Fundraiser for the Wood River Wave set
On Friday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m., supporters of the Wood River Wave project, a renovation effort at the currently hazardous headgate near Bellevue’s Howard Preserve, are throwing a fundraising party at Mahoney’s Bar and Grill in Bellevue.
This initial effort is to raise the money necessary to hire a river park engineer who will then create the plan and cost estimate for the reconstruction of the perilous lowhead dam and headgate on the Big Wood River in Bellevue.
Everyone is welcome; there is no cover charge. Beer will be sold either per glass or with an all-you-can-drink price. The event will include a raffle with both local and national vendors.
Enjoy a weekend with Rabbi Kranz
Rabbi Phillip Kranz, co-author of “Creativity & Judaism: Innovating your Life and Renewing Your Faith,” will be in Ketchum Friday, Aug. 9, through Sunday, Aug. 11, with a series of three free lectures.
On Aug. 9, at 6 p.m. at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sun Valley, the rabbi will explore the roots of anti-Semitism in the 19th century, the ways Jews responded to the anti-Semitism, and the dilemmas faced by Jews, especially during this second decade of the 21st century.
“Moral and Ethical Decisions in the Light of Classical Jewish Tradition” will be the topic on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 10 a.m. at the Wood River Jewish Community office at 471 Leadville Ave. in Ketchum. Rabbi Kranz will present a classical Jewish text; he will discuss its content, point out the differences between the legal and non-legal layers in it and then attempt to answer the question of how contemporary Jews are expected to make moral and ethical decisions in light of that classical Jewish tradition.
On Sunday at 10 a.m., at the WRJC office the rabbi wiil discuss the topic of God and belief. He will examine the points of view of major Jewish philosophers and theologians and will attempt to find a theological outlook that is in harmony with our times.
The lectures are sponsored by the Wood River Jewish Community.
Warm up for school’s return
Monique Betty, a ballet dancer with Ballet Idaho, will be one of several professional performers in the valley Aug. 12-16 as part of Footlight Dance Centre’s tradition of exposing local dancers to outstanding faculty from outside the valley.
She began her training with the late Marius Zirra and attended Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy in Pocatello, where she studied under Sergiu Brindusa, Beth Moore, and Florin Brindusa. She attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and Ballet Idaho.
Sheena Phelps from Pocatello was an ISU Bengal Dancer and currently teaches hip-hop at Idaho State and the Dance Factory in Pocatello. She has her degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Dance Performance from ISU. She is director of The Company in Pocatello. Lori Head is a dance professor at ISU. She brings a vast knowledge of many dance forms including African cultural dances.
This is an opportunity to study with talented teachers from outside the valley. Dancers should be exposed to a wide variety of styles and approaches to understand and find their own voice of expression. For more information about the classes, go to www.footlightdancecentre.com.
Old Death Whisper releases new album
Old Death Whisper is celebrating the release of their first full-length album, “The Traveler,” a culmination of dirty Western road stories, reflections of heartbreak, murder ballads and good old drinking songs.
The album, according to a news release, was inspired partly by two years of touring the United States as well as Europe, founded in the roots of American music, but not limited to Old West themes and cowboys, “The Traveler” is a modern commentary on the road, survival of the heartbroken and the Western American lifestyle. Road life, divorce, dusty trails and smoky dive bars were the incubators of this album and have produced a genuine Western gothic tale.
The lyrics for the title track were found in an old desk and put to music by the band, which helped to form the roaming theme of this record. “The Traveler” was recorded at the Audio Lab in Boise. The sound is energetic, gritty, dirty, spacious and sometimes gentle in its ferocity.
Independently released on the band’s own Rocking Hell label, “The Traveler” came out Aug. 1, with a deluxe vinyl version featuring five additional songs and extra artwork by the band to be released in the fall.
Along with playing in the great Northwest region of the United States, Old Death Whisper is planning tours to Canada, Europe and possibly Costa Rica and Alaska in 2014. Check out the band’s website for more information and updates: www.olddeathwhisper.net.