Hottell’s history class
Bill Hottell’s annual winter history class, which resumes in-person sessions after meeting online the past few years, will be “History of Ukraine and Russia.”
Sessions will be in the community meeting room at the Winthrop library on Wednesdays from 9 – 10:30 a.m., starting Jan. 11 and continuing through March 15.
Registration is required because of space limitations. Register by emailing billhottell@gmail.com. Include your name, telephone number and email address.
The course is sponsored by Friends of the Winthrop Library (FOWL). The fee is $50 for the entire course, payable to FOWL at the end of the first class. More information can be found at http://winthroplibraryfriends.org/events.
Dealing with grief
Methow At Home offers a free online presentation, “Connecting Around Grief: Supportive Tools for Ourselves and Others,” with Oori Silberstein, on Thursday (Dec. 15), from 4 – 5:30 p.m. Silberstein is trained in meditation and mindfulness instruction and trauma resiliency To register and for more information, visit methowathome.org.
Natural history class
The Methow Natural Journal is offering a six-session class, “Earth & Sky, Flora & Fauna: Natural History of the Methow,” to be held Wednesday evenings at The Cove II in Twisp on the first two Wednesdays in December and then continued in January. The program will include a hands-on lab session. The sessions are taught by local naturalist Dana Visalli. Cost is $0-$80. For more information and to enroll, email dana@methownet.com. Space is limited.
Visalli is also presenting a six-week online version of the same program, hosted by Methow At Home, starting Dec. 9 and continuing on Dec. 16, 23 and 30, and Jan. 6 and 13. The free sessions will be from 9 – 10:15 p.m. on those dates. Register at methowathome.org.
Christmas at Very End
Christmas at the Very End of the Road, the Mazama’s Store’s annual holiday celebration, is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 18, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will be a “pop up” market featuring local vendors, plus fire pits and refreshments.
Master Gardeners sought
The WSU Okanogan County Master Gardener Program is now accepting applications for new Master Gardener volunteers training, through a partnership with Chelan County. Classes will begin in January and run through April. Classes will be held on zoom January-March, with hopes of meeting in person in April. Call Okanogan County Extension office at (509) 422‑7245 for more information.
Small business grants
The Economic Alliance is accepting applications for Okanogan County Small Business Support Grants, which will be distributed to companies than can document that they are still affected by or recovering from the disruptions caused by COVID-19. The grants are funded through the federal American Recovery Plan Act. The maximum grant amount will be $5,000.
Eligible businesses in the restaurant, retail, tourism and hospitality industries may apply. They must be independently owned and have to 20 employees.
Grant applications are due by Dec. 31. For information, email rholderdiefenbach@economic-alliance.com, or call (509) 826‑5107.
Parenting/caregiver course
The Okanogan County Community Coalition is hosting a free “Guiding Good Choices” parenting/caregiver course in January 2023. For more information, contact Nicole Roach, Program Coordinator, at occcnicole@gmail.com or (509) 322‑8436.