Mountain Rides sets new schedule
A new winter/spring schedule for Mountain Rides Transportation Authority's Valley Bus service starts on Monday, Dec. 21.
The new schedule for the service, which links the Ketchum-Sun Valley area to Hailey and Bellevue, is available at www.mountainrides.org. Printed schedules will be available Dec. 18 at Mountain Rides' bus stops and various area businesses.
Mountain Rides announced in a news release that the new schedule "made a series of improvements based on customer feedback from a recent survey." Changes include daily service to and from River Run, additional midday and evening service on weekdays and additional Saturday morning service.
Mountain Rides is offering "holiday special" 30 percent discounts on Valley Bus service passes purchased at the Mountain Rides office in Ketchum from now until Dec. 24.
The Mountain Rides board of directors will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Ketchum City Hall. The meeting has a 2:30 p.m. rather than the usual 11:30 a.m. start time.
Free smoke detectors available
The Hailey Fire Department has received a donation of 30 ionization-type smoke detectors from the Idaho section of the American Nuclear Society. These smoke detectors are available to any household in the valley.
The department stated that even though the smoke detectors use nuclear technology, the amount of radiation in them is very small. However, people should not dismantle the detector or otherwise allow the americium in it to become airborne.
Anyone who would like a detector or who would like his or her current detector tested can contact the Fire Department at 788-3147.
Get out on the town
Plan on heading to downtown Ketchum on Saturday, Dec. 19, for some holiday cheer and last-minute shopping. Anyone wearing a Santa, elf or other holiday outfit will receive discounts and free goodies at participating businesses during the Santa Crawl. Look for the holiday Santa sign to see if a business is participating.
For parents who would like to have some adult holiday fun without the children, the YMCA is offering Parents Night Out on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 6-10 p.m. Experienced staff have planned a fun evening for children ages 1 to 8 filled with games, crafts and a snack. Pre-registration is required at 727-9622. Cost is $20 per child for members and $25 per child for non-members. A sibling discount is $15 per child.
Chamber offers transferable passes
The Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau is again offering its business members transferable season ski passes for their employees.
The passes, donated by Sun Valley Co., cost $2,500 for a full season's pass and $1,000 for a 20-day pass.
All revenues from the program help support minimum revenue guarantees to Horizon Air, which ensure daily non-stop service from Los Angeles and Seattle this winter and summer.
Senior center gets unique donation
The Senior Connection received a rare donation left in a small plastic bag in the snow by the front door.
Executive Director Kimberly Coonis said that while he was mapping out his snow removal, volunteer David Stone saw something shiny and strategically placed on top of the snow. He bent down to find a very rare 1910 solid gold $10 Indian coin worth somewhere between $800 to $1,500.
Coonis said the coin will be sold to help pay for senior care.
"We don't care how the donations come, we are just grateful for the honesty of our valued volunteers," she said. "We would like to thank our silent angel. The donation will not be wasted."
Rec District hosts adventure camp
The Blaine County Recreation District will offer its popular Winter Break Adventure Camp program for youths in kindergarten through fifth grade during the holiday break.
The program will take place at the Community Campus on Mondays through Wednesdays, Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 28-30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Activities will include ice skating, swimming at the YMCA, BCRD Winter Olympics, snowshoe trekking, tubing and winter fun at the Quigley Nordic Park.
Cost is $35 per day or $175 for the entire program. Participants should bring a sack lunch and appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor winter play.
Contact the district at 788-2117 or www.bcrd.org for more information.
Land Trust to host open house
Wood River Land Trust will host a holiday open house on Monday, Dec. 21, from 4-6 p.m. at its newly renovated Anderson House, 119 S. Second St. in Hailey.
Anderson House was bought with funds donated for staff housing.
Wine, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments for children will be served. Gift memberships will be available for purchase.
A tree will be decorated with natural and handmade ornaments. People can join in on the fun by bringing popcorn and cranberry strings, pine cones, dried fruit, dried flowers, heart rocks, candy canes, etc.
For more information, call Robyn Watson at 788-3947.
Valley leaders, Santa to greet visitors
Beginning Saturday, Dec. 19, the first busy incoming air travel day of the holiday season, local community, airport and chamber leaders, along with Santa, will greet Horizon and SkyWest passengers with cookies, goodie bags with discounts from local businesses, local information and other treats.
The receptions, for flights arriving from 2-4 p.m., were organized by the Sun Valley-Ketchum and Hailey chambers of commerce. The Friedman Memorial Airport administration donated space in one of its terminal booths to use as a year-round information station.
"We want to make sure our airline partners and our incoming guests know we value them, and we thought this would be a fun way to show it", said Carol Waller, executive director of the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau.
Members of the public are invited to participate.
Early season extended to Thursday
Sun Valley Resort's early-season lift ticket pricing has been extended through Thursday, Dec. 17.
Value Season day tickets are selling for $56, Early/Late season passes are being honored, and Idaho ski area pass holders get a $20 discount.
For daily updated mountain reports, visit www.sunvalley.com or call (800) 635-4150.
Cancer support group meets today
St. Luke's Center for Community Health will hold the next Cancer Support and Networking Group meeting today from 10-11 a.m. The group will meet in the Baldy Conference Rooms at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center.
For more information on this or other community outreach programs, contact Erin Buell at 727-8733.
Will Caldwell Gallery moves
The Will Caldwell Gallery will have an open house on Friday, Dec. 18, from 1-8 p.m. with drinks, snacks and holiday cheer to celebrate its new location next to the old gallery above the Cellar Pub on Sun Valley Road in Ketchum.
Caldwell's latest paintings portray last summer's "after-the-fire wildflower explosion" and Caldwell continues his dance series on Idaho Native dancers from the Snake River Pow Wow last summer.
Habitat for Humanity seeks donations
An anonymous donor has offered a "challenge donation" of $100,000 if Habitat for Humanity is able to raise another $100,000 toward construction of the organization's second dwelling in Blaine County.
Habitat for Humanity of Blaine County, which successfully completed its first home this past year in Bellevue, is preparing to build a duplex, at an estimated cost of $250,000.
The all-volunteer organization is asking community members to help it meet this challenge by making a tax-deductible gift to Habitat for Humanity of Blaine County, Box 10143, Ketchum, ID 83340, phone 788-0610 and e-mail: office@hfhblaine.org.
Magic Lantern Cinemas expands
The Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum will open two new screening rooms on Friday, Dec. 25. The new theaters were originally Ski Time 2 Cinemas, which closed in September 2008.
Magic Lantern Cinemas owner Rick Kessler took over the empty Ski Time 2 Cinemas this year. The theaters are in the same building as the Magic Lantern Cinemas and Kessler remodeled the empty theaters to create two new deluxe screening rooms.
"It will be a quality movie experience," Kessler said. "The theaters will have the most leg room of any theater in the valley."
The Magic Lantern celebrates 35 years of operation in the Wood River Valley this year.
Bridge players earn honors
Five Wood River Valley bridge players took honors in the recent American Contract Bridge League national tournament in San Diego.
Peter Gray brought home two first places while Chuck Abramo and Jo Murray took one first place and two second places.
Others placing in various events were Mollie Campbell and Joan Conger. Campbell partnered with former Sun Valley resident Emily Garr.
The Bridge Club of the Wood River offers two duplicate bridge games a week as well as lessons.
For additional information, call Peter Gray at 726-5997 or visit the Web site at www.woodriverbridge.com. For information about beginning bridge lessons, call Murray at 720-1501 or visit the Web site at www.SunValleyBridge.com.
