St. Luke’s offers free winter health talks
St. Luke’s Center for Community Health is offering some free, winter-related info sessions this season during its lunchtime Brown Bag Health Talks.
On Thursday, Jan. 17, at 12:15 p.m. at the St. Luke’s Wood River Clinic, a discussion will be held on seasonal affective disorder. The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website states that people who live in places with long winter nights are at greater risk for the disorder. According to St. Luke’s website, symptoms range from lethargy to debilitating depressive disorders. Gay Miremont, a licensed clinical social worker, will discuss the physiological changes that can lead to this condition, as well as ways to prevent, offset and cope with the symptoms.
On Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 12:15 p.m. at St. Luke’s Hailey Clinic, a lecture will be held on how to prevent back injury. That discussion should be particularly beneficial to those whose winter activities include back-intensive actions such as snow shoveling. According to the St. Luke’s website, back pain is among the most common reasons that people seek medical care. Physical therapist Mary Kay Foley will provide information on how core muscle strength, coordination and flexibility work together to protect our backs throughout the day when sitting or actively participating in sports or other activities.
For more information on St. Luke’s Brown Bag Health Talks, visit the hospital’s website at www.stlukesonline.org/wood_river or call the St. Luke’s Center for Community Health at 727-8733.
Library to screen film on Mexican reporters vs. cartels
The Community Library in Ketchum will screen the film “Reportero” on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. According to the film’s website, the documentary by Bernardo Ruiz follows veteran reporter Sergio Haro and his colleagues at Semanario Zeta—a Tijuana-based independent newsweekly—as they “stubbornly ply their trade” in one of the deadliest places in the world for members of the media.
According to the website, more than 40 journalists have been killed or have vanished in Mexico since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderón came to power and launched a government offensive against the country’s powerful drug cartels and organized crime groups. The film explores the question of whether the free press will prevail or be silenced as the drug war intensifies and the risks to journalists become greater.
“I see this film as part ‘character’ story, and part meditation on the nature of the job, a job that is difficult and potentially deadly,” Ruiz states on the website.
The film was an official selection of the 2012 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, N.C.
Hailey to host open house at Welcome Center
The Welcome Center, the second building in Hailey to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation, is complete and ready to show off. The city will open the doors to the public with an open house at 781 S. Main St. on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
The event will include a thank you from Mayor Fritz Haemmerle, information on green building in Idaho presented by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Idaho Chapter Executive Director, Charlie Woodruff, light refreshments and an activity for kids. Prior to the open house, there will be a LEED discussion and tour of the building from 5-5:30 p.m. for those in the design and construction industries.
The Welcome Center was built and designed to conserve water, energy, reduce waste, improve indoor air quality and use more sustainable building materials. It also includes work from four artists.
The Welcome Center is the future home of the Hailey Chamber of Commerce and an interpretive exhibit that will showcase Hailey’s history (completion expected in March).
Magazine honors Ketchum bookstore
Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum was recently recognized as one of America’s Best Bookstores by Travel + Leisure magazine online. It was profiled along with 16 other independent bookstores throughout the U.S. and noted for its “cozy” atmosphere and “large collection of rare and out-of-print Hemingway books.”
“We are so honored and grateful to receive this kind of recognition and exposure,” said long-time Chapter One Bookstore owner Cheryl Thomas. ”It’s good for us and also good for our community. Independent bookstores are so important, and we strive to provide a unique selection of books and exceptional customer service in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.”
In October, Chapter One Bookstore was chosen as one of the Five Great Indie Bookstores in the Pacific Northwest by Seattle Metro magazine, and has also received national exposure by being featured in the recently published book My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places To Browse, Read, and Shop.”
Ski for Air Service returns
Fly Sun Valley Alliance and Sun Valley Co. will again raise money for air service by offering a full-day lift ticket for $40 on Sunday, Jan. 27..
A limited number of tickets will be available for sale from Jan. 16-26 at Sturtevants, Board Bin, Pk’s Ski and Sports and Formula Sports in Ketchum, as well as Elevation Sports in Twin Falls and Newt and Harold’s in Boise.
All proceeds will go to Fly Sun Valley Alliance, and will be used to maintain and increase commercial air service to Friedman Memorial Airport.
Lift ticket purchases are cash or credit card only and not refundable. A 3 percent processing fee will be added to credit card sales. There is no limit to the number of tickets that a person may buy.
The alliance will also hold a raffle after the ski day, with prizes that include four roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines, a two-bedroom condo rental for two nights in Sun Valley and gift certificates from local merchants. Each lift ticket buyer will receive a voucher that allows him or her to get twice the number of raffle tickets for the same price. Raffle tickets are $10 each, and will be for sale both at local ski shops and at River Run and Warm Springs lodges on Jan. 27.
The winners will be drawn during an après-ski party from 3-5 p.m. at River Run Lodge, but need not be present to win. Live music for the party will be provided by Midwest Reggae-rockers Jon Wayne and The Pain.
For details, see www.flysunvalleyalliance.com.
Local athlete to represent U.S. at Special Olympics
Local athlete Jerry Smith has qualified to represent Team USA in the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. This will be the tenth Special Olympics World Winter Games, and will take place from Jan. 29 through Feb. 5.
According to Higher Ground Sun Valley, Smith, 57, is one of four Idahoans who qualified to go to South Korea. The Games will feature alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding and speed skating, among other sports.
