Wal-Mart to support athletes
The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Organizing Committee announced Friday that it received a combined donation of $1.5 million from the Wal-Mart Foundation and Hewlett-Packard.
Hundreds of athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the world will travel to Idaho for the 2008 Special Olympics Invitational Winter Games, Feb. 25 to 28. The 2009 World Winter Games is projected to be substantially larger.
The contribution boosts the Special Olympics towards its goal of raising $35 million. So far, the organization has collected $16.3 million in in-kind goods, services and funding.
AED Heartsaver class on tap
St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center will offer its monthly AED Heartsaver class Thursday, Feb. 21, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in St. Luke's River Run Conference Room.
During the course, participants will learn how to use a defibrillator.
The cost is $40 and pre-registration is required. Call 727-8733 to register.
Farcabinder ski race this Saturday
An organization calling itself the "Federation Against Ridiculously Competitive Amateurs" has teamed up with the Blaine County Recreation District to organize the Farcabinder ski race Saturday, Feb. 23, at Quigley Nordic in Hailey.
Proceeds from the race will be used for scholarships for youngsters who cannot afford equipment.
"I wanted to create a fun event to showcase what great skiing we have out our doorstep at Quigley Nordic and also start raising money to give more kids access to cross-country skiing," said FARCA founder Erik Heiden.
Registration costs $10 and will start at 10 a.m., followed by a 10-kilometer race at 11 a.m. The race is open to both skate and classic skiers and costumes are strongly encouraged.
For more information, contact Heiden at 720-0565 or heidenerik@hotmail.com.
Hear Pincha-Tulley speak
Jeanne Pincha-Tulley, incident commander on last summer's 48,520-acre Castle Rock Fire, can't seem to get enough of the Wood River Valley. The same goes for local residents who admire the leadership she displayed in orchestrating the massive firefighting effort that finally controlled the blaze.
On Thursday, Feb. 21, Pincha-Tulley will participate in a public conversation at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum. The free public event will take place at 6 p.m.
Pincha-Tulley's visit to Ketchum coincides with a photographic exhibition at the library that honors her and the more than 1,700 firefighters who worked to keep advancing flames from overwhelming the community. The images are from a variety of photographers who witnessed the 20-day wildfire, which began Aug. 19, 2007, and wasn't declared contained until Sept. 4.
Mental health screenings offered
St. Luke's Center for Community Health will offer free depression screening for adults and adolescent youths, 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the center in Hailey. Screenings are provided by licensed mental health counselors.
To make an appointment, call 727-8733.
What foods are healing?
St. Luke's Center for Community Health will present a "brown bag" lecture on "Foods That Heal," with dietician Becky McCarver, Thursday, Feb. 21, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the hospital's Baldy Conference Room.
The lecture is free. For more information, call 727-8733.
Learn what's happening
Girls' puberty classes—"What's Happening to Me?"—for girls 9 to 12 and their parents, will be held on Tuesdays, Feb. 27, March 4 and March 11, at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in St. Luke's River Run Conference Room, south of Ketchum. Cost is $30. Topics include anatomy and physiology, relationships, conception, pregnancy and birth, body image, respect and self-esteem.
Pre-register by Friday, Feb. 22, at 727-8733.
'Cirque du Book' fundraiser announced
The Community School Parents' Association will hold its annual "Cirque du Book" book fair and fundraiser at Iconoclast Books on Sun Valley Road in Ketchum, March 10-14. Funds raised are used for the school's library.
Lots of activities are planned, including face painting, a raffle and fortune telling.
Two visiting authors are scheduled to attend on March 13. They are children's book authors Leslie Patricelli and Kristiana Gregory.
For more information or to volunteer, contact either Susan Pollock at spollocksv@msn.com or Claudia Aulum at claudia@openroomfurniture.com.
Rumi to be honored Saturday
The Winter Feast for the Soul will wind down this week, and the weekend events are designed to bring the community of the Wood River Valley together in celebration.
On Saturday, the feast will host the Dances of Universal Peace with a special musical interlude and reading to honor the poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center, south of Ketchum. To participate in the reading of a Rumi poem, call Valerie Skonie at 788-6373.
On Saturday, Chef Mirabai Chrin will hold a cooking class at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden.
On Sunday, the Winter Feast concludes with an Indian feast at Light on the Mountains. Tickets—$20 in advance for adults ($25 at the door) and $10 for children are available by calling 727-1631.
Families All Together
F.A.T. Night will be hosted by St. Luke's YAK! and Wood River Middle School on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the middle school campus.
All families in the Wood River Valley are encouraged to attend a free dinner and "Reach for the Stars" presentation with Jeanne Pincha-Tulley.
Pincha-Tulley was incident commander for the Castle Rock Fire last summer. She will address the importance of positive role modeling and mentoring in our children's lives.
The intent of the evening is to bring together families to enjoy food, fun and presentations. Free childcare will be provided.
For more information, call Brian Holda at 727-8736.
