Valley Press January 2015 by Valley Press (Hagerman Valley Press)

Hagerman Valley Press PO Box 93 Hagerman, ID 83332

Valley Press

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Aquaponics: Fish and Greens By James Loomis and Evelyn Simon

HAGERMAN / BUHL – Onsen Farm is holding an Aquaponics Workshop Friday, January 30 to February 1, 2015. All aspects of aquaponics will be covered, and students will participate in building a fully functional home-sized system. Cost is $160, and includes four meals. Other details and registration can be found at Onsenfarm.com. James Loomis, lead grower at the farm, manages all of the day to day operations for the business in the five high tunnel greenhouses. James also consults on sustainable development strategies at several small farms

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James believes in “using the surplus of today to prepare for the scarcity of tomorrow,” which means he designed and built the entire system here using mostly scrap materials and found items – except for the air blower, water pumps, tank liners and air stones. System capacity is 180 fish in three 250 gallon tanks. Young tilapia, a fast growing, warm-water fish originally from Above: Baby lettuce growing in the Africa, are purchased locally aquaponics system from First Ascent and Leo Ray. The farm’s abundant geothermal water flows through the fish tanks where it collects nutrients, and then through several systems of vegetable-producing rafts and pipes; used gated pipe is perfect for this type of food production. Every 40 minutes, water flushes through the tanks, pipes and valves, providing fresh nutrients to the lettuces, endives, watercress, basil, seedlings and other plants. Water quality is tested daily. One bed of greens grows on a raft system- the roots grow through the raft material into the nutrient-rich water below. Another set of plants is raised on airstones – small, round, lightweight stones that support the plants and filter the water. “The fish are there to generate nutrients for the plants,” said James, but harvesting the tilapia is a plus; these farm families have eaten 15 tilapia in the last two weeks. Below: James Loomis and the raft system; note the roots and water underneath.

Above: James Loomis with tilapia tanks and overhead greens production.

and homesteads in Utah, California, Oregon and Nevada. He is currently writing a column for Aquaponic Survival Communities magazine, and teaches workshops at Onsen Farm, various festivals during the summer, as well as a series of weekend intensives in Salt Lake City called “Dirt Worship”. He rounds out his busy life by also working as a professional dj/promoter, and has been running a monthly club night for over 8 years in Salt lake City called “Dubwise.” Aquaponics is the merging of aquaculture (raising fish in captivity) and hydroponics (growing of plants without soil). It was developed as a solution to two of the key problems inherent when either of these two methods of raising food operate on their own. In traditional aquaculture, the main challenge is that the waste the fish generate makes their water toxic. Water must be exchanged on a regular basis to maintain a healthy environment for the fish, and unfortunately when this nutrient rich water is dumped into the ecosystem, it does so as a pollutant. Hydroponics has a similar issue. In hydroponics, a nutrient solution is used and delivered to plants in a soil-less growing medium. This nutrient solution has a limited lifespan, and must be dumped and replaced on a regular basis, and again this nutrient rich waste water enters the ecosystem as a pollutant. In aquaponics, a recirculating ecosystem solves these issues in the most elegant way possible. The waste from the fish is converted into nutrients that can be utilized by the plants, and the plants in turn clean the water for the fish. Water never leaves the system, and is constantly recirculated between the fish and the plants. Compared to traditional methods of aquaculture and agriculture, the water savings are tremendous. Aquaponics also has the potential to produce a higher output per square foot than other methods of agriculture as well. In a time when water and space are becoming increasingly more difficult to obtain, aquaponics is proving to be an advantageous method of food production. The system at Onsen Farm is a smaller commercial installation, and is dedicated to conducting ongoing research trials in energy consumption, heating with geothermal water, as well as developing an alternative fish feed to avoid GMO ingredients and ocean caught fish found in commercial feeds. Current research by James includes looking at using insects as part of the new fish feed.

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January 2015

Valley Press

Orchard Valley Head Start in Wendell By Evelyn Simon

WENDELL – The Orchard Valley Head Start program serves 3-5 year old children, with kindergarten preparation as the goal. 32 children are served by this center; 16 children from Wendell and 16 children from Gooding enjoying programs, lunch and activities twice weekly. The Head Start program is federally funded, with 20% of its funding coming from volunteers and donations. There is no state funding for Head Start. Shoshone and Buhl have similar-sized programs, while Twin Falls’ center services about 100 children. The Hagerman area has a small program also, located in the elementary school. Center Supervisor Cindy Scott, is “proud of the fact we are licensed by the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC), as the requirements are more stringent than the state’s.” The center is also licensed by the State of Idaho. Staff at the center includes Supervisor Cindy Scott, Food Service Manager Sandy Hollenbeck, Lead teacher Ruth Calderon, teachers/home visitors Merary Soria, and Vivian Ridgway, and bus driver Michelle Coburn.” Cindy has worked for Head Start for 26 years, saying, “As College of Southern Idaho/Head Start/Early Head Start employees we feel very fortunate to work together with Head Start families, community organizations, agencies, businesses and individuals and our local School Districts.” The day’s routine begins as teachers greet children on the bus, do a head count, and then walk them to the classroom. Lead teacher Ruth Calderon performs a health check each day on every child; checking ears, throat, eyes, and hands. Talking to the children and encouraging conversation with them is a large part of the day. Some children are clearly more inclined to talk than others, and efforts are made to include everyone in conversation. All Head Start centers utilize the “High Scope” curriculum. There are four activity areas; housekeeping, the block area, the quiet area and the art area. Developmentally appropriate math, science, and cognitive skills are incorporated into every activity. The children learn to count in English and Spanish, and Cindy added, “Literacy isn’t just reading, it’s writing, too.” Eye level education is important here, with labels on furniture and other items. The children learn by doing; they set the table, clear their plates, scrape them clean and place dishes and silverware in trays. Field trips are held usually once a month. A recent trip to a Buhl apple orchard had the children making apple pie. “It’s a messy activity but such a great learning experience for the children,” Cindy said with a smile. The center provides a comprehensive range of services, including twice monthly home visits. Many topics are covered during home visits, including health and safety issues, nutrition, car seat safety, budgeting, stress management, problem solving and more. Parent involvement is always encouraged, and Cindy noted “The home visitors always recognize the parents as the primary educators of the children.” Parents make suggestions as to what type of speakers they’d most like to hear, and programs are set up, utilizing the Wendell Library or the Wendell school for meeting space. For example, a program on money management is scheduled for February, a health fair and child abuse program are planned for April. The parent meetings are events that are open to the public. Cindy added, “We have a great partnership with the Wendell and Gooding school districts; a good working relationship.” The center is taking applications now; call or visit to see about enrolling your child or children in this worthwhile program. “We recruit all year long, making people aware of our services. We think all people are individuals and we are here to help each other. Word of mouth by parents in the program is the best source of recruitment,” said Cindy. Income eligibility requirements; for a family of two for example $15,730, family of four $23,850. Contact the Center at 536-1547.

Wendell Chamber of Commerce meeting January 14 WENDELL - Kathy Rex of Blue Fire Wilderness Therapy will be the guest speaker this month at the Wendell Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting at noon on January 14. Rex’s outdoor program in Idaho serves troubled youths nationwide. The Wendell Chamber of Commerce meets on the second Wednesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. at Wendell City Hall, located at 375 First Avenue East. The public is welcome to attend. Catered lunch is $8 per person.

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The best espresso in town at the best price. Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet January 17th, 2015 6:00PM - 8:30PM

Lincoln County Community Center, 201 So. Beverly, Shoshone Join us in celebrating the dedication and hard work that our business, organizations and community member bring to Lincoln County. Please bring a side dish or dessert. The Chamber will be providing main dishes. Please RSVP with number attending by January 14th, 2015. Contact the Lincoln County County Chamber of Commerce at 886-9811 ofLincolnCoChamber@gmail.com The evening will include a comfort food potluck dinner. Special guest speaker Debbie Dane; Executive Director of Southern Idaho Tourism will talk about Tourism and Economic Development. Debbie is an Idaho native; she grew up in Chubbuck and in 1989 she moved to the Magic Valley and has called it home ever since. She earned her degree in marketing management and has over thirty years experience in marketing in the shopping center, automobile, and insurance industries. She is also adjunct faculty for the CSI College of Business - Hospitality Department. Since 2002, she has served as the Executive Director of Southern Idaho Tourism promoting our area to visitors and building partnerships that strengthen the tourism economy of the region. She is an active volunteer and has served on the State Scenic Byways Committee,BLM Resource Advisory Council, and is currently the Chairman of the Twin Falls Public Library Board of Trustees.

The Fine Print: VALLEY PRESS (208) 539-2261 hvp@q.com hagermanvalleypress.com http://issuu.com/hvpress Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. Published by Hagerman Valley Press LLC Member: Hagerman Valley Chamber of Commerce and Gooding Chamber of Commerce. The Valley Press (VP) is a free publication serving our Magic Valley’s rural communities of Hagerman, Gooding, Wendell, Bliss, Shoshone, and Glenns Ferry. All editorial copy is the responsibility of the VP. Opinions expressed in this paper in sections specifically designated are those of the authors signing the work. Publisher: Evelyn Simon Editor-in-Chief: Shannon McBride Administrative Assistant: Amy Thompson Contributors: Jane Deal, Christina O’Brien, Terrell Williams, Kathleen McKevitt, Joe Chapman, Marguerite Janes, Michael Blomgren, Elaine Bryant, and Shannon McBride. No part of this publication may be reproduced without publisher’s permission. Subscriptions mailed First Class, U.S., $35 per year. Call or email for ad rates. The publication of any advertisements or articles in this newspaper is not an endorsement of the writers, advertisers, or of the services or products mentioned. Letters to the Editor may be sent to hvp@q.com or Valley Press, PO Box 93, Hagerman, ID 83332. Letters must be written and signed by the author. If space is limited, we reserve the right to edit. Please include full name, address, and phone number for verification. Publisher reserves the right to print, and inappropriate material will be rejected. No materials will be returned unless provided with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Advertising Policy-The VP assumes no financial responsibility for errors of omission or commission that may appear in advertisements published. In those cases where VP is at fault, we will print a correction of that part in which the typographical error occurred. The VP reserves the right to classify and edit ads.

Valley Press

Wake Up, Idaho, and Smell the State of Our Public Lands

January 2015 Page 3

Below: The Idaho White Cloud Mountains. Some are hoping to make at least part of it a national park. Others are considering selling it off to the highest bidder. Photo courtesy of http://top10places.com/theme/images/places/white_cloud_mountains

Guest Editorial By Kathleen McKevitt Freelance Photojournalist

About a month ago, this was a headline in most of America’s papers, and, some in Iran: “Defense Bill Passes, Giving Sacred Native American Sites To Mining Company.” The Tonto region of Arizona was just “given” to a copper mining company with links to Iran. Also, on last month the Federal Lands Interim Committee studying the feasibility of ultimately doing the same with Idaho lands, met to discuss their findings after having held hearings all over the state. This happened because the last legislature of 2013 approved a resolution (HR22) demanding a transfer of 83 percent of all federally administered public lands in Idaho. (An evaluation of the costs of such a move is below, but the numbers are in the high hundreds of millions of Idahoan’s dollars.) In reporting on their findings, the members of the 12-person committee said repeatedly, things like: “The concerned voice across all of Idaho was angst – not desirable, or beneficial, and strongly against lands which might be acquired being sold to the highest bidder.” What was equally impactful for listeners was the general timidity of expression of all members, listed below. What had once been a boundfor- glory-sounding group, went from that to comments like, “I think it’s remote that this (acquiring federal lands) would ever take place,” and, a lot of “This is the first time we’ve discussed this since…” and “We don’t know where we’re going or how to get there.” The other side of the coin expressed, however, was to hook up with other states, like Utah, which is farther along in such deliberations, and “We might have more political muscle with other western states,” said Sen. Sherry Nuxoll. Whatever is presented “before the end of January,” the facts are these: • These Idaho legislators worked hard all year to come up, so far, with basically no decision. They seemed flummoxed more than organized. However, unimpeded by raw facts, meaning the hundreds of millions of dollars it would cost the state (read taxpayers), the team carried on with ideas like looking closer at what Utah and other states are doing and consider becoming part of their coalition. • Besides the cost the realities of taking over federal lands are enormous in that the United States Congress must authorize the transfer. • The monies lost from making such a move, if approved, would have to be taken from somewhere, and if the past is prologue, those areas hit the hardest would likely be education and public support systems. • Saving the worst for almost last (there are many aspects to selling off state public lands), once the error was realized, (and it would be), the lands could never again be recovered. Lost is lost, per the Idaho State Constitution. • A Mike Simpson, (R-Idaho) request of the Congressional Research Office showed what would be a staggering number of dollars lost; eliminating the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (nearly 4000 jobs), would be a loss of $392 million to $500 million annually. Plugging away on familiar themes, the committee considered trying to make up for some of those losses by selling off timber. At least here in Twin Falls, Idaho, those who spoke at a sparsely attended hearing (one of many conducted through the year throughout Idaho), announced their displeasure with emotion and anger at the idea of clearcutting lands used for hunting and fishing, camping and observing life in the wild. While the whole idea of selling off public lands is a minefield of legal issues, enormous costs, and years of court battles, attendees at the hearings spoke of things that would bring money into the state and be good for the land instead of destroying it: promotion of green approaches of land use that are becoming more popular in the state and nationally, including organic farms, solar businesses, and a cottage business law. In the backrooms, away from public view, there are those on the committee ready to call it a day, and move to higher ground. Other forces, however, will plug on, even despite their own personal views. One can only hope that wiser minds will prevail, and that this will be the end of what could be a tragic idea. Most humans are clear on what the message is when one or many start selling off one’s properties. One

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observer in the Twin Falls hearing was noted as saying, “This smells like panic to me.” Information for those wanting to keep informed is available from the Idaho Statesman, the Idaho Conservation League, the Associated Press, and other Idaho news media.

THANK YOU!!! A BIG Thank You to the communities of Hagerman and Bliss for their contribution to the Hagerman Community Christmas Baskets. We served over 100 families in the area. We want to THANK so many: All the local Boy Scouts #107, & #108, Hagerman High School, Magic Valley Growers, Morris Farms, Chappels Market, Glambia Foods, all the local Churches, Brizendines, and all the business and individuals in the area who contributed and help distribute the food including the local Fire Departments. Hagerman and Bliss are BLESSED Communities! -Hagerman Community Christmas Baskets group Classroom Assistant Needed: CSI Head Start is accepting applications for a part-time Classroom Assistant in Wendell. Apply to www.csi.edu/jobs or pick up an application at 250 2nd Ave E, Wendell. EOE Patching-Mending-Hemming

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Changing Lives… One Can at a Time HAGERMAN - For her senior project, Christy Marez will be holding a raffle for baskets of prizes and certificates donated from local stores and businesses, including 1000 Springs, Wendy’s Hair Design, and Snake River Grill. The raffle is to benefit the Helping Hearts and Hands’ food pantry. To purchase tickets, bring canned food or items to Christy’s raffle booth. The booth will be set up the second Saturday in January and February at Chappel’s market and at the Hagerman High School Memorial Gym during high school basketball games the following dates: January 6, 13, and 21 and February 6. Cans and items may also be brought in to the office at the Hagerman High School. To enter into the Grand Prize Basket drawing, twelve cans or items need to be donated. For smaller baskets and prizes, five or less cans are needed. Names will be drawn in mid-February and the winners will be contacted by phone. Let’s help one another out and good luck! Left: Hagerman High School Senior Christy Marez at right, and Hagerman High School Secretary Tina Bolduc at left.

CSI Comedy Night TWIN FALLS - Two southern California comedians will be featured during Comedy Night at 7:30 Friday, Jan. 23 in the CSI Fine Arts Auditorium. The performances are sponsored by the College of Southern Idaho Program Board to help kick off CSI’s spring semester, which starts Jan. 20. Damian Holmes, from Orange County, got his comedy start on his college campus, the University of California-Santa Barbara. He became a regular member of the university’s stand up group and also began performing at southern California comedy clubs. Since graduating, he’s twice been a judges’ pick in Indi.com’s Micstock Challenge and has opened for other comedians. Opeyemi Olagbaju, who simply goes by ‘Ope,’ has performed on many California college campuses and comedy clubs. He likes to draw from his experiences as an immigrant who assimilated American culture. “What makes us different actually makes us all the same,” he says. “No matter where you’re from, laughter is an important part of being human – it’s something we can all relate to.” CSI Comedy Night is free for current CSI students. Admission for the general public is $10. Every person who brings a non-perishable food donation will be admitted for just $5. Tickets will be available at the door of the Fine Arts Auditorium. SAVE THE DATE! Friday, January 30, 2015 TWIN FALLS - NCAP’s annual winter conference (Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides) The Herrett Center, College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls Join us for workshop presentations on organic farming methods and an afternoon of farmer-to-farmer exchanges and networking. Contact Jennifer Hamilton at jenidhamilton@gmail.com

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Become an EMT Hagerman Fire Department – EMS Division Informational meeting Monday, January 26, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. (Anyone interested in this rewarding field is welcome)

Class planned to start in February Possibilities for financial assistance Raise your skill level & serve your community For more information, contact Chief Peterson at 837-4552 or 539-6546 - 150 E. Salmon St., Hagerman

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Valley Press January 2015

Page 5

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College of Southern Idaho NORTH SIDE CENTER 202 14th Avenue E., Gooding (208) 934-8678 northsidecenter@csi.edu ACADEMIC COURSES We have over 20 credit courses offered through the North Side Center from which to choose. Spring 2015 semester begins January 20th. See our full schedule at www.csi.edu/northside. Registration is open through January 19; enroll now for the best selection. Please contact us if you need assistance. COMMUNITY EDUCATION COURSES AND EVENTS Advanced Woodworking Wednesday Jan. 28 to Mar. 186:30-9:30 p.m. GHS Vo-Ag Shop $115 plus $10 supply fee Instructor: Bill Perry CLASSES COMING IN FEBRUARY: Conversational Spanish, Fundamentals of Drawing, Facebook for Beginners, Beginning Computers, Paper-Pieced Foundation Quilting, 3-D Block Quilting

Full line of rifles, ammunition, sporting apparel and more! ADVISING & FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP 10 a.m.-noon on Friday, Feb. 27 at the North Side Center FREE! Please call (208) 934-8678 to reserve your spot. CAREER PLANNING: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 at the North Side Center. By appointment only—call 934-8678.

(208) 837-6116 The Hagerman Ducks Unlimited

Waterfowl Hunters Celebration and Party January 17, 2015 at 7 p.m. Billingsley Creek State Park, ½ Mile North of Hagerman on Hwy 30

This Isn’t Your Daddy’s DU Event! Guns, Decoys, Hunting Gear, and a great time. $35.- Single - Food and Beer/Beverage $110. - Sportsman’s Pack - Single + $100 Raffle Package Purchase a Sportsman’s Package by January 12 and we will double your raffle For tickets register online at www.ducks.org/idaho or call Gene Tracy at 208-420-0617

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Page 6 Valley Press

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Lots and Lots and Lots of Birds The 40th anniversary of the Hagerman Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on December 28th. I celebrated by driving over from Boise to join an intrepid pack of bird enthusiasts attempting to count every bird within 7.5 miles of the center of town. That means every individual bird – not just every kind of bird. Madness, you say? Impossible? Guilty on both counts, I admit, but a heck of a lot of fun, healthy competition between teams, and, after forty years, quite a bit of scientific information. In the Hagerman CBC, one learns to count blackbirds by the dozens, geese by the hundreds, and mallards by the thousands. This can lead to interesting results when the teams gather at the end of the day to tally up. The team covering the Wildlife Management Area may call out “19,000 mallards”; the team covering Hawk Alley might say “zero”, the Billingsley Creek group might chime in with “87”, and the Bell Rapids folks might add “two”, for a grand total of 19,089 mallards. I will never forget standing at the downstream end of Ritter Island one year calling out to our recorder: “20 coots”...”another 20”...”another 20” until two thousand had floated by. Then there was a lull, and we headed off to look for the screech owl that used to live in Minnie Miller’s barn. I’m quite confident in the coot numbers we did count, but we’ll never know how many others still lurked, uncounted, upstream. Then there are those you hope to see a single one of: sage grouse, snipe, barn owl – birds that should be here in the winter, but in such low numbers that you count yourself lucky if you happen to pass by one and it happens to flush from a ditch or perch in a tree close enough to your path to notice it. The overlooked birds are my particular nemesis. In the earlier years of the count, we tended to lump the gulls into “gull species”, assuming that they were all ring-billed and California gulls and not taking the time to suss one out from the other. Then a couple of skilled birders decided to take a closer look. Among all those gulls have been some surprises: Franklin’s gull, mew gull, herring gull, Thayer’s gull, lesser black-backed gull, and glaucous gull. Who knew? The last group, the thought of which has the counters salivating, are the gob-smacks: birds that have no business being in Hagerman in the dead of winter. Both barn and rough-winged swallows, which eat only flying insects, have shown up on the CBC. A single tufted duck from Eurasia mingled with the bazillion ring-necked ducks at the WMA one memorable winter, and drew in birders from all over the country during its several-week stay. Two white-throated sparrows, normally found in the eastern half of the US, turned up among all the white-crowned sparrows in 2013. It’s amazing what showing up, with one’s eyes peeled and one’s mind open, can turn up. The gob-smacks never seem to show up in whatever quadrant of the circle I’m birding (which probably says more about my birding skill than about their presence or absence). My favorite sightings are usually of common birds doing interesting things. This year that two redtails snuggled up shoulder-to-shoulder in a tree near Bliss, who turned to each other and touched beaks as we ogled. Joe Bennett suggested we turn in a Rare Bird Form listing “a pair of lovebirds”. A posthumous thank you to Claude and Martha Van Epps for having the vision to start the Hagerman CBC in 1974, and heaps of thanks to Sarah Harris who has organized us for the past many years. Readers can see the cumulative and species-by-year information from the Hagerman count (or any of the other 34 counts in Idaho, or anywhere else in the country, or from other countries who are now counting) at http://birds.audubon. org/christmas-bird-count.

May You Have a Happy and Hopeful New Year by Jane Deal My life is but a weaving between the Lord and me, I cannot choose the colors, He worketh steadily, Oft times He weaveth sorrow, and I, in foolish pride, Forget He sees the upper and I the underside, Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reasons why, The dark threads are as needful in the weaver’s skillful hand, As the threads of gold and silver- in the pattern He has planned. -Corrie ten Boom

My great-grandmother, Rose, lived until the ripe old age of ninetyeight. She carried this poem, typed just this way, on a little piece of paper and read it often to herself. Unfortunately, I was a child and had no understanding of the life lessons she could have imparted before she developed dementia in her later years. (She made a comment to me on one of my visits to the nursing home, “I don’t know who you are but I wish you would brush your hair.”) I am not an avid churchgoer but I do often read this poem to myself, especially when I have gone through hard times in my life. I read it from the same little scrap of paper, carried by Rose, and somehow I feel her presence again and an understanding of her life lessons and the wisdom she could have shared with me. Suffice it to say that I read that poem more than once in 2014. Last year was definitely not my year. I was very glad to see it go, almost downright giddy to celebrate the old year’s end at a friend’s house. While I am normally a bit melancholy during these celebrations and have issues now staying awake past ten-o-clock, I had no problem staying up until midnight and saying goodbye to last year. As I reminisced with others about the last twelve months, I started to realize I was beginning to feel negative and resentful regarding the events that had occurred in my life. I made an agreement with myself that my New Year’s resolution would be to have a renewed sense of hope. A decrease in cookie consumption would have to wait until next year... The day after the party, the first news item I came across on the internet was the passing of one of my old friends, Chase Bolduc. I was working in a nursing home years ago when Chase’s mother was admitted. He presented as such a kind and caring person and often talked about his most recent business ventures. I always thought to myself, “Why doesn’t this guy just retire?” I read his obituary and was not surprised to see the colorful life and many businesses Chase had been involved with and created over the years. He started working at the age of twelve. In his younger years, he trained dogs for the movie studios and learned to be a professional roller skater. He also worked for General Foods, President Meats and somewhere along the line invented a meatball for the pet food industry. When I owned a restaurant in Hagerman, Chase would always say to me, “Fried chicken, Jane. You could make a lot of money serving fried chicken.” Often he seemed to be thinking of another business venture, even when it did not involve himself. In Chase’s mind the possibilities were always endless, and life’s prospects unlimited. I didn’t see him often in the last few years but he was the kind of guy that made this planet a little easier to exist on, and I will now simply miss the knowing of his presence. My grandfather’s dear friend, Harrison Stephens, will turn one hundred years old in 2015. His granddaughter, Jen Reeder, wrote an article about him last year in ‘The Blog’ for the Huffington Post. When Harrison was asked his opinion on the key to a good life, his answer was very simple. He said, “To love and be loved- that combination is a wonderful thing. That’s the lasting thing.” Life can sometimes feel so difficult, so harsh, but Harrison’s words seem to answer the question so easily. Easy and simple may be just the answer for me and the focal point for the next year. The basic answers to happiness, like enjoying the warmth of sunlight or time spent with loved ones. A focus on the simple pleasures, like...... maybe.....chocolate chip cookies? (see next page for recipe) “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

January 2015

Warm up with Winter Wines!

Valley Press Page 7

Kelly McCool LPL Financial Advisor

by Marguerite Janes thousand Springs Winery and Bed & Breakfast

426 Main St. Gooding, ID 83330

Warm, heartier winter foods evoke a tendency to select a deep Cabernet Sauvignon or a jammy zinfandel. Both of these wines are great for stews, roasts and family chili recipes. Don’t forget to add ½ cup to stew to brighten the flavors. California’s Napa Valley or Lodi are good sources respectively. Traditional Beef Burgundy (thank you, Julia Child) is a wonderful dish highlighting burgundy wine. Choose a pinot noir for cooking and wine pairing for this dish. The pinot noir grape is the primary grape in burgundy. A bold Barolo from the Piedmont region of Italy highlights a grilled meat or dinner sausage. Made from the nebbiolo grape, Barolo wine has high tannins and high acidity. It cuts through the fattiness of meat or a cheesy pasta dish. Traditionally it is aged four years in oak but is best consumed between years 5 and 10. This wine does need time to mellow those high tannins, so expect to pay a bit more for that aging process. It is a very purple grape so also expect a purple tongue and stained teeth. Finish with a slice of cheddar cheese- it will help get rid of the purple smile. Bright, fruity Syrah (or Shiraz) is comforting along with favorite casseroles or beef dishes flavored with rosemary or thyme. Look for an Idaho Syrah or a Barossa (Australia) Shiraz. Seeking a comforting red wine to drink all by itself? Find a GSM. GSM is a red blend originally heralding from the Rhone region of France. Consisting of Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvedre grapes, GSM hosts savory flavors of herbs and black pepper. France, Australia and the US all have this blend. As the percentages of each type of grape in the bottle differ with the region, winemaker and vintage, GSM is the taster’s choice for this winter. Prefer the winter whites? A buttery, high alcohol chardonnay is the perfect pairing for the dairy based chowders and soups with crusty rolls. Wine based seafood dishes lean towards an aged Riesling from Germany or in a pinch, a California sauvignon blanc. Pinot blanc wines from the Canadian Okanagan have a fresh outlook and can run from dry to a sweet ice wine with a sparkling tossed in for good measure. The pinot blanc wine is really beginning to shine after decades of growing these grapes and Canadian winemaking skills are catching up quickly. Plan to include this varietal in your 2015 wine acquisitions. Warm up by making a mulled wine. For a heartwarming departure from hot cider, pull out the crockpot and make a hot wine beverage. To a bottle of red wine, add a quart of apple juice, 3 tablespoons of honey, cinnamon and nutmeg to taste, and fresh squeezed juice from an orange.

208-934-4349, phone 208-934-4345, fax 208-308-4080, mobile kelly.mccool@lpl.com

At Thousand Springs Winery NEW: Private Wine Dinner Experience 1st Thursdays 6pm, Starting February 5th Call to join: 208-352-0150 Wanted: Outdoor Christmas lights (C9) $2/string 18852 Hwy 30, Hagerman

208-352-0150

Pour into a mug when hot along with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy the rest of this winter trying new wines and bringing back your favorite wines alongside the comforting foods of the season. Best Wishes for a Happy New Year! German Chocolate Chip Cookies 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats, 1/4 cup mini-chocolate chips Topping: 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1 tablespoon corn syrup 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl. Stir in vanilla and egg. Mix together flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda in another smaller mixing bowl. Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture and then stir in oats and chocolate chips. Set batter aside and place 1/3 cup sugar, butter and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Place pan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Take the mixture off heat and stir in the coconut, walnuts, and vanilla. Drop a little less than a tablespoon of dough for each cookie on an ungreased cookie sheet. Place in oven for 7 minutes and remove. Spoon a scant 1/2 teaspoon of topping in the middle of each cookie and place the sheet back in the oven. Bake again for 6-8 minutes and cool slightly on the sheet before moving cookies to a cooling rack. Tasty treats in Glenns Ferry can be found at the Fudge Factory Grill. Last month Valley Press publishers thoroughly enjoyed fresh fudge; chocolate with walnuts, and the huckleberry fudge - my, oh my!

Curious how your favorite restaurant did on their latest health inspection? Check out inspection results online at:

www.phd5.idaho.gov/Inspections South Central Public Health District Prevent. Promote. Protect.

Gooding Office 255 North Canyon Dr 934-4477

SAWTOOTH DENTAL, P.A.

837-4167

Eric Thomas, DDS Monday & Wednesday se habla espanol

620 Frogs Landing, Hagerman

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January 2015 Valley Press

Ice Fishing: Just Getting Started by Joe Chapman

The recent cold weather across Idaho doesn’t mean the end of fishing until spring. For many, the best fishing of the year is just getting started. Idaho offers some excellent ice fishing for trout and yellow perch, and at times, many other species including crappie, bluegill, kokanee and more. Ice fishing is great for families looking to get outside and break up the wintertime doldrums. Plus, ice fishing has its advantages. For one, ice fishing doesn’t require a large investment in tackle. Most of the equipment and tackle - pole, jigs, bait and ladle - can be carried in a five-gallon bucket, which doubles as a handy seat. The only specialized equipment needed is an ice auger. Augers are relatively inexpensive and available at most sporting goods stores. Generally, where ice fishing equipment is sold, someone can provide specific information about where to go, what to use and how to do it. Another way for a novice to learn the sport is to respectfully approach other anglers fishing nearby. A few minutes of friendly conversation and observation can often be enough to get you started in the right direction. Fishing methods vary, but jigging can be an effective technique. The slight movement created by slowly bringing the lure or bait up from the bottom about one foot then allowing it to settle back down sometimes entices fish to bite. Try jigging near the bottom first, and then slowly try higher and higher in the water column until you find fish. If nothing bites, move to another hole. Mornings and evenings are often the most productive fishing times, with some slower peTom Tighe with a nice rainbow riods in the middle of the day. trout from Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir.

So when is ice safe? There is no absolute answer, but thickness is not the only consideration. Ice appearance, age, temperature, and snow or slush coverage all influences its strength. Anglers should always decide for themselves if it is safe and never assume the ice is thick enough without checking it first. A general guide for proper ice thickness is a minimum of 4-inches of new, clear ice for individuals walking and drilling a hole, and 6 to 10 inches for groups and snowmobiles. It is very common for ice depth to be highly variable on a lake so be careful when exploring

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Giving animals a helping hand. Facebook: Friends of Burley Shelter Adopt a cat or dog, or donate online. different fishing areas. Rules for ice fishing are simple, yet slightly different than general fishing for public safety and crowding concerns. Fishing is allowed only through a hole up to 10 inches in diameter. This reduces the risk of someone falling through holes. There is one exception on Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho where anglers can dip net cisco through any size hole. There are no restrictions on the number of holes, but an angler can fish with up to five poles or lines at a time, and up to five hooks per line. A two-pole validation is not needed and does not allow more than five lines while ice fishing. All lines must be attended by the angler. Ice fishing is a terrific winter pastime for the whole family. Fresh air and spending time with friends is invaluable. Remember that a new license was required January 1.

SCPHD Offering Monthly Saturday Immunization Clinics TWIN FALLS- South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) will begin offering Saturday immunization clinics once a month in the Twin Falls office starting February 7. The clinics will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. “We realize a lot of our clients are unable to make weekday appointments for themselves and their families because they are working.” said Cheryle Becker, SCPHD Family and Children’s Health Division Administrator. “We want to help people get immunized by making appointments easily accessible. We are going to try this and if we have a good response from the public, we will make it part of our regular immunization clinic schedule.” An appointment is required in order to streamline services and reduce waiting times. Individuals are encouraged to bring their immunization records with them to their appointments. To schedule an appointment call the Twin Falls office at 737-5966. For more information on SCPHD’s immunization fees and Saturday clinic schedules, visit phd5.idaho.gov.