Join deck party at the ERC
The Environmental Resource Center will host an open house party today, Oct. 1, from 4:30-7 p.m. on its deck at 471 N. Washington Ave. in Ketchum.
People can enjoy food and drinks while they learn about ERC programs, including reducing pesticides in the valley, keeping trails healthy and clean, and youth education. People can also get tips on actions to reduce their carbon footprint. This event is open to people of all ages—there will be activities for the kids.
For more information, call 726-4333 or email cc@ercsv.org.
Wake Up Hailey set on Oct. 14
The Hailey Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Wake up Hailey networking event is scheduled for 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 810 S. Main St., Suite 7A, the office of Hailey Sport and Spine Physical Therapy.
People can learn about the host business and network with fellow community members while enjoying light breakfast fare and a hot cup of coffee.
For more information, call the Hailey Chamber at 788-3484.
Maximum homeowner’s exemption to increase in 2015
The maximum homeowner’s exemption for 2015 will increase to $89,580, according to calculations by the Idaho State Tax Commission. The maximum exemption for 2014 is $83,920. Idaho provides a partial property tax exemption to qualified homeowners for their primary dwelling and up to one acre of land. The law exempts 50 percent of the assessed value from taxation; however, the exemption can’t exceed the maximum value, which changes each year.
This is the second year of increase following four years of decreases.
Have lunch with Blaine Democrats
The Blaine County Democrats will host a meet-and-greet for Congressional District 2 candidate Richard Stallings on Thursday, Oct. 2, at noon at the party headquarters, located at 104 N. Main St. in Hailey. A free lunch will be served.
For more information or to RSVP to the lunch, call Betty Murphy at 726-6423 or e-mail BMurphySV@aol.com.
Fire Prevention Week starts Oct. 5
Fire Prevention Week, from Oct. 5-11, will kick off a campaign called “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!”
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half, research indicates. While research shows that most U.S. homes have at least one smoke alarm, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Lorraine Carli, National Fire Protection Association’s vice president of outreach and advocacy, said, “Simply having smoke alarms isn’t enough. They need to be tested and maintained properly.”
NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week website (www.fpw.org) offers a wealth of smoke alarm information and resources.
Department of Education seeking volunteers
The Idaho State Department of Education is seeking 120 Idahoans to review test questions for the new Idaho Standards Achievement Tests to be administered to students this spring.
The new tests, using “Common Core” standards, will replace ISAT in 2015 as a measurement of student achievement at public schools throughout Idaho.
Volunteers will serve on the Bias and Sensitivity Committee, created by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year. For committee membership, the education department is seeking parents of children in either public or charter schools, teachers, administrators and school board members.
Volunteers are required to commit to reviewing more than 30,000 test questions during a committee session Dec. 15-19 in Boise. If the committee does not finish the reviews then, it will convene again from Jan. 6-8, 2015.
Applications are available at www.surveymonkey.com/BiasAndSensitivity.
For more information contact Cathy Salas at 208-332-6909 or csalas@sde.ida
ho.gov.
Hailey accepting nominations for Do the Right Thing
Nominations for Do the Right Thing, a program to encourage and recognize positive accomplishments of young people, are now being accepted through Oct. 6 at the city of Hailey website at www.haileycityhall.org.
The program was established earlier this year by the Hailey police and fire departments and the Blaine County School District.
Do The Right Thing is a way for groups like the city of Hailey and the Blaine County School District to come together and encourage young people to continue making healthy choices and using wise judgment,” said Hailey police Chief Jeff Gunter
This is the second round of nominations for the program. Award recipients of the first quarter round were Alfonso Baeza, Kaitlyn Hayes, Jessica Thomas, Chase Hutchinson and Karen Ramirez.
Meet children’s author for all ages at Chapter One
Award-winning, Ketchum-based author and illustrator Jo Rabjohn will present a book reading and signing of her latest children’s book for all ages, “Kizuna,” at Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum on Friday, Oct. 3, from 5-7 p.m.
The evening will include wine and doggie treats by the fire pit on 340 Second St., next to Chapter One Bookstore.
With imagination and insight into the aftermath from the Japan tsunami on March 11, 2011, “Kizuna” (Japanese for bond, connectedness) is an anthropomorphic tale about the abandoned animals and stunted dinosaurs released from great fissures on the ocean floor caused by the earthquake and washed ashore by the tsunami.
Set in Fukushima, Japan, each chapter presents a proverbial story told by memorable characters that gently teach honor, respect and kindness in times of crisis and rebirth from tragedy.