IdaHome--January/February

Winter Adventure Awaits!

Relaxation awaits.

Surrounded by Idaho’s mountain beauty, our soak experience is more than just a hot springs. Pool-side beverage service, private pools and hotel accommodations, all in a facility that invites relaxation.

Dear Reader,

It is good to be back! If you’ve been browsing our magazine for a long time, you might remember that I served as editor a few years ago. I stepped away from that role to navigate a pandemic and have another child, although you may have seen my articles from time to time. I am thrilled to tell you that I’m back as your IdaHome editor, and I’m looking forward to another year of fantastic issues.

As 2023 kicks off, I notice that my social media feed is filled with thoughtful reflections and aspirations for the new year. All of this has always felt heavy to me—the meticulous turning of the calendar as a jumping off point for doing the THING because, let’s face it, our goals loom large. Even my first grader is aiming high—within the year, he plans to “become an Army tank driver, become a scientist, and hunt all the carnivores in the oceans to save humanity.” I’d be happy if he’d try three new foods and master the ability to read, but hey, the kid’s got goals.

Editor in Chief

Although I’m not as ambitious as he is, I’m trying a different approach this year and beginning by choosing a word to guide my thinking throughout the year. If my life were a movie, I imagine this would create the kind of callback that is deeply satisfying for viewers. In part, this exercise appeals to the writer in me—how many ways can I interpret a single phrase, and how many ways can I inhabit it? By committing to a word of the year, I hope to learn new things about myself. To focus on personal growth in a way that isn’t related to a scale, a bank account, or the perceived morality of food.

In some ways, this approach is a revelation more than a resolution. In thinking about a word so singularly, it is already becoming new. It is reinventing itself as I see in it what I need to guide my own life. That search for identity–for guidance–is something that a lot of our stories center around in this first issue of 2023.

Publisher Karen Day puts on her dancing shoes, while our writers get high on women’s hockey, go golfing in the snow, and hit the slopes for some out-of-the-box adventures. Travel with us to Boise State’s Luminary, an immersive art experience located right on campus, or join us in the New Product Lab, which is offering folks the opportunity to take their ideas to the next level. I’m writing about ordinary citizens who are seeking online identities as detectives, all from the comfort of their own homes.

Oh, and we’ve even got an interview with Mike Gabler, the Meridian man who won Survivor and has pledged his winnings to Veterans in Need. Gabler, who works as a heart valve expert, is a man of many hats, and we’re excited to show you his multitudes as we approach our own transformations in the new year. I hope you’re sitting cozily by a fire, enjoying this issue of IdaHome and settling into your own visions of the days ahead.

Will my meditations yield a new version of myself? Probably not. But reinvention isn’t necessarily what I’m aiming for. Here’s to hunting the ocean’s carnivores, or whatever it is you’ve got on your to-do list.

Warm Regards, Heather

HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

publisher

KAREN DAY karen@idahorem.com editor

HEATHER HAMILTONPOST heather@idahorem.com art and design JSNGRAFIX KALEY WRIGHT design@idahorem.com director of operations and sales manager MARIELLE WESTPHAL admin@idahorem.com staff photographer KAREN DAY cover photographer HILLARY MAYBERY social media APRIL NEALE april@idahorem.com marketing, sales, and distribution karen@idahorem.com

IdaHome Magazine, LLC P.O. Box 116 Boise, Idaho 83701 208.481.0693

© 2023 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.

Community + Culture + Recreation + Real Estate

Hillary Maybery is known for her naturalistic approach and easy-going attitude, captured on this month’s cover of IdaHome Amidst icy waters, adventure awaits–as winter gives way to spring, Idaho anglers chase after trout and steelhead, relying on their ability to make a perfect cast. Reel, release, and see more of Maybery’s photography on page 20.

CONTRIBUTORS

Micah Drew is a writer currently based in northwest Montana. A multiple Montana Newspaper Association award-winning journalist covering politics, sports, and the outdoors, he has written for Edible Idaho, Boise Weekly, and High Country News . When not in the newsroom, he can be found trail running throughout the West.

Chris Langrill has worked at various writing and editing jobs around the Treasure Valley for years, including more than two decades at the Idaho Statesman. In addition to freelance writing, he manages copy for a national sports website. He enjoys daily walks with his dog, Murphy, and travel adventures with his wife, Chereen. Otherwise, look for him at a local golf course, loud concert, or craft brewhouse.

Tim Atwell 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.

Cherie Buckner-Webb is a former Idaho State Senator, executive coach, speaker, business consultant, strategist, and fifth-generation Idahoan. In addition to her work in corporate and nonprofit environments, she assists institutions of higher education in the development of diversity curriculum and training and sits on a variety of local and national boards.

Arianna Creteau is a freelance writer based in Northern Idaho. A dessert enthusiast, avid hiker and amateur runner, Arianna spends her weekdays working a desk job and weekends chasing adventure. Her previous work has been published in Boise Weekly.

Dave Southorn has lived in Boise since 2005 and has spent nearly all that time covering Boise State University 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.

Karen Day is a photographer and the fearless captain of our fleet of pages and mighty crew. A list of her creative passions and true job description risks making her appear insane, rather than insanely talented. Her habit of climbing onto the ledge of possibility offers us continuous adventures and little sleep. All aboard!

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 sociallydistanced 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.

April Thomas Whitney’s career path has taken her on many professional adventures. After spending a decade as an awardwinning journalist and newsroom manager in Portland, OR, she spent 17 years managing communications at Brundage Mountain before striking out on her current adventure as a freelance journalist, copywriter, and PR contractor.

THE SECOND TIME AROUND

“Idaho First: Listen to the people. Stay on course. Keep the big picture in focus. Don’t lose our direction. Concentrate on what matters well beyond our time here. Double down on our support of schools and tax relief and continue key investments to keep up with growth and make our communities safe. It’s that simple. I know you are motivated to get things done, and I am, too. I am grateful for our partnership.”

–IDAHO GOVERNOR BRAD LITTLE

ADVENTURE AT ITS PEAK

Ski Idaho:

Uncommon Adventure on the Slopes

BY APRIL THOMAS WHITNEY

When the sun goes down at southwest Idaho’s ski resorts, it’s time for a unique assortment of adventures to begin. The innovative thinkers who run this special collection of resorts have come up

with creative ways to keep the good times rolling after dark, design guided experiences to connect guests with natural surroundings, and use the latest tech tools to enhance safety and convenience.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOGUS BASIN MOUNTAIN RECREATION

BOGUS BASIN MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA—BOISE

Bogus Basin is taking its night riding experience to the next level with improvements both on and off the slopes. The non-profit mountain recreation area expanded night lighting this season, doubling the number of lit trails off the Superior Express lift and bringing the total number of lit acres to 200.

Bogus partnered with local brewery, Western Collective, to create the High Peak Hangout, located on the third floor of the Pioneer Lodge. The space—which offers spectacular views of the mountain’s night lights and glow from the valley below—provides a comfortable conversational environment, a place to warm up and enjoy a craft brew with an evening meal.

A new Night Season Pass (just $99) opens this experience up to a wider range of guests. It offers four hours of night riding—from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

“The re-envisioned, budget friendly, night season pass was born out of our available capacity in the late evenings and was made possible by our new RFID technology, which allows us to offer multiple sessions at the mountain seamlessly,” said Bogus Basin Director of Marketing and Innovation Austin Smith.

BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN RESORT—MCCALL

At Brundage Mountain, a signature after-hours dining experience came to life in 2017 when the resort saw the combined potential in its passenger snowcat fleet and charming mid-mountain Bear’s Den venue. After the lifts close and the powder hounds head home, a heated snowcat transports guests to a cozy log building where the culinary team rolls out a delightful fourcourse meal known as the “Dinner After Dark”.

Brundage has been operating snowcat adventures (during the daytime) since the early 1990s, when it began offering guided snowcat powder tours on an expansive 18,000 acres of back-

country terrain. The multi-peak powder zone is a 30-minute snowcat ride beyond the resort but can feel worlds away from the in-bounds experience.

Tech talk: Brundage onboarded a new RECCO detector this season, which bounces radio waves off reflective chips built into some jackets, pants, and helmets to help locate lost skiers and snowboarders. The resort also utilizes the AirFlare Wilderness Rescue App, which uses GPS to track smartphones and guide patrollers to the exact location of a lost skier or snowboarder.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOGUS BASIN MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA Warm up and enjoy a drink or meal from Western Collective at High Peak Hangout.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INFLATABLE FILMS Feel like exploring? Take in one of Idaho’s best backcountry views with a guided snowcat tour.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SWITA

Forget about the cold as you enjoy “Dinner After Dark” in the Bear’s Den, a unique dining experience for adventure seekers.

SOLDIER MOUNTAIN— FAIRFIELD

It might come as a surprise that a low-profile ski area like Soldier Mountain offers a high-elevation snowcat experience just two hours from Boise. During daylight hours, the guided backcountry ski and snowboard tours explore 2,000 acres and 3,000 vertical feet of open bowls, rolling glades, and steep chutes on a trio of peaks above the ski area. The tallest tops out at an impressive 10,000 foot elevation, and guests can log 10,000—16,000 vertical feet in a day while “discovering your flow in untracked snow.”

What’s truly unique about the experience is the option for an overnight stay at the remote Smoky Dome Yurt between

two days of cat skiing. The wood-fired yurt sleeps 12 and has a four-burner gas stove, cooking supplies, and an outhouse. While the sleeping quarters are simple, the experience can be as extravagant as the guests desire. “Joe the Yurt Dude” helps groups customize their overnighters with catering, down-mountain dining excursions and, timed correctly, he’ll even help you chase down some full moon powder shots.

Tech talk: For those shredding in-bounds at Soldier Mountain, new RFID-triggered “SNAPD” action cameras can help capture an epic day. You just grab a SNAPD tag before you hit the slopes, ride past one of the three cameras (striking a pose is optional) and view and download your photos after you’re done for the day.

TAMARACK RESORT— DONNELLY

Tamarack Resort is using its RFID technology to streamline the base area experience, both during the day and for après ski. On the snowfront, a pocket-sized card can unlock ski checks and heated seasonal lockers with boot and helmet dryers. After the lifts close, thirsty skiers and riders can swipe the same card for instant access to a tap wall at the Seven Devil’s Taphouse, which offers 40 regional beers, ciders, and hard seltzers.

During the day, Tamarack is breaking down barriers to a world-class (but sometimes intimidating) sporting opportunity right at its doorstep. Unbeknownst to a lot of winter visitors, Cascade Lake is one of the premiere ice fishing locations in North America (with what’s arguably now one of the best trophy perch fisheries in the WORLD). This often-chilly sport, which involves cutting a hole in a frozen lake, can be understandably daunting for first-timers. Tamarack’s guided tours take

the guesswork out of this experience and include snowmobile rental, heated ice shacks, and all the fishing equipment needed to snag one (or a dozen) of the lake’s jumbo Yellow Perch.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMARACK RESORT

RFID taps allow skiers instant access to lockers and—better yet—beer with the swipe of a card.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOLDIER MOUNTAIN Idaho yurts reflect the best of our state—cozy yet rustic, adventurous, and comfortable.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOLDIER MOUNTAIN Soldier Mountain cat skiing allows skiers total immersion in the experience of powder snow.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA SAIS PHOTO

A little ice never stopped anybody! Idaho sportsmen shine, no matter the season.

EXPERIENCE THE LEGACY

With 3,400 vertical feet of sensational skiing on two mountains, 86 years of history, and world-class amenities, discover what’s drawn Olympians and families to this area for decades and what SKI Magazine readers have voted #1 three years in a row.

More than 80 Years of Memorable Meals AT THE ROUNDHOUSE

BY TIM ATWELL

In autumn 1939, as leaves turned yellow on the cottonwoods around Sun Valley, two historic events occurred in the area. First, Ernest Hemingway took up residence in Suite 206 of the Sun Valley Lodge to finish his novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Second, construction was finished on the Roundhouse, a scenic lodge overlooking the valley at an elevation of 7,700 feet. Both For Whom the Bell Tolls and the Roundhouse have delighted countless people over the past 80 years—but only one offers fondue.

“Much of the original character of the Roundhouse remains intact and is a beloved favorite of locals and visitors alike,” said Jenna Vagias, Brand & Communications Manager at the Sun Valley Resort. “Nestling up inside after a morning on the mountain to take in the views and enjoy the spectacular menu, including fondue, captures the magic of Sun Valley.”

The Roundhouse captures the Sun Valley magic in a warm, cozy way, thanks in large part to a four-way stone fireplace that was designed to defrost guests throughout all angles of the octagonal structure. The building was designed with 46 windows, which has widely been regarded as a good decision due to the breathtaking nature of the surrounding landscape. In the kitchen, chefs unwilling to be upstaged by the scenery serve up a full, multi-course menu featuring decadent dishes such as king salmon, sous vide duck breast, buffalo short rib, and of course, fondue.

“The authentic charm and unmatched elegance of the Roundhouse is an example of Sun Valley Resort as a whole,” said Vagias. “Sun Valley has become such a special place, in part because of the investment into the details around traditions, holiday experiences, and the human element—our people are what quite literally make this place stand out.”

Just a year after Hemingway finished For Whom the Bell Tolls, another group of people arrived to make the area notable. Set in

Sun Valley, the musical Sun Valley Serenade was a box office success in 1941 with three Academy Award nominations. Its standout song “Chattanooga Choo Choo” went on to become a radio hit, reaching number one on the Billboard singles chart and selling over a million copies in the following year.

“When I enter the Roundhouse, I do feel a sense of the history. I especially think about the scenes in the movie Sun Valley Serenade that were filmed there. The restaurant looks much like it did in that movie 80 years ago,” said Vagias. “Really puts everything about Sun Valley in perspective when you think of the hundreds of thousands of people who have dined there.”

Of the people who have dined at the Roundhouse, it is curious to consider how many of them might have been inspired to visit after watching Sun Valley Serenade, a musical whose most famous song featured the line, “Dinner in the diner / Nothing could be finer / Than to have your ham and eggs in Carolina.” After all, what could be finer than the experience that Vagias wishes upon each guest at the Roundhouse:

“Hopefully guests who dine with us at the Roundhouse will leave with fond memories of a special time with friends and family and a soul rejuvenated by the nourishment and atmosphere alike.”

Sun Valley’s Roundhouse restaurant offers pristine views, exceptional eats, and unbeatable charm.

Accessible only by gondola, the Roundhouse’s wrap-around deck and four-sided fireplace offer a unique dining experience.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUN VALLEY RESORT

“There were hungry mornings, stressful days, and painful nights on that island when the thought of the people who needed this money— not wanted it, but needed it—that thought got me into another gear.” –Mike Gabler

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE GABLER

Just a Man and

BY MICAH DREW

Mike Gabler, a 52-year-old heart valve specialist from Meridian, has been a lifelong fan of the popular game show Survivor—a 43-season-long competition that drops voluntary castaways off on a tropical beach and pits them against the elements and each other. The castaways slowly vote contestants off the island until a sole survivor is chosen. It makes for great television—and comes with a prize of $1 million.

When Gabler turned 50, he decided it was time to finally audition for his favorite competition.

“Being a survivor out here [in Idaho], like the big bears that live out here, you’ve got to be smart, you’ve got to be opportunistic, you’ve got to get along with the other folks,” Gabler said in his audition tape, which can be viewed on YouTube. “Life is short, and life is now,” he said at the conclusion of the video. “It’s an adventure and I’ll basically hike it, try it, eat it, do it, and at the end of the day, I’ll survive it.”

His audition, and his age, proved intriguing enough for the showrunners and Gabler soon found himself leaving Boise during a spring snowstorm bound for tropical Fiji.

Meridian’s Mike Gabler won the 43rd season of Survivor, which aired last fall. He made quite the impression on his fellow competitors and on viewers when he announced his intention to donate his milliondollar winnings.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE GABLER

His Will to

Spoiler alert: Gabler, 52, won, becoming the second oldest to win a season of Survivor—and he largely attributes his victory to his age.

“My life experience definitely helped prepare me,” Gabler said. “Whether that experience is that I’ve been a son, a father, I’ve had a career, work in an operating room, deal with high pressure—even being married 30 years, there is lots of experience I didn’t have when I was younger that helped me survive.”

While watching the show, it might seem that Gabler had a relatively smooth ride through his month-long stint as a castaway—winning challenges, ending up in the majority of all votes, and never having a vote against him—he readily admitted that he struggled in the first few days, even asking his tribemates to vote him out.

“The first week of Survivor is the hardest. It’s the week you show up and all of a sudden the faucet is turned off,” Gabler said. “I went from leaving Boise in a snow flurry to an island with 100 degrees and 90% humidity and no food. I sweat all the salt and minerals out of my body. If that’s not enough, I was sunburned during the day, freezing at night, and had bug bites on my bug bites.”

“It’s like a punch in the face,” he said. “Forget four weeks, it’s how can I make it to tomorrow.”

In addition to the physical adaptations that Gabler had to undergo, he also had to work through mental hurdles, the biggest of which was practicing patience. Ultimately, Survivor is a game and the contestants are playing against each other, not against the elements. Building relationships, scheming betrayals, and crafting a coalition among competitors to keep from being voted out is key, and creates the kind of unscripted drama that has pulled in viewers for more than two decades.

“Trust is the currency in the game of Survivor. If you’re not patient, you’ll lose your ability to gain trust,” Gabler said.

Gabler’s family have been Survivor fans alongside him, always marveling at the organic nature of how each season unfolds and the human elements at play. He characterizes them as “active players” who watch each episode together with the pause button at the ready to stop and debate what course of action they think is about to unfold.

It was no different in September, when the 43rd season began airing on CBS. Due to the NDAs required by competitors, only his wife knew the result, so they watched the season as they always did, though the personal tie made for an interesting spectator season.

“It was weird to hit pause when dynamic situations were happening that I was involved in,” Gabler said with a laugh. “Sometimes my daughters would say they’re betting on another castaway right in front of me.”

“Sometimes I’d get all caught up in the stories, just like normal, and I’d forget it was me up there until I’d say something cringe worthy or give a ‘Gabler pep talk,” he added. “The whole experience was really funny, pretty fantastic, and completely surreal.”

Gabler, a heart valve specialist, is the second oldest winner in the show’s history.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE GABLER

Prior to his departure, Gabler spent time talking with his wife and some friends about what he was about to go through. At one point, talk turned to the inevitable: what will you do if you win the million bucks?

“It was very tongue-in-cheek at first, but then we said, ‘Well, what if we donated it to veterans in need,’” Gabler said. “As soon as we said that, it sounded right.”

Gabler’s father was a Green Beret and he has friends who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq—he has seen firsthand the mental health struggles many veterans go through after returning to civilian life.

When he reached the latter days of the contest and realized he was nearing a position to win, Gabler threw all his thoughts and strategy behind the idea that his win was bigger than himself.

“There were hungry mornings, stressful days, and painful nights on that island when the thought of the people who needed this money— not wanted it, but needed it—that thought got me into another gear,” he said.

Gabler never announced his intention until after the final vote tallied him the sole survivor, shocking his competitors into an awed silence before bringing on a collective outpouring of emotion over his decision to bring the season to a historical finale.

“I was so blessed and grateful to be chosen to go on this adventure,” Gabler said. “But doing it for the right reason, doing it with this idea of donating the money was important.”

When his wife met him at the airport upon his arrival, she was the only one he could disclose the result to.

“She hugged me—it was the first time she could ever fit her arms around me cause I’d lost so much weight, and I said ‘Darling, I won, so I hope you’re okay with what we decided to do with the prize, cause I did it,’” Gabler said. “Survivor is really just the gift that keeps on giving.”

▼ On an early episode, Gabler beat out 11 other castaways to claim the immunity necklace, recreated here by his daughter. He won favor with viewers with his minute-by-minute dedications to those who had inspired him.

Gabler attributes his success to his breadth of life experience, including 30 years of marriage to wife Joanna

▲ Gabler, who dropped considerable weight on the show, is again enjoying the luxuries of modern life.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE GABLER

fish on in all seasons

A league of their own:

Women

’ s Hockey in Boise creates a special Bond

BY DAVE SOUTHORN

Growing up in Michigan, Jeanette Wallace had a quiet aspiration—to play hockey, a sport she loved to watch and is very popular in the Great Lake State.

The only problem? She didn’t know how to ice skate.

There also was the fact that women’s hockey was still in its infancy in the United States, not becoming an Olympic sport until she was in her late 20s.

But after moving to Idaho, she was finally able to check off a bucket list item, and it quickly became a big part of her life.

“A friend knew I’d always wanted to play and she said ‘come give it a shot,’”

Wallace said. “So, there I was, 41 years old, only had skated a few times, doing a little puck handling. When I got to shoot a few times on net, it felt amazing. That was 11 years ago, and I’ve been playing ever since.”

At Boise’s Idaho IceWorld, Thursday nights are when the women take over.

From October to March, the Women’s Winter League occupies both rinks at the facility, with women across the Treasure Valley competing on the ice.

Some played in high school or college, some picked the sport up later in life, but all of them have found a bond over a unique hobby.

“I just love the people… it’s like a family, a small, close community. It’s not always about the hockey, it’s about doing something together.”

Photos above: Whether you call her a goalie, goaler, goalkeeper, net minder, or tender, she’s got the focus, flexibility, and dexterity to protect the net. / PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

“I just love the people,” said Lee Ann Schlake, who has played for about 15 years, once her daughters began showing interest in playing. “… it’s like a family, a small, close community. It’s not always about the hockey, it’s about doing something together.”

Schlake, who is also president of the Boise Women’s Hockey Association, said the teams enjoy the competition, but above all, they enjoy the atmosphere. Many players will play in regional

tournaments in Sun Valley or McCall or Utah or Wyoming—and share hotel rooms, even if they’re playing against each other. The BWHA hosts the Harvest Classic tournament each October.

“We’ll get together for drinks afterward—or sometimes even before,” Schlake said with a laugh. “With jobs, kids, relationships, money, it’s not easy for a lot of women to make it work, but we want to make it as fun as we can.”

That’s exactly what happened for Wallace.

“I like the camaraderie amongst the players,” she said. “When we play games, it’s for fun, but it’s still competitive. And it’s the best workout I’ve ever had, which is another bonus. It ebbs and flows, with people leaving and coming in, but it’s very supportive of new players, very welcoming that way.”

And there are efforts from those in the women’s hockey community to not only grow it amongst adults, but get more girls involved.

“With jobs, kids, relationships, money, it’s not easy for a lot of women to make it work, but we want to make it as fun as we can.”

Left: Hockey players often tape their sticks to protect from wear, tear, and damage. Right: Despite busy schedules, players find time to get out on the ice. / PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

Three youth girls teams, made of girls 11-19 years old—the Fire Blades— practice at IceWorld and travel to tournaments. The Idaho Junior Steelheads also have co-ed youth teams and an all-girls high school age team.

Idaho IceWorld offers a program called Hockey Learn to Play (HLTP), which teaches the fundamentals of hockey, even providing equipment for those that don’t have it during the four-session curriculum. Schlake’s daughter, Kaitlyn, who played at Division III SUNY-Morrisville (N.Y.) is one of the coaches.

“We didn’t have many age-appropriate teams when I was growing up here, so I usually had to play against the boys,” Schlake said. “It’s gotten better…with

the Learn to Play program, we hope that we can foster a love for the sport like we do, build that bond, maybe get other girls they know interested.”

It gets harder and harder to find the time in our busy schedules to truly find something we can do to relax, have fun, and just get away for a little bit. For a few dozen women at Idaho IceWorld, there’s always been one special day of the week for them to hit the ice, grab a stick, and capture that amazing feeling of the puck hitting the back of the net.

“You have to learn to play as a team, I just love the teamwork…for a long time, it’s always been Thursday nights—that’s our night, and we always look forward to it,” Schlake said.

IDAHO STEELHEADS SAVORING RECORD HOT START TO SEASON

Idaho Steelheads games are always one of the most popular events to check in Boise, but the 2022-23 season has been particularly fun for the home crowd.

The Steelheads won an incredible 26 of their first 30 games, including a franchise record 12game win streak from Dec. 9 to Jan. 4.

Idaho last won the Kelly Cup, the championship trophy for the 28-team ECHL, in 2007. With a strong roster, the team should be well-positioned to make noise in the postseason after the regular season concludes April 15.

To catch a game at Idaho Central Arena, contact the front office at 208-383-0080 or visit IdahoSteelheads.com.

“…with the Learn to Play program, we hope that we can foster a love for the sport like we do...”

Left: Faceoff: players begin each game when a referee drops the puck between the sticks of opposing players. Right: Lee Ann Schlake, president of the Boise Women’s Hockey Association, has played for 15 years. / PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

Idaho Tees Up at Topgolf

BY CHRIS LANGRILL

Golfers have been trying to master the sport for centuries. And for centuries many have been frustrated.

You’ll find them at courses across the globe. Golfers—whether they are beginners or seasoned professionals—might take out their frustration in any number of ways, from broken clubs to hurled objects to rage-filled profanities.

But Bjorn Carlson believes he knows the antidote to all this frustration: It’s called Topgolf.

Carlson is the director of operations for Topgolf’s newest facility, located in Meridian. He’s watched any number of golfers play Topgolf, but Carlson says he’s not accustomed to witnessing a lot of frustration.

“It’s funny,” he said. “I think some of the swings and misses I’ve seen, the

duffed shots, people are laughing about them. They’re not throwing clubs or getting frustrated with themselves. Whether you hit a good ball or a bad ball it’s just fun to be out there swinging the clubs.”

What is Topgolf? The company likes to describe its complexes as technology-enabled driving ranges. Players aim for on-field targets from outdoor hitting bays and Toptracer technology tracks each ball’s flight the same way you may have seen on TV during major golf tournaments.

There are several ways to set up a Topgolf game. Kids might enjoy an Angry Birds version, which allows them to watch the flight of their balls on a monitor after swinging away. More serious golfers might prefer to play a simulated layout of Pebble Beach or St. Andrews.

“It’s a great introduction to the game of golf,” Carlson said. “We like to think of ourselves as a company that is growing the game and introducing it to people who wouldn’t get out on a traditional golf course.

“We have this theme of ‘More Play. Play More.’ So, we’re getting more people out to play more golf and have more fun.”

Carlson said that you’re much more likely to hear laughter than cursing at Topgolf facilities.

“You’re surrounded by family and friends, and we’ve got good food and drink,” he said. “It’s just like going to a bowling alley. Whether you’re a good bowler or not, you can have a good time.”

Ah yes, food and drink. Topgolf has plenty of options for both on its extensive menus.

Gavin Sesions tracks his ball inflight through innovative Toptracker technology.

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

When players (as Topgolf likes to call its customers) enter the Meridian complex, they will be greeted by a front desk, which can handle reservations for the golf bays and more. To the right of the front desk is a bright, open restaurant featuring a 20-foot video wall above a full bar. (U.S. Open party, anyone?)

When the sun is shining and the temperatures are more forgiving, players will be able to exit the restaurant through glass garage doors to enjoy patio dining, cornhole games, and a nine-hole miniature golf course.

Whether the sun is shining or not, players exiting through the back of the restaurant will find 60 climate-controlled hitting bays spread across two levels.

Bring your own clubs or use the assorted clubs available at the facilities. Similar to a bowling alley, more experienced players might prefer their own clubs, but

most people just use those on-hand.

Topgolf is sure to be a major draw for corporate and group events, and the venue is smartly situated to make groups feel like they have their own space to themselves.

Want to take that event up a notch?

“If you have a group outing and you want to add a little incentive for the group, you could book our director of instruction, who could facilitate lessons for the people at the event,” Carlson said. “He can pop into each bay and spend a little time with each person who is there—some would want to take advantage more than others, but the opportunity is there.”

And you don’t need to be part of a group event to take advantage of an on-site lesson.

“For private lessons with our pro, you’ll find everyone from the beginner

Want to try Topgolf? Plan ahead.

It’s true that anyone can walk into the Topgolf facility and hope to get on a waitlist for a bay. But Carlson has been advising players to plan ahead for their visit, especially as the novelty of Topgolf is enamoring potential customers.

“People that are new to Topgolf don’t realize how popular we are, and they might come in and find a long wait,” Carlson said. “So, I always tell people to go online and book a reservation or join a waiting list.”

who has never swung a golf club all the way up to the most advanced golfers,” Carlson said.

Lessons. Miniature golf. Sophisticated technology in 60 different climatecontrolled bays. Food and drink and TVs. Cornhole.

The list goes on.

Suffice it to say, Carlson feels his Topgolf facility has something for everyone.

“I would say 80% of people come out here with little to no golf experience, just to have fun, enjoy some food, and swing a golf club,” Carlson said. “Pretty much anyone can come out here and enjoy themselves and have a good time.”

Website: Learn more about Topgolf, including memberships (there’s a waiting list), at topgolf.com/us/boise.

Address: 1050 S. Silverstone Way, Meridian (near the Eagle exit off I-84)

Phone: 986-210-1270

No matter the weather, golfers enjoy food, drink, and sport from Topgolf’s heated bays.

If you don’t want to roll the dice as a walk-in customer, Carlson advises players to reserve a bay online. Another great alternative is the Topgolf app, which will allow players to look for reservations or see the status of the waitlist on any given day.

Get on the list early if you’re planning on trying out Meridian’s newest attraction.

Live leaderboards and other screens entertain golfers of all ages before, during, and after their swing.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BALL VENTURES AHLQUIST

PHOTO BY CHRIS LANGRILL

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

Web Sleuth MEDIA, MAYHEM, AND THE RISE OF THE

BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

Humans have long been interested in the inner workings of the criminal mind—fictional shows like Law & Order and CSI (as well as all of their spinoffs) fed our obsession, quickly giving way to true crime counterparts. Then the Serial podcast, which debuted in 2014, examined the death of Hae Min Lee and subsequent arrest of Adnan Syed, which made everyone think that they, along with Sarah Koenig, could crack the case. By 2021, television’s Only Murders in the Building poked fun at the abundance of armchair detectives solving crime from the comfort of their living room—average citizens who just wanted to help out, sure, but who were also deeply invested in the case, so ingrained in the mysteries that they inserted themselves directly into them.

Alexandra Duggan, a digital content producer and investigative reporter at KTVB, found her footing looking at local cold cases, eventually shifting to more investigative work. You’ve probably seen her around in the last few months—her follower count has grown by around 5,000 people as she’s provided details on high profile cases like the disappearance

of Michael Vaughn and the quadruple homicide investigation in Moscow, Idaho that took the lives of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle on November 13, 2022.

The daughter of a former detective and an Idaho native, D uggan understands some of the inner workings of law enforcement and offers the unique perspective of someone who has lived and worked in the community. While she now reports from the Treasure Valley, she’s also a Vandal and, af ter a long week of reporting in the cold in Fruitland as law enforcement searched for the body of Michael Vaughn in a backyard near his home, she made the trip up north to cover the quadruple homicides.

“When I was in Moscow, I was doing a live shot and I cried on TV. Everyone saw it. I was embarrassed at first, but I’m okay with it now because I’m not meant to be a robot,” she said. D uggan’s humanity is why she’s found a home in investigative journalism, a reliable reporter of information for

local law enforcement and a trusted resource for those in the community, who frequently reach out with questions and information. Her commitment to her Ida-home is just one of the things that set her and other local media personalities apart from the hundreds of faraway folks looking to solve an Idaho case.

Alexandra Duggan works as an investigative reporter and digital content producer at Boise’s KTVB.

PHOTO BY SAM MCGHEE

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXANDRA DUGGAN

And let’s face it—in a world that engages so heavily in social media, the lines can blur. Some web sleuths, especially those with large platforms, consider themselves journalists too, but their code of conduct can be ambiguous. In an early press conference in Moscow, a TikTok personality misidentified herself as a reporter and proceeded to ask a rambling question that offered a theory of the crime. The press conference was open to the public, which made her claim even more perplexing, and while the misrepresentation didn’t harm anyone, it is a slippery slope.

There are other instances in which amateur sleuthing derails the lives of innocent people. In the search for Michael Vaughn, police eventually blocked off the family’s street when people started contacting Vaughn’s family during the excavation of a nearby backyard. Following the quadruple homicide in Moscow, a number of individuals with proximity to the case began receiving death threats and being harassed at their homes. A University of Idaho professor is even suing for libel following accusations made by an internet sleuth who consults Tarot cards and performs other types of readings. Reddit is filled with individuals suggesting that they’ve got proof of someone’s guilt that amounts to nothing more than screenshots of other people’s comments and theories.

While Duggan said that internet sleuths aren’t trying to cause harm, there’s always the potential. “Sometimes people will ask why I’m not reporting something that hasn’t been corroborated from an

official source—speculation versus the investigation versus police. It’s my duty to help sort through that. If I’m refraining from reporting something, it’s because I’m trying to remain ethical,” Duggan said. “Not everything is true.”

A person can be interested in a case, follow the case, hope the case gets solved, and even look for clues by reviewing the information and thinking outside the box, but doxxing people, driving by their homes, contacting potential witnesses, and making outrageous claims in public spaces only hurts investigations and potentially ruins lives. Duggan, and other reporters, are often overwhelmed by messages and requests. While these tips can be incredibly useful, they take careful vetting, both from the media and law enforcement. Occasionally, someone will speak to Duggan off the record, which requires her to let the information guide her, but also to report responsibly. In less

experienced hands, these types of tips can end up breaking trust and starting rumors, stoking the morbid curiosity that sometimes drives public interest in major investigations. “But we all need to step back and remember that these are real people, real victims with families that are missing them. When we focus on getting every last update and piece of information that may or may not be related, we lose sight of what really matters,” she said.

These investigations impact the lives of real people—real victims, suspects, and bystanders that exist, and are often hurting, before and after these crimes are solved.

“Sometimes we have to accept that there are things that we’re not going to know. And neither is the public. The police aren’t going to talk because it could hurt the investigation, and sometimes journalists just have to be okay with that. We all want to know, but sometimes it just takes a little bit of time,” Duggan said.

Left: University of Idaho president C. Scott Green addressed the media after the Moscow Police Department announced that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the Nov 13 homicides. Right: A crowd gathers for a press conference with the Moscow Police Department on December 30, 2022.

The University of Idaho is located in Moscow, a quiet city in Latah County that shares a state border with Washington.

PHOTO BY ANDREW LANG

PHOTOS COURTESY MOSCOW POLICE DEPARTMENT

SO I THINK I CAN DANCE…

Fred Astaire Comes to Boise

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED ASTAIRE DANCE STUDIO

BY KAREN DAY

It’s hard to forget a man who dances on the ceiling. That man, Fred Astaire, is remembered as ubiquitous with ballroom dance in America. The TCM channel and TikTok contribute to Astaire’s undying fame, regularly enrolling new fans and imitators to his unique style of tap, waltz, and ballet infused with Broadway pizazz and Herculean athleticism in a tux. Beyonce’s Super Bowl choreography appears simplistic by comparison and even Jackie Chan, on-screen kung fu legend, admitted that Astaire inspired some of his intricate martial arts techniques. For all of the above reasons, and my two left-feet, I was a bad candidate for the journalistic assignment of learning to dance at Boise’s Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

I was already sweating,walking into the expansive ballroom in downtown Boise. I am not a dancing person, except with an open bar at a stranger’s wedding. I’ve watched Astaire and Rogers swirl through Top Hat, because it aired while I huffed and puffed up on my stairmaster. Every-

one smiles—all the time—in black and white classic musicals. There is always a happy ending. This is suspicious to anyone from anywhere but Idaho. From 1950 to 1960, popularity of Latin dances like the rhumba were fueled by the TV show, the Arthur Murray Party, which was basically one long commercial for their chain of dance studios. Today, the whirling sequins and spray tans of “Dancing with the Stars” have probably scared most people away from the dizzying thought of waltzing forever. And—to be perfectly honest—as a writer, I doubted “cha-cha-ing” was even a word, let alone a dance done by anyone born after Frank Sinatra died. But there was no turning back. My deadline, the wide-open floor, and Gentry Fielder, lead Fred Astaire certified teacher, awaited. With a friendly smile (of course!), he invited me to promenade arm in arm toward what I assured him would be a disaster.

Like men in fedoras, modern ballroom dance was once a cultural norm with the masses. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, dance halls proliferat-

ed across America and the world. Initially spread by the British Empire elites, they fizzled, perhaps, by the rise in geographic independence and personal individualism. That’s a generalized analysis about centuries of dance history that began to disappear when the scandalous Charleston arrived in the 1920s. Dancing never ceased, but the intimate partnered and highly-stylized steps of the waltz and foxtrot began to fade as creative crazes swept America. Today’s hip-hop culture is just one in a long list of artistic waves that changed as fast as American popular music. Think: the twist, Mashed Potato, disco, Gangnam Style, etc.

“For myself and my husband, this journey began about ten years ago,” said Monica Gere, founder of Boise’s Fred Astaire Dance Studio. “My husband and I have been together for 30 years and dance had always been on our list of things to learn together, but raising two girls and operating a successful, ever-evolving advertising agency since the beginning of the internet in 1994 kept us very busy.”

Left: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the iconic Hollywood duo of ballroom dance. Astaire often complained about ostrich feathers flying in his mouth. Right: Loren Messerly and Allison Reynolds have spent 21 years raising children. They are nearing the empty-nest era and decided it was time to learn how to dance as husband and wife.

SHUTTERSTOCK

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

Ten years ago, Gere could not have imagined that a Groupon to Arthur Murray Studio in Portland and two pairs of dance shoes under the Christmas tree would lead the couple to own the Washington and Idaho Fred Astaire Dance Studio franchises. “At first, dancing together was just for fun,” said Gere. “Twice a week, we would go for lessons, get out of the office and our house and make time to do something new and active together. It’s not like getting a babysitter and going out to a restaurant—it was out of our box. We were surprised by the ton of fun we were having.”

Fun eventually led to amateur competition, which is built into the studio’s learning system. “We competed locally, regionally, and won the top couple in our category,” says Gere. “It was challenging at times, from a relationship perspective, like the blind leading the blind at times, but the growth process was healthy for us. During Covid, we had something very special to do, together. And as we practiced, we watched as people lost so much and families and communities fractured. There was so much divisiveness. And I kept thinking to myself, how can I help bring people together? How can I give back in a positive way?”

As the Geres continued to waltz around their home, she realized the experience of learning ballroom dance had offered a deep sense of self-confidence and growth to them as a couple and to her, as an individual. She decided to share that. “The best way to share it was through the franchise and Boise is our first,” she said, beaming like a new parent.

Boise was also the Gere’s first choice of franchise locations. Her husband and eldest daughter are BSU graduates with another daughter currently in attendance. The city has an open, friendly appeal. People tend to smile at you, even if you don’t know them. We’re “quaint,” according to travel guides, which sounds like a perfect place for a Fred Astaire musical remake.

“‘I can’t dance,’ is the number one thing people say when they enter the studio for the first time,” my teacher, Fielder, said, walking me onto the dance floor. “But that’s why I’m here, to show you that you can dance. Everyone can. All it takes is a few lessons, which will build your self-confidence.”

My questions about ballroom dancing were everyone’s questions. “Who will dance with me if I’m single?” “Where

will I actually, ever, do the cha-cha?” (Yes—it’s a word!) “What if I trip and fall?” “How long will it take before I don’t look ridiculous?”

I could explain the initial embarrassments of my first two lessons; not being capable of counting to three while moving my feet simultaneously in a waltz, constantly stepping on my instructor’s feet. Fielder appeared undaunted. 20 years ago, he stepped onto a dance floor for the first time too and wisely, the Fred Astaire teaching system is designed to accommodate even the most reticent and clumsy. Private lessons assured that my humiliation was limited to myself and my dancing partner. Free group classes, offered three times a week, proved that I was not alone in my unassuredness. The weekly social dance party—which I only had time to attend once—revealed my real fear of the dance floor was not due to a lack of coordination and basic math skills, but rather, a ton of self-doubt birthed in middle school, waiting—often, in vain—for an invitation to the dance floor. At Fred Astaire, everyone who walks through the door is there to dance—with you and everybody—even if it’s just to practice for one good waltz at a wedding!

Left: Anita Burgess lost her husband of 50 years to ALS last year. Taking ballroom dance has introduced her to a welcoming community of new friends and unexpected enjoyment. Center: Liza Tize, Scott and Monica Gere, and Gentry Fielder work together to bring ballroom dance to the Treasure Valley. Right: Certified Instructors, Gerard Regot and Lisa Tize demonstrate the grace and technique of professional ballroom at Boise’s Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED ASTAIRE DANCE STUDIO

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED ASTAIRE DANCE STUDIO

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

“‘I can’t dance,’ is the number one thing people say when they enter the studio for the first time. But that’s why I’m here, to show you that you can dance.”

B oise s tate U niversity ’ s

and C atherine s tein

The ability to reach out and touch certain artwork adds a new, innovative dimension to the unique experience.

BY TIM ATWELL

It’s natural to overlook the Luminary when you first enter Boise State University’s Center for the Visual Arts. The unassuming room is hidden behind a row of dark glass windows in the corner of the Atrium, and from the outside it could be easily mistaken for an empty classroom. Stepping into the Luminary, however, is more like stepping into an aquarium than a classroom: all is quiet in the dark room except for the soft humming of technology, and dozens of little pieces of art are floating like bubbles across the walls, each about the size of a papaya.

“There, you are asked to please touch the art,” said Lisa Hunt, Interim Director of the Luminary. “And then suddenly you’re standing inside Van Gogh’s Wheatfield. People are like wow. It makes an imprint on your memory, something that helps you become a better observer. Not just of art, but of the world around you.”

The walls in the Luminary are made of 700 square feet of touch-activated glass, effectively turning the entire room into an interactive computer screen. Tech-savvy readers might be interested to know that

the walls are illuminated by 25k-lumen projection with ultra-short-throw lenses, but for the rest of us, suffice it to say that it is a high definition display. The resulting floor-to-ceiling visual array spreads across 18 panels and three walls, and can be used to display images, videos, 360-degree photos (similar to Google Maps’ Street View), or even video games.

While there is endless potential for experimenting with different types of exhibits, the default setting currently displays high definition images of art from around the world. Hunt and her team have connected the Luminary to

collections of digital galleries to provide interactive access to a massive library of visuals. By tapping on the walls of the Luminary, visitors can expand and explore a range of art, including many obscure or overlooked pieces.

“Most museums you go to, maybe 5% of their collection is on exhibit in the galleries. The other 95% is in storage,” said Hunt. “We are aiming to add other kinds of museums, like natural history museums, or air and space museums, depending on the quality of images they have. And this will allow us to go into more natural and mechanical sciences,

Visitors to BSU’s Luminary are asked to totally immerse themselves in the art around them.

like engineering. We have a good handful of images from the James Webb Space Telescope that are very high resolution, and we are able to pull those up and then just surround ourselves on all three walls with a single image of the Cosmic Cliffs or the Pillars of Creation.”

No matter the type of visual, there is a common thread that connects all the different displays in the Luminary: it’s fun. There seems to be a universal sense of joy at turning an entire room into a blank canvas, choosing what to display, and then having the ability to interact with the art using touch. Perhaps this sense of hands-on fun is what makes the Luminary such an excellent tool for education, not just for college students but also for young children and teenagers.

“We bring in a lot of classes from rural Idaho. A lot of underserved children come through, and most of these students would never be able to experience art or culture or scientific artifacts in any way beyond, you know, what they see on their iPhone or their computer or in a textbook,” said Emma Kirks, Community Outreach Coordinator for Boise State’s School of the Arts. “They seem to really get excited about learning in the space, far more than they would in just a standard classroom setting.”

The room is large enough to comfortably fit several dozen people, and can easily accommodate a classful of students. But regardless of whether the display is being used by children or adults, the team at the Luminary has seen firsthand

how empowering the huge, interactive elements of the room can be for visitors.

“That’s one of the keys of the touchscreen, how you get to navigate yourself through those paintings. You’re not being told by anyone what to look at, or how to look, but you’re doing it yourself,” said Hunt. “It just has this more visceral, physical impact on you, to be able to examine something so closely and with such variety, and to navigate your own experience.”

Hunt and Kirks have big plans for the Luminary in the upcoming year, with a wide range of events and interactive exhibits on the calendar. Some of the highlights include music events with on-screen visualizers, film screenings, and immersive lectures from distinguished academics.

“I’m really excited to see what sort of interdisciplinary learning we can kickstart, what sort of community partnerships, and what those would look like. We’re just at the tip of the iceberg right now, trying to see what the space can do,” said Kirks. “The Luminary is only limited by your imagination.”

The Students Designing Your Future

BY ARIANNA CRETEAU

Nestled amongst the environmental research and engineering buildings on Boise State University’s campus is a hidden lab run by some of the school’s brightest minds. Located in the Micron Engineering Center, the New Product Development Lab has its sights set on changing how businesses navigate manufacturing, both locally and globally. Currently, there are 16 students with different backgrounds in engineering, business, marketing, and gaming interactive mobile media—a marked change since the lab’s inception in 2000, when it involved mostly engineering students. Now, lab manager Grey Beaudry works to make the lab available to students with diverse degrees.

Jessica Lambert, a student design engineer and fourth-year mechanical engineering student with a minor in computer science, has been interested in pursuing engineering projects since high school. In her role as an advocate and mentor for newer colleagues, she helps to elevate students’ experiences at the lab while gaining hands-on exposure to design and development. “For entrepreneurs, we’re here to guide them through the very scary world of prototyping, iteration, and research and development,” said Lambert. “For students, we’re here to guide them through what a real career looks like, what working with industry partners [looks like], and getting to know the skills of the job—both soft skills and hard skills.” Students average between two to four clients at a time.

“We obviously want to impact manufacturing in Idaho. But our second most important goal that goes hand-in-hand with that is the development of the talent coming out of the program,” said Beaudry.

Top: The BSU New Product Development Lab’s Cubic Photon 3-D printer is capable of printing highly-intricate designs. Above: Grey Beaudry, Lab Director, looks forward to developing innovative prototypes for individual inventors and companies.

PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

As an alum of the lab and previous lab manager, Blake Young, Director of Engineering at Primary Weapon Systems, said that the New Product Development Lab helped him focus on his future career early on, instilling a love of research and development, which he described as really fun. “As an engineer, it’s probably the funnest part of engineering. The hard part of doing any sort of new product development is actually at the end when you have to actually specify everything that needs to be done for that part to be manufactured,” said Young. “Clients and customers are always revolving and they’re always different.”

Young noted that it can be difficult to break into the industry without experience, but lab alumni have an advantage.

In the foreseeable future, Beaudry hopes to start projects in textile manufacturing, which includes smart fabrics, with sensors embedded inside fabrics. “We obviously want to try to make things in the U.S., but sometimes that can be impossible if you want to be competitive,” he said.

In December, Beaudry traveled to Taiwan and Singapore, representing the New Product Development Lab as part of Governor Little’s trade mission. Governor Little explained in a statement that this mission “helped strengthen Idaho’s decades-old partnership and friendship with Taiwan and opened doors for new trade and investment opportunities in both markets to continue to enhance Idaho’s economic prosperity.”

Beaudry, who didn’t realize the depth of trade involvement between the U.S.–particularly Idaho–and Taiwan and Singapore, made the trip to establish relationships with manufacturers and possibly integrate programs from abroad into the lab. Taiwan is Idaho’s second largest export destination and Singapore is Idaho’s fourth-largest export market overall.

While the lab gets both federal and state funding, all funding has to be matched by the lab one to one. Money generated from the lab comes from client fees and projects. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership, or MEP, is a network across the United States providing resources to manufacturers. In Idaho, Tech Help is part of the MEP. Tech Help also oversees the New Product Development Lab.

Each state has different manufacturing needs and focuses, and Idaho emphasizes agriculture, while Washington is more aerospace and software focused. Labs that are a part of the MEP are not typically associated with universities, making Boise State’s special—one of four in the entire country. Because of this, the lab is in a unique position to accept clients from other states like Florida or Alaska.

Maria Lopez, owner of Iron Pine, worked with the New Product Development Lab on the creation of the Iron Pine U.S. Patented Idaho Axe, a long handled axe that features an axe head shaped like the state of Idaho, which took many prototypes. The lab also worked to create packaging design, fly fishing equipment, expedition gear, updated manufacturing methods, graphic design, laser prototypes, and more for a variety of companies.

Beaudry is excited to offer a learning opportunity to people of all backgrounds, and hopes that the lab can help circumvent the types of mistakes that often happen. “We’re connected with a lot of people in the industry, the university, and other partners. It’s a learning opportunity for students and manufacturers,” he said. “We’re hoping that we can get our name out there and so we can help more people.”

Top: Ryna Hall, a computer engineering student, works on coding a new video game called ROBOT REVOLUTION for the SPACE BAR. The game will premiere at HACKFORT in March, 2023. Above: Southfork Products MAGDADDY, is a magnetic plate patenteddesign prototype created by the lab to securely hold an array of fishing flies. Below: Iron Pine US Patented Idaho axe heads were designed in the lab as a functional piece of art that is now available on the commercial market.

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

PHOTO COURTESY OF LONE PINE

The Work That Must Be Done

My mom was the master of the welltimed response to an ill-advised question. She could raise her left eyebrow in such a way over her very green eye and intone “I beg your pardon” in such a way that one knew better than to inquire further. She taught me the value of the tactical response, which I’ve used time and time again.

On my first trip to a sawmill as a regional purchasing manager, I received a tour from an amazing man, whom I dearly admire to this day. As we stood in the sawyer’s box, he guided me from the felling of the tree to the precision cutting of the lumber, detailing each step of the process.

“The log is cut, travels through the debarker, to the headrig, then, then…,” he trailed off. I noted the sawyer’s ears and neck turning red as the manager sputtered and told me we needed to go to the office. When we arrived, he nervously shared the next step in the process.

“Cherie,” he said, “the log then goes to the “n-----”(pejorative word). He explained that equipment turned the log and then profusely apologized, obviously shook up. “Since equipment for the support in the mills is under my area of responsibility, I suggest we call that piece of equipment the log turner in the future,” I said. He agreed. We became great colleagues.

There has always been a misconception that women have the luxury to stop to ponder next steps. I—in that moment— and many women—of necessity—must entertain next steps as they shift, on a daily basis, to meet the competing needs of the many, today. It is often the minute interactions of the moment that have set the trajectory for next steps in my personal and professional life.

Still, the many articles, classes, and training sessions directed toward women that cover topics such as the “necessity or opportunity for personal reinvention” persist. I don’t see the same for men. Women of the sisterhood are multifaceted, visionary contributors to society.

My own decision to return to college and reignite a singing career while working a full-time day job and raising two sons was born of necessity. It was time to end a marriage and keep the household going—a pragmatic decision. There was no “waiting until,” or “digging the hole a little deeper,” or “reinventing.” Immediate action was required.

A trip to Swaziland some years ago and powerful interaction with women serving communities dealing with drought, the AIDS virus, feeding, educating children, maintaining orphanages, and somehow endowing the future solidi-

BY CHERIE BUCKNER-WEBB

fied my belief that women are engaging, sharing, planning, and praying while doing the work that must be done.

I credit the ability to take meaningful action to the legacy of formidable women in my life who generously shared a powerful legacy through word and deed. They left no room for ambiguity. Their messages were not questions of “can” or “will,” but rather how are you going to address the need for substantive change that will be necessary in your life? They cautioned me to get ready for what may come, to make preparation. They insisted women must be ready and committed to act. I was charged not only to equip myself, but to know myself—to be ready for the unexpected.