2 May 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 | M AY 2 - 8, 2018 | V O L . 1 1 - N O . 1 8 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

Nonprofit News NAMI Has Many Events Planned For May

Education News Sage School Plans Farm-To-Table Feast

Election News Blaine County Commissioner Candidates Share Their Visions

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” ~Marcus Garvey

Contractors, move out of your truck & into our space!

191 Sun Valley Rd. Ketchum ID | 208.622.9300 | ketchumworks.com

For information about these photos, see “On The Cover” on page 3. Public domain photos accessed via Idaho Transportation Department’s Historical Photo Archive (itd.idaho.gov/photohistory)

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

NEWS

IN BRIEF

Final Signatures Submitted For Ballot Initiative On Healthcare

Voters across Idaho will file the final signatures this week for a November ballot initiative to bring quality, affordable healthcare to 62,000 people by expanding Medicaid in the state to those caught in the “health coverage gap.” Over the past several months, a diverse group of volunteers collected signatures from citizens covering the entire political spectrum to qualify the initiative. “Locally, we had over 50 people gather signatures in Blaine County,” said Molly Page, Blaine County leader. If passed, the measure would provide vital healthcare, create new jobs, reduce medical bankruptcies, bring millions of healthcare dollars into the state, and produce significant savings by reducing uncompensated care for those who lack health coverage. In states that previously expanded Medicaid, studies also show increased economic activity as a result. “These are moms and dads who work hard in jobs that don’t provide health coverage, and people who are nearing retirement who have lost their jobs,” said Emily Strizich, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho, the grassroots group that started the ballot campaign. “Many have been forced to put off needed care and haven’t been able to see a doctor in years.”

Travel Back In Time With ITD’s Free Historical Photo Archive

The history of Idaho is very much intertwined with the history of the state’s highways and roads. Early pioneers built the Gem State by carving highways and byways into diverse landscape. From rolling hills, fertile plains and lush meadows, to stark desert and rugged mountains, highways connect them all. People now have the opportunity to uncover that

early highway history through a free online archive of more than 30,000 historical images. ITD’s free photo collection is at itd.idaho.gov/photohistory.

Ski Education Foundation Makes Personnel Changes

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation recently announced a change in leadership, naming Scott McGrew its new executive director. McGrew succeeds Sam Adicoff, who will step down June 30. Involved with SVSEF in multiple capacities, Adicoff will continue to support the organization on a volunteer basis, and will help ensure a smooth transition. “I have enjoyed working with the athletes, parents, board of directors and especially our very dedicated staff, who are the real heroes of the organization,” Adicoff said. McGrew, a Hailey resident, said he was honored by his selection by the board. “For the past 15 years that I’ve been professionally involved with the organization, I’ve seen a magnificent amount of evolution and change,” he said. “I’m excited to steward that continued evolution as we work to provide impactful and transformative experiences for our community. SVSEF has a longstanding heritage of excellence through sport, and I’m excited to build on that heritage and further define SVSEF as one of the highest regarded winter sports clubs in the country.” McGrew was a SVSEF member of the alpine program from the age of 8 until he graduated high school. Seven years after his career as an athlete with SVSEF, McGrew rejoined the organization as a coach. Since 2014, he was the alpine program director. McGrew oversees the largest SVSEF program; with over 300 alpine athletes and 45 coaches, there are a lot of moving parts. McGrew has worked to grow south-Val-

ley initiatives, implemented numerous programmatic changes resulting in accelerated growth and professionalism of the team, and generated and nurtured support for the organization as a whole. A former member of the U.S. National Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Will Brandenburg will take over as alpine program director. Brandenburg grew up racing with the Spokane Ski Racing Association and Schweitzer Mountain before being named to the U.S. Development Team in 2006. On the World Cup circuit, Brandenburg had a best finish of sixth in the slalom at Kranjska Gora, in Slovenia, in 2012. In 2013, he finished first in the combined at the U.S. Alpine Championships. He joined SVSEF in 2015 as the USSA Team head coach, and was the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Western Region coach from 2017-2018. In other personnel changes, SVSEF athletic director and interim mogul program director Phil McNichol will leave as of June 30. With organizational restructuring, the athletic director position will be eliminated. Also leaving the organization at the end of June is Jody Zarkos, the director of events and community relations. Zarkos has been with SVSEF for seven years, and has held numerous roles for the organization throughout her tenure.

ArborFest Will Host Mud Run

The City of Hailey will host its eighth annual ArborFest & Mud Run on Saturday, May 12, at Hop Porter Park in Hailey to celebrate earth, trees, and fun in the mud. The centerpiece Mud Run is a challenging obstacle-course event that draws mud-loving extreme sports enthusiasts into the area and event proceeds benefit trees and local businesses. ‘Mudders’ can register in advance at the Blaine County Recreation District office or Hailey City Hall, or on the day of the event. Family members, friends and those not interested in competing in the Mud Run race challenge are invited to the park for the day to cheer on the participants and enjoy a festival atmosphere with food, beverages and live music. Activities run all day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and the 2018 Arbor Day Proclamation will be read at noon. For details on these and other upcoming events, go to haileyidaho.com.

The STigmaFree campaign iS nami’S eFForT To end STigma and creaTe hope

For ThoSe aFFecTed by menTal illneSS.

Through powerFul wordS and acTionS, we can ShiFT The Social and SySTemic barrierS For ThoSe living wiTh menTal healTh condiTionS.

TogeTher, we can breakdown The barrierS oF STigma in our valley!

Join nAMi for MentAl HeAltH And Wellbeing ProgrAMs Poo Wright Pulliam, Marie Stewart, Kirk Anderson & David Raucordially invite you to the

Journey to Wellness Art Show Thursday, May 3 For more information, please contact the NAMI office 208-481-0686, info@nami-wrv.com or go to www.nami-wrv.com/art

Journey to Wellness Art sHoW

Thursday, May 3 | 5pm - 8pm Old Post Office | 311 1st Ave N., Ketchum

erC CleAn sWeeP

TO REGISTER, PLEASE GO TO NAMI-WRV.ORG/BIKE bike to Work, bike to sCHool dAy

Friday, May 18th | 6:30 am – 9:00 am | Wood River Trail Bike Path

sWing fore reCovery - 5b oPen golf tournAMent

Friday, September 21 | 12pm Check-in | 1pm Shotgun Start Elkhorn Golf Course | Sun Valley

Saturday, May 7 | Check-in 9am 471 Washington Ave. N, Ketchum

HeAltHy Minds, HeAltHy living book Club

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown Wednesday, May 9 | 6:30pm - 8pm Iconoclast Bookstore | 111 N 1st Ave G, Hailey

biking for MentAl Wellness, A stigMAfree ride

Saturday, May 12 | 9am - 3pm Start: YMCA or BCRD | Finish Line: St. Luke’s Ketchum

Hope starts with you

SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2018

lunCH And bingo At tHe senior ConneCtion Every Tuesday | 11:30am - 2pm

Mindfulness WitH furry friends: Get over Hump Day for Better

Mental Health and Well-being at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley | Every Wednesday | 10am - 4pm

Weekly suPPort grouPs for Adults (Tuesday nights), Teens (Tuesday at the WRMS & Thursday at WRHS) and Family Members (monthly on Wednesday).

NAMI-WRV is a non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of persons with mental illness by providing education, support, and advocacy.

NAMI-WRV.com or call 208-481-0686

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

THE WEEKLY SUN CONTENTS

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

GIFTS for Mother’s Day See the comedy “Buyer & Cellar” by Jonathan Tolins from May 10-20 at Whiskey Jacques’ in Ketchum. For a story, see page 12. Photo courtesy of Sawtooth Productions

New from Michel

Beautiful kitchen accessories from Tag

THIS WEEK M A Y 2 - 8 , 2018 | VOL. 11 NO. 18

Business News

Commentary

Calendar

Grumpy’s Restaurant To Celebrate 40th Anniversary Award-Winning Columns, Letters To The Editor

Bath foams and soaps every Mom will love.

Beautiful and Unique Gifts

Stay In The Loop On Where To Be

ON THE COVER

These photos—from Idaho Transportation Department’s recently released (and free) historical photo archive, which contains more than 30,000 images— show a past perspective of Sun Valley (dates unknown). For more information on the archive, see News In Brief on page 2. Public domain photos accessed via itd.idaho.gov/photohistory 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

Don’t forget a greeting card for your Mom! 106 S. MAIN, HAILEY • 208.788.0848 • JANESARTIFACTS@COX.NET

Thank you for voting us Best of the Valley 5 years in a row!

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 • JoEllen Collins • Dick Dorworth • Kelly Eisenbarger • 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

Gold - Best Insurance Agency: Wood River Insurance Silver - Best Insurance Agent: Chad Howard Bronze - Best Insurance Agent: Hailee Blomquist-Mintz

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 • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

NEWS NONPROFIT

Thursday, May 3, NAMI-WRV will present its second annual art show, titled “Journey to Wellness.” Photo courtesy of NAMI-WRV

‘JOURNEY TO WELLNESS’ NAMI to host art show & bike ride

T PROTECT THE PLACES YOU LOVE

Support the Wood River Land Trust for Idaho Gives Day -Thursday May 3, 2018! Follow Frank, our mascot, as he tours the Valley. You can Follow Frank on our social media platforms or meet him in person. Frank and the Land Trust team will be at Perry’s in Ketchum from 7:30-10am and at the Red Shoe in Hailey from 5-7pm. Every dollar donated to the Land Trust stays local! To make a donation, please go to Idaho Gives page: www.IdahoGives.org/organizations/wood-river-land-trust

Follow Frank

BY YANNA LANTZ

he National Alliance on Mental Illness– Wood River Valley will present a series of events for awareness in honor of May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. Additionally, these events will help support NAMI-WRV’s ongoing StigmaFree campaign, designed to develop ways for the greater community to help reduce/ eliminate negative connotations commonly associated with mental illness. Thursday, May 3, NAMI-WRV will present its second annual art show, a “Journey to Wellness,” hosted by Wood River Valley artists Poo Wright Pulliam, Marie Stewart, Kirk Anderson and David Rau. This year’s show builds off the success of the inaugural “Starry Night Art Show” last year. Artists are invited to donate works of art, in any medium, which represent or relate to the concepts of stigma, recovery and the “Journey to Wellness.” Pieces will be auctioned off and funds raised will go toward NAMI’s four ongoing support groups and other related services in the Wood River Valley. From 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 3, the “Journey to Wellness” Silent Auction will take place at 311 1st Ave. N., in Ketchum. “This event is a wonderful opportunity for connections with artists and their concern for mental well-being through their generosity of creativity,” said artist Marie Stewart. “For those who purchase the donated art, their support is for all in the shared spirit of raising public awareness for NAMI.” Saturday, May 12, NAMI-WRV invites the community and Valley cyclists to participate in NAMI-WRV’s “Biking for Mental Wellness: A StigmaFree Ride.” Participants are encouraged to dress

up in costumes. Prizes will be awarded for most creative, best theme and largest group. Prizes include staycations in Stanley, Boise and Sun Valley. The rides will commence at the Wood River Community YMCA in Ketchum or the Blaine County Recreation District in Hailey, and end at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center with food trucks and other vendors. “The NAMI-WRV StigmaFree Ride has no rules, no time constraints and is relaxed—the way life needs to be sometimes,” said Christina Cernansky NAMI-WRV executive director. “Last year, we had some great participants turn out in great costumes. It will be hard to beat last year’s fun.” Cyclists of all levels are welcome to participate in the StigmaFree Ride, and anyone can sign up for the family-friendly bike ride. Check-in will take place between 9-11 a.m. and festivities at St. Luke’s will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. NAMI-WRV’s board president, Bellevue Mayor Chris Koch, and board secretary, Ketchum City Councilman Michael David, announced a friendly competition between their cities in the hopes of winning one of the costume prizes for their respective teams. In 2017, Koch’s team, the employees of the City of Bellevue, were costumed as superheroes. “The civil servants of Bellevue have been putting together some creative ideas for this year’s competition,” Koch said. “We’re ready to take this to the next level and win the competition.” For more information, call the NAMI-WRV office at (208) 481-0686, email events@nami-wrv. com or visit nami-wrv.com/art. Additional events, support groups and resources can be found online at nami-wrv.org.

Help Wanted Healthy outdoor seasonal job. Work with the earth at private homes gardening as part of our small crew. Seeking fun, cooperative, responsible, honest, physically fit, energetic team members performing all aspects of gardening, landscaping, installation, maintenance. Almost full time, 30 + hrs/wk M-F, end of April thru mid/end of October. PT option too. Excellent work receives excellent pay. Email pinetreeblue0@gmail.com with related experience and why this job is for you.

Cyclists of all levels are welcome to participate in the StigmaFree Ride on Saturday, May 12. Photo courtesy of NAMI-WRV

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

NEWS AGRICULTURE

RE-ELECT

Larry Schoen

Blaine County

Squash Blossom Farm uses inventive technology, such as movable heated greenhouses, to extend growing season. Photo courtesy of Squash Blossom Farm

SQUASH BLOSSOM FARM GROWS IN COMMUNITY

BY KELLY EISENBARGER

ut Chestnut Lane in Bellevue, two friendly farm dogs greet you as you visit the parcel of land Squash Blossom Farm calls home. Sara Berman and Ed Zinader are the young couple that runs the upstart sustainable farm. They are a part of the emerging community of new farmers looking to grow sustainably in the Wood River Valley. “We feel that we have come on the scene at a really opportune moment, and hope to contribute to the expanding local food scene both as producers and community members,” Berman said. Berman grew up in Ketchum. Her father, Andy Berman, is the former co-owner of PK’s Ski and Sports. With a family deeply entrenched in mountain sports, Berman took a hard-left turn into agriculture. She was introduced to agriculture in an Advanced Biology class at Community School in Sun Valley. In college, she immersed herself in the world of sustainable agriculture, interning on a sheep and cattle farm and leading the student local food group. Fellow farmer Carol Murphy, of Shooting Star Farm in Hailey, met the young Berman while working with her late husband, Dan Freeman, at The Sage School’s greenhouse. “She comes from a well-known local ski family, but it seemed she really had this personal drive for agriculture,” Murphy said. “I have fond memories of seeing Dan and her working together at the greenhouse.” Zinader’s grandparents were dairy farmers in upstate New York, and he was greatly influenced by their stories of farming as a child. At the University of Montana, he helped develop the student farm, and in the summers he worked on farms in Washington state while migrating to the Sawtooth Mountains to ski guide during the winter seasons. The couple met through skiing, but quickly discovered a deep mutual passion for sustainable farming. In preparation for the short growing season, they have planted their greenhouses and done the prep work for a full acre of vegetable beds outside. They also recently acquired sheep, including two newborns, and will be “acclimating those guys and getting used to having more livestock,” Berman said. “While our farm has grown rapidly over the past four years, we have tried to take things step by step and not get in over our heads as new farmers. Each year has been a massive learning experience, and has allowed us to tweak our systems and make changes to try and do better the next season. We’ve had a big learning curve with water and keeping crops healthy through the heat of the season, but have some new ideas on how to make our farm management more efficient and effective this year.” The couple feels they are in a “great place in terms of our production space and the diversity of products,” Berman said. “Our goal moving for-

Commissioner

To uphold Blaine County’s values of • promoting a safe & tolerant community • balancing growth & environmental quality • cherishing our public lands for all to use • conserving our rural lifestyle & natural resources • fostering productive, respectful relationships ...and to inspire innovative, proactive solutions to our challenges...

EXPERIENCE COUNTS

VOTE

Primary Day - May 15, 2018 & Election Day - November 6, 2018 Squash Blossom Farm believes in healthy soils to sustain vegetable production. Photo courtesy of Squash Blossom Farm

ward is to implement strategies to make our soils healthier and our crop rotations more productive, to achieve greater yields of high-quality produce without expanding production space. We are always looking for ways to work smarter, not harder. “While we are not certified organic, we hold ourselves to high standards that often go beyond the standards of organic certification,” Berman continued. “We believe in growing healthy soils that can sustain rich and fertile vegetable production without the use of chemical or synthetic inputs. Within our small community, we feel confident that we can educate our consumers about our standards, and we invite any customers to visit the farm and witness our growing practices first-hand.” Berman said her mother, Kate Berman, spotted a small unused shed outside a Ketchum bar and plied the owners with a trade for a couple of pairs of new skis to secure the building. The small shed has become Squash Blossom’s movable chicken coop as the farm expands into new areas. “Being a small farm in the Wood River Valley has many benefits, but also puts us in the unique position of farming in a more extreme and generally colder climate than most of our fellow central-Idaho farmers,” Berman said. “Our growing season is several weeks shorter, with cooler temperatures throughout the summer, which makes growing the same crops on similar timelines an added challenge.” Berman and Zinader use season extension technology and special crop varieties to try and grow as much produce at the same time as possible. They see this challenge as also one of their strengths, as it allows them to specialize in some cool-weather crops such as lettuce and spinach, that can’t be grown through the heat of the summer farther south. Squash Blossom Farm will participate in the Wood River Farmers’ Market in Ketchum starting Tuesdays, June 14. The farm’s products are also sold daily at Atkinsons’ Markets and NourishMe in Ketchum. tws

WHO IS LARRY SCHOEN? Larry was first elected Blaine County Commissioner in 2006. He serves on these boards, too: Ambulance District, Friedman Memorial Airport, Southern Idaho Solid Waste District, Region IV Development Association, Magistrates Commission. He works with many local, community service agencies & is active in both the Idaho & the National Association of Counties. He just joined the Idaho Nat’l Laboratory’s Idaho Clean-up Project Citizens Advisory Board. Previously, he served nearly four years on the Blaine County Planning & Zoning Commission, eight years as Carey Fire District Commissioner & as a Blaine Soil Conservation District Supervisor. Larry continues managing his 300-acre farm & is married with two kids in high school.

WHAT IS HIS PERSPECTIVE ON COUNTY GOVERNMENT? Our job is to deliver county government services with professionalism & courtesy, on time & at optimum effectiveness & efficiency. To be able to address big challenges like a major wildfire or flood, rising costs in the justice system or in delivering social services, we must be open to new thinking and prepared at all levels. The county’s financial health is central to its ability to meet or exceed your expectations and be responsive to change. If you’d like more information or campaign materials, contact:

schoenforbcc@gmail.com P.O. Box 87 Bellevue, Idaho 83313 Twitter: @lschoen072 Paid for by: Schoen for BCC, Rebecca Eichhorn, Treasurer

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

NEWS EDUCATION

SAGE SCHOOL TO HOLD FEAST AS FUNDRAISER FOR HUNGER COALITION

Farm-to-Table event highlights lessons learned during yearlong study on local food variety of field trips. “Each tri, we visited different he intersection of food, the places, such as King’s Crown Orenvironment and agriculganic Farm in Glenns Ferry, the ture studies in education is Lamb Weston potato-processing often overlooked, but The Sage plant in Twin, and the IndepenSchool in Hailey has adapted the dent Meat Company meat-prostudy of local food ecology into cessing plant in Twin,” said Jortheir human ecology curriculum. dan Schoen, 17, a junior at The As the penultimate event for Sage School. the students who studied the loIn December, the class of 21 cal food industry throughout the split up into separate Pathway school year, the school’s third ancourses. For the course in “hunual Farm to Table Feast will be man ecology,” they visited Onheld at 6 p.m. Friday, May 11, at sen Farms in Buhl. In “social and the Sawtooth Botanical Garden emotional skills,” they looked at south of Ketchum on Highway food insecurity and food justice, 75. and for “creative expression,” All 10th- and 11th-grade stuthe students created sculptures, drawings and stories. “It’s all about how humans interact with their environments,” Schoen said. “It’s really opened our eyes to food politics. It’s a basic human need, and so common we just don’t think about it; we don’t focus on where it’s from and how food supports the local community. I look at menus, and ingredient lists now. I’m not a vegetarian, but it has changed my eating my habits; it’s made me go more local and healthier.” There will also be a silent auction that will benefit The Sage School’s scholarship fund, with such items as handmade postStudents visited farms and processing plants during the school year. Photo ers, Sawtooth Mountain Guides trips, gift certificates for locourtesy of The Sage School

BY DANA DUGAN

dents will be involved in the sourcing, cooking and serving of the dinner. Local professional chefs will oversee the menu and have guided the students in cooking practices in preparation for the feast. The proceeds from the Farm to Table Feast will be donated to The Hunger Coalition. The majority of the food for the feast will be donated by local farms, including Angel Earth Farms, Squash Blossom Farm, Five Bee Hives, Sage Greenhouses, Cloverleaf Creamery, Starr Weekes and Picabo Desert Farm. The students also went on a

cal businesses, and other exciting eschool.org/feast, and for more items. To purchase tickets to the information email sageschoolFarm to Table Feast, visit thesag- feast@gmail.com. tws

The Sage School has its own nursery onsite where tomatoes are grown and sold to the public. Photo courtesy of The Sage School

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

NEWS BUSINESS

YOU ARE INVITED

BRANCH

grand OPENING

THURSDAY, MAY 17th | 4:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. A favorite of locals and visitors alike, Grumpy's has withstood the test of time. Photo courtesy of Grumpy's

GRUMPY’S HEADS OVER THE HILL Ketchum eatery to celebrate 40th anniversary in style

BY DANA DUGAN

n Ketchum, there is a little hole in the wall that journalists and tourists love to tout as a way to prove they’re in the know. Locals kind of love the place, too. Gary Goodenough opened Grumpy’s back in the bad old days of 1978. Pete Prekeges, who, as part of the good-time staff, became a partner of Goodenough, and then bought the business outright in 2008. Prekeges is also the owner, since 2006, of the Silver Dollar Saloon in Bellevue, This Saturday, from 12-4 p.m., Grumpy’s will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a full-on Cinco de Mayo party. Sold at the celebration will be commemorative T-shirts and hats, with each T-shirt accompanied by a free beer ticket. There will be live music on the deck by Jukebox Widowmakers (Bruce Boyett and Scott Garvin). “It’s always been one of those places you can count on,” Prekeges said. “You can come, not worry about breakin’ stuff, not worry about your kids running around, or being overcharged. It’s the place you take your outof-town friends or meet your in-

A new logo for the 40th anniversary party was unveiled and will be featured on commemorative T-shirts. Graphic courtesy of Grumpy's

town friends.” Big thrills and no frills is how Prekeges likes to describe his iconic burger-and-schooner establishment on Warm Springs Road. Recently, the City of Ketchum approved a later closing time for Grumpy’s through the high summer season. It’s now opened from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from June through September. The rest of the year it closes at 9 p.m. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Prekeges said. “I got to buy the place I hung out at.” tws

RIBBON CUT TING 5:00 P.M.

609 South Main Street

(208) 788-2130

Meet the staff, visit with neighbors, and enjoy refreshments.

NEWS ELECTION

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

NEWS ELECTION

COUNTY COM

DICK FOSBURY ATTEPTS 2ND JUMP INTO POLITICS

Larr

county commissioner.” With Fosbury’s engineering background, he said he undern 1968, Bellevue’s Dick Fosbury won the Olympic high jump stands zoning and that substantive ordinances need to be updated by revolutionizing his sport with what is known as the Fosbury and fixed. Flop. A less-than-outstanding athlete, he had received heavy “The same goes for working on the river with all that that encriticism from coaches and the press for his unorthodox technique tails,” he said. “I’ve worked on many of the applications in the (a local Oregon newspaper called him the “World’s Laziest High Valley. I have a slightly different approach to make things better Jumper”) until he won the NCAA championand help them function more efficiently.” ship, qualified for the Olympics and shocked Born in Portland, Ore., in 1947, Fosbury the world by winning with a new world record. graduated from Medford High School and The Fosbury Flop quickly replaced the tradiOregon State University with a degree in civil tional straddle technique, Western roll, Eastern engineering in 1972. In 1977 he moved to the cut-off or scissors jump. Wood River Valley and co-founded Galena The Flop became feasible when deep foam Engineering with Jim Koonce and served as matting replaced hard surfaces in the landing its president until he retired in 2011. He was area, which necessitated the jumper land on city engineer for the cities of Ketchum for 25 his feet. With foam landings cushioning the years and Sun Valley for 10 years. He overbody’s impact so it wasn’t necessary to land saw design and construction of the Wood Rivon the feet, Fosbury took advantage of this er Trails and Sun Valley Trails for the Blaine new technology and refined his new technique County Recreation District. He was on the and changed high jumping forever. (Though board of directors of KART (now known as he didn’t know it, a 16-year-old Canadian Mountain Rides Transportation Authority), named Debbie Brill was developing a simiand the board of the Wood River Community lar technique at the same time which became I have a slightly different YMCA. known as the “Brill Bend.”) With the county’s planning and zoning approach to make things Recently, Fosbury has jumped into the pocommission, Fosbury said all applications litical arena. In March, he filed as a candidate better and help them function come through them first. for the Democratic primary for Blaine County more efficiently.” “We take the first cut, and then we either Commission District 1. His opponent in the make a recommendation or sometimes we are Dick Fosbury the deciding entity,” he said. “I have a broad race is incumbent Larry Schoen, who was Candidate for Blaine County understanding of our ordinances and what’s first elected in 2006 and is currently serving Commission District 1 working and what isn’t.” his fourth term. The primary elections will be held May 15. In 2014, Fosbury ran against Today, Fosbury lives on a farm near Bellevincumbent Steve Miller, R-Fairfield, for the Idaho State House of ue with his wife Robin Tomasi and continues in his leadership Representatives, and lost by only 126 votes out of 12,696 ballots. role with Olympians and Paralympians. Along with fellow Olym“I’ve been involved in community and governance since I start- pic medal winners Gary Hall and Anne Cribbs, Fosbury founded ed our engineering company 40 years ago,” Fosbury said. “I’ve World Fit, a nonprofit that promotes youth fitness programs and been on Blaine County P&Z for five years, so I have a good con- Olympic ideals. World Fit is part of the world’s largest obesicept of what the job entails. I’m ready to take a run at serving as ty-prevention network. BY DICK DORWORTH

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NEWS IN BRIEF

County Commissioners Fill Open Position

receive up to a $2,000 rebate. Multi-family, commercial or institutional projects can receive up to a $7,500 rebate. There are eligibility requirements for both types of projects. To get started, go to watersmarty.org for all The Blaine County Board of County Commissioners of the program details, application forms, and resource recently appointed Denise Jackson Ford to fill an open position on the Levy Advisory Board for the Land, Water information. The program suits projects that plan to remove lawn and Wildlife Program. and replace it with a permeable hardscape material, like Ford brings extensive natural resource, governpavers, decomposed granite, crushed rock, or gravel. ment and community involvement experience to the Past projects have used these materials for patios, Levy Advisory Board, also known as the LAB. She is a walkways, extra parking, utility areas, and even mulch. licensed landscape architect and a Master Gardener; Drought-tolerant plants on drip can comprise 25 pershe established Altitude Landscape Architecture and cent of the project area, under either type of rebate. Land Planning, LLC, from 2000 to 2015. Ford worked Residential projects need not be large to qualify for for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area of the U.S. a rebate, which helps keep costs down. To be eligible, Forest Service as a landscape architect and member of residential projects must remove a minimum of 500 the Plan Revision Team, and as assistant to the Blaine square feet of lawn, an area equal to 20 feet by 25 feet. County Commissioners. Currently, she volunteers on Multi-family, commercial or institutional projects, which the Blaine County Soil Conservation Service, Blaine are often larger users of landscape water, must remove County Historical Society and is vice-president of the a minimum of 5,000 square feet of lawn. Participants Wood River Middle School Parents’ Association. can either do the work themselves, hire professionals to Current LAB members are Bruce Collier, secretary; do the work, or use a combination approach. Kurt Eggers; Jim Phillips, chair; Alan Reynolds, viceRebate funds are available through two grants: one chair; and Abby Rivin, Rob Santa, Jay Sevy and Lili from the Idaho Water Resource Board and one from the Simpson. Reynolds and Simpson have served on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Both grants end this year, LAB since its formation in 2009. The LAB makes recommendations to the county com- so apply now to reserve your rebate and complete your project by this fall. missioners regarding funding for projects in order to Residential rebate recipients must attend at least achieve lasting conservation of land, water and wildlife. The Land, Water and Wildlife Program, or LWWP, was one workshop held on June 8 or June 9 hosted by the Sawtooth Botanical Garden. Recipients must also meet made possible by a two-year levy in November 2008 that raised $3.4 million. The program is the first taxpay- education requirements for residential rebate projects. For more information and to register, call the Sawtooth er-supported, county-level program in the history of Botanical Garden at (208) 726-9358. Idaho. Citizens and conservation organizations provided valuable input to the design of the program and the specific conservation criteria used to evaluate applications. Sun Valley Center for the Arts recently announced the winners of its 2018 Arts and Humanities ScholarThe program was awarded Best Implementation ship program. Now in its 20th year, the program is an Program by the Idaho Chapter of the American Planning important part of The Center’s mission of enriching the Association in 2015. education of students and educators through transTo discuss a potential project, or for more informaformational arts experiences. A private reception to tion, contact Clare Swanger, LWWP Program coordinahonor the scholarship winners was held at The Center tor at (208) 309-0960 or c.swanger@me.com. in Ketchum in April.

Arts And Humanities Scholarships Announced By The Center

Get Smart About Water

The 26 scholarships awarded by The Center fall into five different categories, each of which allows Wood Water Smarty, the City of Hailey’s water conservation River Valley students and educators to expand their program, has $100,000 available for lawn replacement education in the arts and humanities. The total amount rebate projects in the city. Residential projects can awarded in 2018 is $40,884, bringing The Center’s

BY DANA DUGAN

arry Schoen has served on the Blaine C ty Board of County Commissioners 2006, from District 1, which includes Blaine County south of Fox Acres Road in H and Broadford Road in Bellevue. He is runni retain his seat this month against challenger Fosbury. Schoen, who manages his 300-acre farm s of Gannett, is married, with two teenage chil He first came to the Wood River Valley in and moved permanently in 1991. With a b ground in journalism, Schoen is passionate a communication and collaboration in order to prove the way Blaine County operates. Among the boards Schoen sits on are the B County Ambulance District, Friedman Mem Airport, Southern Idaho Solid Waste District gion IV Development Association, and the M istrates Commission. He also works with m community service agencies and is active in the Idaho and the National Associations of C ties, and the Idaho National Laboratory’s I Clean-up Project Citizens Advisory Board. Previously, Schoen served nearly four yea the Blaine County Planning and Zoning C mission, eight years as Carey Fire District missioner, as well as a Blaine Soil Conserv District commissioner. During his 12-year tenure with the B County Board of Commissioners, he worke changing the county’s budgeting practice “outcome-based budgeting,” which is results ented and highly transparent, as well as mana the county through the long recession so tha day it is in “sound financial condition and ab prepare for the future.” As well during the past dozen years, the c ty commissioners led the efforts to consol

overall scholarship awards since 1998 to $885,397. The Center’s Arts and Humanities Scholarships are made possible by private donations and funds raised at the organization’s annual Wine Auction event. Jack Thornton Memorial Scholarship – a $3,000 scholarship – was awarded to Arika Gourlay, a senior at Wood River High School who will study at the O’Connor Method String Camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, this summer. Gay V. Weake Scholarship – a renewable scholarship of $2,000 per year – was awarded to Jorgen Lawrence, a Wood River High School senior who will study music at Oberlin College, Yale University, Bowdoin College, Vanderbilt University, University of Southern California, Bard College or University of Idaho. The following winners of the Gay V. Weake Scholarship from previous years will receive awards: Lemuel Reagan (2017), Pierson Carlsen (2016), Ashlie Pulleiro (2015) and Haylee Pettit (2015). Ezra Pound Scholarship – a $5,000 scholarship – was awarded to Wood River High School junior Leyla Ba, who will study photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. High School Scholarship – multiple scholarships of up to $2,500 awarded to students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 to further formal studies in the arts and humanities – were awarded to Elva Chen, Anthony Corrales, Paige DeShields, Raine Filbert, Joseph Frye, Jennifer Jordan, Sofia Kinney, Erica Kreczkowski, Luke Osborn, Julia Ott, Khoi Pham, Cole Taylor, Hallie Taylor, Taylor Telford and Esmee Wiethorn. Educator Scholarship – Multiple scholarships of up to $1,200 were awarded to K-12 educators Betty Ervin, Chauncy Gardner, Rebecca Martin and Nicole Moos. “To date, The Center has given just over $860,000 in scholarships to local students and educators,” said Sarah Stavros, education associate at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. “Every year I am always blown away by the generosity of our donors. It is amazing to see how this money transforms students’ lives and how thankful the students are for these amazing opportunities.”

Acc of eve ing ski long-t emplo well a An literac tals an to chil Books recrea event ies pro the co effort munit Now to enh Blaine ness o more and re Con DeAnn how y Reads

Env challe protec oil and prime The Interio lated t Lands eight m Monta Und Depar leases cess a A coalition of libraries, businesses, civic groups and schools from Blaine County will launch 5B Reads, a com- trout a munity literacy campaign inviting citizens to help grow a The love of reading and improve literacy in Blaine County. square Wyom

Everything Starts With Literacy: Become A 5B Reads Partner

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

MMISSIONER SEEKS FIFTH TERM

SPONSORED FEATURE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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Blaine County emergency communications; build a modern, safe detention facility in Hailey; improve the recycling program; and support countywide paramedic service. Ongoing work regarding the Big Wood River after extreme flooding last spring continues to be a major occupation for the Blaine County Commissioners. “We came through the 2017 flood period, in which I was very active,” Schoen said. “We had to respond to flood conditions beginning in January when we had an early thaw. It’s important to know how to respond when people feel threatened in their homes, but people also don’t want to see the [Big Wood] river overly structured. We need to find a balance to protect private property and maintain the river in its functional, natural beauty. The river has changed a lot over the decades; nevertheless, it’s a resource people in our Valley value.” Schoen has led the effort to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to solve issues related to flooding and the river, and fund efforts for a long-term plan for the Big Wood River and the placement of a new Colorado Gulch bridge. He has “genuine expertise on this at this point, and a good relationship with NGOs who have a stake in this, such as the Wood River Land Trust, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy of Idaho and the Idaho Conservation League,” he said. Another core expertise of Schoen’s is in land use. He was chair of a committee regarding the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness Area and trav-

cording to Blaine County School District, one out ery three students must continue to improve readills since they are not proficient at grade level. The term effects of low literacy can impact health, oyment and financial security for individuals as as communities. number of organizations are working to improve cy and grow a love of reading. Libraries, hospind schools provide free books. Volunteers read ldren and conduct story times at local libraries. s are available in doctors’ offices, beauty salons, ation centers and restaurants. Schools hold family s and book fairs to promote reading. Public librarovide reading materials and services that enrich ommunity. The goal of 5B Reads is to help these ts have more impact on literacy and to give comty members an opportunity to get involved. w through 5B Reads organizations can partner hance each other’s efforts to improve literacy in e County. The coalition aims to amplify the awareof low literacy in Blaine County and encourage community support and enthusiasm for literacy eading. ntact LeAnn Gelskey at the Hailey Public Library or n Campbell at The Community Library to discover you or your organization can be involved in 5B s.

onservation Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Trump Policies

vironmental groups filed a lawsuit Monday enging the Trump administration policies that cut ctions for imperiled greater sage-grouse and allow d gas leases on nearly 2 million acres of the birds’ e habitat. e suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Boise, says the or Department’s Bureau of Land Management viothe National Environmental Policy Act and Federal s Policy and Management Act when it approved massive oil and gas lease sales in Nevada, Utah, ana, Wyoming and Idaho. der land-use plans adopted in 2015, the Interior rtment is obligated to focus fracking and drilling s outside of sage-grouse habitat. Sage-grouse sucalso benefits pronghorn, elk, golden eagle, native and nearly 200 other bird species. e lawsuit seeks to reverse lease sales across 475 e miles (1,230 square kilometers) in Montana, ming, Utah and Nevada.

eled to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the designation. Schoen promotes sustainable relationships between the regional, state and federal agency partners. He recently convened the first-ever meeting with the Blaine County and Custer County boards of commissioners to discuss public lands issues. During his tenure, SustainBlaine (now known as Sun Valley Economic Development) was formed. “Before that, we weren’t doing anything,” Schoen said. “There had been so much growth, some people were against it. But we felt it valuable to see how the county could be more sustainable. Contrary to conventional wisdom, putting all your eggs in one basket is not a great idea. We need to look at other options for kids who grew up here and want opportunities beyond construction and tourism.” Outreach is equally important and, as such, Schoen is an “advocate for Blaine County,” he said. “We’re a progressive island in a sea of deep red; whether in Boise or D.C., it’s important for our values to be represented at the state and federal level.” As an elected representative of a multi-county region, Schoen sits on the board and is the chair of a policy steering committee with the Idaho Association of Counties. He is also active in the National Association of Counties, and has organized a conference in the Valley of the Western Interstate Region of the NACo to be held at the end of May. tws

Western Watersheds Project and Center for Biological Diversity also want to block upcoming sales covering 1,800 square miles (4,662 square kilometers) in those four states, plus Idaho.

Movie Addresses Future Of Education

The Community School Parents’ Association will host a free public screening of the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival-selected documentary, “Most Likely to Succeed,” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, in the Community School Theatre. The film offers an inspiring look at what students and teachers are capable of with vision and courage. “Most Likely to Succeed” examines the history of education in the U.S., revealing the growing shortcomings of conventional educational methods in today’s innovative world. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Greg Whiteley, the film has shown in many top film festivals, including Sundance, Tribeca, and AFI Docs. It’s been featured at leading conferences on education. Prior to the film, attendees are invited to a reception with refreshments and appetizers from 5-5:30 p.m.

Watanabe Nominated As Coach Of The Year

Graham Watanabe of Ketchum was nominated snowboarding coach of the year during the Team USA Awards for Olympians and Paralympians. The ceremony was last weekend at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. In only his second year with the program and his first as head coach, Watanabe led the U.S. Paralympic Snowboarding Team to a historic 13-medal showing in PyeongChang, South Korea. Competing in the sport’s second appearance at a Paralympic Winter Games, U.S. snowboarders topped the medal table, winning five of the 10 events and nearly tripling the number of medals won by the next closest nation. Under Watanabe’s tutelage, U.S. athletes shined in the Paralympic debut of banked slalom, winning six medals, and added seven medals in snowboardcross. Additionally, he guided five athletes to gold medals in their Paralympic debuts, including Brenna Huckaby, who won both of her events. Paralympic Nordic ski coach Gary Colliander was the eventual winner. The event will be televised from 8-9:30 p.m. MST Saturday, May 12, on NBCSN.

Courtesy photo by Maddy Hovey

LESLIE ZUNIGA

Student strives to make her family and community proud

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

eslie Zuniga, a senior at Wood River High School, now calls Hailey her home, but was born in Zacapu, Michoacan, Mexico. She has a strong family and circle of pals. “Most of my friends consider me to be very hardworking and caring,” Zuniga said. “If that is so, it is because I want my extended family to be proud of me, especially my mom and dad. My older brothers, now 23 and 26, were always wonderful to me. Now they treat my niece that same way. Their wives are like the true sisters I’ve always wanted. I can always rely on them for understanding and support. Neither brother sought higher education, so I am the first person in my family to go to college, and I think of that as a huge responsibility.” While preparing for her future studies, Zuniga has been able to improve her academic performance. “I realize now that I could have done much better my freshman year, but since then, I have learned better study habits and earned better grades,” she said. “As a sophomore, I discovered the Leadership class, which I especially enjoyed and profited from, like practicing public speaking. I continue to take these classes and have been inspired by hearing excellent keynote speakers. I attended a Leadership conference at Boise State with others from our school, and we worked on developing new ways to encourage school spirit and bring these techniques to our home schools. It was gratifying to be given a voice as students and thus to be able to work better with teachers.” While she thought she might

like to pursue a medical career, Zuniga was recently inspired by a class called Being Bilingual, to be an interpreter in court or in medicine. “I plan on going first for general studies to the College of Southern Idaho and then transferring to Boise State,” Zuniga said. “I will minor in Spanish there. Once I pass tests in the two language disciplines, opportunities would be open, perhaps translating in court or in the medical field.” Last summer, Zuniga attended the Hispanic Youth Symposium in Boise with a few other school representatives, and she remains active in the WRHS club Nosotros United, formed shortly thereafter. “I’d like to be able to go to the symposium again as a mentor,” Zuniga said. “I wish that Hispanics and Anglos would get out of their comfort zones and work more effectively with each other. This is needed everywhere in the world—not just at school. At least we can try to improve our communications. Through positive dialogue in safe surroundings we can find ways to understand each other and gain a global perspective beyond school.” “A major aspect of Hispanic life is the closeness of the family,” Zuniga said. “In 2013, we had a family crisis, and also my grandfather passed away, but we drew close as a result. Now I cherish my family even more. Basically, I try to be positive and look forward to the future.” 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 JoEllen Collins at joellencollins1@gmail.com.

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

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

BLAINESCHOOLS.ORG

COMME N TA RY

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M AY 2 - 8, 2018

Fishing R epoRt

COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR MAY 2 - 8, FROM PICABO ANGLER

few words about kindness and fly fishing. Fly fishing is meant to be fun. It is our chance as adults to play in the water like children and relive little parts of our youth. It is also a time to connect with something deep inside of us that pulls us toward the pursuit of fish and game. In either case, it can be exhilarating, rewarding, relaxing and a great escape from our daily lives. If we stop and think about those anglers that have helped us learn and grow with a fly rod, those are most likely wonderful lifetime memories. Now, switch places and think about becoming the mentor. Think about how that newer fly angler feels as they approach a place like Silver Creek. It does come with a certain amount of fear, confusion and intimidation. Now, as an experienced angler, you have two choices. Increase those concerns of the new angler, or step up and help and make those concerns fade into smiles and confidence! Your grace on the water can directly translate into a lifetime memory for a complete stranger. You can share your time, knowledge and even flies with another soul looking for the calm and quietude we can all find in this sport. With that, you will help create a friendly angler, an ethical angler, and the kind of angler you would want to fish next to in any stream. If you find yourself on the other end of this spectrum, with a new rod, new waders and very little idea where to begin, then find that brave place and be outgoing. If you pick the right time to observe or ask questions of your fellow angler, you may be shocked at how much and how fast you learn. Things to consider as you learn include giving other anglers their space. If you want to observe, simply ask your fellow angler if they mind. Always keep in mind that many anglers are fishing as much for solace as they are to catch fish. Fly shops, the sign-in cabin at Silver Creek Preserve, local pubs and eateries are all great places to meet anglers and ask questions. Join Trout Unlimited and enjoy their outings and volunteer work. Just don’t be shy, but don’t be intrusive either. Fly fishing is about finding balance and oneness with nature and it can also be a way to find balance and oneness with your fellow humans. Happy fishing, everyone!

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

CLOUD’S PUPPY DIARY – WEEK 5

BY FRAN JEWELL

loud has been cruising right along, learning all kinds of things, including imprinting of behaviors I want to see for the rest of his life. I have until he is 16 weeks old to teach him those vital things. Who he will be is a combination of genetics and experiences. Essential to having many talents, I give him many experiences using his nose, and exposure to the training wheelchair, crutches and walker, so unusual things in life do not startle him. More critically is that I want Cloud to focus on me with a calm, confident manner so he learns to “defer” to me in my leadership. In the long run, I want him to learn to depend on me to guide him through as I set boundaries and provide encouragement. Avoiding overstimulation is really important for Cloud to learn self-control, which he is totally capable of at this age. While I want to socialize Cloud with both people and other dogs, I DO NOT want him thinking that all dogs and people mean out-of-control, wild, jumping, biting behaviors. What he learns NOW in self-control will last his lifetime. Just as with children who must learn self-control in the classroom and on the playground, puppies need to learn the same thing. Somewhere along the line we dog owners have come to believe that wild, non-stop play sessions with a multitude of dogs is a good thing and that jumping, mouthy greetings with people are friendly behaviors. They are not. They are offensive to both other people and to other dogs! When Cloud is overstimulated with dog play, he can no longer function appropriately. Studies are showing that play any longer than 3 to 7 minutes turns into what is called “ritualized aggression,” or what I call “rahrahs.” Just like children when they get overstimulated, they can start hitting, bullying and name-calling. Practicing ritualized ag-

Sitting for petting and self-control is essential at this time of puppy development. Don’t wait until a puppy is 6 months old to teach these manners. Photo by Fran Jewell

gression sets a puppy up for dealing with other dogs in a more aggressive manner as they mature. They can even become fearful, resentful, or angry with other dogs. What I want to do is give Cloud short play sessions with other puppies or well-behaved older dogs. Then, we take a break for a while or we walk. Breaks should consist of exploration of the environment and practicing natural skills like hunting. It should also involve practicing basic obedience skills like sit, down and watch with me. The same is true for interactions with people. A large group of people is overwhelming and overstimulating for puppies. I am giving him short, directed interactions, where Cloud

is asked to sit for petting and given treats. This helps him to see that friendly strangers are a good thing. Letting him run crazy up to people, jumping, barking, lunging, mouthing is not going to make points for him as he matures, especially for a German shepherd. 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.

ACTIVE ART COLUMN SKETCHBOOK HIKING

BY LESLIE REGO

A GENTLE DEFIANCE

n the 19th century, it was customary to follow certain etiquette while mourning the death of a family member. A widow would don black clothes with a distinctive pebbled texture. These “widow’s weeds,” as they were known, would be worn for at least a year and a day. Intricate mourning jewelry was designed to adorn the widow’s weeds. I have a black opal butterfly with delicate gold filigree, a beautiful mourning piece, which dates from the late 1800s. This piece was brought to my mind on a cold April day. The sky was a deep blue. The sun was shining. Spring melt was in full force. Suddenly, I stopped. In front of me was a butterfly resting on a stone heated by the sun. The wings were wide open and the body was angled toward the sun’s rays to soak in as much temperature as possible. This particular butterfly, named the Mourning Cloak, is a deep purple-black with yellow edges along the outer border of the wings. Just inside the yellow edge are dark-blue spots, which follow the contour of the wing. The Mourning Cloak butterfly was named in honor of the cloaks worn during mourning periods. The butterfly’s bright yellow pat-

Leslie Rego, “Mourning Cloak Butterflies,” nib pen and ink, colored pencils, gold metallic paint.

tern is reflective of a young girl who defiantly allows a few inches of vivid dress to show below the cloak. Mourning Cloak butterflies tend to live in cold, mountainous regions. The actual butterfly hibernates during the winter and they are often the first butterflies seen in the spring.

As I watched the gold edges glint in the sun, I thought, what an appropriate name. Was the butterfly, much like the young girl, a rebel? Was the gentle soul daring winter to come back? Soon, the butterfly flitted off, alighting on a branch. The wings opened and closed. It appeared as if the cloak were rustling in

the breeze, the gold edges tantalizing those that follow too closely the dictums of society. 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 •

M AY 2 - 8, 2018

COLUMN ON LIFE’S TERMS

LOST AND FOUND

who took me out of the Children’s Home Society all those decades ago and gave me the most When I taught English, we were trained to wonderful family I could ever dream existed. tell our students never to use the word “I” in an So not only was a search moot, but I didn’t essay. I faithfully followed that edict myself in want to hurt these wonderful parents. most of my writing until I wrote a long, rathOnly when my first child was born did I aler unwieldy memoir. However, right now I am low the thought that I would love, out of culucky to be able to share personal observations riosity, to have a picture of my birth mother. with the readers of this paper and the tolerance Indeed, both of my daughters are different in of my small Valley. Thus, I appearance, though, thank God, reveal more about myself perthey share being intelligent, kind haps than I should, but that and lively women with sweet is the nature of my kind of souls. personal column. It is called The short of this tale is that “On Life’s Terms,” after all, through 23andMe, a gift from my a shared tale of one womchildren who sought some heredan’s long life and the lessons itary DNA information, and with learned. little hope of finding someone So today I continue this whose name I never knew, I reexcess by sharing only very ceived a notice from a man who briefly something that just was tested and found that, DNAhappened to me, reinforcing wise, he is my first cousin. my belief that life is full of Several months later, and with surprises if we keep open for JoEllen Collins—a longtime the help of a remarkable woman them. Some, of course, test us resident of the Wood River (probably second or third cousValley— is an Idaho Press but make us better prepared Club award-winning colum- in), my history has been found. to enjoy the good in the pos- nist, a teacher, writer, fabric This is a gift beyond explanation, itive events. as I can now go on the journey artist, choir member and At some other time I will unabashedly proud grandma of finding family—none of my write a longer piece about known as “Bibi Jo.” mother’s generation, of course; this, but the short of the she died in 2000, but some other long-and-the-short is that this past weekend I relatives, perhaps younger (though elderly now) received the actual name and a picture of my siblings, cousins “twice or more removed,” or birth mother. I am still processing my emo- nephews and nieces and “great-” others. tions. Some may ask “Why didn’t you look for So, more later. But this Pollyanna once again her earlier,” to which I have three responses: shares the conviction that a good reason for 1. I was told she died giving birth to me; 2. waking up every morning is that one never Records in California for my adoption were knows what to expect, perhaps even adventure sealed “forever,” only opened by a court edict; or revelation or unexplained love. tws and 3. I adored my true parents, the Giffords, BY JOELLEN COLLINS

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

BIRD BATHING

BY HARRY WEEKES

hinrin-yoku is a Japanese term that means “forest bathing.” Loosely, it is the act of going out into the woods to let “the nature” clear one’s mind—to allow time in the trees to wash away accumulated worries and reconnect to something fundamental and profound. Because I love rain, it is easy for me to equate bird species to individual showers—discrete; each with its own distinct signature and power. Periodically, though, these individuals congregate into great torrents. Such is spring in the northern hemisphere, when birds collectively emerge from the bottleneck of winter and form an insistent and even urgent current of life. And what better way to celebrate such a seasonal maelstrom than to take a weeklong birding trip with 32 14-year-olds in two minibuses, two Suburbans, and one dormitory in eastern Idaho? Harriman State Park in late April opens like a thunderstorm—the birds spill out in so many sounds, colors and sizes that it’s impossible not to be inundated. With incredible consistency and immediacy, the place works its magic on even the most novice and reluctant birders. Within hours, there is lots of “Did you see…?” “Did you see the pelicans?” “Did you see the swans?” “Did you see the wren?” In less than a day, there is an explosion of new words. I hear grebe, scaup, canvasback, redhead, ruddy duck, pintail, wigeon, and gadwall. By the middle of the week, we have accumulated vignettes, memories of fantastic cloudbursts. There was the Sandhill crane air show, where pairs of the great birds called to and at one another, beating broad wings, taking raucous flight, and making leggy landings. There was a female kestrel, buffy and white, hovering against an impossibly blue sky, glowing from the light reflected off the snow. We spent two hours with seven people, seven pairs of binoculars and two spotting scopes, all working to identify what we are now pretty confident was a song sparrow. And with more people, the finale of one field day was deciding

Snow geese (Anser caerulescens). photo accessed via Wikimedia commons

that the deep brown raptor obligingly perched on the fencepost was the dark morph of a Swainson’s hawk. We think. An impossible cackling of crows implied a found predator. “Who wants to see an owl?” ignited the post-dinner students like a bolt of lightning. We sprinted along the edge of the woods, ultimately rewarded with two glimpses of a great horned owl getting mobbed by corvids as it navigated the tight trees. Of course, I also hear about the “common goon”; that we have variously seen red-legged kittiwakes, garganays, and white-throated swifts—all the wonderful transpositions of people learning something new. But we do see the unusual in Harriman. We have seen wood ducks, American pipits, a Eurasian wigeon, and tundra swans. And this year? The ghost bird. Allied with two Canada geese, what was first described as “their albino younger brother” turned out to be a wayward snow goose, the “silly goose,” seeking at least familial fidelity. There is, of course, a nagging question: What is the importance of the environment in which learning happens? We talk about biodiversity and trophic structure, habitat loss and conservation, parenting as a life history strategy, and more. We could talk about these anywhere, though. But to discuss these in a place that is literally screaming, throkking, buzzing, whistling, and trumpeting with life? To fully immerse one’s self in the spring storm of birds? This type of bird bath, of bird bathing, seems to be, to me, essential.

GUEST OPINION GWENCAROL HOLMES

Thank You To Our Educators

The first full week of May is traditionally Educator Appreciation Week; truly, educators deserve our appreciation every day, not just once a year. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my deepest gratitude to the educators of the Blaine County School District. Our educators include teachers, principals, social workers, counselors, school psychologists, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, technology specialists, buildings and grounds crews, secretaries, human resources specialists, finance personnel, and curriculum and student services staff. Together, this amazing team of professionals works day in and day out to provide incredible opportunities to our children. The future of our children is impacted daily by a multitude of educators in our schools. Each member of the team works to ensure our students have the best opportunities for learning. Each day they Inspire, Engage, Educate and Empower our students to meet the Idaho Content Standards, and go over and above what the State of Idaho requires for world languages, and by offering incredible music programs, highly competitive robotics programs, cutting-edge technology programs, extensive counselor and social worker support, hands-on, real-life learning opportunities and so much more. Each day our educators provide care, love, encouragement, education and act as superb role models to the youth of our county. Please join me in expressing our eternal gratitude to our dedicated team of educators in Blaine County. With tremendous gratitude, GwenCarol Holmes, Ed.D. Superintendent, Blaine County School District

LETTER TO THE EDITOR MELISSA FRY

Vote Jim Williams For County Assessor

I have had the honor of working with Jim Williams for the past five years. As a new hire, I experienced firsthand how Jim addresses someone with limited knowledge of the appraisal process. One of his many responsibilities as the senior appraiser is to train new hires in the process of mass appraisal. No matter how tedious or repetitive my questions or the errors made, he would very patiently work through the subject until he was sure that I had a thorough understanding of the question or problem at hand. I personally found him to be an excellent instructor and mentor. My observations of his interactions with property owners, whether it be on the telephone or in person, has been nothing less than professional and thorough, regardless of the time it took or how contentious the subject matter was. Jim Williams has 18 years of appraising experience with the Assessor’s office. The experience and the respect that the staff members have for him is invaluable and irreplaceable to the Assessor’s office. We repeatedly refer to his knowledge of appraisal and his experience in addressing property owners’ concerns so that we, too, can successfully arrive at the best solution for all involved. I, for one, am looking forward to working with him as my new Assessor. Please remember to vote Jim Williams for Assessor on May 15, 2018. Melissa Fry Bellevue resident

LETTER TO THE EDITOR GARRICK DUTCHER

Larry Schoen Works To Find Balance

What do you love about Idaho? Do you love the wild rivers, forests, mountains, deserts and wildlife? Here, we are gifted with spectacular natural beauty, clean air and water. Our vast public lands are home to diverse ecosystems, rich with wildlife—including native carnivores, like gray wolves. This is our Idaho legacy. It’s why so many cherish this place as our home, to have a family and make a living. Places like this are not as common as one might like to think. The quality of our natural environment correlates directly to the strength of our local economy. What we do to protect it is up to each of us, and the people we entrust with this responsibility. Blaine County Commissioner Larry Schoen has a long track record of being an effective leader, protecting these values and our natural environment while finding solutions to difficult challenges. Since its inception, Commissioner Schoen has helped advance the Wood River Wolf Project. This innovative project works with local livestock producers to implement techniques that effectively foster coexistence with wolves and other carnivores to help keep our native wildlife safe on public lands. Commissioner Schoen is attentive and responsive, participating in nearly every local meeting I’ve attended. Hours after I reached out to him about the mass elk starvation at a Fish and Game feeding station in 2016, he was there, inspecting the scene. When I vote, I vote with the environment in mind. It’s what we have. It’s what makes all this—everything—possible. If we squander away our natural heritage, there would be little need for debate about where to put an airport or how to deal with increased traffic. A legacy can only persist if it is maintained, protected, and passed on. I trust Larry Schoen will do that. Garrick Dutcher Hailey resident Research & Program Director, Living With Wolves

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