Wednesday, July 25, 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. Cost is $8 adults, $7 seniors, $5 children from 6-17, free for 0 to age 5. 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.

Art exhibit

Kiana Fecteau, Stevensville artist and SASS member, will be displaying her artwork July-September in the lobby of Rocky Mountain Bank, 220 Main Street, Stevensville. Fecteau works primarily in acrylics, and her show will feature miniatures. SASS (Stevensville Art and Sculpture Society) is a non-profit contemporary art group organized for the active promotion, display and production of public art. For additional information contact Kiana Fecteau, 777-1160.

Volunteers needed

Be a Creamery Picnic volunteer! Call Tracey Smith, 777-1102. Volunteers are needed for the Brew Fest, parking, ice cream, games, or whatever.

UM-COT courses in Bitterroot

he 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.

AARP driver safety class

AARP is presenting its driver safety program at Marcus Daly Hospital on July 26-27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You must attend both days. The fee is $10.00 and pre-registration is required. Contact Jones Korman Insurance Agency at 363-6583 for registration information. The next class will be August 16-17. There is no written test. Montana mandates an insurance discount for qualified graduates.

Stevi board of trustees

There will be a Stevensville School Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m. in the Stevensville High School library. The meeting will concern personnel issues and will go into executive session.

Hamilton Players production

The Hamilton Players will be performing the murder mystery, "Murder Under The Mirror Ball," July 27 and 28 at The Daly Mansion. Dinner and intrigue begins at 6 p.m. It's Prom 1977. Imagine you are about to witness the crowning of the hippest disco king and queen. Yet fate steps in and a murderous malicious maniacal madman reigns over the festivities. "Murder under the Mirror Ball" is the Hamilton Players latest murder mystery/dinner theater in conjunction with the Daly Mansion. See the newly renovated Daly Mansion and enjoy an unforgettable night helping to solve this heinous crime. Participants are strongly encouraged to come in character and "dress the part." Come early to get your prom photos taken by Spotlight Photo. Costumes are available for rental at the Hamilton Playhouse. Proceeds benefit both the Daly Mansion and the Hamilton Players. Tickets are $60.00 per person and will be available at the Hamilton Playhouse box office beginning July 6. Seating is limited so early ticket purchases are highly recommended. For more information, or to purchase tickets over the phone with a credit card, call 375-9050 during box office hours.

Paper drive

The Hamilton Garden Club will hold a paper drive on Friday, July 27 in the Safeway parking lot from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Members will be accepting papers and cans, but no cardboard.

Daly Days fashion show

Get your 1900s or late 1800s costumes ready for the Daly Days Fashion Show on Saturday, July 28 at noon on Main Street in Hamilton. You can make your costume, rent one from the Hamilton Players, or call the Chamber for more ideas. There are prizes in four categories: Group, Man, Woman, Child.

A Window Decoration Contest for Hamilton businesses is also being held. The theme is the olden days of late 1800s and early 1900s. First and second place prizes and honorable mention ribbons will be awarded.

To register (for judging purposes) or for more information contact the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce at 363-2400.

Daly Days Car Show

The Hamilton United Businesses and the BitterRodders Car Club are hosting the annual Daly Days Car Show in Hamilton. The Car Show will be on Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28, and is free to the public.

There is a Friday night street dance on Main Street from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. featuring the "Bop-A-Dips.”

The annual Daly Days event includes sidewalk super sales by local merchants, food vendors, a Kids Korner for fun and games plus a Pinewood Derby on Saturday afternoon, a Brewfest in the Park on Saturday and all day free entertainment on Main Street.

For car show information call 273-2217 and for Daly Days information call 363-2400.

Car show

The Shifters Car Club has partnered with the Shriners and the Boy Scouts to raise money at the club's car show, which will be held at Lolo Hot Springs July 27-28. There will be many car activities, with 50% of the Poker Run proceeds going to the Shriners. The Boy Scouts will have a soft drink booth, receiving the proceeds from it. Come on up and support these great organizations!

Art in the Park

The Bitterroot Art Guild will hold Art in the Park on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and July 29 at Legion Park in Hamilton. Saturday's hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday's hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be art and crafts, food and music.

Fictional Montana Public Radio star Flora Delaterre and her creator, Beth Judy, will be on hand in two locations in the Bitterroot on Saturday, July 28. They'll be at the "Kids in the Garden" event at the Daly Mansion from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1:30 to 2 p.m. and also at a coloring party and book signing at Chapter One Bookstore from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The two have lots to celebrate: first, the spread of the show "The Plant Detective" after a national launch in April in New Orleans, and second, the release of a Flora Delaterre coloring book, "Medicinal Plants of North America." Beth Judy will be signing books, coloring, and looking at plants; Flora appears on the coloring book's cover.

"The Plant Detective" is a short-format public-radio show that presents accurate, science-based information about one medicinal plant per show. Produced by Montana Public Radio in Missoula, it began airing in 1996. Today, stations from Galena, Alaska, to Whiteriver, Arizona, from Cape Cod to Indianapolis and Portland to Quebec are broadcasting the show, and more continue to sign up.

Triathlon Clinics

Bitterroot Classic Triathlon Clinics will be conducted at the Bitterroot Aquatic Center, Hamilton, for $8.00 per clinic. All clinics start at 8 a.m.

Saturday, July 28 - Swim

Saturday, August 4 - Transitions

Saturday, August 11 - Bike

Saturday, August 18 - Run

Harry Potter and Friends Look-a-Like Contest

To celebrate one of the most extraordinary magical and epic events of several generations, Valley Farmers Market, in Hamilton on Bedford and Third St., is holding a Harry Potter and Friends Look-a-Like Contest on Saturday, July 28.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. on the Museum lawn. You can dress as your favorite, or any, character in the Harry Potter books. Age categories are: Younger - less than 5 years old, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and Older - more than 13 years old.

A panel of three knowledgeable Harry Potter scholars will begin judging contestants by age group and character at noon. Prizes, including magic wands and gift certificates, will be awarded.

Pre-register by calling Laura at 961-0004 to receive a registration form.

Victor Seniors breakfast

The Victor Senior Citizens will hold a breakfast for the public on Sunday, July 29 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Cost is $4 for adults, and $2 for 12 and under. Menu is biscuits, sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, fruit, juice and coffee. Dine inside or outside.

Business leaders luncheon

The Ravalli County School Readiness Project will hold a business leaders luncheon on Monday, July 30 at 12 noon at Marcus Daly Hospital conference room. Mike Halligan, Executive Director of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation will be the keynote speakers. Join a discussion on how you and your business can help prepare Ravalli County children and their families for school. The Ravalli County School Readiness Project is a project funded by a grant from the Governor's Statewide School Readiness Project.

"Montana's children are tomorrow's work force. There is a connection between quality education and economic success. It has been demonstrated in economies and by education specialists across the world that the best results come from the best beginnings."—Governor Brian Schweitzer

RSVP by calling Robin Pruitt at 531-6771.

Baptist VBS

Vacation Bible School will be held at First Baptist Church in Stevensville July 30-August 3 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Children ages 4 years through sixth grade are invited to be part of the Truth Trackers and go on an adventure to find the Secret of the Stone Tablets. First Baptist Church is located on the corner of 4th and Church Streets.

Chess Club

The North Valley Public Library Chess Club will hold its monthly play on Monday, July 30 at 7 p.m. at the North Valley Public Library community room on Main Street in Stevensville. All levels of play are welcome for more information call Ian Root, 777-5587.

Monthly Moonwalk

The second of the 2007 "Walk By Light of the Moon" presentations is coming up on Monday, July 30 and will feature two activities. First, let the staff of Fort Owen State Park take you on a tour of the park grounds. Fort Owen was the first permanent white settlement in Montana and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Then listen to an old time musical presentation by Bill Rossiter. Bill plays traditional finger-style guitar, autoharp and "clawhammer" banjo. He currently rambles around the Northwest, singing songs of the railroad, heroes and outlaws, the Irish immigrants, the frontier, the Civil War, cowboys and sodbusters, mines and miners, the Great Depression and other eras of American History. Bring your dancing shoes and listening ears for this lively evening under the full moon! Fort Owen State Park is located just west of the town of Stevensville. From Highway 93, go east onto the Stevensville cutoff road (269). After about 1 mile and before you reach the town of Stevensville, turn north onto the Fort Owen State Park road. This activity is sponsored by Fort Owen State Park and the Bitterroot National Forest. For more information contact Julie Schreck at the Bitterroot National Forest at 375-2606.

Clean Up Day

The community of Florence is fortunate to have landscaping along Hwy. 93 and the bike/hike trail. All these lovely plants and trees need care - weeding being at the top of the list along with lots of water. A group of hearty Florentines weeded the north median on Hwy 93 and now are ready to tackle the south median. The Highway Department will block off the lanes next to the median and post signs to ensure safety. The clean up will be Tuesday, July 31, at 8 a.m. Park at the Juke Box on Hwy. 93 and One Horse. Bring gloves, hand tools, a hat and water. The clean up should take about two hours if enough volunteers show up.

Business training seminars

As service providers, business owners must focus on how they are conditioning customer expectations by the service they receive. It is crucial to recognize the diversity of the businesses and challenges they encounter.

The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce, Ravalli County Economic Development Authority and the Bitterroot Workforce Center are bringing in a series of training seminars to help businesses in the valley compete not only with "Big Box" stores but with the internet and other businesses in Missoula and surrounding areas.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this seminar/workshop series. All sponsorships include recognition at the seminars and in the publicity. A $500 sponsorship would also include one free admission to the series.

For Chamber members, the fee is $270 per person for all seven sessions. Additional attendees from a business are $220 each. For non-Chamber members, the fee is $330 per person for all seven sessions (additional attendees from a business - $300). Individual session fee is $45 for Chamber members and $60 for non-members.

Contact Diane at the Chamber, 363-2400, to be a sponsor or to sign up for the sessions. Register by August 1, and receive a 15% discount.

First Friday sale

Several pairs of hands have been busily occupied at Genesis House resulting in hand-crafted items using knitting needles, crochet hooks, and laptop looms. This has resulted in kitchen helpers, such as potholders and dish cloths. Fashion accessories include knitted hats for all ages and scarves for the wintry days ahead. As the old camp song goes, "It only takes a spark..." The practice and principle of "each one teach one" has caught on among the women there. Look for a table at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 203 Main Street where the products of Genesis House will be on sale.

Daly Mansion benefit

The Daly Mansion presents Round Up at Riverside Fund Raise on Friday, August 3. Silent Auction and cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., barbecue dinner at 6:30 and live auction begins at 7:45 p.m. Auction items include gourmet dinners in private homes, original and collectible works of art, guided fishing and hunting trips, cooking classes and many other fabulous items. Attire is Bitterroot black tie. Tickets are $100 per person and proceeds for this event will be used to benefit the Daly Mansion. The Daly Mansion is located at 251 Eastside Hwy. in Hamilton. Call 363-6004, ext. 2 for more information.

Hamilton Players production

The Hamilton Players are proud to present Tim Behrens in "McManus In Love" performing August 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. at The Hamilton Playhouse, 100 Ricketts Road. A one-man stage show starring Tim Behrens, written by Patrick F. McManus, and directed by Jack Delehanty, "McManus In Love" is where young Pat finally defeats his fear of the dark and realizes it was child's play compared to his fear of... girls! The result is a hilarious romp through the maze of self-torture we all go through when we begin to date. Pat examines the universal phenomenon: Your first date will warp your personality forever! Each step of Pat's romantic mis-education foreshadows the next ominous learning experience. The play culminates when the audience is taken into the movie theater on that first date between young Pat and Melba Peachbottom, the prettiest girl in school. Along the way, Pat and his side-kick, Crazy Eddie, receive personal grooming tips from Rancid Crabtree, and advice of all kinds from several deranged denizens of Blight, Idaho, including Pat's cousin Buck, who knew everything at that age. (Later Buck would turn out to be only slighter smarter than celery, but at THAT age he knew everything.)

Once again, Behrens portrays more than a dozen of McManus' stock characters, as well as a bear and, for a brief moment, a bicycle! While not a direct sequel to "A Fine And Pleasant Misery," this stage play does continue the saga of young Pat and Eddie as they search for meaning... and find nothing but humor... in a world all too serious.

Tickets are $15.00 reserved seating and are available at the Hamilton Playhouse box office. For more information or to purchase tickets over the phone with a credit card, call 375-9050 during box office hours, Monday-Friday 2-6 p.m., and one hour prior to show time.

Creamery Picnic 3-on-3 Tournament

The Stevensville School Music Association is sponsoring another fun-filled 3-on-3 basketball tournament during Creamery Picnic. Games will begin Friday, August 3 and continue on Saturday, August 4 after the parade. Teams must sign up by Thursday, August 2. The price of the tournament is $5 per player. To register contact Mya Fadely, 777-2617, or Julie Ludington, 777-4198.

Creamery Picnic Milk Run

The Annual Creamery Picnic Milk Run will be held on Saturday, Aug. 4, with same day registration beginning at 7 a.m. at Veterans Park on North Main in Stevensville. The 5k and 10k races will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the kids fun run will start at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for 12 and under. T-shirts will go to first come. Cake and ice cream for all and awards and door prizes for participants will be handed out after the races. For more information contact Mary Pat at 880-6200 or run2runmp@myway.com.

Masonic pancake breakfast

The Stevensville Masonic Lodge will hold its annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, August 4 from 7 to 11 a.m. at the lodge at 3rd and Church, Stevensville (one block east of Main). In celebration of the Creamery Picnic, all brothers, sisters, sojourners and the public are invited for eggs, bacon, pancakes and beverages. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children. Proceeds assist Florence and Stevensville schools' junior achievement programs, also the "Bikes for Books" at Lone Rock and Stevensville.

Creamery Picnic luncheon

The Stevensville Senior Center will be serving hamburgers and homemade pie on Saturday, August 4 at Creamery Picnic from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., 100 Mission St., Stevensville.

Stevi Class of '97 reunion

The Stevensville Class of 1997 will hold its 10-year reunion August 3-4. On August 3, meet at the Plum Loco at 8 p.m. On August 4, meet at Whitetail Golf Course at 4 p.m.

Stevi Class of '67 reunion

The Stevensville High School Class of 1967 will hold its 40-year reunion over Creamery Picnic, August 3 and 4. All classmates, friends, teachers and parents are invited. For information call Janalee McFadgen at 777-5180.

On August 5, Drum Brothers, Montana’s premier world percussion ensemble, will be performing an outdoor concert at the Daly Mansion in Hamilton at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. Audiences are requested to bring their own seating. Tickets are available at Chapter One Books and the Music Box in Hamilton and at Rockin Rudy’s in Missoula. Tickets are also available online at www.drumbrothers.com. Drum Brothers present high energy performances that celebrate a diverse mix of world instruments and sounds: West African djembe and dunun drums, Middle Eastern frame drums, Australian didgeridoo, close harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, and original arrangements and compositions. The members are brothers Matthew and Michael Marsolek, Lawrence Duncan, and Colin Ruggiero. Drum Brothers have performed extensively throughout the Northwest and in Canada at festivals, performing arts series, school assemblies, dance events, and private celebrations. Since the early 90s, the group has been presenting classes and drum circles for all ages, celebrating the rhythms of life and the joy of community music-making. Over the years, they have brought world rhythm and drumming into schools and educational centers for children and adults, they have drummed with trouble youth, disabled people, bereaved children, and cancer survivors, and they have sparked many ongoing community rhythm circles in cities around the Northwest and in Canada.

MS Support Group

The Bitter Root Valley Multiple Sclerosis Support Group will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, August 7, at the Willow Court Apartments meeting room, 150 Skeels Avenue in Hamilton from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Special guest speaker will be Alan Hart on "Lifestyle Solutions for MS & Other Diseases." The meeting is open to anyone with MS or other chronic diseases, caregivers or family members. Refreshments will be served. The venue is handicapped accessible. Contact LaRoy Williamson at 360-1117 or Nancy Holzer at 363-1149 for more information.

Head Start registration

Do you have a child who will be 3 by September 10, 2007, but not yet eligible for kindergarten? Ravalli Head Start is a cost-free comprehensive pre-school that may meet your family's needs. RHS serves 102 children in Hamilton, and 17 children in the north end of Ravalli County on the Lone Rock School campus. Last year the program was fully enrolled by mid-summer, so now is the time to apply. Call Jan at 363-1217, ext. 14 for more information and an application.

Author to speak

Meet Ann Kreilkamp, Ph.D., author of "This Vast Being, A Voyage through Grief and Exaltation," on Tuesday, August 7 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Carriage House, 310 N. 4th Street, Hamilton. Situated at the juncture between physical and spiritual planes, the author, a philosopher, openheartedly embraces the sudden death of her beloved husband and honors her grieving process as a springboard for conscious transformation. Dr. Kreilkamp is a world renowned astrologer and founder/editor of "Crones Chronicles," a magazine honoring women's aging process. The event is free and open to the public.

Clearwater Farm open house

Clearwater Farm, a new community outdoor education and art facility located 6.5 miles east of Stevensville, offers six private acres of woods, a year round stream, a garden and plenty of open space for kids four years old and up to explore, discover and share in their natural world. Curriculum focuses on appreciation of the arts and science through a preschool and new kindergarten program. An open house will be held Wednesday, August 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. Call Sandy Gates at 370-0808 for more information.

Food preservation classes

The Garden Collective in Hamilton is presenting two classes in August that will teach you how to preserve and store this summer's garden bounty for tasty home-grown meals and snacks next winter. The first class, on Thursday, August 2 at 6:30 p.m., will cover water bath canning for jams, jellies, fruits and pickling. The second session, on Thursday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m., will be about freezing, drying, root cellars and other kinds of long term storage. Both classes are open to the public and will be held in the Bitterroot Library downstairs meeting room. Margaret Sharp of the Ravalli County Extension Service is the instructor. Bring your notebook and questions. For more information, contact Laura Craig at 961-0004.

Outdoor Skills Workshop

The Montana Chapter of Women in the Outdoors is holding its annual Outdoor Skills Workshop on Saturday, August 11, at the Great Divide Ski Resort in Marysville. The workshop includes classes for Handgunning, Personal Safety, Gardening, Feng Shui, Taiji, Bird Watching, Archery and much more. For registration information go to www.nwtf.org/wito or contact Susan Schwend McEachern at 439-3658 or Cheryl Copenhaver at 458-5078. Class sizes are limited, so register early.

Lake Como Loop Mountain Bike Ride

Join the Canyons Athletic Club on Monday, August 13 for an eight-mile ride of moderate difficulty on a trail around Lake Como. Meet at the Canyons Athletic Club parking lot at 10 a.m. or at the Lake Como boat launch parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Bring a mountain bike, helmet, snacks, water, first aid supplies and weather appropriate clothing. To get to the Canyons Athletic Club, take Marcus Street east from downtown Hamilton for 0.9 mile, then turn east on Tammany Lane and travel 0.2 mile to the Club. To get to Lake Como, travel on US 93 12 miles south of Hamilton to Lake Como Road. Turn west on the Lake Como Road and follow the signs to the boat launch. This Be Active Bitterroot activity is sponsored by the Canyons Athletic Club and the Bitterroot National Forest. For information contact Jim French at the Canyons Athletic Club at 363-1555.

Young adult retreat

Hinterlands Young Adult Retreat, for ages 16-29, will be held August 17-19 at Common Ground Center, 260 Roosevelt Lane, Hamilton. The retreat will run from dinner on Friday through breakfast on Sunday morning. The retreat is for youth searching for answers to the following questions: What are mystics? What is Sufism? What are the Dances of Universal Peace? How can my heart open when the world is in so much conflict? How can I increase my personal experience of peace and help others do the same? The event is sponsored by Oneness Project. Facilitators are Peter Munir Reynolds, Star Jameson and Brian Vayu Jameson. To register, contact Shahar, 363-7211, or shahar@onenessproject.com. For more information, contact Daniel or Katiehamida at hinterlands.YA@gmail.com

Peterson Lake Hike

Valley Physical Therapy will lead a hike on Saturday, August 18 into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness along a ridge trail. This ten-mile roundtrip hike is of medium difficulty and the elevation high point is midway to the lake. Bring lunch, snacks, daypack, raingear, sunglasses, sunscreen, good hiking boots, water (at least 2 quarts), and a hiking stick (optional). Meet at the Conoco gas station in Florence at 8:30 a.m.; return at 4:30 p.m. This hike is sponsored by Valley Physical Therapy and the Bitterroot National Forest. This is a Be Active Bitterroot Activity. Call by August 10 to sign up. Contact Tim Nielsen at Valley Physical Therapy at 777-3523 or 273-6605.

Bead Trunk Show

West Fork Mountain Crafts in Conner is having a Bead Trunk Show on August 18 from noon to 5 p.m. Trade beads (Italian, French, African), bone, silver, brass, etc. will be available. It should be a great afternoon for collectors as many of these beads are centuries old. This is an opportunity for you to meet the African trader and learn the history of your purchase. For more information contact Gay Findley, 821-2007.

Shakespeare in the Parks

Residents in 52 communities in the region will see Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw at their best as Montana Shakespeare in the Parks launches its 2007 summer tour with performances throughout Montana as well as Idaho, Wyoming and North Dakota.

The award-winning troupe, based at Montana State University, will perform Shakespeare's "Merry Wives of Windsor" and George Bernard Shaw's "Heartbreak House" during its nine-week tour that will include 70 performances.

It is the Montana Shakespeare in the Park's 35th season of bringing professional theatre productions to communities throughout Montana, northern Wyoming, eastern Idaho and western North Dakota. The touring company features 10 professional actors supported by a variety of designers and technicians who work together to bring theatre to communities that may otherwise not have access to it.

All performances, with the exception of the Toast of the Town fundraiser and Sweet Pea Festival, both in Bozeman, are free. Tour coordinators in each of the communities served by MSIP work year-round to raise sponsorship fees to offset the cost of the production. Those attending a performance are encouraged to show up prior to the appointed curtain time with chairs, blankets, a picnic supper, and plenty of friends and family to enjoy the evening.

This year's performance brings the legendary character of Falstaff to the stage in "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The mile-a-minute farce centers 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.

Shaw's "Heartbreak House" features a family full of odd ducks, daffy servants, and bewildered houseguests marooned together as the world begins to shift around them.

Local productions will be at Hamilton, on Wednesday, August 22, when the "The Merry Wives of Windsor" will be performed on the grounds of the Daly Mansion at 6 p.m. and at Missoula on Tuesday, Aug. 28, when "The Merry Wives of Windsor" will be performed at the University of Montana Oval at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, August 29, when "Heartbreak House" will be performed at the University of Montana Oval at 6 p.m.

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.

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.

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.