Stargazing event at Caverns slated

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is having a stargazing event at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in the campground pavilion by Thomas Satterly.

“Stargazing Under the Caverns Sky” will be presented by Thomas Satterly, a storyteller and member of the environmental science department at the University of Montana-Western. Satterly, along with fellow enthusiast Craig Zaspel, will provide telescopes and background materials, along with their vast knowledge and enthusiasm to this event. The hands-on section of the program will immediately follow the educational portion as darkness falls.

Participants must preregister by Aug. 22 to qualify for the free camping in the group use area and pancake breakfast on the Aug. 30. Camp set-up in the Group Use Area is from 6-8 p.m. before the 8:30 presentation begins. The stargazing alone is free and open to the public. Late registers may camp in the regular portion of the campground for the $15 per site fee.

To make reservations or for more information, call (406) 287-3541.

Members sought for city biking committee

Wilbur Rehmann has volunteered to be chairman of a bicycle advocacy committee to work with the City of Helena and its Nonmotorized Transportation Committee.

If you are interested in serving on this committee, contact Rehmann at 443-5677 or wilbur@ixi.net.

Trail of Couer d’Alene ride is Sept. 27

The Helena Bicycle Club’s Trail of the Coeur d’Alene ride has been changed to the weekend of Sept. 27. Riders will bike on the fairly flat, paved former railroad bed along the Coeur d’Alene River in north Idaho for two days.

Call 459-2776 for information.

Big Sky Cyclery hosting ride in Tobacco Roots

Big Sky Cyclery is hosting a mountain bike ride on Sept. 7 to Curly Lake in the Tobacco Roots.

Riders will meet at the bike shop at 7:30 a.m. for carpooling, with a plan late afternoon return planned.

Bicycle Club fall member ride set

The Helena Bicycle Club has scheduled a fall member ride, a three-day loop from Wise River Sept. 5-7.

On Sept. 5, riders will travel about 40 miles from Wise River to Elkhorn Hot Springs. On Sept. 6, the group will ride from Elkhorn to Jackson Hot Springs, with an optional visit to Bannack State Park. That day’s ride is about 60 miles, or 31 miles without the trip to Bannack. On Sept. 7, the group will travel from Jackson Hot Springs back to Wise River (about 52 miles).

If interested, e-mail Dee Dee Cress at markdd@hughes.net for information.

FWP seeks comment on trail grants

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on 61 applications competing for about $1 million in grants for trail maintenance and development work.

Montana’s Recreational Trails Program, administered by FWP, provides grants to cities, counties, state and federal agencies and private associations. Recreational Trails Program funds can be used for all types of trails including non-motorized, motorized, multiple-use, community, rural and backcountry.

This year’s grant applications total nearly $1.6 million in trails work. Grant recipients must cover 20 percent of a project’s costs locally with cash or by volunteer labor, donated materials, equipment and supplies.

The grant applications are available for review at the FWP headquarters in Helena or, for project applications in a specific geographical area, see the nearest FWP regional office.

Written comments may be sent by Monday, Sept. 15 to: FWP, Parks Division, Recreational Trails Program, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701, or by e-mail to: cblackwood@mt.gov.

FWP seeks comment on OHV grants

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comment from individuals, cities, counties, state and federal agencies and private associations on 11 applications for the Montana Off Highway Vehicle Program grant funding. About $160,000 is available in 2009.

FWP manages the annual grant program, administering funds appropriated by the Montana Legislature. The program funding —derived from 0.125 percent of the distributors gasoline license tax, registration-decal fees, dealer registration and nonresident-permit fees — supports OHV law enforcement, a statewide safety and ethics education program and the OHV grants program.

Examples of eligible grant projects include maintenance of existing OHV trails, signing, ethics education, noxious weed control adjacent to trails, enforcement, and route mapping.

Comments on the grant applications may be made through Monday, Sept. 15, by e-mail to: rpaige@mt.gov or by mail to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Parks Division, Off Highway Vehicle Program, 1420 East Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

To review a list of the applications for OHV grants, go to the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov on the Recreation page under Grant Programs.

Slots still open for Park-2-Park ride

There are still some openings in Park-2-Park Montana, a multiday ride from Glacier to Yellowstone in support of CASA of Montana.

Ride dates are Sept. 1-5. Contact Rick Bush at 495-8061.

— Independent Record