Hailey Blaine

Angry online comments on “District and McKinstry sue each other“ at MtExpress.com, express discontent over spending of funds and possible lack of oversight by BCSD Administrators and Trustees. Through the comment forum, citizens are making plans to meet, organize and take action.

Read the rest of the article. Originally published on BlaineParents.org 

August 19, 2011 – Ketchum, Idaho—The summer harvest has begun and it’s a great time to start preserving your fruits and vegetables.  Join the Sawtooth Botanical Garden and the Sustainability Center as they teach you to preserve what you’ve grown.

On Friday, August 26, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Sawtooth Botanical Garden and the Sustainability Center will be teaching a class on how to preserve your harvest.  Even if you don’t have a garden, you can preserve fresh produce from the Farmers’ Market, the Sustainability Center, or Idaho’s Bounty. 

This is the last class of the Vegetable Gardening Series.  The class is $15 for members and $25 for non-members.  Please contact the Sawtooth Botanical Garden at 726.9358 to register.  The class will be held at the Sustainability Center, which is located at 308 South River Street in Hailey.

The Sawtooth Botanical Garden is a community resource showcasing native and cultivated plants that flourish at high altitude. The Garden connects people to the region's unique beauty and fosters environmental stewardship through education, events, displays and plant collections.

The Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (www.theadvocates-aplacetogo.org) today announced that the 4th Annual Chip-In for The Advocates Golf Tournament on Sat., May 22, 2010, at The Valley Club raised more than $20,000 to further the organization’s mission to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in our communities through education, shelter and supportive services.

“The community came together through rain, sleet, snow, and hail to support The 4th Annual Chip-In for The Advocates Golf Tournament,” said Tournament Co-chair and The Advocates Board Member Joanne Wetherell. “We could not have raised more than $20,000 without the spirited participation of title sponsors Dick’s Sporting Goods, Joe’s Backhoe Service and Quigley Canyon, our 19 hole sponsors, our event host The Valley Club and the many individuals and companies that provided their time and wonderful prizes.”

Sixty-four golfers played in the tournament, tried their luck at miracle putts and tee prizes, and enjoyed a dry, warm post-game Summer Safari party inside The Valley Club. Tarzan (The Valley Club Assistant Professional Jonathan Strellow), who offered Tarzan Drives on the 8th hole and Jane (Wetherell) were on hand as well. 

“Golfers maintained their enthusiasm throughout the tournament for the game, Tarzan drives, miracle putts, and Summer Safari spirit in any weather,” said The Advocates President and tournament player Margery Friedlander.

Results: 1st Net: Paul Hansen, John Haskell, Steven Rose, David Rose;  1st Gross:  Mike Abaid, Kurt Funkhouser, Jeff Roust, Mike Crawford; 2nd Net: Bryce Turzian, Mike Turzian, Chris Bensen, Robert Parker; 2nd Gross: Sal Lopez, Julio Chavez, Keith Perry, Barry Bevers;  3rd Net: Kathleen Slette, Jackie Damerel, Janet Hale, Tom Hale; and 3rd Gross: Dick Wetherell, Chris Theisen, Guy Butterfield, Debra Vadalma.

Closest to the Pin: Kim Holly; Longest Drive: Kim Holly and Barry Bevers.

Title Sponsors: Dick's Sporting Goods, Joe's Backhoe Service, Quigley Canyon

Hole Sponsors:

Blaine County Title, Christopher & Margaret Block, Canyon Motors Subaru, Dick York’s Towing & Automotive, Bryan & Hilary Furlong, Pete & Sue Gaasland, Gilman Contemporary, Hailey Orthopedics & Sports Medicine / Dr. Glen Shapiro, Gundl & John Haskell, Robin Leavitt & Terry Friedlander, Debra & Jack Levin, Obenchain Insurance, Esther & Michael Ochsman, Perry’s Restaurant, Sawtooth Board of Realtors, John A. Seiller, Attorney at Law; Laura & Scott Jordan, SCOTTEVEST, Inc.; Sun Valley Insurance, Jim & Jeanne Welch.

Event Donors

5 Step Carpet Care, 93 Golf Ranch, Albertson’s, AmericInn, Bistro 44, Blue Lakes Golf Course, The Brickhouse Bar & Grill, Canyon Springs Golf Course, Country Club Bar & Grill, Country Cousins, Clear Lake Country Club, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Elkhorn Golf Club, First Federal Bank, KBs, Gerry & Kaye Kearns, Knob Creek, KYZK 107.5 Radio, Gooding Country Club, Jerome Country Club, Les Schwab, Moss Garden Center, Nelson’s Auto Service & Quick Lube, Andrew Parnes, Premier Cleaners, Laura & Scott Jordan, SCOTTEVEST, Inc., Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Sun Valley Cleaners, Zenergy at Thunder Spring, PKs Ski & Sports, Starbucks, Terrace Lakes Golf Course, Third Floor Salon and Tully’s.

 About The Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Led by executive director Tricia Swartling, The Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (www.theadvocates-aplacetogo.org) is a 501 (c) 3 with the mission to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in our communities through education, shelter and supportive services. Since 1991, The Advocates has helped more than 5,000 women and children in our community leave violent relationships behind and rebuild their lives. The Advocates’ free essential services are available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day and include a staffed shelter, counseling, and legal guidance. Vital funding support is realized through the Annual Fund drive. Additional funding sources include The Advocates’ Attic Thrift Store, the Annual Chip-In for The Advocates Golf Tournament, The Annual Gala Auction, and public and private foundation grants.

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Media contact: Leigh Barer, Development & Communications Director, The Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Tel: 208.788.4191, x20; Mobile: 206-755-1090; Email: leigh@theadvocates-aplacetogo.org

            Let me start by asking you a question.  What happens when you start a new job – how do you treat your co-workers?  You probably treat them with the utmost respect and courtesy, which is pretty normal.  The reason you do this is because you are trying to impress your new co-workers and do the very best job that you can – outperform all others before you.  A new employee is typically flexible, accommodating and easy going – all day long.  Do you think this behavior continues on when the employee goes home?  Usually not, and is probably because they do not feel they need to impress anyone at home.  Home is a place they can be themselves.  The behavior they displayed at work is usually quite different from how they behave within their home environment.  This is due to a feeling of being comfortable and secure.  A similar occurrence can happen within the workplace.  After time employees feel so comfortable and secure within their work environment that they become complacent to the feelings of others around them.  ‘Internal customer service” is how you treat your co-workers.

            It is human nature to eventually relax and not try to constantly prove your worth to everyone.  This can be a healthy milestone, but at the same time it can be very destructive.  Some employees become too lax.  At times, they can annoy or even insult their fellow co-workers.  This can be damaging within the workplace and hold extremely negative connotations.  Employers spend a lot of time and money training employees regarding customer service externally.  The fact remains that it is just as important to train employees to respect and appreciate their fellow co-workers, internally. 

            The importance of respecting your co-workers cannot be stressed enough.  Simply disrespecting your fellow co-workers can lead to serious internal problems.  Employees need to be aware of how quickly instances can turn into serious offenses that could lead to disciplinary action against the employee, or even possible termination.  An employee’s negative behavior could easily be determined as harassment.  General workplace harassment is a form of offensive treatment or behavior, which to a reasonable person creates an intimidating, hostile, or abusive work environment.  Examples can include but are not limited to:  Verbal or physical behavior which is derogatory, abusive, bullying, threatening or disrespectful behavior, ridiculing or undermining an individual with vindictive or humiliating words or acts.  In today’s business world, this is the most common type of harassment and the most difficult to detect or prevent.  Most employers take any form of harassment very seriously.

            Diversity within the workplace is healthy, but it means that someone else working along side of you may be extremely different. Acknowledging those differences, and truly appreciating them, is sure to establish a healthy work environment.  Imagine your co-worker as if he/she were your customer, you would have no choice but to appreciate their differences.  Treat your co-workers as you would a customer.  Respect and acknowledge them every chance you get.  One might think that this is all common sense, and it is difficult to imagine you might be annoying a co-worker with your complacent attitude or disruptive behavior.  Unfortunately it is human nature and being aware of this will help destroy the cycle.

           
All questions to this Internet site are completely confidential and names/identities are not published with the article. Please e-mail us at askhrwoodriver@cox.net.

This article contains human resource suggestions by educated Human Resource specialists.  This information is not intended as professional or legal advice of any kind.

ASK HR .April

Hailey Soccer Mom, Kathy Scott, has been chosen for the final four in the NFL Fandmonium Finals. Kathy Scott is competing in a national contest to become the “Director of Fandmonium” for the NFL next year.

Online votes pushed Scott into the final four, and voters have until Feb. 5 to make her the overall champion, proudly representing her team (the New Orleans Saints) from Idaho. 

This is a life changing experience for the winner of this competition as they will take home $100,000 and make appearances at a handful of NFL events next season. 

What do you get out of voting for Kathy Scott? You get to feel good about it and if you vote by Jan. 24th, you’ll be entered to win a trip to Super Bowl XLIV (one vote per person per day). 

Voting for Kathy can be your good deed for the day. How often do we get to assist someone achieve their dreams and simply by pushing a button? 

Kathy's goal for her winnings, the $100,000 (after taxes, as she is an accountant) is paying for the college education of her two sons.

To vote for Kathy, enter her name on the voting page. To see NFL executives, Jerome Bettis, Sterling Sharpe and others interviewing Kathy and to see her New York experience, click here.

The Wood River Animal Shelter serving the Sun Valley area was featured in a video on Explore.org. Click to play the video below.

In the United States alone, as many as ten million animals enter shelters each year and millions must be euthanized due to lack of space. Explore visits the Animal Shelter of Wood River Valley — the first no-kill shelter in Idaho — and finds out how the shelter staff rescues, protects, and finds homes for abandoned dogs and cats.

Dog Bless You from Team Explore on Vimeo.

Coming off a terrific turnout for last Friday's terrifically entertaining rock-folk-blues band, Slow Children Playing, Hailey's Sun Valley Brewing Company restaurant and bar is continuing their tradition of offering an eclectic assortment of wonderful Valleywide and visiting musicians -- usually with no cover charges, either -- starting this Thursday (Jan. 14th) at 7pm, with the J. Ward Band. Jason Ward (who also plays in the band RyeBender) and his brother, Chris, will perform a colorful collage of folk, Americana and alt-country music.

On Friday (Jan. 15th), the Boise-based duet, Hillfolk Noir, whose MySpace page has some verrry entertaining musical selections posted there:
http://www.myspace.com/hillfolknoir offers an immensely-engaging original mix of junkerdash, swing, swamp rat blues and deathfolk music that's bound to make you smile and sway in equal measure.

On Saturday (Jan. 16th), local fave, Allnite Diner -- a slightly different take on the ever-popular Hickory Blue/Craig Meyers Blues Band -- continues the musical excellence tradition there at the Brewery with their own brand of blues, folk and c&w music.

The following Thursday (Jan. 21) sees the return of Seattle sensation,  an McFeron, with another immensely energetic and engaging local fave, The Damphools, playing on Saturday (Jan. 23).

Tuesday Jan. 26th sees the SV Brewing Company debut of the superb, highly-sought-after Austin, Texas band, Wisebird, whose MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/wisebird likewise has a number of terrific sample music selections to see and/or listen to.

Friday January 29th is sure to be a verrrry memorable one as well, when the radically revamped -- and amplified -- local band, FourStroke Bus (www.fourstrokebus.com: Lisa and Wade Port, Ken Martin, Chris Clarke and Cory Ballentine), return to the acclaimed Hailey bar-restaurant for some more foot-stomping, dance-inspiring musical
fun ... easily one of the SV Brewing Company's most consistent crowd pleasers there -- as they likewise always are at The Wicked Spud, Whiskey's and Papa Hemi's Hideaway. (Type "John Pluntze" into the SVO search engine here to read my Sept. 9. 2009 rave review of their incessantly dazzling, soulful and soaring music.)

Also on Friday, Jan. 29th, the acclaimed local band, Up a Creek, will perform in the afternoon there at the Sun Valley Brewing Company  (noon-3pm), as part of a special apres "Ski the Rails"-oriented get-together there at the Hailey establishment.

Most of the bands listed above have good quality performance footage posted at their respective MySpace and/or Facebook pages.

For more information on any of the January performances listed above, call the bar-restaurant at 788-0805. To get on their mailing list alerting you to future musical performances there at the Brewery, contact  svb@sunvalleybrewery.com.

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Questions or comments regarding this "Harmonic Convergence" article can be sent to John at: WriteStuffIdaho@gmail.com And to read any of John's previous writeups on the local music scene here -- which
include raves on local faves Cow Says Mooo, Art Wallace, Molly and Josiah Venter and, of course, FourStroke Bus -- simply type "John Pluntze" into the SVO search engine here.

Fierce and fragile, stately and joyful, spiritual and sensuous, the Ragamala dance company presents its uniquely contemporary interpretation of traditional Indian dance on Friday, January 15, at 7:30 pm in Hailey.

Rooted in the Bharatanatyam (Ba-ra-ta-NA-tee-um) tradition, a southern Indian classical dance form that emphasizes supple hand gestures and stylized postures, Ragamala is internationally acclaimed for the beauty, elegance and rhythmic complexity of its performances. The Minneapolis Star Tribune said that "Ragamala astounds audiences with works that expand one's perception of dance, cross-cultural collaboration, and spiritual meaning." Dance magazine praised the dancers' ability to "alter the very textures of their bodies from moment to moment—they thicken, sharpen, attenuate, and refine the highly inflected vocabulary of Bharatanatyam."

"Bharatanatyam is among the oldest dance forms in the world, with a history that goes back more than two thousand years, but the energy and vibrancy of their dances are very contemporary," says Kristine Bretall, Marketing Director at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, "and this is a rare opportunity to see one of the finest Indian dance companies right here in the Wood River Valley." The Center is bringing the Minneapolis-based company to town as part of its 2009–2010 Winter Performance Series. Ragamala will also visit local schools and offer master classes as part of its residency in the Wood River Valley.

True to its dedication to updating classical Indian dance with cross-cultural influences, Ragamala will be joined by special guests the Wadaiko Ensemble Tokara, a Japanese Taiko drum troupe, who will perform as well as accompany the dancers. In addition to the twist of taiko, Ragamala uses unconventional music from the likes of Zap Mama for its performances.

In India, dance has been used both as a vehicle of worship and as an expression of profound emotions. Integrating elements of music, theater, poetry, sculpture, and literature, Bharatanatyam has survived over the centuries as a dynamic, vital, living tradition passed on from master to student. Ragamala's artistic directors, Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy (mother and daughter), return to India every year to study with Padma Bhushan Alarmel Valli, one of India's greatest living masters of Bharatanatyam.

While the vocabulary of Bharatanatyam is highly structured, the beauty, vitality, stunning physicality and emotional depth of the form offer infinite potential for self-expression. It is these qualities that have allowed the form to survive as a living, breathing tradition with the potential to convey both timeless themes and contemporary ideas. "The form is but the foundation on which the creative dancer builds structures...drawing from her individual experience of music, movement and life," Valli says.

The Ragamala performance is part of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts' multidisciplinary project, Outside In: Indian Art Abroad, which explores writing, art and film created by artists who primarily live outside India. The project also includes visual arts exhibitions in Ketchum and Hailey, classes for all ages and a lecture by Salman Rushdie on February 11.

Tickets to Ragamala are $25 for Sun Valley Center for the Arts members and $35 for nonmembers. Tickets for kids 18 and under are $10. The performance takes place Friday, January 15, at 7:30 pm at the Community Campus auditorium in Hailey. For details and to purchase tickets, go online to www.sunvalleycenter.org, call 208.726.9491 ex 10 or visit The Center in Ketchum.

PRESS RELEASE   DECEMBER 22, 2009

New Group Will Advise County Commission on Replacement Airport

(Hailey) - Five experienced Blaine County residents with diverse business and management backgrounds have been selected by the Board of Blaine County Commissioners to advise on the financing, design and construction of a replacement airport for Friedman Memorial Airport located in Hailey Idaho.  

The members of The Blaine County Airport Advisory Committee (BCAAC) were chosen from among 17 applicants and the new board members were selected following two different rounds of interviews by different panels.

“We are very pleased with this group of highly talented people and appreciate the widespread interest shown in serving on this important panel,” said Blaine County Commissioner Tom Bowman, who also serves as Chairman of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority Board.  “This group is anxious to get started and we anticipate they will be quick studies.  The mission of this Committee is to help deliver a successful, well-designed new airport, on schedule and on budget, and we have no doubt they will be successful in that endeavor.”

The five members of the Airport Advisory Committee are:

•    Adrienne Robideaux, a former tax attorney from a large Los Angeles firm who now makes her home in Bellevue and operated a retail store in Hailey.  Robideaux brings analytical and finance skills to the Committee.

•    Vanessa Fry recently earned an MBA in sustainable management and is the former executive director of the local Citizens for Smart Growth advocacy group. She is an teaching assistant at Presidio School of Management. Fry is a resident of Hailey.

•    Carl Harris is the founding owner and Chairman of the Board of Harris & Associates, a 35 year-old civil engineering and consulting firm with 450 employees and 15 offices across the west.  Harris is semi-retired and lives full-time north of Ketchum.  

•    Chris Stephens, an architect by training, is principal of 5B Investments with holdings across the country in storage units and restaurants.  Stephens is an instrument jet pilot and aircraft owner for 30 years, an active paramedic with the Ketchum Fire Department and serves as a commissioner on the Ketchum Rural Fire District.  He lives north of Ketchum

•    Len Harlig has served as a Blaine County Commissioner for 8 years and has been a member of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority Board for 17 years.  Harlig, who lives north of Ketchum, has been involved in a variety of community activities and is a former owner of a large and popular restaurant and hotel in California. Harlig will be leaving his position on the Friedman Airport Authority Board, but will bring with him to the new position vast airport knowledge, business and organization experience

The Committee’s first organizational meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2010 at 10:00 AM in the Blaine County Courthouse.  All the Committee’s meetings will be open to the public.

Contact: Tom Bowman 788- 5500

By John Pluntze

Hailey's currently cash-strapped Treasure Chest Thrift Store (12 W. Bullion
Street -- right across from Da Vinci's Restaurant) is holding a 10% to
50%-off sale, starting this coming Thursday (Dec. 17th) and running thru
Christmas Eve.

The 50%-off items include dress pants, picture frames, cups, glasses,
dishes, and lamps -- with other items in the store discounted by 30%
(stuffed animals), 20% (books, shoes, collectable bears and dolls, and all
other clothes), and 10% (all other merchandise), respectively.

Owner-manager Trudy Parker HAD originally envisioned, when she first created
and opened the thrift store earlier this year (first briefly in Bellevue,
and then, more recently, in Hailey), that her thrift store would be one that
would generate enough extra income -- after all the store's monthly bills
were paid -- that she could then donate the store's profits to various Wood
River Valley youth programs (including discounted ski tickets for kids who
want to learn how to ski, but who can't afford standard ski-lesson prices).

Unfortunately, the Valley's ongoing recession has negatively impacted even
thrift shops here, too, and Parker is now faced with the rather unpleasant
prospect of closing up shop at the end of December if she doesn't manage to
generate sufficient funds with this Dec. 17-25th sale.

Parker says in the event she IS eventually forced to close her thrift store
at the end of the month (or thereabouts), the store's remaining merchandise
will all be sold at 50% off .... a prospect she doesn't exactly relish since
she was genuinely hoping to provide some much-needed funding for various
Valleywide local youth programs for many years to come.

The Treasure Chest is open from Tues-Sat. 11-4; Dec. 24th from 10-2. Phone
208-410-3122 for more information on how you can help.