Mountain Mamas bring art to Stanley
This weekend, the northern base of the Sawtooth Mountains will be alive with arts and crafts as the Sawtooth Mountain Mamas' 36th annual Arts & Crafts Fair descends on Stanley.
This free event will take place Saturday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in a grassy field along state Highway 21, next to Mountain Village Mercantile. It will feature food, music and hundreds of arts and crafts purveyors displaying their wares.
The Sawtooth Mountain Mamas is a service and social organization that has been part of the local scene for more than 40 years. The group sponsors several major fundraising events during the year to benefit local causes.
Harriman Tea raises funds for trail
The 12th annual Harriman High Tea has raised more than $16,000 to support the Harriman Trail fund, which helps maintain the trail.
The tea was held Tuesday, July 10, at the home of Francette Labatut-Miller.
The Harriman Trail offers easily accessible year-round recreation for hikers, bikers and Nordic skiers. Completed in 2001, the trail winds north from the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters to Galena Lodge. It passes through riparian areas, over bridges spanning the Big Wood River, across meadows and through aspen stands.
The trail exists through a public-private collaboration. The U.S. Forest Service built it and the Blaine County Recreation District maintains it through private donations.
For more information about supporting the trail or to request an invitation to next year's tea, call Kris Stoffer at 578-5455.
Workshop aims to make streets safer
A workshop will be held Wednesday, July 25, among local government officials and members of the public to discuss ways to make getting around the valley by bike or on foot easier and safer. It will be hosted by the Wood River Active Living Task Force, Idaho Smart Growth and the Community Transportation Association of Idaho.
The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Blaine County Annex, 219 First Ave. S. in Hailey. Lunch will be provided by Idaho Smart Growth.
Following the workshop, a tour of projects in Hailey will provide participants a firsthand opportunity to visit sites of plans and to offer opinions.
"The Wood River Valley is part of a growing statewide effort to create community designs that support all forms of transportation," said Deanna Smith, with Idaho Smart Growth. "When streets are designed so that people feel safe walking and biking around, we see lots of added benefits in health and mobility."
According to Idaho Smart Growth, many Idaho communities are implementing "complete streets" policies, asking planners to consider the needs of people on foot, public transportation and bicycles.
To register, email Vanessa Fry at vfry@ctai.org or call 720-8310.
'Party for Papa'
The Ketchum-Sun Valley Historical Society will host a "Party for Papa" to celebrate acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway's birthday Saturday, July 21, from 1-3 p.m. at the Ski & Heritage Museum in Forest Service Park in central Ketchum.
The free event will feature new exhibits on Hemingway, birthday cake and lemonade.
For more information, call 726-8118.
Ski passes support air service
Fly Sun Valley Alliance, in partnership with Sun Valley Resort, is once again offering businesses and organizations "air support" transferable employee ski passes. With passes donated by the resort, the program raises funds to support air service to Sun Valley.
The following pass options are available for the 1012-13 winter season. All include skiing and boarding on Baldy and Dollar mountains and Nordic skiing at the Sun Valley Nordic Center:
( Business class pass, $1,200, includes one 20-day transferable employee pass.
( First-class pass, $2,600, includes one "all week" transferable employee pass or two "long weekend" (Friday through Sunday) transferable employee passes.
( Pass upgrade, $1,500 (limited quantity). With the purchase of any pass, buyers may add one free company ski day on Baldy, including free skiing for up to 50 guests (employees, family, friends, clients, etc.) and on-mountain recognition on a designated date during the 2012-13 season ($4,500 value).
Pass purchases must be made by Nov. 1 and can be done by check through the mail or online. Details can found at www.flysunvalleyalliance.com.
Fly Sun Valley Alliance President Eric Seder said the pass program is a significant part of fundraising for support of the winter and summer nonstop flights on Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air from Seattle and Los Angeles, as well as other air service initiatives undertaken by the organization.
For more information, contact carol@flysunvalleyalliance.com or 720-3965.
AmericInn provides free stays for wounded vets
The AmericInn Hailey is participating with other AmericInn hotels nationwide to support a new military support program called "Hotels For Heroes," providing free hotel stays for wounded U.S. troops and their families while they are receiving treatment.
The program, which provides AmericInn customers the option of donating their Easy Rewards guest loyalty points to "Hotels For Heroes," was announced this month by government, military and foundation leaders at an event in Washington, D.C.
According to a news release from AmericInn, the program is administered by the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting America's wounded warriors, veterans and their families. The Fisher House will pool donations of AmericInn Easy Rewards points along with donated points from other participating hotel companies.
AmericInn customers can donate their Easy Rewards points to the "Hotels for Heroes" program by logging on to their account and accessing the "redeem" and "donation" tabs.
AmericInn has been honored twice by the Department of Defense for its extensive programs of support for members of the military, receiving the "Seven Seals Award" and the "Above and Beyond Award." During the past year, AmericInn launched several major initiatives including preparing and shipping thousands of care packages to military troops stationed overseas plus preparing gift items, tote bags and bicycles for the families of military members.
Geocaching takes root in Ketchum
Ketchum Parks and Recreation Summer Camp and the "Park Rats" have taken on the sport of Geocaching. According to a news release from the Parks and Recreation Department, they have placed four new "geocaches" in Ketchum to help people learn about the city's 12 parks, and during the next five-week session will place five more. All geocaches will remain in place until Aug. 31.
The department said it hopes one or two will turn into real geocaches on the www.geocaching.com website. Two of the nine caches will also be set up as virtual geocaches and may make it to www.waymarking.com.