IdaHome--Issue 12

Community + Culture + Recreation +

H

Idaho: A Wonderland

s y a d i l o

FOR THE

of Winter Recreation

Sun Valley, Tamarack

The Mozambique Connection

Idaho Goes

to the Oscars?

Season’s Greetings from Idaho’s First Family

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Happy Holidays F R O M From our home to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday season filled with love, laughter, and fond memories.

We are so blessed to call Idaho home. Many new people have moved to our state in recent years.

To those newcomers, we welcome you and hope you are enjoying all that Idaho has to offer—from our

I D A H O ’ S

F I R S T

strong communities, outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, and unique culture.

To those Idahoans who have called the Gem State home for most or all of your lives—including some whose families have been a part of Idaho for generations—we appreciate all you have done and continue to do to make Idaho the place where

Brad and Teresa Little

Governor and First Lady of Idaho 2

www.idahomemagazine.com

F A M I L Y our children and grandchildren choose to stay. Our love of Idaho is what motivates us to make our neighborhoods, cities, and the entire state great places to live.

The holidays are a wonderful time to reflect on what is truly important—family, friends, and home. We wish you a peaceful and prosperous new year!

THIS MONTH, WE PUBLISH A S PE C I A L H O L I DAY I S S U E O F IdaHOME —a full year of our beautiful magazine, which seems fitting in this season of celebration. I’m grateful for a lot of things throughout the year, but, like many of you, it is easy to remember them when we’re given the space—holidays in which we gather for food and family and football (or Netflix) on warm, snuggly couches. I’m thankful to be doing the work and telling the stories of the many great Idahoans and Idaho businesses in my state, and, as always, this month is no exception—we’re truly coming IdaHome for the Holidays. And we’re grateful for you, the people who read our magazine every single month.

Our holiday issue brings us two nonprofit organizations working to make our community a better place. First, we gather around the table at Life’s Kitchen, who provides life skills training to young adults facing barriers to success. Then, we sit down with the Speedy Foundation, who raises funds for and collaborates with advocacy groups dedicated to preventing and destigmatizing suicide and supporting mental health education—an especially important topic this holiday season, when our mental health can suffer.

For me, the holidays are about finding ways we can help one another. I wrote an article this month that touches on this by exploring the tremendously hurtful and outdated language still present in the CC&Rs that govern some subdivisions, though, as I discovered, the path is long and complicated. But there are easy ways to stand by each other too—celebratory trips to Idaho’s various recreational resorts, trolley tours, thoughtful walks through the beautiful Idaho Botanical Garden Aglow, reindeer, and winter recreation. Even Governor Little and his family stops by to say hi.

IdaHome is also celebrating those who make music, art, and history, like Charlie Brandt’s novel turned film, which is headed for the big-time. Join us in recognizing those who make a difference, who make sacrifices to better the world around use—people like Greg Carr, who explains the Idaho-Mozambique connection in this issue, So, whether you’re staying in, going out, or heading home these holidays, know that we’re wishing you and yours a very merry season. And we’ll see you in the new H E AT H E R H A M I LT O N - P O S T year, no matter the weather.

Editor in Chief www.idahomemagazine.com

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TA B L E of CONTENTS 7

OUR TEAM COMMUNITY

20

Tables: Anderson Reserve

23

Explore Idaho

41

Chow Down: A Very Local Thanksgiving

14 34

REAL ESTATE NEWS

Going, Going, Gone Rejecting Antiquated CC&Rs

ARTS & CULTURE

8 16

Nonprofit Spotlight: Life's Kitchen

18 28

Who is Lauren McLean?

33 36

Coffee for a Cause

38

Away from Home for the Holidays

43

Nonprofit Spotlight: Speedy Foundation

44 Photo by Kat Cannell 4

www.idahomemagazine.com

Idaho Goes to the Oscars?

The Idaho-Mozambique Connection

Idaho Makers: Eilen Jewell

MONTHLY EXTRAS

Contributors

ll a F

IN LOVE

with

IdaHOME

THE GIFT

of the

Treasure Valley’s premier monthly magazine.

IDAHOMEMAGAZINE.COM www.idahomemagazine.com

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N OV E M B E R – D E CE M B E R 2 019 publisher K A R E N DAY karen@idahorem.com managing editor H E AT H E R H A M I LT ONPOST heather@idahorem.com copy editor Z ACK CR E NSH AW art director K AR EN K EY art@idahorem.com designers and illustrators JOH N AT H A N S TOK E S

ON THE COVER “In the 1930’s, Boise was still reeling from the Great Depression, and boredom reigned among the city’s 25,000 residents. Recog-

nizing an opportunity to boost the economy, Boise’s Chamber of

Commerce and others began planning a new mountain recreation area, one built by and for the people who live here. They chose nearby Bogus Basin, a place named for swindlers who, in the

1860’s, used it as a hideout to manufacture fake gold dust. Bogus Basin, a year-round mountain playground at Boise’s doorstep,

opened in 1942. Today it is the largest nonprofit recreation area in the country and a local treasure.”

Cover photo by John Webster.

Skier photo above courtesy of Bogus Basin.

social media manager K E L L I E M A L ON E director of operations and sales manager M AR IELLE W ESTPH A L admin@idahorem.com

I N OUR NE X T I SSUE:

contributing photographers K A R E N DAY J OH N W E B S T E R

St a n l ey Winter

Marketing, Sales and Distribution sales@idahorem.com IdaHome Magazine is publishing by Idaho Real Estate Marketplace P.O. Box 116 Boise, Idaho 83701 208-481-0693 © 2019 IdaHome Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors to IdaHome Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher.

Th e A n t i - Re s o l u t i o n Issue

I da h o's Wo l ve s

T H E I R ISH M A N AND THE AUTHOR, CHARLES BRANDT ON MURDER, MAFIA AND HOLLYWOOD Jimmy Hoffa: “Would you like to be a part of history?”

Frank Sheeran: “Yes, I would.”

This dialogue is lifted from the first phone conversation between Jimmy Hoffa, iron-fisted President of the Teamster’s Union and Frank Sheeran, the 6- foot 4-inch man applying for the job of Hoffa’s bodyguard. Sheeran is the confessional narrator of Martin Scorsese’s latest star-spangled, Oscar-courting gangster epic, THE IRISHMAN. Hoffa was not privy to the film trailer that belies his protector who would ultimately turn his murderous skills on his boss in 1984, but Sheeran’s self-professed solving of Hoffa’s killing would never have hit the big screen without Charles Brandt, the author who listened and spun those confessions into the New York Times Bestseller, “I Heard You Paint Houses,” in 2004.

Brandt is seated in a soft, leather chair, in Ketchum’s abiding, Chapter One bookstore. Surrounding him are stacks of his books waiting to be signed, including his first, “The Right to Remain Silent,” as well as newly reissued copies of his 2004 edition, renamed like the film, THE IRISHMAN. Al Pacino as Hoffa and Robert DeNiro as

Sheeran stare down on him from the movie poster, mobster visages glinting like silent weapons mounted on the wall. Amidst all the glowing film reviews and red-carpet premieres, Brandt’s smile arises easily and often with humble tales of growing up a “Perry Como Italian” in Manhattan, surrounded

by The Black Hand, the so-called Manhattan mafia that delivered inked handprints as warnings to buy life insurance.

Listening to Brandt relate how he became Sheeran’s confessor, it’s clear his work as a former homicide investigator combined with his Italian grandmother’s conversational gifts gave him an advantage for storytelling. More important, he claims, is his talent for listening.

“If you give people a chance, they will tell you more than they intend to,” he says, referencing his first interview of Sheeran. “We talked for five hours about the Hoffa hit, and in the end, we both were scared about how much he had revealed.

There was one thing, in particular, we never mentioned again.”

Those details were not revealed in the first edition of the Brandt’s book, but survived in his private recordings until 2007, when Robert DeNiro purchased the film rights and called to inquire if he had any more material. “Some of the really bad guys were still active when I published the first edition,” Brandt says. “But since then, Russell Bufalino, played by Joe Pesci, and Billy Galilea, who was not in the book and took over when Russell died—and he didn’t like me—they had passed on. The Boss of Chicago, Joey, the Clown Lombardo, used talked to Frank while we were sitting there. He went to prison for life, so I finally felt free to offer this new material to Bob.”

Robert DeNiro as Sheeran and author Brandt on last day of shooting THE IRISHMAN.

The irony that Brandt casually name drops the most-notorious mafia bosses and the most-famous actors to portray them by first name in the same sentence makes him shrug, wearing a mischievous grin. “People all over the world love these stories. Crime stories. Murder. Look at Shakespeare- the body count is tremendous in his tragedies. The Bible. Cain and Abel. Our fascination goes way back.”

Hollywood has played a long and profitable role in romanticizing the mafia in popular American culture. De Niro, Pacino, Pesci, Scorsese: these are names almost as ubiquitous with gangster movies as Al Capone. The list of blockbuster mafia films is copious, and The Godfather franchise alone could fill a bank and a room with Oscar statues. THE IRISHMAN is heralded as no exception with a cast, director and screenwriter (Steve Zaillian, Schindler’s List) all Academy Awards veterans.

Brandt admits he would love to walk with his beautiful wife, Nancy, down the Red Carpet at Oscars in February. From his first meetings with Sheeran to 2020, that journey nears two decades of his life.

No matter how great THE IRISHMAN box office appeal, however, Brandt has seen and heard enough to know there’s nothing romantic about the real mafioso. Murder was simply part of the job description, especially Frank Sheeran’s job.

“People in the organization knew the rules and they knew there was only one punishment. They don’t offer probation. While Frank had tremendous remorse and guilt for killing Hoffa, because he loved him, he didn’t have a choice. He would have been killed. Or maybe, tortured and then killed.

Maybe after his family had been killed.”

History has a way of connecting the dots, given time. Brandt describes a book signing where a gentleman said, “Sign it to Bob Garrity.”

“How do I know that name?” Brandt asked.

“I was the FBI case agent assigned to Hoffa’s investigation from the day he disappeared. I can tell you, rumors always swirled around Frank, but the sun rose and set on Sheeran with Jimmy Hoffa’s kids. He was part of their family.”

According to Sheeran via Brandt, the mafia ordered him to kill Hoffa because that’s how they like it done. Clean. By those who can get close enough to accomplish it no slip ups, no gun play. 18 inches from the back of the head. They want a quick, neat execution.

“That’s why they ask your best friend,” says Brandt. “And if you refuse- you know the punishment. It’s not romantic, it’s history. American history.”

As the Oscars approach, THE IRISHMAN as book and film have answered Hoffa’s foretelling question to Sheeran and now, the author, Charles Brandt. “Do you want to be part of history?”

Indeed. www.idahomemagazine.com

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GOING, GOING, GONE Understanding Preservation in Boise’s Neighborhoods Boise’s Greyhound station, built in 1959, will soon move to a kiosk at the Flying J on Federal Way. The building, built for $191,000

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was sold to West Bannock Dev LLC for $875,500. The depot’s future remains uncertain.

by Leah Hess Victorino

ith all the changes on the horizon in the Treasure Valley, it’s natural to consider what will be maintained, cast away, or left to evolve as the capital city grows. Questions of what we value and want to preserve are particularly relevant in regard to Boise’s built environment—past, present, and future.

The character of a city is reflected in its buildings and neighborhoods, and thanks to 10 historic districts (seven residential, three commercial), at least some of Boise’s history is alive and well in places like the North End, Warm Springs, and Old Boise. Proposals for exterior alterations in these areas require a review process by the City of Boise, led by the historic planner and a nine-member volunteer commission. This system ensures that facades in these areas remain recognizable for the period

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that they represent.

Ted Vanegas, senior historic planner for the City of Boise, discusses a recent case that came before the Historic Preservation Commission in which a developer requested to tear down an existing historic home in favor of new construction. That request was denied. “It’s a high bar to demolish a historic district,” he says.

Vanegas explains that, outside these historic district boundaries where there are no restrictions, specific buildings may have alternative designations such as historic easements, landmark, or National Historic Register status. Structures deemed worthy of preserving, including the Idanha Hotel and The Owyhee, have historic easements in which private owners retain rights, but the city gets to review preservation compliance.

Landmark buildings have less pro-

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tections but require a demolition delay and review, whereas those on the National Historic Register have only an honorary status since preservation restrictions are made at the state, county, or city level, not federal.

If residents are concerned about preservation beyond the historic district lines, they can push for the creation of a conservation district.

This designation is not as strict as a historic district, but it is meant to “preserve the character” in the neighborhood, a route that, according to a Preservation Idaho, he West Downtown Neighborhood Association took in hopes of saving the Travis Apartments. Built in 1937, this art deco building is a fixture it its neighborhood and provides 10 units of affordable housing. Efforts to save the building failed, and it is slated to come down and make way for proposed high-end apartments.

The tale of the Travis Apartments is merely one example of this increasingly common dilemma in Boise: how do we meet the needs of today and prepare for the future without destroying our history?

“Preserving unique properties adds a layer of value to the community,” says Lindsay Erb. She is lifelong Boisean, architect, and chair of Idaho Modern, a committee under Preservation Idaho that focuses on architecture and design from 1950s-1970s. Erb talks of the importance of education so that people can understand why these pieces of architecture are worth saving. She offers another reason to save these gems, as she calls them. “It’s more sustainable to preserve than to send those materials to the landfill.”

In many cases, preservation alongside new construction is in accordance with Blueprint Boise, a comprehensive plan for citywide vision and policies. The document states, “one of the most effective means of achieving a more compact growth pattern is to identify opportunities to accommodate future growth within the city’s existing ‘footprint,’ either on vacant sites or through the redevelopment of obsolete buildings or uses.”

Kate Chudy of Pepper Design, a local interior design firm, is also a volunteer with Idaho Modern. Chudy notes one potential risk that can arise with preservation projects, “the thing is with these old places, you don’t know what you’re going to run into.” While there

are many factors to consider when comparing historic renovations to new construction, she explains that there can be benefits to reusing structures and existing materials whenever possible, both for cost-savings and saving natural resources.

Not surprisingly, some property owners take issue with restrictions on their historic buildings, so Vanegas likes to “remind people why they live in these neighborhoods…what makes their neighborhoods special.” Regardless of the preservation regulations—too stringent for some, not protective enough for others— it behooves us all to take pause and consider what is at stake in these local treasures because once they’re gone, they’re gone.

For advocacy alerts or to get involved, visit www. preservationidaho. org.

The new Roosevelt Market shown in a rendering (top left), is being rebuilt after new owners found “more structural problems than originally anticipated”, but maintains the design of the old market. The Cabin (top right) was built in 1940 as the offices for State Forestry and Soil Conservation Corp. Slated for demolition in the 90s, it was purchased by the city and restored by readers and writers in exchange for a 30-year lease. The Carnegie Library (left), purchased earlier this year by Shawn Swanby, will be restored as a tech firm. The new owner hopes to give the building “new life”. www.idahomemagazine.com

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Where Heart Meets Home Life’s Kitchen Dishes Out More Than Food

by Leah Hess Victorino

The holidays are here, and ‘tis the season for Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas cookies galore. So many of our traditions are created around that most basic human need: food. More than just nourishment for our bodies, food has the power to bring people together, and that is exactly what happens year-round at Life’s Kitchen, a Community Benefit Organization located on Capitol Boulevard just south of the Boise River.

Life’s Kitchen provides youth who face barriers to success with a no-cost, 16-week program focused on food service and life skills in a real restaurant and catering setting. Young people aged 16-20 spend five days a week training in food safety, knife skills, recipe execution, and customer service. In addition to honing marketable service industry skills, Life’s Kitchen also supports trainees with résumé writing, internship placements, mentoring, and GED tutoring.

Kye Edson, a graduate who works as manager at Life’s Kitchen through a Department of Labor partnership, tried multiple times 16

unsuccessfully to complete his GED on his own. “Personally, I didn’t think I’d go anywhere,” Edson says, recalling the lack of hope he felt before joining Life’s Kitchen. Now he talks of studying mechanical engineering.

Regardless of what life has put on their plate, everyone gets a fresh start at Life’s Kitchen. Some trainees enter voluntarily, others may be mandated to serve, but they all come together as a team to dish up hearty meals at their café, schools, and local shelters.

Dallas Deleon, another graduate currently employed at the café, explains that “you manage to do things you’re not used to, or don’t like…and it’s fun!”

“The [trainees] are the real story,” says executive director Tammy Johnson. While the program is based in food service, the most valuable lessons are those that build the confidence and self-sufficiency to transform their own story. Whether program alumni continue working in the service industry or pursue other paths, they’ve prov-

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en they can take the heat and they will always belong to the Life’s Kitchen family.

For a taste of delicious meals that feed body and soul, visit the café Tuesday-Friday for breakfast 7:30-9AM or lunch 11AM-1PM at 1025 S Capitol Blvd, or contact catering manager Michael Tapia at (208) 331-0199 x306 or catering@ lifeskitchen.org.

Life’s Kitchen is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that relies on tax-deductible donations from the community and revenue from the café and catering services. If you know someone who could benefit from the program or to learn more, visit www.lifeskitchen.org.

Photos courtesy of Life’s Kitchen.

WHO IS LAUREN McLEAN? “Wouldn’t it be awesome if girls believed in themselves when they were 10? And then if they still believed in themselves in high school?” asks Lauren McLean, Boise mayoral hopeful.

She pulls back her hair, revealing campaign logo earrings a supporter dropped by the office earlier in the week, and looks toward the ceiling with emotion.

“I’m thinking about these 10-year-old girls in City Hall this winter, before I was thinking about running for mayor.

They asked me why there were no ladies on the mayor’s wall,” she explains. “All you see on the wall is men. I’d like to tell 10-year-old anyone—10-year-old me—that girls can do it all. That it’s tough but very possible, and we should keep dreaming and not get bogged down by whether or not we’re doing it right or we have enough experience,” McLean says.

Of course, a lack of experience isn’t something McLean worries about anymore. She’s lived in Boise for the last 21 years, and has a record of impact on the Boise City Council that speaks for itself. Now, she’s excited to offer her unique leadership style that prioritizes collaboration in service of tackling tough issues, which involves creating opportunities for

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conversation with the public.

McLean, who will face incumbent mayor Dave Bieter in a runoff election on December 3, has made conversation a staple of her campaign, hosting listening sessions, a weekly video blog, even engaging in text messaging with voters­— yes, it really is her. Her appeal is multi-generational, and predicated on the assertion that people want something different. “We’re at a

crossroads,” she says. “We need new leadership to tackle new challenges, and that really does appeal to all ages within our city.”

On the campaign trail, McLean says folks have been optimistic and kind—hopeful about the potential to make real change.

She knows the road isn’t an easy one, but emphasizes the need for creative problem solving, even as the challenges the city faces seem impossible. “We ask how we can

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do it differently because we have to, to make sure that, in the long run, we have a city that really does welcome and create opportunity,” she says.

McLean describes herself as “ambitious for this city,” emphasizing that this race has never been about her, but about the future of the city she loves. “When we have leadership that’s diverse, that makes things different for everyone,” she says.

The sense of community she’s

found since her campaign begun has proven what she knew all along.

Boise is filled with amazing people with amazing stories—”and now I get to carry them around with me,” she says.

“It’s just been incredible.”

Lauren McLean hopes to continue the discussion with you, Idaho’s voters. In fact, she says, laughing, “I'm still having conversations that we started with people before Tuesday. They just keep texting!”

Cast your vote in Boise’s mayoral run-off election on December 3, 2019.

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BY

TA B L E S

hat do a mentor, military veteran, and banker have in common? All are past lives of Executive Chef Joe Bonocore, a Philadelphia-raised, Italian-bred, farm-to-fork pioneer eager to put Idaho on the culinary map.

From a young age, Bonocore understood one of the cardinal rules of cooking: to create a memorable meal, one must also craft a memorable experience. Raised in a Sicilian family, he practiced this philosophy while helping his parents prepare meals for friends and family—a tradition that influenced his relationship with food (and people).

But his path from childhood to commercial kitchen wasn’t linear. After eight years in the U.S. army, he “stumbled into” a comfortable—though not necessarily fulfilling—career in finance.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing: he longed to be in the kitchen.

At his wife’s urging, Bonocore enrolled in Platt College’s Culinary Arts Program. After graduation, he worked for a small restaurant in Oklahoma City where he initially struggled—with both the major lifestyle change and the rigorous demands of the job. Like any great renaissance, however, creative rebirth is often preceded by uncertainty. Thankfully, the restaurant’s head chef took an interest in Bonocore, who went from kitchen nightmare to lead cook in just six weeks under his tutelage. “He kept with me and one day it finally clicked,” he explains. “That’s why I’m big on mentoring.”

Since his decades-long journey from career to calling, Chef Bonocore has won a number of awards creating innovative 20

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A M B ER

DA L E Y

entrées at kitchens across America—Bricktown Marriott, Luciano’s Ristorante, and Bon Appètit. Most recently, he joined the newly opened Anderson Reserve in Sweet, Idaho—a partnership he describes as “a perfect fit,” due in part to the intentionality that characterizes both his approach and that of the restaurant’s owners.

As Anderson Reserve’s executive chef, he works closely with its inhouse butcher and sources fresh ingredients from small farms and local vendors to provide a dining experience that spotlights humanely and sustainably produced food. He also actively mentors students enrolled in Renaissance High School’s culinary program through guest lectures and classroom demos. Sometimes he invites students to work alongside him in the kitchen— even hiring his most hardworking mentees, a rare opportunity for Idaho secondary school students. “I’d love to do this forever, but I can’t,” he says.

“So I want to know that the culinary world will be in good shape after I leave.”

While Bonocore’s days as a fledgling chef are long behind him, he is understandably elated by a new opportunity that has brought his passion for cooking full circle. Anderson Reserve might not his family kitchen back in Philly, but for Chef Bonocore, it’s the next best thing.

ANDERSON RESERV E

Relive your youth while they live theirs.

Book online & save.

sunvalley.com

Winter is coming...

our Community Mountain

NON-PROFIT. ALL GOOD. After 76 years of being the place to go for community mountain recreation, you'd think everyone would know we are a non-profit organization. It's true, we're in it for the long haul. As one of the Treasure Valley's most valued assets, we put everything we make in profits and donations back into the mountain, so education, events, facilities, and amenities are affordable and accessible to everyone, year in and year out.

BB Join the Fun

Winter Activities & Passes From winter sports to tubing & mountain coaster rides, Bogus Basin is your one stop spot for winter recreation in Boise. Boasting 10 lifts and 2,600 acres of terrain, your local playground offers excitement for all ages and ability levels.

BOGUSBASIN.ORG

208.332.5100

E X PLORE

GET OUTSIDE! Idaho’s outdoor activities range from the extreme to the warm and cozy.

From snowy sleigh rides to winter hikes, nordic skiing, snowmobiles and ice skating, there’s truly something for everyone in Idaho’s outdoor spaces.

Photo courtesy of Sun Valley Lodge

IDA HO RECRE AT ION IN A W IN TER WON DERL A N D

W I NTE R R ECR E ATI O N A N D B E YO N D AT TH E SU N VALLE Y LO D G E The Sun Valley Lodge, which still looks (at least on the exterior) like the lodge opened in 1936 as part of the larger Sun Valley resort, was the first destination ski area to open in North America.

“Averell Harriman, Union-Pacific’s chairperson at the time, wanted to create a destination ski resort similar to what was in Europe,” explains Kelli Lusk, Public Relations and Communications Manager at the resort. “He enlisted an Austrian Count to find a location—and they came upon

Ketchum, Idaho. Thus, Sun Valley was born!,” she says.

This winter, visitors can look forward to seeing progress on the Bald Mountain Expansion and replacement of the resort’s oldest chairlift, both of which will open in Winter of 2020-2021. The resort is also participating in the Epic Pass program, which offers unlimited, unrestricted skiing at a variety of resorts across the world.

Of course, if skiing and snowboarding aren’t your thing, they’ve got bowling at the Sun Valley Lodge, a movie house, two year-round outdoor heated pools, a 20,000 square foot full-service spa, dining, shopping, and ice skating—”luxurious accommodations to provide a relaxing atmosphere for people to unwind in a beautiful setting,” Lusk says.

Photo courtesy of Sun Valley Lodge.

TA M A R ACK R E SO R T Just 90 miles from Idaho’s capital city, Tamarack Resort has it all. Under new ownership since 2018, the recreation area is flourishing as it reinvents itself as a year round destination for all kinds of Idahoans and tourists. In

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the summer, enjoy a zipline tour nearly 1,800 feet above the valley floor, hiking, biking, watersports, and even whitewater rafting. And, should your children be too young for such heights, they’ve got you covered with an accredited daycare center open during summer and winter months.

Stay and play in the snow or at the spa,

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which offers a variety of massage options and body experiences.

This season, the mountain is set to open on December 13, and new skiers can test their snow legs on December 14 at Learn to Ski Day. Anyone 13 and over who has never been skiing or snowboarding can learn to do so for 100 percent free—rental equipment and learning area lift pass included!

And experienced ski bunnies and families, don’t fret­— enjoy a complimentary afternoon s’more on the Canoe Grill Patio every Saturday throughout the winter.

Photo by John Webster.

B O GUS BA S I N You probably know Bogus Basin as the fantastic winter ski oasis less than an hour’s drive from Boise, but the iconic mountain is much, much more. Home to Idaho’s only mountain coaster, the resort also boasts great trails for mountain biking and hiking, a climbing wall, bungee trampoline, summer tubing, scenic chairlift rides, music events, and even gem panning.

If winter sports are your jam, you’ll be happy to know that the resort is already prepping for the season (a mid-December open is likely) by hiring seasonal employees, priming their new snowmaking system and performing trail and chair maintenance 36TH

CENTER

“But Bogus Basin has great opportunities for all visitors—you don’t need to ski or snowboard,” says Austin Smith, the Marketing

Manager at Bogus. “ The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster will offer an exciting winter experience on weekends and holidays. Winter tubing is a perfect activity for families, friends, and groups of all sizes during the winter. Snowshoeing is a fun, easy, and a low-impact way to get out and enjoy winter,” he says.

Bogus Basin is also the largest nonprofit recreation area in America, and has been community owned since 1942, with outreach programs that touch over 20,000 youth each year—they’re committed to providing affordable fun throughout the year, and are gearing up for a great winter season!

Photo courtesy of Bogus Basin.

W I NTE R GA R D E N AG LOW

If you’re looking for a place to propose, look no further than FESTIVAL Boise’s own Winter OF TREES Garden aGlow, BOISE held annually at the Idaho CENTRE Botanical GarNOV. 27 – dens. “Every1 C. DE one at IBG loves sharPROCEEDS ing these BENEFIT moments SAINT with guests,” ALPHONSUS says BREA ST CARE ANNUAL

of all kinds, including brush trimming that enhances terrain around the mountain. This year, Bogus is also excited to unveil a new highspeed four-person chairlift, which significantly shortens the ride to the top and a renovated Pioneer Lodge.

Marketing Director Chris Decker.

“The event has become a very special tradition for many families.”

The garden, which gets covered top to bottom in Christmas lights, is ever-changing. This year, Winter Garden aGlow has new features throughout, including interactive lights in the Rose Garden, new features in the Dry Garden, a new pathway through the Meditation Garden, and a light tunnel on Outlaw Field. They’re also hosting a Winter Solstice Party and Adult Nite(s), featuring a 21+ kid-free area with beer, wine,

music, and views from the upper garden, though visitors will be able to wander the entire garden with drinks in hand.

The best part? “Getting to see the new light features and THEN seeing them through the great holiday glasses that change the lights into different objects, the Holiday Express Model Train Display, spending time with family and friends during the holidays, and Illumicone (the interactive sculpture of lights),” says Decker.

www.idahomemagazine.com

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CLOVE R DALE R E I N D E E R You have to see it to believe it—three reindeer hovered around a trough in Boise’s own Cloverdale Funeral Home and Cemetery throughout the year.

Since 1991 when then owner Tim Gibson purchased the animals, they’ve called the pen behind the funeral parlor home, attending schools and community events to spread cheer and goodwill.

Because reindeer are social animals, they typically keep three of them—all females, because males lose their antlers before Christmas. Staff take turns socialZO O B O I SE: G O RO N G OSA N ATI O N AL PA R K E X H I B IT Zoo Boise Director Gene Peacock scrolls through his phone, pointing at a picture. “That’s the gate at the front of Gorongosa National Park,” he says, looking up.

“And that’s our gate. You can even see the guard station we’ve replicated.” He’s right—Zoo Boise has done a remarkable job replicating what’s happening in the famous national park, which receives conservation dollars right from our local zoo in Boise, Idaho.

Zoo Boise gives 10% of their operating budget to conservation, which, as Peacock points out, is sig-

izing with the reindeer to prepare them for the holidays, whom they describe as very gentle.

Look for the Cloverdale reindeer around the community and behind the funeral home—and don’t be afraid to say hello! Photo courtesy of Cloverdale Funeral Home.

nificantly higher than other zoos.

“Our zoo is a really good vehicle for people to make connections with nature. You learn about gibbons or cranes, and it inspires you to learn about where they’re from. Not everyone can go to Asia or Africa, so if you see it this way, maybe you’ll want to help,” he says.

The new exhibits, which lay beyond the carefully crafted sign, emphasize animal choice and well being. They’re as natural as possible, and include murals painted from actual photos of the park. Check out new animals, old animals in BOISE TROLLEY TOURS

Boise’s own vintage trolley, called Ms. Molly, is the second ever trolley built by Molly Trolley Company.

“Only four wood-sided trolleys were built initially, and they stopped doing that because it was very expensive to do so,” says Debra Miller, who owns and operates Boise Trolley Tours.

Miller says that the Molly Trolley CEO is happy #2 is still in operation,

but doesn’t know what became of the other two.

A favorite with both locals and tourists from across the globe, the tour is narrated by Thomas Black, or Trolley Tom, as he’s known, a Boise native for over 40 years and trolley guide for around 10. “Verifying the ghost stories for the Halloween tours can be the hardest part. I hear about

new exhibits, artwork, and the beautiful facilities today!

“We try to be an example for all things big or small, that if you put your mind to it, and your board and the public, and the city—if everybody buys into it, you can make a difference. We’re a vehicle for conservation,” Peacock says.

To learn more about Gorongosa National Park, check out our Coffee for a Cause feature and statement from philanthropist Greg Carr. Photo courtesy of Zoo Boise. them all the time, but I need more to go on,” he says.

Boise Trolley Tours offers historical tours, Halloween tours, Holiday Lights tours, and private event rentals throughout the year. They’re also a sponsor for First Friday in Garden City—the trolley is free to ride that night, and leaves from the Sapphire Club at the Riverside Hotel, allowing people to get off and on at various stops. Look for Molly on December 6 at 6 p.m.!

ZOO BOISE IS OPEN ALL YEAR LONG!

Now with more indoor exhibits, come warm up while meeting the new animals in the Gorongosa National Park expansion.

10am-5pm (last admission at 4:30pm) Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

WWW.ZOOBOISE.ORG

Zoo Boise is owned by the City of Boise and managed by the Boise Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with Friends of Zoo Boise.

MOZAMBIQUE’S GORONGOSA N AT I O N A L PA R K is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. With the support of the Government of Mozambique and the Carr Foundation, the park practices conservation by balancing the needs of wildlife and people. Photo by Piotr Naskrecki

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Jean Paul Vermeulen

Clive Dreyer

Piotr Naskrecki Paul Kerrison

Jean Paul Vermeulen

Clive Dreyer Piotr Naskrecki

Jeff Trollip

Michael Dos Santos

Restoring Gorongosa

i

Copyright Greg Carr. October 31st, 2019. (All rights reserved)

saw Gorongosa National Park (in central Mozambique) for the first time, from a helicopter, on March 30, 2004. It looked magnificent from above. There were multiple forest and woodland types, grasslands, rivers, a lake and fascinating geological formations. When we landed, however, it was clear we had trouble. The historic Chitengo camp lay in ruins--former buildings were rubble. Where tourists once wandered, burned-out vehicles were scattered amongst grass that was higher than my head.

That year, the Mozambican government asked me to help restore Gorongosa, once one of the most popular national parks in all of Africa.

In the 1960s, scientists say that Gorongosa had the densest abundance of wildlife of any natural area on the continent. In 2004 we could drive an entire day and perhaps see one warthog or one baboon.

Approximately 95% of the large animals had been killed during and 30

in the aftermath of a generation of war. The remaining wildlife hid in dense forests.

I assembled a small team of scientists and their first insight was that in order to save the ecosystem over the long-term, a nearby massif named Mount Gorongosa needed to be added to the Park. Mount Gorongosa holds one of only two true rainforests in Mozambique, full of endemic and near-endemic species, and critically: it is the source of 50% percent of the Park’s surface water in the dry season. It was not part of Gorongosa Park at that time.

I dreamed that we could restore Gorongosa to its former splendor.

However, our mandate from the Government of Mozambique was not only to restore the wildlife to the Park, but also, to help the traditional communities who live next to Gorongosa, who share the greater ecosystem.

This was a new idea­—that conservation and human develop-

www.idahomemagazine.com

Greg Carr is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who hails from Idaho Falls, Idaho. With Zoo Boise, he works to restore Gorongosa National Park, maintaining close ties with his home state through a variety of service endeavors.

ment should be combined—across a landscape that includes a Protected Area, such as a national park or national forest, and indigenous people for whom the ecosystem is their home.

Nelson Mandela and his friend, Joaquim Chissano (President of Mozambique), created this new mission for the national parks and reserves in their respective countries in discussions they held in the 1990s. Neither of them had been allowed inside national parks when Photo by Ticky Rosa

Giorgio del Noce Piotr Naskrecki

they were boys because they were the wrong color. When they became presidents of their respective countries, their goal was to re-establish the African people’s ancient and mutually beneficial relationship to the land and to the other species who share it.

The people who live next to Gorongosa Park had suffered through the decades of war. In fact, in 2004, Mozambique was considered the poorest nation on Earth.

From 2005 through 2007 we completed an Ecological and Human Development Plan for the greater Gorongosa ecosystem.

In January of 2008, I signed a 20-year agreement with the Government to co-manage and restore Gorongosa, and to bring human development services to the region.

(That agreement has now been extended to 35 years.)

We got busy. We revitalized the Park Ranger team. They began removing wildlife traps and snares from the Park, some left over from the war.

We reintroduced some species that we obtained from other Background Image by Piotr Naskrecki

national parks, such as buffalo and wildebeest. But mostly, in a safer environment, the remaining small populations of wildlife were able to increase on their own.

In 2018 we conducted an aerial wildlife survey and counted more than 100,000 large animals. This was just the fifteen largest species we could count from the air, not the innumerable smaller species that are also thriving. The press is kind to us. National Geographic refers to us as perhaps Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration story.

We have 260 locally hired rangers, including the first ever women rangers and safari guides and more than 100 people have jobs in tourism. Ninety-eight percent of our employees are Mozambican, including young Mozambicans in leadership training for all top positions.

We opened the “E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory” and began an All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. We started the only Masters in Conservation Biology in Mozambique, with an initial cohort of twelve Mozambicans, women and men.

We now have the “Ox-

Piotr Naskrecki

ford-Gorongosa Paleo-Primate Project”, and are finding fossils in Africa’s Great Rift, a globally significant site.

We convinced the Government of Mozambique to add Mount Gorongosa to the Park.

We provide healthcare to more than 100,000 people per year, and our after-school “Girls’ Club” keeps teen girls in school and out of child marriage.

We hope we are true to President Mandela and President Chissano’s idea of a new and expanded purpose for national parks.

Now when we drive the safari roads of the Park, we look out upon the floodplain and see elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles, fifteen species of antelope. We view sunsets where I count five species of storks and two species of pelicans skimming low across water that originates from a now protected Mount Gorongosa.

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coffee

for a cause:

by Heather Hamilton-Post We’re coming off a Halloween high, and nothing is as it seems.

Take, for example, the hot cup of coffee one acquires at Zoo Boise under the pretense of simple caffeination on a chilly morning when the children have asked for yet another trip to the local zoo. At face value, it is a cup of coffee, yes—but it surprises and delights. The first surprise is that it is actually a good cup of coffee—tasty and robust, brewed fresh and served any way you’d like it. The second and best surprise is that it supports women and girls and farmers and education and rainforests and wildlife in Gorongosa National Park.

Gorongosa National Park is one of the most biodiverse places in the world, but donations and tourism struggled to sustain the park, which got people thinking. “In 2015, we planted 15,000 seedlings on Mount Gorongosa with the help of local farmers to see what would happen.

Four years later, we’re expanding and, for every nine coffee trees, we plant one rainforest tree to shade the coffee and restore the rainforests.

This is our first year with a major coffee crop,” says Eric Wilburn, Director of Gorongosa Coffee, and return Peace Corp volunteer with a clear reverence for the work he’s doing.

How Gorongosa Coffee Is Changing The World Wilburn explains that it began as a sort of experiment to see if humans, wildlife, and the environment could peacefully live together.

Their model for planting would help restore rainforests, but how could they support other areas of the park? And so they decided on three coffee blends. Girls Run The World supports education for women and girls, and will now be joined by Elephants Never Forget and Speak for the Trees, which support wildlife conservation and rainforest and ecosystem restoration, respectively.

“This is a coffee company born out of a national park. We exist to serve Gorongosa, and 100% of the profits help them,” says Wilburn. He explains that park rangers are vital to protecting elephants in the park, and says they hope to outfit 100 rangers per year with gear and equipment, made possible by coffee sales.

And, as in life, things in the park tend to be cyclical—education is often a foray into the other goals of the park. Take, for example, Dominique Gonçalves, a Mozambican from a city about an hour outside the park who began working for the park and has since become the manager of the elephant ecology program. “She’s getting her PhD, and is doing incred-

ible work,” says Wilburn. And so it goes—girls and women receive access to education, which benefits their community, environment, and socioeconomic status. “It is the central pillar in the park plan,” Wilburn emphasizes.

Right now, Gorongosa Coffee is served in a limited number of places, but Zoo Boise is one of them. Stop by the zoo, or order direct from the website (Gorongosacoffee. com), to support Gorongosa National Park. “The holidays are coming up, and we’d love for people to think about our coffee—a gift that pays it forward to Mozambique. We could all use more kindness,” Wilburn says.

Above: Gabriela Curtiz grew up in Gorongosa National Park and became the first female Mozambican tour guide. Now, she’s attending Boise State University and will speak at Zoo Boise on December 4th. Photo courtesy of Greg Carr.

www.idahomemagazine.com

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Idahoans In Equal Measure: Rejecting Antiquated CC&Rs

Drone photo by Gary Wilson

Boise City Councilwoman Lisa Sánchez sits across the table, sipping iced coffee at the Flying M where she is greeted warmly by customers and employees. She is the first Latina to hold a spot on Boise City Council, and silently, she reads a copy of the covenants, conditions and restrictions for a subdivision in the greater Boise area. When she reaches the Racial Occupancy clause, she stops, looking up. “You know, I have to be honest. I’m glad these documents exist. Do you know why?”,she asks.

Aloud, Sánchez reads the clause. “No person of any race other than the white race shall use or occupy any building or any lot, except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of a different race domiciled with an owner or tenant.” She pauses. “It proves these sentiments weren’t that long ago.”

This particular document was written in 1945, but reviewed and revised in 1973, just 46 years ago.

Another, from a subdivision on the other end of town, is dated 1949.

Of course, these documents, this language, exists on CC&Rs governing subdivisions across the city, 34

state, and nation. ments. But as somebody who is a A bit of history here—before person of color, who is of Mexican the 1948 U.S. Supreme Court dedescent, who grew up in Burley, cision in Shelley v. Kraemer which Idaho, it validates my experience. made discriminatory language ilNice people don't want to believe legal, housing developments across that racism and systemic discrimithe nation included blatantly racist nation exists. Knowing that there's language that prevented people of documents like this shows that it's color access to housing. not something we make up in our “Through the 1950s, these heads,” says Sánchez.

CC&Rs were used by lenders and Olson says that the language insurers participating in federal loan is sickening, and, like Sánchez, programs, then reinforced by HOAs acknowledges its place in the past. and agents to maintain “all white” “We have to face that such blatant neighborhoods,” says Zoe Ann racism existed, and these are the Olson, Executive Director of the Inremnants and we’ve allowed them termountain Fair Housing Council. to exist beyond,” she says.

Though the Fair Housing Act So what to do about a piece of made these practices illegal in our history we’re not particularly 1968, the language remains, which, as Olson points out, “does little to reverse the deeply embedded residential patterns of segregation.”

“I could see how it'd be great to get rid of that in these docuZoe Ann Olson fights for fair housing for all Idahoans.

www.idahomemagazine.com

proud of? “It’s a difficult question,” the home to add a disclaimer to city officials,” Ralston says. says Alicia Ralston, who owns the documents at an individual Sánchez recalls when, during Ralston Group Properties. Last level--the Ada County Clerk’s Ofthe recession, she emptied the year, she encountered the language fice can advise about changes made change from her wallet to pay for in a client’s CC&R document. Afto recorded documents. gas and looked over to see a small ter speaking with business and title Ralson and Olson, along with hand put $3 on the counter. “He attorneys, media outlets, and real many others, agree that now is said, ‘gas is expensive, miss. That’s estate organizations, she came up the time to act. “It's one of those why I ride a skateboard.’, and fairly empty. Though the language things that does behoove us— then he was gone. I have a college is not enforceable, it is difficult to whether we're an individual homedegree. I speak two languages. remove without an active HOA to owner or a real estate license proI've always held professional jobs. vote it down, and, But none of that since it is public mattered. What I record, home needed was enough buyers must money to put one receive a copy. gallon of gas in my Sometimes, title car. What I needed companies inwas somebody in clude a legal disthis community to claimer. “There is show me grace. I no easy solution,” realized then that says Ralston.

I live in a great Of course, community. It was Olson says, there one of the most are some options. hopeful moments Concerned citiof my life. I live zens may address in a beautiful city the language with where even the the HOA board skater kid has of directors, the my back.”

HOA attorney, And Boise can or even their Lisa Sánchez inspires her community with her commitment to diversity, equality, be that beautiful real estate agent, city, and Idaho, and authenticity. ensuring that the that beautiful language is not reaffirmed. You fessional or a title company or city, state in this way too. Perhaps the can identify the specific process county, state and federal leaders— answer is in leaving the language for amending CC&Rs outlined in to say ‘this is not okay anymore.’ and formally disparaging it offiyour particular subdivision, which We need a coalition movement. cially, and statewide—a reminder usually requires a vote or adopt a Let’s create an easy mechanism to that we live in a country where resolution with your HOA that get it, get rid of it, strike out that Jim Crow laws allowed legal disrecognizes and disparages the language,” says Olson. “We hope crimination, but that we choose a language. You can talk to the title we can find a way forward—title future that welcomes all Idahoans companies involved in the sale of companies, attorneys, county and in equal measure. www.idahomemagazine.com

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IDAHO MAKERS

If sweet ness had a sound it would sound like my homet own

by Chad Dryden

- Eilen Jewell, “My Hometown”

“I feel like I was partly raised by Idaho City and partly raised by Downtown Boise,” says singer-songwriter Eilen Jewell about her “weird dual life” as a child. It’s a dichotomy that, decades later and seven years into her return to the Gem State, serves as her primary muse.

“I'm a really nostalgic person,” says Jewell, who this year celebrated her 40th birthday and the release of her latest album Gypsy. “I enjoy working my memories of Idaho into my songs, weaving in imagery, whether it’s the desert or the pines, sneaking those in whenever I can.”

Growing up, the Boise High alum spent her weekdays in the North End and many a weekend in Idaho City, where her paternal grandfather owned 200 acres. In essence, she was living the “Boise dream”— equal access to urban life and open space— long before the city started showing up on all those top 10 lists.

But after college in Santa Fe and a brief stint in Los Angeles, it took a move to Boston in 2003 for Jewell’s music career to take off. It was there she formed her band, started touring and found a record label (Signature Sounds, once home to fellow Idaho native Josh Ritter).

She also found love, marrying her drummer Jason Beek. Everything was falling into place, yet she still yearned for home.

“My entire extended family is here. We’re very much Idahoans,” Jewell says. “Though I really love Boston and I owe a lot to Boston, I never felt like it was my true home with a capital H. I kept internally catching myself comparing every place I went with Boise.”

Since moving back to Idaho in 2012, Jewell and Beek have purchased two homes—one in Boise, one in Idaho City—and welcomed their daughter Mavis, now 5. The roots are growing deeper, and Jewell wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m where I want to be, and I think it's important for any person, especially for an artist trying to make a living with their art, to be where their heart wants to be.”

Left photo courtesy of Eilen Jewell. Album cover art courtesy of Signature Sounds.

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AWAY F R O M H O M E F O R T H E H O L I DAY S REMEMBERING OUR TROOPS “When you're somewhere far away in a remote part of the country, obviously, during the holidays can be extremely difficult. And I think it's really important for someone in that position to know that they're not forgotten and they're being thought of,” Maj. Christopher Borders, Public Affairs Officer for the Idaho National Guard says. But, he adds, Idaho soldiers are lucky in that they’ve got a supportive community.

Borders recalls that the care packages were constant, and that they came from friends, family, and Idahoans who “just wanted to adopt a soldier”, which is unique, he says, to our state. Idahoans are, as always, good at showing up for one another, and during the holiday season, our enlisted personnel are especially grateful. He remembers a time away in which his wife sent a small Christmas tree.

“I put it together and then shortly thereafter got another package with individually wrapped Christmas presents to put under it. And it's just, it's sort of overwhelming and extremely emotional,” he says. “Because everything seems­—when you're doing the daily grind of soldiering over there— like Groundhog Day. But then you come back to your containerized housing unit to see something like that--I think you're really hypersensitive to it. And it's just really emotional.” Borders remembers not wanting to open the presents up on Christmas because he wanted the anticipation to continue.

In Idaho, we have groups like Treasure Valley Blue Star Mothers of America—the local branch of an organization that offers support for active duty military members and veterans organizations--that plays a huge role in coordinating community support. They’re incredibly dedicated, meeting monthly to plan events, coordinate care, and encourage patriotism.

Though there are a variety of services that exist for service members and their families, it is important to remember that it is our responsibility as a community to care for them during the holidays and throughout the year.

So this holiday season, remember the men, women, and families who make personal sacrifices in support of the greater good, and do a little something extra to show them some love—for which they are eternally grateful.

If you’d like to show your support of service members or their families at home or abroad, contact Treasure Valley Blue Star Mothers for more information.

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CHOW DOWN

A H O L I D AY M E D L E Y AT V O G E L F A R M S Debbie Englehardt-Vogel leads me around Kuna’s Vogel Farms, which, as it turns out, is just one of her talents. When she’s not managing farm work, teaching cooking classes, or introducing kids to Baba the sheep at the farm’s petting zoo, you might find her in Vogel Farm’s yearround Christmas shop. She is joined by Ms. Kitty, the farm’s 15 year old

BY T I M AT W EL L

barn cat who likes to sleep in front of a cozy fire, surrounded by Christmas trees and ornaments.

“I put a turtleneck on, turn on some Christmas music, and I’m happy as a clam,” Englehardt-Vogel says.

And outside the Christmas shop, the rest of the farm is busy preparing for the holidays too. The weekend before Thanksgiving, Vogel Farms will hand out hundreds of fresh turkeys to those on the reservation list, and, on the day of the turkey handout, Santa will be hanging around the Christmas shop, should anyone want to share their Christmas list well in advance.

Of course, those who haven’t reserved a turkey can still enjoy a visit to Vogel Farms. Every Saturday, Englehardt-Vogel cooks up brunch for the public in a little kitchen she recently added to the farm. That’s where I find myself after the tour, tasting her homemade taco soup, savory pretzels, and fresh baked scones. It’s comfortable here, with the sort of intimacy one might find eating a meal in a friend’s home.

Toward the end of brunch, a handful of Englehardt-Vogel’s children and grandchildren enter the kitchen, grab bowlfuls of soup, and head outside to eat. There is a common thread here, a beating heart that unites the farm’s eclectic mix of interests and activities. In the kitchen, the Christmas shop, and everywhere else on the farm, there is an undercurrent of warmth and hospitality that makes Vogell Farms a uniquely Idaho experience.

“I want it to be friendly, and I want to be different,” EnglehardtVogel says.

The farm proudly sells beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and turkey raised locally, guaranteed to be GMO, antibiotic, and steroid-free. You can buy milk, eggs, cheese, and produce at their country store, or enjoy a farmto-table dinner onsite. Heck, they even offer hayrides if that’s your style.

With more than 70 years experience, Englehardt-Vogel and her family offer a path toward a very local Thanksgiving or Christmas, or, if a monthly subscription is more your style, they’ve got that too. Vogel Farms is both friendly, different, and worth the drive.

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SPEEDY FOUN DATION SEEK S TO EN D THE S TIGM A

by Michael Strickland “In the United States, we didn’t start changing our drunk driving numbers until we started changing the messaging,” says Shannon Decker, Executive Director of The Speedy Foundation. “When the messaging became ‘Friends don’t let friends drive drunk,’ we started seeing a decrease in drunk driving accidents. The same is true with suicide.”

The Speedy Foundation is a non-profit organization named after 3-time Olympian, Jeret "Speedy" Peterson of Boise, ID and Park City, UT. In the sports world, Speedy was a three-time Olympic Freestyle Aerialist and 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist. In 2011, Jeret lost his battle to depression. Those who knew him remember Speedy as an advocate for his own struggles with mental health and substance abuse, as well as having a deep concern for the well-being of others.

There’s a common belief that speaking about suicide will encourage youth to attempt it. That’s a myth, Decker says, noting that the opposite is true. “Talking about it directly is the best way to prevent suicide.”

A mental health crisis is more common than most people realize. You are more likely to come across a person having a mental health crisis than a person having a heart attack. Where CPR training is common, the same is not true of responding to a mental health crisis. The Speedy Foundation helps neighbors, friends, relatives and coworkers when they need help. The organization supports and provides Mental Health First Aid, safeTALK, and QPR trainings in Idaho and Utah, and is focused on prevention through conversation and education.

If you or someone you know is struggling and need immediate help, call or text the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline at 208-398-HELP (4357). Decker says you don't have to be suicidal to call the hotline-you can call the hotline if you're concerned about someone who might be going through a mental health challenge or crisis, and the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline can help with that, too.

If you want to learn how you can help, or want to find more resources in regards to suicide prevention, visit: www.thespeedyfoundation.org Jeret "Speedy" Peterson was a three-time Olympian, winning Silver at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Photo courtesy of The Speedy Foundation.

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C O N T R I B U T O R S

T I M A T W E L L graduated from Boise State University in

2016 with a BA in English and a certificate in Technical Communication. He currently works on the marketing team of a local healthcare technology company. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking and spending time outdoors.

C H A D D R Y D E N is a lifelong music nut who knows one

guitar chord (E minor), yet he’s managed to build a life around his passion as a writer, vinyl-only DJ and longtime record store employee. A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, he has written about music for two decades and is currently Marketing and Promotions Director at The Record Exchange in Downtown Boise. He lives in Boise with his wife Erica and daughter Magnolia.

L E A H H E S S V I C T O R I N O is a Boisean, born and

raised, and freelancer who takes on research and writing assignments to maintain her unofficial status as perennial student. She is mama and wife to three extraordinary humans with whom she loves to explore the world.

A M B E R D A L E Y is a fifth-generation Idahoan who appre-

ciates potatoes in all their forms — but also finds opportunities to politely inform newcomers of our official nickname: the Gem State.

She finds writing inspiration through spontaneous road trips, mountain bike rides, and long walks down the cheese aisle.

M I C H A E L S T R I C K L A N D is an author and teacher

whose articles have appeared in numerous publications including the Idaho Statesman, Idaho State Journal, Ridenbaugh Press, The Post Register, Idaho Education News, and scholarly journals. Michael is the author of more than a dozen books. He has taught various classes in Literacy, Communication, and English at Boise State University since 2008. These include several semesters of children’s literature as well as teaching English to 10th and 11th graders in TRIO/Upward Bound and in public schools.

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