, inspiring workshop. This weekend course offers a curriculum which teaches citizens and activists how to "re-frame" exhausting and often discouraging work such as opposing mining, dams, logging etc. Participants explore the limits of conventional regulatory organizing and learn how to confront corporate control as a powerful single front: People's Constitutional Rights.

Originally formed to provide free and affordable legal services to community-based groups and governments, the Community Environmental Defense Fund (www.CELDF.org) created this means of organizing for positive change, and communities around the United States have helped to safeguard their future by creating local constitutions or home rule charters. Backed up by enforceable law, these measures enumerate the rights of local citizens and of ecosystems.

As with all Democracy Schools, the Missoula weekend curriculum will be built around carefully designed readings, clear presentations and group discussion. Democracy School is for people of all ages, interests and occupation but space is limited to 10-15 people--early registration is highly recommended. The cost of the 3-day weekend is $400 per person which includes appropriate meals and necessary learning materials.

For more information contact the Montana Democracy School host, Michelle Walters, 720-684-9178 or 728-0258.

Sustainable ag workshop

Registration is underway for an Internet-based sustainable agriculture workshop that begins in October.

Montana State University's Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences is offering the on-line continuing education workshop on sustainable crop management practices in the Northern Great Plains. The eight-week workshop is limited to 25 persons and will extend from Oct. 10 to Dec. 14, 2007.

The workshop will focus on important factors of sustainability, including nutrient management, diversity of cropping systems, disease management strategies and farm economics. It will be taught by Mary Burrows, Dave Buschena, Clain Jones, Fabian Menalled, Perry Miller and Christine Sommers-Austin and will rely heavily on the experiences and knowledge of producers and agricultural professionals who participate in the course.

Students should expect to work about six hours per week on this workshop. Students need to have basic computer skills and have access to the Internet. Although college credits will not be given for this class, certified crop advisers will be able to receive 25 continuing education units if they successfully complete the program. The workshop costs $60. Those interested should register by going to the link listed at http://btc.montana.edu/courses/aspx/noncredit.aspx.

If you have questions concerning the on-line registration process, contact Clare Becker at (406) 994-6836. If you have questions concerning general workshop issues, contact Christine Sommers-Austin at (406) 994-6034 or sommersaustin@montana.edu.

Apple Day spaces available

Applications are now being accepted for the 28th Annual McIntosh Apple Day, Oct. 13, at the Ravalli County Museum in Hamilton. Billed as the ‘Biggest Bake Sale Under the Big Sky,’ this festival celebrates when the Bitter Root touted the largest apple orchards in the world.

Vendor spaces are available to artists, craftsmen, food vendors, farmers and commercial businesses. 8,000 to 9,000 visitors usually mingle through the grounds listening to live local music all day, enjoying the aroma of fresh squeezed apple juice and apple butter bubbling over an open fire. There are kids games galore, a mega raffle, and lots of activities.

Fee for a 10’ by 10’ space is $75, and a limited amount of electric outlets are available for $85. Space is $95 for commercial food vendors, up to 10’ by 20’. Non-profit organizations may register for $55.

For more information, or to receive an application contact rcmuseum@cybernet1.com or call 363-3338.

USS Nimitz Reunion

The Nuclear Attack Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz is currently deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over 40,000 of our citizens have served in The Great Ship Nimitz over the past 32 years. She will serve our country for at least 18 more years for a total of 50.