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M a y 1 8 , 2 0 1 1 • Vo l . 4 • N o . 2 0 • w w w.T h e W e e k l y S u n . c o m
Blaine Menagerie
Masonic Lodge offers E Energy Expo
PHOTOS & STORY By KAREN BOSSICK
very morning Munchie makes the rounds at Blaine Manor, making sure all the residents are accounted for. She then heads to David Alfs’ room, jumping on his lap. Right: Munchie, the cat, likes to alternate between David Alfs’ lap and bed.
By KAREN BOSSICK
T
he Hailey Masonic Lodge will host the 2011 Wood River Valley Solar and Green Building Expo from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The free expo will be held at the Masonic Lodge at 100 2nd Ave. S. in Hailey. The expo will bring together architects, energy providers, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers to provide talks and product displays relating to energy efficiency, solar heating and power. “Something similar to this was done 10 years ago but they haven’t had any expos like this since,” said Kevin Dugan, a local energy consultant. “We’ll have speakers from the cities of Hailey and Ketchum, as well as the county, explaining the new energy codes for buildings. And there’ll be someone talking about building energy-efficient buildings while maintaining healthy indoor air. There also will be displays from solar vendors, green builders, energy auditors, geothermal experts and Idaho Power, which will offer information about low-interest loans.” Friday’s speakers include Mariel Platt reviewing building codes, 3:15 p.m.; Rebecca Bundy, discussing Ketchum energy code status, 4 p.m.; Bill Dyer reviewing new Blaine County energy codes, 4:45 p.m.; and Jolyon discussing RESNET testing issues at 5:30 p.m. Saturday’s speakers include Tim Carter discussing green building, 11:30 a.m.; Sharon Patterson talking building energy and indoor air quality, 12:30 p.m.; Mario DeHaro of the University of Idaho discussing rain water and grey water, 1:30 p.m.; Jim Mason of Idaho Power discussing energy efficiency and net metering, 2:30 p.m.; and Jonathan Monschke discussing BIPV Solar, 3:30 p.m. Vendors include Sagebrush Solar, Ketchum Energy, Western States Geo, Weather Seal Insulation, Thermal Temp, Audio Innovations, Idaho USGBC, The Natural Finish, Site Base Energy, Idaho Mountain Builders, Pella, Sun Storage/Sunergy World, Idaho Power, Western Energy, Vital Spec and Roberts Electric. There will be a barbecue and beverages for sale, as well as a small farmer’s market on site, weather permitting. Proceeds will go toward the Lodge’s scholarship fund. AIA members and others may receive up to three credits for Friday’s and/or Saturday’s education sessions. Information: 208-320-8627. tws
SEE A RELATED STORY ON THE MASONIC LODGE CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OLD ON PAGE 4
Parrot above: Blossom got loose during the Castle Rock Fire after Caryn Crawford took him to her home in Warm Springs. Blossom was found weeks later in the Woodside neighborhood of Hailey.
“She’s an incredibly good cat—she likes to snuggle with me,” he said, stroking the dark cat between the ears. “She makes this a home, not an institution.” Indeed, Munchie is part of a triumvirate of fins, feathers and fur designed to soften the appearance of institutional life at Blaine Manor. “Nursing homes recently started understanding how important it is to residents’ health to have pets around. They just aren’t with it if they don’t have fins, feathers and furs,” said Caryn Crawford, director of admissions at the Hailey nursing home. That said, Blaine Manor’s menagerie didn’t start by design. Stephanie Jaskowski, the Manor’s financial officer, found the first Manor pet—a threelegged yellow Labrador—while competing in a fishing tournament at Salmon Falls Reservoir south of Twin
Falls in 2005. Spotting three emaciated dogs on a rock, she and her husband Michael began feeding them. “I was so impressed with the Lab because he was obviously starved and dehydrated. Yet he let the puppies eat before he ever took food for himself,” recalled Jaskowski. While the puppies were adopted right away, Lucky languished at the Twin Falls animal shelter because of a paw that had been disabled by stepping on cactus. Unable to forget his selflessness, Jaskowski retrieved him and brought him to the Manor. The residents warmed to the threelegged dog they named Lucky right away, fattening him with dog biscuits and buttered rolls. Even Manor Adminstrator Gail Gogla decided it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to have a dog around after a week. Lucky has served as a one-dog welcome wagon for new residents, helping even the most reluctant newcomers feel at home. “The hardest thing for people to give up is their pets. They will give up their car. They’ll give up their homes. But it’s so hard for them to give up their pets. We tell people: You can’t bring your dearly beloved, but we do have someone who will love you,” Crawford said. Last Christmas, as age made it increasingly difficult for Lucky to hobble around, he was outfitted with a custom-made wheelchair. “He could barely walk. Now he can run. His wheelchair gives the residents a lot of empathy for him. They realize they’re not the only ones with problems,” said Jaskowski. Munchie was found a year after Lucky, abandoned by the side of the road near Picabo. The four-week-old dehydrated kitten was so tiny she could fit in the palm of a hand. Munchie keeps tabs on the residents. In fact, she became so attached to one that she went into mourning, continually looking for the woman after the woman passed way. Jaskowski was able to secure permission for Munchie to attend the woman’s funeral so Munchie could see her friend one
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