Volume XIX, Number 30

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Interactive dinner theatre at Chantilly

"Wedding Feast Most Foul" by Curt Hammond will be presented at Chantilly Theatre March 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 at 7 p.m.

The jewels are cursed? Yes, the Jewels of Jujubia are cursed, and the Curse is claiming victims right and left (or is it left and right?!?). Descending through degenerate generations of clumsy circus high wire artists, the Curse claims cloddish klutzes, finally climaxing during the wedding nuptials of aristocratic airhead Lavern von Fremble to aging acrobat Bob Zorbaginni. Yes, the wedding is cut short (thank goodness!) by Death!

Meet Lord Padwick, the head of the von Fremble clan‹literally, the head, because that's all that remains of him, on life support. Say "Hi!" to Grandmamma Zorbaginni, a crone out of a Sergio Leone nightmare. Ask them who is killing off the cast to claim the Jewels of Jujubia!

While watching and chortling, you will enjoy a gourmet feast from famed Food Fetish restaurant, served by the attentive Chantilly Theatre staff. You may also participate, in a role related to the onstage hijinks. However, you will live to tell the tale of the great time you had!

This is the final presentation of this play. Previous productions were completely sold out. Call 777-2722 today for ticket reservations and information.

The 18th annual Arts, Crafts, and Flea Market, sponsored by the Ronan Women's Club, will be held Saturday, March 13 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center.

This event typically attracts buyers and sellers from not only the Mission Valley, but from many other areas in Western Montana. Venders may sell anything from craft items to typical flea market and bazaar items. Coffee, cookies, and lunch will be available on the premises. A silent auction will be held with donated items.

Tables are available for $15.00 inside the building, and $10.00 outside and will be reserved on a first-come first served basis. Call 406-676-5079 after 6 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, or 406-676-5726 and ask for Joyce during the day to reserve space, or for further information. All proceeds for the event will be used for the club's numerous community projects.

Women's workshop

A workshop for women entitled "Seeking Balance: Work Self Home" will be offered Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Common Ground Center in Hamilton. Goals of the workshop include engaging with other women who seek more balanced lives, identifying ways to create and restore life balance, and using art and imagination to express life balance goals. The workshop is presented by Chris Love, who holds masters degrees in organization development and humanities, and Johanna Russell, who holds masters degrees in family counseling and art therapy. Cost of the workshop is $48, which includes lunch and art supplies. Call 961-0155 or 369-1196 to register. Workshop size is limited.

Volleyball league

Hamilton High School is hosting a volleyball league for all girls currently in grades 7 through 12. Cost is $30 a person. The season runs Sunday evenings beginning February 29 and goes through May. Meet at Hamilton High School at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 29. No preregistration is necessary. Teams of 3-a-side can be formed by participants or at the time of sign up. For more information contact Nancy Fisher at 961-1265 or at fishern@hsd3.org.

Mo-Trans dance performance

The Montana Transport (Mo-Trans) Dance Company presents "Making Dances: A Family Performance" on Saturday, March 6 at 1 p.m. in the Montana Theater on the University of Montana campus in Missoula.

Developed by Karen Kaufmann (Mo-Trans' Education Director and Head of UM's Dance Program), children and adults of all ages discover how a dance is choreographed. The audience will learn about theme and abstraction, use of space, shape, rhythm, and relationships between dancers. Choreographed dance pieces have been selected to bring these concepts to life and children will be invited to come up on stage several times to participate in this lively one-hour performance. This performance features 10 dancers with large colorful props and costumes.

The Montana Transport (Mo-Trans) Dance Company has performed evening concerts and educational programs in schools throughout the Northwest for the past 11 years. The brand new "Making Dances" continues the Mo-Trans tradition of sharing modern dance with people of all ages.

The Mo-Trans Dance Company is Montana's only modern dance touring company and is in-residence at the University of Montana in Missoula. The company is directed by Amy Ragsdale (Artistic Director) and Karen Kaufmann (Education Director), and performs evening concerts and educational programs throughout the Northwest.

Tickets prices are $6 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, and $3 for children under 12. Tickets are available in advance at the box office in the PARTV Center Lobby, by phone at 243-4581, or at the door.

Library chess club

The North Valley Public Library Chess Club will hold its monthly play on Thursday, February 26 at 7 p.m. All levels of play are welcome. Bring board and chess pieces. For more information call Ian Root at 777-5587.

Darby Silver Tops

The Darby Silver Tops Senior Citizens will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 24 at 12:30 p.m. at the Darby Community Clubhouse. All Darby area residents aged 50 or over and their spouses, of any age, are invited to attend. Guests are welcome. Bring a potluck dish to share. Beverages and place settings are provided. A program on the geology of the Bitterroot Valley will follow the meeting.

Computer classes for builders

The Bitterroot Building Association is offering computer classes especially suited for contractors and subcontractors in the building trades. Classes scheduled include:

Monday, March 1 - Quick Books Level 1. This class will cover Getting Started, Setting Up QuickBooks, Working with Lists, Working With Bank Accounts, Using other accounts in QuickBooks, Entering sales & invoices, and Receiving payments & making deposits.

Tuesday, March 2 - Microsoft Project Level 1. This is great for contractors scheduling subs, resources, and helps to relocate resources if ahead or behind schedule or budget. This programs is used currently by the Montana Highway Department. Topics covered include: Project Basics, Working with tasks, Scheduling tasks, Managing resources, Working with task views, Finalizing the task plan, Filtering, grouping, and sorting and Pricing.

Cost of each class is $98 per BBA member and $128 for non-members. Both classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Classes are hands-on and taught at Authentic Computer Tutoring, 217 North 3rd, Suite K, Hamilton. If you have questions, contact the BBA Office, 375-9411, or Authentic Computer Tutoring, 363-5475. Reserve by February 25 by calling the BBA Office, 375-9411.

Rodeo Club banquet

The Annual University of Montana-Western Rodeo Club Banquet is Friday, April 2 in Westernıs Keltz Arena beginning with a no-host cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The eveningıs M.C. is Judy Wagner. The popular annual fund raising event will feature a prime rib dinner, live music by Spec-Fire, an auction and raffle. The silent auction will run throughout the evening with tables closing at various times to allow more time to shop and bid. Tickets purchased before March 22 will be eligible for three $100 drawings. Tickets are $30 for singles, $50 per couple, and $175 for a reserved table of eight. For more information or ticket reservations, call (406) 683-7539 or 683-2246. All proceeds benefit the UM-Western Rodeo Team.

Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous is a Twelve Step program that deals with compulsive eating behaviors. It offers a solution within reach of all those who want to find relief from the 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.

Rodeo Club Smoker

The University of Montana-Western Rodeo Club, Harrington Pepsi, Marv's OK Tire and Snake River Tire are sponsoring "The Dawg Fight," a non-alcoholic Rawhide event on Wednesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Straugh Gymnasium on the UM-Western campus.

The "Dawg Fight" matches members of the UM-W Rodeo Team versus a solid group of cowboys and cowgirls from the Big Sky Region. Master of Ceremonies is Flint Rasmussen, a Western Graduate and six-time Professional Rodeo Clown Association Clown and Barrelman of the Year, and five-time Coors Man in the Can.

"Dawg Fight" is a night of fun featuring great boxing, ring girls and boys and special guests. Tickets are $6.00 for students, $7.00 for general admission, $8 for ringside reserved and $12.00 for ringside. To reserve tickets or for more information, call (406) 683 7539 or (406) 683-2246.

Pioneer Discoveries Workshop for teachers

The University of Montana-Western's School of Outreach is offering teachers the opportunity to incorporate outdoor/environmental education into their existing lesson plans through a special workshop at the Birch Creek Center Friday, April 16; Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18 in the scenic Pioneer Mountains.

The workshop is an experiential, ecosystem curriculum that gives educators an opportunity to understand the historical foundation and issues of teaching environmental education in the field.

There will four discovery sessions during the workshop. They are Discovering Forests, Discovering Streams, Nocturnal Discoveries and Fire Ecology.

There is a one semester graduate credit fee offered through the University of Montana plus an additional Birch Creek fee.

For complete details or to register by mail, call the Western School of Outreach at 683-7537 or 1-866-799-9140.

Purification ceremonies

The Ohaot Spiritual Medicine Society will be holding Purification Ceremonies (Sweat Lodges) on March 6 (Full Moon) and March 20 (Spring Equinox) in the Stevensville area. This is open to all who wish to participate. Participants should plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6 p.m on those dates. A potluck should follow the ceremonies. All interested in attending, desiring more information, and for directions, can call Grandfather Two-Feathers at 777-5867, Grandfather Crain at 550-1080, or email to ohaotms@lycos.com. All peoples are welcome. There is no fee charged and the ceremony is open to everyone that wishes to come.

Soup luncheon

The Stevensville Women's Network will be serving all-you-can-eat homemade soup, bread and dessert on Wednesday, February 25 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Stevensville Town Hall. Cost is $4.50 per person. This is a fundraiser for the Martha and Bill Burke Memorial Scholarship.

Bitterroot Summit on Youth and Families

Parents, service organizations and community members are invited to join a community forum regarding Youth and Families in the Bitterroot on Thursday, February 26 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Hamilton City Hall. Lunch is provided when you RSVP with Kids First at 375-9588. This will be a wonderful opportunity to share success stories, define needs/gaps in the county, and collaborate to strengthen community prevention. Public input is needed. For more information call Kids First at 375-9588. Kids First Prevention Coalition, Healthy Families and Ravalli Youth Probation sponsor this event.

Darby Library Hootenanny

The tenth annual Darby Community Public Library Benefit Hootenanny and Chili Feed will be held Sunday, March 7 at the Darby School junior high gym. Chili, corn bread and beverages provided by the Friends of the Darby Library and served by the Darby Girl Scouts will be available at 11:30 a.m. and through the program.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m. Bill Molenda will coordinate and emcee a program of Old Time, Bluegrass, Folk and Country music, featuring many musical friends of the library from the surrounding area and out-of-state. Bring your musical instruments and join in the fun and invite your friends to this toe-tapping musical treat of truly American music.

Admission is by donation and all proceeds will go toward the new library construction fund. There will be a raffle of homemade items. Donations of homebaked and other homemade items to raffle would be greatly appreciated.

The Darby Community Public Library and the Friends of the Darby Library sponsor this annual affair. For more information contact the Darby Library, 821-4771 or Veryl, 821-4449.

Montana Logging and Ballet Company

You're invited to share an evening laughing with your family, friends and neighbors by attending the Montana Logging and Ballet Company performance on Friday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Hamilton School Performing Arts Center. Tickets may be purchased for $15 each at Chapter One Bookstore or Washington Elementary School. This marks the culmination of four years of fundraising and grants writing for Phase I of Washington Elementary School playground. The event is a kick-off of Phase II to complete the playground and park with new blacktop, additional equipment, landscaping, picnic table and additional safety surface in high use areas. Come see what Montana Logging and Ballet is about; they have something for everyone. For more information about this event, call 363-2144. For information about PTA, call 363-1608.

Big Sky Film Festival

The first annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival will be held February 20-25 at the Roxy Theater in downtown Missoula. The festival will showcase 75 non-fiction films from all styles, formats and production dates, from the most innovative and timely new films to classic and rare historic works. Each festival day will include an average of 13 films lasting around 12 hours each day. Ticket prices are as follows: all screening pass, $50; five screenings pass, $20; single screening ticket, $6 evening and $5 matinee; students, $5 evening and $4 matinee. For more information contact Doug Hawes-Davis, Festival Director, 728-0753.

Red Cross Blood Mobile

The Red Cross Blood Mobile will be at Slender Lady of Florence on Monday, March 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. Call 273-3488 for an appointment or for more information. Slender Lady of Florence is located at 5501 Hwy. 93, Suite 5, in the Florence Business Center, behind Town Pump.

Victor Fire Dept. fundraiser

The Cantina La Cocina on Hwy. 93 in Victor is having its fourth annual fundraiser for the Victor Volunteer Fire Department on Monday, March 8. The Cantina will be donating half of its gross sales to the fire department. The restaurant will be serving from 4 to 9 p.m. Come on out and enjoy some Mexican food and support the fire department!

Republican Women

Jeff O'Hair and Brad Johnson, Republican candidates for Montana Secretary of State, will be the featured speakers at the next meeting of the Ravalli County Republican Women. The meeting and luncheon will be held on Tuesday, February 24, at noon at the Banque Club in Hamilton. Everyone is welcome to attend. For reservations, call Karolyn Simpson, 961-5207.

Missoula author to read

Missoula author Jenny Siler will read from her new novel, "Flashback," on Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. at Chapter One Book Store, 252 Main in Hamilton.

"Flashback" is Siler's fourth novel, and like the others it is a thriller featuring a strong female character on the run. Her writing "gets your attention like a rifle shot," according to the New York Times Book Review, and her images and quick pacing keep readers hooked. The reading is free. For more information call 363-5220.