Fifth Graders can ski free
Ski Idaho's Fifth Grade Passport program encourages youths to take advantage of Idaho's vast winter recreation opportunities by offering free lift tickets for the 2008-09 season.
The Fifth Grade Passport program will also offer discounts on lessons and rental equipment.
"Get out and enjoy an active outdoors lifestyle on our millions of acres of wild forests," said Idaho first lady Lori Otter, a former health and physical education teacher. "From skiing and snowboarding to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, our outdoor winter recreation opportunities are endless."
Register at www.skiidaho.us. There is a $10 processing fee. Students can then ski free at Bald Mountain, Bogus Basin Recreation Area, Brundage Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee Mountain Resort, Kelly Canyon, Lookout Mountain, Lost Trail, Magic Mountain, Pebble Creek, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Silver Mountain, Soldier Mountain and Tamarack Resort.
Idaho gas prices drop below $2
For the first time since March 2005, gasoline prices in Idaho have dropped below $2 a gallon.
AAA Idaho reported Monday an average price of $1.966 per gallon for unleaded regular fuel in the Gem State. The price is 22 cents per gallon lower than last week, and 5.4 cents above the national average.
The price is now less than half of an average high of $4.16 per gallon in Idaho in July.
La Alianza announces new director
La Alianza Multicultural Center recently hired a new director, Millie Gaitán-González, and received significant new funding.
Gaitán-González served as director of Catholic Charities and was Idaho coordinator for the Raíces Project in Jerome and a case manager for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Twin Falls. She has lived in southern Idaho for nearly two decades.
La Alianza's new funding comes from a local donor who pledged $20,000 to a matching campaign in 2009. Over the next year, La Alianza staff and board members will seek to match that through various fundraising efforts.
The multi-cultural organization is experiencing a major increase in activity at its center in the Community Campus in Hailey. Funding for La Alianza's 2008 programming came from the Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, public contributions and private donations. For more information call 578-5408 or e-mail Director@LaAlianzaIdaho.org.
Carey Clinic officially closes
St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center has closed the Carey Clinic where a registered nurse could be seen one half day a week until mid-2006.
"Over a year ago, we lost the staff member who was providing the service," said Tonia Bruess, St. Luke's public relations spokesperson. "Administration made the decision to officially close the clinic based on staffing difficulties, slowdown of the development plans for Carey and the unforeseen economic downturn. The Carey community continues to utilize our Hailey and Ketchum Clinics for their health care needs."
SNRA sets extra hours for tree permits
Permits to cut a Christmas tree in designated areas are available, and additional hours have been set over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Ketchum Ranger District office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., as is the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters on Highway 75.
On both Saturday and Sunday of each weekend through Saturday, Dec. 20, the SNRA headquarters will also be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information call 622-5371 or 727-5000.
Avis offers options for travelers to Sun Valley
Beginning Dec. 1, people wishing to drive an Avis rental car to Sun Valley from Boise or Twin Falls can now pick up or drop off rental cars at the Sun Valley Lodge, with no drop-off fee. For return trips, cars can be picked up and dropped off at either airport with no drop-off charge.
Customers previously had to pick up and drop off rental cars at the Friedman Memorial Airport located in Hailey, 12 miles south of Sun Valley, causing a gap in getting to Sun Valley/Ketchum. Local residents can also rent Avis cars directly from the Sun Valley Resort.
Customers should make arrangements 24 hours in advance. Make reservations at (208) 788-2382 or avis@sunvalley.net.
Sun Valley gets national TV exposure
Sun Valley/Ketchum will be featured on Ski Northwest on cable channel Fox Sports Net four times during the next two months. The show was filmed in the area in February 2008 and will feature the Sun Valley Nordic Center, skiing on Bald Mountain and a short piece on summer recreation. Local residents Danny Walton, Mary Regal and Bob Rosso will also be profiled.
"The Sun Valley Resort and the Chamber and Visitors Bureau collaborated on this show," said Bronwyn Patterson, public relations manager with the Sun Valley-Ketchum chamber. "This will air in our Northwest regional market, and we're excited about the exposure this will bring to town."
The show will air Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 2:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 27, at 2:30 p.m.
In addition, Australia's Sydney Morning Herald ran a story called "Hollywood on Ice" about Sun Valley's skiing. The Independent newspaper in England mentioned the fact that Sun Valley has virtually no lift lines, and the Seattle Times included Sun Valley in a story called "Trips Worth Taking." Sun Valley will also be featured in the January 2009 issue of Sunset and the February 2009 issue of Skiing.
Ketchum winery receives kudos
Frenchmen's Gulch Winery's 2005 cabernet sauvignon recently was given 92 points and an "Exceptional" rating from the Beverage Testing Institute in the under $20 category. Its 2005 cabernet sauvignon received the second highest rating in the competition out of about 600 entries.
The 2005 cabernet sauvignon is hand-crafted in Ketchum from select Washington fruit from Alder Creek, Matador and Dwelley vineyards. It is available only at Frenchman's Gulch Winery, 360 Ninth St. E. No. 10 in Ketchum.
For more information call 726-0118. The tasting room hours are 3-6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday or by appointment.
Local motorsports dealer honored
Hailey-based Woodside Motorsports has been honored as the Idaho State Snowmobile Association's 2008 Dealer of the Year. The award was presented to the dealership's owners, John Goddard and Randy Bird, both of Hailey, at the association's convention banquet on Nov. 8.
Woodside Motorsports was given the award for its devotion to the association, Chairman John Traska said.
"The ISSA really values these dealer owners and the time and efforts they put forth," he said.
