Pet vet speaks at library
Author Tom DeVincentis will hold a reading and signing for his book "Tails of the City: Confessions of a Manhattan Pet Vet," at the Community Library in Ketchum on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m.
DeVincentis is a New York City veterinarian who recalls observations and personal stories on the bonds between pets and their owners.
For details, call 726-9463.
Writers' Conference offers single-event tickets
The Sun Valley Writers' Conference will have single-event tickets for sale at the Sun Valley Pavilion one hour prior to each event. The tickets are $25.
Single-ticket events include keynote speaker and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Robert A. Caro as well as Carl Hiaasen, Kati Marton, Timothy Egan, Shashi Tharoor, Amy Bloom, Ian Buruma, Frank McCourt, John Burnham Schwartz and Alberto Manguel.
For a full schedule of events and info, visit svwc.com.
Train for MS 5k
The Wood River Community YMCA will offer a training program from Thursday, Aug. 21, through Thursday, Sept.18, for the MS Walk/5K Fun Run on Sunday, Sept. 20, starting at Ketchum Forest Service Park to St. Luke's hospital and back.
The five-week program is $5 for YMCA members and $10 for non-members and will meet Thursday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m.
Registration for the MS Walk/5K Fun Run is $15 for early registration through Sept. 15 and late registration costs $20 after Sept. 15.
To register, visit woodriverymca.org and for information call 727-9622.
Learn financial planning
The Green Antelope Gallery in Bellevue will present a free financial planning presentation by Tyler Bonner of Prudential Financial on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 10:30 a.m.
The 30-45 minute presentation will take place over brunch. The gallery is located at 116 S. Second Street.
To RSVP, call 481-0434.
Forest examines budget order
Officials at the Sawtooth National Forest are continuing to wait to find out how an agency-wide request earlier this month for more fire-fighting funding will impact the slate of area projects.
Sawtooth National Forest Budget Officer Jerry Gibbons said personnel at the headquarters office of the Intermountain Region, located in Ogden, Utah, are examining the roughly 17 projects from the Sawtooth National Forest and Sawtooth National Recreation Area that have been proposed for possible deferments.
Word has thus far not been sent back.
"Until they do that we're just sending them projects, and we're waiting to hear whether they're going to cancel them or not," Gibbons said. "This could keep going until September when the fiscal year ends."
An order went out earlier this month from Forest Service headquarters to compile the projected $4 billion shortfall in this summer's fire-fighting budget. Congress allocated $1.2 billion for the task, and estimates indicate the figure will go as high as $1.6 billion.
Gibbons said more than 201 projects have been proposed as potential cuts from forests throughout the Intermountain Region, "so it's taking a while" to figure out which projects will be deferred and which will be spared during the current budget cycle.
"It just depends how many the regional office gets on that list, and it's a big list," Gibbons said.
Gibbons said it's possible that Congress will, as it did last year, pass a bill amending the nationwide fire-fighting budget to cover the projected shortfall.
State announces new rivers brochure
The Idaho Division of Tourism has completed a new Idaho Rivers brochure to be used in its efforts to market Idaho river sports to consumers and media.
The brochure features all of the state's major rivers, including 21 pages of information from river length and class to put-in and take-out spots, as well as a fold-out map on the inside cover showing visitors where each river is in the state.
"We're really pleased with the final look of the brochure," said Mitch Knothe of the Idaho Division of Tourism. "It plays an important role in our efforts to market Idaho's rivers and really showcases the state's unique assets."
To obtain a copy of the new brochure, visit www.visitidaho.org/publications/.
Matsiko Choir continues to sing
The Matsiko Children's Choir from Uganda will perform twice more in the Wood River Valley. Tonight, Aug. 20, the 34 orphans who make up the choir will be a featured act at the Back Alley Party at the Wicked Spud in Hailey. Hat Trick will perform from 5:30-6:30 p.m., the choir will perform from 6:30-7 p.m. and Public Radio will play from 7-9:30 p.m. The event is a benefit for the Hunger Coalition.
On Friday, Aug. 22, at 5:30 p.m. the choir will perform at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, 206 Sun Valley Rd., Sun Valley.
The choir has been sponsored during its visit to the valley by Pawan and Helen Mehra.
