Democrats to host Oktoberfest party
The Blaine County Democrats will host an Oktoberfest 2013 gathering from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Forest Service Park in Ketchum.
The event will offer bratwurst, beer, and music by the Front Porch Flavor band. The $25 admission fee includes tickets for food and beer.
Those in attendance can meet candidates running in the Nov. 5 local elections. Local businesses are invited to set up their merchandise.
For more information, contact Betty Murphy at 726-6423.
URA to discuss proposed land swap
The Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency has proposed a land swap for the purpose of creating new community housing in Ketchum. On June 7, the URA solicited proposals for a land exchange for property owned by the URA at 211 East First St. The proposed swap would exchange that parcel for a vacant parcel at 691 Second Ave. The city intended to build community housing on the First Street parcel but could not acquire federal housing tax credits.
URA Commissioner Mark Eshman said the parcel on Second Avenue is being pursued because the larger property size would allow for additional units, the per-unit construction cost would be lower, and its proximity to Hemingway School and other amenities would benefit residents.
“While there is some initial opposition to this site from those living in its immediate proximity, the KURA believes that further exploration of a design and layout of a housing project on this site will show that a project can be developed that is fully compatible with the neighborhood,” Eshman said.
“If the land exchange is successful, the development team will make an application to the city to rezone the property to make the community housing units possible. The rezone application would go through public process,” a city news release states.
The URA has scheduled a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, in Ketchum City Hall to allow the public to comment on the plan.
Writer to work with students
Author Alexandra Fuller will visit the Community School today, Sept. 27, to work with the school’s seventh-grade students.
Fuller, who is in Sun Valley teaching a writing workshop in conjunction with the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, will also share advice and insight with Community School students.
Fuller is the author of “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” and “Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness.”
For more information on Fuller’s visit to the school, contact Joel Vilinsky at 622-3960, ext. 153.
Ketchum woman gets kudos from FBI
The Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, a fraternal organization of former FBI agents, has presented its Frances M. Keogh award for exceptional humanitarian service to Lynn Flickinger, of Ketchum, for her work with the Souper Supper Dining Room, a soup kitchen that serves members of the Wood River Valley.
The Frances M. Keogh Memorial Fund was established in 1991 to honor the late executive director of the society. The annual award is presented to an individual who is involved in a local, community-based effort devoted to the care of the sick, poor and homeless people in the United States. Along with the award, a $1,500 charitable contribution is made to the award recipient’s organization.
The award is presented each year at the organization’s annual convention. This year’s convention took place in Sun Valley.
The nonprofit Souper Supper serves anyone who is hungry, without question. Donations can be sent to Dora Levin, P.O. Box 4197, Ketchum, ID 83340.
