Realtors donate to Habitat for Humanity
In the spirit of the season of giving, the Sawtooth Board of Realtors donated $5,000 to the local Habitat for Humanity. The Sawtooth Board of Realtors represents more than 450 local real estate agents and 77 offices throughout the Wood River Valley. The board will also provide their members with the opportunity to donate matching funds to Habitat for Humanity throughout the next quarter.
Habitat will be breaking ground on its first home in the Wood River Valley in April for Rene Rodriguez and his family from Eden, Idaho.
Four days a week, Rodriguez drives 180 miles round-trip to work in Hailey. There are seven children in the family, the youngest of whom has a rare congenital heart disease that requires special care and feeding. The house will be located across the street from Bellevue Elementary School. He will provide more than 250 hours of labor on his new home as part of the Habitat program.
Anyone interested in contributing financially, or to volunteer materials or time, can contact Habitat for Humanity at 726-0610.
First Aid class slated
St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center will hold the American Heart Association's Basic First Aid class, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center Baldy Conference Room.
Participants will receive or renew their first aid certification. Cost is $40.
To pre-register, call 727-8733.
Last-minute shopping in Ketchum
A number of Ketchum retailers are extending their hours on Friday, Dec. 21, to help last-minute holiday shoppers.
A partial list of shops staying open until 7 p.m. or later include: Barry Peterson Jewelers, Taylormade Pottery, Iconoclast Books, RSVP, Jane's, Sturtevant's, Burnsie's Boca, Art Quest West, Video West, Backwoods, The Open Room, Main Strip Ts, Worth Repeating and Chapter One Bookstore.
In addition, the cast of "A Christmas Carol" and the Caritas Chorale will sing carols at the Ketchum Town Plaza from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free hot chocolate will be served.
Disaster loans available
Small non-farm businesses in 44 Idaho counties, including Blaine, can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The disaster loans are to offset economic losses caused by severe drought and unprecedented wildfires this year.
For information and applications, call (800) 659-2955 or visit sba/gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing-impaired people should call (800) 877-8339. The deadline is Aug. 4, 2008.
BCRD to host school recess
The Blaine County Recreation District will offer its Recess from School program for youths in first through fifth grades on Dec. 27 and 28, and Jan. 2, 3, and 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year, the activities will include a talent show on Dec. 27, a trip to Sligar's Hot Springs on Dec. 28, ice skating on Jan. 2, tubing on Jan. 3 and a snowshoe adventure on Jan. 4.
The cost is $35 per day. Pick up and drop off is at the Community Campus in Hailey. Sack lunch and appropriate clothing and footwear are required. For more information, call 788-2117.
Airport hospitality station open
There will be an airport hospitality station and welcome center at Friedman Memorial Airport during the peak holiday season, Dec. 21 through Dec. 31.
Incoming holiday visitors will be greeted with cookies and smiles by volunteers from area chambers of commerce. They will also provide local area information, such as calendars of events and vacation planners.
Volunteers are needed to cover shifts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone interested should contact Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau Membership Manager Stefany Mahoney at 725-2105 or e-mail smahoney@visitsunvalley.com.
