Community + Culture + Recreation +
Real Estate
s y il da
FOR THE
BRONCOS HIT THE FIELD!
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Idaho Winter Recreation Paradise Best Wishes From the Governor’s Family
BOISE, EAGLE, MERIDIAN, NAMPA, CALDWELL & BEYOND
AV I M O R :
A place with that small town feel.
Whether you’re an empty nester, a growing family, or a young professional, you’ll find a home and a lifestyle that suits you in Avimor. Avimor is designed for every lifestyle and every stage of life, which is what gives it that “small town feel”. Drive just eight short minutes north of State Street on Highway 55, and you’ll find Avimor, the most innovative and ambitious Master Planned Community in the Boise metropolitan area. Nestled into the foothills, surrounded by close to 70% open space and miles of foothills trails, Avimor residents live very close to nature. Residents experience nature right outside their front door with Avimor’s 100+ miles of trails for them to enjoy the wildlife and a healthy lifestyle. Avimor’s long-term development plan promises that it will continue to feel like the small towns you love. The 23,000acre project is made up of multiple Villages and Hamlets surrounding charming village centers, home to restaurants, retail, office and educational spaces. Homes are also within walking distance to neighborhood parks and recreation centers. Folks from every walk of life are attracted to Avimor. The 12,000 s.f. Community Center is also a major draw for Avimor Residents. With fitness center and indoor heated saltwater swimming pool, the Community Center sees a lot of use. The multiple event rooms host frequent community events such as monthly “Evenings at Avimor” Meet & Greet’s, monthly “Avimor 101” learning series topics, like fly fishing or one of the many, many clubs. Avimor amenities are also rounded out with 9 parks (including 4 large playgrounds), baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis court and fishing pond. A large amphitheater in the 6-acre park is the center of many summer get-togethers, picnics and celebrations. Another new park with outdoor pool opened this summer. If you’re looking for fresh air, note that it is abundant at Avimor. In fact, Avimor is often above the inversion layer that socks in the Treasure Valley each year. But it is close to the metropolitan Treasure Valley too. Just four miles above the city limits of Eagle, you’ll feel like you live in the country, but you’re only a few short minutes from shopping and entertainment. Or stay here--we’re expanding with new commercial establishments, including Spring Valley Brewing Company, a restaurant and microbrewery which is now open. On the Fly, an over-sized Convenience Store and Mobil Gas Station is open too providing all kinds of convenience items and great food including their special broasted chicken for our residents. Our home selection and creative house plans set us apart from other homebuilders. We’ve got traditional homes as well as multigenerational floor plans, which feature homes within homes that allow for families to live together while maintaining their own space. Flexibility is key--choose from things like private guest quarters and extra garage bays or an RV bay and set the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that works best for you. Located North on Highway 55 a Mile Above Shadow Valley Golf Course See you at Avimor, a place where Model Homes Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm folks get to know their neighbors … and their dogs too! 208-939-5360 • www.avimor.com Visit our website at www.avimor.com Marketed by Epic Realty LLC • RCE 35084 to view our floor plans and click on the interactive tool to choose the structural options you desire. Advertisement
CONTENTS COMMUNITY 7 Governor's Letter 13 Refugee Rising: Patrick Ngalamulume 14 IdaHome: Winter Recreation Paradise 20 The State of Boise State 35 RV There Yet? On the Road with Rudy Soto 38 Homelessness in Idaho: The Other Covid Pandemic
27 32 36
Chow Down: How to Ruin a Holiday with Fruitcake Capture Your Stories A Very Caldwell Christmas
FOOD, ARTS, & CULTURE 8 Boise State Football Prepares to "Win the Wait"
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 4 Contributors 5 Publisher's Letter
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING 24 The Professor of Practice in Space: Steve Swanson REAL ESTATE 29 Treasure Valley Real Estate: Covid-Competitive
ON THE COVER
Independent and locally-owned & operated, Ralston Group Properties (Ralston Group) challenges the status quo within the real estate industry. This vibrant "boutique" brokerage is grounded in the belief that creating long-term, trust-based relationships and always serving the client’s needs first, is both good business and the right thing to do. Five words define this residential and commercial real estate firm with offices in downtown Boise and Ketchum – Trust + Heart + Experience + Advocates + Thinkers. Their agents are handpicked and represents the very best people in the industry and in the community. Ralston Group…A Tradition of Trust.
CONTRIBUTORS Karissa Manske is an Idaho native Boise transplant who graduated with an English degree but found her calling in tech. When she’s not researching, writing, or editing content about the latest technological advances, chances are she’s shopping for thrift store steals or exploring Idaho’s hiking trails. Heather Hamilton-Post is a writer and editor in Caldwell. She holds degrees in both agriculture and creative writing and is herself surprised by that. When she’s not writing, catch her at a socially distanced baseball game with her husband and young sons. Find her work across the web and buried in the lit journals you didn’t know you had. Dave Southorn has lived in Boise since 2005 and has spent nearly all that time covering Boise State for the Idaho Statesman, Idaho Press and The Athletic. He married an Idaho girl, Lisa, and loves to explore the city and the surrounding natural beauty with her and their two dogs, Riggins and Rue. Amber Daley is a fifth-generation Idahoan who appreciates 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.
Community + Culture + Recreation + Real Estate
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 publisher K A R E N DAY karen@idahorem.com managing editor H E AT H E R H A M I LT O N POST heather@idahorem.com art and design K R IS T I N A C A SE kristina@idahorem.com K A L E Y BE LVA L design@idahorem.com director of operations and sales manager M A R IELLE W EST PH A L admin@idahorem.com staff photographers K A R E N DAY E BE R H A R D GROS SG A S T E IGE R SIMON M A AGE cover photographer TA DE UZ L A KO TA Marketing, Sales and Distribution karen@idahorem.com IdaHome Magazine is publishing by Idaho Real Estate Marketplace P.O. Box 116 Boise, Idaho 83701 208-481-0693 © 2020 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.
DEAR READERS,
N
othing kills an optimistic cliché faster than a pandemic. See the glass as half full instead of half empty. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Every cloud has a silver lining—can you hear me scowling? No matter how rosy your glasses, 2020 has been a year of tragic loss of lives, human civility, political dignity, personal income, family and hugs. We have sheltered-in-place and quarantined our hearts for a bumpy ride that is not over yet. From where we all stand together, in masks and six feet apart, it may feel impossible to think positively, to be grateful, to offer grace and kindness to yourself, a neighbor, a stranger or even a perceived enemy. And by the time this holiday issue of IdaHome is in your hands, our votes will be counted and no matter the results, the future will loom ahead, assuredly rough with rising COVID deaths, political animosities, climate change, racial inequalities and millions suffering hunger and homelessness. How do we find the good in ourselves, in our country, and in the world with so much gone wrong? First, let’s all agree that sweatpants have had a great year. Second, let’s also remember that in golf (a game that dangerously tests your sanity) there exists an absurd but generous rule that allows everyone to take a mulligan—or a ‘do-over.” And perhaps, that’s exactly what the world needs in 2020. The opportunity to take another shot at all our problems and this time, do it better. And as every golfer will tell you, there’s no shame in that.
This issue marks IdaHome magazine’s two-year anniversary. Looking back, I must first thank you, our readers, for taking the time to turn the pages and share the stories of so many amazing Idahoans and the Gem State. This special holiday edition is especially rich with accomplishments, hope and promise for a better future led by a heartfelt letter from Idaho’s First Lady, Teresa Little and the gubernatorial family. Next, BSU Broncos finally hit the field, Professor Steve Swanson points students toward outer space and President Marlene Tromp turns academic turmoil into innovation. Southwest Idaho is nothing if not a winter recreational paradise and our powderful! resorts will make you want to sharpen your edges. Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb continues to share her bountiful life stories, while our editor, Heather Hamilton-Post goes on the road with Congressional candidate Rudy Soto. As colder temperatures approach, we also focus on those without a home for the holidays and ways you can help. From the mistake of fruitcake to the joy of Christmas in Caldwell, this issue of IdaHome offers a reprieve from bad news. From all of us at IdaHome to all of you- warmest wishes for the holidays! Together, let’s take a do-over in 2021!
Be well!
Karen Day, Publisher
The Spirit of the Mountains is TIMELESS... The Best Snow In Idahoâ„¢ is TIMELESS...
...but some things WILL BE DIFFERENT when you hit the slopes this winter. Photo courtesy John Webster
LEARN MORE & Book your McCall adventure at
visitmccall.org
Please remember to RECREATE RESPONSIBLY and research the new protocols at your winter destinations.
Photo by Michelle Bliss
From Our Family to Yours...
O
ur hearts are meant to share love with family, friends and the world. As the darker days of winter approach, the love we share adds light to the darkness and gives others hope, joy and comfort. It is truly a powerful thing to brighten someone else’s path. You may never even know what a large impact your acts of kindness, your words or your example have on someone else. In this time of coronavirus, the love we share with our family, friends and the world is critical to how we weather the storm. The care we take to wear our face masks, keep a good social distance, wash our hands frequently and stay home as much as possible are acts of love. Take care. Be kind. We wish you love. We wish you well.
First Lady,
Teresa Little
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
BOISE STATE FOOTBALL PREPARES TO “WIN THE WAIT” BY DAVE SOUTHORN | PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
H
e was not expecting much of a different answer, but when Boise State football coach Bryan Harsin spoke to his friends in the profession around the country that started their seasons as scheduled, they all responded similarly. “It’s gonna be weird, it’s gonna be different,” Harsin said. For more than a month, Boise State, along with the rest of the Mountain West Conference, was not going to play in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had forced a postponement to the spring.
But on Sept. 25, the conference reversed course and announced a return for the weekend of Oct. 24. Other fall sports, including soccer, volleyball and cross country, are still postponed.
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Football drives more money than any other sport in college athletics, and bringing it back – even with a shorter schedule – will reduce the financial burden the pandemic has caused thanks to lucrative television contracts.
Without football, Boise State was facing a $20 million loss, and still will be in the red with it. The school cut its baseball and swimming and diving programs this summer and has implemented salary cuts and furloughs in the athletic department.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to take the deficit, whatever it’s going to be, and make it as small of a number as we can to go into the next academic year,” Boise State Athletic Director Curt Apsey said. Boise State’s schedule, which normally features 12 regular-season
BRONCOS
Broncos football
Sophomore linebacker Isaiah Bagnah’s season looks a little different than he anticipated. www.idahomemagazine.com
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“THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US … TO SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WE DON’T NORMALLY FACE.”
games, now has only eight. The much-awaited home game against Florida State was canceled. And after discussions with local health authorities, it was determined no fans will be able to attend games at Albertsons Stadium.
There won’t be 37,000 fans screaming in close proximity as the Broncos take to the blue turf, where the team is 120-9 since 2000. But there will be cardboard cutouts of fans, which cost $50 through the athletic department. Like Harsin said, it’s going to be weird. “There’s going to be a lot of challenges, this is going to be an opportunity for every single one of us … to solve a lot of problems we don’t normally face,” Harsin said.
For all the scenarios a football coach has rolling around in their head, dealing with a pandemic is not one of them. The staff and the players are doing things they’ve never done before. Masks are always present – coaches wear them at practice and players either have clear face guards or neck gaiters. Testing was done weekly in the summer, and now occurs three times a week.
-Bryan Harsin, BSU Football coach
“We have a season now, and nobody is trying to jeopardize that,” senior wide receiver CT Thomas said.
As the Broncos awaited a decision on a season, Harsin said he told the team to “win the wait.” Light practicing, conditioning and weight lifting was allowed. It also, he hopes, gave a chance for all players to improve – emphasis on all. Should a player test positive, it would force him out and put backups into larger roles.
It also is imperative for the team to identify and isolate any
Now that a season is a reality, the continued onus is put on the team to be vigilant.
PHOTOS Right: The Broncos on the field. Coach Harsin shows his colors from the sidelines at practice. Top: Senior cornerback Jalen Walker dons a mask on the field. 10
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positives – some teams have seen entire position groups miss time, or had games postponed or canceled all together. In the first six weeks of the season, there were 26 such games. “I’m hopeful, and I know hope’s not a great plan … that we’re not going to have those cancellations,” Harsin said, adding, “are you gonna be without a guy here and there? Absolutely. That becomes a big test of your football team.”
Abbreviated schedule or not, the 2020 Broncos are once again Mountain West favorites, and likely to make it 19 straight seasons with an appearance in the Associated Press Top 25.
The team lost two key players in offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland and defensive end Curtis Weaver to the NFL Draft as early entrants, but returns a lot of big playmakers. The Broncos’ leaders in passing (Hank Bachmeier), rushing (George
The 37,000 fans won't be there, but there will be cardboard cutouts of fans.
Holani) and receptions (Khalil Shakir) from 2019 are back in the fold on offense, along with four of their top five tacklers. With so much different this season, expectations are the same they have always been.
“We have great leadership on this team and we know we need to be mature about this situation so we can do what we want to do, which is play this season and be successful,� senior cornerback/punt returner Avery Williams said.
BOISE STATE FOOTBALL 2020 SCHEDULE Oct. 24 vs. Utah State Oct. 31 at Air Force Nov. 6 vs. BYU (nonconference game) Nov. 12 vs. Colorado State Nov. 21 at Hawaii Nov. 28 vs. San Jose State Dec. 4 at UNLV Dec. 12 at Wyoming (dates subject to change; Mountain West championship game is Dec. 19)
BRONCOS
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BY KAREN DAY
REFUGEE RISING
Patrick Ngalamulume, 25, stands at his desk at Hawley Troxell, reviewing a case of contractual law. Outside his window, a vista of downtown Boise expands to the foothills beyond. That Patrick is even alive is somewhat of a miracle, making the fact that as the first collegegraduate in his Congolese refugee family, he just passed the Idaho Bar Exam more impressive. And unlikely.
Research about suicidal ideation among refugees points to a low sense of community connectedness and belonging, combined with high level of perceived burden. Patrick explains in more personal terms. “I didn’t see myself reflected anywhere. I was alone besides one exceptional college professor from Togo. Still, I never dared talk about my suicidal thoughts or fears. It’s taboo among AfricanAmerican men and especially among refugees.”
Recent federal cuts to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program have Two fellow law school students saw forced more than 100 of the nation’s their own mental health struggles 325 resettlement offices to close. reflected in Patrick and suggested Rising xenophobia and nationalism across the globe and in American “I’m here to share my story therapy. “At first, I said, ‘No way!’” culture have increased discrimination and help others by telling admits Patrick, claiming it was a sign of mental weakness. “Still, I knew I’d and resentment against newcomers my truth, about suicide, rather be dead than keep living as I from foreign countries. Boise, about hiding who you was. Therapy saved my life.” however, has remained welcoming to are, about feeling unseen. the Ngalamulume family since they One month ago, Patrick posted an Becoming a lawyer is just arrived from Zambia, 12 years ago. emotional video of the moment he my beginning.” learned he had passed the bar exam “My mom and dad work as school with the highest score in his testing janitors,” says Patrick. “With seven group. LinkedIn tends to be a brand-building site, but kids, it was never easy. They never talk about what there was Patrick, crumbled on the floor, in tears, his happened in the Congo, but it wasn’t good. Like many mother wailing tearfully, holding her son. Within a first-generation refugees, I watched my parents work few days, the video had more than 849,000 views. hard and vowed to help them by making the most of the opportunity I was given. When my father said I would be a lawyer someday, I accepted what he said as my personal responsibility, not as a suggestion.” Driving ambition for success comes at a cost and Patrick almost paid with his life. College led directly to the University of Idaho College of Law where he studied harder and longer than anyone, determined to justify his scholarship and parent’s belief in him. Passing the bar exam with the highest score of his class was the next goal. All the while, his mind and body rebelled.
“The minute I stopped focusing on studying or work, all I could think about was killing myself,” says Patrick. “My best friend died and I didn’t even ask how. I stopped eating, lost 50 pounds, but kept going because If I stopped, I’d commit suicide.”
Today, Patrick knows where he’s going and why. “I’m here to share my story and help others by telling my truth, about suicide, about hiding who you are, about feeling unseen. Becoming a lawyer Patrick, sister, Ruthie, 9, brother, is just my George, 22, mother Aimerance Kanku and grandson, sister Rose, 14. beginning.”
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IDAHOME:
WINTER RECREATION PARADISE
BY ALICE KLEIN
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ALTHOUGH IDAHOANS ARE AS DIVERSE AS THE LANDSCAPE THAT EXISTS IN ALL DIRECTIONS, THERE IS ONE THING WE ALL AGREE ON–WE ARE ASTONISHINGLY BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS LAND APLENTY. In our capital city even, we’re but five minutes from a hike in the hills or a lunchtime trip to the Boise River, where we may run or raft, fish or focus, bicycle or simply breathe. This makes our state special any time of year, certainly, but more this year, months into a pandemic, when access to the outdoors is suddenly the one thing we have left. Humans thrive in nature–the clean air and water contribute to better mental health, stress relief, and even act as a natural immune booster. As winter approaches, people begin to worry that this too shall disappear, but Idaho, like always, delivers.
A Community Mountain– Bogus Basin “Affordable, accessible, fun, year-round mountain recreation and education is our mission,” says Austin Smith, marketing director at Bogus Basin Ski Resort. “And, of course, safety is at the forefront of that,” he explains. On the mountain, they’ve been thinking about winter for months, which has obviously been exacerbated by COVID-19.
Smith stresses the importance of caring for the community, which includes staff and visitors, and the mountain has been devoted to figuring out how best to do that. They’re trying to limit touchpoints for guests, reducing contact in confined spaces, and encouraging season-long equipment leases and equipment purchases from local businesses when possible. “Be prepared for a mostly outdoor experience,” Smith says. But also, a fantastic experience–Bogus has doubled their top to bottom runs and snowmaking, with plans for more in the future. “And if the temperatures hit, we’re just going to start dumping snow,” Smith says. They’re aiming for an opening day of November 27, though they’ll begin making snow as soon as their water rights are available on Nov 1. Smith explains that, although this year’s experience is different, it really focuses on skiing, which isn’t the worst thing. “We’ve actually expanded night skiing, which now starts at three. That’s seven hours of skiing on a $34 ticket,” Smith says. That also means that night skiers have time to access some of the chairs that close at 4:15 p.m. “There’s this great reevaluation on the mountain, and we’re excited to be a part of it,” Smith says.
If you’re anxious to hit the hills, look no further than your own (safer) community.
Sun Valley's Bald Mountain
Photo above and left page by Bogus Basin
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The Resilience of Snow Country– Brundage Mountain “If you want to breathe hard while you’re skiing, we have plenty of space up here–1900 acres,” says April Whitney, communication director at Brundage Mountain. Of course, when you get to what Whitney calls the bottleneck, they’re asking you to pull that face covering up, which will help the resort remain operational throughout the winter.
While the mountain isn’t planning to require reservations, they’re taking a number of precautions to help protect skiers, staff, and their community. “Our goal is to be open the entire season, and be able to deliver a great and safe experience,” she explains. This includes limited access to indoor lodge facilities, required face coverings in indoor areas, and a switch to a counter service dining model with expanded outdoor seating options. While chairlifts will still seat multiple people, you may request your own too. The childcare program will also be closed for the season, although they’re now offering private lessons on the slope for people who make a reservation together and are otherwise part of the same pod. “This has kind of been a bit of a learning curve. But the core experience that we offer is a wonderful fresh air experience with amazing scenery and great snow,” Whitney says.
And, she says, if people take the time to do a little research ahead of their visit, the mountain will make it through the winter. “Living in snow country teaches people a certain resilience. I have been impressed with our business owners who have had a lot of restrictions on how they could reopen. And you know, they figured out how to make it work,” Whitney says. “To me, is an overarching message. And I think that’s one thing that’s really special about McCall - we all are connected, right?”
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All in the Tam-Fam– Tamarack Resort “We had a successful summer. I think people were just ready to get out,” says Wolfe Ashcroft, vice president of resort operations at Tamarack Resort. “People realized that the outdoors are a healthy alternative to sitting inside your home, and we’re poised in a perfect spot. People just wanted to be here.” Tamarack, beautiful in summer and winter, is now home to an exciting commercial space, which includes a coffee shop, market, and variety of restaurants, all of which maintain that Old World European feel. They’ve been able to use the existing domes, which were set to come down, as temporary spaces to help alleviate congestion. Eventually, Ashcroft says the domes will be gone, which will really open up the view. For now, guests can enjoy access to the relatively new chairlift, now running seven days a week, and providing access from your lodging to the heart of the ski area. Or, when the lift isn’t running, take advantage of the dial-a-ride program, which allows skirers to place a call for a ride which will take them (plus equipment) to the base of the lift.
“One of the primary focuses when Tamarack was developed was building a community–the Tam Fam. Whether you’re an employee or a guest or a homeowner or passholder, you’re part of it. It’s become this ethereal kind of idea,” Ashcroft says. As such, the Tam Fam is devoted to keeping the community safe, which means a few changes. Ashcroft explains that, at some resorts, you have to make a reservation to ski to cut down on crowds. At Tamarack, you’ve got a lot of flexibility, which allows you to decide the day of, buy a ticket online, and pick it up at a box without ever making physical contact with anyone. www.idahomemagazine.com
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27 GOLDEN BENCH 3 BEDROOM /3 BATH
BY KAREN DAY
THE STATE OF BOISE STATE AN INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT MARLENE TROMP
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MARLENE TROMP HAS A MIGRAINE. LITERALLY AND OFTEN. One might naturally attribute her pounding head to eight hours of daily ZOOM meetings at the helm of Boise State University during a global pandemic. Or perhaps, it could be due to the ever-present concern for her 18-year-old son and 93-year-old mother in the same house. In truth, life-long allergies spark her headaches. Not that managing 22,000 students, 3,500 faculty and staff and a 20-million-dollar deficit is any less stressful from her living room. But, by definition, a university president must spin educational gold from the organized chaos of academic policies, politics and thousands who need to earn a degree and learn how to do their own laundry. Creating success against the odds is their job and professional magic trick. Despite
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the challenges, President Tromp sees these uncertain times as an era of opportunity for BSU.
“While university enrollment is down 17% nationally, our enrollment is up half a percent,” says Tromp. “Granted, freshman enrollment is down 5%, but that’s mostly Idaho kids. We knew many of our in-state students were facing financial struggles or couldn’t leave home during the pandemic- so, we developed a program called the BRONCO GAP YEAR to support continued engagement in higher education.
The new program has a stunningly low cost of $750 per semester. College-age Idahoans can formulate a plan to explore real-world interests off-campus, anywhere, with the option of applying for up to nine credits after the gap year. Enrollment in Boise
State is not required, nor class attendance. A faculty member mentors each student virtually, reviewing and guiding them in their choice of four pathways; social entrepreneurship, education, public service, or build your own. One practical question drives the program what experience do you want to have? The world may be paused, but BSU has no intention of slowing down student support.
“Another phenomenal crisis-outcome is the installation of $2 million in additional equipment to make our classroom more virtually flexible,” says Tromp. “For example, we have two dorms with 30 nurses that are set aside to care for and isolate COVID-positive students. Most are asymptomatic. The updated classrooms allow for these kids to virtually attend and participate in class.”
WHAT ABOUT COVID AT BSU? Fifty percent of students are attending classes. Does the campus serve as a super-spreader? The new BSU COVID-19 DASHBOARD dispels rumors with facts and statistics. The online DASHBOARD tracks the percentage increase of cases traced from BSU, in detail, weekly, as well as how many of 153 isolation beds are occupied. From October 16th-22nd, BSU reported 2 staff, 16 on-campus and 38 off-campus new cases with 16 beds in use. That’s a mere .37% increase from the previous week compared to 1.022 cases in Idaho statewide on a single day, October 22. Tromp takes pride that Boise State has garnered broad admiration for its response and containment. “Research has now proven that students observing safety protocols are not spreading illness in class.” she says. “In fact, we haven’t had a single case from class. We know this from contact tracing and testing procedures.”
TESTING IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE BSU EXCELS. When fully staffed, their CLIA-
NEW OUTCOMES
“I believe there’s no better time for Boise State’s incredibly innovative character to shine.”
certified lab has capability to conduct 4,000 COVID tests a day to support statewide medical facilities. As well, an expansion of the BSU WE SERVE program provides community assistance for small business development, health and wellness, education and service-learning. Community COVID-specific contributions include the distribution of ventilators by the Department of Respiratory Care. Theater Arts sewing face masks. Students and the public can even Zoom-in Tuesdays and Thursdays for mindfulness sessions with mental health professionals and deep breathing exercises for anxietyrelief. COVID is a serious-stressor for us all, but a recent CDC study found 18 to 24 year olds were particularly affected. In their evaluation, 63% reported symptoms of anxiety or depression and 25% had seriously considering suicide in the past 30 days.
“It’s a huge problem that was being overlooked,” says Tromp emphatically. “ These kids were building their lives and suddenly, their launchpad disappeared. The world was broken. Universities were overwhelmed and everybody said it could be fixed later. But I said, ‘No. The kids need us now. We need to stop competing and share best practice and strategies to help them.’”
In direct response to students' escalating mental health issues, BSU initiated PROJECT LAUNCHPAD. This open source platform offers a collaborative library of related findings and research from various universities. Temple University shared“#RealCollegeDuringthePandemic.” University of Idaho published research results on the psychological effects of COVID on students. And we all could benefit from reading Norm Friesen’s, “4 Weird Things That Happen When You Videoconference.”
BSU’s outstanding performance under Tromp’s crisis-leadership has attracted national recognition. On December 1st, she will host the first National Digital Summit for PROJECT LAUNCHPAD. Such initiative explains why great university presidents make big bucksor not. Strikingly, Dr. Tromp was the first person to take voluntary furlough when campus shut down. In other words, she is working for free, but leading the university full speed ahead. “I really believe this disruptive time can help people learn to think differently,” says Tromp. “If we can just allow ourselves to see our problems as opportunities to live, work and learn outside-the-box, amazing new outcomes are possible.” President Tromp smiles despite her headache. “There’s no better time for Boise State’s incredibly innovative character to shine.” www.idahomemagazine.com
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The Professor of Practice in SPACE: STEVE SWANSON
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BY KARISSA MANSKE
Spending a warm summer’s night on a blanket in the grass, staring up at the stars and wondering what’s out there is probably as close as most of us will ever get to space. However, some people find dreaming about stardust is just not enough. Experiencing space becomes their life’s ambition. Steve Swanson is one of those people. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Steve Swanson, Distinguished Educator in Residence at Boise State University. Before his time at BSU, Swanson worked at NASA as an engineer and astronaut. His experiences both in and out of the Earth’s atmosphere shaped his career and drove him to encourage the next generation to get excited and involved in what surrounds our pale blue dot called earth. Although he has numerous explorations under his belt, Swanson lived and worked on board the International Space Station (ISS) for six months, serving as its commander from May through September 2014. That same year, he joined BSU’s Professor of the Practice program, which invites experts in a variety of fields to bring their passion and experience directly to students.
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As a Professor of the Practice, Swanson led an online talk via downlink with a group of Boise State students called “Space Broncos” from the ISS. The success of that program spurred his move into the more permanent role of Distinguished Educator in Residence. Today, at the the College of Innovation and Design, Swanson leads students through Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs). “We want students from all different backgrounds to be able to participate,” said Swanson. “ It’s mostly engineering-based students who sign up. However, we do get a variety of technical education majors who come and participate in the VIP teams.” As incentive, representatives from each team get to travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to test their finished products. Another bonus- they also take tours of the facility, meet other teams, and work with NASA engineers. The specific VIP program Swanson leads creates prototypes for NASA through NASA’s Microgravity University. Microgravity University has two key challenges every year: Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT)
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His experiences both in and out of the Earth’s atmosphere shaped his career and drove him to encourage the next generation to get excited and involved in what surrounds our pale blue dot called earth. and NASA SUITS (Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students). Micro-g NExT focuses on tools and devices that address current space exploration challenges, while NASA SUITS zeros in on spacesuit information displays within augmented reality environments. BSU has participated in both of these outof-this world projects. In 2019, for the NASA SUITS
SPACE BRONCOS / TECHNICALLY SPEAKING challenge, students created a helmet prototype for astronauts’ spacewalks on the moon or Mars. “We call it an informatic system. If you know “Iron Man,” you’ve seen the heads-up display in his helmet. We created something similar to that and simulated the project with Halolens,” explains Swanson. Hololens, for unknowing earthlings, are mixed reality smartglasses. “The idea is to see all of the things that help the astronaut be efficient and safe when out on a spacewalk.” The BSU student team comes up with the design and the
software programming to bring their vision to life. The NASA SUITs challenge is a project that continues to build on itself. BSU’s team is going on three years of fine tuning and perfecting their product — in fact, they’re one of very few schools who have been participating continuously. For the Micro-g NeXT challenge, the students designed and created a water rescue craft. The final product must locate astronauts who land in the water and get separated from their spacecraft. Finding the astronaut by their beacon, the
HANDS ON EXPERIENCE At the the College of Innovation and Design, Swanson leads students through Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs). Representatives from each team travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to test their finished products, tour the facility and meet other teams and NASA engineers.
rescue craft delivers supplies to the stranded astronaut while also sending out a signal. Unfortunately, the creation of that design was cut short by COVID-19. Students weren’t allowed on the BSU campus to use the lab where their prototype was in mid-creation. As for funding, Swanson says one of the biggest sources arrives through grants from the Idaho Space Consortium. The source is NASA headquarters, which provides money to each state to encourage education in the space and science fields. The funding helps purchase the project’s supplies, team- travel to the Johnson Space Center and studentled participation in community outreach through STEM nights and hands-on events. Although COVID-19 threw a wrench in different areas of the projects, Swanson says BSU students continue to participate in Microgravity University challenges: “We are doing a hybrid approach, which means in-person meetings, but with a Zoom component when students/mentors can’t make it inperson.“ Swanson says despite the pandemic teaching challenges, the students are adapting and making great progress on their innovations. Thanks to Swanson’s guidance, the future has already landed here in Boise. As Dr Spock would say, “Live long and prosper, Microgravity U.”
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CHOW DOWN
How to Ruin a Holiday with
Fruitcake BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST
If you Google “fruitcake”, one of the top suggested results is “How to Make the World’s Best Fruitcake”, a concept I’d never actually considered possible. Memorialized for its yuckiness in many a television show and film, fruitcake isn’t exactly on my list of goodies for holiday baking, especially because a pandemic holiday promises to be depressing enough. In that way, this is perhaps the best time to make one. So, in this season of unknowns, I decided to do the unthinkable--to make, to the dismay of my family, the much-maligned fruitcake. I began, as many of us do, with the guidance of an overenthusiastic blogger and a 4.5 star recipe.
The first step is undoubtedly the most fun, since it involves gathering dried fruit and soaking it in dark rum while you either do the same or, I guess, otherwise occupy your time watching fruit get drunk. I used two kinds of raisins that my kids left almost untouched in the pantry and dried pears, apricots, figs, cherries, and prunes. You let this compote sit for 12-24 hours, depending on how loaded you’d like the fruit, and how much time you need to drink the remaining rum.
Then, you mix a bunch of normal cake ingredients like flour, cinnamon,
butter, brown sugar, and a bunch of other regular stuff. (You can Google a hundred recipes if you’re smitten, but trust me when I say chocolate chip cookies are a no-fail way to delight your loved ones.) Once you’ve got everything mixed and poured into the pan, the fruitcake will bake for around 90 minutes, which is a great time to catch up on the last season of Schitt’s Creek if you’re a slow drinker.
And this is where fruitcake gets appropriately bizarre for 2020--once out of the oven, you wrap it in a booze -(sherry or triple sec) soaked cloth, cover in wax paper, protect in aluminum foil, and sequester in
a ziplock bag so it is really, truly, in quarantine. I read that it is “best” (a relative term) after at least one week, although storage strangely takes some upkeep. Once a week, resoak the cloth and wrap it back up. This can go on for up to eight weeks, so you may conveniently need more bottles of booze. This time-capsule technique also quells the urge to gobble down your brick-calleddessert. Don’t get me wrong- I like fruit, and I don’t mind cake. But marrying the two- and I mean no disrespect to fruitcake lovers out there- is like planning a kegger in a pandemic. This combo is hazardous to your health and sobriety.
RAVE REVIEWS
“No thank you. I would like some chocolate milk now.” -Nathaniel, age 4
The line-up of innocent enough looking ingredients.
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TREASURE VALLEY REAL ESTATE: COVID-COMPETITIVE
BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST
ith Covid-19 came a host of changes, from new restaurant rules to a drastically different approach to school to more Zoom meetings than we can count. As the economy showed signs of stress, many were left wondering what exactly would happen to the Treasure Valley real estate market, which had been extremely competitive in the months prior.
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And, although Covid has certainly had an impact on our lives, the short answer is that the market is strong, the valley is growing, and the inventory is low. “When we entered the pandemic, we were already in a status of really low inventory. Our market’s been pretty hot and active for the last
four consistent years. Just to give you an idea, in February, the active listings in the Ada county area were just over 300 homes on the market. If you backtrack 12 months ago, we had over 900 homes on the market,” says 208 Market’s April Florczyk. “Entering into Covid, we had about a 45 day period where our phones slowed down while everybody took a break, wondering what was going to unfold from this pandemic. But if anything, people are now realizing how important it is to live in a home and have space,” she says. Florczyk adds that her clients consist of a lot of local folks buying bigger homes and people from out of state who want the Idaho quality of life. She calls it a perfect storm, and it’s easy to see why.
As Idahoans know, the Treasure Valley is a pretty great place, and visitors are quick to notice. Demetre Booker Jr., of ELEVATe Commercial, first visited in 2001 when he took a recruiting trip to Boise State University and liked the area. “Fast forward to 2018 and I was looking at areas to buy property and ending up finding a mobile home park in Nampa,” he says. Booker spent time exploring Boise and fell in love with both the quality of life and the price per square foot. He explains that Boise’s proximity to major cities, accessible airport, nice people, great weather, and lack of saturation make it an excellent place to invest. Clark Krause, Executive Director at Boise Valley Economic
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Partnership, confirms this--he says that last year was a record year when it came to bringing new companies into the Treasure Valley. He says that, when Covid hit, he’d have sworn things were going to slow down. “But that’s the opposite of what’s happened,” he says. Jobs once headquartered in San Francisco or Seattle have headed toward Idaho, and include industries like manufacturing, food and beverage, and logistics. And, while office jobs have stalled a bit, Krause says that others have more than made up for it.
Where does this business happen? Often, in rentals located around the Treasure Valley. Scott Feighner, with Colliers International Idaho, recalls a relative shutdown in showing office space, which lasted from around March 12 until mid May. Many businesses were hesitant lease spaces with such uncertainty, although Feighner says that many soon figured out that they were “Covidsafe”--ecommerce, technology, and law firms, for example. Around June 1, things picked back up again.
the Treasure Valley is rapidly growing, but unlike 2010, people are building smart and banks are more cautious. “In Salt Lake, they’re starting to see some pullbacks and shrinkage of office tenants. We haven’t seen that yet,” says Feighner, although he acknowledges that it may yet happen. And, in areas where tenants are struggling in Idaho and across the nation, Feighner says he’s seen people pull together to find solutions that are fair to both landlords and tenants.
Commercial real estate is still active, though it has required investors like Booker to remain flexible. “It’s time for us to adapt as an industry,” he says, “and innovate and use outdoor space and be proactive about what’s on the horizon, providing technical assistance and helping tenants shift their business models.” Booker recently purchased a stripmall on Boise’s west bench because it reminded him of a San Diego neighborhood that has experienced renewed vibrancy. Although his initial goal was to launch a true gathering spot complete with coffee, culture, and food, Booker is now considering multifamily affordable housing. “We’re considering what will be the best use of
The market is strong, the valley is growing, and the inventory is low.
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the neighborhood,” he says, and he knows Boise is experiencing a shortage.
Florczyk says that, if she had to say, she’d estimate that about 60 percent of her clients are relocating from out of state, although there is no shortage of local buyers. The fear is that, with such low inventory, potential sellers are hesitant to put their houses on the market, lest they be left homeless. “If you’re a buyer right now, you’re sometimes competing against eight to ten different buyers for one property, and there are a lot of cash buyers in our marketplace,” she says. She adds that new construction isn’t keeping pace either, since developers can’t build quickly enough--larger builders in the area are selling 100 homes a month right now on properties that aren’t even recorded yet. The solution, Florczyk says, is for cities to approve more high density housing, as Booker suggests. Florczyk emphasizes that first time home buyers aren’t without options though--trained agents have strategies to help everyone find their dream home.
Krause notes that the Treasure Valley is rapidly growing (and has been for a while), but unlike 2010, people are building smart and banks are more cautious. Interest rates are low too, which means people are in a moving mindset. “People are stuck in their homes all day and realizing they’ve got to get out of the metro area and on a trail,” he says. “And people have the choice to work remotely now, so I think you’re going to see even more people looking at Boise. Hopefully our builders can keep up,” he says.
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Capture Your Stories
Holidays are a great foundation for rich family tales. 2020 has provided enough material for years of sharing the good times, bad times and those that make you say, “What The Heck?” Hope you will join me in treasuring this special season and CAPTURE YOUR STORIES. BY CHERIE BUCKER-WEBB
First, I wanna tell you about my mother, Dorothy. Dorothy
was the daughter of Pearl Emiline Johnson and Luther Elmore Johnson.
My beautiful mother Dorothy
The sun shown longer the day she was born. The stars twinkled brighter the night she was born. My Grandfather was in love with that green-eyed colored girl. My Grandmother declared that Gramps brought half of Van Buren, Arkansas, home to see her that day … much to my grandmother’s great displeasure. You see, my grandfather was a very outgoing man. My grandmother, not so much. And after seven children, she really had a little attitude. Dorothy was indeed a beautiful child, and my Grandfather talked about her all the time and her brothers and sisters just loved her like crazy and spoiled her rotten! Even when she was 70 years old, and would act up, they all just said in gentle, loving tones, “She’s the baby, we have to look after Dot.”
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Dot was sent to live with her sister LeoDell Vivian in Minidoka, Idaho, not far from the internment camp. You know, I’m thinking my grandmother really had some attitude about my momma. I mean, she sent her baby girl to live with her older sister in Idaho! Nanny contended it was because Aunt Dell was lonely-- but really? Aunt Dell had moved to Idaho because she had been sweptoff-her-feet-happy-in-love and married a wonderful railroad man with a good job. Of course, she hadn’t been to Minidoka before she married him. So yes, indeed, that little green-eyed colored girl went to elementary school in Minidoka. Before long, Aunt Dell ran across another handsome, single, Black man who also had a good job with the railroad based in Pocatello. She quickly wrote to her older sister, Florence Ellen Eugenia (I swear, I couldn’t make up these names), and told her to come quick! Aunt Ellen took the first train out of Van Buren. They
met, fell in love, married and she was soon spreading the gospel of Idaho to the rest of the family back home.
And so it was that the Johnsons started their westward migration. Many of the children came across with family members who were pullman porters so they could ride the train for free. I tell you some of them really had to scrunch up and make themselves look small for that long, free ride. Finally, most of the family had moved to Boise, except the patriarch, Grandpa Johnson, who by then was referred to Pistol Johnson, (another story), my uncle Thomas Russell Johnson, (one cool name in the family), who later became known as
wasn’t exactly legal or safe. But they did just fine. Until they hit Salt Lake City. That’s where the police discovered them and took them straight to jail.
There was a blessing, however, according to Gramps. That night was bitter cold and they surely would have frozen to death if the police hadn’t caught them. This blessing became the basis of a story embellished with each recitation for generations. Gramps just had a way of adding a little yeast to every telling and speaking of that night, as he told it, he was so humbled in his cell that he prayed mightily. He prayed and prayed and prayed some more. Just let me say, my grandfather could pray!
The jailer was so touched by Gramp’s fervent prayers and genuine remorse that he called him, “Mister Johnson.” That caught my grandfather’s attention in a big way- a White man calling a Black man, “Mister.”
"Gramps just had a way of adding a little yeast to every telling." Tommy Johnson, later still, Kat Johnson, then just Cat, as in cat burglar. (Yep, another story.) They joined up with a couple of Gramps’s buddies to hop a freight train or two to Idaho, which
The jailer said, “Mister Johnson, I know this is your son. And I know you are trying to get to your new home and join your family. If you promise never to ride a train without a ticket again, I will let you go.” Grandpa said he wanted to holler, but he was cool. “Oh, bless you. Just bless you and bless your family and bless your cousins. Bless your mother, bless your home, and your children.” He was just blessing up a storm – cuz Grandpa was good. So the jailer let them go and my dear Grandfather left arm in arm with friends and his son, walking down the street, praising God and then jumped the next freight train they could find to Boise, Idaho. At last, the whole Johnson family, except those in the military, arrived in Boise and my green-eyed momma finally got to move out of Minidoka. Then there were like ten Black people in Boise. Hallelujah, hallelujah!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR The Honorable Cherie Buckner-Webb is a Idaho State Senator, Certified Professional Coach, Consultant and Motivational Speaker
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RV THERE YET?
On The Road With Rudy Soto
BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST
“I’d been gone for 20 years, but home is home and Idaho has always remained that for me,” explains Idahoan and congressional candidate Rudy Soto. He’s speaking, like all of us, through a computer screen somewhere in the state. “I was in Orofino the morning before, and Wallace. We were in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint. It’s hard to keep up from day to day-where am I waking up?” Soto laughs. From Ada to Washington and every county in between, one thing is certain: Rudy Soto is going places. And he’s getting there via RV, a campaign decision made in the midst of Covid-19 to ensure that he was able to meet people around the state in a safe and responsible way. Although the RV can be difficult (it overheats on mountain passes, for example), Soto says he’s loved the opportunity to interact with people in towns all across the state, shirking the generic “tried and tested” campaign tactics and field plans that require more face-to-face interaction. Visibility is important to Soto, the new kid on the block. His campaign is funded almost entirely (90%) by individual small contributors and 10% by contributions from tribes he’s worked with in his advocacy work for Native American communities (he is himself a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes) , and he values that.
He seems to see himself as just one of the diverse individuals that make up this great state, calling himself a different kind of Democrat. “It has to do with being born and raised in Canyon County, in a conservative place” he says. Soto explains that it doesn’t make sense to promise free college when Idaho ranks last in K through 12 per student spending, so he’s more focused on initiatives in exchange for service--tuition assistance. “A hand up and not a hand out,” he says.
Soto has made a point to keep his campaign Idaho-specific, relatively free of the divisiveness that has governed national politics, which he says has resonated well with people. He emphasizes Idaho’s diversity, and says he does his best to keep it real. For him, this means fighting for the things the people of Idaho want--like Medicaid expansion. “Out of 19 counties, 16 voted for Medicaid expansion, and with the personal aspect of my dad passing away and a lack of access to affordable healthcare, that was a driver for me. My opponent, Russ Fulcher, was a champion against Medicaid expansion. What a perfect contrast,” Soto says. No matter what happens in this election, Soto says he’s committed to working in service of Idaho and the people who live here, whatever that looks like. “I got an email last night from a former teacher of mine--a Republican--and she said she Photos courtesy of Rudy Soto. voted for me. I’ve run into people I’ve known, and we recognize each other, it’s just that, all the sudden, 20 years has passed,” Soto says. “20 years has passed by, but here we are standing together.”
No matter what happens in this election, Soto says he’s committed to working in service of Idaho and the people who live here, whatever that looks like. www.idahomemagazine.com
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Celebrate Local
A Very Caldwell
CHRISTMAS BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST
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tarting the week before Thanksgiving until the first week of January, downtown Caldwell becomes even more magical--a true winter wonderland, complete with a million lights (actually, there are over a million), an ice skating rink, and a singing Christmas tree. Exactly as picturesque as it sounds, Caldwell is truly alive as the weather turns, even amidst a pandemic--and hey, the right mask is both a stylish and warm accessory.
It's a true winter wonderland, complete with over a million lights, an ice skating rink, and a singing Christmas tree.
Downtown Caldwell, once something of a ghost town in a sleepy Idaho city, has experienced significant growth and much needed renovation in recent years, bringing a host of great retail and dining experiences, 36
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including some Boise favorites like Rediscovered Books and Flying M Coffee. The city’s Indian Creek Plaza serves as a gathering place year round, but in the cooler months, it attracts families, couples, and anyone looking for a good time from around the state. “Our goal is really to bring it back to the downtown core, and bring it back to this area. It’s a nice central hub,” explains Destination Caldwell’s Sarah Gross. Caldwell’s downtown carries the kind of charm that doesn’t exist in many areas of the country--historic, rustic, and draped in the Idaho friendliness we sometimes forget about until an out-of-town auntie gushes about how pleasant our people are. Throw a bunch of holiday lights on the six blocks that make up Indian Creek Plaza and the long stretch of trees that line the public golf course, along the bridges, around the remnants of nearby vineyards, and you’ll never want to leave. Gross says that initial efforts to daylight the creek really sought to involve the greater town of Caldwell to create a community space with use potential throughout the year. From summer’s Indian Creek
Festival to the variety of celebrations held at the plaza all year round, Caldwell’s vision is indeed a reality. “The Winter Wonderland Festival is a really fun one,” she says. “When they turn the lights on, it’s a really big deal. And then we open the ice skating ribbon.” Like many of Caldwell’s other public celebrations, the Winter Wonderland Festival centers around Indian Creek, and the lights establish the same momentum as the water, creating tunnels glittering with trains, reindeer, and any variety of holiday cheer. And after you see the lights, rent some ice skates and spin your sweetie around the ice ribbon, which winds around the plaza’s lights and often-occupied stage. If you’re feeling especially festive, Gross recommends Creekside Mallow Co., which offers handcrafted marshmallows, perfect for sitting atop a mug of hot cocoa. “There’s a lot of places to eat and celebrate and just be,” she says. “It’s really beautiful. It’s just a bustling city and a fun place to live.”
Should you desire to continue your celebration in the 2C, the folks at Destination Caldwell recommend Silverhawk Aviation, a local flight school that also offers helicopter tours and charters with a bird’s eye view. And if you think Caldwell’s light show is incredible from the ground, you’ll love the view from the top. If you’re so inclined, you can see Boise too--including the famous blue turf at Boise State University, which will soon again host sporting events. This year’s holiday season might not look exactly like those of years past, but Caldwell is working hard to provide a safe way to enjoy all of your holiday favorites. “This community is fantastic. I just can’t say enough about the people here and those you meet at events. It’s just all about community, and it’s really fun to see everyone embracing the events downtown. With so many great festivals, it’s a really fun time to check it out,” says Gross. For the congeniality of a small town with the variety of one much larger, bundle up and head toward the lights.
Kids will enjoy the many activities offered. Photos courtesy of Destination Caldwell.
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Homelessness in Idaho — The Other COVID Pandemic BY AMBER DALEY
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croll through social media and you’ll find the hashtag #Idahome, a portmanteau associated with the quintessential Idaho experience and our magazine, often offers images of backyard barbecues, sunsets from the patio of a charmed home in Boise’s Northend. But not everyone living in the Gem State is fortunate enough to have a cell phone to access social media, let alone a patio or home of their own.
As of this printing, Stephanie Day, Executive Director of CATCH, Inc., estimates there are currently over 200 families in Ada County living in a homeless shelter or in their vehicles. CATCH, a Boise-based organization that supports people experiencing homelessness, works with regional government, congregations of faith, local businesses, and other charitable resources to house homeless families. The temperatures are dropping and the suffering will inevitably increase after December 31, when the CDC’s ban on evictions for renters affected by COVID-19 is lifted. Accurate numbers could even be higher given that some people have found temporary solutions by staying with family or friends. And then, there are those like Todd Maxey of Nampa. After pursuing an out-of-state job that failed to materialize as planned, he returned to Idaho in 2017. “I didn't tell anyone I was homeless because I was ashamed,” Maxey explains. “This society makes people feel
During this time, Maxey became one of the invisible statistics that comprise America’s plague of “hidden homelessness.” Social workers say Todd’s story is a common occurrence during periods of economic uncertaintylike right now. GLOBAL PANDEMIC, LOCAL CHALLENGES According to researchers, there are roughly eight million households in the U.S. who pay half or more of their income on rent, meaning they’re already on the verge of losing their homes. A recent Reuters article reports that COVID-19’s economic impacts could push an additional 1.5 million U.S. families to the brink of homelessness. Idaho offers no exceptions. The homeless shelters serving the Treasure Valley are already at capacity, and the waiting list for assisted housing is two to four years long in some categories. Day believes the situation will get worse before it gets better. “I’m extremely worried about the future financial implications from the pandemic,” she says. “We’re already seeing an increase
“The rent eats first.” -Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Director, Jodie Peterson-Stigers doing temperature check as part of our safety protocol to manage COVID 19. Photo by Interfaith Sanctuary
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terrible if they don't own a house by 25 and aren't a millionaire, so being homeless is the mark of complete failure in the eyes of America.”
and people are more panicked.” Jodi Peterson-Stigers, Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services, agrees. “I’m uneasy about
Photo by CATCH
January," she says. This is when she expects to see more newly evicted families. ”These will be people coming into a system they've never been in before, and that’s going to be a hard transition. We’re trying to create soft-landing programs so the experience isn’t so traumatic.” In the meantime, Interfaith Sanctuary and other organizations (many of whom consist of essential workers) have implemented safety protocols to ensure social distancing and adequate hygiene amongst the homeless community — admittedly difficult to accomplish even without a pandemic. CITY OF BOISE, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND HOMELESS COMMUNITY STEP UP When a person suffers mental health issues combined with an increased cost of living and employment insecurity, homelessness can quickly become the next challenge. And there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution, especially when individuals leave a correctional facility or state hospital with mental health conditions. “Many times, they simply walk out the door and onto the streets
Chef Alan Turner with his staff and Food Service Training Students. hoto by Interfaith Sanctuary
without taking their medications or getting into a shelter,” explains Chelsea Cox, Owner of Roots Support Services which provides residential habilitation for individuals who have mental health issues or developmental disabilities. Some clients are elderly, and many times, homeless. “It’s like a revolving door- they end up incarcerated or back in the state hospital and it’s costing taxpayers a lot of money," says Cox. Homelessness is as complex and evolving as fast as pandemic, but many local organizations have responded quickly. When the initial dire warnings of COVID were heralded, Interfaith Sanctuary immediately implemented changes — like working with the City of Boise to relocate homeless families and the medically fragile to a partnering hotel. Interfaith also increased its meal service for anyone in the homeless community (not just those at the shelter). During the summer months, the Boise Public Library even agreed to lease out Hayes Auditorium as a cooling day shelter. In February, CATCH also launched a street outreach program, connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with helpful staff and services.
Early on, Interfaith Sanctuary partnered with Family Medicine Residency of Idaho (FMRI) to implement safety protocols and perform onsite COVID-19 testing for symptomatic guests. To date, they’ve had only one positive case at their primary shelter and three at their hotel shelter. PetersonStigers believes this a testament to the efficacy of masks. “We’ve had mandatory face masks at all of our shelter locations,” she says. “And we’ve also been able to manage the virus with a group of homeless who wear masks, ask how they can help, and are considerate of others. Boise should be proud of our homeless community. They took this situation seriously.” The problem may appear hopeless, but it’s not unsolvable. “We sometimes think homelessness is something we can’t do anything about,” says Day at CATCH. “We have a problem in Ada County, but it’s manageable at this point. We know what we need to do — housing development is a huge part of that — and we have the capacity and the resources to do it. The question is, ‘Do we have the will?’
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How You Can You Help
Winter is weeks away. Local shelters need winter coats, hats, gloves/ mittens, sturdy shoes, warm socks and new undergarments. The Interfaith Sanctuary recently signed a lease to create a warming shelter in the former Foothills School and they need volunteers and donated furnishings ( information on Interfaith Sanctuary’s Facebook page).
Photo by CATCH
ADA COUNTY RESOUCES
CATCH Phone: (208) 495-4240 503 S. Americana Blvd ourpathhome@catchprogram.org CATCH Canyon County: Homeless Connect 1412 4th St. S Nampa, ID 83686 Phone: (208) 461-3733 Interfaith Sancutary 1620 W. River Street Boise, ID 83702 (208) 343-2630 Phone: (208) 343-2630 after 6:00pm Roots Supports System 1218 W O’Farrell St Boise, ID 83702 (208) 703-5184 Idaho Health and Welfare dept Housing Counselin (208) 331-4700 Toll Free: 855-505-4700, ext. 8601 Email: housingcounseling@ihfa.org Emergency Rental Assistance Local Phone: 208.331.4700 Toll Free: 855.505.4700 Email: rentalassistance@ihfa.org Women’s and Children’s Alliance Boise, ID 83702 (208) 343-7025 The WCA provides a comprehensive and secure 120day residential shelter program and transitional housing, in confidential locations with roundthe-clock staff assistance, private rooms and common living facilities for women and children. 40
River of Life - Boise Rescue Mission Boise, ID 83702 (208) 389-9840 Emergency men’s shelter. Provides 3 meals a day, clothing, job search help. Check in: 4pm daily for overnight shelter. Meal times (for men, women and children Boise Rescue Mission - City Light Home For Women & Children Boise, ID 83702 (208) 368-9901 Women’s and children’s shelter. Provides 3 meals a day, clothing, job search help, employment reentry program, etc. Corpus Christi House Boise, ID 83702 (208) 426-0039 Currently open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Meals, showers, laundry, new clothes, rest from the heat and cold Boise Rescue Mission Ministry Center Boise, ID 83702 (208) 343-2389 Meeting the needs of people who are homeless or in need who live in our community and those who pass through on a daily basis. Salvation Army Housing and Homeless Services Boise, ID 83703 (208) 343-5429 The “Finally Home” program was established in fall 2012 to help families with children and single individuals obtain permanent housing and become selfsupporting.
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CANYON COUNTY RESOURCES
Hope’s Door Caldwell, ID 83605 (208) 459-6330 Hope’s Door is an emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Hope’s Door is the only domestic violence specific to women and children shelter in Canyon County. Lighthouse Rescue Mission Nampa, ID (208) 461-5030 Men’s homeless shelter. Provides 3 meals a day, clothing and job search help. Check in: 4pm daily for overnight shelter. The Salvation Army Family Shelter Nampa, ID 83651 (208) 461-3733 The Community Family Shelter (CFS), located in Nampa, provides emergency housing and transitional housing for intact families, women with children and single women. CFS serves families and individuals that are homeless with low or no income. Valley Women & Children’s Shelter Nampa, ID 83651 (208) 475-0725 Valley Shelter is the only emergency shelter for women and children in the Nampa and Western Treasure Valley area. If you need help now, we welcome you.
Walk This Way EXPLORE
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Located North on Highway 55 a Mile Above Shadow Valley Golf Course Model Homes Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm • 208-939-5360 • www.avimor.com Marketed by Epic Realty LLC • RCE 35084
