26 December 2018 by The Weekly Sun

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DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY 1, 2019 | V O L . 1 1 - N O . 5 2 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

Idaho News Idaho Potato Drop. What Is It? What’s New? Happy New Year!

Arts News Blaine County Musicians Recorded To Support Community Library

Gallery W See Inse alk rt

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For information on this photo, see “On The Cover” on page 3. Artwork courtesy of Gail Severn Gallery

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 1 9 - 2 5 , 2 0 1 8

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 2 6 - J A N U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 9

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New Year celebrations will abound around the Wood River Valley, from the high-end to the down-home. For a story, see page 12. Photo courtesy of The Mint

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 26 - J A N U A R Y 1, 2019

NEWS ARTS

Adapted by Dwayne Hartford from the book by Kate DiCamillo

DEC 12–30 Liberty Theatre, Hailey A HOLIDAY TREAT WHOLE FAMILY! FEATURING A STELLAR CAST:

Scott Creighton, David Janeski, Denise Simone & Aly Wepplo The film “I Am Not A Witch” can be viewed March 1 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum. Image courtesy of family Of Woman Film Festival

Generously sponsored by Marcia and Donald Liebich. Student matinees are sponsored by Hailey Rotary Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of Hailey and Wood River Valley Papoose Club. Arrow R. Storage, Big Wood Landscape, Linda and Bob Edwards, Ginny and Peter Foreman, Carol and Len Harlig, Dan and Jodie Hunt and the Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Kenneth Lewis, Mathieu, Ranum & Allaire, PLLC, Jane Rosen and Scott Miley—Scott Miley Roofing, Carol P. Nie, Priscilla Pittiglio, The Shubert Foundation, Richard Smooke and Family in loving memory of Judith Smooke, Mary Ann and John Underwood, Maryanne and Jerry Whitcomb, Barbara and Stanley Zax, and media sponsor The Weekly Sun.

Blaine County is considering revisions to the Floodplain Overlay and Riparian Setback Districts and now is the time to provide input! The Blaine County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing upstairs in the Old County Courthouse located at 206 First Ave. So. in Hailey, on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. Proposed amendments are available at the Land Use Office in the County Annex Building and on the Blaine County website www.blainecounty.org in the Land Use Department page under Agendas & Materials. Public comment may be mailed to 219 1st Ave. South Ste. 208, Hailey, ID 83333 or emailed to pzcounter@co.blaine.id.us no later than December 27, 2018 for adequate consideration. For questions, call 208-788-5570. NEWS IN BRIEF

Sun Valley Community School Announces New Scholarship Sun Valley Community School announced in a press release that thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the school will offer either one full-tuition or two half-tuition scholarships to one or two local ninth-grade students applying to join the school in the 2019-2020 academic year. Students need to submit application materials by the Feb. 25, 2019, admissions deadline and must qualify for need-based financial aid to be eligible. The recipient will be notified in mid-March when admissions notifications are sent to families. This scholarship will renew each year through the student’s Upper School years provided that the student meets the following criteria: consistent and solid attendance, strong academic standing with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and a record of good citizenship. The scholarship applies to tuition only, and does not apply to extra fees, the Learning Specialist Program or the Summer Program. The award will be granted to an applicant based on academic achievement, strength of character, the potential to make a significant positive impact at Sun Valley Community School, and demonstrated financial need. For a full description of the scholarship, including qualifications, selection process and eligibility, please visit communityschool.org/admissions/tuition-assistance.

FAMILY OF WOMAN FILMS SEEK TO PROMOTE EQUALITY Film Festival to take place Feb. 25-March 3

BY AIMEE DURAND

he 12th Annual Family of Woman Film Festival and its founder, Peggy Elliot Goldwyn, continue to promote education, health resources and equal rights for women and girls through film, and this year’s theme is “Women Still Waiting For Change.” The festival runs Monday, Feb. 25, through Sunday, March 3, at the Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum. Goldwyn brought the film festival to Sun Valley in 2008 as a Friends of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) board member. The UNFPA works globally for women and girls in areas of reproductive health, education and human rights. Many people in the U.S. were not aware that this agency existed, or what it did. Goldwyn, who comes from a show-business-industry family, decided that telling stories through film would gain attention. “It is much better to have a very personal story about an issue,” Goldwyn said. “People understand better and can put a face on it. It is very useful to walk in someone else’s shoes.” Bottom line, she said, “Women’s rights are equal rights. They are human rights.” Goldwyn chose five feature films from around the world. Her rule of thumb for films is that they must be honest and real, and illustrate what women and girls around the world face. Many of the world’s women and girls have no say about childbearing, for example. “This is very important because there are a lot of women that can’t make their own decisions,” Goldwyn said. “They are sold, bartered, married off and husbands make the decisions. They have no control over their lives. The ability to make decisions is taken out of their hands.” But, she insisted, “It’s a basic human right to control your body.” Goldwyn believes that arming females with the knowledge that they have choices and can go to school, get educated and decide when or if they want to start families promotes strength and hope. “If a girl finishes school and goes to work, she will bring eighty percent back to her home and community,” Goldwyn said. “If women and men are equal in all aspects of life, the world would be a far better place for everyone.” To learn more about the Family of Woman Film Festival, visit familyofwomanfilmfestival.org. tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 26 - J A N U A R Y 1, 2019

NEWS EVENT

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in the Screening Rooms New Year’s Eve map for Idaho Potato Drop event. Photo courtesy of Idaho Potato Drop

IDAHO’S MOST FAMOUS POTATO SET TO DROP

BY AIMEE DURAND

daho’s famous potato legacy unites this New Year’s Eve with the 6th Annual Idaho Potato Drop at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise. CEO and event founder Dylan Cline urges ‘spec-taters’ to arrive early Monday, Dec. 31, as multiple festivities start at 3 p.m. and continue toward ringing in 2019 to 1 a.m. The catalyst for this event was a realization that not everyone was thrilled with having Idaho known for the potato. Cline, a fourth-generation Idahoan, felt it important to illuminate the role the humble potato has had in Idaho’s heritage and success and he found a way to move the traditional side dish to center stage. “It is a fun, tongue-in-cheek event that supports our entire state and puts Idaho on the world stage,” Cline said. The event has been recognized nationally with between 25,000-30,000 people ringing in the New Year with the giant Glowtato drop resembling New York’s ball drop and fireworks display.

NEWS IN BRIEF

“The event draws from all over the world, from Paris, England, South America, Hawaii, Eastern and Western Europe,” Cline said. “Everything is enhanced. “Suffice it to say, it should be very impressive this year.” Cline, a musician, is excited about the lineup in music, which includes American Mile, Boise Rock School, Gipsy Moonrise, Jeff Crosby & The Refugees, Marshall Poole, Red Light Challenge, and one of Cline’s favorite bands, Mat Hopper and the Roman Candles, Casio Dreams, DJ Jett Rokk and the comedy of Lady Bizness. Part of the music experience is a 20-by-20-foot LED, LCD dance floor with video images displayed underfoot. “The music is pretty spectacular,” Cline said. There are daytime activities and warming areas for the young ones. There are chances to win a hot tub, trips, golf packages and more. Along with entertainment, there will be gourmet food, cocktails, food trucks, vendors, games and activities. For more information or VIP tickets go to idahopotatodrop.com tws

Diane Rosenblum’s ‘Golden Drawings’ To Showcase At Architectural Resources-B&B Italia

Artist Diane Rosenblum’s intuitively interactive and architecturally stimulating metallic collages, also known as her “Golden Drawings,” will be featured at Architectural Resources-B&B Italia located at 110 Lindsay Circle in Ketchum’s light industrial area. An art reception with Rosenblum will take place from 3:30-6:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29. Rosenblum and her artist representative Robin Reiners, formerly of Gallery DeNovo in Ketchum, will attend Saturday’s reception, and the work will be viewable Thursday, Dec. 27, through January 2019. Rosenblum is a photographer and a conceptual artist whose work is series-driven. In her “Golden Drawings” series, Rosenblum has created numerous small works made from cut strips of metallic paper combined with occasional touches of pencil and expressive paint. While “Golden Drawings” was featured at the 2017 San Francisco Designer showcase home, Rosenblum realized not only her work, but she, too, was intuitive, and offers insight and introspection into a viewer’s personality after choosing which collage resonates with them the most. A handful of photographic prints from Rosenblum’s series, “In My Mother’s Garden,” are currently on display at Zenergy Health Club, Spa & Boutique in Ketchum.

WILL FERRELL JOHN C. REILLY

PG-13 THE DIRECTOR OF FORREST GUMP INVITES YOU TO A MOST UNEXPECTED PLACE

STEVE CARELL PG-13

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 26 - J A N U A R Y 1, 2019

SPONSORED FEATURE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

NEWS ARTS

‘KEEPING IT HOME’

The Community Library and Sun Valley Records team up on CD BY HAYDEN SEDER

Wood River High School senior Petra Glenn is a lifeguard, math-focused student and a potential future lawyer in international law. Courtesy photo by Lindsay Browder

PETRA GLENN

Discovers new interest in politics and social justice BY EMILEE MAE STRUSS

Wood River High School senior Petra Glenn is highly focused on advanced math and science classes and has worked hard for her 4.22 GPA. Glenn is also involved in debate, Model U.N. and Next Generation Politics. Academics are a major focus for Glenn; however, she also enjoys community service projects with National Honor Society, playing tennis and working as a lifeguard. Glenn is enrolled in A.P. Calculus, A.P. Environmental Science, A.P. Literature, A.P. Government, and ceramics. She has taken Advanced Placement courses since her sophomore year with the intention of setting herself up for success in the future for college, where she plans to major in math and potentially attend law school after that. “I thought I would go into math,” Glenn said, “because that’s what I am naturally good at, but I’ve recently got more into social justice.” Glenn isn’t sure if she wants to be a lawyer or not, but is interested in international law. Glenn has applied to some liberal arts schools, including Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., and the University of California, Berke-

ley. She is also thinking about Boise State University Honors College, where she could graduate in three years. If Glenn stays in-state for her undergraduate degree, she hopes to travel outside of the state, post-graduation, for different opportunities. “School is a big priority for me,” Glenn said. “It’s important for college and my future and I enjoy learning and doing my best.’’ Glenn is the youngest of five siblings and both of her parents work for Blaine County School District. During an interview, Glenn shared how thankful she is for the high-quality education that she has access to from the district and the Wood River Valley’s accessibility to mountains. And when asked who inspires her, Glenn couldn’t narrow it down to any number lower than six: her parents, Mike and Rebecca Glenn, and her four siblings, Nick, Jade, Zeb and Sam. tws

Editor’s Note: Anyone who would like to recommend a Blaine County School District student for The Weekly Sun’s “Student Spotlight” feature should contact Emilee Struss at emilee.struss@gmail.com.

“Keeping It Home,” a CD compilation of 22 local artists, is being sold to help fund the total renovation of The Community Library in Ketchum. The library’s director of philanthropy, Carter Hedberg, said he was approached by Don Zimmer, co-founder of a new online nonprofit music streaming service called Sun Valley Records, with the idea for the CD. “Don is a record producer and a lover of local music,” said Hedberg. “He did a similar fundraising project with the Mill Valley Library in the Bay Area. Now that he and his family have made the Valley their full-time home, he wanted to help The Community Library.” The CD is going to give 100 percent to the library. “This will have a lasting impact as funds will be used to renovate the library to serve the needs and aspirations of our community for years to come,” Hedberg said. The library has been undergoing renovations since spring of this year, and that is expected to continue through October 2019. The two-disc CD is an eclectic mix of music ranging from country music to ballads to Latin numbers. For its first issue, 500 double CDs at $20 were released, which translates into $10,000 for the library. If the CD is successful, a possible second printing will happen in the future. Featured on the CD are hometown and Idaho favorites like Sequestrado, Trevor Green, Spike Coggins, the Robbie Walden Band, Bread and Circus, Andrew Sheppard, Old Death Whisper and The Braun Brothers. Robbie Walden, of The Robbie Walden Band, has been working on the HVAC part of

NEWS IN BRIEF

Cover art for “Keeping It Home.” Photo courtesy of The Community Library

the library’s renovation and was asked by Zimmer personally in the library. “I love it here, and I love the community, so I was happy to help,” said Walden. “I’m a professional musician and tour all over the country, but I work for Thornton Heating in Ketchum, too.”

The ‘Keeping It Home’ project is a celebration of the area’s diverse musical talent, which in turn benefits a local cultural landmark, The Community Library.” Carter Hedberg Director of Philanthropy, The Community Library The song Walden donated to the CD is off his new record releasing nationally on Feb. 15. Zimmer’s vision and compassion for his community has meant a great deal to the library and all of its 125,000-per-year

visitors. “I’m grateful for Don Zimmer’s vision that made this happen, and the support of all of the talented musicians that participated,” said Hedberg. “We created a CD designed to recognize local artists while making a meaningful impact for The Community Library’s renovation and vision,” Zimmer said. “The Sun Valley area is an especially rich environment for music appreciation and talent, with an abundance of opportunities to amplify local talent. The final CD integrates our music production expertise with artists donating their music as a tool for common good to create positive outcomes. It’s a powerful collaboration made possible by the generous talents of local artists.” “Keeping It Home” is currently available for purchase at The Community Library, both Gold Mine thrift stores, Atkinsons’ markets, Chapter One Bookstore, The Elephant’s Perch, Ketchum Kitchens, and Iconoclast Books in Hailey. tws

The Center To Host Winter Fundraiser ‘Bourbon And Betting’

The Sun Valley Center for the Arts announced “Bourbon and Betting,” a new winter fundraising event to benefit Company of Fools. This celebratory evening, which features a charitable Texas Hold ’em poker tournament, a free bourbon-tasting event and a variety of fun casino games, will be held Friday, Jan. 25, 6:30–10 p.m. at The Mint in Hailey. All games are for entertainment only, and all proceeds from the event will benefit Company of Fools. Single-player entry into the Texas Hold ’em tournament is $500, which includes 2,000 “Fools” chips. General admission tickets are $150 and include 500 “Fools” chips to play casino games such as blackjack, craps and roulette. In addition to free wine, beer and appetizers, all guests will enjoy an exclusive bourbon tasting sponsored by Grand Teton Distillery, the creator of award-winning, Idaho-made bourbons and vodkas. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sunvalleycenter.org/bourbonandbetting.

The Center To Host ‘Winter Warm-up Veillée’ With Bon Débarras

In anticipation of Bon Débarras’ evening concert at The Argyros on Friday, Jan. 18, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts announced in a press release that the community is invited to a Winter Warmup Veillée (evening gathering) with mulled wine and cider, Québec-inspired desserts and a short set performed by this Montréal-based trio who play traditional French Canadian music mixed with contemporary sounds from around the world. The event will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17, at The Center’s Hailey House location, 314 2nd Ave. S., and is presented as part of The Center’s current BIG IDEA project, “At the Table: Kitchen as Home.” Admission to the Winter Warm-up Veillée with Bon Débarras is $10 per person, although attendees will get in for free if they bring a homemade dessert to share. To register for this special community event, email Kristine Bretall at kbretall@sunvalleycenter. org. For more information about this event and other events associated with The Center, visit sunvalleycenter.org.

T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 26 - J A N U A R Y 1, 2019

NEWS NONPROFIT

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sun Valley Film Festival Offers New Perks For 2019 Passholders

Adoptable dog, Lizzie, spending time with her Pet Pal volunteer, Claudia Klokke. Photo courtesy of Mountain Humane

MOUNTAIN HUMANE Chosen as the No. 1 charity to donate to by Business.org

BY EMILEE MAE STRUSS

ountain Humane, formerly known as the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley, was recently chosen as the No. 1 charity to donate to by Business.org. The shelter’s executive director Jo-Anne Dixon didn’t know beforehand that the organization was being considered and only recently discovered what Business.org was. Business.org partnered with the Better Business Bureau after data showed that 77 percent of small businesses blindly donate to charity and some of those charities were phony. Business.org began vetting nonprofit organizations industry by industry using information gathered from Charity Navigator that compared financial information, transparency policies and public reviews. Mountain Humane scored a 91.7 in programmatic expenses, 97 in financial transparency and a final Business.org score of 98.3. “We have made a concerted effort as to what is going in and out of each of our programs in regards to which ones are profitable and which ones aren’t,” Brooke Bonner, Mountain Humane’s associate director, said. Bonner has worked with Mountain Humane since 2007 and had a lengthy background in working with nonprofits. “You have to run a nonprofit like a business,” Bonner said. “If you want to be successful, you have to be investing in your structure and the organization itself.” Mountain Humane has some massive goals—including No-Kill Idaho 2025. Mountain Humane is a “no-kill” shelter, which means they will never euthanize an animal due to a lack of space. Their goal is to make the entire state no-kill by 2025. In order to get this initiative off the ground,

Mountain Humane had some support from The Humane Society of the United States through a program called “Pets for Life.” The program, which started in large urban communities, provides funding for local animal shelters to go doorto-door and offer services to dog owners. They offer free vaccinations and if the animals have not be spayed or neutered, they offer that as well. Mountain Humane was the first organization surrounded by rural communities to receive this grant opportunity in 2015. They started with Fairfield, which was very successful, and then moved to Richfield, Dietrich and Shoshone. The mission of the model is to get as many animals spayed and neutered as possible to keep the population low and manageable, of which it has proven to be successful. A new 30,000-square-foot animal adoption and humane education center west of Hailey on Croy Creek Road is soon to be opened, thanks to a $16 million fundraising effort. “Our new facility is really meant to be a vibrant hub,” Bonner said. The facility’s upcoming programs will be expanding to educational opportunities for youth and greater handicap accessibility to the building. Mountain Humane is also very intentional on partnering with other nonprofits in the Valley, including The Advocates and The Hunger Coalition. “Impact and sustainability,” Bonner said, “ are the most important factors for us.” The distinction by Business.org marking Mountain Humane as a trusted nonprofit can only help encourage support, said Dixon. “We can’t just tell people we like animals and expect to get funding,” Dixon said. “Donors work hard for their funds and they want to know that their funds are going toward successful causes.” To learn more about Mountain Humane, visit mountainhumane.org. tws

Adoptable cat, Latté, being held by Mountain Humane’s intake coordinator, Jocelin Gardner. Photo courtesy of Mountain Humane

The eighth annual Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) will take place in Sun Valley, March 13-17. The festival, known for its high-profile special guests and low-key insider access, is offering a variety of passes that offer plenty of unique perks for passholders. The SVFF $1,000 limited-quantity Insider Pass is the festival’s top all-access pass. Perks include a special reception, opening celebration, multiple parties, lectures and gifts. Other 2019 SVFF passes offered include the Festival Pass ($500), the Film Pass ($200) and the Party Pass ($200), each offering select access to various SVFF events. All SVFF passes are now available. For complete information and online purchase, visit sunvalleyfilmfestival.org. Gail Severn Gallery Artist Receives National Media Accolades “Mistral,” by artist Rachel Cobb, was recently named one of “People” magazine’s top 10 books, one of the best four gift books of the year by “Outside Magazine,” was named a Notable Photo Book of 2018 by “Photo District News” and was the lead picture in the December issue of “Harper’s Magazine.” Cobb is one of Gail Severn Gallery’s December/January featured artists and will be exhibiting at the Christmas Gallery Walk, Friday, Dec. 28. Her book is available for purchase at Gail Severn Gallery.

New Stopgap Measure Among States, Agencies, Nez Perce Tribe Delivers Aid To Struggling Salmon And Fisheries

Idaho Rivers United announced via a press release that the states of Oregon, Washington, the Nez Perce Tribe, and three federal agencies, including the Bonneville Power Administration, have agreed to an interim plan to help endangered salmon and steelhead populations. The agreement requires increased “spill”—which is water sent over spillways at dams rather than through turbines—during the spring season, and requires no additional Idaho water. This measure helps salmon navigate the eight dams and reservoirs on the Snake/Columbia rivers between Idaho and the Pacific Ocean. Water management issues on the Snake and Columbia rivers— and proposed solutions to address them—have implications for fisheries, businesses, agriculture, energy production, local communities and river health. The plan is a temporary measure in a long-running case regarding management of federal dams and their impacts on endangered salmon and steelhead populations filed in Portland’s U.S. District Court.

Advocates Target Bear Baiting In Grizzly Country In Idaho And Wyoming

The Western Watersheds Project announced in a press release that on Dec. 19 wildlife advocates notified the federal government they plan to legally challenge its authorization of bear baiting on National Forest System lands in Idaho and Wyoming for violations of the Endangered Species Act, citing harms to protected grizzly bears and new science on impacts to grizzlies from baiting. The notice starts a 60-day clock, after which they will file the complaint. The U.S. Forest Service used to manage and restrict bear baiting on National Forest lands but in 1995 the agency adopted a “hands-off” policy that largely relegates management of the practice to individual states. Most Western states—including Montana, Washington and Oregon—have banned the practice, but Idaho and Wyoming still allow it on our National Forest System lands in those states, even in occupied grizzly bear habitat. Further, the Forest Service exempts bear baiting in Idaho and Wyoming from its food storage orders on National Forest lands, counter to the purpose of the orders to protect bears and the public. When the Forest Service adopted its baiting policy in 1995, the agency assumed the impacts to black bears and other wildlife, including threatened grizzly bears, would be negligible. The advocates are asking the Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit its early findings and complete a new, updated analysis on the impacts of allowing black bear baiting on National Forest lands in Idaho and Wyoming and, in particular, allowing baiting in areas occupied by threatened grizzly bears.

A bear baiting site. Courtesy photo by Rich Richotte

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY 1, 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

Idaho Power Customers Reporting Solar Scams

A press release from Idaho Power reported than an increasing number of Idaho Power customers are reporting misleading statements and activities from individuals selling solar systems or stating that they are selling services related to Idaho Power. Examples include people claiming to be associated with Idaho Power while attempting to make a sale or using Idaho Power’s name to gain access to the customer’s home. Idaho Power does not: • Sell solar systems or other energy products door-to-door. • Endorse or partner with specific solar companies—we work with all licensed installers. • Visit your home without notifying you first. • Have offerings where customers are “off the grid.” Interconnected solar customers have separate requirements, but they still use Idaho Power’s grid. Detailed information, including FAQs, rules for interconnection, and solar payback calculations, are available on Idaho Power’s website. To speak to an energy advisor, call 1-800-632-6605. If you question whether an individual works for Idaho Power, ask them to produce their employee ID and call Idaho Power to confirm. Suspicious behavior or unwanted trespassing should be reported to local law enforcement. Inaccurate or aggressive sales tactics should be reported to the Better Business Bureau.

act with the singer. The evening begins with wine and appetizers. For concert and ticket information go to sunvalleyopera.com or call Sun Valley Opera at (208) 726-0991.

ERC To Host “Wild Life” Exhibition By Local Photographer R.J. Turner

The Environmental Resource Center (ERC) will celebrate the opening of local photographer R.J. Turner’s exhibit, “Wild Life,” on Friday, Dec. 28 from 5-8 p.m. during the Sun Valley Gallery Association’s Gallery Walk. The exhibit will display a range of images, from African elephants to American mustangs to scenes from Idaho. Turner is an award-winning wildlife and conservation photographer who combines her love for the natural world with her photography to help bring change across continents. She is a Wood River Valley resident and will be present at this event. Complimentary beverages will be served. Those unable to make it during the Gallery Walk can still see Turner’s work, which will be on display at the ERC office (471 N. Washington Ave., Ketchum) weekdays in January from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sun Valley Opera Announces Winter Festival

Sun Valley Opera announced its Winter Festival starting with a gala on Dec. 28 at The Argyros. The evening begins with a concert starring mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich followed by a buffet dinner and dancing to the All Night Diner band. A screening of “The King and I” starring Kelli O’Hara and Ken Wantanabe will take place at the Argyros at 7 p.m. on Jan. 12. Both of these events are new presentations for Sun Valley Opera. Following the tradition of featuring the classically trained voice during its Winter Festivals, the opera has been fortunate enough to have secured world-renowned tenor, Michael Fabiano, who many have seen perform at the New York Metropolitan Opera, for a concert Feb. 2. Fabiano has performed in opera houses throughout the world and with major symphony orchestras. The concert will be preceded by a Diva Party at The Argyros. Irish-American baritone Emmett O’Hanlon, who has performed with Celtic Thunder and with opera companies and symphony orchestras, will star in a Cabaret Concert on Feb. 18 at The Argyros. The winter season ends on March 12 with a Signature Salon Concert in a private home with soprano Emily Fons. A salon concert gives attendees the chance to inter-

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SUN BULLETIN BOARD T H E W E E K LY S U N •

THE WEEKLY

JEEP FOR SALE

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. Absolutely perfect condition, lifted. Brand new oversized rims, brand new oversized tires, sunroof, white with grey leather interior, tinted windows. See to believe it. $11,500. 208-720-1922

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HELP WANTED

Lead Our Team Of Talented Wordsmiths The Weekly Sun currently seeks a part-time news editor to produce and edit high-quality local journalism. • About 25 hours per week, pay DOE. • Would need to be in office Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays. • Responsibilities would include writing approximately two stories per week, writing news briefs and editing news stories written by reporters.

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DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY 1, 2019

UC D E R E RIC

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THANKS FOR THE SNOW Winter images holiday cards for handwritten notes available locally at Chapter One Bookstore, Ketchum and the Hailey Atkinsons’ card stand, by Edith Pendl photos. Happy longest nights of the year!

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PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSIONER

Blaine County is seeking persons interested in serving on the seven-member Planning & Zoning Commission. Applicants must have lived in Blaine County for a minimum of two years. This opening is for rural county residents only. Commissioners are expected to attend a minimum of two evening meetings per month to review and act on various applications using zoning and subdivision regulation criteria. Submit letter stating interest in the position, length and location of residency in Blaine County by January 10, 2019, to Tom Bergin at Blaine County Land Use Office, 219 1st Ave. South, Ste. 208, Hailey, ID 83333 or tbergin@ co.blaine.id.us. Blaine County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Members of the P&Z Commission are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners.

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INTERESTED IN LOCAL CONSERVATION?

Here’s a great opportunity to make a difference! Blaine County is seeking persons interested in serving a voluntary position on the Levy Advisory Board for its Land, Water and Wildlife Program (LWWP). Exciting projects are being considered by the LAB which meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings of every month. To apply, please visit www.blainecounty.org or contact the Land Use Services office at 208-788-5570, for the position description and application form. The application deadline is Thursday, January 10, 2019.

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Happy Holidays

COMME N TA RY

T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 26 - J A N U A R Y 1, 2019

Fishing R epoRt

COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR DECEMBER 26-JANUARY 1, FROM PICABO ANGLER

he biggest news in fly fishing around Idaho these days is the new regulations that are happening on Silver Creek, including that Fish and Game has decided to add a month to the season. From now on, the lower half of the Creek, which normally stays open for catch-and-release fishing until the end of February, will now be open through the end of March. This means more opportunity to fish the big Midge hatches that happen on the Creek when we get those warm March days. It also means we get another month of winter Streamer fishing on the Creek. Fresh snow is in the forecast and this means plenty of low pressure. Low pressure means plenty of hungry fish. Hungry fish means there should be a lot of happy anglers out there. The Big Wood is seeing decent dry-fly activity. Get your Midge box out and get ready for a week of fantastic surface activity. Try Griffith’s Gnats and Trailing Shuck Midges. The Wood River fish will also respond very well to Streamer fishing and Nymphing. If you are Streamer fishing, fish dark colors on dark days and bright colors on bright days. If you are going to run Nymph rigs, fish big flies like Girdle Bugs in the deep water and fish micro-Nymphs in pairs in the shallower water. Standard winter flies like Zebra Nymphs and Brassies are all one needs—just have a few different color combinations to try. Fish these under a strike indicator and stay on the move until you catch one, and then stay put, as there will be more! Fish group up in winter water and, once found, anglers can find great numbers of fish. If you decide to head over to the South Fork of the Boise, or the Lower Big Lost River, take all the same flies you would use on the Big Wood. It is a very user-friendly time of year. Use your 6X tippet on dry flies; fish 5X tippet on your micro-Nymphs; fish 4X to bigger Nymphs; and use 3X fluorocarbon on your Streamer flies! No need to go with long leaders; just fish what you are comfortable with. Merry Christmas, everyone! We want to say thank you for all your support this season. We still have guides available through the spring, so look us up if you are itching to get out there with a pro. Happy fishing, everyone!

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A HOLIDAY ‘TAIL!’

BY FRAN JEWELL

n the midst of the holidays, I thought it might be fun to share a holiday “tail” with everyone instead of just plain old dog training. I was reminded of a story while talking to my daughter this week about holiday plans with my grandson over Christmas. Way back when, I was a single mother with my daughter, Jessica. In order to have a Christmas tree, I always bought a pass from the Forest Service for $5 so we could make a traditional family outing of going out into the woods and cutting down our own tree. We went every Thanksgiving weekend and it became a steadfast tradition. We had two dogs then—Tazzi, who was my air-scent search and rescue dog. She was also my daughter’s 4-H dog and obedience dog. Taz was a Delta Society-certified pet therapy dog that accompanied me to the Blaine County nursing home many years ago. The second dog was Hattie. Hattie was my first German shepherd and a rescue herself. I got her at 8 months old. She, too, was a 4-H dog; she did junior showmanship with Jessica in AKC, obedience trials and air-scent search and rescue. Hattie was featured in Elise Lufkin’s book, “Second Chances.” Every year, from the time Tazzi was very young and my daughter was about 12, we would take her with us to get the tree. I had a sled-dog harness for Taz, since I also did skijoring with her. We would put the harness on and let her pull the tree out of the woods back to the car. Tazzi loved this outing and apparently remembered what to do every winter. As Taz got older, and we then got Hattie, I thought it would be wise to let Hattie pull the tree out of the wood since Taz had pretty severe arthritis in her knees. Tazzi, however, had other

Hattie is on the far left, sitting, and Tazzi is the only one with floppy ears sitting next to Hattie. They were the best of friends! Photo by Fran Jewell

plans. After we had Hattie all harnessed up and started to head down the ski tracks back to the car, Tazzi stopped Hattie, stood in front of her, barking and barking at her. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what this was about. Then it dawned on me that Tazzi was not going to let Hattie take over HER job to drag that tree back to the car! So, off came the harness from Hattie. I got Tazzi all harnessed up and began down the trail. Tazzi’s tail wagged the whole way back to the car. I, however, held the top of the Christmas tree to make it lighter so Taz didn’t have a very heavy load to haul! It was hard to imagine that such a simple

task, from year to year, could become so meaningful for a dog. However, it is testimony to the loyalty and dedication that our dear, loving companions have. I hope everyone has a grand, warm, loving holiday. P.S., don’t forget the dog! Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.

COLUMN SKETCHBOOK HIKING

RING (SKETCH) IN THE NEW YEAR IV

BY LESLIE REGO

y New Year’s resolution is easy: get out and draw! No matter how often I hike and sketch, I always feel like I could have done more. So every year I renew my pledge to take (and use!) pencil and paper during my hours spent in the field. Last year I resolved to draw more in the wintertime, braving the cold. I did pretty well, drawing snow scenes and delving into fallen snow on pine branches. This year I am going to follow the advice of Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), an American artist whose drawings I adore. He has several beliefs I find illuminating. Wyeth said, “It’s a moment that I’m after, a fleeting moment but not a frozen moment.” Life is composed of many many moments. If we try to capture them all, it becomes a frustrating, impossible task. My winter drawing last season taught me to be quick— keep it simple, get the story, and don’t get bogged down in too much detail. Wyeth said, “When you lose your simplicity, you lose your drama.” Winter drawing forces me to focus on the story… even have an inkling of it ahead of time. Some fast lines, a few big shapes, and then rely on memory to complete the image. Frozen hands taught me this quickly. Andrew Wyeth also commented, “I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape—the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn’t show.” The winter world is full of spare lines. Withered phantoms of plants poke their heads through snowscapes. Contours are hidden beneath a frozen world. Information that is plentiful in the summertime is left out. The sparseness allows the artist to fill in, to

Leslie Rego, “Spare Lines of Winter,” watercolor.

let the imagination run freely. Wyeth felt that “if you clean it up, get analytical, all the subtler joy and emotion you felt in the first place goes flying out the window.” Winter drawing does not give me time to get analytical. It allows for first emotion, for a direct application, and then get inside and get warm by the fireplace. And, finally, Andrew Wyeth maintained that “most artists look for something fresh to paint; frankly, I find that quite boring. For me, it is much more exciting to find fresh meaning in something familiar.”

This will be my fourth year writing Sketchbook Hiking. I have written almost 200 articles! Each article focuses on our natural surroundings and includes a sketch. Every season I explore the forests, the trails, the mountains, the snow, the lakes, the streams, and the wildlife in our area. I can attest to Wyeth’s statement that it is more exciting to find fresh meaning in the familiar. Leslie Rego is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, artist and Blaine County resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit leslierego.com.

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY 1, 2019

COLUMN ON LIFE’S TERMS

HARDNESS OF HEART

her death. His inability to soften the hardness of even part of his heart has destroyed the loveliest The phrase “hardness of heart” has stayed woman he has ever known. with me ever since I read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s In this holiday season, it may be that we open works as a student. Hawthorne considered that our hearts a bit more, with good music, spiritual the worst sin, and explored this loathsome human energy, the gatherings of family and friends, and behavior in his memorable novel, the happy emotions of celebratory “The Scarlet Letter,” which chronsurroundings. Even Facebook has icled the suffering inflicted upon fewer diatribes and more sweet Hester Prynne by a cold-hearted images. society. His prized and complex Being human, most of us occashort stories also often deal with sionally exhibit hateful emotions. characters possessing hard hearts, I like to think of myself as trying many closed to the joys of softenmost of the time to be positive, ing one’s edges. Hawthorne’s exhopeful and kind. I do slip away plorations of vices and virtues are from that goal of goodness, of highly provocative and entertaincourse. I am sometimes tempted to ing literary gifts. gossip, a practice I have fought to One of my favorite tales is “The remove from my tendency to want Birthmark.” Alymer, a brilliant JoEllen Collins—a longtime to joke and make people laugh. scientist, weds Georgina, an ex- resident of the Wood River Dishonorable comments, I have quisite and much desired young Valley— is an Idaho Press learned through bitter realizations, woman who has a small birthmark Club award-winning colum- hurt the bearer more than the ofon her face. The usually porce- nist, a teacher, writer, fabric ten-absent victim. lain-tinted skin of her left cheek artist, choir member and The one thing I can be proud of displays a tiny, rose-colored image unabashedly proud grandma is that this year I finally let go of of a small hand that is hidden when known as “Bibi Jo.” a quiet grudge I have nurtured for she blushes. Other men and former years against a woman who insultsuitors have considered this unusual physical im- ed, publicly, my intelligence when I was applying print as a singular and even intriguing symbol of for a potentially wonderful job. At last I underher unique beauty. stand that my resentment has only been a negative However, Alymer develops a growing disgust to me. I will never know what private problems for the flaw she exhibits and can’t control. He is she may have had when she made that comment, inordinately proud of his success as a scientist nor will I waste the precious moments of this life and accepts only perfection in his life pursuits in such destructive thinking. and accomplishments. It is increasingly evident So, cheers to this time of year and cheers to that he has no room in his heart for anything that minds like Hawthorne’s, who remind us of the doesn’t add to his egotistical self-pride. His ob- need to find the beautiful in others and nurture session with removing his bride’s flaw drives him the best in ourselves. Open, not hard, hearts can to create a potion that removes the image from help. her face but poisons her soft heart, resulting in BY JOELLEN COLLINS

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

LIVING IN THE SNOW

BY HANNES THUM

enerally speaking, life (as we know it) does not thrive in the cold. The whole history of life on this planet has been characterized by access to warm sunlight, liquid water, and the mild temperatures that Earth’s atmosphere moderates so well. Where those conditions exist, such as in places like tropical rainforests and shallow coral reef ecosystems, species exist in mad abundance. Where those conditions do not exist, such as in the far polar reaches or way up in the alpine regions, life gets spread out pretty thinly. There are a few exceptions to the concept of life (as we know it) flourishing in warm-ish, sunny-ish, wet-ish places, I should say. But, most of those examples are so wild and weird and outside the normal sphere of how we understand life that I consider them to be less examples of what life can do on Earth and more examples of how strange life can be off Earth—in other words, they might give us a foundation to considering how life might exist elsewhere in the universe. Back to the point: life on Earth. More specifically, life on Earth in winter. Wherever life originally evolved, and whatever that environment looked liked, I guarantee you it didn’t look like this valley does in winter: the short days with meager sunlight; the cold temperatures; the snow that smothers plant life and tears the bottom floor out of the food chains. None of this is condu-

The exterior of a quinzhee facing the entrance. Public domain photo, accessed via Wikipedia

cive to the development of living creatures. Yet, life finds a way, even in winter and even in thischallenging landscape. And, one of the most fascinating techniques that species in our valley use to survive winter is to live within or below the snow itself. There’s a term, derived from Latin, that describes the physical space below the snow: “subnivean,” which means under the snow. So, the animals that live beneath the snow, tunneling through it to find food or chase prey and even creating small shelters within it, are the subnivean creatures. It can be surprising to people, who are used to considering snow as a cold substance, to realize that snow can be an excellent insulator and that tunnels and shelters made out of snow can actually

be quite warm. It is especially surprising to some of my students who dread our winter camping trips until they find out, in the field, that they can actually sleep well in a well-built quinzhee, igloo, or snow cave—with the body heat of a mammal warming the inside, the shelter will get plenty warm. Our local animals, long adapted to seek ways to create niches of life in the harshness of the cold climates, know this well. And so they find ways to keep their tiny fires of life lit until springtime thaws the landscape again. Hannes Thum is a Wood River Valley native and has spent most of his life exploring what our local ecosystems have to offer. He currently teaches science at Sun Valley Community School.

NEWS GUEST COMMENTARY

Ketchum Should Maintain Rights Granted To YMCA In 2005 Lease & Parking Agreements

ourteen years ago, Ketchum residents took to the polls and overwhelmingly passed an initiative that effectively launched the Wood River Community YMCA. The initiative directed the city to lease a portion of the Park & Ride lot on Saddle Road to the Y. Therein was unleashed the most successful public/private partnership in the history of Blaine County. With the city’s promise of available land for development and parking, a group of volunteers executed an audacious plan to raise funds to build a 66,000-square-foot YMCA. Their promise and commitment to the community and donors entailed building a spectacular facility that would offer incredible year-round programming to residents and visitors alike. The Y over-delivered on its promise and the positive impact on our community is extraordinary. Today, the Wood River Community YMCA is approaching a crucial crossroads at which upcoming decisions by the city leaders will have far-reaching consequences for the organization as well as for the community. The mayor and the city council are currently debating plans for development on both the north and south ends of the Y, which will unquestionably impact the Y, its members and the Y’s ongoing operations. Under consideration are plans that would eliminate nearly 70 percent of available parking spaces at both the north and south ends of the Y’s leased footprint, spaces currently used by Y members, carpoolers, skiers and other recreationalists on a yearround daily basis. Historically, the Y has enjoyed an incredibly positive relationship with city leaders. In 2005, when the Y signed its lease with the city delineating the Y’s phased development footprint, the planning and zoning commission and city council discussed the need for significant Y parking outside the building lease but within the Park & Ride lot. A comprehensive parking study was conducted and the city determined that 150 spaces on the non-leased portion of the Park & Ride would be necessary for the Y’s success. After signing the lease agreement, the Y entered into a parking agreement with the city “providing adequate parking for YMCA activities.” Your current elected city officials have backtracked on this commitment, a commitment heartily endorsed by their predecessors. They have determined that Y parking, as described in the 2006 parking agreement, is merely “permissive” and subject to limitation and revocation by the city. They consider the Y’s need for adequate parking to be a “nonexistent alleged entitlement” and shouldn’t constrain the city’s development plans. When presented with letters written by former Mayor Randy Hall and Councilman Baird Gourlay describing the intent of the original agreement and the spirit of cooperation that existed between the city and the Y, Mayor Bradshaw bizarrely stated that, “the city does not agree with the recollections as stated in the letters.” Last month, in the spirit of cooperation, the Y presented a proposal to the mayor and city council that would recognize the Y’s original leased footprint as well as clarify the city’s obligations under the current parking agreement, while still endorsing the city’s significant proposed development initiatives. Unfortunately, the city rejected the proposal in executive session without even allowing a public discussion. YMCA volunteers and donors are frustrated and saddened by Ketchum City officials’ disregard of the commitments they made in the 99-year lease agreement signed in 2005. The terms of this agreement are crucial to the Y’s ability to fulfill its promise of financial viability and future development to all residents of the Wood River Valley over the next 86 years. As stewards of this promise, the Y’s volunteer board will vigorously defend, by all means necessary, the rights granted in the 2005 lease and parking agreements. Dan Turner Wood River Community YMCA Board Member Submit A Letter To The Editor Do you have a response to a story or letter we’ve published, or some new thoughts you’d like to share with the community? Submit a letter to the editor. Please include your full name and in which city you reside (unincorporated Blaine County if you live outside city limits). Published letters don’t necessarily reflect the opinion of The Weekly Sun or any of its staff members. Email letters to publisher@theweeklysun.com.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ski free on all BCRD Nordic Trails Sunday, January 6, 2019

The Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) announced Sunday, Jan. 6, skiing will be free all day on the BCRD Nordic Trails, including Galena Lodge trails, the Harriman Trail, Prairie Creek, Billy’s Bridge, North Fork and Durrance Loops, Lake Creek and Quigley Nordic. Current trail conditions and grooming updates can be found at bcrd.org or by calling (208) 578-XSKI. BCRD and Galena Lodge snowshoe trails are also offered free of charge on Jan. 6.

T H E W E E K LY S U N • D E C E M B E R 2 6 - J A N U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 9