The Weekly Sun, June 27 - July 3, 2018 by The Weekly Sun

THE WEEKLY SUN RESPONSIBLE LOCAL JOURNALISM. • BELLEVUE • CAREY • HAILEY • KETCHUM • PICABO • SUN VALLEY • WHAT TO KNOW. WHERE TO BE.

F R E E | J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018 | V O L . 1 1 - N O . 2 6 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

Business News Valley Firm Works To Improve Green Investing

Nonprofit News The Advocates To Provide ‘Safe Housing First’

Arts News Broadway Producer & SV Opera To Bring Major Stars To Valley

“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” ~Benjamin Franklin

For information about this photo, see “On The Cover” on page 3. Photo courtesy of Idaho Democratic Caucus

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 13 - 19, 2018

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

THE WEEKLY SUN CONTENTS

jane’s artifacts arts / / crafts / / papers / / office / / party

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DRAWING PENCILS GRAPHITE & CHARCOAL 100 COUNT 12 SHADES The Wood River Valley will celebrate the Fourth of July with events from north to south. For a story, see page 12. Photo by Dana DuGan

THIS WEEK J U N E 2 7 - J U L Y 3 , 2018 | VOL. 11 NO. 26

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ON THE COVER Quagga Mussels, an invasive species in Idaho, have infested a Gem State license plate after just three months of the plate being submerged in Lake Mead, Nevada. For more information about invasive mussels in Idaho, see “Guest Commentary” on page 11. Photo courtesy of Idaho Democratic Caucus Local artists & photographers interested in seeing their art on our cover page should email submissions to: mandi@ theweeklysun.com (photos should be high resolution and include caption info such as who or what is in the photo, date and location).

THE WEEKLY SUN STAFF 13 W. Carbonate St. • P.O. Box 2711 Hailey, Idaho 83333 Phone: 208.928.7186 Fax: 208.928.7187 AD SALES Brennan Rego • 208.720.1295 • brennan@theweeklysun.com NEWS EDITOR Dana DuGan • news@theweeklysun.com CALENDAR EDITOR Yanna Lantz • calendar@theweeklysun.com COPY EDITOR Patty Healey STAFF REPORTERS • Jesse Cole• Dick Dorworth • Faye Prekeges • Emilee Struss news@theweeklysun.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Mandi Iverson • 208.721.7588 • mandi@theweeklysun.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Chris Seldon • production@theweeklysun.com ACCOUNTING Shirley Spinelli • 208.928.7186 • accounting@theweeklysun.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brennan Rego • 208.720.1295 • publisher@theweeklysun.com DEADLINES Display & Community Bulletin Board Ads — Monday @ 1pm brennan@theweeklysun.com • bulletin@theweeklysun.com Calendar Submissions — Friday @ 5pm calendar@theweeklysun.com www.TheWeeklySun.com Published by Idaho Sunshine Media, LLC

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

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conscious consumer can use her purchasing power in many ways. Michael Pollan, the food writer and activist, often says, “Vote with your fork” when discussing food politics. The same is true for the environment, sustainability and gender issues. With money to invest, even if it’s not millions, consumers can use their power to effect changes by investing dollars in products, industries and services they support. The challenge of green investing is to increase personal wealth while avoiding harm to people and the environment. “If you’re not investing socially responsibly, you’re a socially irresponsible investor,” said Mark George, the founder and president of Accord Capital Management in Ketchum. “You have to be one or the other.” And it’s not all hemp and windmills, either. Investors can directly support industries they believe in, from water conservation, healthcare, green construction and e-commerce, to companies that build batteries to store alternative energy and organic food systems. “Green investing is becoming more requested,” George said. “In fact, this is the evolution of finance. It’s as simple as this: Do you believe we’ll be driving diesel trucks in 20 years, or will we be driving super-efficient quiet electric cars? Where do you want to put your money?” Millennials are not only on the forefront of this movement—they are the driving force. According to the Pew Research Center, by 2019, millennials will outnumber the famously outsized group of post-war babies known as boomers. Boomers changed a variety of ways investment was accomplished, including the invention of the 401(k)-retirement savings program 35 years ago. “Simply by money flow alone, these conscientiously social and environmental investments will experience an inflow from millennials,” George said. “It’s the coolest and biggest piece of this topic, and it’s happening.” Green investing is not a fad. According to Chris Wedding, of Iron Oak Energy Capital, more than a trillion dollars has been invested in the clean sector alone in the last four years alone. George, who has been in the investment business for 25 years, believes the act of socially responsible investing is better for the soul. He said that at one point he’d merged his own company with another but felt like he was losing his soul. “So I changed my business model,” he said. “I want to live my own truth through my business.” George calls himself a bridge for people who want to change their relationship with their money. “Some people’s investment portfolios represent everything to them—their children, their homes, their passions, their livelihoods, their future,” he said. “Yet 90 percent of investors often don’t ever know what they own in those portfolios. I noticed a disconnect. I truly believe that financial advis-

ers have an obligation to inform. I see my job as mentoring people’s portfolios and their knowledge while creating appropriate goals that are balanced with prudent risk decisions. My advice is what’s prudent given a client’s time horizon and priorities in life.” What George and other fund managers do is build portfolios with a mix of companies. It’s called diversification. The United Nations has 17 goals on sustainability for the planet. Among them are water, housing, energy, education, gender equality, hunger, poverty, work and economic growth “I took that and used it as a foundation of themes that I pick for my conscious portfolio [a group of stocks, bonds and funds],” he said. “When you own things that generate income, there are many layers of diversification. We don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket.” The success of these portfolios shows that investing green and being financially lucrative are not mutually exclusive, but there are some myths about Wall Street that one must wade through. “I believe our government is inappropriately influenced by special interest groups and campaign finance,” George said. “So our vote is our dollar. We need to express our values and have a voice with our dollar in order to see the changes we want in our society and economy. Which is why we choose to support and invest in companies that share our beliefs. It’s traditional finance integrated with value-based investing. I do rely heavily on common valuation metrics, such as price-earning ratios and dividend yields, but I’m integrating them with investors’ values and beliefs. In doing that, I’m empowering investors’ voices.” According to the Morgan Stanley Capital Index (MSCI), an influential index manager tracked by fund managers, socially responsible investments have higher performance, higher dividends, lower stock-specific risk, and lower systemic risks. Another financial advisor, Kristin Hull, of Nia Global Solutions in San Francisco, uses another socially responsible benchmark: gender. “Financial inclusion is a significant part of how we will achieve gender equity,” Hull writes on her blog. “Currently, women receive only 4 percent of venture capital funding. As investors, we all need to check our biases to ensure we are directing capital to women, and not missing opportunities by inadvertently excluding this half of our population of startup businesses. Is your bank providing loans to women entrepreneurs? Are the lending companies in your portfolio on board to lend to women and women-owned businesses?” These investment methods are part of an environmental, social and governance integration known as ESG. “This is an approach to delivering a portfolio that’s part of both worlds,” George said. “It’s a new frontier. The common language doesn’t exist. You can keep your blue-chip stocks, but little by little you’ll end of being a convert. You don’t have to drink all the Kool-Aid, you can add a little water.” tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

NEWS NONPROFIT

JUNELiberty26–JULY 15 Theatre, Hailey

Plans show for the new facility on River Street, in Hailey. Schematic by Hollis Rumpeltes Architects, courtesy of The Advocates

THE ADVOCATES BREAK NEW GROUND Safe Housing Project will give abuse victims more support BY JESSE COLE, INTERN TO TWS

ith over 26 years of experience providing support and safe housing for abuse survivors in the Wood River Valley, The Advocates will expand in order to reach out to even more men, women, and children. This expansion comes in the form of a new building on River Street, which will be part of the organization’s new program, Safe Housing First. Safe Housing follows the success of a program The Advocates first developed three years ago called Domestic Violence Housing First, which provides assistance for victims of abuse to obtain and maintain housing. “When people are in an abusive relationship, often they rely on their partner to help pay the rent or the mortgage, and then when they finally get to the point where they are ready to leave, it can be difficult,” said Tricia Swartling, CEO of The Advocates. “Either they can’t afford to stay in the house or they can’t find a place they can afford. We do have an apartment building on River Street right now, but it’s always full and has a wait list.” The Advocates decided to build upon the achievements of its Domestic Violence Housing by transitioning to the Safe Housing First project. The decision to create a new building stemmed from the continual shortage of affordable housing in the community and the difficulty created therein for the organization’s clients. “The whole idea behind the need for this project is that our clients are struggling leaving abusive relationships because they can’t find housing of their

own independently,” Swartling said. “We’re building these safe-housing units for them, helping them get on their feet and then transition to something in the community that they can afford.” The 18 new safe housing units will be highly rent subsidized in order to make them affordable for victims of abuse. In addition to the new building, The Advocates will also expand its existing space for client services and prevention programs. While the new building will be constructed on a vacant lot donated to the organization, The Advocates will also be remodeling one of its current buildings, adding two stories to the structure. This will combine the staff who help walk-in and phoning clients, program support staff, and fundraising staff onto the first floor. The other two floors will be apartment units. “It will be really nice because we’ll be a stronger staff team, and it will also be more confidential for shelter clients because they won’t have all the walk-in traffic from people not living in the shelter,” Swartling said. The project will be phased and have two parts, with the expectation that the main building will be completed by September of next year and the second building will be completed the following year. The Advocates has raised $2.76 million of the $5 million in funding required to complete the Safe Housing project. Funding is entirely donation-based. “The great thing about the Valley is that people are always willing to help,” Swartling said. The Advocates will break ground for their new building next Friday at noon.

NEWS IN BRIEF

ONE MAN’S VOICE CHANGED THE SOUND OF AMERICA’S STORY

Songs and Writings by

Woody Guthrie

Conceived and Adapted by

Peter Glazer

Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements by

Jeff Waxman

Woody Guthrie’s American Song is generously sponsored Carol and Len Harlig, Dan and Jodie Hunt and the Roy A. Hunt Foundation and Jeri L. Wolfson in support of The Center’s BIG IDEA project We the People: Protest and Patriotism. Company of Fools’ 23rd Season Sponsors: Arrow R. Storage, Big Wood Landscape, Linda and Bob Edwards, Ginny and Peter Foreman, Marcia and Don Liebich, 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

Celebrating Our Country’s Freedom With You

Happy Fourth of July! From Your Local Independent Agency

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NET Makes Drug Trafficking Arrest On Thursday, June 21, members of the Blaine County Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) arrested Joell Elaine Bullock, 56, of Twin Falls, for the sale and trafficking of controlled substances in Blaine County. NET officers charged Bullock with two felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance, stemming from two separate occasions where Bullock reportedly sold hydrocodone, also known as Vicodin, to a confidential informant in Blaine County. On June 21, investigators observed Bullock selling 361 hydrocodone pills valued at nearly $4,000. On March 12, Bullock sold 115 hydrocodone pills valued at $1,380 with her daughter and infant granddaughter in the vehicle.

Community. Compassion. Commitment.

“Blaine County is no exception to the illegal drug and opioid crisis affecting the nation,” said Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins. Bullock was arraigned Friday, June 22, in Blaine County Magistrate Court, and was released on a $2,500 bond. NET is a multijurisdictional task force made up of officers and deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Ketchum Police Division of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sun Valley Police Department.

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

Purchase your tickets for the Animal Shelter of Wood River Valley’s

Dog Days of Summer July 25, 2018

NEWS HEALTH

A VISIT WITH TOM PERAKOS

Following a Tony Award win, producer sets sights on ‘Salute to America’ at the Sun Valley Pavilion BY DANA DUGAN

Original Artwork: Tracy Lang “Cast of Characters”

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Senior Manager Of Medical Imaging Given President’s Award Last week, Dr. David Pate, CEO of St. Luke’s Health System, recognized Kandis Pederson, senior manager of Radiology at St. Luke’s Wood River, with a President’s Award. The President’s Award was established in 1990. Her peers nominated Kandis for “going above and beyond job expectations,” according to a press release from SLWR. Tanya Furlong, senior director of Operations at SLWR, cited numerous examples of Kandis being an exceptional leader, including setting up a quarterly system ultrasound meeting to increase communication and put protocols in place to improve consistency across the system. “She created a team that has high morale and feels supported,” Furlong said. “Every day she demonstrates what it means to put the patient first, working tirelessly with her staff, peers and physicians from across SLHS to improve quality outcomes and the patient experience.” Kandis began her career in 1998. This past year, she earned a Master’s of Radiologic Sciences degree through Weber State University, in Ogden, Utah. “She is a true role model when it comes to excellence and the belief that you can do anything you set your mind to,” said Cody Langbehn, SLWR administrator.

“Nothing is as beautiful as something you don’t expect.” From a song called “Something Different,” by David Yazbek, from the Tony Award-winning musical “A Band’s Visit,” that one line sums up the play itself. The musical is not only beautifully different, but has proved to be unexpectedly successful, as well. One of the producers of the play, Thomas S. Perakos, a part-time resident of the Wood River Valley, is a philanthropist and investor in various shows, including the current revivals of “Carousel” and “My Fair Lady,” as well as past hits “Billy Elliott,” “Moon for the Misbegotten,” “Dream Girls,” and the stunningly original “War Horse.” He clearly has a nose for great shows. On Saturday, July 7, in association with the Sun Valley Opera, Perakos and his nose have helped facilitate another show: “Salute to America the Beautiful,’ at the Sun Valley Pavilion, with Broadway actors Sutton Foster and Brian Stokes Mitchell accompanied by the America Festival Chorus & Orchestra. There will be appropriately timed fireworks going off of Dollar Mountain to finish the show. Perakos, who grew up in Connecticut, acted as a child in shows at the Repertory Theatre of New Britain. On the Saturday before the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre (Tonys) were held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Perakos attended the groundbreaking for the Thomas S. Perakos Arts Center, which he gifted to his alma mater, The Gunnery, in Washington, Conn. after nine years of efforts. By weekend’s end, “The Band’s Visit” had earned 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Perakos called it a “miracle weekend.” “It is absolutely the highlight of my career, for two reasons: I got involved from the get-go, and I’ve never been associated with a more beautiful cast —that in reality is a family—than the cast and crew of ‘The Band’s Visit,’” he said. “Bar none.” “The Band’s Visit” is the story of a snappily dressed Egyptian police band whose travel plans go awry. They find themselves in Bet Hatikva, a desolate Israeli town, for one night of drifting connections, yearnings, revelations, and incredible music that seems to organically swell up from each character’s deepest feelings. Perakos became involved more than three years ago. “I was contacted by someone I knew from the film industry, John Hart, who said he had the potential rights to make this movie into a musical. As a favor, I watched the movie right here,” Perakos said, pointing to the large-screen TV in his home at Flying Heart in the mid-Valley. “I was blown away by it,” he said. “It’s an incredible humanitarian tale for our times. I said ‘John, if you can get the right director and cast…’ I said it was a tremendous roll of the dice, but if ever there was a humanitarian cross-cultural story that resonates and would have a tremendous impact on anyone with a brain, this is it. I put in seed money and enhancement capital with an option for a Broadway run.” The show was staged at the Atlantic Theater Company for under $300,000, and then moved to Broadway as a roughly $10 million production. Just after it opened on Broadway last fall, Ben Brantley, writing in The New York Times, called it “One of the most ravishing musicals you will ever be seduced by.” Perakos is indisposed to rest on his laurels. He said he will hope to have “another potential blockbuster” to announce in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, two more shows he has invested in are coming along: “Jagged Little Pill,” based on the Alanis Morissette song, and the story of The Temptations, “Ain’t Too Proud,” is currently on the boards out of town. (In Broadway parlance, that’s anywhere not New York City, such as Boston, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles). As well, Perakos intends to co-sponsor a revival of the musical “Ragtime,” in New York City, with its original cast, including Audra McDonald, by the end of the year, “if the original cast can agree on the right night on which to do it,” he said. The proceeds will benefit the nonprofit The Ac-

Thomas S. Perakos holds a Tony Award belonging to Orin Wolf, the producer of “The Band’s Visit,” at the Tony Awards. Perakos calls Wolf the “hardest working producer in the business.” Photo courtesy of Thomas S. Perakos

tor’s Fund, a charity Perakos is most passionate about. “Between those three shows and my philanthropic adventures, I have very little time to think, or fly fish,” he said. For now, his focus is on ‘Salute to America.’ Last year, Perakos brought in the Broadway star Kelli O’Hara for a show at the Pavilion—also with Sun Valley Opera—and he wondered if he could possibly top the “beauty and magnitude of that evening.” “Then God spoke to me and said, ‘Bring her back, or bring Sutton Foster and Brian Stokes Mitchell,’” Perakos said. “In my honest opinion, Sutton is the best song and dance actress on the Broadway stage today.” Stokes Mitchell and Foster are well-known names on Broadway, two-time Tony Award winners and TV actors. Stokes Mitchell, who was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame, has won, or been nominated for, Tonys and other major awards, for such shows as “Kiss Me Kate,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Ragtime,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” and “Shuffle Along.” Stokes Mitchell has also sung at many venues spanning jazz, opera, pops, country, and musical theater worlds. Foster has appeared in such shows as “Anything Goes,” for which she won a Tony, “Shrek,” “Young Frankenstein,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Little Women,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (another Tony Award), “Les Misérables,” “Annie,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Grease.” She has also appeared in several off-Broadway shows, solo events and on television including the “Gilmore Girls” and “Younger.” As part of the entire weekend of events, there will be a Diva cocktail party with entertainment by Avenue B, Thursday, July 5, and Perakos will also host a private dinner for Sun Valley Opera on Friday, July 6. “With stars of this magnitude, we hope to sell enough tickets to ‘Salute to America’ to open the lawn for concertgoers this year,” Perakos said between a multitude of micromanaging phone calls. “I think it’s going to be a one-off, over-the-top concert—a guaranteed experience people will never forget. Run, don’t walk, to get your tickets.” Perakos admitted that after the whirlwind of his Tony and Gunnery school weekend, he is now “completely in the zone” for ‘Salute to America,’ “starring two of the greatest stars you can imagine, and my good friend, Craig Jessop,” the former conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1999-2008. Jessop will conduct the America Festival Chorus & Orchestra, which he founded in 2008, for the show at the Sun Valley Pavilion. Perakos has a philosophy with legs: “If you stay focused, you can make your dreams come true.” For tickets to the Diva Party and the Pavilion show, call (208) 622-2135, visit sunvalleyopera. com, sunvalley.ticketfly.com or purchase tickets at the Sun Valley Resort’s box office. tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

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NEWS HEALTH

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Dr. John Medina, author of The New York Times’ bestseller “Brain Rules,” will deliver the keynote presentation to kick off the 2018 Sun Valley Wellness Festival at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 29, at the Sun Valley Opera House. Photo courtesy of Sun Valley Wellness Festival

HEALTHY DAYS ON TAP IN SUN VALLEY Renowned health festival to return

BY YANNA LANTZ

ump-start the journey to healthier living with the Sun Valley Wellness Festival, returning to the Wood River Valley for its 21st annual conference June 29 through July 2 at the Community School campus in Sun Valley. Considered one of the top wellness events in the United States, the festival will feature more than 15 high-profile speakers, workshops, classes, music and more. “This is an exciting time for SVWF as we present this year’s event at a new time and centered from a new location,” said Andria Friesen, the new SVWF president. “In our previous two decades, the festival was held on Memorial weekend. This year, we enthusiastically move into the summer season and we also have a new and exciting location and partnership with the Community School in Sun Valley.” Developmental molecular biologist Dr. John Medina will deliver the keynote presentation to kick off the 2018 Sun Valley Wellness Festival at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 29, at the Sun Valley Opera House. Divided into three parts, Medina’s keynote “Mindfulness, Nostalgia and the Human Brain” focuses on how external activities such as educational experiences and mindfulness training boost memory and processing speed. The author of The New York Times’ bestseller “Brain Rules,” Medina will also present “Attack of the Teenage Brain” at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, in the school’s auditorium. “Amid our new speaker selection process, we learned that brain health and gut health are the top two areas folks in this community are most interested in learning about today,” Friesen said. “We were fortunate in securing brain expert Dr. Medina as our keynote speaker and, additionally, we have nationally recognized gut doctor, Dr. Steven Gundry.” In addition to Medina and Gundry, other featured speakers include Sharon Salzberg, Preethaji Krishna, Dr. James Doty, Warren Farrell, Susan Eirich, Jacob Glass, David Pond, Rabbi Naomi Levy, Molly Barker, Colleen McCann, Lynn Hankes, Dr. Devra Davis and Joan Borysenko. “To be in our rural area and have access to these widely recognized presenters is an exceptional opportunity,” Friesen said. “For example, Warren Farrell, one of our featured speakers, has been chosen by the Financial Times as one of the world’s top 100 thought leaders, and by the Center for World Spirituality (in 2011) as one of the world’s spiritual leaders. Dr. Davis, another featured speaker, is a Nobel Prize winner. Our roster is content-driven and our speakers are world class.” Community members and visitors can enjoy several free events throughout the festival. Join Toni Childs and Traci Ireland for a Gratitude Water Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28, on campus. There will also be several free guided hikes with Amber Larna and guided meditations throughout the weekend with David Pond and the Oneness/O&O Academy from Boise. “The Experience Hall is another aspect of the festival free and open to the public,” Friesen said. “It holds an array of wellness practitioners, vendors and products. Visitors will find everything from the latest in wellness technologies to rare crystals from around the world. And Saturday evening, The Dance Commander Experience shall be on campus. It will be an energetic dance party outside and free to all.” Passes and tickets for the Sun Valley Wellness Festival can be purchased online at sunvalleywellness.org, where a complete schedule of events is available. tws

NEWS PHOTOBOX

Funds Sought For Hailey Parade ‘Bucking Car’ Since the early 1980s, the grand finale of Hailey’s Days of the Old West Fourth of July Parade has been the “Bucking Car.” However, this tradition of over 35 years is in danger of being lost. Last year was meant to be the last time the bucking car graced Main Street, due to wear and tear on the vehicle, but Hailey resident Lowell Thomas, owner of Classic Drivers in Ketchum, plans to squeeze one more year out of the current car and hopes The “Bucking Car” bounces down Main Street in Hailey during last year’s to raise funds to convert Fourth of July parade. Photo by Dana DuGan another vehicle into a bucker for next year’s parade. Many different makes and models have bucked their way down Main Street over the past 35 years, according to Thomas. The current version is a 1972 Ford Thunderbird. “The car was brought into my shop and we checked it out,” Thomas states in a recent news release. “The current model has been bouncing down Main Street for 12 years, bringing us smiles and laughter. These vehicles were not designed to take this kind of abuse, but there is another year of fun still left in this car.” Thomas is looking for funds to help repair the current car and to buy another 1970s’ Ford car to convert into a bucker for the future. “From a nickel to those $20 bills I do so like,” Thomas states. “Donations can be dropped off at my shop or at The Chamber office.” For more information, call Thomas at Classic Drivers, (208) 928-7139. tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

SUN BULLETIN BOARD THE WEEKLY

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PARKING AMBASSADOR ABOUT YOU You enjoy meeting new people so much it’s like you’ve never met a stranger. You often find yourself starting up conversations when your waiting in line. You enjoy helping people learn new things and are the first one to volunteer to assist in training. Your desire to be active and help people means you are always in motion. WHAT WE NEED A customer service superstar who will provide helpful and friendly service to our customers. A positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile is a must! Our parking ambassadors provide not just great customer service but also assist our customers by providing accurate change for cash transactions and instruction on the use of the automated parking equipment. WHAT WE OFFER Advancement opportunities and flexible schedules. A generous compensation package that includes medical, dental and vision coverage and a company sponsored health savings account. We also offer, paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays. Oh, and you get to work with a truly awesome team. Pay Rate: $13.00hr (DOE) Schedule: Various schedules available including both full and parttime positions. Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen. Apply at TheCarPark.com/JoinOurTeam or send your resume to HR@ TheCarPark.com

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

SPONSORED FEATURE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Accidents Abound Valleywide Throughout the Valley, accidents are occurring due to an increase in vehicles on the streets and people unfamiliar with the area. Two separate rollover accidents occurred at opposite ends of Blaine County on Wednesday, June 20. Deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to both accidents. The first crash occurred at approximately 1:38 p.m. on State Highway 75, about a mile north of Smiley Creek Lodge. Kevin Harter, 19, of Ketchum, was driving too fast to make the corner, southbound on Hwy. 75. His back wheels fishtailed off the road while attempting to brake, forcing the vehicle off the road and rolling approximately two times before again sliding off the roadway. The vehicle hit a bank, sending it airborne and spinning approximately 180 degrees, coming to rest on its wheels approximately 50 feet off the roadway. Harter had no passengers and was wearing a seatbelt. He was treated for minor cuts and transported by Ketchum Fire and Rescue to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, where he was later released. Harter’s Nissan Infiniti received extensive damage and was towed from the scene. The second crash occurred at approximately 2:25 p.m. on Punkin Center Road approximately one mile south of Byington Way, near Gannett. Faviola Ruiz, 23, of Bellevue, was driving a grey 2007 Mercury Marquis with her two minor children, ages 4 years and 10 months. Ruiz was reportedly looking over her shoulder into the backseat when her vehicle went off the edge of the road. Ruiz attempted to regain control but the vehicle rolled. Ruiz was wearing a seatbelt and both children were in car seats in the back of the car. No one was injured and Ruiz’s vehicle was towed from the scene. On Friday, June 22, a vehicle pursuit occurred at 9:30 p.m. An Idaho State Police trooper was following a silver 2011 Volkswagen Jetta north out of Bellevue going about 26 mph in the southbound lane. Victor Torres-Vargas, 32, the driver, of Hailey, refused to pull over. He was seen putting his hands—with his middle finger extended— out of his sunroof. A sheriff’s vehicle, parked along the highway near Woodside, was struck by Torres-Vargas as he continued driving north. Finally, a spike strip was laid down on the highway near S. 4th Ave. and Main Street in Hailey. “He was extremely intoxicated,” Harkins said of Torres-Vargas. Torres-Vargas was eventually arrested for attempting to elude police, which carries an automatic revocation of driving privileges. Two more rollovers occurred: On Friday, at Timmerman junction, a Mountain Home man, Steven Short, had minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The other occurred at 12:23 p.m. Saturday, June 23. Perri Gardiner, 32, of Twin Falls, was southbound when a bee flew in to her Ford Explorer. Gardiner is allergic to bees, and tried to swat it away, said Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins. She lost control, overcorrected, and rolled the vehicle before ending up back on the highway and sliding about 60 feet southbound on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Gardiner was transported to St. Luke’s Wood River, where she was treated and released. There were no citations issued in either case.

Alumni Reunion Planned At Community School The Community School All-Alumni Reunion will take place from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at the school’s Trail Creek Campus. Enjoy wine, beer, appetizers, and fun company and conversation. Significant others and family members are welcome. RSVP to bit.ly/CSalumnireunion18, or contact Liz Kantor, Events & Alumni Relations manager, at lkantor@ communityschool.org, or call (208) 622-3960, ext. 165.

Reclaim Idaho Camper To Visit Hailey Luke Mayville of Reclaim Idaho and the Medicaid Expansion camper are on a Vote Yes tour of each of Idaho’s 44 counties in the distinctive green camper. This week, Mayville will be at the Hailey Farmers’ Market at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 28, to talk with people about the fiscal and community advantages of Medicaid Expansion Earlier this year, Reclaim Idaho collected the required 56,192 signatures needed to place the measure on the ballot in November. Passage of the bill would close the health coverage gap for approximately 62,000 Idahoans.

NAMI-Wood River Valley Will Present At National Conference The Wood River Valley affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will be a presenter at the NAMI National Conference in New Orleans, La., June 27-30. The conference features more than 75 workshops on ‘best practices’ for affiliate members from across the country to learn from. Topics will range from “Policy and Advocacy” to “Living Well with a Mental Health Condition.” Christina Cernansky, NAMI-WRV executive director, and Amber Leyba-Castle, intern, will discuss the organization’s teen support program called the Bluebirds. The program is held at the middle and high schools once a week to offer support and team-building exercises through activities such as creating vision boards, walking dogs, skiing, carving pumpkins, and decorating cookies. This activity-based support group is an anonymous, safe space for teens to come together and talk about their trials and tribulations as they transition into adulthood. “We started Bluebirds hoping to shed light on how we all have ups and downs,” Leyba-Castle said. “Sometimes we have ‘blue days,’ but then we will remember that we can fly.’ We also loved the song ‘Zip-a-Dee-DooDah’ and its message that we should remember that plenty of sunshine will be coming our way.”

Blaine County Education Foundation ‘Back To School’ Campaign The Blaine County Education Foundation and The Advocates are partnering with several businesses to provide back-to-school supplies for students in need in Blaine County. “With over 1,400 students receiving free and reduced lunch programs in Blaine County School District, a family living in poverty may find it difficult to choose between school supplies and basic necessities like food,” said Kristy Heitzman, executive director for the Blaine County Education Foundation. To help families in need, BCEF will purchase supplies ranging from backpacks, paper and pencils to calculus calculators for students depending on the school and grade that the student will be attending in Blaine County School District this 2018/2019 school year. This program has provided over 300 backpacks to students in need for the past few years. Families should register at supportbcef.org or call Heitzman at (208) 578-5449 by Saturday, July 14. Community members can help out by volunteering to assemble backpacks in August. People can also donate to BCEF for the “Back to School” campaign at supportbcef.org. Contact Heitzman for either service.

Nasby Carranza. Photo courtesy of Nasby Carranza

NASBY CARRANZA Student shines her light BY EMILEE MAE STRUSS

This Student Spotlight brought to you by the Blaine County School District

Sagebrush Soiree To Be Held The Sawtooth Society will present its annual fundraiser, the Sagebrush Soiree, at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at a private home on Shaw Mesa Drive south of Stanley. This year’s event theme, “Building Tomorrow’s Advocates Today,” will focus on the important role of teaching youth to preserve, protect and enhance the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The Sagebrush Soiree will include a silent and live auction, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a sit-down dinner. The live auction will include vacation packages, unique recreational activities and river trips, wines and artwork, along with items created solely for the Soiree.

Our mission is to inspire, engage, educate, and empower every student.

A much-anticipated summer event, the Sagebrush Soiree presents an opportunity to learn more about the Sawtooth Society’s efforts in protecting, preserving and enhancing the SNRA, with Society members, supporters and friends. For tickets and information, contact the Sawtooth Society’s director, Gary O’Malley, at (208) 7212909 or gary@sawtoothsociety.org.

BLAINESCHOOLS.ORG

T H E W E E K LY S U N • J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

COMME N TA RY

Fishing R epoRt

COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR JUNE 27 - JULY 3, FROM PICABO ANGLER

ive on in—the fishing is fine! Anglers are experiencing the best of the best right now as all our area waters become fishable. The hatches are percolating on all our freestone streams, and as the water drops, more and more fishing is becoming available. The Green Drakes have arrived on the Big Wood. This hot-weather bug is best fished in the heat of the day and well into the afternoon hours. The spinner falls happen early morning before the sun hits the water. Look for the spinners flying over the fastest water. If you are fishing the Drake in the morning and see this activity, consider taking a dry-fly Green Drake and soaking it. Fish it in the pool below this fast water with a strike indicator. If you are fishing the Emergence in the afternoon, try the Colorado Green Drake, or the Green Drake Cripple. The South Fork of the Boise is fishing well, although day-today. Expect to see Salmon Flies on the lowest stretches. The Mormon Crickets are out. The big fish will eat a few of these. If you see this, try a Royal Stimulator to imitate them. The Caddis action in the evening can be off the charts and a variety of smaller Stone Flies are great to imitate, as well. The flows are still at boating levels. Silver Creek is fishing very well. The Damsels have come out early and hot afternoons have been good with Blue Damsel imitations. The Baby Hoppers are growing fast and trying a small Hopper on a windy day is not a bad idea. Ants remain great flies to fish, as well as PMD and Callibaetis. Look for Baetis if you are fishing early and late. The Upper Lost may fish well in places. This spotty fishing can be good, but you have to seek it out. The volume in our freestone rivers is still substantial. With that said, be safe out there. Continue to leave your dog at home until we see more reasonable flows. Fish with a tight wading belt—and a friend! Finally, a quick word on Picabo Angler guides and guiding. We want to be sure that everyone knows they can always ask one of our guides for help or advice on the river. We strive to honor the non-guided angler’s space and fun. We will not trespass, or be pushy around other anglers. Your fun is as important to us as our own guests. So if you see our hat on the water, please say hello. We’re here to help! Happy fishing, everyone!

Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com

CAN I LOVE MY DOG TOO MUCH? BY FRAN JEWELL

he media is doing an excellent job of making “loving our dog too much” a completely acceptable and desirable behavior. Just yesterday I saw an advertisement for a dog harness that had a denim dress as the top part of the harness. Cute, you think? Maybe. To me, this is the epitome of loving our dogs too much and turning them into our “children.” Dogs are not people. They are an extraordinary species to adore for what they are, including the fact that dogs do not feel the same way we do or experience life as we do. It is an honor to have them in our homes and enjoy them for their differences. It is not honoring them to turn them into furry humans. All of the pet-product websites refer to dog owners as pet parents. While “parenting” a dog in some regard may be descriptive of owning a dog, the idea that a dog is a child is, frankly, not healthy for the dog. A good parent provides boundaries and direction, while providing a trusting and loving environment. Parents have experienced many of the destructive things in life and will guide their children away from them. However, the term pet parent insinuates that we treat our dogs just like humans, yet it encourages us to let our dogs do whatever they want, sleep on the furniture, tell us when to feed them or when they want a treat and how many treats they want. We indulge them selflessly without understanding

I am so mean to my dogs. I make them sleep in beds too small for them! Photo by Fran Jewell

that the indulgence is harmful to them, just like it is for spoiled children. When we honor our dogs for what they are, we strive to understand what makes them happy. Happiness for a dog does not come from endless freedom. In fact, it comes from knowing what the boundaries are. Building trust with a dog is essential for its happiness. If you are a figure in a dog’s life that it knows will protect it, and what the rules are, that dog is so much more peaceful. Dogs that don’t trust you to be their leader usually express themselves with anxiety, such as separation anxiety, demanding attention and affection, excessive barking, ag-

gression, excessive jumping on people, which literally is a dog saying “Tell me what to do!!” What we may interpret as high energy is many times a form of anxiety. Is anxiety what we want for our dogs? Being a leader to a dog can be difficult because many of us derive personal pleasure from pushy dogs that demand our attention. We find some pleasure in knowing they want to be with us every moment, such as crying at the door to go with us when we leave. We feel loved by them if they are touching or sitting on us all the time. Indeed, sometimes this is real affection. However, sometimes it is a cry for discipline and leadership.

If we can realize that building trust with a dog comes from being a leader and giving loving guidance, and setting rules, then our dogs will be truly happy. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves, “Whose needs are we meeting when we nurture dependence, and not independence?” or, more simply put, when we spoil our 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

WALK LIKE A CAMEL BY LESLIE REGO

illiam Hamilton Gibson, an American naturalist in the late 1800s, wrote that the truism for the woods is that everything comes to the patient ones who wait. Gibson also quoted Thoreau, suggesting that one must “…walk like a camel … for the camel is said to be the only beast which ruminates when walking.” It is glorious to hike from an open sunny hillside into a shaded forest. In our area, most of the heavily forested walks are filled with Douglas fir, which can grow quite tall and broad, especially on south-facing slopes. Shady glens abound within these areas and, upon entering, it is good to begin sauntering. It feels as though there are secretive, jewel-like spots all through the forest. Quiet dainties grow in the deep shade. One such gem is the rock clematis, a member of the buttercup family. Most members of this family enjoy the sun, but some, like the rock clematis, seek the shade. This lovely plant has soft lavender sepals and toothed leaves. It grows as a woody climbing vine. The Greek name, Clematis columbiana, comes from the Greek word klema, which signifies a vine branch that depends

Leslie Rego, “Lavender Sepals,” watercolor.

on other plants for support. The stalks of the leaves wrap around twigs and branches. The side of the stalk that touches the foreign support slows in growth and will continue to wrap several times around the object it encounters. The other side grows normally. I have seen the vine rising quite high and running in length for 10 to 15 feet. In the early morning the velvet

shade of the forest enriches the soft purples of the flowers, making them appear regal. The vine adjusts itself to the undergrowth, climbing over fallen logs and around several different plants as it recedes up the mountainside. I don’t think I am exactly ruminating, but I am sauntering, enjoying every moment as I peer through the shadows to find the gently glowing sepals.

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 •

J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018

COLUMN ON LIFE’S TERMS

GUEST COMMENTARY MICHELLE STENNETT

IN A WORD

discovered who my biological parents were and located surviving family who have now emhe word “relinquish” is a rather cold le- braced me fully. One of them is my biological galistic term, usually followed by the mother’s son, a brother born 10 years after I was. words “rights” or “possessions.” A few I am filled with joy. weeks ago, the Superior Court What is hard for me to grasp now of San Francisco honored my is the record that, in court, my birth request for copies of the procemother, in person, “relinquished” dures granting my adoption/reme to the care of the CHS until a linquishment long ago. suitable adoption happened. Later, I have led a rich life, due when the court approved my adopmainly to my having grown up tion, the Giffords saw that fact and with the most loving family one knew that my biological mother could imagine. My adoptive had certainly held me in her arms parents, Helen and Ted Gifford, and had been alive when I was “regave me affectionate support linquished” to that institution. So that helped me survive life’s why the fiction that she was not tragedies and disappointments. alive? They and my larger family never I swear that, when I was 29, the made me feel “adopted.” last words my mother Helen spoke Why I didn’t choose to learn to me when she lay dying were, JoEllen Collins—a longtime about my biological histo- resident of the Wood River “Honey, there is something I’ve ry years ago was threefold: I Valley—is an Idaho Press Club always wanted to tell you.” A puzadored my family, knowing I award-winning columnist, a zle to me then, I now think that she was in the right place, I was told teacher, writer, fabric artist, wanted to reveal her secret, to let that my young birth mother had choir member and unabashedly me know that somewhere (though died in childbirth, and, further- proud grandma known as “Bibi remotely) I might be able to locate more, records of adoptions were Jo.” another woman to love me. “irrevocably” sealed in CaliforSome adoption experts have posnia. A search seemed moot. ited that perhaps that was what new However, from records provided to me 10 years parents were told to tell their adoptees so those ago by the Children’s Home Society (CHS) of children wouldn’t think they weren’t worthy of California—minus names of people or places—I keeping, but I find that odd. Certainly my parents sensed that my biological mother had not died, gave me enough love to negate that thought. So but had given me up. Since both of the parents why? What a secret to keep—just another burden who raised me are gone, I can’t confirm what they for Helen, who never bore babies but opened our actually knew. Were they told by the CHS that doors to others, two adopted and three or four she my birth mother had died, a statement I can well cared for after their family tragedies required her imagine given to prospective adoptive parents in mothering. the dark ages of negative judgments toward “Illegitimate children”? In the past couple of months I have, indeed, tws

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

MUSING ON CORMORANTS

BY HARRY WEEKES

t is the middle of June and I am sitting on a deck overlooking Long Island Sound. A double-crested cormorant pops up, its sleek black head as much aquatic reptile as bird, and the rumination begins. Over the next couple of days, I both see and remember cormorants. There are the birds hunting along the granitic outcroppings. Cormorants always bring their catch to the surface to eat them. This is invariably interesting, particularly when the fish is one of the flat ones from the bottom, seemingly much wider than the neck. The bird fights with the fish, constantly adjusting it until it is able to engulf it whole. As comical as the adjustment and surface struggle is the expansion of everything on the bird to accommodate the fish—its once streamlined head is now completely fish-shaped. There is the bird at the end of the sea wall, keeping an uncomfortable eye on my wife and me as we swim toward it. Eventually, the bird can’t take it, and explodes off the rock, galloping across the water, fighting to get into the air. There are the birds right where you would paint them, hunched, sleeping, dark silhouettes lined up on the powerlines, the perfect foreground to a flaming sunset. There are the birds of memory. One of my favorite childhood books was “Ping,” a story of a wayward duckling struggling to get back on his boat in the Yangtze River. At one point, he hooks up with a Chinese cormorant fisherman, whose trained birds with silver necklaces return to the surface with their catch. And there is something else, too—something that I have allowed—which is for birds to connect me to things. Yes, it is to connect to the world around me. To wonder what types of fish these birds catch, and where they go in the winter, and to wonder if the birds in front of me are the same ones from previous years, or relatives, or new birds entirely. It is also to let birds highlight and challenge my thinking, to connect me to how I think. Cormorants. If someone had asked me to free associate with these birds, the following would surface. Ungainly birds. Prehistoric. Reptilian.

Double-crested cormorant. Photo by Mdf, accessed via Wikimedia Commons

Awkward. They struggle to fly, need to dry their wings, and are, by most accounts, weird. And all of this I think… for no obvious reason and counter to all of my direct observations. Cormorants move through the water with a grace that rivals otters, hunting and CATCHING fish with their mouths. No matter how much you laugh at or criticize their aquatic, pre-flight pedal pumping, the end result is FLYING. This bird has the ability to land and SLEEP on a wire the diameter of a magic marker. For all the birds, this trio—flying, swimming, and perching—is a trifecta very few can do, and even fewer with the consistency and mastery of the cormorant. Stereotypes and biases are like this—strange habits and simplified patterns of thought, often based on incomplete pieces of information, and frequently antagonistic to and barriers against our deeper understanding. Cormorants produce less oil than other aquatic birds, which results in them needing to air-dry their feathers. Their characteristic open-wing display is often thought to indicate a primitive, even “stupid” evolutionary holdover. We are just starting to realize that after 30 million years, perhaps this lack of oil serves a different purpose—it lets cormorants stay under water to hunt longer. In other words, they produce just the right amount of oil. There is an ancient wisdom in birds and in the biology around us. In my experience, I just need to take a little more time to appreciate it. Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. He has lived in the Wood River Valley and within five miles of the

Michelle Stennett. Photo courtesy of Idaho Democratic Caucus

IDAHO NEEDS STRONG BORDERS TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC WATERWAYS BY SEN. MICHELLE STENNETT IDAHO SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER

story broke this month about a boat being stopped at the Washington-Idaho border. At first blush, it might seem like an odd event to draw news coverage. However, it wasn’t the boat the inspectors were interested in—it’s what was on the boat that made them nervous. What they found on that boat were zebra mussels. Inspectors are also on the lookout for quagga mussels. Collectively, we refer to both species of mussels as “invasive” species. These invaders have hard shells, multiply by the hundreds of thousands, and are generally no bigger than a fingernail. We must strengthen our state’s borders to make sure they never take root in our public waterways. Believe it or not, Russia and Ukraine do pose a big threat to Idaho—the zebra and quagga mussels trace their origins to waterways in those countries. Over the past few decades, they have made their way to the United States via overseas cargo ships. They first surfaced in the Great Lakes and have steadily moved west. To date, Idaho has remained “mussel-free,” thanks in part to the diligent men and women who protect our borders at inspection stations. They are trained to search and sanitize boats that enter our state. These mussels could be devastating to Idaho. Just how devastating? One estimate puts the annual price tag for dealing with these invasive species at $90 million. That’s every year. That’s just Idaho. These mussels can attach themselves to just about anything—dams, hydroelectric gears, irrigation systems. They can destroy beaches and shorelines. If you fish, farm or boat, you are a potential target. Being a rural legislator representing Camas, Gooding, Lincoln and Blaine counties, that means just about every one of my constitu-

ents is at risk. To date, zebra or quagga mussels have not entered Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alberta, or British Columbia, but they are present in many other Western states. Diligent border inspections and an informed, cooperative public are critical to protecting those borders from aquatic invaders. I recently spoke with inspectors along the Idaho-Montana border. They told me about the frustrations boaters experience when stopped. However, when these inspectors explain the threat invasive species pose to Idaho, most boaters understand. The problem is, they can only do so much. None of our border checkpoints are open 24 hours. Many boaters enter our state after dark, without being inspected. Furthermore, the federal government needs to take charge of foreign waterways where the mussels are already present. The feds have jurisdiction over lakes Mead, Powell and Havasu—three of the most mussel-infested waterways in the West. Every boat coming out of those contaminated waterways should be inspected before they leave the shore—let alone cross into another state. As someone who represents rural Idaho counties, I cringe at the thought of these things getting into irrigation pipes or hydroelectric machinery. The price tag is just as nerve-wracking. Summer boating in Idaho is a generations-long tradition. But please understand the threat Idaho faces and support our border inspectors. You don’t want to make the news as the person who brought invasive species into Idaho. Sen. Michelle Stennett is the Senate Democratic Leader. She represents Lincoln, Camas, Gooding and Blaine counties in the Idaho State Legislature.

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

J U N E 27 - J U LY 3, 2018