April 18th-25th
Free yourself from Fines Missoula Public Library is offering amnesty from overdue fines April 18-25. Bring in an unopened package of cat or dog food and the library will waive the overdue fines on your record. Food for Fido donations will be given to AniMeals, which provides dog and cat food to animal rescue groups, humane societies, shelters, and homebound/disabled households on fixed incomes that could not otherwise afford to feed their companions. Or, if you love the Earth the way you love your pet, you can BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag – on Tuesday, April 22 in celebration of Earth Day, and the library will also waive your overdue fines. That’s two ways to clear your record, and do some good at the same time. Please note, the amnesty offering is not valid for lost or damaged charges. For more information, contact the library at 721-2665 or visit www.missoulapubliclibrary.org.

April 23rd
Afternoon Matinee at the library Transport yourself back in time and enjoy a classic movie at the Missoula Public Library’s Afternoon Matinee. The next matinee will be Wednesday, April 23, at 2 p.m. If anyone attending the movie needs special assistance, please provide advance notice by calling 721-BOOK (2665). For future matinee events, visit the library’s website at www.missoulapubliclibrary.org or call the library at 721-2665.

April 24th
The Missoula All-Maggots Men’s Rugby Club will be hosting the Outback Barbarians Rugby Touring Side from Australia, in an exhibition Rugby Match, as a kick off to Maggot Fest 2008.
Maggots v Barbos
Thursday April 24, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Fort Missoula Rugby Park.
Admission is free to the public.
The Maggot/Barbos game is preceded by a warm up match between the Missoula Flies (Maggot Old Boys) and Happy Valley PA at 5:00 Thur. Maggot Fest continues Sat at Fort Missoula with games from 10-5, and Sun 10:30-2:00. 36 teams from all over North America, and of course the Barbos, will be competing for Best Play on the Pitch. Admission is free to the public.

April 24th
Documentary Film: “The Life & Times of Harvey Milk,” Thursday April 24, 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., UC Theater, UM University Center 3rd Floor This installment of the Jeanette Rankin Peace Center’s Peace and Justice series follows the political career and assassination of the first openly gay elected official in the US.

April 26th
Grape Escape for Restorative Justice at Lake Missoula Cellars.
The funds will be used to provide intervention and accountability services to youth offenders and their victims. After going through our process, 96% of the youth have not re-offended. Your contributions will allow us to provide services to more youth and their victims. Your contributions will make Missoula a safer more respectful community. The event will take place April 26 from 7:00- 9:30. We will serve hors d'oeuvres appropriate for the wine. Music by Silk Stocking. Ticket prices are $40 per person. We will also have a silent auction for some great prizes. Lake Missoula Cellars is located at 5645 W. Harrier, west of Airway Blvd. Please join us for a wonderful evening of great wine, good fellowship, good music and all going for a worthy cause.

April 26th
The Montana Dahlia Society's annual tuber sale is Saturday April 26th from 8:00am-2:00pm. It will be held at the Stop-N-Grow at 2205 Brooks St. (the triangle in front of Tremper's Shopping Center). For more information contact Amy 542-8963

May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th
Child Care Resources’ Training: Creative Curriculum- Beginning Level Course Help your preschool children acquire the skills they need to succeed as learners This workshop helps you purposefully observe the children in your care and plan for each individual child and the group as a whole. This class meets Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, from 7pm– 9pm in Missoula. This is a series workshop and must be taken in its entirety. Please preregister by visiting our website at www.childcareresources.org or by mailing in your registration form. $25.00 fee.

May 2nd
Rocky Mountain Bank in Stevensville will be hosting an artist’s reception on First Friday, May 2nd from 5 – 8 p.m. Lisa Archer’s silk paintings www.lisaarchersilks.com are the featured S.A.S.S. works in the bank lobby through the month of May. The artist will be in attendance before, during and after the annual the Pie in the Big Sky Auction at 3rd and Main Streets.

May 8th
Understanding Wildlife Cinema Do you watch nature shows? Learn how to identify and critique the techniques used in creating wildlife films when Missoula Public Library hosts “Understanding Wildlife Cinema” with Walter Metz of the Department of Media and Theatre Arts at Montana State University in Bozeman. The free program is Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. Metz teaches wildlife filmmakers how and why to reinvent the wildlife film, many of which are filmed in Montana and the intermountain West. His talk will include analyses of a variety of wildlife programs from the films of “Shark Week” to “Alien Planet.” Metz’s talk is part of the Humanities Montana Speakers Bureau and is sponsored by Humanities Montana, with partial funding provided by a legislative grant from Montana’s Cultural Trust and from NEH’s “We the People” program. If anyone attending these programs needs special assistance, please provide advance notice by calling 721-BOOK (2665). The Missoula Public Library is located at 301 East Main Street. For more information on future library programs, call the library or visit www.missoulapubliclibrary.org.

May 8th & May 13th
Library book clubs to discuss “The Power of the Dog” Join in a discussion of Thomas Savage’s “Power of the Dog,” Montana’s first gay cowboy novel, at Missoula Public Library. Step into the 1920s when a boy moves to a large ranch and stumbles upon the secret life of cowboys. The book groups meet Thursday, May 8 at 10 a.m. or Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at Missoula Public Library’s Board Room. Copies of the book are available at the library circulation desk. This month’s selection coincides with the library’s latest traveling exhibit, “Out at the Library,” a celebration of gay and lesbian literature and culture. “Out at the Library: Celebrating the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center” is organized and circulated by the San Francisco Public Library. Major local funding for Out at the Library is provided by Highstakes Foundation, Montana Human Rights Network, and David C Moomey. The Missoula Public Library provides programs, materials and services to meet the informational, cultural, recreational and educational needs of Missoula and outlying areas. If anyone attending the programs needs special assistance, please provide advance notice by calling 721-BOOK (2665). The Missoula Public Library is located at 301 East Main Street. For more information on future library programs, call the library or visit www.missoulapubliclibrary.org

May 9th
World-Wide Cinema at the library Missoula Public Library will show “August the First” as part of its ongoing World-Wide Cinema program on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. In this drama from the U.S.A., Tunde’s graduation party brings together his alienated sister, critical older brother, alcoholic mother and estranged father. Stay after the feature for the short film, “Tell Us the Truth Josephine.” World-Wide Cinema comes to the library every second Friday of the month. The film screenings are free and open to the public, and are intended for the mature audience due to adult themes, language and sexual content. Doors at the lower level open at 6:45 p.m. If anyone attending the movie needs special assistance, please provide advance notice by calling 721-BOOK (2665). For a complete listing of library events, visit the library’s website at www.missoulapubliclibrary.org or call 721-2665.

May 10th
Benefit (silent and live) auction, live band  and pulled pork feed ($7) for Eleanor Nichols. She was born 6/14/2007 with a serious heart condition requiring multiple surgeries.  Taking place Saturday, May 10th , at the Evaro Bar (top of the hill , north of Missoula) beginning at 11am. Silent auction  11am until 7:30pm ;  --  items vary from cords of wood, puppy haircuts and furniture! Live auction (with our local fast talker!) at 9:30pm Live Band!  "Zoo City" starts at 8:30pm. Help us help our neighbors....

May 13th
Are you interested in learning more about caring for the children of a friend or relative?
Child Care Resources can help you create a nurturing environment for children. We promote high quality, readily available and affordable child care for families in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli counties. Child Care Resources is sponsoring a Legally Unregistered Provider (LUP) Orientation for individuals interested in caring for the children of a friend or relative. The next orientation will be Tuesday, May 13, 2008 in Missoula. Please contact Child Care Resources at 728-6446 to inquire about location and details for the next Legally Unregistered Provider orientation.

May 13th
Are you interested in learning more about the rewards and requirements of running a child care business?
Child Care Resources can help you create a nurturing environment for children and a vital business. We promote high quality, readily available and affordable child care for families in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli counties. Child Care Resources is sponsoring a Child Care Orientation for individuals interested in having a child care business in their homes. The next orientation will be Tuesday, May 13, 2008 in Missoula. Please contact Child Care Resources at 728-6446 in Missoula to inquire about a child care licensing packet, location, and details for the next child care orientation.

May 17th
Missoula is once again taking steps to fight Multiple Sclerosis
The MS Walk — a nationwide event held each year by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society — will be held in Missoula on May 17, 2008 to raise funds that will help families living with MS in our community and to further national research efforts to discover the disease’s cause and a cure. The Missoula MS Walk’s 3-mile route follows handicap-accessible Riverfront Trail. It starts at McCormick Park and proceeds to the University of Montana River Bowl, where walkers turn around for the return walk to lunch at McCormick. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Clowns and refreshments along the route should make the walk very memorable this year. Team and individual walkers are already signing up to join the Walk. Any group of 4 or more people can be a team. Becoming a team captain is easy. Organize friends and family, or get your company involved. Challenge another department within your company, or challenge another company. Wonderful prizes are awarded to top fund-raisers, too. To register: Call Amy Joyner at 251-0011 or the NMSS office at 406-252-9500, or 1-800-FIGHT-MS or On the Internet at www.nationalmssociety.org/mtt. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that may result in motor, sensory and cognitive impairment. More females than males are generally affected more, and onset of the illness generally occurs between 20 and 50 years of age. It is estimated that 1,500 people in Montana have MS.

May 22nd
The Mayfly Fling – Thursday, May 22nd from 4-8 PM at Ten Spoon Vineyard and Winery in Missoula featuring live music from BOB WIRE. Admission includes food, live music, and family-style fun activities such as fly casting, ring toss, bull trout game, and much, much more. There will be beer and wine for adults to enjoy and a fantastic silent auction. WEN will be showcasing their many educational programs. Join them to support kids in waders experiencing creeks and rivers in Western Montana. To learn more, visit www.MontanaWatershed.org

May 31st
Child Care Resources’ Training: Infant, Child & Adult CPR & 1st Aide Fundamentals- Beginning Level Course This class meets the requirements for child care licensing and registration in Montana. It meets Saturday, May 31 from 9am – 4pm in Missoula. Please preregister by visiting our website at www.childcareresources.org or by mailing in a Training Registration Form. $50.00 fee.