Troy Quilting Event
Tender Lovin’ Quilters of Troy would like to announce their annual Quilting 101 event, which will be offered on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Troy United Methodist Fellowship Hall. This is an all day event offered free to the general public to maintain and promote the art of quilting. Beginning at 9 a.m., a variety of short demonstrations will be given all morning on numerous quilting related subjects including but not limited to applique, paper piecing, and binding basics. Attendees will learn how to make a portable wine bag, charm pack table topper, how to ‘fancy up’ a quilt, and construct a nonslip pedal pad for their sewing machines, as well as quilt as you go techniques. Door prizes will be given out randomly and the guild will have a flea mart table with quilting related items for sale.
A soup and salad luncheon will be served at noon, with guild members providing soups and attendees are welcome to bring salads and breads to share, followed by an afternoon hands on class. Advance sign up will be needed for the afternoon class and a small fee of $10, for supplies will be charged. The participants will make a Rockport basket and will need to furnish their own fabric and bring a sewing machine. Advance sign up is asked for this class as there is room for 16 only, and interested persons should e-mail pksargent70 @yahoo.com.
New bill could bring high speed internet to rural
Montana
On Feb. 6, Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill to make it easier for digital internet providers to bring high speed internet to rural Montanans.
“The Streamlining and Investing in Broadband Infrastructure Act would increase broadband deployment by cutting red tape for companies, states and local governments who want to install broadband infrastructure on federal land.” said the bipartisan party that met on Feb. 6. Senator Daines said, “ Rural Montanans need access to high-speed internet to support local jobs and compete in the twenty first century economy.”
According to a recent report from the FCC, roughly forty-one percent of rural Montanans still lack access to fixed broadband.
The bill if passed would allow for internet providers to install broadband infrastructure on federal land. The bill also established a standard fee for leasing agreements whose facilities would lie on federal lands.
STOKR
applications available
Feb. 14-28
The twenty fourth annual STOKR, ‘Scenic Tour of the Kootenai River’, bike ride will be held May 12-13. The event is sponsored by the Kootenai Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity. Money raised goes to build Habitat for Humanity homes for those in need in Libby, Montana. There have been thirteen homes built by Habitat for Humanity in the community with proceeds from STOKR.
There is a limit of 450 riders and they are chosen by lottery. The deadline to file is March 10.
There are two options for the cyclists. Option one is a 98-mile ride that begins in Libby and travels west alongside the Kootenai River. The route turns and follows the Yaak River, by beautiful Yaak Falls. The riders gradually climb 4,000 foot Pipe Creek Pass and are presented with a scenic 25 mile descent back to Libby alongside Pipe Creek. Their website suggests that riders have at least one 50 mile ride, and at least 200 miles on your legs, before attempting this ride. Option two is a shorter, gentler ride. This scenic 45-mile route begins with the 98 milers heading west alongside the Kootenai River. The ride goes beside a meandering blue ribbon trout stream, then over a small farmland plateau. It then returns to Libby along the Kootenai River.
On Day two the riders will enjoy a scenic 37 mile ride following the Kootenai River upstream to Lake Koocanusa and the Libby Dam.
Refreshment stops are available both days with food and drink. Libby townspeople donate homemade cookies, pasta salads, soups and sub sandwiches.
For more information, contact Greg and Susie Rice at stokrmama@gmail.com.