Stories

A new reality show highlighting the trend of sharing a vacation rental with families and friends is now airing on PBS. The show, Getting Away Together, is a part of a Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) initiative to showcase the trend and raise awareness about vacation rentals as a growing alternative to hotels.

The show is expected to generate great publicity for the professionally-managed vacation rental industry and the thousands of managers across the nation, including the many vacation rental management companies in Sun Valley and across Idaho.

Boise-based LiveRez, the vacation rental software Gold Sponsor of the VRMA, works with more than 500 professional vacation rental manager partners from across North America and beyond – including many in Sun Valley, where the company originally took root.

“This show allows America to see firsthand what staying in a vacation rental is all about,” said Tracy Lotz, founder and CEO of LiveRez, which was founded in Hailey. “With Getting Away Together, the VRMA has... (more)

After months of opposition demonstrations, counter demonstrations by regime supporters, attacks on opposition demonstrators by government forces, terrorist bombings of government facilities, various efforts at international intervention, charges and counter charges, the situation in Syria is in word a “mess”. Currently we have three wars going on in this strategically located, but fragile state. There is a low grade civil war between government and opposition forces. Overlaying this war is a proxy war between the US and its Gulf State and European allies and Iran and its allies. A third war has now emerged, a war of perceptions. As in many such wars, the facts are usually the first casualty.

The U.S. and its supporters in the conservative Sunni Gulf States, particularly Qatar and the UAE would like to see regime change in Syria and Iran and a weakening of the Shia resistance group Hezbollah. Under Secretary of State for the Near East Jeffery Feltman in describing US regime change policy in Syria said that the... (more)

Months in the making, Idaho’s proposed 2012 Energy Plan is being sent to House and Senate committees for expected approval, warts and all. Meanwhile, the would-be developer of a nuclear reactor near the Snake River outside of Payette has run into problems with county planners, putting things on hold pending an appeal. That’s not the least of AEHI’s problems: It’s still embroiled in a high-stakes stock fraud suit brought by federal securities regulators. And Idaho Power may join with another utility and the Bonneville Power Administration in developing the Boardman-Hemingway transmission line from southwest Idaho to the Columbia River. We also have a report on the latest energy facility “siting” bill introduced by state Senate Democrats, complaints by two Twin Falls women over what Idaho Power’s new smart meters are really up to, and the announcement by Exergy Development that it plans 23 more wind farms in Idaho. Finally, the Idaho Legislature’s 2012 session is under way, so we’re resuming our weekly legislative... (more)

STORE CLOSING SALE: Store closing January 31, 2012

Four Winds Trading Company was opened in November as a "Pop-up style store".

Pop-up Store Business Models

Pop-up stores by design are only open for a short period of time in a specific location, then move on to another town. Pop-up stores are now common in areas such as Jackson Hole, Vail, along with major malls during holiday periods. 

The time has come for this pop-up store, Four Winds Trading Company to move on as our pre-planned closing date is the end of the business day. January 31, 2012. 

We've had great success and continue to receive wonderful comments regarding our unique mix of artistic items in our store which include:

Bulgar Handmade Dishes, Virgin Wool Blankets, Throws, Shawls from Bulgaria, Alpaca Sweaters, Dresses, Blankets, Ponchos and Tunics made of "Pendleton Woolen Fabric"s, Mirrors, Coat Racks, Art and Various Other Unique Items including a "Full Size Metal Horse Sculpture", an Extensive collection of "Hand Crafted...(more)

On January 3, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise District received a call from a local individual about two dead horses discovered on public land in the Wilson Creek area, approximately 15 miles southeast of Marsing, Idaho. Wilson Creek is located within the Hardtrigger Wild Horse Herd Management Area. An initial investigation determined the two free-roaming Mustangs had been shot.

The BLM is offering a $ 1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shootings.

"The BLM is serious about enforcing the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act that protects wild horses on the range," said Idaho BLM State Director Steve Ellis. "The Act clearly states that it is a federal crime for any person to maliciously cause the death of any wild horse, and we want to find whoever is responsible. We care a great deal for the welfare of these animals and want to prevent this from happing in the future. I am hopeful the public will be able to provide us information that will help... (more)

I wrote a piece on St. Luke's Center for Health Innovation that is being run by Sun Valley resident, Bill Boeger. The article was published in the leading technology publication (TechCrunch) which also gets published on the Washington Post site. Here's the article introduction...


Fifteen years ago the Internet was revolutionizing global communications and computing so companies were looking for the most advanced markets to test their technologies. Locales such as Korea and Singapore portended the future. Today, no less than reinvention of healthcare is taking place. A key question is which locales will provide a similar testbed for healthtech. It’s not always the obvious places.

Healthcare providers such as the Mayo Clinic have been at the vanguard of adopting new technologies and approaches. However, this remains a provider-centric approach and the Mayo Clinic has far more resources than a community hospital or clinic. Ultimately, a broader community-focused effort can demonstrate how new approaches...

Three years ago in Damascus, when I met with Khaled Meshal, the leader of Hamas’ political wing, he acknowledged that Hamas was committed to violent resistance to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. While emphasizing that if Israel withdrew to the 1967 borders the resistance would end, he said that violent resistance was the only effective means of ending Israeli occupation.  He used examples of Hezbollah ending the Israeli occupation in Lebanon, of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and of the Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai.

Many observers of the situation in Israel/Palestine (this one included) have felt that, given the overwhelming power of the Israeli occupation force, the biggest threat to the occupation would be mass non-violent protests by the Palestinians on both sides of the green line separating Israel from the West Bank. The effectiveness of Dr. Martin Luther King’s demonstrations for African American civil rights and the Arab Awakening uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia demonstrate this.... (more)

The Mountain School's Unique After School Programs continue with its Winter Session beginning Jan. 3rd - March 23rd!  Offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 2:30 - 5pm All Things Winter for 2nd to 5th graders, will expose your child to a unique combination of winter survival skills.  They'll learn how to build fires and shelters in the snow, survival techniques, primitive snowshoe making and other nature crafting. 

For Kindergarten & 1st Graders 2:30 - 5pm Daily we offer our Art, Farm & Garden after school with plenty of time to explore the Mountain School campus, time with our bunnies, goats, and miniature horses, indoor free play and occasional crafting.

Special Winter Pricing:  $15.00 per day

We make transportation EASY:  We offer to pick up students at Hailey and Woodside Elementary Schools and the Bellevue Bus drops right at our driveway!  We offer return shuttles to Hailey's McKercher Park on Tues, Wed. & Thurs at 5:15pm.

The Mountain School offers a completely unique... (more)

Sun Valley, Id  is a spectacular and magnetic place to visit no matter what season it is. One of the great benefits of vacationing in Sun Valley is taking advantage of the miles and miles of trails that make up the North Valley Trail System.

The trail system winds along streams, through vast open meadows and follows the feet of the Boulder Mountain Range for an amazing 22 miles. The trails are a great for a family day trip or for the exercise guru who may be looking for  a little bit of a challenge.

The trails are a major part of our community and on January 28th, 2011 is the 16th Annual Galena & North Trails Winter Benefit at the Sun Valley Inn Limelight Room. This is a great time for our community to come out and support the maintenance and upkeep of the trail system, while also enjoying a fine dinner, some dancing and of course good company.

We offer several spectacular Sun Valley Vacation Rentals in close proximity to the North Trails as well as many other great local activities. Come out... (more)

The U.S. campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran has a long history dating back to the founding of the Islamic Republic when the Carter administration imposed unilateral sanctions following the hostage crisis in 1979. Over time the sanctions regime has expanded as the U.S.has attempted to deal with what it saw as Iranian challenges to U.S. interests in the region. The U.S. overthrow of the regime of Sadaam Hussein in Iraq enhanced the Iranian position and in response President George W. Bush, in 2007, initiated a program of covert military action against the Islamic Republic.

President Obama, after campaigning on a policy of dialogue, has enhanced the sanctions regime and lobbied and coerced other countries to enhance their sanctions. The practical effect of the sanctions has been modest. The World Bank estimates that the Iranian economy grew at a rate of 3% in 2010. This is not to say that the Iranian economy doesn’t have its problems. Years of inconsistent and incompetent management by the theocratic regime... (more)

This week Republican Presidential candidates (except for Ron Paul who was not invited because of his “misguided and extreme views”) paraded before a conference of the Republican Jewish Coalition to express their undying loyalty to the State of Israel. Newt Gingrich, the current front runner for the Republican nomination, stood out from the crowd by signaling his intention to overturn long standing US policies on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. Among other things he promised to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a step that has long been opposed by almost all of the international community. However, his most interesting comments occurred in an interview with The Jewish Channel which was posted on-line on Friday.

            In this interview he said, "Remember, there was no Palestine as a state. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. I think that we've had an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs and who were historically part of the... (more)

Powder skiing and climate change! Join Idaho Conservation League and Environmental Resource Center for an entertaining night at Whiskey Jacques in downtown Ketchum!

Free Event: 6 pm Wednesday, December 14 at Whiskey’s

Energy, energy, energy…

Idaho Conservation League’s Energy Associate, Ben Otto (aka Captain Kilowatt), will give us the lowdown on Idaho's energy system and its place in the greater climate.   ICL has been hard at work with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the Office of Energy Resources, electric utilities like Idaho Power, and the Idaho Legislature, the goal being to reduce energy demand by increasing efficiency and to promote good, clean energy.  Energy is an issue that affects us all and we certainly affect the issues.  Learn what you can do—both big and small—to improve matters. 

And powdery winters…

In addition to a construction conversation, Teton Gravity Research (TGR) will be showing its hit film on climate change, "Generations". The world-renowned action... (more)

Idaho Power relies on out-of-state coal-fired power plants for more than 40 percent of its electric generation. As part of its required power planning process the utility says it will examine each of the coal plants in which it has an interest to determine whether to continue the massive investments required to keep the plants legal, or whether to begin planning to retire them and replace their generation with cleaner resources. Meanwhile, the state’s largest electric utility has filed contracts with regulators for three new renewable energy projects – including wind, small hydro and landfill gas generation. Speaking of hydropower, Idaho Power has reported to the PUC that its costs to date in the seven-year-old Hells Canyon hydropower relicensing saga have eclipsed $141 million, and the case is a long way from resolution. For more information on these developments and coming events, read on

I: Idaho Power Says It Will Take Close Look at Coal Fleet  

Idaho Power Co. says it will conduct a detailed analysis... (more)

Ketchum, ID based business, Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee, LLC has been announced as one of 36 national winners in the “My Business Story” contest, sponsored by American Express and Google.

The winning video was created on http://www.youtube.com/MyBusinessStory - a site built for small businesses to tell their stories and encourage everyone to Shop Small on Small Business Saturday, November 26th, 2011.

“We’re so excited to have been selected as one of the contest winners, and love the efforts behind the Shop Small promotion,” says Liz Roquet, Owner of Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee.  “Small businesses across the country are a core asset to their local communities. I hope people are inspired by the diverse and unique small businesses featured as the 36 contest winners, and make an effort shop at a small business this Saturday.”

As a winner, Lizzy’s Fresh coffee has won a $5000 digital media plan funded by American Express and executed by Google.

The Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee winning video will be featured on YouTube.com homepage... (more)

As the days grow shorter and colder, Wood River Valley residents are buttoning up their backyards and stowing the last of the lawn furniture in preparation for the coming snowy season. But the local citizens’ group Pesticide Action Network of Blaine County’s (PAN BC) isn’t coming in from the cold. Instead, the group recently released Safer Weed & Pest Control: Low Risk Solutions for Parks, Schools and Homeowners, A Companion Guide for IPM in Blaine County, a guide that provides a wide range of options for Blaine County’s city staff, the school district and local garden centers to use in maintaining parks, playing fields and yards and reducing or eliminating the use of harmful chemicals.  Kathryn Goldman, PAN BC’s Campaign Director, says that weed control is actually a year-round endeavor.

“Planning for landscaping contracts and large-scale purchases of products that will be available in our local garden centers happens during the winter. Many of these decisions are made in February and March. If we wait until... (more)

Clean energy advocates are starting to wonder whether the Legislature is cooking up a turkey in the form of a revised Idaho Energy Plan. Lawmakers voted repeatedly Monday to weaken provisions in the 2007 Idaho Energy Plan as part of their five-year rewrite of the plan. Idaho wind developers are considering their next move in the wake of a surprising ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the PUC erred in refusing to accept more than a dozen wind contracts with Idaho utilities. Meanwhile, the PUC is accepting comments on Avista utilities Integrated Resource Plan, and there’s a Dec. 5 hearing on Idaho Power’s big general rate case. In other news, Hoku Materials has finally plugged its huge Pocatello polysilicon plant into Idaho Power’s system, and Gov. Butch Otter signed an order to extend the life of the Office of Energy Resources.

I: Big Disappointments as State Energy Plan Rewrite Effort Creeps to Finish Line

The Idaho Legislature’s long-anticipated update of the 2007 Idaho Energy Plan wound... (more)

Enrollment Open Houses on Dec. 1^st and 2^nd: 

Programs available for Preschool, Kindergarten & 1st, -3rd Grades.

 A Day in the Elementary School:

We would love to invite any students going into 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rdgrade in the 2012-2013 school year to join our class for the entire day on either Thursday, December 1st or Friday, December 2^nd from 8:30-2:30 for the ultimate Open House experience.  The public schools are closed for these two days for Parent/Teacher conferences.  This is the perfect time for any students who are not thoroughly thriving at BCSD to come and experience how we are creating a life-long love of learning and balanced living through our Waldorf based curriculum, a biodynamic farm and our empowering wilderness skills program!  Parent tour 8:15-8:45 each morning.

A Day in Kindergarten:

For students who will be 4-5 years old and their parents interested in the Mixed Age Kindergarten program.  Come experience a sample day with Kindergarten Teacher... (more)

One question I am frequently asked these days is what is the U.S. policy in Syria and why are we acting differently in Syria than we did in Libya. In considering these questions I am reminded of the words of a Middle East expert who when asked about U.S. Middle East policy responded, “We don't have a policy in the Middle East, but that's just as well because, if we did, it would be the wrong one”. Before discussing Syria, it would be useful to examine the Libyan situation.

            The Brotherly Leader of Libya, Muammar Qaddafi was an easy target for international military support for a revolution. In addition to his eccentric antics, he had managed, through his words and policies over the years, to make enemies of nearly everybody, the western powers, fellow Arab leaders (especially in the wealthy, autocratic Gulf States) and his own people. When, following the approval of UN Resolution 1973 authorizing “all necessary actions to protect civilians”, the... (more)

Whatever your business is, it’s time to start working on a year-end press release to be distributed in mid- to late December. 

Think you don’t have anything to say? Think again. 

Newspapers, radio and television stations, and bloggers are all doing stories on the economy in late December and early January. Experts with views on national and global outlooks are plentiful. Experts on the economy in your community or your industry tend to be few and far between. They aren’t listed in the telephone directory – or almost any other directory – either, making it hard for reporters to identify them.

You are, however, an expert on how your business is doing. Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking about possible press releases:

• Do you sell office supplies? How has the past year year been, and what are you expecting for next year? You have valid personal observations on what you are seeing in your business. 

• Do you repair appliances or cars or just about anything else? Are more people keeping their...

Superintendent Barber and Curriculum Director Patricia McLean are correct when they state that the BCSD had gotten into the habit of not including non-district employees on curriculum or textbook committees in spite of the mandate from District Policy and Idaho Legal Code to do so. Dr. Barber stated that parents had not been included in such committees for quite some time and Patty McLean stated that she “must have forgotten” about this mandate when composing the math textbook committees. So basically, school district administrators haven’t been referring to district policy to inform their actions and decisions, which proves the point that community members and parents must be involved in district processes to provide a vital check upon the job performance of those who earn and spend our tax dollars.

The former administrators and trustees who wrote the district policies were wise to realize the valuable input and perspective members of the public can provide. Parent and community member involvement brought the... (more)

(originally posted on BlaineParents.org)

There was a full house if not a full quorum, as Trustee Don Nurge was away from town, at the November 8th 2011 BCSD Board of Trustees meeting. The monthly School Board meetings are a great place to learn first hand what is happening in our schools and in the district as a whole. If a person can’t attend the actual meeting, all of the available webcasts are posted at blaineschools.org. It’s also a place to formally voice one’s opinions, concerns, and requests to the Trustees to be considered and responded to  by these individuals who are entrusted with the oversight of our school district.

During last night’s meeting, Liv Jensen, Paul Hartzel, Erik Ruggeri, and Owen Scanlon each completed and submitted a “Request To Appear Before The Board” form prior to the start of the meeting. The Public Comment begins at 8:20 minutes into the webcast of the meeting.

Ms. Jensen, a Consulting Engineer, spoke about the large amount of time reformed “discovery math”... (more)