It’s 10 a.m. on Tuesday and my daughter and I have just pulled into the Common Ground parking area off Golf Course Road in Hamilton. We are here to attend a play-group that meets regularly at this time. Kim Delvo comes out of the kitchen to welcome us warmly. She is a tireless advocate for the creation of a Waldorf School in the Bitterroot Valley and this play-group includes a bevy of interested parents and their adorable offspring. Kim tells me that the regular attendees range in age from fifteen months to five years old. Ten families have been participating for two years with the hopes of establishing a Waldorf school in Hamilton.

There are Waldorf schools all over the world. The Waldorf pedagogy was the brain child of Rudolf Steiner, a famous writer and thinker who was born in 1861 and died in 1925. In his lifetime, Steiner gave over 6,000 lectures and wrote numerous books, his most famous being "Philosophy of Freedom." He is considered the founder of the biodynamics movement and his world philosophy does not conform to the traditional ways of thinking with regard to education.

I imagine if we could ask Mr. Steiner about "No Child Left Behind," he would have very little good to say about teaching to the test, which has been the inevitable outcome of this current public education policy. Waldorf educators focus on preserving a child’s sense of wonder as well as fostering the innate qualities of imagination and creativity. Steiner stressed the importance of recognizing a child’s connection to the Earth and his educational system strives to establish a lasting bond between children and the physical world they live in while still focusing on being a spiritual being. The Waldorf curriculum also teaches tolerance and acceptance of all cultures. This was evidenced in the gathering I write about.

Today’s get-together explores a New Year’s theme. While the kids pile pillows on the floor and attach silk scarves to their belt-loops, their make-shift "horsetails," the mothers are busy slicing cucumbers and avocados in long, thin strips. The kids will be making vegetarian sushi rolls; Korean-born Delvo is sharing the customs of her native culture’s New Year’s celebration with the kids today. The Korean New Year takes place on February 7th.

In keeping with the New Year’s motif, Cookie Grimes has come to read to the kids from her newly published book "A New Year’s Family." Cookie is both the illustrator and the author of this book about a domestic duck’s quest to have a family and the animals and insects that help to make this happen. After finishing her reading, she gives the kids black and white images from her book to color themselves, which they do with relish.

After a fabulous feast provided by Delvo and the other mothers, the kids throw themselves happily into the construction of macaroni, pretzel necklaces on leather or ribbon strings. They finish the day with the enjoyable tradition of playing dress-up. This game gets a colorful twist, thanks to Kim Delvo’s collection of brightly colored Korean New Year’s costumes. These gorgeous traditional outfits make the kids squeal with delight as they model for pictures and spin around, veritable whirling dervishes of hot pink, lime green, canary yellow and vibrant red.

The interested parents have formed a board of directors and are currently applying for their non-profit status. Kim says they are now looking for a school site in the Hamilton area and are also in need of instructors who are willing to teach using the Waldorf methodologies. If you wish to experience the Waldorf way, check out the play-group at Common Ground every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call Kim Delvo for more information at 363-3561.

Oral cancer survivor to speak to students

Oral cancer survivor, Gruen Von Behrens, 30, will visit Ravalli County on Friday, February 29, to reach local students with his story of becoming addicted to spit tobacco as a teenager and surviving oral cancer.

Von Behrens began using spit tobacco on a camping trip at age 13. At age 17, he was diagnosed with oral cancer. Since his diagnosis, Von Behrens has undergone 34 painful and disfiguring surgeries to save his life. He has lost his lower teeth and jawbone and half his tongue and neck muscle. He also has had his face patched with skin and muscle from his leg.

"If I had known then what I know now, I never would have put a dip in my mouth,” Von Behrens says. Von Behrens shares his powerful story of perseverance and survival with young audiences in the hope that those who hear him will stay free of spit tobacco, and those who already use it will be encouraged to get help in quitting.

“Seeing Gruen and hearing his story, many children will respond by promising themselves never to touch any form of tobacco,” says Paula Wood, Program Coordinator. “His message is powerful and very hard to ignore.”

Von Behrens will provide an hour-long presentation at Darby High School at 9 a.m., Corvallis High School at 10:45 a.m., and Florence High School at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 29. A total of about 1,200 students are expected to attend.

The Von Behrens event is sponsored by the Tobacco Free Ravalli Program and the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP). He is touring parts of Montana this week in conjunction with MTUPP’s month-long focus on reducing spit tobacco addiction.

The week before his tour, MTUPP is sponsoring “Through with Chew” week, a campaign designed to prevent and reduce spit tobacco addiction in Montana. Von Behrens is scheduled to tour schools around the state during the week of February 25 to 29.

Twenty-two percent of Montana senior high school males use spit tobacco. As a whole, Montana men are addicted to spit tobacco at more than twice the national rate. A recent survey of Montana high school students revealed that fewer than half believe spit tobacco users risk significant health damage, when in fact spit tobacco use poses severe health risks.

Wood said, “Spit tobacco causes oral, esophageal, and stomach cancer, as well as a number of tooth and gum diseases. Those addicted are 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-users.”

Wood added that there is assistance for Montana spit tobacco users. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line, funded by the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program, helps spit tobacco users quit with free telephone coaching and nicotine replacement therapy, the patch, gum, or lozenges. Calls are toll-free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).

Von Behrens is a member of the speaker’s bureau of the National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP). He will stop at schools in Plentywood, Wolf Point, Malta, Havre, Sunburst, Shelby, Browning, Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Florence, Corvallis, and Darby on his five-day tour.

Gruen Von Behrens’s local itinerary is as follows:

Friday, February 29:

Darby High School: 9 a.m.

Corvallis High School: 10:45 a.m.

Florence High School: 2 p.m.

Montana snowpack well above last year

Mountain precipitation was near average in January. Columbia River Basin mountain precipitation was 102 percent of average; Missouri River Basin was 114 percent of average; and Yellowstone River Basin was 103 percent of average.

The first of February is when we should have about 60 to 65 percent of our seasonal snowpack in place. Statewide, mountain snow water contents were 103 percent of average and 130 percent of last year. West of the Continental Divide, snowpack was 104 percent of average and 122 percent of last year. East of the Continental Divide, snowpack was 98 percent of average and 133 percent of last year.

The Bitterroot River Basin is 110 percent of average and 137 percent of last year. -1

Assuming normal precipitation across Montana, streamflows are forecast to be near average at 92 percent. Streamflows are forecast to average 89 percent west of the Continental Divide and 93 percent east of the Continental Divide.

Through with Chew Week

The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) kicks off “Through with Chew Week,” February 17-23, an annual week of activities designed to prevent and reduce spit tobacco addiction in Montana.

As a special incentive, MTUPP will offer through the free Montana Tobacco Quit Line six weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy, including lozenges. While the patch and gum are effective, lozenges may be more effective for spit tobacco users, officials say.

Montana’s spit tobacco use rate is one of the nation’s highest, largely because 12 percent of Montana men use spit tobacco, a rate twice the national average.

“What is more alarming, 22 percent of Montana 12th grade boys use spit tobacco,” says Paula Wood. “Our surveys show that more than half of Montana high school students do not believe that spit tobacco users risk significant health damage.” Those are statistics MTUPP seeks to change, Wood adds.

Since the advent of clean indoor air laws, the tobacco industry has begun to aggressively market spit tobacco, officials say. Spit tobacco causes oral, esophageal, and stomach cancer as well as tooth and gum diseases. Wood says, “Those who believe spit tobacco is a safe alternative to cigarettes are sadly mistaken.”

MTUPP is working with Montana dental healthcare providers, businesses, public schools, and other local organizations to ensure all Montanans get the message about the dangers of using spit tobacco. In Ravalli County, two highlights of the week’s local activities are:

• Through With Chew activities put on by the youth coalition reACT! at the Darby, Hamilton, Victor, Corvallis, & Florence high schools throughout TWC week.

• Five Ravalli County dentists will offer free oral cancer screenings to spit tobacco users Feb. 18 – 22. Call to schedule your screening:

• Dr. Michael Taylor, 215 N. 10th St, Hamilton: 363-4411

• Dr. Andy Kehmeier, 710 S. 1st St, Hamilton: 363-5200

• Dr. Carl Shepp, Hwy 93, Florence: 273-2015

• Dr. Chet Nelson, 421 State St, Hamilton: 363-4010

• Dr. Lynn Seamons, 421 State St, Hamilton: 363-4010

• Seven Ravalli County pharmacies are offering discounts on nicotine replacement therapy products:

Albertsons-Osco Pharmacy, 1313 N 1st St, Hamilton: 363-7089

Family Pharmacy, 3804 Eastside HWY, Stevensville: 777-5002

Corvallis Drug Store, 1029 Main St, Corvallis: 961-3221

Hamilton Pharmacy & Gifts, 135 Main St, Hamilton: 363-2300

Florence Pharmacy, 5549 Old HWY 93, Florence: 273-7979

Timber Ridge Pharmacy Super 1, 1131 N 1st, Hamilton: 363-9003

Valley Drug & Variety United Drugs, 301 Main St, Stevensville: 777-5591

An additional highlight of the week is the Great American Spit Out, a single day designated to encourage spit tobacco users to quit. This year’s Great American Spit Out is Thurs, February 21.

“We want people to know that help is available for those who want to quit using spit tobacco,” Wood says, adding that at 30 percent, the Montana Tobacco Quit Line boasts one of the nation’s highest success rates. In addition to free nicotine replacement therapy, the Quit Line also provides participants with quit coaches who help callers develop individual quit plans. Montanans can call toll-free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).

“Through with Chew Week” was established in 1989 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Inc., to decrease spit tobacco use and increase awareness of the negative health effects caused by using these products. The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program is a program of the Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, contact Paula Wood, Program Coordinator, Tobacco Free Ravalli, at 375-9588.

Births

Liam Harvey

Ernie and Jen Harvey of Victor are the proud parents of a baby boy, Liam, born December 4, 2007 at home. Liam weighed in at 9 lbs., 14 oz. he joins a sister, Isabel. The Harveys own the Lifeline Cheese Factory, located next to the Victor Merc.

Births at Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton

1-28-08

Boy, 8 lbs., 7 oz., 20-1/2 inches, to Rachel and Joseph Stanek, Hamilton

1-29-08

Boy, 8 lbs., 13 oz., 22-1/4 inches, to Justin and Chad Morse, Hamilton

1-30-08

Girl, 6 lbs., 14 oz., 20-3/4 inches, to Bonnie Small and Daryl Skelton, Hamilton

Boy, 8 lbs., 4 oz., 21-1/2 inches, to Jessica and Stephen Brunner-Murphy, Corvallis

2-1-08

Boy, 8 lbs., 21-1/2 inches, to Jada Barnhart and Joseph Nechanicky, Hamilton

2-4-08

Boy, 7 lbs., 13 oz., 20 inches, to Megan and Clayton Root, Hamilton.

Page One •	Valley News •	Op/Ed •	Sports •	Calendar •	Classifieds •	Links •	About Us •	Back Issues •	Email Us •	Home
©2006 Bitterroot Star This site was Done By Dooney