Citizens get gold stars from mayors
Architect Susan Desko and Greg Randolph, the Sun Valley Marketing Alliance’s director of public relations and social media, received commendations from Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall and Sun Valley Mayor DeWayne Briscoe last week.
Desko and Randolph were honored by Hall at a Ketchum City Council meeting on Oct. 1 and by Briscoe at a Sun Valley council meeting Oct. 2.
Desko was applauded for her design of the recently remodeled Visitor Center in Ketchum, which won an American Architecture Award for 2012 last month.
Randolph was given kudos for his leadership and management of the 2012 Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival, a week-long cycling event in July that integrated with the USA Cycling National Mountain Biking Championships. The mayors also thanked the more than 200 volunteers who helped Randolph pull off the event.
Join a ‘Passionately Pink Party’
RE/MAX of Sun Valley is sponsoring the Susan G. Komen Passionately Pink for the Cure Fundraiser to help raise money for breast cancer research.
Every Friday during the month of October, RE/MAX of Sun Valley will host a “Pink Party” at 360 Sun Valley Road in Ketchum. This Friday, Oct. 12, from noon to 6 p.m. RE/MAX will host a “Sheepishly Pink” event for the Trailing of the Sheep Festival. It will feature pink martinis, pink cookies and pink lemonade.
In addition, all RE/MAX agents will be donating a portion of all their commissions for all closings in the month of October. They will also hold a weekly raffle.
Power outages in valley tonight
Beginning at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 10, sporadic power outages will follow the route of a customer moving a house from north of Ketchum south to Hailey. The temporary power outages may last up to two hours.
Affected customers will be notified in advance by telephone twice before the outage. Electronic road signs about the outage also will be posted.
The house move will start in the North Fork Store area and end at Fourth and Spruce streets in Hailey. The majority of the move is along state Highway 75. Areas not impacted are Elkhorn, East Fork, Golden Eagle, Greenhorn Road and the cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley.
Foundation offers grant applications
The Wood River Women’s Charitable Foundation is asking Blaine County nonprofits seeking grants to submit letters of interest by Nov. 2.
Grants are available in the areas of social services, education, environment, health, cultural arts and recreation. Selected organizations will be asked to submit full grant applications.
The foundation, which has 156 members, has awarded more than $757,000 to Wood River organizations in its six-year history.
Application forms are available on the Web at www.wrwcf.org.
Yes to Air sponsors ‘Flight Nights’
Citizens for Air Service, the group behind the “Yes to Air” campaign in support of a local-option tax for air service, will host a series of four educational “Flight Nights” on Thursday evenings from 5-7 p.m. beginning Oct. 11 and concluding Nov. 1.
John Sofro, one of the volunteer Flight Night organizers, said the events are designed to provide information to local voters on the upcoming 1 percent local-option tax for air service ballot measure in a fun, informal setting. Those who attend the Flight Nights will be treated to drink specials and assorted giveaways, and can enter to win the grand prize that will be given away each night: a Flex Plus season ski pass at Sun Valley Resort, valued at $999.
The Flight Nights will be held at the following establishments:
- Oct. 11: Power House, Hailey
- Oct. 18: Whiskey Jacques’, Ketchum
- Oct. 25: The Cellar Pub, Ketchum
- Nov. 1: Cornerstone Bar & Grill, Ketchum
Free children’s vitamins offered
Luke’s Family Pharmacy will begin a free children’s multi-vitamin program on Thursday, Oct. 11, in conjunction with opening its new location at 101 S. Main St. in Hailey.
According to a news release from the store, a recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics described vitamin deficiency as a problem with children, especially with Vitamin D. Luke’s Family Pharmacy says it will provide each child with a free 30-day supply of its private-label children’s multivitamin. Parents can get free refills of the vitamins for up to a year.
“In these times of financial hardship for many families, a child’s health needs should not have to be sacrificed,” said Luke Snell, owner/pharmacist at Luke’s Family Pharmacy.
Forest lifts fire restrictions
The Sawtooth National Forest lifted fire restrictions on Friday, Oct. 5, including all lands in south central Idaho currently under Stage 1 restrictions.
The agency asked in a press release that the public remain vigilant in ensuring that campfires are “dead out.” Conditions are still dry, the agency said in a press release.
Senior Connection delays opening
The Senior Connection in Hailey will delay its reopening from next week to Tuesday, Oct. 23.
The center is undergoing a massive kitchen remodel, financed through public and private grants. Executive Director Kim Coonis said the remodel is mostly going as planned, but equipment delays have made it impossible to reopen on time.
“We are so excited about this project and the benefit it will have, not only on seniors but the entire community,” she said.
A Senior Connection shuttle will continue to provide service to those who need it in Hailey, and Shorty’s Diner and the Wicked Spud will continue to provide senior discount meals until Oct. 23.
Learn about weight loss, gain
St. Luke’s Center for Community Health will present a lecture called “The Latest in Bariatric Procedures” today, Oct. 10, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. at St. Luke’s Clinic in Hailey.
Learn about weight gain and obesity and associated health implications, as well as the physical science of why weight loss can be so difficult for some people. Dr. Robert Korn, a bariatric surgeon, will explain how bariatric procedures work, the potential benefits and risks, and when a bariatric procedure might be an appropriate option for weight loss and management.
All Brown Bag lectures are free and no pre-registration is required. Call St. Luke’s Center for Community Health for information on this or other educational programs, at 727-8733.
Firefighters are fighting cancer
The Ketchum firefighters union, Local 4758, is promoting breast cancer awareness this month.
Through October, firefighters will wear pink T-shirts both on and off duty, and the union will hold a variety of public service events aimed at supporting breast cancer awareness. Events will include a photo scavenger hunt titled “The Hunt for Pink October” and a contest for children that will teach them about fire prevention and home safety.
Prizes for the scavenger hunt and kids contest will be given out during a Professional Firefighters of Ketchum Event for Breast Cancer Awareness on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 3-5 p.m. at Ketchum Town Square. Other activities at Town Square will include bobbing for apples and a mini-carnival.
"It was a little tough to get all the guys to agree to wear pink T-shirts,” said program coordinator Lt. Lara McLean.
Local 4758 President Senior Lt. John Rathfon said support for breast cancer awareness is a tradition that is gaining ground in firehouses throughout the country.
“We are proud to bring it to Ketchum,” he said.
For more information and a schedule of events, visit the union’s website at www.ketchumfirefighters.com.
USGS to measure well levels
The U.S. Geological Survey and the Idaho Department of Water Resources are studying the water resources of the Big Wood River Valley.
The purpose of the study, according to a USGS news release, is to gain a better understanding of the physical nature of the valley’s aquifer system and to provide water resource managers with the knowledge needed to make water management decisions.
USGS personnel will measure river flows and water levels starting Monday, Oct. 22. Personnel will carry official government identification.
More information can be found at www.id.water.usgs.gov/projects/wood_river_valley.
California to protect wolves
The California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 3 to accept a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the gray wolf for federal protection in that state.
Approval of the petition immediately boosted the species to “candidate” status, meaning that wolves have full state protection until a federal decision is made.
The gray wolf has been absent from California since the early 1900s, but an adolescent wolf from Oregon known as OR-7 crossed the state boundary in December.
