Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Around Town



Idaho resident and former Idaho Mountain Express reporter Jason D.B. Kauffman will be shown free of charge at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum on Thursday, April 17.
Courtesy photo

    ‘A Season of Predators’ film screening free
    A documentary film called “A Season of Predators” by Idaho resident and former Idaho Mountain Express reporter Jason D.B. Kauffman will be shown free of charge at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum on Thursday, April 17. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with beer and wine available in the lobby. The film will start at 6 p.m.     
    The Sawtooth Society, along with the Lava Lake Institute and the Idaho Conservation League, are presenting the screening of the film.
     Following the film, former Wildlife Services Wolf Specialist Rick Williamson will speak on various management tools used throughout the years.
    “A Season of Predators” explores collaborative solutions to human-predator conflict in the northern Rockies. It takes place in two Montana and Idaho valleys where expanding predator populations have led to conflicts.
    The film was produced, filmed and edited by Kauffman during his graduate studies in the University of Montana’s Masters of Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism program. Filmed between May 2011 and April 2012, Kauffman logged more than 10,000 miles traveling between the Wood River Valley in south-central Idaho, the Blackfoot Valley in northern Montana and Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming.
    The film presents the challenges everyday Westerners face living with large predators in the two valleys. It also considers the collaborative, community-based solutions residents of these two landscapes have developed and employed in an effort to address livestock losses to wolves and grizzlies.
    In the Blackfoot Valley, trust built up over decades through collaboratively addressing pressing issues like invasive weeds, water quality and stream restoration have, in part, set the stage for successful partnerships related to predators. In the Wood River Valley, sheep ranchers, conservationists and state and federal agencies have partnered to reduce sheep depredations by wolves since 2007.
    “A Season of Predators” reveals the successes shown in these two communities and examines whether these types of programs may be viewed as emerging models for other Western communities facing similar predator challenges.

Heart of the Valley Contest under way
    Whether it’s a dog romping through the mountains with a smile on its face or a mossy pool of rainbows swirling in front of pine trees in the distance, take a photo of what special place pulls at your heart or pour it out in poetry or prose for the Wood River Land Trust’s 10th annual Heart of the Valley Contest.
    Entries are due Monday, May 12. Winners will be announced at Velocio Sun Valley in Ketchum, on Thursday, May 22, from 4:30-6 p.m.
    Visit www.heartofthevalley.net or www.woodriverlandtrust.org for more information. In the meantime, get out in nature and be inspired.
    Contact Jill at 788-3947 with questions.
    First-place prizes will be awarded to students, adult non-professionals and adult professionals in photography and writing. Prize donations from CK’s Real Food, Despo’s Mexican restaurant, Lost River Outfitters, Mahoney’s Bar & Grill, Mule Shoe Tavern, Perry’s, Surefoot, Wildflower and Coffee Grinder will be distributed.
    Since 1994, the Wood River Land Trust has protected nearly 15,000 acres of land in the Wood River Valley and surrounding areas.

Snapshot Day at Hailey Public Library
    In honor of National Library Week, the Hailey Public Library will hold its annual Library Snapshot Day on Thursday, April 17.
    The purpose of the event is “to capture the impact that Idaho libraries have on their communities on a typical day.”
    All are welcome to participate. Libraries—public, school, academic and special—from around the state of Idaho will track their activities with statistics and photos to create a “snapshot” of a day in the life of Idaho libraries.
    In 2013, 24 public libraries submitted statistics. The Hailey Public Library saw 251 patrons come through the door and 217 items were checked out.
    Library Snapshot Day is a great way for libraries to see what areas need improvement.
    “It gives us a simple way to measure the services we offer to our community,” said Library Director LeAnn Gelskey.
    During fiscal year 2013, nine staff members checked out a total of 77,146 items to the public and 85,728 patrons visited the library. The Hailey Public Library has been an essential community resource for 95 years. To learn more, visit haileypubliclibrary.org, or call 788-2036.

Last chance to cook in the Garden with Felix
    The Sawooth Botanical Garden south of Ketchum is hosting a final Chef Cooking Demonstration and Dinner on Thursday, April 17, at 6 p.m.
    Dinner will be prepared and demonstrated by Wood River Valley chef Felix Gonzalez.
    For more than 50 years, Gonzalez has cooked in the kitchens of The Ram, 319, The Christiania, 111, the Knob Hill Inn and Felix’s restaurant in Ketchum.
    Lamb is the theme for April, and includes a three-course meal plus wine. Space is very limited so guests can enjoy not only the meal itself, but the demonstration and preparation of the food.
    Call 726-9358 to make a reservation and for the cost.
    The Sawtooth Botanical Garden was founded in 1994 by a small local group of passionate gardeners and environmentalists. The goal of the organization is to establish a place to build community through the understanding and exploration of both native and cultivated plants. Visit www.sbgarden.org to learn more about its events, educational opportunities and programs.
    The garden is open daily, from dawn to dusk.  

KDPI celebrates a year
    The KDPI nonprofit community radio station will celebrate its first anniversary on Friday, April 18, and the public is invited to a party with a live music appearance at 5 p.m. with Jimmy Robb and Friends in the station’s parking lot in Ketchum.
    Refreshments will be available.
    For more information, stop by the station at 620 N. Main St.

Crisis Hotline lecture series wrapping up
    The Crisis Hotline is inviting the public to a series of lectures that will offer information—free—to anyone interested in developing better listening skills and learning about the dynamics of crises such as family violence, alcoholism, codependency, depression, child abuse and neglect, mental illness, sexual assault, suicide and more.
    Those who attend all the sessions and who are interested in taking their training one step further can offer to answer the hotline phone, which usually involves two days a month of carrying the phone.
    The sessions were made possible by donations from the Wood River Women’s Charitable Foundation.
    Wrapping it up on Thursday, April 17, will be Todd Gunter, school social worker, on “Listening to Youth,” and psychotherapist Rosemary Kells on “Helping Skills.”
    On Tuesday, April 22, Darrel Harris, youth program coordinator for The Advocates, will discuss bullying and power-based abuse.
    Finally, on Thursday, April 24, Blaine County Drug Coalition Executive Director Michael David will speak on his organization’s role in the community.  Lt. Steve England of the Hailey Police Department will explain 911 calls and welfare checks and Sher Foster, Crisis Hotline director, will wrap things up with an overview of their services.
    All chats run from 6-8 p.m. and are held in the basement of the Old Hailey Medical Clinic on Main Street.


CSI wraps up ‘Nonprofit Education Initiative’
    The College of Southern Idaho is offering the third and final session of the 2013-2014 “Nonprofit Education Initiative” today, April 16, with a seminar on crowd sourcing and crowd funding. The initiative is an educational series for local nonprofits designed to support the growth, development and sustainability of Blaine County nonprofit organizations.
    The seminar will focus on how nonprofit organizations can mobilize people around a mission and best practices for crowd-sourcing and crowd-funding within a framework that is focused on promoting authentic engagement between organizations and the community it serves.
    Presenter Zeke Spier has been working at the Social Justice Fund for seven years. Over that time, he has engaged hundreds of people as donors and helped to move millions of dollars to grassroots organizing in the Northwest.
    Spier has experience both as a manager in the corporate sector and as a community organizer, working on issues from the reconstruction of New Orleans to criminal justice issues in Philadelphia. He currently sits on the national Board of Advisors of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy and the board of Resource Generation.
    Tuition is $20. Advanced registration is required through the CSI Blaine County Center: 788-2033.

Call to Artists registration period is nearing the end
    Artists interested in participating in the Wood River Valley Studio Tour have until April 30 to sign up. The tour will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27 and 28, at the artists’ studios.
    Wood River Valley Studio Tour Inc. is an Idaho non-profit organization celebrating the artistic talent of the Sun Valley community, by connecting artists and art lovers through a free annual exploration of local artist studios. Visual artists residing in and around the four cities of the Wood River Valley—Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley—collectively open the doors of their studios annually to welcome in community members and visitors to the valley.
    Working artists are invited to respond to the call online by visiting www.wrvstudiotour.org.  
    Qualifying applicants must maintain a working art studio in the Wood River Valley.  Accepted artists are expected to have completed a body of work representing a cohesive, visual art form, with professional execution. The group defines the visual arts as art forms that are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, fine woodworking and filmmaking.  Artists are encouraged to contact the WRV Studio Tour office with any questions as to the suitability of their art form and its acceptance for inclusion in the tour.
    The 2014 WRV Studio Tour artist registration fee is $150.  Applications and fees are accepted online. Additional information about the studio tour can be found on the Internet at www.wrvstudiotour.org or at 725-0600.

New flea market for summer set
    Needing a place to sell some items, unload a closet or just clean out the house, barn or shed? Join the South Valley Flea Market this summer in Bellevue.
    The market will be operated from Memorial Day weekend starting Saturday, May 24, until Labor Day weekend, Sunday, Sept. 28.
    Established by Bellevue resident Erica Niemi, who drives for Meals on Wheels for the elderly and shut in, the idea was inspired to help provide a place to sell crafts and items they no longer needed or can’t keep.
    “They’re not physically or emotionally able to do their own garage sales,” she said. “Some are just not well, and they don’t have garages to create sales, but they can get together with their friends and sell crafts and unwanted items.”
    Spaces are $20 per day for the arena booths. Help to work booths is available, which is based on a percentage of sales.
    Niemi is planning on having live music, entertainment, affordable food and other weekend activities and concessions throughout the summer. There are no camper or RV hook-ups, but people can camp overnight if they are self-sufficient.
    For more details and information and to reserve spaces, email Niemi at niemidesign@gmail.com or call 721-0526.


Don’t miss getting a seat for smash ukulele hero
    The Sun Valley Center for the Arts will present ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro in concert on Thursday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. Shimabukuro will perform at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater in Hailey.
    In his young career, Shimabukuro has already redefined the ukulele, a heretofore under-the-radar instrument. He’s been declared a musical “hero” by Rolling Stone, won accolades from the disparate likes of Eddie Vedder, Perez Hilton and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, wowed audiences on television, earned comparisons to Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis and even played in front of the queen of England.
    “For those who are not familiar with Jake Shimabukuro, do yourself a favor and go on YouTube and search for him,” said Kristine Bretall, director of performing arts. She assures that newcomers will be hooked at first listen.
    A ukulele player since the age of 4, Shimabukuro has taken the Hawaiian instrument beyond its traditional roots to include jazz, funk, bluegrass, flamenco and rock. He’s also earned an international following, performing across the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe and has collaborated with such famed musicians as Bela Fleck, Ziggy Marley and Yo-Yo Ma.
    Concert tickets are $25 for Center members, $35 for non-members and $10 for kids. As well, “premium seating” tickets in the first five rows are available for $60.
    Visit www.sunvalleycenter.org or call 726-9491 for ticket sales.

Artist raises funds for Environmental Resource Center
    Experience “Beyond GMO,” an evocative artwork by local artist Deborra.
    “Beyond GMO’s” broken brushstrokes invite the viewer into the corn leaf to ponder cellular-level changes. The artist explained that these added elements represent “all the bad things between us and the beauty and memory of an unspoiled and simpler world.”
    “Art is the reflection of life that resides in all of us,” Deborra said. “My paintings are a glimpse into the core of human perception with color and images that provoke thoughts and memories of the past … and hopes that linger just out of reach in the future. Adding layer upon layer of color, the depth of paint reveals the life of the subject. As the image emerges, there is that wonderful moment, ‘Ahh … there you are.’”
    Also known as Deb Bohrer, the artist is a member of the Environmental Resource Center’s board of directors and a longtime supporter of the ERC.
    Bohrer has offered to donate 30 percent of the purchase price of the painting to the ERC to support ERC programs. The ERC is known for green community programming such as Clean Sweep, recycling at special events, Pick Up for the Planet (PUP) and the newly announced Pesticide Action program.
    See this thought-provoking work at the ERC offices at 471 N Washington Ave. in Ketchum or at Facebook.com/ERC Sun Valley.




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