Take your Nordic skiing to next level
People are invited to take their Nordic skiing to the next level with ski lessons beginning Jan. 4 at the Quigley Nordic Winter Park near Hailey.
Participants can learn to skate ski or improve their skills, join the VAMPS and Blaine County Recreation District coaches in a women's-only skate or classic group, or train for the Boulder Mountain Tour.
Classes are offered Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays and private lessons are also available for classic or skate technique.
For more information call Janelle at 788-9142, or go to bcrd.org to download a registration form.
ITD warns partygoers to be safe
The Idaho Transportation Department is reminding partygoers to make a safe choice and not drive impaired.
Idaho law enforcement agencies are conducting overtime patrols statewide searching for and arresting drunk or otherwise impaired drivers through New Year's Day. ITD's Office of Highway Operations and Safety is providing funds through a federal grant for the extra patrol effort.
Last year, 96 people died in impaired-driving crashes on Idaho's highways.
Disciples of Rock to play Boise
The local youth band Disciples of Rock will play at the Hot Local Knights' battle of the bands at The Venue in Boise on Saturday, Jan. 2, at 6:30 p.m. The band will play a 20-minute set of its best classic rock covers.
Band members Caleb Garvin, 13, on drums, Lucas Garvin, 10, on electric guitar, Champe Kotara, 13, on lead guitar and Hayden Thayer, 13, on bass have been together for four years under the direction of Scott Garvin.
Call for actors
Company of Fools, Saint Thomas Playhouse and the nexStage Theatre will hold joint general auditions on Monday, Feb. 1, at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey.
The theatre organizations are looking for actors and actresses ages 16 and up. Those auditioning are asked to prepare a monologue of their choice, preferably contemporary and no more than two minutes in length, or they can read from scripts provided at the audition.
Those who would like to be considered for musicals should also prepare a song. Accompaniment will be provided.
Auditions are by appointment only from 4-6 p.m. To schedule a time, call Company of Fools' office at 788-6520. The Liberty Theatre is at 110 N. Main St.
Vandals causing sign damage
A potentially dangerous pastime is increasing along state highways during the past several months, with numerous highway signs being vandalized by paintballs throughout south-central Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department reported.
The paintball stains are not only costly to taxpayers, but have the potential to create hazardous results. The paintballs damage the signs' reflectivity, making them harder to see at night.
More than 70 signs were recently replaced on two highways in Cassia County at a cost of more than $7,000.
Avalanche Center offers class
The Sawtooth Avalanche Center will hold an Avalanche Basics class at the Community Campus in Hailey in Room 301 on Tuesday, Jan. 5, from 6-9 p.m. A $5 donation is requested at the door. An optional all-day field session will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Field session participants must have attended the classroom session.
The Avalanche Center will also present a free lecture by avalanche researcher and educator Ian McCammon at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum on Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 7-8:30 p.m. McCammon will give a presentation on decision making in avalanche terrain. For details, call 622-0095.
Count birds in Silver Creek
The Sun Valley Christmas Bird Count will take place on Saturday, Jan. 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Silver Creek area. Meet at the Picabo General Store for assignments at 7:30 a.m. All are welcome and should be prepared for cold weather. For details, call Brian Sturges at 578-0219.
Foundation honors philanthropist
The St. Luke's Wood River Foundation honored part-time Ketchum resident Julie Wrigley as the recipient of the 2009 Nancy Cord Vision of Philanthropy Award last week.
As a key supporter of St. Luke's Wood River Foundation, Wrigley is the lead philanthropic investor in the St. Luke's Women's Imaging Center.
Wrigley also established the first Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University, which supports the world's leading sustainability scholars and researchers.
Each year the foundation awards a philanthropic leader who demonstrates remarkable qualities in leadership, philanthropy and humanitarianism. The award is named for Nancy Cord, a Sun Valley resident and foundation emeritus council member, for her unwavering commitment to the hospital and community.
