Pilates studio hires new instructor
Maria Mankin, a Pilates teacher trained and certified in the Stott Pilates Method, recently moved to Hailey and is now teaching at the Lisa Jenner Pilates Studio in Bellevue.
Born and raised in Sicily, Italy, Maria brings a diverse background to her Pilates classes. She was a circus performer, actor, puppeteer and street artist in Italy, Paris and in San Francisco, where she met her husband, Dan.
She began her teaching career as the director of a preschool and a mother of three daughters before she opened her own studio in Longview, Wash., where she taught for six years.
She now offers private sessions, duets, and triples on Pilates machines, as well as group mat classes.
In addition, she will teach conversational Italian at CSI this fall. For more information or to schedule a session, call 721-7178 or mariamankin@mac.com.
Refunds available from AOL
AOL customers who found it difficult to cancel accounts with the nation's largest Internet provider may be eligible for refunds.
A legal settlement was reached earlier this month between AOL and 47 states, including Idaho. The settlement resolves consumer complaints alleging difficulties in canceling accounts.
"When Idahoans decide they no longer want to purchase a service, they ought to be able to cancel that service without getting the runaround," Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said in a news release.
The settlement requires AOL to make it easier for customers to cancel their accounts and to revise its billing practices to reduce consumer confusion.
Ireland Bank opens new branches
Ireland Bank, the oldest bank in Idaho, purchased two new branches, previously owned by Summit National Bank, in Carey and Mackay.
The family owned and operated Ireland Bank was established in 1892 in Malad, where the bank's headquarters are today, and now has 13 branches in southeastern Idaho. The staff of Summit National Bank will maintain employment with Ireland Bank.
The office in Carey is the only bank or financial institution in that growing community.
New wellness center opens
Jan Williams has just opened her new Five Springs Wellness Center offering "structural integration." She has just completed training in the Ida P. Rolf Method of Structural Integration, which aligns and balances the body by repositioning the fascia, the tissue that surrounds the muscles. Structural integration is meant to release tensions. The center is located at 270 Northwood Way in Ketchum. Jan can be reached at 720-6178 or 726-2761.
Realtors donate to cancer research
Two Ketchum Realtors, Eldridge and Jana French with McCann-Daech-Fenton LLC, have formed an alliance to contribute a portion of their sales commissions to Expedition Inspiration, a nonprofit fund for breast cancer research. For more information, contact them at 726-3317.
Lumber dryer new to Idaho
Sawtooth Wood Recycling LLC has brought the first effective vacuum lumber dryer to Idaho. The equipment complements the company's portable sawmill and tree removal services and allows green lumber to be cut into dimensioned wood components and then dry to 6 percent moisture content without distortion, color change or stress.
The method has been deemed to be 10 times faster than conventional drying methods.
Mountain West Bank shows growth
Mountain West Bank announced earnings and balance sheet growth for the second quarter and six-month period ending June 30.
Earnings after tax for the quarter were $3.8 million, compared with $3.3 million for the same period in 2006. Earnings for the six months were $6.9 million, compared with the same period in 2006 when earnings were $6.2 million.
"The nearly 350 employees of Mountain West Bank are very proud of the results we've experienced in our growth and increased earnings, especially considering they were achieved in a very challenging interest rate environment and slumping housing market," said Mountain West CEO Jon Hippler.
The bank operates branch offices in the Wood River Valley.
Idaho Power customers set new record for electricity use
Idaho Power customers set a new all-time record for electricity use when consumption reached 3,142 megawatts at 4 p.m. on July 6.
The new peak broke a record that had lasted just one day. The previous peak of 3,084 megawatts was set last summer on July 24.
The company traditionally experiences sharp peaks on hot summer afternoons when air conditioning and irrigation pumping loads coincide.
The company is encouraging customers to conserve energy in any way they can because record high temperatures across the West have caused wholesale power prices to increase.
Potato acreage up 6 percent
Planted acreage of potatoes in Idaho is estimated to be 350,000 acres, up 6 percent from 2006's 330,000 acres, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Harvested acreage is expected to total 348,000 acres, an increase of 20,000 acres from last year.
Holiday Baskets program gets boost
The Sawtooth Board of Realtors received an additional $1,000 from the Magic Reservoir Fishing Derby for the board's Community Foundation Holiday Baskets program.
The program assists needy families during the holidays by collecting food and gifts.
"The holidays are a time for all of us to share with others in our community, and we are particularly pleased that the Magic Reservoir Fishing Derby has chosen to work with us," said Janine Bear, president of the Community Foundation, in a news release.
